Redirect to Buy Bling catablog

If you're interested in seeing samples of my work, you'll find it on my Buy Bling site. Currently the slide show of necklaces, bracelets and earrings features techniques and materials with which I've experimented. Yes, prices are included. If you need more information, there's a link to my email on the page.

Back to Work

It's surprising what a change in weather does for your mood. Now that we've had a little rain and the nights are cooling off, I'm starting to look to look at working on some new projects. Which means I should also do something about clearing more room for storage. (See more on this at the end of the posting.)

Earlier this week I did a photo shoot in the garden of some of the pieces that had yet to be catelogued. Here's a preview of some of my most recent work. This one is a sweet teardrop pendant on a vintage brass chain. Turned it into a set with a pair of matching earrings but you won't find it on the BUY BLING

pages -- it's already sold.

But there are at least a half dozen new necklaces if you're in the mood to browse. Enjoy.

More about making room: I'll be gearing up for a jewellery 

party sometime early September. If you're in the Ottawa area and would like to come, please get in touch by email.

Have a good weekend.

Irene

Bling Blog problems

Just wanted to let you know there's a problem with accessing my catablogs directly. Wasn't aware of it myself until this past weekend when I  was updating other social media vehicles and realized the slideshows weren't showing at all. So I tried logging into the buybling blog directly and got a nasty surprise. 

Looks like someone has redirected my address to their site. Not sure if it's an aggressive advertiser or some phishing for confidential information. Either way it was news to me and I've contacted Google to alert them to the situation. Problem is there's no way of exiting the "interloper's" site to get to see the BLING. Did run a test to see if there was another way to access those pages and yes, it works if you're linking from this blog. For your convenience, here's the link:

BUY BLING

My apologies for the nuisance factor. Hopefully, Google will find a way to fix this before too long. In the meantime, I've added some new pieces in all categories so it's worthwhile having a browse if you're so inclined. Even though I've been lax in posting, I've been experimenting with new techniques and materials throughout the spring.

Am also gearing up for a jewelry party sometime later in summer -- have to clear out stock for more storage room --  so do let me know if you're interested.

Cheers

Irene

Reality check

Two weeks into the New Year and how is 2011 treating you so far? Don't know about you but Ive stopped making resolutions in recent years. Now I tend to look at what I want out of life instead. A good place to start is to stop beating myself up over things I can't change. Sometimes there just aren't enough hours in the day to accomplish everything. Do what you can and don't forget to make time for yourself.

Part of making time for myself lately is experimenting with metal. This hammered brass disk with freshwater pearl dangle is part of a charm chain I created recently. You can see the rest of the necklace and some other new pieces on BUY BLING.

For me, the stamped message is a good reminder of how to look at the rest of the year -- and life.

Have a good one.

Memories and reflection

To make room for the new stock I picked up at the end of September, I started culling my stash of leftover supplies. Rediscovered some real finds that I'd put away for future inspiration and got busy. (Have a look at the Buy Bling site, necklaces in particular, for some of the recent creations.).

Also did a first experiment with beaded wire trees to use up some extra gemstone chips.

Later learned that the Ming tree art form covers a wide range of possibilities -- plaster, beaded or straight wire, silk,  and a variety of ways to display the miniature trees. I wired the base into an old piece of coral, a memento from my late aunt's last Florida vacation. She's been gone more than 15 years now and it's a nice reminder of happy memories.

Hope you had a good Thanksgiving this year and enjoyed spending time with family and friends.

Sign of the season

Listening to the radio over breakfast yesterday, I heard my first "days to Christmas" alert. Three months today it will actually be the day after now. I usually wait until Thanksgiving before I start seriously thinking about organizing the holiday gifts with exception of an early present to myself -- a visit to the annual rock and mineral show.

On this weekend, it's where I spent a glorious three hours Saturday afternoon, browsing, meeting old friends and searching for supplies and new ideas. And yes, I SHOPPED. When I was logging my purchases in inventory earlier today, for fun I totaled the linear length of strands I brought home. Almost 20.5 ft. of gemstone chips and freshwater pearls. That's equivalent to the average width of a two-lane road! And they're all gorgeous -- mostly pastel shades, especially the pearls.

Gemstone chips are fun to work with but I'm just starting to experiment with pearls. Sorry I don't have a picture to include with this posting, mainly because the new materials are still in bags. But if you want an idea of the variety of both shape and color in freshwater pearls, have a look at the bracelets catablog on Buy Bling.

Oh, and if you have any ideas of pieces for me to make, feel free to get in touch. 

Working through puzzles

If you've ever been stumped by a "how did they do that?" then you'll relate to my fascination with this chain maille pattern that features caged beads. I'd seen finished pieces on display at a local bead shop and tried to recreate the design on my own but somehow the bead always dislodged. It wasn't until I took a workshop that I finally understood. Aside from learning the technique, I was also privileged to see a demonstration of natural teaching ability which I'll remember whenever I do the pattern. Thanks Miriam.

Here's the "stitch that provided the inspiration. You can have a closer look at what I've done with it by visiting the Necklace catalogue on Buy Bling