Copper Wire Crafting

I seem to pick up lots of things on a fancy…and while I’ve always liked to work with wire (french beaded flowers and whatnot), I found some copper wire not too long ago and started hammering away on it.  Tappa Tappa Tappa into the night I went.  Then I started adding glass and metal beads to the hammered wire.  Now I’m hooked…until the next fancy comes along. 

It’s a good thing I have lots of creative outlets for my stress!!!

I have a big anvil type vise out in the shed, but it’s cold out there still and it’s bolted to the work bench.  My husband went upstairs and came down with a small 5×2x2 piece of steel for me to use while inside at night.   But he yelled at me around 11pm last night to cut out all the racket…phooey.  It’s hard to hammer copper wire quietly, eh?! 

This is what I made while sitting on the floor…watching Guy Fieri’s Diners, Drive-ins and Dives last night. Just love that guy ~ I could take him and Bobby Flay home with me any time.

My little inside hammering set-up ~

eBay & Etsy Yarn Artists ~ Oreo & Stash Up Yarns

I have a friend in the Crafters’ Cafe (ebay group) who is an excellent knitter ~ I’m pretty sure most of us in the group have a pair, OR MORE, of her socks!  Oreo, or Oreobbenb, sent me a pair of red merino wool socks for our Valentine Exchange this year that I have worn pretty much every night…we have hard wood floors in the house and it gets cold.

She’s been knitting for sometime now…it’s probably a stress release as she is a nurse at a Florida nursing home, and life is stressful for a nurse.  Socks, scarves, belts, shawls, and baby clothes for dolls (Nana’s Reborn Dolls) and I’m sure real babies too!

I am an avid knitter and crocheter. I am addicted to yarn of all types. Just love the feel of it. Every year I enter our local fair and so far have won blue ribbons on most of my entries.

Socks are my favorite addiction and carry along knitting item. I’ve also been known to knit scarfs, hats, sweaters, dresses, doll clothes and mittens.

I have taught many friends and co-workers to knit. I believe this is a hobby worth passing on to others.

I also dabble in soap making and polymer clay. I usually sell my soaps locally and give some as gifts. Same with my polymer clay creations.

And here are some socks she’s working on for me with the Watchlar yarn from Stash Up Yarns ~

You can find Oreo on her Blog.

STASH UP YARNS ~

Bio
It was just a few years ago that I became intrigued by knitting and yarn. In a very short period of time I turned into a yarn addict. I scoured the internet for any and all yarn shops local and virtual. I spent unseemly amounts of money on yarn and needles and patterns. And here I am even more addicted to knitting and to yarn than I have ever been before. The very idea of winding a hank into a center pull ball using my improvised nostepinne gives me a thrill. And even though I have already purchased every current knitting publication I never fail to revisit that section of the magazine racks because the sight of a knitting magazine is truly a joy to behold. And its contents even more fascinating to read and peruse again and again. The next leg in this pursuit of yarn fiber has led me to hand-dyeing yarn. Dyeing may keep me away from knitting, but who cares? As long as yarn is in the picture, nothing else seems to matter.

I was looking for merino wool yarn for Oreo to make me some socks with…decided to head on over to www.etsy.com as we were boycotting ebay at the time. Glad I did as I found Nina at Stash Up Yarns ~ what WONDERFUL yarn! And great customer service ~ very nice lady, indeed!

I bought her Jasper, Hand-painted Merino & Bamboo Wool yarn which is Sea Green and Blue-Gray in color ~ and another beautiful yarn called Watchlar, 100% Merino Wool that is Thistle and Gray in color. The Merino & Bamboo wool is the most wonderful yarn I’ve petted ~ LOL! I had to keep it a while before mailing it to Sharon for her to knit with. I just kept picking it up and rubbing it on my face.

I recommend that you visit both of these talented ladies!

Crafters’ Cafe ~ an eBay Group

I’m in an eBay Group called Crafters’ Cafe…we’re a bunch of people who bonded together before the groups even came into play over there.  Found each other over on the Craft & Hobby discussion boards.  There is a core group of us, who always welcome newcomers…but I sometimes think they are a little intimidated by the craziness that goes on.  LOL!  Over the next few weeks I’m going to highlight two members at a time…there are beaders, quilters, knitters, embroiderers, jewelers, painters, crafters, artists, sewers, candle makers, soapers, clay sculptors…you name it, we make it. 

Today I’m going to introduce Sue Clark and Donna Bohler ~

Donna retired in the Fall of 2006 from the phone company back in Michigan…since then she picked back up an old hobby, macrame,  and a new hobby ~ beading & jewelry making. She mastered beading real fast and is making beautiful designs! Am trying to get her to start a shop over on Etsy, but one step at a time, I guess…she’ll be starting a blog this weekend. Fingers crossed! Until then…you can find her at her ebay store ~ Knots Sew Much.    She plans on selling her creations at craft shows in her neck of the woods, as well as on-line.  Below are some of Donna’s beaded jewelry that she has finished ~

Siam Peyote bracelet with crystals & gold rings

Bracelet: Turquoise crystals and gold pearls

Byzantine: Chain Mail bracelet, sterling silver

And one of my favorites ~

Necklace with African art glass beads, copper beads & spacers

Sue Clark, of Pertualplum and Unique Re-tiques, is a VERY multi-talented lady. Sue works with recycled materials to create one of kind artwork,  she also makes art and fine crafts as well.  Sue loves to work with metals, especially copper.  She paints, draws, and loves watercolors and pastels.   I would love to spend a week up in Oregon with her…in her shop and wandering around her property.

You can find Sue at her website ~ Unique Re-tiques~ a resource for free craft ideas, do it yourself projects, art and craft supplies (new and recycled), Portland, Oregon area shopping, Oregon travel, Oregon sightseeing, Recycled or Repurposed art information, craft fairs and festivals….

At Etsy ~ Perpetualplum….

And at her blog here on wordpress.com ~ Perpetualplum’s Weblog

Below are pictures of some of Sue’s creations ~

Altered Domino Bracelet Celebrating Grapes ~ can be bought on etsy

Framed Altered Art Jeweled Copper Butterfly Aenus Decororis ~ also can be bought on etsy!

Pink Flowers Hand Ink Rendered Altered Domino Brooch ~ etsy item

Paisley Peacocks Altered Mini Domino Necklace with Vintage Copper Findings ~ etsy

And from my collection ~ here is one of my many ACEO cards of Sue’s ~

Instead of Growing Old, She Grew Wings.

Please check out this wonderful ladies at their sites! You won’t be disappointed!

Birds, Birds, and more Birdies

Had a few ideas rattling around in my head ~ but settled on birds.  Was thinking soon it will be time to go up to Honey Lake, CA area to watch all the migrating birds.  Also remembered I have to stop off at Raleys to buy a big bag of unsalted peanuts for the scrub jays.  Almost out of goobers…it’s not a pretty sight when I get low on goobers.

Then I was on Etsy and stumbled across The Mincing Mockingbird ~ and that cinched the topic ~ Birds.

This has got to be one of the funniest things I’ve seen in a long time ~ all I could think about was my 15-20 Scrub Jays in my yard wanting their goobers.

Item Description:

“For a bag of Cheetos, not even a big bag, but one of those little bags that say ‘Not For Resale,’ I’d tear down this whole far-reaching, malicious world.
Damn. I got a hankerin’ for Cheetos somthin’ fierce.”
I should say so.
“Except those hot ones. I don’t like the Flamin’ Hots. I’m talking standard Cheetos.”

Makes me giggle every time I see it.

The Mincing Mockingbird’s Blog.

More of his artwork (not sure of his name, but he’s from the Los Angeles area) ~

Now for pictures of my Scrub Jays ~

Here is a Black-Neck Stilt that I took last year at the Honey Lake Wildlife Refuge…Mapes Ranch side, near Litchfield, CA.

Baby Quail in our yard last summer ~

Canada Geese babies from work ~

And a Robin sitting on the front fence ~

I’m looking forward to migration season ~ will have my batteries charged and ready to go take pictures! Hope you enjoy the pictures.

My Favorite October Artist

October is one of my absolute favorite times of the year…and because of that, I stumbled upon John Randall York on ebay.  Was looking for a Halloween print and fell in love with his witches and fairies.  Below are two prints (of many) I’ve bought from him.

A couple of years ago I commissioned him for a water color of a favorite book of mine, The Secret of the Ron Mor Skerry by Rosalie K. Fry. Here are two of the sketches he came up with…I have the finished painting hanging in my sewing/craft room.

Go check John out!