Joanne’s Bracelet…

Here are a few pictures of the charm bracelets from the intermediate beading class.  This was everyone’s first attempt at making a charm bracelet.  Talking to them now, 4 months later, it’s still a favorite.  Mine too.

Chris’s Bracelet….

Love those ribbon charms!

Bridget’s Bracelet….

It really is an anything goes bracelet, using whatever you feel like.  Throw out all the rules and you get fabulousness.  I promise.

If you’ve ever been on vacation or gone antiquing with me, you know that by the end of the trip, my pockets are loaded with this’s and that’s.  Nothing in particular, but a lot of somethings….if that makes any sense.  One of my favorite pieces of jewelry to make are charm bracelets.  They allow for working in themes or you can attach whatever makes your heart sing at the moment.  The latter is the route I took for this particular bracelet.  Some initials, a little white beaded dog, an old license plate key chain thingy, a blue glass elephant from Germany and a lot of other random bits.  You can basically make a charm bracelet out of anything by drilling a hole and connecting a jump ring.  This project was the final class in my four week intermediate beading class here—I showed them the bracelet two weeks prior to making it so they could be scavenging for special parts and pieces.  So tomorrow, I’ll show you some of their finished bracelets…

I know.  It doesn’t look like much, but think of it like an ancient pottery shard dug up from the earth.  Ok, that’s a little dramatic.  I found it digging through a box of my old kid stuff last summer.  I’m always happily surprised when things like this turn up.  Sometimes, being a pack rat is a good thing, I guess.    It’s a brooch made from "friendly plastic" that I decorated with a stone and rhinestone chain shaped into my initial.  So class-ay, eh?!?!  Oh and don’t forget that pinking sheared orange buzz strip! I had my first friendly plastic experience in fourth grade at a Saturday art workshop for kids.  We were hooked, so my mom and I got some to experiment with.  Looking at this piece, I can still remember the bowl of hot water I soaked the pieces in and working at the end of our old stove on 449 Allen St.  Don’t you love the associations that come with objects? Especially handmade ones?  Looking back, we really do have it "in" us our whole lives in terms of what our passions will be.  The art workshop could have just been the first piece to the puzzle.  Ah, the magic of life…

Happy Flashbacks!  For more flashback fun, check out Katie’s adorable bracelet.  And, send me a link if you ever feel like sharing one of your flashbacks.

Living here, the holidays really sneak up on me.  I’m still wondering where Valentines Day went, you know? But, I was determined not to miss Easter this year because I’ve been saving these little pink mirror bunny charms to make some special Spring bling.  They are made of plastic and I hope the vendor here keeps making mirror charms like this because they are so cool….and multi-functional (ta-da! check your lipstick in the mirror on your charm).  I used funky "Easter Grass Green" polka dot and leafy beads alongside crystals to create the bunny trail.  A Beadalon bail holds the bunny to the trail.  Ha, that rhymed!

I like to layer my jewels so I’m working a simple crocheted silk chain with more crystals and flower shaped sequins.  If you crochet with beads, you’ll love Clover’s new mini-crochet hooks.  Ergonomic handle on the hook.  Thaaaaank you.  Check out the Simply Beads Feb. issue for a project similar to this silk chain.

I’m almost finished cooking up some eggs for your blog breakfast tomorrow.  See you on the bunny trail!

Today we rented a car and driver from the hotel so we could go out exploring.  This is a picture of school letting out for lunch-those are motorcycle taxis on the wall. We hit the local grocery for some bags of dried mango slices.  Heaven.   I think I bought enough to last me a lifetime.  Botch also wanted some more Colgate 360 toothbrushes-we’re both hooked on those at the moment.  Have you tried them?  Fabulous.  We poked around the souvenir shop, bought some gifts and these:

Key chains-Smeechains, those are beads!!!  BIG, lovely, honkin’ BEADS!  They are inlaid shell and what a score at around a dollar each!  I love the stripey ball.  Always bring a few beads home from your travels.  You can use them in future jewelry projects and remind yourself of that wonderful trip to wherever.

I didn’t take too many pictures today.  Mostly from the car like this one. I’m mad at myself for not taking some pictures of the wonderfully painted "multi-cabs." Google it, I’m sure there are a million pictures of them….

Here’s a little bracelet I whipped up to match my Asian-esque shirt I wore at CHA.  I’ve been saving the deer charm for months.   Do you have little whimsies like that?  You know you can’t use it for just anything.  I’ve got a barrel full of em’.

The chunky glass beads are part of Plaid’s new Connect line, to be released this Spring/Summer, pink tassel is from Fire Mountain Gems (woo hoo! They come in a variety pack-more for the barrel), and the sparkly drops are from Beadalon.  I threw in some little cherry blossom plastic beads to keep with the Spring pallet and Asia feel.  It’s ALMOST symmetrical.  I had a bit of space left at the end and instead of re-doing the whole thing adding more doodly-dads,  I strung another bead.  Guilty.  Shoulda woulda coulda, but I decided that it was a "sign" that the gap was equal to the bead’s width.  Seriously.  I’m really having fun using all my Chinese and Asian beads.  So many ideas, but I have to let the soup simmer-Regardless Vegetable, Chicken, or Bead.

Last weekend, our friends and us headed to the most crazy shopping experience alive–The Lohu Train Station here in Shenzhen.  This place will make your head spin.   "Missy, Missy, Missy!" they yell out to you as you walk down the halls by all the stores.  Botch and I wondered around inside (you know if the place makes you nuts, it makes your husband a kagillion times nuts) and then outside for some fresh air.  We made our way back into the wasp’s nest to the jewelry market.  I have to say he did quite well.  We picked out these rings, bought some carved eggs and that was about it.  You know how I love loud rings and these are so different than anything I have.  I’ve had so many people say, "I don’t think I could wear a ring like that"  And I say, "yes you can, rock your style for Pete’s sake!"  Right?  Life’s too short, not to. 

Rocker is smooshed up against my back here on the couch as I write this.  Spring is here, but it’s still a bit cold in our marble ice box of an apartment.  Botch is out in factory land tonight trialling a mold, so it’s just the Rock-man and me.  I’ve got a conference call to make here in a half hour to my editor and the art director of my book.  Did I tell you I started a second book?  I’m so excited!  More later…