NO MORE LIPSTICK BEFORE DINNER

My husband took me out for an elegant dinner on my birthday and I noticed the lady at the next table putting lipstick on after she ate dinner.  Then she took a drink of water and there was lipstick all over the glass.  Then she took out a Kleenex from her purse and wiped the lipstick off the glass.  Now I'm holding the arms of the chair to keep me in it.  I just don't get it.

I can't tell you how many times I've gotten a glass or cup that had lipstick on it because the new lipsticks have so much wax and chemicals they don't come off the glasses in the dishwasher.  I hardly ever wear lipstick and if I do, I don't put it on before I eat (but I eat or drink all the time).  It would be a waste.  I'm begging you ladies, please don't put lipstick on before or during a meal especially in a restaurant.  OK, now I feel better.  Had to complain about something today.

NEW CAMERA

I'm so excited, you know I've been complaining about my camera and I can't get good macro pictures.  Well, I showed the camera to hubby because he swore it was operator error (me?????).  Anyway, he couldn't get it to do a real close-up macro either.  So now I'm getting a new camera.  They had a special going on at Home Shopping Club for a Fuji S2500 that takes 12 mega pixel pictures.  You know he's going to make me read the whole manual don't you?  This means there will be more pictures on my blog and in my Etsy store.  Hope those nasty people that have been stealing blogs quit pretty soon.  I won't even mention their name or blog here because I don't want people going there.  They did take one of mine and a bunch of Tina Holden's and a few others from other polymer clay people that I know.

NEW CROSSES AND OTHER STUFF

My friend Bev asked me to make her a cross with black and gold clay.  I decided to use a tutorial from Barbara McGuire to make the clay.  It's her Mokume Gane tutorial.  Wasn't sure how it would work with the crosses but they came out beautiful.  I made one for Bev and did a herringbone chain with size 11 black seed beads to go on it.  I gave it to her today and she loved it.

I find it's really hard to get a good picture of an item that has Magic Glos on it.  Hopefully the new camera will take care of that.

I'll post the pictures of the other ones as soon as my new camera gets here.  CAN YOU TELL I'M EXCITED?  Watch out everyone, you are going to be on Bonnie's Candid Camera.

This was another cross that I did that has more of Celtic flavor to it.  I put beads on the bottom and strung it on ribbon.

This is a pendant done with Mica Shift, sanded and buffed and then I put Magic Glos on it.  I mentioned before that I purchased a Mica Shift tutorial from Lynda Moseley (SC Diva) and this is one of the pendants that I did. I love the technique, much easier than the carving one.  The necklace is a 4 bead herringbone made with size 11 seed beads and gold hex beads.  By now you must know how much I love herringbone necklaces.  I can listen to my books on audio and whip the necklaces out without having to think too much.  I think they add class to a pendant and if you have never done one, try it.  I do the twist because I like the way it looks.

Wanted to show you the book that my friend Judy made out of polymer clay.  The front cover is the bottom picture.  When you open it up (top picture) she put magnets in it to carry her clay blades.  It's really slick.  The back was really pretty too and I forgot to take a picture of it.

Back to my latest Lisa Gardner book, it's really good.  It's called "The Neighbor".  The library is running out of books on CD for me.  I think I've heard all the good mystery's.  If you know of a good one let me know.  I've done all the Stuart Woods, Lisa Scottline, Harlen Coban, James Patterson and Lisa Gardner books.  I love to bead and do clay and listen to books.  Try it, you'll like it.

LIVING LIFE UNZIPPED - THANK YOU MARIE AND MORE TOYS

I've always felt I lived my life "UNZIPPED".  I'm a Leo and I think most Leo's that I've met could be categorized as being "UNZIPPED".  Most Leo's are very open with their lives and their thoughts and their everything.  I saw this piece that Marie Segal www.mariesegal.blogspot.com/  did about a week ago and I fought with myself about buying it.  I love steampunk, I've been following Marie's work for years and when I saw the open zipper, the nails, screws, locks and keys,  I knew I had to have it.  I got it in the mail today and it's so much cuter in person.  She's a great artist and a genuine lady.

CROCHETED BEAD ROPE

I finally finished my second crocheted bead piece.  It's a long rope.  Took me a long time too but I'm done.

It's slinky.

MORE TOYS

Today my friends Judy and Evelyn came over for a clay day.  Judy ordered some miniature cutters for us from England.  They are adorable.  I can see a lot of earrings being made with these.

Now I just need a teeny tiny case to keep them in. :0)

SHIMMERING GOLD MOKUME GANE

I mentioned before I was doing the Barbara McGuire Mokume Gane.  I have quite a few pieces done but wasn't sure what I wanted to do with them (I want to keep them all myself).  Anyway, I bought some cord necklaces at a bead show not too long ago and I like the necklace but not the cord used to attach pendants so I took that off and added chain.  What do you think?

This also has Magic Glos on it.

GIRLFRIEND'S GONE WILD

Not talking about the trashy ones on TV.  I'm referring to Rose, Judy and Evelyn.  All three have been busy with clay and Viking Knit.  Here are some of the latest pieces from them.

This is Rose's bracelet she did with a French Knitter.  Her first one.  Came out awesome I think.

This is Evelyn's disc necklace.  The disc's were made with 2 canes and the litle balls were made with scrap clay that she rolled over some spongy thing.  It's really light and very pretty.

This is Judy's bracelet.  Since we took the Debbie Anderson class, Judy has made at least 6 of these bracelets and they are gorgeous.  Too bad my little Sony camera doesn't want to take good pictures today.

ANOTHER TINA HOLDEN MASTERPIECE

I'm really excited.  I just purchased one of Tina Holdens new tutorials.  It's called "STEAMPUNK TILE BRACELET"

You can get this at Tina's Artfire shop at http://beadcomber.artfire.com/ or on her Etsy shot at http://beadcomber.etsy.com/ .  I hope to get to this tomorrow since it's 112 here and a good time to play with clay.

I know this has been a long blog today but I think I got my brain UNZIPPED.

Anyway, one thing I really want to do is:

Wish everyone a safe and Happy 4th of July.

Don't drink and drive.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMERICA

VIKING KNIT, MIGRAINE BALLS, THE GIRL'S PRETTY STUFF

Last Saturday at our clay guild meeting one of our ladies did a demo on Viking Knit.  Like I needed to learn something new and buy more toys.  OH YES I DO!!!!!  It didn't take.  I could not get it going Saturday and I was frustrated.  I think the dowel I was using was too little.  Went to Ace and bought two new dowels.  3/16th's and 5/8ths.  Today I pulled out the instructions and started over and by cracky (as Grandma Kettle used to say) I got it.  I used some crappy wire and it was 24 gauge instead of 28 which was much easier because it didn't kink so much.  When I got home my new Drawplate that I ordered from the Soft Flex company was there so I could pull the chain I made through it.  I'M SO HAPPY.  Doesn't take much to entertain me!!!

My new Drawplate, dowel and my first piece of Viking Knit.  Now I'm going to try with good wire.

MIGRAINE BALLS

I've had 3 migraines this week.  Monday's was a killer.  Couldn't move.  We still don't know what causes them but I am chemical sensitive.  Can't be around perfume or aftershave but Pinesol doesn't bother me.   Go Figure.

Anyway, when I have headaches I like to do clay because it relaxes me.  I like taking old canes and making beads, just plain round beads.  I do use a lot of them when I make golf stroke counters.  This is just a small amount of the MIGRAINE BALLS I made this week.  Some are buffed and all have been in the tumbler.  I'm having tumbler problems this week but I did get 90 beads done.

My girlfriend said her migraines stopped after she had a baby.  I told her I'm too old for that and would forget where I put it.

THE GIRL'S PRETTY STUFF

Some of my friends are doing beautiful polymer clay pieces.  I wanted to show case them since a couple of them don't blog or sell on Etsy.

The first one is Lupe of http://miramecreations.blogspot.com/.  She makes beautiful pendants,  please visit her Etsy shop she has a big sale going on now.  http://www.etsy.com/shop/miramecreations/.

These pictures don't do her pendants justice.  I think I need a new camera.

The second one I'm highlighting is Evelyn.  You've probably heard me talk about Evelyn. She's a sweetheart.  She has wet macular degeneration and has trouble seeing but she does awesome polymer clay work.  At the May guild meeting we made Christi Friesen pendants and Evelyn went bonkers.  I love these.  If you want to buy one, contact me.

Click on the picture if you want to see them up close.

The next is Rose, she's my bright, cheerful and any color goes girl.  Isn't this bracelet gorgeous?  Love those pendants too.  Rose does gorgeous bead work and loves to help and teach other people.  

OK, OK, OK

I did a couple things week besides make migraine balls.  I bought the Barbara McGuire tutorial DVD called Shimmering Gold Mokume Gane http://www.barbaramcguire.com/1video.html.  It's 30 minutes long and comes with pictures and written instructions.  I put some pictures on the blog the other day of pieces I did before baking, sanding and buffing.  I love this technique, it never turns out the same.  I wore this neck piece and earrings today and everyone loved them.  Guess I better get back to the buffer and get some more done.  Thanks Barbara.

I think a new camera is in order.  Please let me know which one I should get.  This one's ok for traveling because it's small but not good for this kind of picture taking.

I know there are a bunch of you who take beautiful pictures for Etsy and your blog.  Help me.