It has been a sort of Crazy Town kind of week with the 9th graders. As a result, I am super tired, so I'm just going to post the photos of the necklaces that I made for the Cyclefest 2014 benefit this year.
It was fun to pull out all of my beading stuff and come up with a few designs.
Here's what I came up with. I hope they all go for reasonable prices. The blue and gold one is for Georgia Gould, the featured guest. She is one of the few professional female cyclists who makes enough to live a decent life. She was also supportive and encouraging towards Ellie, cheering for her by name at races. I hope she likes what I made for her.
These other two will be put out in the silent auction.
Tomorrow most of the 9th graders are going on a field trip. I will stay at school with the kids who cannot go because they are failing one or more classes. It will be an interesting day. I'm sure that I will need to do something creative by the time I get home from work.
---------------
Ellie loves to watch some of the talent search programs. We enjoyed a few together this evening:
This one, "Tea and Toast" brings a tear to Ellie's eye every time.
Jade Richards, 21:
This one has some features Lillie McCloud, 54 years old and amazingly talented:
Do you need to cry again? Here's one that will do it to you:
Ashley Williams
Ella Henderson, 16:
I found this one on my own:
Showing posts with label jewelry. Show all posts
Showing posts with label jewelry. Show all posts
Thursday, May 01, 2014
Thursday, August 01, 2013
Getting Ready for a Holiday - A Pedicure and Anklets
My lucky girl is on her way to North Carolina today. She is with Kohlton, Mark and Martine. They are going to spend the next week sailing a yacht and hanging out on the beach. Mark's (Kohlton's dad) best friend, Donny is a yacht dealer who owns a house near the beach. Ellie is going to have a wonderful adventure.
I made some anklets for the girls on the trip. Ellie refashioned a leather anklet. She took off of the charms and added skull beads as well as a jade doughnut. I made my anklets with glass beads, crystals, hematite, turquoise and stretchy cord. Martine has a metal sensitivity and so I needed to work around that. I was worried about using the stretchy cord as I was not sure how to tie the knot so that it would stay secure. (I'm including a helpful video on how to secure the knot at the end of this post.)
On Tuesday Ellie and went for the pedicures for the first time. It was awesome! Christy and Connie joined us.
We got to soak our toes in a bubbly tub.
They trimmed out nails, took care of the cuticles.
Ivy even took care of my awful, cracked heels by taking a cheese grater tool to my heels.
We had the paraffin wax treatment, foot and leg massages and a salt scrub on the legs.
Then we got another foot massage and our nails painted.
I think we are going to have to do that again!
Oh yes, I almost forgot - here's the video on how to secure the knots made of stretchy cord.
Here's a fun recipe card from Kevin and Amanda:
Flavored Lemonade - 3 ways
I made some anklets for the girls on the trip. Ellie refashioned a leather anklet. She took off of the charms and added skull beads as well as a jade doughnut. I made my anklets with glass beads, crystals, hematite, turquoise and stretchy cord. Martine has a metal sensitivity and so I needed to work around that. I was worried about using the stretchy cord as I was not sure how to tie the knot so that it would stay secure. (I'm including a helpful video on how to secure the knot at the end of this post.)
On Tuesday Ellie and went for the pedicures for the first time. It was awesome! Christy and Connie joined us.
We got to soak our toes in a bubbly tub.
They trimmed out nails, took care of the cuticles.
Ivy even took care of my awful, cracked heels by taking a cheese grater tool to my heels.
We had the paraffin wax treatment, foot and leg massages and a salt scrub on the legs.
Then we got another foot massage and our nails painted.
I think we are going to have to do that again!
Oh yes, I almost forgot - here's the video on how to secure the knots made of stretchy cord.
Here's a fun recipe card from Kevin and Amanda:
Flavored Lemonade - 3 ways
Wednesday, May 29, 2013
Stuff for Cyclefest
Cyclefest, the main fundraiser for the mountain bike league scholarships, is Friday. It is a gala event where the big names and supports of mountain biking in Colorado will be.

This is the entry way poster. It is glorious when it is printed. It will be done on a high gloss paper and mounted on foam core. It is 24" x 36". Heather and Jeremy will both sign the poster and someone will get to take it home. Last year the folks from Primal took the poster. They are one of the most consistent and generous sponsors of bike racing in the state, so it was fitting for them to have it. I have conferred with Austin about elements of the design. We are two arts and graphics geeks taking about colors, lines, visual weight, etc. It is great fun for me to have someone else to talk to about these things. Ellie is great at those conversations, too, but she is busy with her own thing these days.

I also made a spoke nipple necklace and bracelet for the auction. I've only ever made them for specific individuals, thinking about them as I choose the beads and create a design. This will be the only one I have ever offered for sale. It is for an excellent cause and I hope there is interest in bidding on the set.

This is the entry way poster. It is glorious when it is printed. It will be done on a high gloss paper and mounted on foam core. It is 24" x 36". Heather and Jeremy will both sign the poster and someone will get to take it home. Last year the folks from Primal took the poster. They are one of the most consistent and generous sponsors of bike racing in the state, so it was fitting for them to have it. I have conferred with Austin about elements of the design. We are two arts and graphics geeks taking about colors, lines, visual weight, etc. It is great fun for me to have someone else to talk to about these things. Ellie is great at those conversations, too, but she is busy with her own thing these days.

I also made a spoke nipple necklace and bracelet for the auction. I've only ever made them for specific individuals, thinking about them as I choose the beads and create a design. This will be the only one I have ever offered for sale. It is for an excellent cause and I hope there is interest in bidding on the set.
Thursday, November 08, 2012
Handmade Jewelry for the AVS Charity Auction
Every year I made some jewelry for the Alpine Valley School tuition assistance fund benefit.
(I see I have to make these match - good thing I caught that!)
This year I incorporated some elements, mostly crystals, that are from 1930's vintage costume jewelry. I had making them. I hope someone else loves them, too.
(I see I have to make these match - good thing I caught that!)
This year I incorporated some elements, mostly crystals, that are from 1930's vintage costume jewelry. I had making them. I hope someone else loves them, too.
Thursday, August 02, 2012
Bike Spoke Jewelry, Tomatoes and Tilapia
You know the boy on the bike sporting a tutu in the previous post? He is usually very fashionable in a manly sort of way. It is his birthday on Sunday and I wanted to make sure we had something special for his birthday, so I made him an 18" necklace that features colored spoke nipples. They fun to put together.
This one is for Maris. It was fun to make. Once I got started, I had to make more.
Next up was the necklace for Kathy, Ellie's coach.
And then I offered one to The Girl. She requested Rasta colors.
This one ended up being my favorite. It is for Kate, the person who heads up the Colorado High School Cycling League and puts together the HS mountain bike races that Ellie enjoys.
I have not cleaned up my art room as I may make some more.
We enjoyed some super sweet, tiny tomatoes from our garden. The first of what I hope will be a bounty.
My oven has developed a problem with the oven burner. It is not functioning properly. Somehow it has changed shape just enough to allow gas to escape, which in turn ignites a fireball that makes a scary noise and pops the oven door open just a bit. The repair man says that the repair part will not arrive until Aug. 26th. Until then I need to restrict my use of the oven. Bummer! That is a long time to go without the oven, mostly. That made dinner last night a bit of a challenge. I made a special Tilapia recipe.
Parmesan and Paprika Crusted Tilapia
3 TBL Butter
6 Tilapia Fillets, thawed
Paprika
Parmesan, shredded
Sprinkle the paprika over each Tilapia fillet. Use your fingers or the back of the spoon to rub it into the fish on both sides.
Melt the butter in the pan.
Sprinkle some Parmesan in the pan in the place for the fillets. Place the fillets on top of the cheese. Sprinkle more cheese on the top of the fish. Cook on medium high for about 4 minutes. Flip carefully so that the cheese transfers with the fish. Cook for a few more minutes so that the fish is cooked through.
Serve plain or with avacado and tomato slices.
This one is for Maris. It was fun to make. Once I got started, I had to make more.
Next up was the necklace for Kathy, Ellie's coach.
And then I offered one to The Girl. She requested Rasta colors.
This one ended up being my favorite. It is for Kate, the person who heads up the Colorado High School Cycling League and puts together the HS mountain bike races that Ellie enjoys.
I have not cleaned up my art room as I may make some more.
We enjoyed some super sweet, tiny tomatoes from our garden. The first of what I hope will be a bounty.
My oven has developed a problem with the oven burner. It is not functioning properly. Somehow it has changed shape just enough to allow gas to escape, which in turn ignites a fireball that makes a scary noise and pops the oven door open just a bit. The repair man says that the repair part will not arrive until Aug. 26th. Until then I need to restrict my use of the oven. Bummer! That is a long time to go without the oven, mostly. That made dinner last night a bit of a challenge. I made a special Tilapia recipe.
Parmesan and Paprika Crusted Tilapia
3 TBL Butter
6 Tilapia Fillets, thawed
Paprika
Parmesan, shredded
Sprinkle the paprika over each Tilapia fillet. Use your fingers or the back of the spoon to rub it into the fish on both sides.
Melt the butter in the pan.
Sprinkle some Parmesan in the pan in the place for the fillets. Place the fillets on top of the cheese. Sprinkle more cheese on the top of the fish. Cook on medium high for about 4 minutes. Flip carefully so that the cheese transfers with the fish. Cook for a few more minutes so that the fish is cooked through.
Serve plain or with avacado and tomato slices.
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
A Bit of Jewelry Making, Painting and Cooking
A few weeks ago I took a Viking Metal Knitting class over at Kary Kilmer Designs.
I made the silver one in class. Working with the sterling silver wire was very satisfying. I loved the process and the simplicity of the design. I wanted to make sure that I could remember the process and do it on my own so I made another bracelet out of a black base wire. That bracelet was for Kohlton.
Christy's 16th birthday was coming up, so I made another one. This was made from purple wire. I crimped in some tiger tail wire so that I could weave in a few fun beads. I also made a bracelet for Ellie with some of the black wire and a bit of gold wire, too.
Kary's class was great. I'd like to take the advanced class. Below you can view an old video of part of the process.
In the midst of my making jewelry, Ellie was busy, too, making a large banner to honor her best friend.
This is a picture from the birthday party. This picture cracks me up. It is the straight and oh-so-serious faces that get me. I laugh every time I see it, still.
Here's a recipe that I made recently. I did not put it in a crust. I served it with rice crackers instead.
Angelita's Empanada
via: Wall Street Journal, July 6, 2012
Serves: 6-8
FOR THE PASTRY (I did not make the pastry. I served it on crackers)
1 large Egg
1 teaspoon Baking Soda
½ cup Olive Oil
½ cup Dry White Wine or Hard Cider
½ teaspoon Salt
About 2¼ cups all-purpose Flour
1 Egg, separated
FOR THE FILLING
1 large Onion, chopped
1 Red Bell Pepper, cored, seeded and cut into small pieces (I did not have this)
2 tablespoons Olive Oil
1 (14-ounce) can chopped Tomatoes (I used halved fresh grape tomatoes instead)
1 teaspoon Sugar
Salt, to taste (omitted)
About 14 ounces canned Tuna in oil, drained and flaked
20-24 black olives, such as Kalamata, pitted and chopped (I used sliced black olives)
3 TBL Capers, drained
20 Green Olives with Pimentos, chopped
2 hard-boiled eggs, chopped
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Make the pastry: Beat egg lightly with a fork in a large bowl. Beat in baking soda, oil, wine and salt. Gradually work in enough flour to make a soft, malleable dough, stirring it in with a fork to begin with, then working it in with your hands. Roll dough into a ball, wrap it in plastic wrap and let it rest at room temperature for an hour.
2. For the filling, fry onion and bell pepper in oil in a large skillet, stirring often, until soft. Add tomatoes, sugar and a little salt and cook over medium heat until sauce is jammy, about 15 minutes. Stir in tuna, olives and chopped eggs.
3. Grease a pie pan about 11 inches in diameter with oil. Divide dough into 2 pieces, one slightly less than twice as big as the other. Roll out the larger piece (keep the remaining dough in plastic wrap) on a smooth work surface—do not flour the surface or the rolling pin; the dough will not stick, because it is oil-based. Roll it out so that it is large enough to come over the edges of the pan, and carefully transfer dough to the pan by rolling it up onto the rolling pin, then unrolling it gently into the pan. Without stretching the dough, ease it into the corners. Trim the edges to a ½-inch border. Lightly beat egg white, and brush it all over the dough. Bake 10 minutes, then let cool.
4. Spread filling evenly in pie shell. Roll out remaining dough to a large circle and lay it carefully on top of filling so that it covers the edges of the bottom crust. Brush with egg yolk mixed with 1 teaspoon water. Bake until crust is lightly browned, 35-40 minutes. It is good hot or cold.
—From Ms. Roden's "The Food of Spain" (Ecco, 2001)
I made the silver one in class. Working with the sterling silver wire was very satisfying. I loved the process and the simplicity of the design. I wanted to make sure that I could remember the process and do it on my own so I made another bracelet out of a black base wire. That bracelet was for Kohlton.
Christy's 16th birthday was coming up, so I made another one. This was made from purple wire. I crimped in some tiger tail wire so that I could weave in a few fun beads. I also made a bracelet for Ellie with some of the black wire and a bit of gold wire, too.
Kary's class was great. I'd like to take the advanced class. Below you can view an old video of part of the process.
In the midst of my making jewelry, Ellie was busy, too, making a large banner to honor her best friend.
This is a picture from the birthday party. This picture cracks me up. It is the straight and oh-so-serious faces that get me. I laugh every time I see it, still.
Here's a recipe that I made recently. I did not put it in a crust. I served it with rice crackers instead.
Angelita's Empanada
via: Wall Street Journal, July 6, 2012
Serves: 6-8
FOR THE PASTRY (I did not make the pastry. I served it on crackers)
1 large Egg
1 teaspoon Baking Soda
½ cup Olive Oil
½ cup Dry White Wine or Hard Cider
½ teaspoon Salt
About 2¼ cups all-purpose Flour
1 Egg, separated
FOR THE FILLING
1 large Onion, chopped
1 Red Bell Pepper, cored, seeded and cut into small pieces (I did not have this)
2 tablespoons Olive Oil
1 (14-ounce) can chopped Tomatoes (I used halved fresh grape tomatoes instead)
1 teaspoon Sugar
Salt, to taste (omitted)
About 14 ounces canned Tuna in oil, drained and flaked
20-24 black olives, such as Kalamata, pitted and chopped (I used sliced black olives)
3 TBL Capers, drained
20 Green Olives with Pimentos, chopped
2 hard-boiled eggs, chopped
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Make the pastry: Beat egg lightly with a fork in a large bowl. Beat in baking soda, oil, wine and salt. Gradually work in enough flour to make a soft, malleable dough, stirring it in with a fork to begin with, then working it in with your hands. Roll dough into a ball, wrap it in plastic wrap and let it rest at room temperature for an hour.
2. For the filling, fry onion and bell pepper in oil in a large skillet, stirring often, until soft. Add tomatoes, sugar and a little salt and cook over medium heat until sauce is jammy, about 15 minutes. Stir in tuna, olives and chopped eggs.
3. Grease a pie pan about 11 inches in diameter with oil. Divide dough into 2 pieces, one slightly less than twice as big as the other. Roll out the larger piece (keep the remaining dough in plastic wrap) on a smooth work surface—do not flour the surface or the rolling pin; the dough will not stick, because it is oil-based. Roll it out so that it is large enough to come over the edges of the pan, and carefully transfer dough to the pan by rolling it up onto the rolling pin, then unrolling it gently into the pan. Without stretching the dough, ease it into the corners. Trim the edges to a ½-inch border. Lightly beat egg white, and brush it all over the dough. Bake 10 minutes, then let cool.
4. Spread filling evenly in pie shell. Roll out remaining dough to a large circle and lay it carefully on top of filling so that it covers the edges of the bottom crust. Brush with egg yolk mixed with 1 teaspoon water. Bake until crust is lightly browned, 35-40 minutes. It is good hot or cold.
—From Ms. Roden's "The Food of Spain" (Ecco, 2001)
Sunday, December 04, 2011
Bracelets for Friends
Ellie and I made a few small presents recently.

This is a cool project using a ball chain as part of the weaving for a friendship bracelet. You can find an excellent tutorial here.

This is a more typical style of wrap bracelet that I made with semi-precious stone beads. She looks cute using it as a necklace instead of a bracelet.
This hexnut bracelet looks fun, too. You can find the tutorial to make it over here.

This is a cool project using a ball chain as part of the weaving for a friendship bracelet. You can find an excellent tutorial here.

This is a more typical style of wrap bracelet that I made with semi-precious stone beads. She looks cute using it as a necklace instead of a bracelet.
This hexnut bracelet looks fun, too. You can find the tutorial to make it over here.
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Wondering the Streets Downtown - Skating, Shopping and Eating

Laurel, Rhys and their mom, Mike, came up from Monument to hang out with us yesterday. Ethan, Rhys and Larr spent time at the Hidee Mine.

We girls went downtown. Ellie and Laurel went skating. Mike and I rode the shuttle up the mall then did a wee bit of shopping.

I thought these vintage inspired decorations were lovely.


We had lunch at the Hard Rock Cafe.

Once we were back home the girls did silly stuff while Mike and I made jewelry from beads and bike parts (spoke nipples).


Monday, May 24, 2010
Beads for School - Silent Auction Items I've made
I had a fun time making jewelry for the silent action at AVS. I hope people bid on them.

Two sizes of green, yellow, orange, red and opal seed beads on illusion filament. This is inspired by the colors on some of my favorite skirts from Coldwater Creek.

Purple, Lavender, and Dark Purple Swavorki Beads interspersed with silver chain. Purple is my favorite color and, like a raven, I am always drawn to the shiny beads when I visit a bead store. This style is fashioned after the most often sold necklaces that Bead Haven makes to sell. She tells me she can never keep them for more than a few days before they are sold.

Funky Silver metal beads with black Swavorski crystals. I love funky, unusual earrings. These remind me both of some very old, fun earrings I own as well as my young friend Ari who loves to do the whole Steam Punk scene. I think he would appreciate these.

Funky triangle swirls with silver hearts and lavender swirl beads (Matches the necklace below.) I love anything with swirls so these begged to go home with me.

Modern beaded necklace with lavender swirl beads and a silver medallion with fauna drawing. (Matches the earrings above.)This is fashioned after a friend's necklace. Kirsten wore it to Snow Mountain Ranch and I was distracted when I talked with her because I wanted to examine it. She graciously lent it to me so that I could fashion a likeness with what I had on hand.

Floating Magic Bead Necklace. This one is inspired by a necklace with fake pearls and rhinestones that I purchased for Ellie to wear with one of her cotillion dresses. Like the crystals, I seem to have to have some of these each time I go to the bead store. Once upon a time they were easy to find, now I am lucky to find even a few.

Which do you like best? I'm finding it hard to place a beginning bid price.

Two sizes of green, yellow, orange, red and opal seed beads on illusion filament. This is inspired by the colors on some of my favorite skirts from Coldwater Creek.

Purple, Lavender, and Dark Purple Swavorki Beads interspersed with silver chain. Purple is my favorite color and, like a raven, I am always drawn to the shiny beads when I visit a bead store. This style is fashioned after the most often sold necklaces that Bead Haven makes to sell. She tells me she can never keep them for more than a few days before they are sold.

Funky Silver metal beads with black Swavorski crystals. I love funky, unusual earrings. These remind me both of some very old, fun earrings I own as well as my young friend Ari who loves to do the whole Steam Punk scene. I think he would appreciate these.

Funky triangle swirls with silver hearts and lavender swirl beads (Matches the necklace below.) I love anything with swirls so these begged to go home with me.

Modern beaded necklace with lavender swirl beads and a silver medallion with fauna drawing. (Matches the earrings above.)This is fashioned after a friend's necklace. Kirsten wore it to Snow Mountain Ranch and I was distracted when I talked with her because I wanted to examine it. She graciously lent it to me so that I could fashion a likeness with what I had on hand.

Floating Magic Bead Necklace. This one is inspired by a necklace with fake pearls and rhinestones that I purchased for Ellie to wear with one of her cotillion dresses. Like the crystals, I seem to have to have some of these each time I go to the bead store. Once upon a time they were easy to find, now I am lucky to find even a few.

Which do you like best? I'm finding it hard to place a beginning bid price.
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