My sister gave me a small stash of lampwork beads, with only a request to make a bracelet and a pair of earrings out of particular beads.  I used some glass beads and pearls that I had in my stash, as well, and the clasp is handmade as well. I do have the earrings done, but I need to figure something else out for getting pictures of them–they’re so round that laying them flat makes them look awful.  Kind of a fun project with beads that I probably wouldn’t use otherwise. 

I’ve been having a HORRIBLE time trying to get the website up for The Old Mill Store.  I’ve been back and forth with my host trying to get the blog up and running.  Supposedly it was one-click installation, but this is the second time it’s failed.  Ever see a computer fly???   Then, as I was trying to write this post, I had issues with my password here.  Grr..

 On a happy note, I made a bunch of ceramic beads today.  They are drying as I type.  I can’t wait to glaze them.

Well, it’s finally spring and tax season is over.  I kinda feel like a kid on the first day of summer vacation.  I was looking for a blog theme for The Old Mill Store and came across this theme.  Isn’t it pretty? 

Anyway, I should have some more jewelry pieces up soon.  I need to haul out the junk in the back room of my shop so the tax office can move back up to this building, so the fun stuff will have to wait for at least a little while.  I do have some bisque and greenware pendants that are just about ready to fire. Now that the snow has finally melted away from the garage, I can access the kiln again.   I treated myself to some new tools over tax season, so I’ll get to experiment with those soon.  I’d like to hand-sculpt some spring pendants and make latex molds for them, so I think that’s my next project.  I actually have next monday and tuesday off (I’ve been working 6 day weeks since Jan 28), so hopefully Rugraticus will cooperate with me and I can get some stuff done.  Speaking of getting stuff done, I’ve got to get back there and start packing…Thanks for checking in….

This is a pendant I’ve made from copper wire and a Swarovski pearl.  I learned the technique from the “love knot” tutorial available through decors at etsy.  This was a very thorough tutorial.  The tutorial actually shows crystals spaced all around the outside of the pendant, but for this particular pendant I wanted to have less “bling” factor (and I just wanted to see if my fingers would cooperate).

 So this weekend my husband has promised to take me to Freeport to The Beadin’ Path.  He has no idea how dangerous this trip could be.  I’ll just have to set a limit before I go.  He’s very tolerant of my crafts and my mess, so I’ll have to be gentle    I’ll be sure to get pictures of the new stuff up soon.

 available in my etsy store.  $12

I made this pendant late the other night.  I was itching to do something with my new stuff, but by the time I get home and get Rugraticus to bed, I’m bordering on brain dead.  This is a 20mm rhodonite faceted stone with sterling silver wire.  I had a hard time getting the pictures to accurately portray the color of the stone (it’s sort of a salmon pink), without making the whole picture look washed out.  I’m still working on the photography tricks.  I have an older Sony Mavica, which, although it does have a macro function, I still can’t get as close as I want to the item.  I guess I better hunt down my manual. 

Not jewelry related, but funny nonetheless…..

I was researching something on the IRS website, and I came across this gem in the instructions for taxable income:

 ”Stolen property.   If you steal property, you must report its fair market value in your income in the year you steal it unless in the same year, you return it to its rightful owner. ”

Yes, that is a direct quote from their site.  Genus!  I hope the turd who came into our house and stole money right out of my husband’s wallet claimed the $300 on his taxes.