Artisan Headpin Challenge

I am a huge fan of  Art Jewelry Elements.

It is a bonus to have so many talented artists all sharing in one place.

It is one of the few blogs I subscribe to and always read.

When they suggested an art headpin challenge, I was intrigued and emailed right away to sign up.

Just one problem....

I did not actually own any art headpins.

Which leaves me 2 options: buy some or make some.

Well, I am a making kind of girl.

So here is what I came up with this weekend.

Well that is just the first half of the story.

Want to see some of the designs I came up with using those headpins?

Ok, here they are....

Which is your favorite?

Leave a comment below for a chance to win this pair.

Just tell me your favorite pair shown and your email address so I can get in touch with you if you win.  

I will choose and announce a winner September 17th.

This is a long contest...

Tell all your friends

And good luck.

Want to see more fabulous art headpins?

Visit each of these blogs for more fabulousness.

Guests:

Alison Herrington

Renetha Stanziano

Karin Grosset Grange

Gloria Allen

Deb Fortin

Cate van Alphen

Mona Arnott

Shai Williams

Sarajo Wentling

Kathy Lindemer

Solange Collin

Melissa Meman

Patricia Handschuh

Tammy Adams

Melissa Trudinger

AJE Team Members:

Caroline Dewison

Lesley Watt

Cathy Mendola

Jenny Davies-Reazor

Susan Kennedy

Laney Mead

Diana Ptaszynski

Lindsay Starr

Niky Sayers

Thanks for stopping by and don't forget to leave a comment with your favorite pair from this post and your email before September 17th for a chance to win....

Workbench Wednesday...Washing Buttons

How about a quick peek of what I am working on this week...

I dumped a tin of vintage buttons in a hosiery bag and dunked it repeatedly in a bucket of hot water and Dawn dish washing detergent.

Then I rinsed, and rinsed and rinsed...

I dumped them into a strainer purchased just for such purposes (i.e. crafty stuff)...

Then I spread them out on a plastic tray and let them dry....

I ran my hands through them over and over...

I tell myself it is to spread them out to dry better...

Really it is because I have to touch them....

Touching them brings me happiness...

My heart tells stories of each button as my fingers touch them...

Next step is letting them become something new....

Stay tuned....

Thanks for stopping by....

Faux Bone Sculpey Clay Bracelet Stacks

Sometimes I make something that I immediately fall in love with.

Enough to want to wear it all the time. 

 That is how it is with these bracelet stacks.

I used some of the faux bone polymer clay pieces I made in these.

I combined the clay with two of my favorite materials: wire and silk.

My husband and I worked for a couple nights balling the wire with his torches.

Then I brought them inside and wrapped and created.

I love the combination of textures.

They, along with a few other bangle bracelet stacks were featured in the Winter 2016 issue of Belle Armoire Jewelry magazine.

Thanks for stopping by...

Linking up with these great blogs.

Power Words ICE Resin Challenge

So far 2016 has been a year filled with surprises.

One of the best surprises is all the fun I am having as a member of the ICE Resin Design team.

I love using ICE Resin.

And I love a challenge.

Our first challenge was Power words.  

To see the project, click here.

I incorporated the power words I chose into these fun rings.

There is also a short video on part of the project on the ICE Queen E-Zine here.

In typical me fashion, I could not stop with one ring.

Instead a made a little pile.

Be sure to hop over to the ICE Queen E-Zine to see how to make this project and many more.

Thanks for stopping by...

Jingle-Corn Ornaments

Today I share one sweet little ornament...

A Jingle Corn...

Have a great Thursday!

Thanks for stopping by...

                  Linking up with these great blogs.

Jewelry From the Tackle Box

I wanted to share some of my favorite pieces my daughter made.

She was feeling creative and I mentioned I had a plate of salvaged fishing lures from a trash bag my father-in-law brought.

She dug through the plate where I had placed the salvaged pieces and then made some amazing jewelry.

I love how she incorporated tackle bits and pieces into the chains as well.

My husband clipped off the barbs on the hooks so they would not be dangerous.

They melted off the lead on the lure so it was safe as well.

She wrapped it with wire and beads.

Just a little...

Not too much...

Sometimes the simplest things can be so beautiful.

Some of the pieces from this series were actually featured in the Spring 2015 issue of GreenCraft.

She made several pieces that were not chosen.

The next necklace is simple and elegant.

My daughter has a great eye.

She knows when enough is enough.

The next necklace incorporates the fishing tackle into the chain but not the pendant.

One of the things I loved about her designs was that you would never notice the tackle unless you knew what you were looking at.

It is subtle.

The next one is my favorite.

It is actually the one she kept to wear herself.

I don't blame her one bit.

It is the perfect combination of vintage and modern with that unexpected twist.

I love how she thinks outside the box.

The tackle box in this case....

Thanks for stopping by...

Linking up with these great blogs.