Whimsical Pecking Order

I ran across this fun necklace on Etsy in the Strangely Yours shop last week.  It is a movable part, interactive necklace that shop owner Lorraine and her husband make.  (needless to say, I ordered it and it's in the mail!)  I love movement and the unexpected....this one fills the bill.  But what I also thought, (beadmakers and jewelry designers- what do you think?), is to add a little of my glass beads to make it into a little more.  I was thinking some transparent green glass leaves in soft colors and maybe some dark ivory with silver stringer (or not) beads.  I don't want to take away from the unique focal part of it, but a little something else, perhaps  might be fun too.  Visit Strangely Yours and look to see if they still have their sale going.  I got this at 20% off, which was nice extra benefit.

Landscape Sculpture- Festival 5 Seasons

It is structure, humor and commentary all in one piece and I love it.  Uysal Mehmet Ali  created this for the French Festival 5 Seasons  (Saisons).

Would you like this in your yard?  Or what would you want instead?

Folding Jewelry Display on Etsy

Craft show display maker "Wudls" on Etsy makes this wonderful folding angled jewelry box display.  I accidentally found his shop, and spent the next 20 minutes looking through all the different handmade displays.

If you need to pack up your displays like I do, it seems like this makes a lot of sense.  I love the idea of being able to box it up more easily, especially when it's traveling in my luggage on an airplane.

Have you run across some good displays for traveling sellers?  Post a link and share with the rest of us.  And let us know whether you have some other great ideas too.

Turn Glass Into Wood

I love so much about nature. Plants, flowers, birds, cute little animals all intrigue me. (well, except for some weird bugs which give me the creeps).

Sometimes it's fun to give them a place to hang out. Often trees, stumps and vegetation fit into that concept, so what's an easy way to make glass look like wood?

I use some silver glass that is from Striking Color on Etsy. I use it over a transparent base and just encase that glass well, so I don't waste the more expensive glass.

Here is an example. It's my "Owl on a Branch" which is in my Etsy shop. (I know, real original title. I must not have been feeling verbally inspired when I wrote it.

Only two beads make up this piece. The owl and tree are one piece, (boy was that fun to make. Talk about heat control!) and that bead sits on top of a flat stand to counter balance it.

So play around with the glass in a different way and see what you come up with. I like this for wood, but next, I want to make some birch trees, and of course there's this one plant in my yard, and of course the Crape Myrtle bark.....the list goes on and on.

See you tomorrow at http://www.StudioMarcy.blogspot.com

What's Up With This Tool? Post & Win a Prize

In my constant effort to make technology my friend, I decided to mix it up a bit and experiment with my computer's video capabilities. This is called a "vlog" - video blog.

Watch the very short video and put your name in the hat to win a free bead from me.
1. Answer the question posed on my vlog- funny or serious response
2. Add your name, where you live, and if you'd like, post your website and/or blog .
(It's free advertising for you!)
3. If you have a problem viewing the video, please let me know too. That's part of the reason why I'm trying it out.
4. Next Wednesday, I'll have a friend pick a number and the person who was that number posting, will win one of my beads. I'll ship it to anywhere- including internationally. And the winner's blog, etsy shop or whatever will be featured in this blog at a later date.

Just click on the lower left arrow to listen. And then respond. I look forward to hearing from you.

And by the way, I made a bead using this tool and I'll show it next week when I announce the winner.

And if you have a free minute, stop by my etsy shop, http://www.StudioMarcy.etsy.com . I'll be adding more beads a little later today.