Activity Modification

Some of you may know I've been having some back issues lately. Well, I got the results of my MRI last week, and it turns out I have two, yes TWO ruptured discs. Hooray! That's what 15 years of sitting at a desk'll do ya. When you're me, anyway. What can I do? Well, not too much really. Surgery? Noooooo. Cortisone epidural? Thanks, I'll pass. The Brace From Hell? Eh, if it gets to the point of OMG-I-CAN'T-MOVE again. Activity Modification? Okay, that I can deal with. No heavy lifting. No bending over. Okay, okay. I shall squat to pick up after my dog on our thrice-daily walks. I will have Thighs of Steel by the time this is all over. Which is approximately... never. My doctor told me I was just going to accept the fact that no matter what, I will be living with "lower back weakness" for the rest of my life. Yippee! I'm starting PT tomorrow for an unrelated shoulder problem (when exactly did I turn 80? I must have missed it). So I'm going to ask him about the best things I can do for my back. And if he thinks I should have PT for it, my Dr. said he'll write up official orders. I think he's just a believer in the be careful and don't do anything stupid method. And walking.  As for my workspace (at work), I've got it as ergonomically organized as I can manage now. Oh, and my dad bought me one of these things. Ha! He's got a few and he loves them. Mostly, I've just given my dog long-distance ear rubs with it, which she doesn't seem to mind.

The good news: I never have to change the water in the water cooler ever again! 

So of course, two days after I got this information I had an art market I had agreed to do. Bending and heavy lifting galore! Fortunately, my mom, a sister and niece came out to help set up, and the niece stayed the whole time. I didn't sell a whole lot - it was one of those weekly markets that brings mainly browsers unless it's a holiday. But I covered my table fee and made a bit extra. Plus I made some new friends, and that was the best part. It was a young couple - she was from here, he was from Mexico, but they met in Wyoming. She's about to give birth any second now, so they came back home to be close to her family. He's a potter, and she does the glazing. At the end of the day, we made a little trade where she got a couple of pairs of earrings and I got a couple of their beautiful mugs!

Here's the only shot I took of my table.

Here are the mugs.

Here's a gratuitous picture of a little tree frog I took at my parents' house the night before my market.

I've been sloooooooooowly working on one necklace this week. But between back pain and laziness, I haven't even managed to finish that. And now that I have all my stuff back from the salon, a lot of it will be going up on etsy. I've already listed three things last night. Go me! This, this, and this. I'll need to get a bunch of new stuff made to take over to the salon. I have a hair appointment on the 1st anyway, so I'm sure I can get motivated to make a few new things. I certainly hope so.

Not Quite Back to Normal

I haven't blogged in ages - I'm sure you've all been crying yourselves to sleep at night about it, right? Okay, maybe not. But I have a good excuse. About a month ago I hurt my back. I wish I had a fun story about it like a battle with a Sasquatch or a unicycle-on-a-tightrope mishap, but no. It had been generally sore for awhile (bodies are not meant to sit at a desk for 8 hours a day), and one day - and you beading ladies will understand this - I was at Michael's. There was a big sale on Bead Gallery beads, plus I had a 20% off everything coupon, so I wanted to make sure I took advantage and bought all the little filler beads I wanted. You know how at Michael's, you look at the beads at eye level, then you have to stoop down and look at the bottom beads. Then stand up, take a step to the right and repeat 8-10 times 'til you've seen everything? Well that's when it happened. Every time I stooped down I thought, "OUCH! I probably shouldn't stoop down again." And then I kept doing it until it all went very very wrong. 

So I spent the following week on the couch watching The IT Crowd on Netflix and napping. I finally got an appointment with my orthopedist, and he made me wear this torture device of a brace for 2 weeks (even while sleeping). It was miserable. As you can imagine, I didn't particularly feel like making very much jewelry. Plus I was doped up on painkillers and muscle relaxers, so I wasn't very interested in doing much. During that time, I had to make my Bead Soup pieces, and managed to pull it off. I am very sad to report that this past Sunday, I was wearing the bracelet when it flew off my wrist and that gorgeous toggle shattered on the tile floor. It broke my heart -- I really loved it!

Anyway, my back's still kinda sore but at least I'm out of that dangbusted brace. Of course it hurts most when I'm sitting down at work, but I can't take a month off, so I must suffer and remember to get up every hour and walk around. I've got a kneeling chair now, but I can't sit in it all day. It's good to switch back and forth with my other chair. 

Point is, I haven't made a whole lot of jewelry in the past month! Other than my Bead Soup stuff, this is what I've done lately. 

 Focal by Lynn Davis, birdie by me, hematite nuggets, mookaite, agate, dalmatian jasper, & carnelian.

Copper poppy clasp by Daisychainextra, ceramic focal by Bo Hulley, faceted pearl, carnelian, mystery purple and tan stone, copper, waxed linen. 

 Ceramic bird focal by Kylie Parry, Czech glass, crystal, antique brass,  wood beads, waxed linen.

Ceramic focal by Round Rabbit, bone bead, and copper. 

Ceramic Shotgun House by Jessi, mookaite, new Czech glass (green), and vintage Czech glass (blue) from old Mardi Gras beads.

Sardonyx agate.

I custom ordered this mini-me bead from Soul Silver and I just LOVE it! I'm totally not vain at all, no. I'm going to make a necklace out of her eventually, but for now she just keeps me company in my computer/jewelry making area.

Bead Soup Blog Party #6

It's that time again! If you missed the blog about what my partner Kitty Bozzini sent me, you can check it out here. She's a very talented lampwork artist and made me an assortment of beads and even a glass toggle!


I admit that I was thrown for a loop when I received her beads - not because they weren't beautiful, they are absolutely gorgeous - it was just because they're not at all the sort of beads I normally use. However, that is exactly the point of this challenge, is it not? Shortly after I received my beads, I injured my back, and was unable to do anything at all for over a week, let alone make jewelry. All I could do was imagine what I might do, but that's never as helpful as pulling 50 things out and playing. I also consulted a couple of my beady friends for their thoughts -- and it was the brilliant Malin deKoning who insisted I try the toggle on a bracelet. She knew what she was talking about! I tried 15 different arrangements until I settled on the final version, which I absolutely adore!

I strung the purpley square beads on some pea green suede and turquoise leather, then wrapped the ends with some waxed Irish linen cording. So simple, but gorgeous! I am totally thrilled with this piece and very well may keep it for myself.

Then there was the focal. An idea came to me that seemed like it would suit it perfectly - however - it was not even remotely the sort of necklace I would ever make or wear. I still can't decide if it was a mistake not to do it that way, because it would have been a great solution - though one I personally wouldn't have liked one bit. And because you're curious, I'll explain: 5 pieces of different colored waxed linen cord passing through the pendant (which would be placed at about 8:00) and then coordinating Swarovskis knotted onto the cords every inch or so. I think it would have worked, but like I said - SO NOT ME.

So I tried a few other things, including knotted sari (which seemed a bit of a cop-out, but remember I'm still having a lot of back pain and I couldn't really overextend myself), unknotted sari in bracelet form, in choker form, etc. And finally arrived at what I thought was a good solution.

I used the same pea green suede to thread through the copper chain and a copper hook I'd made a few weeks prior. And to fasten the suede, I went one step further than I usually do and hammered the wire flat before wrapping the ends. I think it has a much neater effect, which this necklace called for.

I'm sad that I didn't get to use the cone shaped bead and the purple saucer shaped bead, but I will get to them eventually. All in all, pretty good for having a sprained back huh?

Thanks for stopping by, and make sure to check out all the other creations in the hop! For a list of all the participants' blogs, click right here!

My Bead Soup Has Arrived!

My partner is Kitty Bozzini - she makes beautiful, colorful lampwork beads and she made these just for me! Check out her etsy shop and her Facebook page to see what fabulous beads she makes.

Here's the toggle she made - I don't think I've ever seen a lampwork toggle before.

The focal!

A couple of fun shaped beads - love that lavender!

Some purple and yellow accent beads.

They arrived a couple of days ago, but I haven't had time to play with them until today. I have a few vague ideas percolating around in my head. Time to get started!

Be sure to come back on July 28th to see what I've created and check out all the other participants' blogs!

Early July

I have a Round Rabbit problem. I cannot stop buying Nancy's pieces! I've got two batches on their way to me currently, at least 10 pieces as yet unused, and at least as many more already turned into necklaces and even one bracelet. I just love what she does, and every time she has a shop update, I cannot stop myself from buying something. I've been hoarding this one for months, but I finally decided to give it a try last night. I paired it with Peruvian opal and pyrite.

And also, I need to invest in some fancier clasps.

This is a funny story. Some of you might recognize this style - I've done it a few times previously, for instance this one. When I showed up at the salon with that one, Jeanne ran off to retrieve something she'd found buried in the dirt in her yard when she was doing some gardening. It was the Eisenhower charm below - she wanted me to turn it into this style of necklace, with orangey-red sari fabric. So here it is Jeanne, if you see this before I get over there with it! I hope the natural patina is okay - I put some Renaissance Wax on it, so hopefully that will keep it looking good.

I dare not experiment with sterling, but I couldn't pass up this aluminum wire at the craft store recently. I'm definitely going to have to keep playing with it. These red rectangles aren't my personal style, but I think they're pretty cool looking. Just by using something that wasn't to my own taste, I could assure I wouldn't keep them for myself like I've done with the last 3 pairs of copper wire earrings I've made, ha.

So I bought a little grouping of items from Kylie Parry the other day. The other pieces are pendants, but I've really been slacking in the earring department so I figured I'd make some sweet little earrings with these first.

And Malin, I totally admit that I borrowed this earring idea from you. I believe I told you in advance that I was going to. I've long drooled over these faceted polymer clay nuggets from Second Surf. I finally broke down and got some recently having no idea what to do with them other than stare at them and love them. I have two more, but I think I'll hang onto those for a while longer...

Here's a shot of Crazers who just loves to interrupt my photo sessions.

Awesome Giveaway!

Check out this amazing giveaway on Lori's blog!

You could win all this:

Or this:

Or this:

Or this:

Or a bead soup mixed by her!

Make sure to go check out her blog to enter!!!

Daisychain Flower Bangle Challenge Hop

Today's the day! I was lucky enough to be one of five winners for the super talented Jo Tinley's Flower Bangle Challenge. I was so happy to get the poppy, because even though they're all wonderful - I like the poppy the best. Be sure to check out Jo's blog and etsy to see her gorgeous components and get your own bangle blank!

It took me awhile to figure out what I was going to do with my bracelet. I'm generally not much of a bracelet maker, so it was really a challenge for me. I experimented with sari fabric, and held up my other leathers and fibers, but I ultimately decided I was just going to break out my 24g oxidized copper wire and just start doing something. I started with a coil, threw on a pearl stick, coiled the other side and decided I liked that. Then I remembered some vintage pearl drops I'd received in a past Bead Soup that was sitting on my desk somewhere. I slid that on and made another coil. I was onto something! So then it was just a (multi-day) search of just the right beads to use and more & more coiling. There's an adorable vintage silver bell that I'd been saving for just the right thing, so I had to add that. It's just a mix of old and new, various metals, stones, pearls, and crystals. The coils slide around a bit, but that just adds to the fun and movement of the bracelet.

Make sure to see what everyone else has done!

Jo Tinley -  Daisychain Designs

Sherri Stokey - Knot Just Macrame

Shannon Chomanczuk - For My Sweet Daughter

Jenny - Shyme Design

Keri Lee Sereika - Pink Lemonade

Heidi Post - Ex Post Facto Jewelry