This pioneer gal knows how to start fires and write a Valentine!

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If you would have told me ten years ago that I'd live in a cabin complete with a rock fire place and hefty wood pile outside (in which you helped stack and have to worry about covering with a tarp…as well as your dog whizzing on said pile)…  Well, I would have said, "dude, you are like…. crazy!"  Because it was ten years ago and we did insert the word "like" any chance we could.  I might still do it from time to time.  Totally.  But, tonight finds me curled up next to a fire that I started (I had to read how to in a magazine) studying and reading about art history.  With a pile of wood I carried up the stairs, is also a bit of newspaper aka…kindling.  This gets me to the point of this post.  My friend surprised me with a truckload of wood for Christmas.  Best gift ever!  Second best gift from my aunt and uncle is this…

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A wheel barrow full of kindling bundles.  Not just any kindling though!  These bundles are hand picked grasses, pinecones, bark pieces, sticks, evergreens, dried leaves bound with a pretty red string.  Not to mention they burn like the wind!  So I was thinking girls, if you are looking for a sweet valentine for your man-friend this year, kindling bundles may make their heart flutter (or they might look at it like …?..).  But, let's say they go with the flutter—You could even tie some little paper hearts to the bundles.  And why stop there?  When writing your valentine, you can play with the word burn or fire…  My heart burns for you… or….you fill all my burning desires….or…..Fire me up, Valentine!  I'll stop there.  (giggling…and red faced)  You get the idea.  I do love me some cheesy Valentines though.  "Melts" just came to mind also.  Wahhh! Stopping.  So, with fire crackling, I should get back to my studies.  Warm wishes and smiles from me. 

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This weekend was pretty chill for the most part.  I went to a party with friends Friday night and celebrated my mom's 57th birthday Saturday night.  Somewhere in the middle I filmed a little video for Plaid (more on that later).  And yesterday I went to a sweet little baby shower.  Now that I recall all that, I guess it was pretty busy.  But, it felt pretty laid back!  How does that happen?  Rocky and I hiked both days and both days we were extremely grateful for the sun shining on the glittery snow.  It was 8 degrees, so I packed a thermos of coffee to keep my core warm, but everything was so bright and overwhelmingly beautiful I didn't notice being cold.  Mind over matter?  I think.

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The pictures were taken with the Hipstamatic iPhone app.  Check out the Flickr group here. I'm in love with all the combinations.  Will I even haul my big camera around anymore?  

If you are a foodie, I think you may love this blog as much as I do.  I just stumbled on it and it's full of sweet ideas!  Sweet!

https://www.candiecooper.com/2011/01/10/this-weekend-was-pretty-chill-for-the-most-part-i-went-to-a-party-with-friends-friday-night-and-celebrated-my-moms-57th-bi/

Success…

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And here it is!  Elephant Ear Cheesecake!  I made it for the party last night and it hit the spot!  It went together in a snap and filled the cabin with a toasty, cinnamon, cozy smell.  You know the one.  If you can swing it, try to eat it while it's still warm.  Oh. Mama.  It's a keeper!

New Jewelry Book on the Shelf…

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Man, oh man this book is super cool!  It's by Linda Kopp who was also the editor for Metalworking 101 for Beaders.  It's called the Jewelry Design Challenge because all of the designers were sent the same materials to create one piece of jewelry for the book.  We could do whatever we wanted with the materials plus add one "wild card" material—this element made the challenge even more fun.  I chose fiber/felt.  I was really inspired and intrigued on so many variations with the same materials.  Here's a little snippet of my piece in the book…that looks way better in the actual book.  Shooting on polka-dots…what was I thinking?

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Aw, Rocky Ears…

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And that pretty much says it all….except for there is a new dessert I want to make for a gathering this Friday.  Elephant Ear Cheesecake.  Have you made it?

Preciosa and Vintaj….Love.


 

Right before Christmas I headed to Cleveland to tape a segment for Beads Baubles and Jewels. It was a blast seeing and meeting new friends.  Katie Hacker has some great pictures on her blog from the week.  Beads Baubles and Jewels has tons of interesting techniques if you are looking for new ideas to expand your jewelry making repertoire.  The above video is from a segment I did this summer that has already aired featuring John Bead's Preciosa Crystal Pendants.  I also used Beadalon's gunmetal chain and Vintaj's natural brass components.  You can find a detailed picture and instructions for this piece here.  I hope you have a great day that includes doing something creative. 

*The television show, Beads Baubles and Jewels airs on PBS.

A True Love of Mine…

He smells and smells some more and I absolutely love him anyway.  He is the Pig Pen of patinas.  Liver of Sulphur.  Sigh.  I use this patina pretty much any chance I can.  I've even finished a piece that I really didn't much care for only to throw a Hail Mary Liver of Sulphur Patina on it that ended up winning the game.  Or in this case saving an ugly piece of jewelry.  Here's a little tutorial I did showing how to highlight textured or stamped metal way back in the Candie Cast days that I wanted to move over to this blog.  It's an ol' faithful technique so here goes:  

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The small can with the tweezers on top is filled with the liver of sulphur chunks.  Keep all water drips away from your can of LOS, one drop can ruin the whole can and that's a real bummer!  It's worth mentioning that these days liver of sulphur comes in many forms like gel or pre mixed. Missy here learned it with the chunks so that's what she's stickin' to.

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Make sure your piece is free of dirt and oil or else the patina won't take to the surface. Clean it with dish soap and a tooth brush, maybe even some pumice powder. Dip the piece into the solution or leave it to obtain black.  Copper and silver both go through lots of colors when dipped in the solution.  Rinse it at anytime to keep the color you like.  

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Wet your thumb and then dip it into pumice powder.  Rub the pumice powder on the surface to remove the patina leaving the LOS in the recessed areas.  Rinse when finished.

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Here's another true love.  Brass the Brush.  Get one from a jewelry supply store—not those vicious bristled things in the furniture refinishing section of the hardware store.  You know the ones–short and cute on the outside. Wet the brush and add a drop of dish soap.

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Brush.  Brush. Brush.  Brush.  Rinse.  Snap.

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I added some small dots around the square with a center punch for fun.  You can apply liver of sulphur to silver plated findings as well.  I do that a lot because I love that gunmetal color.  It's just one more way to make it your own too.

Rocker is here on my lap.  He needs a bath.  Bad.  My hair is standing on end.  I need a shower.  Bad.  Well wait, lets get you a pic…

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It was impossible to get my chicken head hair and him in the shot.  You can imagine the hair and Rocker is way more cute.  He buries his head in my arm I think to block out the light.  Oh, this dog.  It's time to get cleaned up and down to the studio.  I love you for stopping by.