MY NEW FAVORITE MOLD BY PENNI JO COUCH

When I saw the turtle on Penni Jo Couch's blog, I got really excited.  I know, it's not a cat but she's working on that for me.  LOL  Normally I share my molds when I'm teaching a class or playing but this turtle mold shall never touch the hands of anyone but me.  Anyway, I was surprised this morning when I saw my turtles on Penni Jo's blog http://claylady43.blogspot.com/ that was really nice of her.

Yesterday at our beading club one of the other ladies taught the braided rope technique from Desiree McCrorey's blog http://desiredcreations.com/ howTo_CABraidRainbowCane.htm.  We all did different colors and had a lot of fun.  This was my block when it was done and cut into.

I made a pendant with this but it needs sanding and buffing and then I'll post it.  I love these colors.  I wrapped my Skinner blends in black before I braided them and I think that's why the definition in the colors is so vibrant.  

This was Evelyn's.  She also covered her's in black.  Her colors are really southwest.  Love the turquoise and the amber and brown.

This was Debbie's braid after she started twisting it.

WEDDING PENS

I'm making pens for a wedding shower and the brides colors are gold and navy.  I don't know if she went to Notre Dame or not.  I used Premo and did a Mokume Gane with navy, 18 kt gold, Jecru (Julie Picarello recipe of ecru, translucent and pearl)  I also made a sandwich with translucent with gold leafing in between.  I covered the pens and made small hearts to attach to them with the wedding date stamped on the back.  I have to put them together.  This heart is bigger than the rest because this is going to be the brides pen.

  I had some end pieces of the Mokume Gane so I did some pendants that I'm going to sand and buff again and made something for the door prizes.

I'll post pictures of the finished pieces when and if I get them done.  WHEW

WEDDING HEARTS AND SISSY

A while ago I mentioned that my nephew was getting married in September and my sister is having a bridal shower for his fiance.  I told her I would make some shower favors thinking there were would be 15 or 20 people at the shower and then she told me there would be between 40 and 50 and she was having it at some restaurant near her house in Chicago.  The first two words that came to my mind were "BIG MOUTH".

I had to decide what I wanted to do and I wanted something different and special.  I love making pens and putting beads and magnets on them so they will stick to the refrigerator.  I just finished the pens for the quild's swap so I just kept going.  I've got the pens done.

So now I'm working on the tops.  I decided to make hearts.

The front of the hearts have their initials on the top and on the back I stamped
"LOVE" 9-17-2011

I used a lot of Pearlex Powders and Penni Jo Couch's flexible molds. http://www.bestflexiblemolds.com/.  I just ordered some more from her to use to make the next 40 molds for the hearts.  I love her molds.  I use them a lot when I make beads for the cancer stricken kids at Beads of Courage.  I'm glad my family doesn't look at my blog because these are going to be a surprise for them.  When I finish some I'll take pictures and post them.  If you click on the picture you can see them up close.

MY FRIEND PK'S BIRTHDAY

Today is my friend's birthday.  I made her a frame with her dog's name and picture in it.

This is Sissy.  She let me put those curlers in her hair and take her picture.  I put a little Yorkie button on the back along with a cat button.  PK use to have a Yorkie by the name of Jose, he always tried to kiss my cat Booboo and Booboo would swing at him (never connected).  Jose would put his head down and start crying and Booboo would just shake his head and walk away.  He was a spoiled brat but was very cute.  Sissy on the other hand is very hyper and very smart and loves kissing but not cats.


Hope you had a nice Easter.  We are having oatmeal for dinner.  We had our Easter dinner Friday night.  When you are retired and away from family, holidays just seem to come and go.  I usually get a bag of black jelly beans every year but I didn't this year.  Must be the oatmeal thing!!!!!!!!!!!!!