Copper Sunset Ring

When my copper swarovski crystal met my metallic iris raspberry delicas, I knew it was meant to be. Seriously, these 2 colors together are amazing! The iris rasperry delicas could quite possibly be my favorite color delica, I've been using it a lot lately. How can you not love a color that is gold with flashes of purple?! The color of the beads is best seen in the 2nd and 3rd pics...in the 1st pic the crystal is getting all the attention.

I just get tickled every time I finish one of these. They're just so fun to make, and they're so sparkly!
It kinda has a vintage feel to it...like a flapper in a speakeasy, gold tassel dress, short slicked hair, and her finger shimmers every time she raises her glass to her lips.

Visit my Etsy listing for all the juicy details.

What I've been up to

This past weekend I stitched up a custom goddess dreadlock bead for a very friendly etsy customer. She had ordered one, a purple goddess and it was a little large for her, so she gifted it to a friend (how nice of her). She wanted another for herself - in green, red and orange. I was happy to oblige. Its woven in peyote stitch with size 11 delica seed beads.

I was doing a bit of organizing in the studio, and came across some beads I haven't seen in a while, and immediately thought of doing a stretch bracelet. This one is woven in herringbone with betel nut beads, and wood beads. I love the earthy look of this...I think it would look great on the guys and the gals.

A bloggy award

Kay's K9's has been kind enough to give me this award! Thanks so much!

The Rules for the Award are as follows:

1. Mention the blog that gave you the award & comment on their blog when you post the award.

2. List 6 things you VALUE & 6 things you DON'T VALUE.

3. Then, pass the award onto 6 other blog buddies!

Six Things I Value:

1. Love - the emotional and spiritual connection I have with my husband is something I cherish above all. A different but still very strong love is something I have for family and friends (see #2 & #3).
2. Family - Families have good times and bad times, all families have them. I'm so glad my parents didn't stop having children with me. It's been incredible seeing my sister go from little girl to powerful woman in a seemingly short time. I love my family.
3. Friends. There is nothing like sharing time with a friend over dinner, or just doing absolutely nothing but chit-chatting and being goofy together...it ties into #1 really.
4. Art and the creative process - Art is another joy for me, whether creating it or observing it. The creative process is all about getting into that right side of the brain, and along with it comes a medetative state indescribable to those that have never experienced it. Music is another form of art. I could not live without music. I have to experience live music at LEAST once a month. It's healing - and I get to be with friends at the same time.
5. The earth - I try to be as eco-conscience as possible. I spend a good amount of time keeping up to date with green technologies, and try to incorporate the small things I can do on a personal basis to do my part. Recycling, composting, being aware of where my products come from (I love handmade clothing, and I *really* try to not buy stuff made in china).
6. My body - I only have one and I'm trying to treat it right. I am an avid food label reader. I know all the key "bad" words that you should NOT see in your food. I eat my fruits and veggies, try not to eat too much meat, take my vitamins and exercise on a regular basis. Balance postures and yoga are my favorite, which rolls right into hooping. Hooping is a great exercise for body and mind, and fits right in with #4.
   

Six Things I Don't Value:

1. Objects. Sure, computers are convenient, and pretty shiny things are fun...but at the end of the day if you don't have have a sense of belonging, and family/friends to love, all those things you own mean absolutely nothing.
2. Ego. I don't care if I'm better than you at that or you're better than me at this...yada yada yada. To completely let go of one's ego is something I strive for.
3. Hollywood & celebrities. I really couldn't care less who wasn't wearing panties and stepped out of a limo and flashed her who-ha, or who's in rehab or who's anorexic or who's fat (according to unreasonable and unhealthy standards anyways).
4. Junk mail and spam. Junk mail is a waste of paper, and spam is a waste of my time.
5. Negativity. I like being a happy person. I try to stay away from people who are chronically negative, I don't want it to rub off.
6. Tuesdays. Sure, every day is a gift so I do value Tuesdays a *little* bit. But they're the most useless day of the week. At least Monday is the start of something...Wednesday is the middle of the week, Thursday it's almost Friday and Friday speaks for itself. Tuesdays...they just get in the way of the rest of the week.

OK, so now I am needing to pass this on to 6 other blogs. Here goes:
http://lizzytdesigns.blogspot.com/
http://mygypsygoods.blogspot.com/
http://arosebyname.blogspot.com/ http://www.hotrocksglassjewels.blogspot.com/ http://www.outofthepinksky.net/ http://www.pandjcrafts.blogspot.com

Halloween Sale in my Etsy shop

I have some funky Halloween jewelry that I'd love for someone to appreciate for the rest of the month (and beyond).

The sale will last until Oct. 26th. Buy before then, and you're guaranteed to have your item before Halloween. I'm slashing prices on the following items, get em while they're hot kids:

What's really in your cleansing products and cosmetics?

I rarely stray from the topics of crafting, beading, and art on my blog, but I feel this information is especially important to women. It IS breast cancer awareness month, after all. (Don't forget to click on the pink ribbon on the upper left column, you'll give a free mammogram to a woman who can't afford one).
Having just been reminded by Bill Nye that some cosmetic companies put lead in lipstick, I decided to do a little investigation of the products I use everyday.
After a little 'googling' online I discovered the Cosmetic Safety Database. This site has ingredient lists and potential hazards for all of the most common "health and beauty" products found in drug stores.
I was almost sick to my stomach to discover that my soap, my shampoo, my proactive cleanser, toner, and moisterizer ALL had ingredients linked to cancer and birth defects. The industry isn't regulated at all. Cosmetic makers can put whatever ingredients they so choose, and the safety of the product is never questioned. If you want to be informed, click on the database and type in the search bar whatever product you are curious about. But beware, it may make you throw out your entire bathroom of beauty regimen products. I know I'll be doing a complete personal-care rehaul. If anyone has a natural cleansing products they recommend, please let me know. I'm a little worried that now that I've stopped using proactive, my face is going to turn into a connect-the-dot puzzle.

I've been tagged!

Kristy from the Simply Shiny has tagged me. Tagging is sort of an internet "you're it" game...allowing people to get to know each other better, while building up links.

So, here is how tagging works:

1. Link to your tagger and list these rules on your blog.
2. Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird.
3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blog. 4. Let them know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

Seven facts about Jojo:
1. From the ages of 18-20 I played bass guitar for a small local band, Gypsy Trane.
2. My favorite indulgent food is fettechine alfredo...I love it, and it *loves* my thighs.
3. I'm a hoop dancer (of the hula variety). I am ouside after work every day (weather permitting), trying new tricks, or just getting into a meditative state within the hoop.
4. I am the first child of 4 in my family, and was concieved in a cottage on Cape Cod.
5. I loooooove coffee. In fact...what am I doing sitting here right now at 8am in the morning without my cup? For shame. *grabs a cup of french vanilla*
6. I am the shortest in my family except for my mother. My "little" brother and sister are both a foot taller than me...and my youngest brother (who is 12 BTW) is exactly my height now.
7. Being of the original nintendo generation, my favorite video games are still Super Mario Bros, and The Legend of Zelda.

I’ve tagged these 7 great blogs. Be sure to check them out to see their responses.

Lapidary Queen Wannabees

Unique Charm

Three Fates Design

Bead All About It

Amy Liley Designs

RKDesign

Lizzy T Designs

Happy Reading!

Purple Beaded Pen

I've actually had this one finished for a while, but just haven't been able to take photos that do it justice until recently. This design started with me playing around with my bead-pattern program...beady doodling, if you will. What I came up with is a seamless geometric design that fits perfectly over this Pilot G-2 pen. It is woven in delica seed beads in peyote stitch. The Ink unscrews via the bottom, so you can change the ink and never have to give up the "pretty part".

Congratulations to the winner(s)!

That's right folks, we have a tie! Both the Black Panther Necklace created by Triz and the Gotcha - Beadwoven Cat and Mouse Bracelet from SmadarsTreasure have placed first in the Etsy Beadweavers challenge "Animal Instinct".

Just take a look at these beauties:

Congratulations ladies! I look forward to seeing what you come up with for the next theme!

Thank you Art Zoo!

One of my beaded rings have been featured on the Art Zoo.
Definately check out thier blog and take a look around, they have a new artsy creation featured each day!

Don't forget to vote!

Voting ends tonight at midnight for the Etsy Bead Weavers challenge "Animal Instincts".

If you haven't done so already, please take a moment and vote for your favorite!

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In other beady news, this past weekend I stitched up a pair of candy corn earrings...I think they're super cute!

Entrecard Troubles?

I've been having issues dropping cards for the past 2 days. Has the server been spotty for anyone else?

Etsy Bead Weavers Street Team Monthly Challenge

The 9th of every month, voting is opened for the EBW's montly themed challenge. The only "real" challenge is to challenge yourself, as we don't have a big cash n' prizes pot or anything. Behind the friendly competition is inspiration, and an incentive to keep our hands and minds sharp.

This months theme is "Animal Instinct". I did not have time to do something up for this challenge...with the holidays coming up soon I need to think gifts, both what to make for family/friends, and what people want to buy as gifts.

There is plenty of eye candy, so take a moment please and vote for your favorite!

Sparkly and Spiky

Lately I haven't been interested in delving into any time consuming projects (aside from the ones I already have going, of course). I do love the accomplishment I feel from finishing a complicated piece, but sometimes you just want (close to) instant gratification. Instant gratification for a bead weaver is any project we can accomplish in a weekend...am I right? This past weekend, I stitched up 2 fanciful rings. The first is a circle motif, woven with toho seed beads, czech fire-polished beads, and genuine swarovski crystals.

The second (and admittedly my favorite of the 2) is a vintage inspired square ring with 2 layers. The bottom layer is all cube toho beads, and the above layer is toho rounds, criss crossed over the square to give the ring texture.

I got a note from GrandmaMarilyns letting me know she chose one of my rings for her beautiful treasury, "A Wonderful Day in Etsy". Be sure to check out her picks and comment if you have the chance. Thank you Marilyn!

Some new items for October

Having bought some various orange and black beads last week, I've been eager to play with them (silly dayjob getting in the way of my fun). Not knowing exactly what was going to come out of it, I just started going to town, and came up with these. Cute, dangly earrings with a touch of swirl.


Originally when I started on this one I was thinking it was going to be a bracelet, but it wanted to be a ring instead. It was a bit too thin for me to be a bracelet, and when I wrapped it around my finger it looked fabulous...so a ring it shall be!

I've been picked for an Etsy treasury

MountainMist was gracious enough to highlight my "Midnight in Summer" bracelet in her treasury, Beautiful Blues. Be sure to check it out her choices, and do see her shop for some lovely scarves and hats to keep you warm (it's getting colder out there folks).

Candy Corn Set Winner

Congratulations Ruby, comment #4 was the lucky winner. I'll be contacting you shortly for address information and then your candy corn set will be on it's way.