~playing with recycled copper and enamels

i've been playing around with a new type of gas ~propane~ and throwing in all of the enamels. i like how it's going but such a departure from the bottle caps. no longer limited by shape. 

poly by shipwreckdandy, clay by donnaperlinplim here

i gave away all of my jewelers equipment years ago, so now i need to get a sawing block again as right now i just snipsnipsnip and pound. sawing could liven things up a bit. but i like the organic nature of the snips.

clay by happyfishthings here

today i play with drill bits and letting the light shine through.

bowie here

almost out of my enamel sample shipment from two years ago and would like some new colors not found in the sample kit. i'm really liking the look of layering over the white. i recently purchased etching solution and i've etched a pair. ~scream~ is etched. if i etch the lighter colors, i could get out my crayon and draw!

poly by shipwreckdandy up for grabs

sooo, i've got the powder, liquid and crayon to play with. such fun. who'd a thunk i'd love this but recycling is key. i must retain a recycled element to continue in the shows i love to participate in. i dig that i live near a junk yard where i can get my copper. scored a ton of flashing and wire. it'll keep me going for a long time!

clay by scorchedearthonetsy ~my don't pinch me pin for St. Patricks Day ~sold

i have two shows coming up soon. a festival in Albuquerque at La Parada Farm to Table called the Kenny Chavez Tenth Annual Cinco de Mayo Festival. and then Reuse-apalooza in Santa Fe. a carnival!

clay by scorchedearthonetsy here

i'd like to find some lovely summer shows, but golly, the prices are so high and i need a booth shot, so, i sketched up how i could gussy up the booth, went through all my cloths and display items then settled on white and black with turquoise tulle as a trim. then i can get that shot i need at one of the shows. hope it looks good! so much fun peeps!

leaf by pipnmolly here

i love that my husband supports me. he made weights for my canopy, a really nice one we scored at half price from a canopy shop. it has worked so well in the elements since we bought it years ago.

poly by shipwreckdandy up for grabs

he loads the vehicle, unloads it with me, helps me set up then it's off on an all day bike ride while i sellsellsell. winwin all around.

clay by donnaperlinplim here

in the end, it's about community and spirited fun. have a happy creative day all! xoxo

~yum

raggedrobyn & scorchedearthonetsy are in the house!

~unusual decadence

torch enameled beer bottle caps. scorchearthonetsy clay accents. faceted amethyst. love.

~recycled santa fe art festival

getting ready for the show just a month away. 

gotta work extra hard as my biggest collector is coming today to raid the goods. 

she keeps me busy! i love it!

with numinosity glass beads

with grey bird studio porcelain

with numinosity glass beads

with my pit fired clay and happy fish things clay beads

paper board from cereal boxes adorned with fabric scraps. holiday gift tags

bullet casings and numinosity glass head pins

scorched earth on etsy clay nails and random stuff. love.

scorched earth on etsy robins blue ceramic drops

birds nest pin with numinosity glass bead

happy fish things focal with vintage sterling necklace. subway token.

playing with glass and stuff~

~brooches and i love torching beer bottle caps!

crusty torch enameled beer bottle cap in greens with a petra ceramic drop

i am so digging the beer bottle cap torching with enamels. last night i thought maybe i could show the process as i've grown so much in my enthusiasm & abilities & knowledge. different glass powders & frits melt differently, torch can't be too high or too low, how long to hold the flame, getting flare glasses, which caps are easier to get the plastic off of (which means more beer of that sort), burning off the paint & sanding it before enameling...but i ain't got the time. but i just told you how! kim turned me on to thompson enamel samples & i figured out the rest from trial & error, watching lots of videos (saw the set up, bought the supplies) & reading tutorials. i already had a torch since i used to be a silversmith in another life. just needed mesh pads from the jewelry supply (i use the ones to go in a kiln), a third hand & a metal protective sheet for my bench. i use paper to catch & reuse the frit... 

i've only found one other person doing this so far. where is everyone? anywho, new stock & a new look to my booth is in order when the shows start. xoxo

torch enameled beer bottle cap with a black striped glass bead & ojos!

~back to work

numinosity and beer caps

petra and old tin

petra hearts with vintage love

~eep

so. in working hard on my boards i shifted gears on one of the entries and wrote about a different lesson. then, bam, i realized i should go back to the original one i started. thanks goodness i learned my lesson to save everything. EVERYTHING. oops. sorry for yelling, but, seriously. i save everything now. i save it on my computer. i save it to the cloud. i send it to my home and school emails. i save it to a thumb drive. never again will i loose my data. my entries. my goals. even drafts that i'm not sure about i save in all forms. i think i'm covered. there was a news story here about two years ago where a women had her whole dissertation on her computer and it was stolen. she hadn't backed it up. i should've taken notice! i think i've got it now. but! i do not back up my photos. i should learn to be as thorough with that as i am with the boards. but i figure they are here. and on fb. or sent to family, etc. but i should be backing them up too. baby steps i guess. anywho, sometimes i hit a wall when writing and kim, of numinosity fame, suggested i go make jewelry. so. every day i've gone in to the studio and day 1 i cleaned. the next day i made something. the next day i made something else. see? blister pearls from kim and crazy assorted beads from fagins daughter.

and then today, i drew something. it's really helping. that and getting out with the hubby. he needs it. he had a bad snowboarding accident and did some damage. they tried to sew his calf back together but it didn't take. skin graft is next. poor thing. won't even eat his chocolate. afraid he'll get fat because he can't exercise. so. we get out and check mail and go to the bank and go for a beer (though now i'm off beer while supporting my daughter whose on a new diet for intestinal stuff). she's a trooper. i miss my beer, but got my gin. hear that petra?  lol
thanks for being there you wicked awesome peeps. your inspiration is motivating and invigorating! xoxo

loads of new work and a blogger sale~

for your eyes only. lol seriously though. i'm still gathering the cash needed for my national boards that i officially started last Monday. Yippee! soooo, i'm having a blogger sale. if you have seen anything here in any of my posts or sidebars that is not on etsy and you would like it, i'll list it for you and then you get a 50% discount! then anyone who buys from either of my etsy shops will also get a 50% discount just for being here and supporting me. share the word. muh! my shops are here for jewels and here for destash and little gifties. coupon code at checkout is blogger. xoxo

so here is reclaimed tin, a shell flower from kim, gilded bone and copper on a reclaimed chain.

                                    

petra drops and connectors with silver leg milagros.

                                   

old clay cones, donna millard beads and copper.

                                    

scrumptious bangles set found here

                                    

more bangles can be seen here.

                                    

one more bangle set to be listed soon.

bottle caps~

I'm obsessed with making bottle cap jewelry this week. happy fourth everyone! xoxo

top notch uinta brewing, moonstones and numinosity glass drops.

lagunitas 'lil sumpin ale, silver chain, numinosity glass drops.

 sierra nevada pale ale, numinosity beads and drops.

lagunitas ipa, cookie tin, silver beads, numinosity drops.

duvel, inlaid bone, petra drops, turquoise.