Jewelry Making Outside The Box

The NEW Alcohol Inks on Metal....Spectrum Noir Pens

Spectrum Noir pens were originally formulated for use in scrapbooking crafts, paper artistry, etc.

But the great news is that you can use them on virtually anything.....and there is NO learning curve.  If you can color with a marker or a crayon....you have it in the bag.

I recently discovered that they worked quite well on metal!

To show you, I did just a few sample pieces and took some hurried pix....regret they are less clear than I'd like, but!  You will get the idea:

This photo shows you how nicely the colors blend.  I used several colors out of the brown set to do the Art Nouveau fairy on the left.   That piece, as well as the filigree butterfly, were completely RAW BRASS, no color.   I used the ruddy brown, the espresso-type color and the golden color to blend the color.  With a little work, she will look much like the old gingerbread pieces.  

The filigree butterfly is browns and some turquoises blended.  I don't know that I'd do it this way next time, but I wanted in a hurry to show you POSSIBILITIES.

The bottom two leaves are over CHOCOLATE BRASS......look how nicely you can blend tones.  With a little work, you could come up with some gorgeous colored autumn leaves.

The pens feel good in your hand, and there are TWO tips---a chisel tip for broad coverage, and a nib tip for fine coverage and detail work.

THEY ARE NON TOXIC!!   Be careful, wear old clothes when you use them, they will stain clothes and furniture. 

THINGS to remember  if you use the Spectrum Noir pens over brass:

It works over raw brass, brass ox, and chocolate ox nicely.   I have not tried other plating shades yet, but I doubt it will be good on Old Rose Ox findings from B'sue Boutiques because of the shine.

Distressing the metal first, especially if plated, is best. 

Like other alcohol inks, when you use them on metal, YOU MUST HEAT SET THE INK.  So when you get your colorization where you want it, get your embossing heat gun and set the ink.

When it has cooled,  you can distress the color back and add even more if you like.   But when you get it just right.... then you must seal it.   Here are options I have found to work:

1.  Matte spray varnish.

2.  Renwax

3.  Vintaj glaze

4.  Swellegant clear coat   (those two leaf sprigs?  One is sealed w Vintaj glaze, one with Swell clear coat.  The clear coat dried faster and is cheaper to use, but there is little diff).

5.  Nunn Design Sealant

More pix:

Again, a very fast picture, a little blurry....so sorry!   But you see what's going on....

I used reds and browns and did a lot of distressing on this one.  I haven't sealed it yet as I think I want to do more to it.  ;-)

Here are the leaves a little more close-up:

Again, I'd like to try these again and take my time with them, I did them really fast.  They were choxie brass first, I distressed them, added the color.  One is glazed with Vintaj glaze and the other, Swellegant clear coat.  Both look similar, as far as the finish is concerned.   They dried fast, too....

So I'd say you could do your coloring in the morning, let set for a bit after sealing and probably start working with them later in the day.

We have browns, blues, greens, pinks, turquoises, purples.  They come in sets of SIX pens, all nuances of one color family.

There are also sets of brights, darks, pastels....I am experimenting with those and we may have them later as they are large sets and a bit more expensive (but then, they have four times as many pens, so there ya go).

What to do?  What color to chose? 

Choose ANY!  and try them out.  I love how they let the integrity of the brass below (detail-wise) continue to peek through.   It reminds me so much of the old Color Magic I used to carry....but it gave me a headache, it was full of Xylene, very toxic.  While Spectrum Noir is to for kids' use, it is a NON TOXIC product and we can ship them anyplace at all, by air, too.

I always loved using the Color Magic products for the effect....but not the headaches!  With SPECTRUM NOIR, a very very similar look....no headache.  Non toxic, yes!!!

Find them in the Designer Inks section at B'sue Boutiques   I WILL have a video on these by next weekend, but meantime....there is just no big deal to using these pens....fast and easy.   FUN!  Doodlers and scribblers will LOVE them!

AND....they are cool on polymer clay, too!

 

 

 

When a Little Wonkiness Works

I love that word,  wonky.  It just says it all when it comes to so much of the stuff I try to do in my workshop.

So many of us are self-trained artisans.   We buy books, videos, we look at as much stuff online as we can.  Some of us are really great with tools; not only do we somehow have the creative skills and ingenuity to dream a new work but we have that manual dexterity thing going on and a certain special something when it comes to be able to use tools.   Using tools for some of us is really natural.  For others, not so much.

I would have to say that I am in the 'not so much' category.  I'm a very visual person; photos work for me best of all.  I might even stand directly next to you at the workbench and you might be showing me, step by step, inch by inch....and I may not still quite get it.  So I'll walk away, think about it, and one day, pick that dang tool up and insist that it work for me.  It will....after a fashion.   Some, in time, become second nature. Others....don't.

This morning I was looking back over Candie Cooper's METALWORKING 101 FOR BEADERS, a book I very much enjoy.   There is nothing *difficult*  in this book; it's just stuff you need to take some time and teach yourself.  A class would be nice and Candie does teach---but she has done an awesome job with her book and reaches out to the home student quite nicely.

On page 114 there is a project entitled ORGANIC TECHNO BANGLE.   I found this intriguing as the little stacks of funky gypsy-artisan made bangles are all the rage now and many artist-teachers have been showing projects and offering classes.  I thought, shoot, how long can this take?   I'm going down to the workshop and do this, right away.   I figured I'd be done in half an hour.

Well.

Here's the thing:  the project calls for 12 ga silver wire.  I only had some 16 and not that much, also not sure I wanted to do a project like this with my last piece.   But I did have a copious amount of 18 ga copper wire.

Knowing the effect would not be quite the same, I went for it anyway.

You know what:   my project came out NOTHING like Candie's.   And it's wonky.

I fudged around this and faked around that, used some polymer clay beads I'd made and glazed recently, and did it all in copper.   I also used some of those squiggly things I made in the video the other week:

Wire Wrapping, Making Curliques and Tendrils

Basically in the long run, I had a look at Candie's excellent project and pulled a wonky B'sue:

Let's try that again:

It's far from the original, far from perfect in any sense of the word.  And it's totally working for me.

I like wonky.

Branding Your Business: Novel Ways to Market At Facebook

I use Constant Contact for my biweekly newsletters.  They are a really good service and I can recommend them a WHOLE lot!

Periodically they send me alerts and tips on marketing that I like to follow.   Today they really got my attention:  Five Ways to Market on Facebook That You Haven't Thought Of.

Hmmm....................

Facebook is all at once a godsend and the devil itself.   It is a valuable tool to network with other artists of like mind, talk about new techniques, interact with customers and creative pals.   I wouldn't be without it.   At the same time, it can also be that big black hole in the universe that sucks up all your spare time---just like the washer devours pairs of socks.  

It can also be, if improperly used, very annoying to your FB pals.  If all you ever do is promo YOURSELF, listing everything you just put on your site or Etsy, eeek....it really gets to be all about you.

Nobody likes someone who is just all about themselves.   It's a fine balance, and we are all working on it.

The article goes primarily to what you can do to reach out to your customer/friend/fan base in really fun ways they'll enjoy.

First mentioned was, SIGN YOUR POSTS.   Who of us does that?  I never thought of it.   But here at B'sue Boutiques, sometimes Rob or Jordan, or even Lauren, make comments on my page.  It's pretty much a given that it's ME on my fan page....but hmmm.  It  DOES seem more personal, doesn't it?

The second was to MODEL YOUR OWN PRODUCTS.  In other words, instead of my taking my latest necklace creation out on the deck for a quick pic, maybe I should put it on and wear it.

....well, I do that in my videos.   Gotta think about that.   It may not always work---but who says it has to be ALWAYS?   Maybe sometimes, it would be a fun thing to do.  Yeah, B'sue as a model!   Hardy har.  But some of you look pretty fine modeling your stuff.  Sometimes Brassy Steamington models her stuff and it looks really cool. 

Thirdly : Can you INCLUDE CUSTOMERS in your photos?   That won't always work for those of us selling completely online....but let's say that you do shows!   Everyone wants to see your show set up, and they love to see the customers gathering around.   Say some friends stop by....have them try some stuff on, and then take their picture.  Send it to your FB page!   You may get some orders in your online store while you're away at the show!

Hey...maybe your online customers wouldn't mind sending you a photo of themselves wearing the jewelry they bought from you.   That might be fun!

Four was to SHOW OFF your community spirit.   Is there a fundraiser in your town, a bike race, a building project you've participated in?   Share it.  

Five:  A CALL TO ACTION.  In the article, a brewery asked a certain number of FB customers who frequented their establishment to come in, wearing their logo t-shirts, from the brewery.   For doing so, the reward was free beer.

So....I'm thinking....what's MY free beer?  I already do the goody bag thing and we have monthly giveaways at the Creative Group  I love to get prizes, and I love to give them, even more.

And what's your free beer?   Maybe we can brainstorm it and come up with something mutually beneficial.

Anyway....just sayin', it was a great article, got my attention, maybe it will get yours:

http://blogs.constantcontact.com/product-blogs/social-media-marketing/5-ways-to-market-on-facebook-that-you-havent-thought-of/?RMC=PM_CTS_ALL

Check it out!

 

My Little Victorian Pins

Back when I bought and sold a lot of vintage jewelry, I would often find little pieces of Victorian gold-filled jewelry in boxlots, or among clearance other dealers would save up and sell to me, when I came by to see them at the market.

I was always so intrigued by those pieces.....and since I didn't have a lot of money into them, I started saving a few, here and there.

Here is one that is extremely special:

This piece is a real treasure.   Some folks like to collect 'Mizpah' jewelry, which has a sentimental verse from the Bible on it.   Actually the words were uttered by Laban, the father in law of Jacob, son of Isaac, son of Abraham....when he was about to go his own way with his two daughters, Rachel and Leah, now Jacob's wives.

When you examine the account found at Genesis 31:48-53 the words take on a little different meaning, LOL   But the sentiment here expressed in jewelry is sweet indeed.  This is  an old-fashioned form of friendship jewelry.

It really is one of my favorite Victorian pieces!

Then we have this bar pin:

It has a little bit of damage to the top, but there is some sort of fantasy bird engraved into it and a lot of pretty imagery.    This is what the back looks like:

There is a patent number and everything....and I believe it says June 5, 1877?  Wow.   There's some damage to it as you can see....but take note of the clasp finding.   If you are learning about old jewelry, clasps are sometimes great 'tellers of time', you can really begin dating a piece, many times, by the sort of clasp that's on it.

The little bar brooch below is a piece of Scotch agate jewelry and again, is from the Victorian era...possibly something carried over from the 'old country' by an immigrant, or maybe a piece carried home from a tour.

The piece at the bottom has  taille d'Epargne... enamelling, which is found often in mid to late period Victorian jewelry.   Read more about it here:

http://www.langantiques.com/university/index.php/Taille_d%27Epargn%C3%A9   Be sure to check the link, there are some great pix.  Once you study this over just a bit, you'll get it in your head and be able to easily spot it in the future!

Here are all my faves:

This picture shows the back of the agate barpin, too. The metal is probably low gold, but I never had it tested.

Here is damage to the back of the other barpin in the photo:

That's a pretty nasty solder repair but I wanted you to see the clasp...it's a type of "C" clasp, and again, is typical in Victorian jewelry.   Another thing to keep in mind!

You might also have noticed how the pinstem sticks out beyond the pin....another time teller!  That's not a defect.  That's how jewelry was made, back before safety clasps.  ;-)

I hope you liked my little collection!

Why I Love Wire Wrapping

I love it because you can take it with you, room to room, place to place, wherever you go.

If you're just working on wire, no beads, it gets REALLY simple.   A good pair of flush cutters, a pair of nylon jaw pliers, a mandrel  (ack, you could use a dowel or a sharpie marker for that!) a roll or two of your favorite wire....and you can entertain yourself for hours!

I decided to do that just last night:

I'll be the first one to tell you, that I just do what I do.    I hardly remember how I did it.  Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't.  I am satisfied enough with the items in the photo to share them!  For the most part, I like the little squigglies et al as random elements in compositions.

People must like it, our You Tubes on wire have the most hits of all the videos I've made, even the Steampunk ones!

But I've got a lot to learn, yet.

The wire is 18ga copper.   Copper wire is rather soft and will mark easily so unless you're going to pound it out and flatten it, then if you use standard round nose pliers, etc, it may mark unless you are super careful.  I am seeing where a better flush cutters than I have and more nylon jaw pliers will be a great thing to have...

And, as I'm going over the tools section at B'sue Boutiques  I'm thinking hard about all of that.

My pal, Barbe St. John, recommended Lindstrom 8158-80 Series Ultra Flush Cutters.   They cost over 80.00, so my guess is, given the price but also!  Barbe's astute recommendation, they must be the mother of all cutters, LOL   My guess, though, would be that if you are REALLY going to get into wrapping, it might be something you'll want to consider saving up for.

Niki Sargent Meiners recommended one by Cousin Corp. with ergo handles.  The ones I have were not dirt cheap and they have ergo's, too, but I didn't think the cuts were sharp and even as they should have been, though they cut well.  I will look into those, too.   Perhaps I will get several and do a comparison before commiting to any new stock at our website.

ON THE SUBJECT OF TOOLS:  you know, at our website I always sort of steered clear of expensive tools.   Why?

1. They are a huge investment, not only for me as a seller, but for you as an artist.

2.  So many who come to B'sue Boutiques are new to intermediate jewelry makers who have a limited budget to get started.   While I carry a bunch of jewelry wire at B'sue's, we're a mixed media/metal/brass stampings site.   I don't know....perhaps I should carry more wire!   BUT:

With a limited budget to get started, wire itself is inexpensive.  *Great* tools are not.  NEVER.

SO......I settled for stocking tools  don't break the bank, and good for beginner to intermediate.  

In the long run, when you think of any trade there is, however, besides the talent in the artisan's hands, it goes to having the right tools and knowing how to use them.   My husband's friend is a contractor, and I hear him talking about upgrading tools all the time;   I also have friends who are electricians, and I hear them speaking about upgrades, too.   I know how important great tools are to those in the building trades.....well!  We're building jewelry.

So why wouldn't great tools be important to an artist, as well?  

Later today Rob and I hope to shoot a couple of short videos, and in one I'll share how I made the squigglies and little ornaments, and I'll also share with you a rather big-opus necklace I made for my fall advertising.  It's got a bunch of them in it.

I'll also share with you a quick tip for oxidizing the bright copper, with Swellegant Darkening Patina

You can also do it with a quick dip in warm LOS solution:  http://www.bsueboutiques.com/item/Patina-Gel-Liver-of-Sulfur-9746     I may see if my Swellegant tip will work using it out of the bottle....but!  If they work equally well, I'll go w Swell anytime.   ACK, LOS *stinks*...literally.  That's the down side of using Liver of Sulfur!  (LOS)

Will post the links when the videos are up. ;-)

Meantime, will mention to you that Jacqueline Marchant of Fiddledeedee Jewelry Blog has a great book that's up for grabs:

Book Giveaway

And the book is about wire wrapping, by Janice Berkebile & Tracy Stanley,  called MAKING WIRE AND BEAD JEWELRY.  Janice Berkebile is one of my fave wire wrappers, I wanted so bad to take a class with her at Art and Soul but I couldn't make it that year. 

There are something like 500 pix in this book and drat!  *I* don't even own it yet!  So you better believe it, I signed up for Jacqueline's book giveaway, and you should, too!

 

 

A Vintage Flower Garden

I've found the loveliest gardens.....gardens of friends who own pretty old flower brooches.

Some like to find them in flea markets and antiques shows; others find them at yard sales.  Most are from the 60's and we can remember our mothers and grandmothers wearing them on their pretty spring suits, along with pill box hats and sometimes, white gloves.

Those days are gone....but the flowers are still blooming.

They were made of brass stampings that were assembled by riveting on large commercial kick presses, or sometimes, soldered.  The color was applied by enameling, many times in what they called the old 'cold paint' style.  Cold paint was rather like a very excellent form of spray painting that held up very well.

Others still may have heat enamel, or even a bit of resin enameling.

Mary Deis of The Rose Sword offered up some fabulous photos of her collection at The B'sue Boutiques Creative Group:

Dunno bout you, but that blue one in the middle is calling my name....

See that stemmed rose at the bottom, the pink one?   We carry the flower head at B'sue Boutiques  You could apply color just like this, with some of the new Vintaj-Ranger patina ink-paints.   We carry those, too!

http://www.bsueboutiques.com/paints_pearl_ex_mica.shtml

Right now, I'm actually thinking I'd like to paint some with the Vintaj inks, which are more like enamels than anything....and make some charm bracelets with them!  Maybe combine with some of the other flower drops we carry:

http://www.bsueboutiques.com/brass_roses.shtml

Here's another photo from Mary's garden:

I'm overthe moon for that cherries brooch at the bottom!  I bet it has a signature.  I love vintage fruit jewelry, especially cherries.   You know, you can take the inspiration from a piece like this, some old beads, some polymer clay beads and handmade leaves....and mock a look like this nicely.   Make it into a pendant, if you're not into brooches.

A sweet sea of yellows and ivories....so happy.   This set was a special treat:

Someone probably received this set as a special gift, once upon a time.  It still has the paper swing tag:  never worn.   Sigh.

Deb Beechy of Beetique  shared this little flower pin with us, too:

You know, I have bits and pieces of stuff like this on the website, and in my own personal stash, too!

Here's the back so you can see how it was assembled:

You know, you could so something like this with wire and crimps!  I did....sort of:

My friend, Wendy Baker, made me this necklace by wiring and pinning flower brooches and vintage parts she picked up here and there---some of them, mine!--to a series, or grid, of chains.   She does not damage the brooches:

Pretty spiffy!

I hope you feel inspired.  Some folks also gather up the old brooches and make bridal bouquets from them, by carefully wiring them.

When you find brooches like these, please don't just view them as a new stash of designer components.  Look for signatures, some may be valuable!

If you would like to rework them into a new design, see if you can't leave them intact and find a way to wire them into your work, rather then break off the backs and glue them.  ;-)

The brooches are part of American design history.   The parts that made very many of them, are also still made and not terribly expensive.   We carry many styles at B'sue Boutiques

Just think what you could do with the vintage style components, colorized your way....you're the designer! 

Hot Weather Tips for Using Swellegant

My pal Christi (Friesen, Polymer Clay Queen!) shot me an email this week asking me to remind everyone that there are a few things to keep in mind for using Swellegant Metal Coatings, Traditional Patinas and Dye Oxides in warmer climates or for the rest of us....summertime.  ;-)

First, it's important to remember that the metal coatings are NOT just metallic paint.

They are  special paint that has metal IN IT, with a resin binder.

Okay:   now we know what happens to resin when it gets warm:  it sets up.  Given that fact, we need to remember a couple of important things when using the metal coatings.

1.  KEEP IT SEALED when you are not using it.

2.  DO NOT STORE it for long periods of time in a warm environment.   For example, if you don't have A/C in your workshop or storage room, and let's say it's getting up over 75 degrees or so in there, you will want to keep your product in a nice plastic box to avoid any bubbling up out of the bottle.   You can also store the bottles in plastic bags.

    The best course would be NOT to store the stuff somewhere that gets really warm, or even hot.  It may dry out if you do, and especially if you don't keep it sealed.  Also, you should be shaking it up well everytime before you open the bottle, and then, when you do, open it away from your face, in case the paint burps a little.

ALSO:  it is very important to keep the patinas cool and moist as you work with them, especially if you are working with them on POLYMER CLAY.

I like to speed the process of using the patinas and dye oxides over METAL with my heat gun, so for use with metal, I don't think it's so much of an issue in that case.

But if you are using it over clay, there will be times you will want to keep the piece moist.  A gentle spritz over water from time to time directly onto the piece as the patina is working, can actually keep the patinas blooming, if that's what you're going for.

Another suggestion, especially when you use this product with media other than metal, would be to add the last metal coating and patina in the evening before you finish up for the day.   Leave a couple of wet sponges around the piece, and let it work its Swellegant magic over night.

All that having been said:  this is ONE FINE PRODUCT!  and continues to outstrip the sales of Gilder's Paste and the new Vintaj/Ranger 'patina' ink-metal paints at B'sue Boutiques

You will find Swellegant here:

http://www.bsueboutiques.com/mmp_swellegant_products.shtml

And here is a video to help you learn more, in case the product is new to you:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ir7LDGellDU

and one to show you how it plays with other patina and colorization products:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDafQii3TM4

And it's all been restocked today at B'sue Boutiques

Someone left a comment on one of the Tubes to mention that Christi didn't develop Swellegant.  I beg to differ:

We only know that it's a Sculpt Nouveau based product because *she told us*.  Otherwise, no one would even know that.   She is also not the first person to private label product, and I'm grateful to her that she did.  When I first found out about it, I was ECSTATIC, because she took on a very large responsibility here.

She took a large, confusing line of highly professional products and through her own diligent experimentation, found out what would work  best on her forte, polymer clay....as well as metal work. 

Because she did that, now YOU don't have to roll through that line, buy huge sizes you won't use, only to find out that some of it is too noxious for safe home use or is not the right thing for what you want to do with it.

Christi discovered what was safe and easiest to use, as well as practical.  Everything she selected is perfect for the home craftsroom, low toxicity, and the fact that it is now in SMALL bottles is great for those who want to learn how to use it and be able to try a lot of colors and types without breaking the bank.

So....to me....YES.  She did discover and develop Swellegant.   If she had not we'd all still be banging our heads and spending too much money on product.

Thanks, Christi!

The Mugga Joe Tour (Yeah It's About Coffee)

Okay, if you are named Joe, this post is not about you.

Well....not unless you are liquid, spill into a mug and the smell of you makes tired eyes open wide, depressed souls lift up, and a stalled artist begin to think clearly again!

I've been a joe drinker since the tender of age of 16, but it wasn't until I became an adult that I appreciated the nuances of joe this and joe that.

As in, there is Joe Delightful,  Regular Joe,  Unleaded Joe, and Joe Swill.

Or, as Jordan's Dad always referred to me....as Joe Mama....

yeah, that's another subject.

Joe is not truly Joe unless it is swigged from a thick, substantial mug.   No joe for me in a prissy tea cup.   Notice, in this context, joe lost his capital J.   Prissy teacup, bah!  Only if there is nothing else!

That also goes for the Perennial 7-11 STYROFOAM MUG.   UGH!   JOE  SWILL!

Here are some  Joe mugs I have known:

Here is a mugga joe at Bob Evans.   I like the turkey omelette and banana nut bread.  The mug is thick and substantial.  The joe is...well.   Regular.

And then we have:

This is a mugga joe from B'sue's kitchen in a vintage White Castle mug.  Thick, funky, old advertising, fun....I collect the old mugs when I can get them reasonably.  I also accept cast off donations, if they are pre-60's.  LOL

My complaint about this cuppa is not the coffee.   You probably didn't know it, but you can get one of the best cups of joe you ever drank right here in MY KITCHEN.   My complaint, is this mug is WAAAAAY too small.  WAAAAAY.

Okay, more on the Joe Tour:

This is a mug of joe made for me by Mr. Opie O'Brien, in HIS kitchen, last summer when I was visiting.   Opie keeps the coffee brewing all day!  Linda and Opie are Burnt Offerings Studio and some of my fave people.    Oh sigh, they are moving to the Berkshires.  What a dream for them!

More mugs of joe....never too many:

Yes, I know, I said no styrofoam.   It's *paper*.  And it's Starbucks.   I need say NO MORE.

This mugga comes with earrings:

Big mug.  Big earrings.  I win!!

And then of course, a special treat is to have your joe in my Ghoulardi mug.  It is reserved for the most elite guests, only.

 

Okay, yeah, I know.  Ya had to be there, in Cleveland, in the 1960's.

Peace, baby.   Just gimme the joe and it will all be fine!

Now, then, I know not everyone partakes of joe.   For some it has to be off  limits because of ticker trouble, etc; others just don't like it, others are even opposed to  the drinking of joe.

Well, we can't all be joe lovers!

Today I posted one of my Joe Mug photos at FB and asked my pals how many cups it took to get them out the door in the morning.

Many said 2-4, up to a whole pot!

Still  some said, no joe for me!   Well, okay,  I respect that.

More in MY cup, then!  muhahahahaha

I'll end the Mugga Joe Tour with this sentiment:

May your day begin with Joe Delightful and your day end with his memory....anticipating a new joy-filled day, beginning with...

More joe.   And, if you have time for it, a mugga joe and a visit to B'sue Boutiques

Winners of the Drawing for Muse Boxes, Messy Workshop Blog Hop

Okay, so first:  I have a huge observation to share with all you crazy mad creative artist blog hoppers!

Do you know what is the biggest common denominator among us, besides our wild creative skill sets?

PLASTIC BINS.    YES.  PLASTIC BINS.

I am certain, after looking at 50 creative messes in our blogs yesterday, that there is an entire factory in China that is supplying this group with plastic bins and boxes of any style, shape and type imaginable!

Okay.   Enuf of that.

I know you are all dying to know.....who in the world won the TWO 100.00 Muse Boxes from B'sue Boutiques

I will tell you soon.  But first, you have to wait, just like they make those poor singers wait interminably for good/bad news on those reality shows....will they win?  will they get sent home?

Well nobody gets sent home here, stop worrying.  BUT:

For those who haven't had the pleasure of a Muse Box before:   I sell these things from time to time when I have lots of incoming and destash.  They are not on the site, you have to wait for me to announce on FB or one of the groups, or my newsletter, that I have some available for sale.

  For 100.00 you get basically 175-195.00 worth of all manner of unrelated, disparate doofus.   These Muses will have stampings, some of my clay focals, sari, fiber, other beads, sheesh, all sorts of great stuff to bring NEW INSPIRATION....and happy hours of designing and creative play.   I just got 50 pounds of brass here this week, so!  they'll get a taste of that, too....lots of new incoming.

First before I tell you:    in the hub bub and clamor of yesterday, you may not have noted there is a special coupon that is like a little gift for any of you who are ready to stock up on B'sue stuff:

bloghop

If you have 50.00 or more at B'sue Boutiques  and enter that code, you get 10 percent off.

If you run your order up to 100.00 or more, you will now get......TWENTY PERCENT OFF and!  Free US shipping.

I have extended the time frame for you to use it....it's good through midnight, Tuesday May 2, 2012 and then poof, gone.  I will not be having a sale like this again any time soon.  ;-)

And don't forget my sale bin has maybe 300 items in it, all good stuff, already marked down 20-50% and YES!  you can get the extra sale ON TOP of that!  So!

If you come to rob me blind with this coupon....whoops!  I meant, HAVE A GOOD TIME!  with that coupon....DO NOT FORGET IT.   bloghop   bloghop    just. like. that.......bloghop

  Don't forget it.  No special discount without it.   Gotta have it.

OKAY!  WHO WON, ALREADY?????

Dr. Brassy Steamington of Dr. Brassy's Steampunk

And Kelli Jacobson of Creative Moon

drawn by random number generator.

Thanks to all who took part, you made my heart go pitty pat!   If you didn't get to hop yet, by all means....just back up one post and go hopping!  

bloghop  bloghop bloghop   is it spam yet?  LOL

Art Charms.....From Ex Post Facto Jewelry

Here's a post worth reading, if you want to really see some wondermous art charms.

Heidi Post of Ex Post Facto Jewelry talks about the love of handmade and a cool new Art Bead Love Tour at her blog today:

http://expostfactojewelry.blogspot.com/2012/04/art-bead-love-tour.html?spref=fb

Evidently a charmstring of art beads/charms is sent about to the participants who can pull off what they would like to keep, but they must replace them with beads/charms they have made, and then send the charmstring along to the next participant.

Heidi shows in the post which charms she selected to pull off, but also which she opted to put on as replacements.  They all look MIGHTY FINE.

I'm writing you about her post because I would really love for you to go to her blog and follow it, and learn more about totally handmade art charms and in particular, art beads.   While I like to make them from paper, clay and other things I can work with my hands, I also love to use the elements we sell at B'sue Boutiques and ALTER them....distress, wire, paint, patina, ink, whatever.

In the Art Bead Love Tour, you need to make everything from the ground up.

Please go to Heidi's blog and read about it.  Maybe you'd like to play, too....or just be inspired!

Here is a photo of the charmstring as it is right now.   Wouldn't you love to make things like these?