The Pink Hare

Playing with fire

I mentioned in the previous post I've started to play with torch firing enamel beads  It's a lot of fun and colors are just gorgeous.  Even when you're impatient and try doing it with the wrong torch head . These are an example of what happens to the enamel colors when you have the wrong torch head .

Would you believe the browns in the middle are supposed to be pinks ? crazy. But still had a great time making these beads .

 After a huge ordeal where i ordered the torch head from Amazon and somehow used a long since expired card ,and the emails went to junk folder , I finally got my torch head . I got it for ten bucks cheaper too ! I used the 40% off one item coupon from Hobby Lobby. Now i can actually see the colors I'm using .

 

these two sets are my absolute favorites  , I think i'm going to make a special necklace just for me with these .

 

I think I'll make a batch and use them for my blogs first give away ! details coming soon!

Time to put your angry pants on

I went to Michael's today with a magnet do i could find more beads to enamel . And what did I find ? But a direct copy of this pendant from GreenGirl studios http://greengirlstudios.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=GGS&Product_Code=225&Category_Code=PP I mean it even has her little star with a C on the back ! WTF ?

This isn't the first time Micheal's has stolen from bead artists . They even knocked off http://www.earthenwoodstudio.com/ a year or two ago. So I will no longer support Michael's !There are other craft store chains that can have my money like Joann's,Hobby Lobby,ACMOORE and local bead stores .

The company that copied is Horizon Group USA and I think I might call them and complain. If you want to join me here's the phone number 1-800-651-0616 the item in question is #IC15520-06

I don't know if it'll do a lot .. the charms were on clearance .

So go to Micheal's and email or call them. Because theft is crappy and it's even more so when a big company steals from an artist.

the heat of summer helps..

When I'm etching outside . I usually stick a heating pad under my pyrex dish of etchant but I realized that it's so hot outside I'll just stick the dish in the sun . Covered of course ! Most of these will be either sawn out as is and used as pendants or links bit some will become the backs of soldered pieces . Kinda like this necklace . I've always loved giving pieces a hidden detail in the back.   The front of the necklace looks like this but please pardon the horrid picture. i took them this afternoon in the sun.
I have to admit I really love sawing out the tiny parts like the etched butterfly links . I find sawing to be very relaxing{sometimes}  Do you see the enamel rings ? I did those with a torch and they came out gorgeous !

 I'm waiting for some more supplies to come in and then I'll start trying my hand at making torch fired enamel beads . I've been wanting to find more ways to add color to my work so when i saw that Barbara Lewis offered a PDF on etsy I was supper excited ! . I've done some torch enameling but it's always been on flat pieces . This is going o open up so many new ideas !

Where oh where have I been

I hate that I've become such an absent blogger .  Things for a while have been pretty nutty. I guess I should mention ,I have depression. Sometimes it makes me want to be hermit and never leave my nice comfy nest of house,and sometimes it makes me feel like I a have no creativity . It sucks,but thats how it goes . I deal with it.

Lately I've been working on a large mosaic piece . I find mosaic work soothing ,it has to be something about the repetitive nature of cutting the shards to just the right size and carefully gluing them down. I want to have this piece done before winter but It's probably going to take longer then that. So far my fawn is coming along beautifully .

 
 On the jewelry front I've only just now started to become inspired again. I'm curently working on some etched pieces and hope to have one finished soon.