Thursday, October 30, 2008

Not Quite There Yet

I purchased a bracelet tutorial from gailavira on Etsy recently and thought I was up to the task...




It didn't quite go as I expected it to.

It was harder than I thought it would be. This weave is easy in itself, but I had a hard time keeping the frame wires straight. My end result came out messy and not uniform at all.

They say practice makes perfect...I guess I'll be practicing a bit longer on this particular weave.

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Ya' Can't Kill Me, Copper!

On one of my jewelry-making groups today, they were talking about copper and a study done in England regarding copper's healing properties. Here is a sample of the article...

"Making door handles, taps and light switches from copper could help the country beat superbugs, scientists say.

A study found that copper fittings rapidly killed bugs on hospital wards, succeeding where other infection control measures failed.

In the trial at Selly Oak hospital, in Birmingham, copper taps, toilet seats and push plates on doors all but eliminated common bugs.

It is thought the metal 'suffocates' germs, preventing them breathing. It may also stop them from feeding and destroy their DNA.

Lab tests show that the metal kills off the deadly MRSA and C difficile superbugs.

It also kills other dangerous germs, including the flu virus and the E coli food poisoning bug.

Although the number of cases of MRSA and C difficile is falling, the two bugs still claim thousands of lives a year.

During the ten-week trial on a medical ward, a set of taps, a lavatory seat and a push plate on an entrance door were replaced with copper versions. They were swabbed twice a day for bugs and the results compared with a traditional tap, lavatory seat and push plate elsewhere in the ward.
The copper items had up to 95 per cent fewer bugs on their surface whenever they were tested, a U.S. conference on antibiotics heard yesterday.

Professor Tom Elliott, the lead researcher and a consultant microbiologist at the hospital, said: 'The findings of 90 to 95 per cent killing of those organisms, even after a busy day on a medical ward with items being touched by numerous people, is remarkable..."

You can read the rest of the article here. It is very interesting and raises all sorts of questions and possibilities.

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

I started a Creative Writing Club at the school that I am the librarian at, and so far it is going good. The kids seem to enjoy it and that's what counts. I gave them a writing assignment for tomorrow's club day and I can't wait to see what they have written.

Things to do Before Craft Fairs:

Buy longer tablecloth
table lighting
Buy earring cards w/logo
tweak display

Monday, October 20, 2008

Friday, October 17, 2008

Beading and Jewelry-Making Beginnings

When I started making jewelry, I was at a loss on how to start, so I did a lot of internet research to find my way.

First, what kind of jewelry did I want to make?

Well, I knew I wanted it to be linked with nature in some way, so I checked out all the different types of beads out there. I chose gemstones and glass beads over resin, shell and plastic.

Second, I researched tools. The more I learned, the more I realised there were more tools needed all the time. But the basics suited for a while. Basics being: flush cutter/nipper, round nose pliers, beading wire, crimps, and crimping pliers. Not to mention the findings (clasps, bails, spacer beads for accent, etc...)

Third, I subscribed to Bead Style magazine to get ideas on what I wanted my jewelry to look like. Bead Style has all of your basics to get you started as well as jewelry projects, reader's gallery of creations, how-to videos and more.

Another great magazine is Step by Step Wire jewelry magazine for those of us wanting to learn more about wire-wrapping. It has some awesome tutorials!

Fourth, I joined a few yahoo groups on beading and jewelry-making. The networking is invaluable. You meet people who are doing the same thing as you as well as people who have been there and can offer advice.

Here are some groups that I have joined:

Jewelry Making

Bead on a Wire

Wire Wrap Jewelry

Unique Wire Artists


The more I learn, the more I realise that there is much more to learn and more tools to purchase. Right now I am wanting a jewelry tumbler so I can get a nice polish on my pieces, but until then, hand-polishing is in order.



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On another note, I will be at a couple of craft fairs next month. Eisenhower High School in Blue Island, IL and Our Lady of the Ridge in Chicago Ridge, IL. I have a bit more tweaking of my display booth to do in the meantime, such as a bigger table and longer table cloth. I'd also love to have a banner made up with my logo...as soon as I get a logo made.








Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Made a Sale!

Well, today is starting off well.
I made a sale!
There it was as plain as day,
A sale to liven up my day.

That is always something nice to see first thing in the morning. Someone liked my Warrior River Cuff enough to buy it for themselves. I hope they enjoy it.

Saturday, October 11, 2008

Firefly Tribute

Mal's Song


I am a member of Etsy's Big Damn Crafters group and love anything Firefly. Today, I found this video on Myspace. I loved that show!

Thursday, October 9, 2008

What I Thought I Could Be, Is Not Possible

OK. To start with, I am the school librarian at my kids' private school and this is my second year. Last year, I was a volunteer so the homeroom teachers sat in with them while they checked out books, read, and/or did homework. This year, I am officially on staff and I have the classes all by myself.

I had the reputation of being a nice, kindly librarian who gently interested the kids in reading and was a friendly type.

This year, I feel as if I am turning into Linda Blair, or the Wicked Witch of the West.

I was hoping they would respect me and the environment and whisper in the library.

Hmmmfff! Not so. The majority of them like to talk loud and run around the room. Last week was so bad and I was so frazzled, that I banned one class from coming back for a week.

They think they can get away with more since I am not an actual teacher, but they are learning the hard way that I won't take misbehavior. It's hard for me to be like that, but with their teachers' help, and some nice little detention slips, I am learning to be more in control of the classes.

I tell you what...as soon as I get home, I am locking myself into my studio/office and making some nice earrings to go with my wire ring. Jewelry-making is so therapeutic.

Monday, October 6, 2008

Here I am!

Well, I just love my new avatar so much that I forget that you don't know what I look like or that I am a real person, so here I am!


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Had enough? ;)

Sunday, October 5, 2008

Fall Craft Fairs

Well, I have been busy lately trying to find local craft fairs to sell my jewelry at. Craftlisters.com has a great selection of events to apply to and I have had success with what I have attended so far.

Fall is a good time for Holiday Craft fairs and I am excited to get started. Here are a couple of my latest pieces -





On another note: I joined my first etsy group, the Big Damn Crafters, who are big into the series Firefly, which was on SciFi and then cancelled.

Check out Ohm Shanti Handcrafts...I love her Footy Spray!