Animal House

I've made some dog earrings, cat earrings, and cat bracelets, so I though I would combine them in a post.  I need to find some other animals so I may incorporate them into jewelry, also!  When I first made the dog earrings, I wasn't so sure if it would work out well.  As it turned out, the first pair went into my private jewelry stash because I liked them so much.

Here is the black cat charm bracelet and its matching earrings.

Here are the silver pewter earrings.  The striped tabby is a clip-on, and the solid cat is on a french hook.  These darn cats never seem to photograph that well, no matter how many attempts I give it.

Perhaps later I will do something with turtles or birds?  I have a lot of favorite animals.  What are yours?

Memorial Day Sale! 10% Off!

If you are already a Facebook Fan, you will already know this!  I am having a sale through May 31, 2010, in my Etsy Shop.  After you check out with the items you'd like to purchases, convo, email, message me with the code 10%May2010.  I'll send you a revised invoice with 10% of the item price.  Then you can go ahead and pay through PayPal however you like.  Hurry, it's over when May is over!

Hand Knotted Waxed Cotton in Navy, Tan, Turquoise

This is probably going to be a OOAK (one of a kind) since I don't think I can find some of these beads again.  I used two strands of navy waxed cotton.  I like the weight of this thread, although it limits me to using beads with a larger hole.  I seriously considered adding this to my personal jewelry stash, but right now it is for sale in my Etsy Shop.  I think I'll be using this navy waxed cotton again.  It's a great combination with anything denim. 

Current Garden Photos

I decided it was time to post some more garden photos.  Here is our earliest peony and the pink lilac that smells so sweet.

And here is our Beverly Sills iris.  It is as pretty as her singing!

Last, but not least (except in physical stature) is the little toad that came out to watch me put compost in the tomato patch.  He was the same color as the dirt, so I was concerned I might step on him.   He "supervised" my gardening, and I believe I even heard him say "you missed a spot with the compost".   Or perhaps not :)

Violet, Red, and Coral Necklace

I don't know if I should call this a two strand necklace, or one and a half strand.  The main strand is obviously made with large violet resin bicones, separated by aurora borealis crystal roundelles, violet metallic fire polished beads, and violet cream seed beads.  The second, or perhaps secondary, strand is crocheted beading wire (Soft Flex) in red with coral seed beads.  Both strands end up in silver cones and a sterling toggle clasp.

Black and Gold Necklace and Earring Set

It took me a while to decide what to do with these large black and gold foil lampwork beads.  I believe they were described as "pendants", but I didn't let that stop me from using them not as pendants.  I used a smaller black glass pearl as the pendant, or more of a "dangly drop".  The rest of the necklace uses gold plated pewter bead caps and toggle clasp, black glass pearls, and black rondelle spacers with an aurora borealis finish.  I made earrings to match.  I am experimenting with earring displays, none of them to my liking as yet.  You will note in the picture of the earring pair that one looks shorter than the other.  Actually, it is the way they are tilted.  This particular display doesn't leave much room for the back of the hook.  I have another display which is too short for a longer earring.  I am beginning to feel a bit like Goldilocks, who often found things just a little off.