It's that time of year again...

... for the Bead Of Courage AUCTION hosted by Glass Addictions (Jen Cameron) and the rest of the Art Charm Exchange crew!

As per usual, we make eleven charms- one for the auction, one to keep, and nine to trade with the other artists involved! Jen sorts and counts and makes sure everyone gets cool charms that are totally different; IE: we don't get the same charm twice! Some of the more ambitious artists made two sets!!!

To start off, I'd like to tell the story about my charms...

Materials:
Polymer Clay
Brass tone flying heart keys
Silver Jumprings (the bottom ones are handmade!)

Description:
The main piece of this charm was created using polymer clay and rolling it in a pasta machine for even thickness. Then I lovingly handcrafted each wing and heart using my fingers and a toothpick, (to get the wing's ruffles and the indent for the heart). This year's theme is "SOAR" so I thought a flying heart especially appropriate. I thought that love can make your heart soar and give you butterflies in your stomach, so that's why I ended up with this design. The brass key symbolizes, of course, the key to your heart. It also has little wings so it can keep up with the flying heart! :) The background of the polymer clay charm is sky blue sparkle with translucent clay to mimic clouds, the wings are white and the little hearts are lavender. An original creation by me of ZenithJade Creations especially made for the Art Charm Exchange and Beads of Courage!

May Your Heart Soar!!!

This is the process I went through to make my soaring heart charms...

Here, each circle has been cut and the holes punched out where the jumprings will go, plus I'm starting to put on the little wings.

Here's a closeup of the charms without the hearts...

And here's one of the tiny wings I formed using my fingers and a toothpick.

Here are the charms with the hearts put on. Lavender is one of my favorite colors...

This is the finished charm!!! I really debated about sealing it, but different artists have different methods of sealing and sealants they use, so I chose not to.

And without further ado,

here are the charms I received from my partners in this year's 

Art Charm Exchange!

(You can sneak a quick peek at all the charms available in the auction going on right here!)

This is the charm made by SueBeads of Pittsburgh, PA!

Here's her blog: http://suebeads.blogspot.com/

In case you can't tell, this is a little red birdie!!! :) You might have seen my other post about SueBeads when I participated in the C5 challenge!

This is the charm made by Perri Jackson!

Here's her blog: http://ShaktipajDesigns.com/blog/

Hot air balloon time!

This is the charm made by Sheila Rose Prosterman of Belmont, MA!

Here's her blog: http://catswithbeads.blogspot.com/

3D fluttery wings!!!

This is the charm made by Melissa Trudinger of Australia!

Here's her blog: http://beadrecipes.wordpress.com/

Lovely 2-sided birdie charm with our theme word on one side!

This is the charm made by Cate van Alphen!

Here's her blog: http://fulgorine.wordpress.com/

Another 2-sided charm! This one is either a Phoenix or a Peacock- either is AWESOME.

This is the charm made by Shai Williams!

Here's her blog: http://shaihasramblings.blogspot.com/

This is the only owl charm I got. Isn't it a "hoot?" *winks*

This is the charm made by Chris Eisenberg!

Here's her blog: http://wanderware.blogspot.com/

Another 2-sided charm! Love the blues...

This is the charm made by Lee Koopman!

Here's her blog: http://stregajewellry.wordpress.com

Lovely little kite...with fibers!

This is the charm made by Lennis Carrier!

Here's her blog: http://windbent.net/

And the last one, another kite in cool coppery metals. :) It also includes our theme word!

I adore all the charms I received! Thanks everyone!!! :) You can view ALL the charms by going to the auction link HERE (there is one of each for sale in the auction for Beads of Courage!), or by visiting the blogs below! Have fun and happy blog-hopping!

Here's the list of participating artists:

Jennifer Cameron: http://www.glassaddictions.com/blog
Alenka Obid: http://pepita-handmade.blogspot.com
Alicia Marinache: http://www.allprettythings.ca
YOU ARE HERE: Andrea Glick: http://zenithjade.blogspot.com
Caroline Dewison: http://blueberribeads.blogspot.co.uk
Cassi Paslick: http://badatbeingmom.blogspot.com/
Cate van Alphen: http://fulgorine.wordpress.com
Cheri Reed: http://creativedesignsbycheri.blogspot.com
Chris Eisenberg: http://www.wanderware.blogspot.com
Cory Tompkins: http://www.tealwaterdesigns.blogspot.com
Elizabeth Auld: http://beadsforbusygals.com/
Genevieve Gabbert: https://www.facebook.com/MasuDesigns/
Jami Shipp: http://celebratinglifewithdamamashipp.blogspot.com
Jenny Davies-Reazor: http://www.jdaviesreazor.com/blog
Jill Bradley: http://www.jillybeads.blogspot.com
Kim Dworak: http://www.cianciblue.blogspot.com
Lee Koopman: http://stregajewellry.wordpress.com
Lennis Carrier: http://www.windbent.net
Lesley Watt: http://www.thegossipinggoddess.blogspot.com
Mallory Hoffman: http://rosebud101-fortheloveofbeads.blogspot.com
Melissa Trudinger: http://beadrecipes.wordpress.com
Michelle McCarthy: http://www.fireflydesignstudio.blogspot.com
Monique Urquhart: http://ahalfbakednotion.blogspot.com/
Moriah Betterly: http://mlbetterly.blogspot.com
Nancy Dale: http://nedbeads.blogspot.com
Nancy Smith: http://wirednan.blogspot.ca
Niky Sayers: http://silverniknats.blogspot.co.uk
Perri Jackson: http://ShaktipajDesigns.com/blog/
Renetha Stanziano: http://www.lamplightcrafts.blogspot.com
Shai Williams: http://www.shaihasramblings.com/2014/11/art-charm-exchange-auction.html
Sheila Prosterman: http://catswithbeads.blogspot.com
Susan Delaney: http://susandolphindelaney.wordpress.com
Susan Kennedy: http://www.suebeads.blogspot.com
Terri DelSignore: http://artisticaos.blogspot.com
Toltec Jewels: http://www.jewelschoolfriends.com
Vanessa Gilkes: http://culturezine.com/blog/

Beads of Courage/Art Charm Exchange QUICK UPDATE

My blog post is going up in about an hour! Watch for it!

Until then, here's the link to the beginnings of the auction goodies: http://www.ebay.com/sch/glassaddictions/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_ipg=&_from= !

They're all GORGEOUS!

Some of my Art & a Lesson in Business

 Both of these prints are getting donated to the Froghaven Farm auction. I sure hope you guys like them. The above one is a fractal, designed by me! It's called "Artist's Palette [Fractal]." (You can look up what a fractal is right here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fractals) and the bottom one is a landscape I took right outside of Cashton, WI. It's called "Lonely Tree." I know, not the most original name in the world, but it suits! *grins*

Here is Amanda Luxe's Lesson in Business, (it's a link to her blog!): http://www.pinkcandyfashion.blogspot.com/2009/10/tips-for-making-money-by-working-at.html. I thought it had some good points! I'm sure I'll have points to add, but it's getting late, and I need to get some sleep! I've pulled too many over-nighters recently! *winks*

Calling All Artists!

CALLING ALL ARTISTS!

Lisa Powers is trying to raise some monies to buy a handicapped accessible vehicle! You can see details right here in her "about" page: https://www.facebook.com/FroghavenFarmTN/info .

Artists from ALL OVER are donating works of art for her auction, which is scheduled to take place in mid- to late March. :)

I'm donating 2 prints, a polymer clay focal of some sort and a piece of jewelry or a set!

If you'd like to donate, please send her a message via her page. :) That would be the bee's knees!

I'll keep everyone updated on when the auction starts, so if you'd like to BID instead, you can! WOOT!

Also, if you can, please share this far and wide with other artists and your friends! :) The more, the merrier! Thanks!

For LadyHawk (Jean), Christmas and Crabbi

One of my fellow ArtFire sellers has stage 4 lung cancer. Needless to say, the prognosis is bleak. :( The only good news is that this tragedy is bringing together ArtFire sellers in support of LadyHawk, (Jean). We are banding together to raise funds for Jean through paypal donations and percentages of sales. Personally, I'm offering 10% of all profits to help with Jean's medical bills and care. You can view participating shops by clicking here, or by doing a search on ArtFire with the keyword: jeanlove. Please note that an account is NOT REQUIRED to buy from sellers on ArtFire.




Here are some collections that have been made using items from participating member's shops:


Collection 1
Collection 2
Collection 3
Collection 4
Collection 5
Collection 6

I've been busy during the holiday season. Christmas was a wonderful time for me. I got to spend it with my family. *love* They all came over here, we ate too much food, and watched the kids open presents in a mad frenzy. Santa spoiled me this year, and brought me the comfiest fuzzy slippers known to man. I also made out like a bandit with three febreeze candles, a couple pair of socks, a promise from Mom that she'd take me out for lunch, and a family portrait. *more love* The presents are wonderful, of course!, but the time spent with family was even better. I wouldn't trade that for the world. I'm truly blessed!

The week before Christmas, I got awful news. I took Crabbi, (one of my many cats), into the vet because she hadn't eaten or drank in 24 hours. She was diagnosed with liver failure, a liver infection, low white & red blood cell counts and anemia. :( Because of the prayers, thoughts and good juju of friends, family and complete strangers, it appears that Crabbi has made an astonishing recovery! She is no longer jaundiced, (caused by the liver failure- it is a discoloration of the skin to a yellow color), she has been happily eating tuna and a little bit of hard food, drinking, and using the litter box. It is nothing short of a miracle. My best guess is that against all odds, her liver function is returning. !!! (The liver failure was caused by a thyroid medication she was taking. She is no longer on that medication!). Now I just have to hope and pray that the medication didn't affect the way her bone marrow produces white and red blood cells. Please pray for us. I truly appreciate it!

twitter//facebook//ArtFire

First ArtFire Sale, Collections, and More!

Beautiful Blues Collection - CLICK HERE! And it is BEAUTIFUL. =^.^= One of my pendants is included! WOOT!



Plus, I made my very first ArtFire sale! I had been selling on Etsy for quite a while but their fees were killing me. (Especially since I LIST soooooo much!). I'm excited for Joy's order to arrive. I can't wait for her feedback! (She bought this bead!). Of course I had to spoil her a little! Included in her order are a couple other polymer clay creations, and a kitty cell phone charm!



I've been listing on ArtFire like a crazy woman, and I'm pleased as punch with my delicate flower earrings in a variety of colors. (See picture for an example!). They're only $5.00 + shipping. Not a bad deal for earrings!


Included in this post is another snow picture. =^.^;= This one has the pretty tree in our front yard, with a sunset behind it.


In other news, the Giles County Humane Association's facebook auction has ended, and I'm happy to report that ALL of my scrabble tile pendants got bids! They'll be going to their new homes over the next couple of days. One is making its' way to Canada and another one is going to England! Exciting to have my jewelry start crossing borders... and oceans!!!


A small reminder that you can find some of my prints on deviantART by clicking here, including one kick-ass fractal birthstone calendar. Hopefully next year, I'll put up a floral calendar. *grins* Wouldn't that just be the bee's knees?

And I've still been making Tree of Life Pendants. Watch for them in my ArtFire shop soon! Between listing, making, and commenting, there's hardly time for anything else... like cleaning. *winks*


Well, I'm off for now! Have a wonderful day everyone!

facebook // twitter // artfire

Tutorial, DeviantART, Crafting and more!

So peeps, I've got over 160 items in my ArtFire shop now! That's quite an accomplishment, I think. In fact, I listed 19 pairs of earrings last night. *grins* There are some really special earrings that I collaborated with Sharon Kat on- she embroidered little diamonds using a special technique called Kogin, which originates from Northern Japan, (she spent about five years there).

I've also signed up to participate in The Best Little Bead Box. I'm really hoping that I'll get accepted to participate! I'd love to donate to Beads of Courage!!! I might (probably, LOL!) donate to Beads of Courage anyway. But I've got to get crackin' on making more polymer clay flower beads before I do. I'm thinking that instead of marbled backgrounds, I'll focus on solid colors to really show off the tiny flowers, but we'll see.

I updated my "journal" on DeviantArt, finally. You can view some of my older jewelry designs and digital art and photography there. You can also purchase prints and a calendar. :) It's been a while since I've uploaded anything new there. I suppose when I make something really special, I will. *blush*

Click here for a simple chainmaille tutorial. It's REALLY COOL. I'm probably going to try it myself, but I might need more jumprings first. LOL! Chainmaille really uses up the jumprings. You can see a simple chainmaille necklace I made for my brother by clicking here. It used steel and niobium jumprings. And I tell ya, steel is a PAIN to work with. So stiff! But it's pretty durable.

Click here to "like" me on facebook.
Click here to follow me on twitter.
Visit my ArtFire shop!

New Collections, Cats, new Listings and MORE!

First of all, I'd like to give a shout out to XOCC for making this beautiful bangle bracelet. Perfect for that woman who has everything, (plus it's on SALE for $16.00!!!). Time to shop on ArtFire for the holidays! *grins*

I had a minor kitty scare a couple of days ago... Hunni's eye was all gunky! Luckily it cleared up in a couple of days, otherwise it would have meant another trip to the vet this year. I've had a LOT of those. AlleyC had a bladderstone and Crabbi has a thyroid condition. It means a special diet for AlleyC and meds for Crabbi. And when Crabbi was diagnosed with her thyroid condition, I had to pill her one-handed because I managed to break my finger. *falls over* That was truly an adventure.

I've made two collections, (like Etsy's treasuries), on ArtFire. Red & Green Love & Rainbow Bright. I'd absolutely LOVE some comments and input from people about the two collections I've made so far. :)

I have 166 items in my ArtFire shop now! MORE TONIGHT! And yes, it's more EARRINGS. Never hurts to have a great selection, right? ;) I've also been making jewelry like a fiend- copper and gemstone and swarovski crystal earrings. They are gorgeous. Plus some lovely acrylic flower & freshwater pearl earrings on copper. Remember, if you want stainless/surgical steel earwires, all you have to do is ask!

I'd also like to give a shout out to the Giles County Humane Association. They're having a December auction on facebook to raise funds. LOTS and LOTS of great stuff. PLUS, I've donated ten scrabble tile pendants for the auction. (This is the second auction I've donated to). This is YOUR chance to get some of my handmade goodness on the cheap while donating to a great cause!

Like me on facebook.

Follow me on twitter.

Visit me on ArtFire.

Regretsy, FIV and More.

Aidan is on CNN! He's a charming little boy who draws monsters and then sells his work in his Etsy shop to help pay for his cancer care. Featured on Regretsy, and now CNN, it's an amazing story. :) My prayers are with Aidan for a speedy recovery.

In cat news, the TRUTH ABOUT FIV, (Feline Immuno-deficiency Virus), can be found HERE. In all honesty, I hadn't realized that FIV was NOT spread easily. Since I'm a cat crazy person, this came as news to me. Now I'm sharing, because I think it's important because:
1) FIV positive kitties deserve good homes
and
2) it's no good to be ignorant of the facts about FIV.
So if you're thinking of adopting, why not give one of these lovely FIV+ cats a try? They need your love and compassion, too!

I think I might participate in the Art Bead Scene Bead Challenge this December. :) It would be pretty cool to use one of my own polymer clay beads in a jewelry design. *grins* I'll keep ya'll posted about it all, and of course, will post pictures if I actually make something for the challenge.

Now, don't be shy!

Sign my picturesque guestbook/slideshow thingy. *points to blog entry below*

Ok, aside from the lonely guestbook, I read one of the saddest stories ever- a missing cat. And the owner is *still searching* for her little guy. Here's a picture:

Of course I heard about this story through Catster. (Which is also a very cool website for cat lovers. The counterpoint to Catster is Dogster!).

You can read all about one woman's search for her cat on her website. And if you KNOW ANYTHING, please don't hesitate to let her know!!!

So a double dose of "don't be shy!" tonight.

In other news, I have found a SWEET & SIMPLE tutorial on how to pretty your Etsy shop up- using Glyphs / Symbols. =^.^= It's written by the following lovely lady:


You should definitely check out imaginethatartstudio!

Oppose the Killing of Cats!

From their website:
In the U.S., more cats are intentionally killed than die of any other cause. But this doesn't have to be the case.

Virtually every feral cat that enters a shelter or animal control facility is killed. The very system that is supposed to care about the welfare of animals is, in fact, subjecting them to a ruthless policy of extermination.

Funded by taxpayer dollars, these inhumane programs do not effectively control cat population growth. Only one method - Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) - does.

Feral cats are born outdoors and have not been socialized. Uncomfortable around humans, they will never be comfortable living in human homes. They make homes in colonies wherever they can find food, be it in alleys or under a boardwalk. On their own without human intervention, breeding is not controlled, and their numbers steadily increase.

All cats, even those born outside and having never lived with a human family, should be allowed to live the lives they deserve - outdoors, happy, healthy and prevented from becoming part of an endless cycle of breeding.

Sign the petition showing that you want the killing of feral cats to stop. Then learn about the TNR method and how you can take personal action to help these cats.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN THE PETITION.

Prayers Appreciated-

A beloved Etsyian, moxierings, just lost her husband in a car accident. Prayers and warm fuzzies sent her way are appreciated.

You can also show your support by posting in the following forum thread, (click).

If you would like to help moxierings, she is taking donations for expenses. Please visit her Etsy shop home page for more details, (click).

littleputbooks started a fund to help moxierings. Please visit this forum thread for more information, (click).

Warm Hearts-Warm Babies Charity Project

I found this in the Etsy forums, and thought that I should pass the info along-

~ originally posted by HollysRainbow here ~

Hi there -

My partner passed this on to me, and I thought there might be some on here who would be interested in helping. There are SO many knitters, sewers and crocheters on here.

This is a charity called Warm Hearts-Warm Babies , a nonprofit which provides Colorado hospitals with free burial layettes for families who have lost there infant. They need people to make items for them. They need full-term baby boy outfits most of all

It says" we try to include an outfit, matching hat, booties, small blanket, keepsake, mother's tear hankie and a memory envelope".

This is truly a very sad thing to think about, yet it happens all the time, and nobody hears about it in the news -its private personal tragedy.

So, here is the info: The charity does have materials and fibers to give to those willing to make items.
Their phone is 303-919-5413
And the email is:
info [!at] warmheartswarmbabies.org
Their website is:
http://warmheartswarmbabies.org/