Beading Joy

I was finally able to break out the torch again yesterday and created a bunch of amazing beads. Today, I photographed a bunch of those beads and the photos came out fantastic if I do say so myself.

I absolutely love this trio of beads ... almost kept them for myself.

These torch fired metal beads coated in glass enamel are so unbelievably lightweight. Perfect for creating a statement necklace! Or use one as the focal point of a necklace and create a matching pair of earrings.

I turned a set of these same beads, same colors into a pair of earrings and I love them! They really are lightweight. I wear them a lot.

You can find these Mission Lavender Pinks in my Squier Etsy Shop.

Happy Thanksgiving

Thank you!

Etsy Front Page

It's so exciting to find out one of my paintings was featured on the front page of Etsy.com. A wonderful Etsy jewelry designer, Kelsey, alerted me of this delight.

Take a peek at Kelsey's Etsy Shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/kelseysimmen

Thank you Kelsey!

Handmade Cigar Box Guitar

Cigar Box Guitar No. 34

Padron 4000 Blonde Cigar Box

It's one of my favorites!

My husband, Michael does an awesome job building these cigar box guitars. He hand carves the neck from a fallen black walnut tree that used to stand in his parents' backyard. He carves the neck with vintage tools. The necks are fretless and the markers are burned in. This helps to create an usual and unique playing experience.

The cigar box guitars have three strings. It can be played acoustically or plugged into an amp.

This would make an awesome gift to yourself or someone special!

Find this one and more in the Cigar Box Guitar and Amp section of our Etsy Shop:

http://squier.etsy.com

You can hear a sound clip of one of his cigar box guitars:

http://squierdesign.com/country_boy_guitars.html

You will even find a music video at the bottom of this page where one of his CBGs is played!

First Place Baby Puppy Class

Yesterday, we took our little 4 1/2 month old puppy to his first German Shepherd Dog Show. To our surprise our little Boo won the First Place Trophy in the 3 to 6 Month Old Baby Puppy Class.

Will this be his one and only dog show?

We haven't decided that yet.

I wish he could stay this size!

A Few Favorites

A few of my favorite beads that I have saved for myself to create something special just for me. I need to find the time and the inspiration to turn them into something fun and unique.

The Woven Bead Board

This was a fun way to display some of the torch fired enamel beads I have to offer in the large holed woven pattern. Almost houndstooth like. My customers can choose the exact bead by number.

A piece of foam core with a 1/4 inch hole punched in a grid to keep the beads from rolling away. I added the numbers in photoshop.

Let's hope Daisy kitty doesn't find it fun!

Fancy any beads?

Baking Soda Shaker

One of many uses of baking soda is to sprinkle it on your carpets to freshen them up. Helps to deodorize them. After a rather humid summer and a new puppy, I figure it's a good time to freshen up all the carpets before we close up the windows for the season.

I took a clean mason jar, filled it with baking soda, screwed on the lid. Found a little hammer and a large nail. I tapped a few holes in the top, making sure to stay away from the outer edge, don't want to hit the glass. Voila! A baking soda shaker!

I spent my Sunday afternoon sprinkling baking soda on all the carpets and cloth covered furniture. You can wait a few hours or even a day or two and then vacuum it all up.

Favorite Bead of the Day

Red Tiger Loopy Bead

I've been editing photographs I have taken of my torch fired glass enamel covered metal beads. The stunning close up detail of this one bead fascinated me. This bead is approximately 18mm round and super lightweight.

A set of five red tiger loopy beads will be available soon in my Squier Etsy shop.

Tuesday's Tips and Techniques for Watercolor Painting

MaimeriBlu's Sap Green is back!

Cheap Joe's Fall Sales Event flyer has Sap Green listed in the catalog. So exciting!

I love MaimeriBlu's Sap Green. It's my favorite shade of green. I have yet to order a new tube. Pictured here is my very last tube of sap green next to my second choice of sap green made by M. Graham. I have tried many other brands and many other shades of green and these two are the best.

MaimeriBlu stopped producing the color for awhile. I found it listed for sale once again. Let's hope it is as good as ever and here to stay!

MaimeriBlu Sap Green is my best recommendation for green. The hue, the transparency ... love it!

Recently Read

Summer at Tiffany

by Marjorie Hart

I found this book at one of the book sales I went to earlier this year. I just recently read it this past weekend. It is a delightful book. A memoir about two college girls who get jobs at Tiffany for the summer of 1945. Love it.

Tuesday's Tips and Techniques for Watercolor Painting

Ironing Your Watercolors


A repeat from June 2009 - An excellent reminder!

Ever paint a very wet watercolor painting on 140 lb. paper only to end up with a warped wobbly painting? There is a very simple cure to this problem. Iron the painting! This works well with paintings done on quality 100% cotton rag watercolor paper. That is 100% cotton rag ... cotton ... yes, you can iron cotton. Just iron on the back.

1. Starting with a wavy watercolor painting, place it on the ironing board, or multi-folded smooth cotton material on top of art table. Preheat your iron, NO steam.

2. Flip the painting upside down and iron.

3. Allow painting to cool and you will have a flat painting ready to frame!

Give it a try! 

If you're nervous about it, test it on a practice painting.

Dew Drops Meet Fine Art Prints

The new series of Dew Drop watercolors as 8x10 inch prints are available in my Squier Etsy Shop.

Shown here are:

Peachy Keen Drops

&

Aquamarine Drops

The 8x10 Dew Drops are only available as affordable fine art giclee prints. They are printed on luxurious somerset velvet paper and have a 1 inch border for ease of matting and framing.

Tuesday's Tips and Techniques for Watercolor Painting

Labor Day Weekend is Almost Here

Are you venturing off for a mini weekend vacation?

Pack up your travel palette, a few brushes and some paper and add it to your luggage.

If you're staying home, take a little time and head to the beach, the park, a scenic spot and bring along your travel palette, a few brushes and some paper.

Take a little time to enjoy watercolor painting.

Put your travel palette to good use over the weekend!

Have fun painting!

Spicy Hot Color

Spicy Hot Paisley Beads

I love torch firing metal beads.

Adding coats of glass enamel.

Playing with colors, blending, mixing, torching.

These paisley beads are surprisingly ultra lightweight and rather big at 20mm.

I love them!

On a Mission

Mission Khaki is the last pair of beads I torched.

Yesterday and today, we have been on a mission to secure all things outdoors and prepare for the impending hurricane Irene. At least she's visiting here on a Sunday.

Prepare for the worst and hope for the best. This phrase has been repeated over and over the past few days.

All things movable outdoors have been taken care of and today we're making sure the generator runs. We've got sand bags, actually mulch bags incase we need to sand bag our driveway due to flooding. Hey, it's useable afterwards. What would we do with all that sand?

This morning, I'm baking cookies and cooking up some chicken. If the power goes out for a few days, let's hope not, we've got plenty of cold things to eat.

Enjoy your day and stay safe if you're in Irene's path!

Tuesday's Tips and Techniques for Watercolor Painting

Clean Your Palette!

It is best to clean your palette when you're done painting for the day.

If you've finished your painting, there is no reason to save the slop on your palette.

It is best to start with a clean fresh palette every time you sit down to create a new painting.

Taking the time to clean your palette at the start of a new painting, may spoil your enthusiasm to paint. You may end up loosing your muse if you have to clean up the leftover slop.

When you're done painting, clean your palette!

Luxury Shopping

A cigar box guitar from our Squier Etsy Shop was featured in Saturday's Etsy Finds in the Luxury Shopping Section.

Check out the guitar:

Cigar Box Guitar No. 32 - Americana

Tuesday's Tips and Techniques for Watercolor Painting

Side Load Your Flat Brush

Here I have used a flat one stroke brush. First I wet the brush with clean water. Then I load one side of the brush with indian yellow, then carefully dip the opposite side of the brush into a small pool of crimson lake.

With one quick circular swash of the brush, I have created a multicolor flower petal. The yellow and red blend together on the paper.

This is an excellent technique for quick, fresh multicolored flower petals. Works great for leaves too.

Another Fab Feature

My husband got a feature yesterday in the newsletter, today a set of my torch fired enamel beads made it to the front page of Etsy.

Singed Cambridge Blue Torch Fired Enamel Beads

Set of 6

I just happened to be checking my emails, when I received a note from Bacon Square Farm saying I looked fab on the FP. When you get a chance check out their awesome bird houses!

So of course I quickly opened up Etsy.com and grabbed a screen shot to share with you all right here.

Music Lover's Gear Guide

An Etsy Finds Feature

My husband's Cigar Box Guitar No. 31 is featured in today's Etsy Finds - Summer of Love in the Music Lover's Gear Guide section: http://bit.ly/qLCreA

Check out the cigar box guitar right here:

Cigar Box Guitar No. 31

http://www.etsy.com/listing/78756111