Halloween 2008

  • Chop shop
    the creepy cafeteria and the bone chilling butcher shop were our themes this year. we served up candy and popcorn as treats but it was the show most people came for - and what a show it was.....click on the thumbnails to see a full photo and caption

halloween 2007

  • closeup of samuel
    some pics from halloween at the smart house. this year we did a scarecrow theme with hay covering the front yard and a row of cornstalks set up. the trick/treaters had to pass the zombie farmgirl and scarecrow, then head up the row past me (as another scarecrow) to get to sam and samuel for the candy....we set up a strobe/fog machine in the center to add to the spooky factor. it was a huge success, we had probably 150-200 kids come through....

halloween 2006

  • grim reaper
    photos of our spooky house on halloween night. i like to make a lot of our effects and props to keep costs down and add to the originality. plus then if i decide to change it out, i don't feel guilty for spending a lot of money. keeps my creative goth side busy....

christmas 2007

  • matching set of balls
    a peek into our house this holiday season....

love these pearls!

swarovski pearls - i love them!  these are the necklaces i made for my mother for mom's day....the blue pearls have a silver rose box clasp, silver spacers and swirled AB finish crystals/the pink pearls are paired with a heart shaped silver box clasp, silver daisy spacers, clear crystals and diamond dust silver beads. they are approx 20" long so they sit just right on blouses/sweaters. i really hope she likes them!


Moms day pearls

Mom pink pearl close up clasp Mom pink pearl close up Mom blue pearl close up Mom blue pearl close up clasp

pink but not pink

i created this necklace for a friend of mine who is fighting breast cancer. i promised her something pink but not the typical pink used for ribbons and such.  this is an awful photo (maybe i can get her to take a better one). you can't see the opalescence of the pendant or the other beads.the white beads are actually moonstone like and the pearls are a deep lavender gray. it looks so much better in person, believe me....

Pink glass

singing through the century

our spring concert is usually theme based with loads of 'choralography' (dancing). maria sang a duet with her friend alex (blue skies from the early 30's) and then was one of the background dancers for time warp (pelvic thrust and all).

Maria blue skies Maria time warp

metal madness

i am taking a jewelry/metalsmithing class at our local arts center. our first assignment was to create a copper/brass pendant. the techniques used were sawing/piercing the metal, riveting and texturing. i agonized over a design for the whole first class (we had certain stipulations - size, piercing of layers, etc). i finally decided to create what i love - my biggest vice - coffee. i didn't want to overthink the design part and instead wanted to concentrate on learning the techniques. it is a big piece 2.5"h by 1.5"w. i am thinking i will just put it on a necklace of black strands with some copper/brass wire...not sure yet.

Coffee pendant on deck Coffee pendant on concrete

beaded turquoise cabochon pendant w/tubular herringbone necklace

this is a piece i created for a friend who is going through a rough patch. as i worked on it i was able to think about her, our friendship, the influence she has had on me and send out good thoughts for her well being. i guess you could say it was a creative version of prayer. i was so happy to hear from her that she received it and loved it. i am hoping every time she wears it she is reminded that there are people who care about her deeply.

the pendant is a beaded turquoise cabochon (flat backed stone) with a peyote stitched bail and the necklace was done with faceted seed beads in a tubular herringbone pattern. to attach the toggle i finished the necklace with a cone and then strung beading wire through the tube. this will be a bit sturdier than attaching the toggle to the beaded tube. it will keep it from pulling on the tube and stretching it (because i used larger beads on the tube the stitching is not as compact as it would be with smaller beads). this was the first time i attempted the herringbone in a finished piece and also the first completed beaded cab (i have a few work in progress pieces laying around). 

Beaded turquoise necklace Beaded turquoise close


Turquoise Gemstone meaning

Turquoise is one of the oldest protection amulets, and was also known as a symbol of wealth in many ancient cultures.

Strength, protection from harm, psychic sensitivity and connection to the spirit world

If given a turquoise by a loving friend, that stone would protect the wearer from negative energy and bring good fortune. The turquoise is the symbol of friendship. It also brings peace to the home.

This stone is a very personal and meaningful stone to one who wears it. Turquoise takes on the characteristics of the owner.

happy spring! (my egg-xasperating morning)

it's the first day of spring - vernal equinox and all....so what did the boys decide to do? stand on egg on its end, of course! (no eggs were harmed in the pursuit of this activity)


Spring egg
Spring egg 3 Spring egg 2

channeling wilma flintstone again - purplelicious

i am totally infatuated with super chunky choker length necklaces lately. i found these in my bead store (on the rocks ) the other day and i had to have them. i used another of the s-clasps from ad adornments as the closure, i am so hooked on them (literally lol).  after making the necklace,  i have a few beads left over. i might try to incorporate them into a bracelet or another necklace.  they are just too yummy to waste!

Purplelicious

trying to clear my stash - glass pendant w/3 strand larkshead

found this pendant in my stash... no idea why i bought it except maybe because the colors were cool (it is solid blue/green on the back). i had these dull brass metallic coated irregular beads that i picked up years ago and just threw them all together with a quick larkshead knot. this way if i decide i want the pendant on a cord i can just switch it out.  it is an interesting combo, not totally enthralled with it but i am happy to be working through my stash....

Blue copper glass pendant

tv watching projects - fragment necklace and loads of hearts

here are a couple of pieces i put together while watching tv .  i keep my beading stuff by the chair in my bedroom so when i am catching up on shows i can work on jewelry....

this is a brown tiger eye looking fragment piece i made for my cousin's birthday, it is a lot like the blue/red fragment i created last month (i bought the strand from the same guy)

Brown fragment

i created this one after finding a bunch of heart charms and a crystal heart in maria's bead box. i just attached them to a chain with purple jump rings.  i made them for her to wear valentine's week....
Crystal hearts

the best gifts are the handmade ones

my dear friend sue martin made me this awesome wall hanging quilt.  it was hard to photograph it well and capture the colors, my hallway doesn't have much sunlight.  every time i walk up the stairs, it reminds me what an awesome friend she is and how lucky i am to have her in my life. i thought i posted it before but just realized i hadn't.  isn't it gorgeous????

Leaf quilt