The Shoe Collection is Complete!

Well I have finished up the horseshoe project for my friend.  She said she needed some shoes decorated!  They are all finished now!

  

So Proud!!!

I am so proud and excited!  A friend of mine I met through cyberspace told me about a Trash to Treasure contest on Facebook from Happy Mango Beads, .  I revamped one of my necklaces and entered it.  SO many great designers had entered the contest.  There were several categories and one grand prize winner.  I am happy to announce that I won the Heavy Metal category!  YEAH!!!! so excited!   If you would like to vote for the People's Choice, ck it out here: http://www.facebook.com/HappyMangoBeads#!/photo.php?pid=6702144&id=76049058528&ref=fbx_album&fbid=477074193528  I would love your vote!!!

I have made several trash to treasure pieces in my time and am having so much fun with them, I plan on making many more! I think I will call the line "Maudifications"! 

 

I am also working on a "Maudification" for my friend!  Not finished yet but in the works!

 

My Niece's Wedding

My niece got married last night and the ceremony was absolutely beautiful!  She asked me at make her earrings for her bridesmaids and I was so honored to do that for her.  She came up with what she wanted and I just created her vision.

 Here are a couple of my other nieces wearing them!  Aren't the girls beautiful?  I will post a pic of the bride soon!

It was so fun to make these and I know I will make more, just just different beads and colors.  All the bridesmaids told me that they were so excited to have jewelry that they could wear everyday, not just on fancy occasions.

I think doing custom bridal sets is probably one of my favorite things to do. Whether they are all identical or a coordinated set, they are so fun to make.  It also gives me a great sense of satisfaction to be able to help share in a bride and groom's special day.

Special Gift from a Friend!

Through my jewelry and lampwork beads I have had the good fortune to meet some wonderfully talented artists and a few have become someone I can call a friend.  This is the case with Holly McCoin.  I meet Holly at a bead store several years ago and now I am happy to say she is my friend.  She is a very talented fiber artist.  Both of our birthdays are in July and she surprised me with an early birthday present.  To say the least I was shocked to receive such a beautiful gift.  I had to share it with all of you. 

And here it is, my Maudies Bag!

This is the back:

Her details are amazing!  It is so much prettier in person than what I am able to photograph but here are some close ups.

She is selling purses on Etsy at www.etsy.com/shop/holly8 .  I am proud to say this fabulously talented woman is my friend.

Starry Night Earrings

I have met such wonderful talented people through my beads on etsy and Twitter!  I wanted to share these gorgeous earrings that were created by Kym of Heavenly Creations.  She has set off these beads and made them divine!

I happen to just love these!  Check out all of Kym's other Heavenly Creations at http://www.etsy.com/shop/HeavenlyCreationsPgh

Feature on Heavenly Creations Blog

I have met such wonderful and talented people through my beads and jewelry.  Many of them I have become acquainted with through Twitter and in the Blog world as well as those in the "real" world. All of them treasures.  A wonderfully talented jewelry designer who sells her creations at her Etsy store, has featured my lampwork on her blog!   I am so honored!

Please take a minute and check out her blog at http://heavenlycreationspgh.blogspot.com/2010/05/fabulosity-maudies.html.

Then make sure to visit her etsy shop at http://www.etsy.com/shop/HeavenlyCreationsPgh.  She makes divine jewelry!

Special Necklace for Myself

My husband had gave me this watch which was made from a gold coin and was a special family piece.  He asked that I made something with it since it didn't work anymore.  I have had it for quite awhile but did not quite know what to do with it until today!  What do you think?

I had to add a lampwork bead of mine and all sorts of great things!  I am very happy with how it turned out.  I think I will do more of this type of jewelry and see what happens. 

What do you think about my Shoes?

Well I mentioned previously that I was asked to do something with some shoes.   I wasn't told what kind of shoes just that a friend was bringing some to me along with a picture of something she had seen.

At first, I was thinking regular shoes that you walk in.  I have seen people do me amazing work decorating a pair of pumps or totally transforming Converse.  That was not at all what I have been asked to use. 

Low and behold I was given a bag of HORSESHOES!     And this is my first decorated shoe!

This particular horseshoe is very old.  It came out of barn in Maine.  I have some newer ones that are smaller and I have some ideas for those which are a bit different from this one. 

Just goes to show you that ANYTHING can be changed into something new with some wire and beads!




 

A Little Bit of Steam Punk

A good friend asked me to make her sister a necklace that had watch parts on it.  So Steam Punk it is!

I have made several small pieces over the years and just love them.  Each is special and unique. 

I have another interesting commission I am working on  but it is taking me a bit of time to figure out exactly what I am doing.  I will post a picture when I am finished.  I will tell you that it has something to do with Shoes!  Hummmm.  What could it be! 

Baby Knits!

I love to knit baby things!  They are so cute, quick to knit and they are worn by sweet little angels who I love to hold.  One of my friends just had a baby this weekend!  YEAH!!!  She had a little boy and another friend is a photographer who wanted some photo props.  Here is what I made for baby Max.

A sweet little hat!

This is a papoose that the baby is put in to have their picture taken!

As much as I love little baby boys, little baby girls are have much more frills so I made a girlie version also. 

Love to add flowers to hats!

Another version of the papoose!  

I also had to make these sweet little booties!

Now I need to find a little baby girl!

Coral Reef is Coming Along

Saturday a group of us from the Crochet Guild got together and started putting the reef together so we can have an idea of what we are doing for the Indiana State Museum.  Right now we have over 600 pieces of coral that has been made by people from all over the state.  Libraries are getting involved, girl scout troups, fiber groups and any crocheter who is willing to help.  We still need more but I think we will get enough. 

We covered baskets with batting and felt than added the crocheted coral pieces.  The result was so exciting!  I am amazed by the creativity of the people involved.  Besides the coral, we have crocheted fish, shells, sharks, anemones, jellyfish and lots more! 

This is such a small part of what the entire reef will be like!  Can't wait to see this amazing community creation when it is finished! 

Custom Order Lampwork

Thought I would share some of my Signature Beads that I made for a friend as a custom order.  She makes the most wonderful felted purses.  I am trying to get her to put them on Etsy and let the world have access to her beautiful work.  Her name is Holly and if you every see a "It's A Holly" purse,  that is her.
Anyway she needed some lime green and hot pink lampwork to go on her latest creation.  Here is what I came up with and I will post her bag when she is finished.

Magnola In Bloom

My neighbor has a beautiful Magnola tree that is in full bloom.  Yesterday right before a thunderstorm went through, I ran out to grab a few pictures.  I am not a photographer but I really like these and wanted to share them.