Gone by in a flash!

Wow, this has been a wild month!  With inventory, quarterly taxes, starting teaching for a new art school, First Friday Art Shows, and dealing with my foster dog, I don't know where the time went.  Here are a few of the creations I made this month on top of the madness....Enjoy!

Commissioned piece for a great client.

 Free-form Wire Cuff to be taught at the D.E.A.D. Academy in March.

 Crochet, Chain, Wood and Crystal piece crafted for a friend's birthday.

 Fantastic (if I do say so myself ;) multi-strand necklace made with African Opal, Freshwater Pearls, Prehinite, and Swarovski Crystal. 

 A quartet of shiny bangle bracelets commissioned for a customer.

Mixed-media resin piece made as a class example for the

 D.E.A.D. Academy.

First Annual Denver County Fair

I am pleased to announce that my Butterfly Garden Necklace won the First Place Blue Ribbon for Jewelry Design in the Fashion Pavilion at the Denver County Fair!

While I'm both humbled and ecstatic about the win, I didn't win nearly as many ribbons as my friend Julianna of Julianna's Wardrobe who won the Third Place Ribbon in the Jewelry Design Category, as well as both First and Third Place Ribbons in the Costume Design section!  Go team!

Off the grid

Sorry I've been scarce everyone!  I've had a ton on my plate lately, trying to finish a couple of designs for Bead Unique Magazine, getting my stuff together to apply to teach at Bead&Button next year, and dealing with the Groupon-type thing I sold in my shop a couple of months ago (but which buyers have a chance to use until November...geesh!).  So here's a little creative tidbit for you.  I stumbled across this on some random site, and loved this line of photography by artist Heather Landis, and thought you might too!  You can purchase prints of her work (as well as phone covers...no kidding) at Society Six.  Enjoy!

My unexpected visitor...

Here at my studio, we get visitors from time to time. I have the fattest squirrel that sits outside in the tree and tells me when I've invaded 'his' territory. I have a robin that twitters and dive-bombs the squirrels to let them know that they have invaded 'his' territory. My latest visitor is neither haughty, nor mean, he was simply there. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw something out my sliding glass doors, and I look up and nothing is there. It happens 2 or 3 more times and, just when I begin to think that I've completely lost it, I see him: a Ginger and White cat who was apparently the quickest cat ever! Our eyes met, and he bolted. He visited me several times last evening, running every time I 'caught' him. I did manage to get a picture, just to prove that he was really there. And here's a picture of the fat squirrel too...might as well be thorough ;)

A prodding idea

My good friend Michelle writes to me (and several other people who shall remain nameless) a few days ago with the idea to start her own blog. The idea behind this blog is to post an idea a day to help her fine her creative voice in the hopes of cementing her ideas to eventually sell her creations. I thought, 'What a wonderful idea.' And then came 'You'll never post something every day'. Which is likely true, but I'm going to try to post as often as possible. So here it is, my very own blog that represents what inspires me. I hope you enjoy it!

Bead Swap,Bead&Button,Shimmy for the Cure, and more!

I've been working on projects for the Bead Unique Bead Swap lately, and I'm getting ready to send them out. I have included here a picture of the Wire Business Card Holder I'm sending.

I'll be participating in Shimmy for the Cure starting Thursday, June 11th with a Henna party, and going until Sunday, June 14th with Workshops. I'll be vending on Saturday and Sunday. For this auspicious occasion I will be unveiling new Bindi designs, including some that should be called 'BLINDIS'. So keep an eye out for tons of new fantastic products at Shimmy, and also in my shop just after http://www.msplinks.com/http://www.gypsybeads.etsy.com/. For more information on Shimmy for the Cure, visit http://www.myspace.com/ShimmyfortheCure. to work on Zils bags, but I'm running out of time before the Bead&Button Show , so we'll see. I'll be teaching a mini-lesson at Jonsey's Art Bazaar on Saturday, June 20th at of around 1:00 along with vending there. Stop by to say 'Hi', and check out my wonderful wares in case you missed me at Shimmy. You can see more information at: http://www.myspace.com/jonesysartbazaar

Keep an eye out for a contest to win a wonderful, shiny prize sometime in the near future here on my Blog!

Victoriana Necklace

I just wanted to drop in a picture of my new Victoriana Necklace. This necklace will be available at the Saturday Night Alive Auction for the Denver Center for Performing Arts on Saturday, March 7th. You can see more details at www.denvercenter.org.

First piece in a new land :)

I present to you my Denim and Pearls necklace! The pendant started out as part of a free-form cuff bracelet gone bad. After much debate (and a pair of scissors), I decided to liberate it from its' ugly surroundings and let it stand on its own. Add some Swarovski Crystal Pearls, and tiny Swarovski Crystal 2mm rounds, and you have a necklace! Available in my Etsy Shop http://www.gypsybeads.etsy.com/.

In the Swing of things

Well, I'm back into the swing of things. I bought a house in the last month, had my first jewelry show in Denver, and got married. Now I'm trying to settle into my new studio. Still trying to find out where to put things, and what type of storage I want. I finally have the room painted, the hardwoodfloors are down, and I have a make-shift workbench. Lot's more to do though, and I'll keep you posted as things come up!