Hello Monday

I need COFFEE!

I have no energy and a crick in my neck that doesn't want to go away. BLEH!
Luckily I have a 3 day weekend coming up, I might be able to get some rest.

I got my buisness cards from vistaprint! YEAH! (happy dance)

I decided to get cards so that when someone does buy something from my shop I can send a nice looking card along with it. It's a step in the right direction, a more professional type approach. I'm thinking I might decide to get a stamp later on down the road. Right now I need to try and put more stuff in my shop.

Hope everyone had a good weekend. Mine, it was okay. I pulled out my torch but got cold feet. LOL! I made 2 ring shanks for a couple more dangle rings. I also made two pairs of earrings, both in purple and I'm working on a wire moon pendant. I need to charge the batteries in my camera so I can get pictures.

Seems like I have a little bit of creativity going, though it's mostly in wire. I did get some more headpins over the weekend instead of attempting to make them myself. I think I may keep the purple pearl earrings I made and put the other purple pair of earrings in my shop. I used faceted glass beads and sterling silver on the 2nd pair.

The moon pendant is made using the silver filled wire as the base, wrapped in 26g non-tarnish silver craft wire, using 11/0 seed beads as an outer edge. I haven't decided if I want to use some magatama's that I have as well, as part of the design. I might use a few of them.

I'm going to try and remember to charge the camera batteries so I can get some pictures.

New Ideas

Yesterday while sitting at work during a slow period an idea began to form in my head as I perused through the jewelry section on Etsy. There are a number of very talented people on there and makes for some great eye candy and inspiration. So I was perusing through the rings section and looking at all the wonderful pieces and an idea began to form.

This idea is a ring and it probably actually started a few days ago when I made the dangle ring and the other ring. It wasn't much more than just a passing thought at the time but yesterday it began to concrete itself in my mind. Gears began to turn and decided it might be an interesting idea cause I haven't seen anything like it, yet. I look at some more jewelry and ended up buying some more wire. I bought some 26g sterling silver dead soft and 28g sterling silver half-hard to make headpins,this should be interesting. I hope they ship quickly cause I'd love to have them within the week. I pulled out my small stash of sterling silver yesterday and took stock. I do have enough sterling silver to attempt a few headpins without hurting my small supply.

So back to the idea, after doing the hubby's laundry, I pulled out some of my craft wire and began to fiddle. The concept works, just needs a wee bit of tinkering. I think that I could do it using round wire but I'm betting that square wire would yeild the best result. The design will also incorporate a weaving technique which I have no idea what it's called at the moment. I know the name is filed away but access is on dial up at the momnet. LOL! AHA! I think it's called the Ladder Stitch.

After making the prototype last night, poor pathetic thing. I then analized everything I saw wrong and asked the hubby to give me his opinion and he confirmed some of the things I already saw. On the couch I sat and let my mind conjure up a 3D image and I began working the image in my mind and sorting out some of the issues as mind twisted the wire this way and that. It's kinda like working with wire and seeing the results but it's all in my head instead. I can usually work out schematics and design issues that way instead of the hands on approach. My drawing skills are sub par and that doesn't work to well. I have just enough drawing skills to jot down an idea and most of the time can be only understood by me.


It lifts my heart to be able to make things that I'm really proud of. This creative slump was really bringing me down no matter how hard I tried to fight it off. Some days I'd win the battle and be okay with this lull and other days the thought just wanted to make me scream and pull my hair out. I can't remember a time that I have ever had such a long dry spell with very little ever created. Most of these dry spells would last about a year. This one just feels like it's been going on forever, I think it's been close to 3 years now or 3.5yrs. Who knows, maybe it's been longer, my days just seem to run together.

Just a spark

Just recently I purchased some 18g silver filled wire (SS/40) for a great price from an Etsy store, Catdancingranch

6-27-08 (Note) Upon further research the silver filled wire can not be technically called sterling do to the amount of actual sterling not meeting the standard of .925. It's okay I still like the wire and is an inexpensive alternative to the sterling, it keeps a nice shine and seems to be fairly tarnish resistant.

I just got my wire in the mail and wanted to make a dangle ring for sure and ended up making two different rings. Of course I have more color ideas brewing for the two rings, unfortunately i'm out of sterling silver headpins for the one and need different bead caps for the other. Looks like I may need to go buy some more bead caps and headpins. I could make my own headpins, I have an inexpensive butane torch still sitting in it's package I bought just for making my own headpins and soldering. I think I might make some this weekend when I will have more time. I bought this torch to see if I like torch work. If I decide that I like it then I plan on getting a better torch. Guess for now I just might use the coupons I have to get some more headpins, to save a bit of money. I don't have a lot of sterling silver available for making headpins at the moment.

Ring #1 - "Ocean Daisy" - 18g silver filled wire,Sterling silver daisy dangles, 4mm bicone violet Opal and pacific opal swarovski crystals and 2mm sterling silver beads.

Ring #2 - "Baby Blue" - 18g silver filled wire, sterling silver bead caps and frosted faceted blue glass bead.

Churning of Gears

This weekend I was cleaning, shhhhh don't tell anyone. LOL! I clean all the time but not really clean, like move things and get behind them and so forth. Well I did that this weekend to my living room. About time I sucked up the cat hair that has been collecting behind the couch. LOL!

While taking a break from the dusting and vaccuming and moving furniture around it got me to thinking about makeing stuff. I hate cleaning and only do it because it has to be done. I guess in my head, I'd rather try and create something instead of clean but with my current creative slump even that didn't get me fired up like usual. However, it didn't stop ideas from forming.

After I got done on saturday, I was to pooped to work on anything but planting my behind on the couch and holding it down. HEheHE!

Sunday, I did dabble a little bit with some stretch lace that I forgot I had and came across again in a long forgotten box of material and trims. It's remnants from I don't remember when. When my daughter was a newborn I used to make her little stretchy lace headbands with flowers and bows to wear. So I got out some needle and thread, sewed one of the smaller pieces together and put a couple of yellow gingham flowers off to the side a bit on it and secured the flowers with a dab of fabric glue. It still needs something but it hasn't come to me yet. I was going to take pictures but the camera batteries were dead, it was late so I'll get pics tomorrow.

Fun

You are The Moon

Hope, expectation, Bright promises.

The Moon is a card of magic and mystery - when prominent you know that nothing is as it seems, particularly when it concerns relationships. All logic is thrown out the window.

The Moon is all about visions and illusions, madness, genius and poetry. This is a card that has to do with sleep, and so with both dreams and nightmares. It is a scary card in that it warns that there might be hidden enemies, tricks and falsehoods. But it should also be remembered that this is a card of great creativity, of powerful magic, primal feelings and intuition. You may be going through a time of emotional and mental trial; if you have any past mental problems, you must be vigilant in taking your medication but avoid drugs or alcohol, as abuse of either will cause them irreparable damage. This time however, can also result in great creativity, psychic powers, visions and insight. You can and should trust your intuition.

What Tarot Card are You?
Take the Test to Find Out.

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Looking forward

Maybe things are starting to move forward a bit. I just got another sale, so that makes 3 total since March. I hoped but didn't really expect to get a lot of sales and considering I don't have to much in there at the moment. I really need to choose more things to part with and make more things to part with. :)

Well, I made the leap and actually ordered some buisness cards from Vistaprint. For now they will do. I'd like to put them in with all the purchases made from my shop.

Improving the Odds

Well I finally did it. I got a photo album up on Flickr to showcase some of the work I have done. I need to get better pictures so that I can post them on my Etsy shop to sell. I put the link up so that anyone can go see some of my work.

OdetteDesigns Photo Album

I had a sale today. I'm so happy, even though it wasn't much. It makes me feel good and in a way, makes me want to put more stuff up there to sell. I really need to get that purple fringed bracelet done. I'll see if I have some free time this evening to work on it. Right now, my evening looks a bit full (sigh).

It's Hot!

We've been hitting triple digits lately or very close to triple digits. All I want to do really is sleep and stay cool. Since I haven't finished the purple fringe bracelet, I thought I'd share some pictures.

I love taking pictures of clouds. Clouds all white and fluffy, storm clouds, sunrise or sunset, I love to take their picture. I wish I had a better camera or atleast the wide angle lens attachment.

Enjoy!

This is an altered pictures. I was playing around in PhotoShop.


This is just an interesting picture. Unfortunately the picture really doesn't capture the intensity of the color and the shape of the cloud.


I thought this was an interesting formation. Kinda reminds me of some type of dinosaur. It was taken the same day as the photo above, same cloud formation.


Just an interesting lonely cloud.


This photo kinda looks like somebody sitting adjusting their hat.

Moving Forward

Morning! I'm really tired, not much sleep and it's really HOT!

I finally stopped by the store and got some more purple beads and took apart the bracelet I started, seperated some beads and started again. I'm much happier with the newer version than with the 1st one. I still haven't found my brown fringed bracelet. I know I have it lying around somewhere.

I haven't been around to much on my forums or posting for that matter. I just feel so drained most of the time. I'm going to try and work a little bit on the bracelet everyday till I get it finished.

I did buy some fabric over the weekend, just a scrap piece. It's going to be turned into a hippy messenger type bag. I just need to find a nice coordinating color as the liner. I'm actually somewhat looking forward to working on that. I found another small box of fabric and trim that I forgot where it was. I knew I had more than what was there and felt like I was missing stuff, but I found it. YEAH! I just need to go through that box and see what I want to keep and what I don't need anymore, fun.

When creativity flops

I don't know if it is the bad lighting or what. I started working on the purple beaded fringe bracelet last night and it just isn't doing it for me. I need to take it apart and start all over. I think I may need to go and buy some different purple beads than what I have. The base line of beads just isn't cutting it. I thought I had a mix of purple or maybe blue beads like I do of some brown and I can't seem to locate them anywhere. I really need to do some spring cleaning this weekend. Back to the drawing board.

Come back energy

I lack energy. I lack the Umph that usually gets me through. This is probably the longest I've ever gone in a creative slump. I've been sick the past couple of days. Though being sick these past few days doesn't answer why i've been in a creative slump for the last few years.

I started pulling together some beads to make a purple beaded fringe bracelet. I want to make a brown one but can't find the closure button I need. I know it's around some where. I thought about doing a black and white one as well but I don't have many "white" beads. I have blue beads but need a blue button closure for that one, just haven't found the "right blue" closure just yet.

I thought I had a picture I could post of a similar beaded fringe bracelet. Guess I'll have to take a new picture of it and post later. I need to fix a minor detail on the one that I made for myself. It feels great when you wear it and I like just giving my wrist a shake. So fun to wear too.


I need to stop by the store and buy some more buttons so that I can make several colors.

Over the weekend

Lately my creativity has been lacking in the UMPH! department. I don't lack the ideas, I have oodles of them.

This weekend I decided to play with some polymer clay. I removed the clay from around a couple of pens I was no longer happy with and tried thinner clay. I was going to try and do a retro looking pen design but it didn't really come out like I wanted it to. I used a scrap cane that didn't work, browns, black, translucent and white. The pattern did, after 2 extrusions, resemble a bit of a cheetah print, sorta. I covered one the pens I had just pulled clay off of and wraped it and baked it. After baking I did some sanding and then put a few layers of sculpey glaze on it.


1st, I left the pen in the oven to long so it is much darker than it should have been.
2nd, The glaze stuff, just to thick and left streaks. I think I may have applied it to thick. I used a paint brush instead of a makeup applicator, like I normally do.

I do like using the clay thinner than I the previous designs on the pen casing. I think I'll try again on the second one and this time keep a better eye on it. I think I may make up several and offer them in my etsy shop.

A Journey of Creation

A new blog, A new day. This is a step forward into expressing my creativity.

What does creativity mean to me?

I've spent time thinking about this question. Creativity is my outlet of expression. As far back as I can remember I've always done something creative, drawing, writing, crochet, sewing, always something. Creativity is the release valve on the steam pressure cooker of my life.

I enjoy working with many different materials. I don't have one specific set design, I just go with my flow. I get inspiration from everywhere.

Examples of my work:

CF style inspired dragon.

Crystal and Tourmaline bracelet

Wire ring I made for my daughter.

Beaded art doll necklace

My craft bag that I designed and sewed.

As you can see I work with several different things. I also sculpt, crochet, cross-stitch, paint ceramics, knitting, scrapbooking, some paper/fiber crafts. I draw on occassion. I do what I like whichever idea and medium pull at me.