Just checking...(COMM)

Our Art Charms book is back up to #4 on the Amazon bestselling jewelry books list. YIPPEE!

After getting the most awesome rating I've ever seen, 5 stars and everything, I guess maybe it's an OK book ;)

Come ON! Check it out will ya?!?

It's 27 small mixed media projects  that you can use for jewelry, accessories, home decor, and wall art. There are easy instructions for beginners and fresh ideas for the experienced.  

Let me know what you think, OK?

    

Chatelaine

The Chatelaine was the mistress of the household or castle, and keeper of the keys. She was responsible for the smooth operation of everything from purchasing and storing food and wine and supplies, to mending, cleaning, paying the accounts and all the millions of other domestic chores.

The Chatelaine wore a belt to hold all the symbols of her office and daily necessities like keys, clock, scissors and money. In time the belt itself came to be known as a chatelaine. Our purses and briefcases are the closest thing to the chatelaine-belt of olden days.

What would you put on your belt or in your bag? Cell phone, keys, money... Not much has changed. Inspired by the belt of old and the countless chores of today I created my own chatelaine of found objects, handmade beads, stones and bones, clock parts, tools, horsehair and handcuffs, religious objects and discarded jewelry. It dangles from a rusty chain on my wall.

A chatelaine for the Modern Woman...

Feeling Overwhelmed...

Maybe it's just a spacey kind of day. It's like I'm not getting any traction. I spoiled a kiln shelf worth of fused glass by overcooking it, and I'm bummed about that. I did a really lousy job of listening to my friend vent--not listening, actually, but trying to "fix" it for her. I hate it when people do that (don't really listen) to me, and I try to listen attentively to others, but I SO wanted her to feel better...

I know how much I have on my To Do List and I'm overly focused on that. I gotta lighten up and just keep doing one thing at a time. 

And then I want to make a dress that looks like this iris from my garden.  

Heat Waaaave!

Why did I wait until the hottest and wettest and most humid week of the year (so far) to make some new fused glass pieces? Fortunately the kiln wasn't running when the power went out this morning. The dishwasher was, though. Yeah, it got pretty moist here. Disgusting. But I love the new cabochons (flat-backed, slightly domed glass "gems") that I'm making. This one is about 2" long. I wish you could see how it glitters, and the depths of color and pattern. So cool! Or should I say hot?

I got a really nice gift today. I read the SkyBluePink Newsletter (you should, too!) and Christina gave my book a really nice plug. Thanks Christina. The Margarita is in the mail! And anybody who wants a great deal on art charm and other supplies should sign up for the SkyBluePink newsletter. That's where I get a lot of my supplies. Their slogan is "Cool Stuff For Non-Fancy Prices." It's true! And no, I don't get anything for endorsing SBP. But you'll thank me.

Susan Lenart Kazmer's New Line

Wow! I love this stuff! Nice job, Susan. Look for her new jewelry components at Michaels.

I've taken several classes with Susan, so I've made some of the pieces she's selling, like the key with heishe and the metal tags. But some of these charms I'd never get around to doing. Where the heck could I find that cool number 5? Or the enameled bird? And one of them--a little red antique metal toy car--is completely unavailable--sold out. At least, it is at both of the Michaels I've tried. So if YOU have something like that (a tiny antique car--with or without paint and wheels) please share with me! Or rusty metal numbers or enameled... Well, you get the picture.  (By the way, Michaels is spelled without the apostrophe. That's for the Apostrophe Police.)

I saw a contest on SLK's website, Objects and Elements, to design jewelry using her components, so I entered it. http://objectsandelements.typepad.com/objects_and_elements
I wanted to incorporate my co-author Christine's handmade beads, so I made these earrings:

I'd love to have made lots more stuff, but time and $$ put a bit of a crimp in that. I do plan to make a huge bib/collar with found objects to wear to Art Unraveled. I found a tea-length black cotton short-sleeved dress at the thrift store that will be a nice backdrop for my big necklace.

Yikes! I have to get ready for class. I'm teaching fused glass this afternoon at the Arlington Heights Senior Center, and I'm still in my PJs.

CHA CHA CHA!

The CHA (Craft and Hobby Association) trade show is happening next month--July 27-29. http://www.craftandhobby.org/allaboutcha.html
I'll be doing a book signing and jewelry display from 11-1 on the 27th at the publisher's booth. The rest of the time I'll be doing demos at the Stanislaus Imports booth.
Stanislaus/LaSioux Imports
Stan's company sells a lot of great charm-making supplies like the tiny glass bottles in my book. Sorry, they only sell wholesale but I'll be selling a few charm-making supplies here on my blog right after CHA.

If you're going to be at CHA, please look me up. And if you ask nicely, you just might get a free charm--if I have any left!

Our Book Hit #2!

...number 2 on the Amazon bestselling jewelry book list! And the book hasn't even been released! This is all pre-orders! The list is updated every hour, so this might change. (Dare I even hope for--gulp--#1?)

Thanks a million to all of you who ordered a copy, spread the word, and helped with publicity. Chris and I both appreciate it very, very much.

Love,

Peggy

Bead and Button and Book Signing

It was interesting. Not exactly exciting: a bit of an anticlimax I guess. I didn't even take any pictures.

I got to meet and chat with a bunch of people, and that was cool. I gave away some charms and found objects, in keeping with the theme of the book, Making Mixed Media Art Charms and Jewelry. And of course I got to look at and drool over millions of beads. It was a major effort but I managed not to spend a ton of money. A good thing, too, finances being what they are in this household right now.

Maybe the best thing was seeing my (our) book in print, bound, with a cover, for the very first time. No, that was the second best thing. The best thing was stopping at my Mom's house and showing her a copy. She said, "I'm proud of you, Peggy." It was worth all the effort of writing the book to hear that. I wish my dad had been there.

For Love of Tools, or, Drill Press Synchronicity

Guess what I got for my birthday. My Art Group pitched in together to give me a gift certificate (thanks so much, girlfriends!) and I ordered a drill press. It's just a little one, called The WorkStation. It holds a Dremel so that you can not only drill but also mount it sideways and use it as a grinder. I can't wait until it arrives. (By the way, It was $49 at Home Depot and $38 on Amazon- with free shipping.)

My old drill press is a pretty simple thing: it holds my Dad's BIG old electric drill. I use it all the time, but it sure isn't portable or convenient. Here's a photo of what I've been doing with my old drill press:

So here I'm all excited about my baby press and then I read Chris' blog about HER new one. I think it's the Mother of all Drill Presses--at least the home-size version. Take a look at it here:

http://www.intuitivesparks.blogspot.com

Awesome, eh?

OK, so if you're not into tools this might not trip yer trigger, but I'm drooling.

Meanwhile I'm laughing about the timing. Chris' drill press article scooped mine. That'll teach me. Next time I'm posting first!

Blogging is Like Pulling Teeth

I can't figure out why it's been so hard to add to this blog. It's not like I have nothing to say; I have way too much to say. But I'm a slow typist.

I have loads of photos of my new jewelry that I'd like everyone in the world to see. Like this piece I made, now owned by my sister Bridget. I think I'd call it Steampunk style. What do you think?

OK, that's all I'm going to write for now.