tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26692167286007432942024-02-06T22:13:18.127-08:00Bridge & BuckleBridge & Bucklehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15875882659447602024noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2669216728600743294.post-19749408631690434312011-11-07T10:08:00.000-08:002011-11-07T10:52:55.232-08:00Classical Book Challenges Spur Jewelry InspirationsI will be participating in a classical reading challenge for 2012. Excellent notion, since many of my jewelry inspirations seed from classic literature and themes. Here is the link to the challenge posed by November's Autumn. Check it out for yourself:<br />
<a href="http://novembersautumn.blogspot.com/2011/11/my-list-for-classics-challenge.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+NovembersAutumn+%28November%27s+Autumn%29">http://novembersautumn.blogspot.com/2011/11/my-list-for-classics-challenge.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+NovembersAutumn+%28November%27s+Autumn%29</a><br />
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1. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCqzNqL0xQTaWqlKCAdQCX9nvMjs8F7o46Ag30U0-6FQMni10iCBcaYVw1FCB-f51kAmXCHVe1QeObd8RE3GIPIbGbqzbASW2XgFSYLFCBZuWySbcb253wudI1IbiBWAcX3i4rkb-rBLk/s1600/silas+marner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCqzNqL0xQTaWqlKCAdQCX9nvMjs8F7o46Ag30U0-6FQMni10iCBcaYVw1FCB-f51kAmXCHVe1QeObd8RE3GIPIbGbqzbASW2XgFSYLFCBZuWySbcb253wudI1IbiBWAcX3i4rkb-rBLk/s320/silas+marner.jpg" width="320px" /></a><br />
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Silas Marner by George Eliot (re-read)<br />
I love the underlying theme of this story ... love of objects replaced by love of people. <br />
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2. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJE806cLmjfhlJzA6RdzCoB2P9ryfx3JFYBzrvniQu3O_1FzQ4uQD3Un_7SjiF_f4AofizgSGHg0HZX0eAaDNDYetSPxiDQKiUtkX8ww57oPk1rkDKO_SZu0wyd0GArFxrGizit8q7dus/s1600/the+jungle+by+upton+sinclair.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJE806cLmjfhlJzA6RdzCoB2P9ryfx3JFYBzrvniQu3O_1FzQ4uQD3Un_7SjiF_f4AofizgSGHg0HZX0eAaDNDYetSPxiDQKiUtkX8ww57oPk1rkDKO_SZu0wyd0GArFxrGizit8q7dus/s320/the+jungle+by+upton+sinclair.jpg" width="282px" /></a><br />
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The Jungle by Upton Sinclair (re-read)<br />
I read this book in college as assigned reading for a business ethics class. Greusome and tragic story that keeps me a simple and honest person in my business dealings. The climate of morals hasn't changed much. A good reminder to be accountable for your actions and who they may affect.<br />
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3. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWV6lt_OOCPLYkHorLNr4pkkGBNxBxoOTQohEkciMSU41Yrhik1DKFRxLG7RvRa5LXqQu2LbYhoXCLjEMilqW94R1-W1jaYJir5ldtiETbed3jzh-JHl4tKa6Dj_bRBCO1q6k4Pp8YXI8/s1600/the+jungle+book+by+kipling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWV6lt_OOCPLYkHorLNr4pkkGBNxBxoOTQohEkciMSU41Yrhik1DKFRxLG7RvRa5LXqQu2LbYhoXCLjEMilqW94R1-W1jaYJir5ldtiETbed3jzh-JHl4tKa6Dj_bRBCO1q6k4Pp8YXI8/s320/the+jungle+book+by+kipling.jpg" width="225px" /></a><br />
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The jungle book by Rudyard Kipling<br />
I love the transcedental love of the animal kingdom. My animal friends, it would seem, are more accepting than my human friends. Love the adventure, and theme of the innocence to carnality in this book.<br />
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4. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghtR1UPJjX_RkNf0kIBn_9fSH8ySCPbLDj_GgOuMULj_KGkDmOmJg9d4jXiL505k0CJEckULkj-xzWzK5uIn0Snqb7i1lXbZr5XX5UJADO6EkTHVsuoZK_4jXU31zyrMWdsHueUoyGxZw/s1600/orlando+by+woolf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="196px" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghtR1UPJjX_RkNf0kIBn_9fSH8ySCPbLDj_GgOuMULj_KGkDmOmJg9d4jXiL505k0CJEckULkj-xzWzK5uIn0Snqb7i1lXbZr5XX5UJADO6EkTHVsuoZK_4jXU31zyrMWdsHueUoyGxZw/s320/orlando+by+woolf.jpg" width="320px" /></a><br />
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Orlando by Virginia Woolf<br />
The thought that such a forward concept and transgender morphism being written and openly accepted in the time frame that this book was written intriques me. I loved the movie, and can't wait to read the book.<br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">5. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaVPOq4I4mzEXikJPnWa94lPxnD9ttWRnY1jEF7otz7MxpiUgrQgiaOSrM9MdqZkIjc3m1Z11fKE1lr255JFcd5OPvnU_RrrbmlJHl1sC1J1ILxky3QQv2A5qMOiH2wTmWpdF4eR0rvSk/s1600/gold+bug+by+poe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaVPOq4I4mzEXikJPnWa94lPxnD9ttWRnY1jEF7otz7MxpiUgrQgiaOSrM9MdqZkIjc3m1Z11fKE1lr255JFcd5OPvnU_RrrbmlJHl1sC1J1ILxky3QQv2A5qMOiH2wTmWpdF4eR0rvSk/s320/gold+bug+by+poe.jpg" width="309px" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The gold bug by Edgar Allen Poe</div>Poe ... does it really need any more description than that? SWOON<br />
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6. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEfXUkhJGVq696yAwSDC8cYjvnXTcNlXeW-DQrZDyzB48BIXO_1pdZA3pWLNVvQQNe1Be1WMkG3zI-7Arh1_MVbTJNgVpkHqPWhytO2BSI8aHntdtRMVR2JbXWkZPCNCdoxIEDamonwnQ/s1600/the+lay+of+the+last+minstrel+by+walter+scott.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEfXUkhJGVq696yAwSDC8cYjvnXTcNlXeW-DQrZDyzB48BIXO_1pdZA3pWLNVvQQNe1Be1WMkG3zI-7Arh1_MVbTJNgVpkHqPWhytO2BSI8aHntdtRMVR2JbXWkZPCNCdoxIEDamonwnQ/s320/the+lay+of+the+last+minstrel+by+walter+scott.jpg" width="296px" /></a><br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The lay of the last minstrel by Sir Walter Scott, Bart. (re-read)</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I love the prose of this book, witty and romantic.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">7. <img border="0" height="320px" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Z3ZoqduZNJy0ztEV-qjGsOdcD_bK2Tp0qLyXWckHjtPxHD0W38f2nwHdG4DgoL2gLhcvcKXc37vdVUIvbCsy6-F5k5m_fhLbmNR3vsb4R5j4BNYxehuy9-iOOnH3NIPrNN0ufdMDR3U/s320/the+swiss+family+robinson+by+wyss.jpg" width="229px" /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The Swiss Family Robinson by Johan Wyss</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Only seen the movie, and was astounded that the themes of heartfelt humanity were written so long ago. The ideas are so modern. Looking forward to reading it.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div>Bridge & Bucklehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15875882659447602024noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2669216728600743294.post-21064673090882161812011-05-04T17:14:00.000-07:002011-05-05T18:03:50.065-07:00How To Dye Grizzy Saddle FeathersI hand dyed feathers this weekend! Want to know how to dye feathers? read on...<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxJfR_zBF9eeLTkfEequYYzU3B2xBkc7ZOS5PUGIwdRTN9Y6MDQodMOlei4yENVCaEn3IbNKlwbifepzbMbho8UQLPnIHest3iDrZ5nbfHVqs-RoXC6IilmO9sgy902q67g5WgEIkwLzE/s1600/DSCF5984.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; height: 109px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 158px;"><img border="0" height="150" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxJfR_zBF9eeLTkfEequYYzU3B2xBkc7ZOS5PUGIwdRTN9Y6MDQodMOlei4yENVCaEn3IbNKlwbifepzbMbho8UQLPnIHest3iDrZ5nbfHVqs-RoXC6IilmO9sgy902q67g5WgEIkwLzE/s200/DSCF5984.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">undyed grizzly, cream and grey pelts</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The feather craze has hit. While the trend of long feathers worn in the hair and in earrings is just heating up, the sparse availability and sky rocketing cost of feathers is making it nearly impossible to find them anymore. If you have favorite or demanded colors that can't be found anymore, a good solution is to dye the colors yourself. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="150" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6z-q5D8exSWWqQp_SbE9xDmMq9g9uAY6tcLwer11UpyKCg8mOZIUVxRjGgmUvmvZivXMtkXPSLzEkIYxOFj4Dum5sONSIARBYEqR8f6XoVzl-ZgVs31sjABbwCkwqBafeJ5GxUUY1sOk/s200/DSCF5992.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="200" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pro Chemical dyes</td></tr>
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">When dying feathers, or any natural protien fiber such as leather, silk, wool ect you need to use an acid dye. I went to <a href="http://www.prochemicalanddye.com/store/home.php?cat=386">Pro Chemical</a> for my dye because they have tons of color selection from several brands available and each one will color differently. For this batch I used PRO ONE SHOT and PRO WASHFAST because those lines had the fluorescent dyes such as fluorescent and flavine yellow and rhodamine red that make feather colors really <strong>POP</strong>. Be careful when selecting colors not to pick pigments or paints. Those are for surface coating - not dyeing.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The kind of feathers I dyed are called saddle feathers coming from a hybrid rooster. Good luck finding a pelt for under 150.00 these days! This bird takes a whopping 2 years to mature and there are no more feathers ready until spring 2012. Expect bidding wars - if you can find them for sale anywhere - and plan on paying 2.00 - 5.00 per feather. Feather prices are suibject to steep increases based on demand.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The stripped pattern is called grizzly. Also there are other saddle feathers that are solid and several grades of quality that effect length and such. The best information on saddle feathers and their grades can be found on the <a href="http://www.caddisflyshop.com/rofesanehade.html">Caddis Fly Shop website</a>. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">You can dye any feather. Greys yield deeper darker colors, creams translate brights, and natural grizzly feathers dye vivid while maintaining the black stripes. Badger feathers (they have a single black stripe that travels down the length of the feather shaft) pick up colors nicely and the stripe is retained.</div><br />
If you want a bright feather color, I recommend cream, white or palest silvers. If your feathers are dingy or greasy, brighten them up and clean them with some diaper white detergent. Do a practice batch on cheap feathers to figure out the ratios. It is possible to burn feathers with diaper white and dye. The feathers will become curly and stiff, crunchy and brittle if they are burned.<br />
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<u>INGREDIENTS</u><br />
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To dye feathers, you will need:<br />
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1 metal stock pot (that is dedicated to use for dyeing)<br />
sink and running water<br />
powdered dye ( 1-5 TB for half a pot of water amount varies by color, feather quantity and water amount)<br />
stove top<br />
white vinegar<br />
tongs<br />
hair dryer with<br />
gloves or REDURAN (to avoid coloring hands or removing color from hands)<br />
synthropol<br />
a dye journal to write down the ratios so you can repeat any results<br />
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<u>DYE THE FEATHERS</u><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXo_CefUet67m8WfQaGYlJj_2gin35TXai6osg11ri4S5uyXt4T6FwrkuckVemx6xgezUskl4JJGUx9cXUFKB5igxQO1FqeYvAPWfomfkqMmuh2W9KKY35Vl-PQimQc_CRQtoZiH_tUNE/s1600/DSCF5988.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXo_CefUet67m8WfQaGYlJj_2gin35TXai6osg11ri4S5uyXt4T6FwrkuckVemx6xgezUskl4JJGUx9cXUFKB5igxQO1FqeYvAPWfomfkqMmuh2W9KKY35Vl-PQimQc_CRQtoZiH_tUNE/s200/DSCF5988.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pelts simmers in red dyebath</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Fill a pan 1/3 to 1/2 way full of water and heat to simmer on stove top. Once steaming, add the dye. It dissolves better when the water is hot. (fluorescent yellow and aqua shades require more than reds, blues and purples) you can use a color wheel to mix your own shades. Jot down water / dye / feather / time ratios so if you get amazing results you know how to recreate them.<br />
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You can dye 2-3 pelts at a time. Gently simmer the pelts for 5 minutes to soften the skins, using tongs to stir the feathers and keep them submerged and then remove from heat and set aside for 10 more minutes. It is possible to put the vinegar in the simmering dye bath, but it is too smelly for me so I use it during the rinsing.<br />
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<u>RINSE THE FEATHERS</u><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpQME6-HClXQ2jzw939GMYLF_oonQHm3VwkH8A3BITdieG5kEqG3CJWNr4xIulzSaxhcUwo6i4eGF4e1EW_hcjZwsLfiwtUohLfXPSzkrWbEliJ140_GIB7QyVhOctAvC7wchUc9mDS4I/s1600/DSCF6012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpQME6-HClXQ2jzw939GMYLF_oonQHm3VwkH8A3BITdieG5kEqG3CJWNr4xIulzSaxhcUwo6i4eGF4e1EW_hcjZwsLfiwtUohLfXPSzkrWbEliJ140_GIB7QyVhOctAvC7wchUc9mDS4I/s200/DSCF6012.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>Pour a sink with 2 gallons of water and 2 cups of white vinegar. <br />
Put on gloves and use tongs to pick the feathers up out of the cooled dye. If you plan to use the dye for another batch, squeezed the dye liquid out of the pelts back into the pot. Now place the wet pelts into the vinegar/water solution and agitate to rinse to release the dye from the feathers. Let soak for a few minutes and agitate again.<br />
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</div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBvc0-TqtZ7c6rI2fbRlwF8RKj4YFEJzDAFFgnVub1ZSxnStso0KxySBGO5AVNFbw09cAuTlf8JOyaaJeqj09mJIQf1SutFg2uQzFCRjV0pH5S_JfUhjs6nVbfudkDq_cLlQqoZeIBBR8/s1600/DSCF6017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBvc0-TqtZ7c6rI2fbRlwF8RKj4YFEJzDAFFgnVub1ZSxnStso0KxySBGO5AVNFbw09cAuTlf8JOyaaJeqj09mJIQf1SutFg2uQzFCRjV0pH5S_JfUhjs6nVbfudkDq_cLlQqoZeIBBR8/s200/DSCF6017.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pelt being rinsed in vinegar/water solution</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxJfR_zBF9eeLTkfEequYYzU3B2xBkc7ZOS5PUGIwdRTN9Y6MDQodMOlei4yENVCaEn3IbNKlwbifepzbMbho8UQLPnIHest3iDrZ5nbfHVqs-RoXC6IilmO9sgy902q67g5WgEIkwLzE/s1600/DSCF5984.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">In the second sink, have warm water and synthropol to further release over dye from the feathers until the water is clear (some color will always be present due to color release from the skin. Now squeeze as much water from the pelt as possible - do NOT wring because this will tear feathers from the pelt.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIafnQEVBLQ24SlQ7XFsNewsr3-uUjo_8hHOMgxvmVwzhkA00tnD0N-bWNimSgCrfC9bqCdFnS0suhrGVN5ZWcLEaVsBBcWU9Tu1ho_GHkwP0dJuIrGuAs0pJzRPU3iv_oZ9ralGK5Wow/s1600/DSCF6004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIafnQEVBLQ24SlQ7XFsNewsr3-uUjo_8hHOMgxvmVwzhkA00tnD0N-bWNimSgCrfC9bqCdFnS0suhrGVN5ZWcLEaVsBBcWU9Tu1ho_GHkwP0dJuIrGuAs0pJzRPU3iv_oZ9ralGK5Wow/s200/DSCF6004.JPG" width="200" /></a><u>DRY THE FEATHERS</u></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Roll feathers in a towel to remove more water and then dry them on a high heat setting with a hair dryer just like you dry your hair. Keep the heat moving. Once feathers are dry, flat on paper towel over cardboard and pin the skin flat for a day or so to dry the skin completley. Some grease will release from the skin as it dries (thus the towel.)</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">THAT'S IT!!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I dyed 33 pelts in 2 evenings. It was so much fun. What do you think of these colors?</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I used fluorescent yellow, hot pink, mountain aqua, rhodamine red, strawberry red, wild iris and brilliant blue. Using fluorescent and neon colors can make black-light responsive colors and add a bright factor to mixed colors. I chose red/yellow/blue to mix my own spectrum of colors ...</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong>If you enjoy long feathers, check out my Etsy shop to see some feather jewelry - bright colors coming soon ...</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg5ldM3ugSTd30Jo_ymJrAzw5_EvSmTuWpiNc5V8yLN3outyaEnSKbblVMf8YDSuvUP67vl4cUmxt_gzrPbC0squCHogSvMGoXoslYYVg9jzw7Lu_sal7epi2ykJWv1Pu8ENT3UiM604E/s1600/DSCF5606.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="164" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg5ldM3ugSTd30Jo_ymJrAzw5_EvSmTuWpiNc5V8yLN3outyaEnSKbblVMf8YDSuvUP67vl4cUmxt_gzrPbC0squCHogSvMGoXoslYYVg9jzw7Lu_sal7epi2ykJWv1Pu8ENT3UiM604E/s320/DSCF5606.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/BridgeandBuckle?section_id=7710961">Bridge and Buckle feather earrings</a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div>Bridge & Bucklehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15875882659447602024noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2669216728600743294.post-47197160014686826502011-02-27T13:02:00.000-08:002011-02-27T16:22:14.708-08:00St Patrich's Wearing o' the Green ...<img alt="" height="640" src="http://www.firemountaingems.com/gallery/W10_B17P.jpg" width="384" /><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><img alt="" height="640" src="http://www.firemountaingems.com/gallery/W10_B16N.jpg" width="384" /></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.firemountaingems.com/gallery/W10_B16Q_PS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="http://www.firemountaingems.com/gallery/W10_B16Q_PS.jpg" width="384" /></a><a href="http://www.firemountaingems.com/gallery/W10_B16R_PS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </a><img alt="" height="640" src="http://www.firemountaingems.com/gallery/W10_A1AD.jpg" width="384" /></div><img alt="" height="640" src="http://www.firemountaingems.com/gallery/W10_A199.jpg" width="384" /><br />
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<img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="http://www.firemountaingems.com/gallery/W10_B16R_PS.jpg" width="384" /><br />
All Designs created exclusively by Jamie Smedley for Fire Mountain Gems and Beads. Material lists can be found online in the Fire Mountain Gems and Beads Gallery of Designs.<br />
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<a href="http://www.firemountaingems.com/galleryofdesigns/default.asp">http://www.firemountaingems.com/galleryofdesigns/default.asp</a><br />
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Find these and other designs by Jamie Smedley by searching 'Jamie Smedley' or view the holiday themes - St. Patrich'sBridge & Bucklehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15875882659447602024noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2669216728600743294.post-39553962444086518052011-01-13T07:52:00.000-08:002011-02-27T16:21:40.678-08:00Happy faeries use recycled faerie lightingI hate throwing anything away. It just seems a waste of resources. I have many little glass objects laying around that I just found a use for and it will make such a pretty fairy wonderland of my backyard - pictures to come I complete it. Want to do the same? Here is the project I found:<br />
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<a href="http://www.cutoutandkeep.net/projects/sweet_n_simple_summer_lanterns">http://www.cutoutandkeep.net/projects/sweet_n_simple_summer_lanterns</a><br />
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<span class="small-header-title">Instructions</span><span class="small-header-underline"> </span><br />
<ol class="steps instructions"><li class="step instruction" id="step_27202"><span class="step-position">1</span> <div class="step_bg step-with-image"><div class="step-image-holder"><a href="http://img.coplusk.net/originals/0006/4644/2008_12070036_1243355432.jpg" title="Sweet 'N Simple Summer Lanterns : Step 1"><img alt="Step 1" class="img" src="http://img.coplusk.net/steps/0002/7202/2008_12070036_1243355432_200x150.jpg" /></a> </div>METHOD ONE (best for glasses, tea light holders, etc.)<br />
**NOTE: I'm not sure why I put this one on first, because it's more complicated. You may want to scroll down and start with METHOD TWO.**<br />
Cut two pieces of wire long enough so they can almost make a full circle (top to bottom) around your container. <br />
Fold each piece in half and loop them together as shown.</div></li>
<li class="step instruction" id="step_27203"><span class="step-position">2</span> <div class="step_bg step-with-image"><div class="step-image-holder"><a href="http://img.coplusk.net/originals/0006/4646/2008_12070041_1243355575.jpg" title="Sweet 'N Simple Summer Lanterns : Step 2"><img alt="Step 2" class="img" src="http://img.coplusk.net/steps/0002/7203/2008_12070041_1243355575_200x150.jpg" /></a> </div>Twist loops until each end of the wire is facing in the opposite direction.</div></li>
<li class="step instruction" id="step_27204"><span class="step-position">3</span> <div class="step_bg step-with-image"><div class="step-image-holder"><a href="http://img.coplusk.net/originals/0006/4647/2008_12070038_1243355681.jpg" title="Sweet 'N Simple Summer Lanterns : Step 3"><img alt="Step 3" class="img" src="http://img.coplusk.net/steps/0002/7204/2008_12070038_1243355681_200x150.jpg" /></a> </div>Next, lay your container mouth-down on your work surface and center the looped wire intersection in the middle.</div></li>
<li class="step instruction" id="step_27205"><span class="step-position">4</span> <div class="step_bg step-with-image"><div class="step-image-holder"><a href="http://img.coplusk.net/originals/0006/4648/2008_12070039_1243355769.jpg" title="Sweet 'N Simple Summer Lanterns : Step 4"><img alt="Step 4" class="img" src="http://img.coplusk.net/steps/0002/7205/2008_12070039_1243355769_200x150.jpg" /></a> </div>Carefully holding the wire in place with one hand, pick up your container and fold the wire ends in to the mouth and down the side.<br />
You can cut the wire if it's too long, or to your own desired length. Make sure to keep some length for added support, though. I'd say at least one inch into your container at minimum.</div></li>
<li class="step instruction" id="step_27206"><span class="step-position">5</span> <div class="step_bg step-with-image"><div class="step-image-holder"><a href="http://img.coplusk.net/originals/0006/4649/2008_12070037_1243355875.jpg" title="Sweet 'N Simple Summer Lanterns : Step 5"><img alt="Step 5" class="img" src="http://img.coplusk.net/steps/0002/7206/2008_12070037_1243355875_200x150.jpg" /></a> </div>Next, cut two pieces of wire roughly the same size as the first, or longer/shorter as you like. These will be the handle, so it's up to you how long you want it to be. <br />
Using your needle nose pliers, twist a tiny hook in the end of each wire as shown.</div></li>
<li class="step instruction" id="step_27207"><span class="step-position">6</span> <div class="step_bg step-with-image"><div class="step-image-holder"><a href="http://img.coplusk.net/originals/0006/4650/2008_12070042_1243356016.jpg" title="Sweet 'N Simple Summer Lanterns : Step 6"><img alt="Step 6" class="img" src="http://img.coplusk.net/steps/0002/7207/2008_12070042_1243356016_200x150.jpg" /></a> </div>Taking one lenth of wire, carefully hook the end under the bend where the support wire folds into the mouth of the container. <br />
Pinch closed with needle nose pliers, and repeat with other end of wire on the opposite side. You should have an upside-down U shape over your container. Carefully twist the top to form a small twisted circle for the next wire to pass through.</div></li>
<li class="step instruction" id="step_27208"><span class="step-position">7</span> <div class="step_bg step-with-image"><div class="step-image-holder"><a href="http://img.coplusk.net/originals/0006/4652/2008_12070044_1243356435.jpg" title="Sweet 'N Simple Summer Lanterns : Step 7"><img alt="Step 7" class="img" src="http://img.coplusk.net/steps/0002/7208/2008_12070044_1243356435_168x150.jpg" /></a> </div>Take your second length of wire and repeat step 6. Make sure after you hook the first end of the wire and pinch it closed, you pass the wire through the small circle you made with the first wire. You can loop the wire around for added support if you like. Then, hook the second end and pinch it closed. <br />
This picture is hard to see, but I connected the ends of the wire on this glass dish side-by-side instead of on opposide sides and looped them together at the top.</div></li>
<li class="step instruction" id="step_27209"><span class="step-position">8</span> <div class="step_bg step-with-image"><div class="step-image-holder"><a href="http://img.coplusk.net/originals/0006/4653/2008_12070049_1243356666.jpg" title="Sweet 'N Simple Summer Lanterns : Step 8"><img alt="Step 8" class="img" src="http://img.coplusk.net/steps/0002/7209/2008_12070049_1243356666_112x150.jpg" /></a> </div>If you'd like, you can fashion a little S-hook out of the wire and attach it to the loops. <br />
Just add a tea light candle and you're ready to be enlightened! :)</div></li>
<li class="step instruction" id="step_27210"><span class="step-position">9</span> <div class="step_bg step-with-image"><div class="step-image-holder"><a href="http://img.coplusk.net/originals/0006/4654/2008_12070050_1243356847.jpg" title="Sweet 'N Simple Summer Lanterns : Step 9"><img alt="Step 9" class="img" src="http://img.coplusk.net/steps/0002/7210/2008_12070050_1243356847_200x150.jpg" /></a> </div>METHOD TWO: Glass jars (jam jars, canning jars, etc.)<br />
Cut a length of wire long enough to circle the mouth of your jar about 1 and a half times. <br />
Twist a loop in one end, and hold it in place under the lip of the jar, pulling the wire around until you reach the opposite side (180 degrees from the first loop) and make a second loop. <br />
Next, pull the wire back to the first loop (creating a full circle under the lip of the jar) and hook the wire around the first loop. Pinch closed with pliers.</div></li>
<li class="step instruction" id="step_27212"><span class="step-position">10</span> <div class="step_bg step-with-image"><div class="step-image-holder"><a href="http://img.coplusk.net/originals/0006/4655/2008_12070051_1243356963.jpg" title="Sweet 'N Simple Summer Lanterns : Step 10"><img alt="Step 10" class="img" src="http://img.coplusk.net/steps/0002/7212/2008_12070051_1243356963_200x150.jpg" /></a> </div>Cut a second length of wire for your handle. This can be as long or as short as you want your lantern to hang. <br />
Bend a tiny hook in either end of your wire and hook through the loops. Pinch closed with pliers.<br />
Add a tea light and enjoy!!</div></li>
<li class="step instruction" id="step_27215"><span class="step-position">11</span> <div class="step_bg step-with-image"><div class="step-image-holder"><a href="http://img.coplusk.net/originals/0006/4656/2008_12090039_1243357149.jpg" title="Sweet 'N Simple Summer Lanterns : Step 11"><img alt="Step 11" class="img" src="http://img.coplusk.net/steps/0002/7215/2008_12090039_1243357149_200x150.jpg" /></a> </div>You can experiment with all sorts of glass containers, try different color themes, decoupage, use different sizes, or even paint them to make stained glass!<br />
Remember to never leave lighted lanterns unattended! :)</div></li>
</ol>Bridge & Bucklehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15875882659447602024noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2669216728600743294.post-60885772672813178512011-01-12T14:33:00.000-08:002011-02-27T16:21:25.016-08:00Blacklight Jewelry ...<div class="author">by Jamie Smedley, Marketing Content Development, Exclusively for Fire Mountain Gems and Beads®</div><div class="content"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.firemountaingems.com/shopping.asp?SKW=KWBDGLCZECHBLACKLIGHT" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img alt="" border="0" height="132" src="http://image1.fmgstatic.com/grafx/7A1Z_finished.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div align="center"></div><br />
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Remember the fun of black lights? Whether it was at the roller-skating rink or your favorite concert, most everyone is familiar with black lights and how they make certain materials come alive with a fantastic glow. This same black light fun is now lighting up the fashion scene in beautiful, high quality jewelry. <br />
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All you need to capture this terrific trend is <a href="http://www.firemountaingems.com/shopping.asp?SKW=KWBDGLCZECHBLACKLIGHT" title="">fluorescing glass beads</a>. Commonly known as vaseline or uranium glass, its popularity can be traced to the 1830s. This glass became known as vaseline glass in the 1950s because of its glossy transparent appearance similar to Vaseline® petroleum jelly. Vaseline glass typically has a yellow-green hue in daylight and radiates a bright, bold fluorescent green under a black light. <br />
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The glowing properties of vaseline glass are from the uranium oxides and additional fluorescing colorants such as manganese and iron infused into the glass at the molten stage. Vaseline glass is not harmful. In fact, the scarce radioactive property of the uranium used in the vaseline glass-making process is lower than the amount that everyone is exposed to on a daily basis. <br />
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Production of vaseline glass ceased during World War II because the government confiscated all supplies of uranium dioxide to supply war efforts. Today, only a small amount is produced in the USA and the Czech Republic. <br />
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Create jewelry with a dual personality -- known for its beauty by day and its surprising fluorescent magic by black-lit night! A great complement to this season's bright, neon colors. <br />
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Vaseline glass is found in some colored Czech glass beads, including jonquil yellow, lemon yellow, yellow/blue and black/green tortoise. In natural light they have a bright, almost neon appearance and will glow a strong green under a UV (black light) lamp. An easy way to check if glass beads have fluorescent properties is to place them under a black light in a dark room. <br />
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Vintage vaseline glass beads have become very collectible. Since they are rare, they can be quite expensive. However, the colored Czech glass beads mentioned above are known to glow even brighter and are more easily available and affordable than the vintage varieties. <br />
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Be the life of the party this season with an attention-getting entrance in fluorescing jewelry! </div>Bridge & Bucklehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15875882659447602024noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2669216728600743294.post-62811594203808876722011-01-11T06:56:00.001-08:002011-02-27T16:20:36.353-08:00Top 10 List - You know you're a beader when<div class="author">By Jamie Smedley, Marketing Content Development, Exclusively for Fire Mountain Gems and Beads®</div><div class="content"><div class="ctr"><img alt="" src="http://image1.fmgstatic.com/grafx/ykybeader_hdr.gif" title="" /></div><ol><li>An exciting night for you means organizing your massive bead collection. </li>
<li>You have more pairs of pliers than your husband does. </li>
<li>The first thing you do while on vacation is flip through the yellow pages to find a bead shop to buy more beads, and you already have over 200 pounds sitting at home. </li>
<li>You count beads and stitches instead of sheep to fall asleep at night. </li>
<li>Beading stores know you by your FIRST name, and have your credit card number on file. </li>
<li>Every conceivable surface in your home, including your pets, is covered with finished jewelry, multiple beading projects, new beads not yet put away, beads on display and beaded décor. </li>
<li>Your pantry and cupboards have more beads than food in them. </li>
<li>Long gone are the cute little bead storage containers. Jumbo sized Costco toolboxes that are full to overflowing, but you still have beads everywhere! </li>
<li>You justify buying more beads with one-liners like, ''My beading addiction is healthier than smoking,'' or ''Beads won't ruin my diet because they don't have calories.'' </li>
<li>Your family can't remember the last time they ate at the kitchen table, which is known as no man's land under certain death if they dump over your bead board or cups of beads.</li>
</ol></div>Bridge & Bucklehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15875882659447602024noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2669216728600743294.post-54557457664199919472011-01-07T14:36:00.000-08:002011-02-27T16:22:28.233-08:00Usher in the Creative Year of the RABBIT !!<div class="author">by Jamie Smedley, Marketing Content Development, Exclusively for Fire Mountain Gems and Beads®</div><div class="content"><br />
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In China, the beginning of every year falls between late January and early February, and is marked by an animal sign of the Chinese zodiac that is repeated every twelve years. Each year is given a different animal sign as a way of counting the years. The years are scheduled according to the lunar cycles of the moon as compared to the solar-based calendars of the West. Since 1911, the Chinese have adopted the solar calendar and use it alongside the lunar calendar for holidays. Many Chinese calendars have both solar and lunar dates printed on them. <br />
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<span class="bold"><strong>Zodiac Origins</strong></span> <br />
The animals used in the zodiac, and how they came to represent it, are a wonderful Chinese legend with many variations. The most common version being the legend of the Jade Emperor and how he wanted to hold a race across a river to give twelve animals the right to rule for a year. All animals were given a chance to swim, and the first twelve to reach the opposite bank would win the positions in which they arrived. <br />
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Cat and Rat were the worst swimmers of all the animals, so they designed a plan to ask if they could cross the river on the back of Bull. Bull, being a kind and gentle creature, agreed to carry them. As the group reached the center of the rushing river, the ambitious Rat pushed Cat off Bull's back and into the water to ensure his victory. Rat's betrayal is why Cat and Rat have evermore been sworn enemies and why, to this day, cats despise swimming in water. <br />
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As Bull reached the riverbank, Rat darted atop Bull's head and sprang to the ground to reach the shore first and became the first zodiac animal. Bull was content to be given the second year. The third animal to successfully cross the river was Tiger, who was known to be the most powerful of all the animals. Exhausted, Tiger explained that the heavy currents of the river, coupled with an entangled log, had pushed Tiger further downstream, delaying the animal's arrival. <br />
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After Tiger was proclaimed the third animal of the zodiac, the Jade Emperor heard a thumping sound just as Rabbit bounded into view. As the fourth animal, he explained his attempts at trying to cross the river by jumping from stone to stone. The stones eventually came to an end, leaving Rabbit stranded in the middle of the waters and, fearing he could lose the race, thought quickly and hopped onto a floating log to reach the shore. <br />
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The fifth animal to reach the shore was Dragon. Dragon was as strong as Tiger, and even though he could fly, Dragon didn't come in first. When the Jade Emperor asked why, Dragon said that it was because he took time to stop and help the people and creatures of the earth who were suffering famine by causing rain. Then, seeing little Rabbit stranded on a rock, Dragon guided the log that was entangling Tiger away to instead help Rabbit float across the river. <br />
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Dragon had just finished this tale when a thunderous splashing was heard and Horse reared towards the shore but the cunning Snake, having wrapped around the ankle of Horse, suddenly dropped onto the bank just ahead of Horse. This sudden appearance spooked the poor Horse backwards, giving Snake the sixth position, followed by Horse in seventh. <br />
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Next to arrive were Ram, Monkey and Rooster who skidded to a stop on the shore riding a tangled reed raft. They told the Jade Emperor how they formed an alliance to help each other cross the river beginning with Rooster who had flown around until a suitable raft was spotted and then took Monkey and Ram to where it was. Then Ram and Monkey cleared the weeds and they all glided upon it across the water to the shore. Delighted with their mutual efforts, the Jade Emperor gave Ram the eighth zodiac position, Monkey the ninth and Rooster the tenth. <br />
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Dog, known to be the best swimmer, was next to reach the shore and explained that upon seeing his dirt-smudged coat paired with the tempting clean river waters, he decided to stop and bathe, but Dog tarried for too long and almost didn't finish the race. Finally, Pig emerged squealing and sputtering from the waters as the last and twelfth zodiac animal. Pig's reason for a late arrival was being "so ravenous with the exertion of finding a good crossing spot that a meal was needed," so he sniffed out a bountiful feast of grubs, berries and roots, followed by a short nap. <br />
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="clr"><tbody>
<tr><td valign="top"><div align="left"><img alt="" src="http://image1.fmgstatic.com/grafx/9B58_rabbit.gif" /></div></td><td><div align="left"><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://image1.fmgstatic.com/grafx/spacer.gif" width="12" /></div></td><td valign="top"><div align="left" id="rabbit"></div><div align="left"><span class="bold"><strong>Rabbit</strong></span> <br />
Charitable, welcoming and peaceful by nature, Rabbits thrive on routines and can become anxious if they have to step outside of the lines or make risky decisions. They thrive on details of the minutest kind and thoroughly enjoy creating a home of solace and beautiful tranquility. Cultivated and artistic, Rabbits are brilliant at remembering. <br />
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Rabbits are attracted to highly detailed jewelry designs that abound with cultured freshwater pearls, sapphires, faceted multicolored tourmaline and rainbow moonstone gemstone beads that flash and dance with lively colors. <br />
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Shop for Rabbit's gemstone beads: </div><div align="left"><ul><li><a href="http://www.firemountaingems.com/pearls.asp" title=""><u><span style="color: #003399;">Cultured freshwater pearl beads</span></u></a> </li>
<li><a href="http://www.firemountaingems.com/shopping.asp?skw=KWGSBEADSAPPHIRE" title=""><u><span style="color: #003399;">Sapphire gemstone beads</span></u></a> </li>
<li><a href="http://www.firemountaingems.com/shopping.asp?skw=KWGSBEADMOONRAINBOW" title=""><u><span style="color: #003399;">Rainbow moonstone gemstone beads</span></u></a> </li>
<li><a href="http://www.firemountaingems.com/shopping.asp?skw=KWGSBEADTOURMMULTI" title=""><u><span style="color: #003399;">Multicolored tourmaline gemstone beads</span></u></a></li>
</ul></div></td></tr>
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<span class="bold"><strong>Which Zodiac Animal Are You?</strong></span> <br />
Find your year of birth in the article link below and see which zodiac animal your birth year represents. Also, discover the animal character traits and strengths that you share with those born in the same year, beginning between late January and early February. <br />
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Read the full article on the <a href="http://www.firemountaingems.com/encyclobeadia/beading_resources.asp?docid=9B58&doccat=articles&sact=search">Story of the Chinese Zodiac</a> by Jamie Smedley on the website of Fire Mountain Gems and Beads.Bridge & Bucklehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15875882659447602024noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2669216728600743294.post-25979154016456268232011-01-07T06:33:00.000-08:002011-02-27T16:20:21.503-08:00Jane Austen Jewelry<a href="http://www.firemountaingems.com/galleryofdesigns/jewelry_design_gallery.asp?docid=A97Y"><img alt="" border="0" height="120" src="http://image1.fmgstatic.com/grafx/AA0Y_hdr.jpg" width="400" /></a> <br />
<div class="author">by Jamie Smedley, Marketing Content Development, Exclusively for Fire Mountain Gems and Beads®</div><div class="content"><br />
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"Is there a felicity in the world superior to this?" Marianne said.<cite> - Sense and Sensibility: Volume I, Chapter 9, Jane Austen</cite> <br />
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The years spanning from around 1800 to 1820 are commonly referred to as the Regency era and were renowned for a simpler, less complicated style. The indulgent aristocratic excesses of the 1700s were replaced with a naturally elegant aesthetic in fashion and accessories that deliberately emulated the grace and poise of Roman and Greek statuary. Such simplicity in fashion brought a true appreciation for small details and quality craftsmanship. Likewise, the social manners of the era were unparalleled in polite decorum. One of the most recognized representations of this era is the much-celebrated literature of Jane Austen. <br />
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<span class="bold" style="color: #006666; font-size: 1.4em;"><strong><span style="font-size: medium;">The Regency Style</span></strong></span> <br />
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<tr><td valign="top"><div align="left"></div></td><td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div align="left"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://image1.fmgstatic.com/grafx/spacer.gif" width="12" /></div><div align="left"></div></div></td><td valign="top"><div align="left"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://www.firemountaingems.com/galleryofdesigns/jewelry_design_gallery.asp?docid=A98A" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://image1.fmgstatic.com/grafx/AA0Y_sub4.jpg" /></a>Following the French revolution, fashion was transformed with flowing under-bust column gowns in fine, filmy fabrics and delicate floral accents of ribbon and embroidery. White was the dominant color of the age, but it was almost always accented with floral-inspired colors that were incorporated onto bonnets, floor-length redingote jackets, belts, reticule bags and Spencer jackets. The jewelry and accessories were simple in comparison to the heavy, fussy styles of previous decades--being instead uncomplicated in construction and focusing on one or two main materials that complemented each other in balanced harmony. </div></div><div align="left">It was frequent for a woman to own complete parures, or matching sets, of jewelry that included earrings, a ring, a necklace of either long or short length, a brooch and two bracelets. Sometimes, for eveningwear, a matching diadem or tiara and a jeweled belt were also worn. The complete set was never worn at the same time. Only a few pieces were selected to don at one time, as a less-is-more attitude towards accessories was adopted.</div></td></tr>
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<span class="bold" style="color: #006666; font-size: 1.4em;"><strong><span style="font-size: medium;">The Regency Color Palette</span></strong></span> <br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Choosing the right colors to translate the Regency look into jewelry is one of the most important elements. <span class="italic"><em>kock-lee-co, </em></span>first recorded as a color name in 1795, was a saturated poppy red with hints of pink and orange. This color today can be achieved with the use of padparadscha, hyacinth and Indian red Swarovski crystal beads. <br />
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Jonquil, primrose and evening primrose were all varying shades of yellow akin to the blooms they were called after. These yellow colors added warm, optimistic color to the Regency palette. Sunny jonquil and sand opal Swarovski crystal colors can closely translate these colors. Pomona, a dark shade of apple green was named for the Greek goddess of fruiting orchards. Paris green was similar to chrysoprase in hue and was popular because it was the first colorfast green available. Unfortunately, it was produced by mixing copper arsenic powders and other toxic chemicals. Pomona and Paris green colors can be incorporated into jewelry with the use of palace green opal and erinite Swarovski crystal colors as well as green quartz and apple green chrysoprase gemstone beads. <br />
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<div align="left" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://www.firemountaingems.com/galleryofdesigns/jewelry_design_gallery.asp?docid=A97Z" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://image1.fmgstatic.com/grafx/AA0Y_sub2.jpg" /></a></div>Of course, the staple colors of white, Spanish brown, dove grey, powder blue, pale lilac, peach blossom and wild rose were incorporated into the everyday wardrobe in great abundance. Today, jewelry designers often use ivory instead of a crisp white to give their Regency-inspired jewelry designs the look of age.<br />
<div align="left" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><div align="left" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Another color name that may surprise is that of puce (p-YOU-ss), the French word for flea. Indeed, the color was known to be similar to the brownish purple-red of old blood that could be found in the pests. Incredibly, even with its odd name origin, puce was one of the top fashion colors used! Easily incorporate the puce color into jewelry designs by using garnet gemstone beads or Swarovski crystal maroon pearls or ruby and burgundy crystal colors.</div><div align="left" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><div align="left" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div></div><div align="left" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://www.firemountaingems.com/galleryofdesigns/jewelry_design_gallery.asp?docid=A97W" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://image1.fmgstatic.com/grafx/AA0Y_sub5.jpg" /></a></div>To appreciate these key colors, it is important to be familiar with the color names of the age that were both curious and puzzling. For instance, the color coquelicot, pronounced </div></td></tr>
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</div><span class="bold" style="color: #006666; font-size: 1.4em;"><strong><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></strong></span><br />
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<tr><td valign="top"><div align="left"><a href="http://www.firemountaingems.com/shopping.asp?skw=KWREGENCYCOQUELICOT" target="" title=""><img alt="" border="0" src="http://image1.fmgstatic.com/grafx/AA0Y_sub6_01.jpg" /></a></div></td><td valign="top"><div align="left"><a href="http://www.firemountaingems.com/shopping.asp?skw=KWREGENCYJONQUIL" target="" title=""><img alt="" border="0" src="http://image1.fmgstatic.com/grafx/AA0Y_sub6_02.jpg" /></a></div></td><td valign="top"><div align="left"><a href="http://www.firemountaingems.com/shopping.asp?skw=KWREGENCYPRIMROSE" target="" title=""><img alt="" border="0" src="http://image1.fmgstatic.com/grafx/AA0Y_sub6_03.jpg" /></a></div></td><td valign="top"><div align="left"><a href="http://www.firemountaingems.com/shopping.asp?skw=KWREGENCYEVNGPRIMROSE" target="" title=""><img alt="" border="0" src="http://image1.fmgstatic.com/grafx/AA0Y_sub6_04.jpg" /></a></div></td><td valign="top"><div align="left"><a href="http://www.firemountaingems.com/shopping.asp?skw=KWREGENCYPOMONA" target="" title=""><img alt="" border="0" src="http://image1.fmgstatic.com/grafx/AA0Y_sub6_05.jpg" /></a></div></td><td valign="top"><div align="left"><a href="http://www.firemountaingems.com/shopping.asp?skw=KWREGENCYPUCE" target="" title=""><img alt="" border="0" src="http://image1.fmgstatic.com/grafx/AA0Y_sub6_06.jpg" /></a></div></td><td valign="top"><div align="left"><a href="http://www.firemountaingems.com/shopping.asp?skw=KWREGENCYPARISGREEN" target="" title=""><img alt="" border="0" src="http://image1.fmgstatic.com/grafx/AA0Y_sub6_07.jpg" /></a></div></td></tr>
<tr><td valign="top"><div align="left"><a href="http://www.firemountaingems.com/shopping.asp?skw=KWREGENCYWHITE" target="" title=""><img alt="" border="0" src="http://image1.fmgstatic.com/grafx/AA0Y_sub6_08.jpg" /></a></div></td><td valign="top"><div align="left"><a href="http://www.firemountaingems.com/shopping.asp?skw=KWREGENCYPWDRBLUE" target="" title=""><img alt="" border="0" src="http://image1.fmgstatic.com/grafx/AA0Y_sub6_09.jpg" /></a></div></td><td valign="top"><div align="left"><a href="http://www.firemountaingems.com/shopping.asp?skw=KWREGENCYPALELILAC" target="" title=""><img alt="" border="0" src="http://image1.fmgstatic.com/grafx/AA0Y_sub6_10.jpg" /></a></div></td><td valign="top"><div align="left"><a href="http://www.firemountaingems.com/shopping.asp?skw=KWREGENCYPCHBLOSSOM" target="" title=""><img alt="" border="0" src="http://image1.fmgstatic.com/grafx/AA0Y_sub6_11.jpg" /></a></div></td><td valign="top"><div align="left"><a href="http://www.firemountaingems.com/shopping.asp?skw=KWREGENCYWILDROSE" target="" title=""><img alt="" border="0" src="http://image1.fmgstatic.com/grafx/AA0Y_sub6_12.jpg" /></a></div></td><td valign="top"><div align="left"><a href="http://www.firemountaingems.com/shopping.asp?skw=KWREGENCYDOVEGREY" target="" title=""><img alt="" border="0" src="http://image1.fmgstatic.com/grafx/AA0Y_sub6_13.jpg" /></a></div></td><td valign="top"><div align="left"><a href="http://www.firemountaingems.com/shopping.asp?skw=KWREGENCYSPNSHBROWN" target="" title=""><img alt="" border="0" src="http://image1.fmgstatic.com/grafx/AA0Y_sub6_14.jpg" /></a></div></td></tr>
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<span class="bold" style="color: #006666; font-size: 1.4em;"><strong><span style="font-size: medium;">Recreate This Style</span></strong></span> <br />
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Regency-era jewelry designers valued quality over quantity when it came to materials, selecting high quality precious and semi-precious gemstone beads such as emerald, sapphire, citrine, ruby, garnet, onyx, amethyst, chrysoprase, aquamarine, peridot, topaz, bright "Persian blue" turquoise and of course cultured freshwater pearls. Fine gold-filled and sterling silver metals were used and often times, they were mixed together in floral filigree designs that echoed the embroidery seen on empire-waist gowns. <br />
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This secret locket consisted of a picture of just the eye of a beloved person with perhaps the eyebrow and a wisp of hair on the temple showing. The secret love locket was a way to discreetly hold your love near your heart at all times. You can emulate these portrait styles by embedding a loved one's printed likeness into pourable resin, encapsulating it under a clear glass cabochon in a mounting or decoupage it with Mod Podge.<br />
<div align="left"></div>The most common jewelry styles worn were a single strand of beads knotted together with a fantastic clasp, a fine gold chain necklace with dainty crystal drops with matching earrings or a petite portrait brooch. Pearl strands and velvet ribbon were commonly paired with faceted gemstone beads or cameo sets. Hair jewelry was also highly popular at this time including combs, pins, picks and tiaras. The tradition of a "lover's eye" locket was also the height of fashionable accessories.</div>Opera length necklaces that went to the bottom of the rib cage and chokers that rested on the collarbone were the most popular necklace styles worn. All manner of earring lengths were seen and they often included a poetic influence, incorporating bows, ovals and teardrops. <br />
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Overall, jewelry designs tended to be heartfelt with deep personal meanings, being small in scale and sentimental in nature. Incorporate symbols popular to the Regency era with charms, drops and components in Greek key patterns, acorns, doves, wheat sheaves, feathers, miniature portraits, lockets, cameos and floral mosaics. <br />
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<div align="left"><a href="http://www.firemountaingems.com/galleryofdesigns/jewelry_design_gallery.asp?docid=A97V" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://image1.fmgstatic.com/grafx/AA0Y_sub3.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td valign="top"><div align="left"><span class="bold"><strong>Design with:</strong></span> <br />
<ul><li><a href="http://www.firemountaingems.com/gemstonebeads.asp" title=""><u><span style="color: #003399;">Quality gemstone beads</span></u></a> </li>
<li><a href="http://www.firemountaingems.com/shopping.asp?skw=KWREGENCYSSFILIGREE" title=""><u><span style="color: #003399;">Filigree sterling silver beads and components</span></u></a> </li>
<li><a href="http://www.firemountaingems.com/shopping.asp?skw=KWCLASPSTERLING" title=""><u><span style="color: #003399;">Fine sterling silver clasps</span></u></a> </li>
<li><a href="http://www.firemountaingems.com/shopping.asp?skw=KWCAMEOALL" title=""><u><span style="color: #003399;">Cameos</span></u></a> </li>
<li><a href="http://www.firemountaingems.com/cabochons-cameos.asp#Cabochons" title=""><u><span style="color: #003399;">Cabochons</span></u></a> and <a href="http://www.firemountaingems.com/mountings.asp#CabochonSettings" title=""><u><span style="color: #003399;">mountings</span></u></a> </li>
<li><a href="http://www.firemountaingems.com/shopping.asp?SKW=KWMODPODGE" title=""><u><span style="color: #003399;">Mod Podge®</span></u></a> </li>
<li><a href="http://www.firemountaingems.com/pearls.asp" title=""><u><span style="color: #003399;">Pearls</span></u></a> </li>
<li><a href="http://www.firemountaingems.com/shopping.asp?skw=KWCORDRIBBONVELVET" title=""><u><span style="color: #003399;">Velvet ribbon</span></u></a> and <a href="http://www.firemountaingems.com/shopping.asp?skw=KWFNTERMINATERIBBONEND" title=""><u><span style="color: #003399;">ribbon ends</span></u></a> </li>
<li><a href="http://www.firemountaingems.com/shopping.asp?skw=KWREGENCYSYMBLCHARM" title=""><u><span style="color: #003399;">Regency Era symbols and charms</span></u></a></li>
</ul></div></td><td><div align="left"><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://image1.fmgstatic.com/grafx/spacer.gif" width="12" /></div></td><td valign="top"><div align="left"></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table></div>Bridge & Bucklehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15875882659447602024noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2669216728600743294.post-40936094761429867042010-11-13T16:20:00.000-08:002011-02-27T16:19:44.564-08:00Baby Steps ...<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNUZT9mxcugSWlezaktW18fVMUaOV-UkzYETMcmO-khaJcXaarDQejCaQ4Io7dcoqYEyddNtsY6h7Fr23INld57vcMANWj4yZBS1k_c848b5-G8zGweaIGV8_MwKr2pnt281BVPYn9Ln8/s1600/DSCF4849.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNUZT9mxcugSWlezaktW18fVMUaOV-UkzYETMcmO-khaJcXaarDQejCaQ4Io7dcoqYEyddNtsY6h7Fr23INld57vcMANWj4yZBS1k_c848b5-G8zGweaIGV8_MwKr2pnt281BVPYn9Ln8/s200/DSCF4849.JPG" width="200" /></a><shapetype coordsize="21600,21600" filled="f" id="_x0000_t75" o:preferrelative="t" o:spt="75" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" stroked="f"><stroke joinstyle="miter"></stroke><formulas><f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"></f><f eqn="sum @0 1 0"></f><f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"></f><f eqn="prod @2 1 2"></f><f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"></f><f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"></f><f eqn="sum @0 0 1"></f><f eqn="prod @6 1 2"></f><f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"></f><f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"></f><f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"></f><f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"></f></formulas><path gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect" o:extrusionok="f"></path><lock aspectratio="t" v:ext="edit"></lock></shapetype><shape alt="DSCF4849.JPG" id="Picture_x0020_0" o:spid="_x0000_s1029" style="height: 156.05pt; margin-left: 1.5pt; margin-top: 0px; mso-position-horizontal-relative: text; mso-position-horizontal: absolute; mso-position-vertical-relative: text; mso-position-vertical: absolute; mso-wrap-distance-bottom: 0; mso-wrap-distance-left: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-right: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-top: 0; mso-wrap-style: square; position: absolute; visibility: visible; width: 207.8pt; z-index: -4;" type="#_x0000_t75" wrapcoords="-156 0 -156 21385 21673 21385 21673 0 -156 0"><imagedata o:title="DSCF4849" src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\Jamie\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image001.jpg"></imagedata><wrap type="tight"></wrap></shape><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Nothing can block your creative chi faster than a “cluster buster” … that is a big old huge mess that prevents you from doing your thing. My studio has been in that exact state for the last couple months as I have been creating inventory like a whirl wind maniac to produce enough jewelry to sell at a my local artisan market booth as well as my Etsy shop and a few local holiday bazaars. My studio seriously began to resemble a pile of half finished projects and materials used to create masterpieces scattered about and left to lie long after the projects were </span><shape alt="DSCF4854.JPG" id="Picture_x0020_1" o:spid="_x0000_s1028" style="height: 179.15pt; margin-left: 147.65pt; margin-top: 2.5pt; mso-position-horizontal-relative: text; mso-position-horizontal: right; mso-position-vertical-relative: text; mso-position-vertical: absolute; mso-wrap-distance-bottom: 0; mso-wrap-distance-left: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-right: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-top: 0; mso-wrap-style: square; position: absolute; visibility: visible; width: 187.65pt; z-index: -3;" type="#_x0000_t75" wrapcoords="-173 0 -173 21341 21583 21341 21583 0 -173 0"><imagedata o:title="DSCF4854" src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\Jamie\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image003.jpg"></imagedata><wrap type="tight"></wrap></shape><span style="font-family: Calibri;">completed.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicKTNU8TPpBUK2AFEYphfgYBllLskNDRF4yWcEJUtci4sKj3CL8jIJsG3BJxCO-Br5LlCKT8o3sCQHwaw4bHMdPAqfaouj03QkOIViRbVF0YhW9PII5UYbcQ5NlkwxcV0asc-En_uTTwU/s1600/DSCF4854.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="191" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicKTNU8TPpBUK2AFEYphfgYBllLskNDRF4yWcEJUtci4sKj3CL8jIJsG3BJxCO-Br5LlCKT8o3sCQHwaw4bHMdPAqfaouj03QkOIViRbVF0YhW9PII5UYbcQ5NlkwxcV0asc-En_uTTwU/s200/DSCF4854.JPG" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I have been given many titles to explain my creative dark-side cleaning habits. A few of the most popular are the Fluff and Stuff Queen because I have it down to an exact science how to make things “appear” clean on the surface and stuff the mess into corners and behind closed doors. I am also a professional “Pile-It” because I create piles of stuff. Strange as it may seem, I often know where within the pile an item may be – freakish memorization mixed with the clerical filing system of Oscar the Grouch. I have racked up quite a few “frequent flyer Pile-It miles” from random items being hurled across the room in moments of frustration. But my all time favorite is the Sweeper. A benign sounding name, this habit is the bane of my artistic existence.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I start with a clean slate, pile up the materials for one project that, when finished, will morph into another, and another, and another and another. Between each project morph I will hap hazardously “sweep” my arm across my workspace to clear materials that won’t be used on the project and push them to the outer fringe of my beading workspace. This goes on for several projects until I am left with a postage stamp sized workspace that doesn’t work</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So, today I got up early and made my way to the studio with grand plans to create a lot of earrings. After hunting for 15 minutes to find a headpin I decided enough was enough. I decided to clean the mess.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">On A Mission …</span></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9DpszyaUThSLhuppDl5TnDIDMZVyPq5MXVaLF7JiRpQ1YgRVucsVAv8C8v79qcfQ5j0utw0rdmIGjnc65e1J-_eZRl1NY5DH78knTWt0g2jn-0XIepPCLQYyc-tcCINyRsremO_bFajI/s1600/DSCF4850.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9DpszyaUThSLhuppDl5TnDIDMZVyPq5MXVaLF7JiRpQ1YgRVucsVAv8C8v79qcfQ5j0utw0rdmIGjnc65e1J-_eZRl1NY5DH78knTWt0g2jn-0XIepPCLQYyc-tcCINyRsremO_bFajI/s320/DSCF4850.JPG" width="216" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I think that most creative people will face this at some point in their creative career. If it happens to you, then you can truly sympathize with this plight. My momma always used to say “A place for everything and everything in its place” How true it is. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I think that my problem lies in that I keep bring beads and materials in, but don’t provide them with a good home. So today that is what I am doing. Giving them all a good home, out of the way, easy to see and no more piles! I want to kick this habit. I hope I can commit to these new resolutions. Have you recently overcome disorganization? What were your solutions? How do you organize and store your beads? Do you have pictures of your </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">organization methods that you’d like to share?</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhthUL6E8xIMp-apU01aoT-tjifzITuxScb0vMBJGBJMmHKLGk5oGn8zx7jg7XU7OHksuSjukoDgFLJZMzFB6b5RztrXBaLhhOZe5YElV_B43XUes0r_oTimIm8teRqao6S0IlYvt_oP9Q/s1600/DSCF4851.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; height: 120px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; width: 223px;"><img border="0" height="160" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhthUL6E8xIMp-apU01aoT-tjifzITuxScb0vMBJGBJMmHKLGk5oGn8zx7jg7XU7OHksuSjukoDgFLJZMzFB6b5RztrXBaLhhOZe5YElV_B43XUes0r_oTimIm8teRqao6S0IlYvt_oP9Q/s320/DSCF4851.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div></div>Bridge & Bucklehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15875882659447602024noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2669216728600743294.post-26140408224953245602010-11-10T17:30:00.000-08:002011-02-27T16:19:24.852-08:00making some new earrings<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnMJ_Xwmgt-BFxWSDnE6cdsLkOwmpVuJQCVFRm_m6Kb5ksXsPXFC6ZYdTWMwJZPs8lM1R4u9eC59PiBZZaVUUx751bN58khj6vqMzTqZ3VrpMhFpM2v0uqS5jn8b2DIlXbyrRovibfBBA/s1600/Copy+of+DSCF4824.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnMJ_Xwmgt-BFxWSDnE6cdsLkOwmpVuJQCVFRm_m6Kb5ksXsPXFC6ZYdTWMwJZPs8lM1R4u9eC59PiBZZaVUUx751bN58khj6vqMzTqZ3VrpMhFpM2v0uqS5jn8b2DIlXbyrRovibfBBA/s320/Copy+of+DSCF4824.JPG" width="236" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">a rainbow of colors </td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Joy - Rapture - Unconfined ... A New box of Feathers At Last Is Mine!!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I just recieved a new parcel of feathers in my mailbox and had to run straight to the studio. I have been spending the last few evenings making some new feather earring designs that are so dang cool! I got so wrapped up in having fun that before I knew it I had created about 30 pairs. Vivid colors, carnival colors, natural colors, Christmas colors -- you name it!!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZinYTMjMfSg2Y-rlVlHAkseSdwEcPcCQcZdP6w_aMTuy96lFm2hABDQTG3rCmVFUuSvA49bwRRpNm5DnBP9d0ri4EUD8yjDr46cbnRI0OVbf-T9NWmASQFC4KNgfGWIKCJJRU3dXPWdM/s1600/Copy+of+DSCF4845.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZinYTMjMfSg2Y-rlVlHAkseSdwEcPcCQcZdP6w_aMTuy96lFm2hABDQTG3rCmVFUuSvA49bwRRpNm5DnBP9d0ri4EUD8yjDr46cbnRI0OVbf-T9NWmASQFC4KNgfGWIKCJJRU3dXPWdM/s320/Copy+of+DSCF4845.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">earring assembly</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMJd3Au9crtGIuSaenBAephkaSdvvXclH0j55JE-6fnax4t-TaPSfdU-xQlaTWkBzYSspPfY1qJz-RFJkmcO_JrOm_FNLFlR1tl1bbrn_dGX8sZ3yQKHU9L96BRZlUNlqOiO5ANhPfpYE/s1600/DSCF4848.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMJd3Au9crtGIuSaenBAephkaSdvvXclH0j55JE-6fnax4t-TaPSfdU-xQlaTWkBzYSspPfY1qJz-RFJkmcO_JrOm_FNLFlR1tl1bbrn_dGX8sZ3yQKHU9L96BRZlUNlqOiO5ANhPfpYE/s320/DSCF4848.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div>I am really excited about feathers lately -- I even wear them in my hair! My latest feather earring designs are currently available at my Bridge & Buckle booth located in Savannah Faire, Grants Pass Oregon.<br />
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**custome lengths and color combinations available<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Dunzsg3Mza-pSwPxSYiGurM0Klod25wHmVbTBVl_NRF9caP5TCVghFeuj5rcOfpjA1St6aIeFE8NEGiSIADn8tpd-hzCyOo1a7N24DlTlrY0sTE4ECftyvmMFKjwdtg1y9zRUBHqGSg/s1600/Copy+of+DSCF4840.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="269" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Dunzsg3Mza-pSwPxSYiGurM0Klod25wHmVbTBVl_NRF9caP5TCVghFeuj5rcOfpjA1St6aIeFE8NEGiSIADn8tpd-hzCyOo1a7N24DlTlrY0sTE4ECftyvmMFKjwdtg1y9zRUBHqGSg/s320/Copy+of+DSCF4840.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">now for the earwires and then put them on cards</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Bridge & Bucklehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15875882659447602024noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2669216728600743294.post-63952833979493638012010-11-08T13:00:00.000-08:002011-02-27T16:19:01.415-08:00Meant to Be ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><strong>A Designer's Dilemma...</strong><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3YpYHu0YOnL0lIQ77rqiG5SWImgjlj_HS7VO9YQLYaLRYViZuuIRo-dcVv9g5SiGjbM65Po7HAMfuIOHr6QZDBHp8RoaX6BrZCOhZoS7WdliCYWaulTjczasExohH-wGxKzH-1xStKog/s1600/DSCF4815.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3YpYHu0YOnL0lIQ77rqiG5SWImgjlj_HS7VO9YQLYaLRYViZuuIRo-dcVv9g5SiGjbM65Po7HAMfuIOHr6QZDBHp8RoaX6BrZCOhZoS7WdliCYWaulTjczasExohH-wGxKzH-1xStKog/s200/DSCF4815.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">found objects and treasures</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I often struggle to find that sweet spot between building up a collection and hoarding jewelry-making materials. What is with me and this pile of treasure that I never get the courage to use? My bead stash is staggering, and I quite frankly have “outgrown” a lot of it as my artistic styles have evolved over the years.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-bHhzMT2E682hYs5qojMpDdxO-iwwJ5CASU5v9Mz2d1QsnDOlxGfz2ZpSLO8qLgaJGbrQOIerajtFIuMviDvMbbgMHFN-XKAVtTiYFl0MjGVkE87nbVxMrnodO8__Wa3slCC4bXAswQ0/s1600/DSCF4838.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-bHhzMT2E682hYs5qojMpDdxO-iwwJ5CASU5v9Mz2d1QsnDOlxGfz2ZpSLO8qLgaJGbrQOIerajtFIuMviDvMbbgMHFN-XKAVtTiYFl0MjGVkE87nbVxMrnodO8__Wa3slCC4bXAswQ0/s320/DSCF4838.JPG" width="192" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">sparkling drawers of faceted gemstrands</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oBDnOhyau9s/TCWdaoxTMZI/AAAAAAAACMI/nIoEA8MOBNU/s1600/6250+gem+show+strands.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>There are some real gems in that bead pile. Friends that visit my beading studio salivate and I often hear “ooh and ah” when I open my bead drawers for guests to view the sparkly contents. I often ponder to myself why I am reluctant to begin a design using them. What is the reason that I sit in my room with all these wonderful ideas and vast treasures surrounding me and yet I just can’t seem to reach my hand out to use some? Then it hit me like a brick. I have a mental block -- the fear of making the wrong design or a design that I will regret using something that I can’t replace – no second chances! So I end up saving this treasure forever waiting for that someday stroke of genius to make that one piece that is “meant to be” ...</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">That is, that is, that is, that is.... I could do that forever. Why wait?</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong>Does This Sound Familiar...</strong></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Are you like me? FROZEN from using your bead and jewelry making stash? Are you an artist with a vast collection of jewelry making supplies, such as beads, findings and little found goodies that seem to be irreplaceable? Have you taken years to collect your stash. How do you move past this mental block to make a spectacular design? </div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong>A Possible Solution for you...</strong></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRp_QCdOL2D8eEvg0rwrFuRvqPrEnZzY76uR-xb9nAFss0Pd0L9r3f-8VSWvdMS_Kyd3cQl507W0UvNTAvIY1apEQfzzM5PfVir9F0Aa97IadGZnEPVJTs5Ls6Pk4eELQLYVKCeS8aUPw/s1600/DSCF0792.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRp_QCdOL2D8eEvg0rwrFuRvqPrEnZzY76uR-xb9nAFss0Pd0L9r3f-8VSWvdMS_Kyd3cQl507W0UvNTAvIY1apEQfzzM5PfVir9F0Aa97IadGZnEPVJTs5Ls6Pk4eELQLYVKCeS8aUPw/s200/DSCF0792.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kucki fertility pendants</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Break the mental block of loss:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you are a jewelry designer, particularly a salvage artist, then the first thing to recognize in the world of found object jewelry is that EVERYTHING can be made into a bead or component if you add a hole, a jumpring, some adhesive or a bit of wire. This will open up many possibilities for you to use some of those found objects because the joy in found objects is that you can just keep making more! Curb your sense of loss by making a few outstanding pieces and KEEPING them for yourself. Wear them. P.S. – you should be wearing your work on a daily basis anyways... and enjoy them. This will also make parting with finished designs that you like much easier to do later. </div></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidpfzaMua0UsgyKSOkMG6S7Vhq2vBFTl58BIELaYF5nl2g7medNESq56YhDdrYimytva14FNdaTBbcdq96eL3uMsFyQAgmR-qhbHZ4LG8lwj_GiJ6kay02UrL2h7ero2irB1vvI2nqcQ4/s1600/DSCF0832.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidpfzaMua0UsgyKSOkMG6S7Vhq2vBFTl58BIELaYF5nl2g7medNESq56YhDdrYimytva14FNdaTBbcdq96eL3uMsFyQAgmR-qhbHZ4LG8lwj_GiJ6kay02UrL2h7ero2irB1vvI2nqcQ4/s320/DSCF0832.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lay out a design - throw stuff together to get a visual</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Break the mental block of perfection:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The second thing to know about the beading world is that there will ALWAYS be a new and exciting bead or material that you will be revved up to use in your designs. Why wait for the perfect design to create something. Practice makes perfect. Jump in there and start using it. If you run out, replace it. Here’s a hint, if you save materials for too long they can become dated and no longer current. Trust me –I speak from painful and expensive experience. If this happens to you, then you will end up keeping beads in a drawer and bury them with materials that you DO use constantly. They will become something that you have to paw over to get to the beads you really want to use. Because of the time that it took you to collect it or the cost of acquiring it, you probably won’t give outdated beads away and selling them could be challenging if they are no longer en vogue with mainstream trends.</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">My advice is to take one item that you are reluctant to use, due to either cost or the irreplaceable factor. Select other great items that coordinate with it and then find or conceptualize an original design and just go for it. You can always take it apart and restash it if you hate it. If it isn’t quite right, rework portions of it until it is perfect. This process may take an hour or a month. My advice is: Don’t rush it. Take your time and do your best work. When it is completed, you can make the decision to sell it, keep it and treasure it or give it away. Either way, you will have the satisfaction of forward progress and a mental block that is removed. You know your beads, and which ones you are reluctant to use...Now go and make something amazing!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiMRjDvYwBbqmMCdlccgROJ4yOlYEKJd7k_hVEZ01O89VPe0qFj4yfR16E9czCy5ko4RgysEuM2onjUorMP0TrVBW0_rH8XHCaO-TQdHJGGEUJdhrLwAjFdYcV82iplAsWXmRtOctB99M/s1600/DSCF0843.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiMRjDvYwBbqmMCdlccgROJ4yOlYEKJd7k_hVEZ01O89VPe0qFj4yfR16E9czCy5ko4RgysEuM2onjUorMP0TrVBW0_rH8XHCaO-TQdHJGGEUJdhrLwAjFdYcV82iplAsWXmRtOctB99M/s400/DSCF0843.JPG" width="232" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">final creation</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Bridge & Bucklehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15875882659447602024noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2669216728600743294.post-4817789554387298992010-10-23T08:07:00.000-07:002011-02-27T16:18:08.482-08:00What Inspires You Most?<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCHuovRqVJgxjBJeEC6rV_bmkgBhWO67KynzZaRU937FvfvETGOw-udozoW-q0utbMN-neY33xw4alA3iDkwn0vkni-TuvUujeHajaa2CGPCV5lDayBLJADZBkk1RSWZRqeeThQ2rS5Ww/s1600/DSCF4190.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCHuovRqVJgxjBJeEC6rV_bmkgBhWO67KynzZaRU937FvfvETGOw-udozoW-q0utbMN-neY33xw4alA3iDkwn0vkni-TuvUujeHajaa2CGPCV5lDayBLJADZBkk1RSWZRqeeThQ2rS5Ww/s320/DSCF4190.JPG" width="225" /></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It used to be that when someone asked me where I got my inspiration from, I would reply the most typical answer that many artists give "I am inspired by textiles and cultures, and the beads tell me what to do with them blah blah blah ... "</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In fact, I used to really believe this. The funny thing is this, it really goes so much deeper than that but most people struggle to put it into words. WELL, if you can figure out the true source of your inspiration and understand it, then using it as a tool in your jewelry business is SO much easier ... trust me o n this.</span></div><span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 12pt;"><span style="color: black;"><strong>Why This All Came About:</strong></span></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I am a picture hoarder, and I literally have thousands upon thousands of photos both electronic, hand-drawn by myself and torn and collected paper pages from all over the place. These pictures represent jewelry that inspires with materials or techniques and style, locations, photo styles I like, artwork ... you name it! When I decided to make a bone fide jewelry business for myself, I realized that it was important to have a unique and consistent line and style through out the business. Knowing that I have so many diverse styles and ideas, I really struggled with how to narrow down exactly WHAT to do, and this indecision really tangled and prolonged the whole business model creation process (not to mention stall my creative juices). </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I didn't want to get put in a design "box" set by the parameters of my business, so I just never decided. It is important to have a cohesive vision for your jewelry business and having a product line that can be clearly identified is hugely important! So I decided to go to the root of the root -- the very heart of my inspiration for all things I do. If I based my business model on that, then it would always feel comfortable and I could transform it this way or that and still be within the bounds of the business model and yet maintain consistency. </span></div><span style="color: #cccccc;"><br />
</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><strong>How I Discovered My True Inspiration:</strong></span></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV1KyD3eEooRU6HmuTynMGD4VJJ2EtZVCuX5N6M4IgS6UGguYZBfWS2Vsmx6MVuRNMJYDvhy4yBLb1HHUpC_72t1VRuuwB5onz7DkkYllcmEekLUtTjpG7sDeHWoE8PjRzOZrYebVbtqU/s1600/stack-of-books-q67-303x500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><img border="0" height="320" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV1KyD3eEooRU6HmuTynMGD4VJJ2EtZVCuX5N6M4IgS6UGguYZBfWS2Vsmx6MVuRNMJYDvhy4yBLb1HHUpC_72t1VRuuwB5onz7DkkYllcmEekLUtTjpG7sDeHWoE8PjRzOZrYebVbtqU/s320/stack-of-books-q67-303x500.jpg" width="192" /></span></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: black;">I looked at all those photos, my collection of materials, my wardrobe, the jewelry making books and artists I adore and follow and even the music and movies I love and wrote down the top four things that I was drawn to for each one. It was all over the board: salvaged style, Victorian, grungy, antiqued, steam punk, color, beads, folk, faerie, etc, etc, etc. At the end of this exercise (and it took about a month for me) I became really good at identifying what it was in each item that I found attractive and there were certain things on the list that kept reappearing. It was a big eye opener for me as it became apparent that my inspiration was based on classical literature, history and world cultures. For instance, I am drawn to anything and everything that reminds me of the quaint innocence of Jane Austen or the enigmatic, powerful and meaningful resourcefulness of Jean M. Auel's heroine, Ayla</span>.</span></div><span style="color: #cccccc;"><br />
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</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPq7WKVJsK7bsMuyTyi8eM1vmCFPy1D6AKP0wVCp5f0VoEzJJitCyJd6k_WvufrIap6OKS4fl8PFuG2bNnIB0r9b0NdrtXxArl8BTQF1xw65SdWpKSoIcKO69gRlGSpZyu1MpKNXySH-Q/s1600/DSCF3347+edits.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="color: #cccccc;"><img border="0" height="400" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPq7WKVJsK7bsMuyTyi8eM1vmCFPy1D6AKP0wVCp5f0VoEzJJitCyJd6k_WvufrIap6OKS4fl8PFuG2bNnIB0r9b0NdrtXxArl8BTQF1xw65SdWpKSoIcKO69gRlGSpZyu1MpKNXySH-Q/s400/DSCF3347+edits.jpg" width="300" /></span></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Knowing this key information about what inspires you is so helpful. It is freeing. I don't feel limited because I know that if I want to create an ethnic piece that comes straight from the pages of Alibaba and the Forty Thieves, or perhaps a wonderfully lacey and pearl cameo from Sense and Sensibility... I can. And you can too. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><strong>Ready ... Set ... Discover!</strong></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Okay, so now you have some work to do so dig deep and get ready to set your designs loose. Have you already uncovered your root inspiration? I'd love to hear about them.</span></div></div>Bridge & Bucklehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15875882659447602024noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2669216728600743294.post-88412165476486314452010-10-20T13:21:00.000-07:002011-02-27T16:21:00.669-08:00The Name Game ...<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT2DaFoTGtGzAZSRFONgSTjC46lHfj8RBpkSSkYoT-nmL1McSN0YRXFjXSx8pomByo_ABYCm94XPIm_6l-vkCOBXgRvCtHWeCvXfaCg4ohBsXZzphIwhw6Stf7kGjy1sMNbmnVmB4BhCo/s1600/writing.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT2DaFoTGtGzAZSRFONgSTjC46lHfj8RBpkSSkYoT-nmL1McSN0YRXFjXSx8pomByo_ABYCm94XPIm_6l-vkCOBXgRvCtHWeCvXfaCg4ohBsXZzphIwhw6Stf7kGjy1sMNbmnVmB4BhCo/s1600/writing.gif" /></a><strong>Are you struggling to create a catchy business name for yourself? </strong></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">If you’re like me, you may be yearning for the status and notoriety of a larger businesses that you aspire to and that desire may be causing some indecision for you – I know it was for me.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">While it is true that there is something to be said about a catchy name, don’t forget that these large companies have spent millions for someone to think up their name and then they publicly market their name so that it is memorable to you every time you see their logo image or hear a jingle tune which is why their name seems so much better than the business name you might be considering.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">When making a name for yourself, the game is to stay true to who you are as a designer. There are many exercises you can practice when deciding on your name, but when going through the final brainstorm and decision phases, try to define your business with a name that is easy to pronounce and a name that your company can grow into in the years to come. For example, a few of my farfetched business goals are to have a nationally selling line of jewelry on QVC and to have my jewelry photographed and published in Vogue Magazine.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div>Now I ask you this, would you want the nation to see your cute, fluffy hometown business name hatched up on your kitchen table then? It is important that you should have fun with this, for it is just like naming a pet. Often a pet will grow into and embody the name you give it and your company can do the same thing. Deciding on a name is probably one of the most difficult things you will do with your business. But the hope is that once it is in motion the fun can really begin.<br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong>A good exercise to warm up to the creative naming game is to play the synonym / thesaurus game. It goes like this</strong>:</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Jot down all the words you adore, all the words you feel embody you – your style – elements of your product, favorite materials to use, things that set you apart, important locations, specific genre etc…friends and family can help you plat. Many great ideas come from other people knowing you better that you know yourself. Now, take that brainstormed word list and hunt down alternatives and synonyms in a thesaurus. You can also alter the way they are spelled. You could try combining a couple favorite words into one made up word (be prepared to defend or explain your name choice to customers until you are a memorable, recognizable brand)</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixyt_LdI0MRkG_Mh21Ikqfh_WAjxiQJjfWmvrwLQ9qWIiMBV-M-HC9A3Qk-UBD8LCUdM7UcuGeoQrCEvDsRbSIUb3bG88T_NDixDAkL-hcC0Q-4jF-BSA7UUi4a7j50IBrsOFpv636_W8/s1600/letter_writi_24714_lg.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixyt_LdI0MRkG_Mh21Ikqfh_WAjxiQJjfWmvrwLQ9qWIiMBV-M-HC9A3Qk-UBD8LCUdM7UcuGeoQrCEvDsRbSIUb3bG88T_NDixDAkL-hcC0Q-4jF-BSA7UUi4a7j50IBrsOFpv636_W8/s320/letter_writi_24714_lg.gif" width="320" /></a>You can even use the same word but in a different language. A word of caution on different languages: if you plan to market worldwide, do a quick word-meaning search for what your company name and products mean in other languages, as insulting and ridiculous translation issues have killed more than one business in this way.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> When in this brainstorm phase, you should write it down, all of it. Keep every good, bad or silly name idea. And save them – even if they are on coasters or the back of a receipt in crayon. Years later, you can have a chuckle as you revisit the process you took to come up with your business name and enjoy the journey all over again. It may not seem like it now, but you’re having fun! So go get a glass of wine, sit in a comfortable chain with your favorite pen and a good, thick notebook of paper and start making yourself a name word list!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><strong>NEXT</strong>: What is your TRUE inspiration? <em>It May not be what you think </em>...Bridge & Bucklehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15875882659447602024noreply@blogger.com0