Here we are again, another year.  With all this pandemic going on around the world, it is hard to know where things are going, but I hope everyone is keeping safe.

I have been trying to keep busy with the help of my husband, I have  beautiful new workshop.  Love it, cozy and clean, but totally neat.  Can't work like that.

Working on some new beads, making new frit from pieces of glass left over from making beads and doing some bead crochet.  Soon will have to work on some silver, brass and copper findings.

Here are some new pictures, hope you like the new style of fish beads. I love them, they have so much personality and style.
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Keep safe.

Working away in my old workshop. Turning some old pennies into Wearable Art.  Loving the challenge of designing something unique.  Here is a sample of the beautiful earrings, pendants, buttons and bracelets to come.  Just honing down my technique.  Here are a few pictures of how it is done.  

This is something new for me.  Sand Casting.  Thanks to Gail Hodder for her kindness in showing me this Art.  Sand casting is both interested and mind boggling.  But for the most part - Fantastic.  The picture of the dolphin tails give you and idea of the process.  The 1st part - the blue dolphin tail - this is carved out of jewellers wax - then the 2nd part is the tail on the right - this is the piece that comes out of the sand when the granules are melted and poured into the mold - the 3rd part is the tail on the left - this is sanded and polished.

This ring above shows the wax mold and the finished ring after sanding, filing and polishing.

The cross shows the wax mold and the cross when is comes out of the sand mold.

So much to learn and so much to do - but just having fun doing it all.

This Summer has been GREAT!  I went to Lexington Kentucky, it was beautiful.  Found a great little town called Berea.  Now, this was an exceptional outdoor Craft Show.  A must see.  The baked potato with the works and fresh lemonade was the best.

I went to Newport and talked to Tom Ellis at Thomson Enamels.  I learned a lot.  He also took me through the Museum - this is a Must see.  You wouldn't believe your eyes, how enamels were and still are used in products from jewellery, pictures and vases.  Some of the pieces were 100's of years old.  Wow. www.thompsonenamels.com

Then off the great Madeleine Islands for a week.  What a great place and wonderful people.  Meet some very nice people over there and had a great supper at Denny's Diner.  Thanks to Denis and his wife Leonise for the wonderful Sugar Pie.  Still can't get this out of my mind.  It was delicious.  

The rest of this summer, I am making beads and jewellery for the fall shows.

Hope to see you there.

I  went to Rio Grande - the jewelry supply store in New Mexico in January to take a work shop with Blaine Lewis on Stone Setting.  Wow!  I have learned the proper way to flush set stones, prong set, bezel set and bead setting.  Bead setting was the hardest of all.  We had to use a jewelers loupe in one hand and cut the beads and seat with a graver in the other hand.

I met lots of new friends and had an amazing time.  Now to keep practicing and get new pieces out for this year.

Thanks to all the people that help support me at the PEI Christmas Craft Show this past weekend.  I really appreciate the  support and all of your wonderful comments.  Thanks.

Working hard to get ready for the Christmas shows.  Lots of new and exciting things.  Have a small Man Cave collection of hand forged brass & copper pendants that are etched for the hunting man.

Hand a wonderful time in New York this summer.  I finally got to visit CJ Sales in downtown New York.  The best store ever for vintage beads, chain and everything you can imagine.  Can't wait to go back.

Hope to see everyone at the PEI Christmas Craft show Nov 8-10th 2013 and the Turners Christmas Show on Nov 22-24th 2013.