Bead Challenge

I have 5 of the same beads. My challenge [I gave myself] is to create 4 different looks using the same bead. I had to use 2 beads for a pair of earrings of course. I'll post the results next week.

2013 LENT SACRAFICE...

I decided to give up Facebook after 5pm, for Lent. At first, it was hard but I'm getting use to it. It's really hard on the weekends not to go on after 5pm, but, a couple more weeks, I'll be good. lol The thing that I've noticed is, I am getting more work done at night, [lol]
How about another creation?

Entered A Contest Again

Like last year, I was given the chance to submit 3 pieces of jewelry to be represented on the Loose Bead Society's postcard. These are the 3 pieces I created and hopefully be published...

Cup Earrings
The bead in this bracelet was created by my creative friend Tammy Rae Wolter. I love the blue wire because it matches the bead perfect.
This aqua colored wire wrap necklace made itself. I didn't do much thinking but more feeling and it just worked.

Long Time, No See

Well, I thought I should write my first post for 2013. I've been very busy and it seems to be easier to update my Facebook Page, rather than my Blog and Website... naughty me. I've been busy making my ''McBeady'' People for St. Patrick's Day and had a party where all 5 necklaces sold out in the first half an hour. I actually ran out of the ''body'' beads and made them with big green, glass heart beads, which went over great too. I know I should've made more but they are very tedious to put together. My bad on my behalf.
The McBeady Family

VistaPrint Order

Postcards by Vistaprint

Rack Cards by Vistaprint

Small Banners Vertical by Vistaprint

 I entered this necklace in a Jewelry Design Star Competition. If I win, my piece will be published and I would get great recognition for all of my hard work.

                                                                   VOTE HERE

RUMMAGE SALE

RUMMAGE SALE- I'll be joining the Loose Bead Society's Annual Rummage Sale next Saturday July 21st at the New Berlin Library from 10am-4pm!! I'll have lots of containers, beads, some tools and other jewelry related items.

And the winner is...

There were no guarantees that a piece of your jewelry would even make it on the postcard.  I'm very proud and excited.

QUESTION?

Where should I start with all of my fantastic purchases from the Bead & Button Show?  It's always great to see my buddies from Beaducation, ImpressArt, Beadalon, Cooltoolchick, Urban Beaders and all my new buddies that made me spend money lol

I've Entered These 3 Pieces...

I'll keep you updated

Opportunity

My ''cult'' The Loose Bead Society, has given some of us [people that joined the Loominosity [Sales Event at the New Berlin Library] Event last year, the opportunity to submit 3 pieces of jewelry to possibly be on the postcard as advertisement to this years Loominosity. Which 3 pieces of my jewelry do you think I should submit?

JewelryByJaws.com

Tools Whore

http://www.contenti.com/products/saws/410-070.html 

I've been looking for different shaped mandrels to use for wire wrapping.  For the longest time, I was using a tool called The Coiling Gizmo, which worked.  But, recently, I've been practicing with my electric drill to coil wire.  Not only does it go faster but I can put different shape and sized ''mandrels'' in the drill.

I purchased a disc cutter for myself during Christmas [Merry Christmas to me] and I love it.  I've recently discovered that a company Rio Grande, has created square, oval, heart and triangle cutters too but they are very expensive.  Cool but pricey.  One day I'll get them. lol

I'm not sure if you've noticed yet, but I'm a huge TOOL WHORE.  I LOVE ME SOME TOOLS.  Hey, if it can help me do my craft better and easier... why not?

What are some of your favorite tools to use?

UPCOMING EVENTS

2012

April 21st- Potawanamie Bingo from 10am-4pm

April 28th- Cudahy Library from 9am-4pm

June 3rd- West Allis Ala Carte from 11am-6pm 

2011

October 9th The Milwaukee County Zoo from 9am-3pm

November 2nd- The Milwaukee Fire Department from 7pm-9pm

November 3rd-6th- New Berlin Library Loominosity from 9am-4pm

November 12th-13- The Domes from 9am-4pm

BIG END OF THE SUMMER SALE

Coming very soon. My website isn't agreeing with me lately and I've had lots of hiccups and burps along the way. I'm actually waiting to hear back from webs.com to resolve my problem but I'm thinking, I should move my sale onto my blog? Now... I just need to figure out how to do it? lol Maybe, someone can give me some ideas on how-to's sell on a blog? Any help/suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Contest- PJ Jewelry Tools

I'm so excited!!! I've joined a FaceBook contest with a piece of my jewelry. The rules are; use the free stamp you recieved at the Bead and Button Show, incorporate the PJ Jewelry Tool awareness ribbon stamp [and get 5 extra likes/votes] and the piece of jewelry must be completed by August 1, 2011. I'm very excited because, as of today, I'm ahead by 29 likes/votes!!! If I win, I will get a tool bag full of stamping tools and I get to choose 5 design stamps. It's a wonderful prize and I worked really hard on my piece. My free stamp was a Star, so this is what I've created... The Bottle Rocket Necklace

B.H. Wright Gallery

Guess What? Jewelry By Jaws is in an ART GALLERY!!! I was very excited to be asked to have my jewelry displayed in a gallery. It's located at 401 Madison St. Waukesha, WI. Very cool artists are also displaying their work. C'Mon and check it out.

Metal Stamps For Sale

I have some Metal Stamps for sale. There is nothing wrong with them... I personally have a hard time working with them. The Thumbsaver is a tool that I use to hold the metal stamps, so I can hammer them to make the design and/or letter. The way that I utilize the tool is different from the way you're ''suppose to'' use the tool. [I have pictures below of me stamping] Anyways, I purchased some stamps online from a few different websites and didn't realize that the bodies or posts of the stamps were round. I have an easier time dealing with the square bodied stamps. The Stamps that I'm selling are... 1. A Music Note 2. An Awareness Ribbon 3. A 4 Leaf Clover 4. A Skull with Crossbones 5. A Wine Glass 6. A Heart 7. A Peace Sign I'm selling them for $7.00 a piece which is about $2.00 less than I originally bought them. Please let me know if you are interested in buying them. Thank you

UT OH

Michaels Arts and Crafts store is now selling STAMPING PRODUCTS. I told the cashier yesterday that Michaels and I are going to be new BFF's. The products are expensive but Michaels usually has the awesome 40 % off coupons either in the newspaper, email and on your receipts after you purchasing something. I'm so excited. The don't have a large selection of different fonts and/or decorative stamps but to get someone started, it's great. I bought a Wood Dapping Block that domes your metal components. I bought a 6mm, 36 letter set and today I'm going to buy the last Aluminun Ring Sizer Mandrel [I'm sure they'll get more]. The new tools are cool too. They have Anvils, Bench Blocks [metal and rubber], riveting tool with rivets and many different assortments of blanks to stamp on. I had a GREAT shopping weekend. The problem now is, what should I start making first? lol I'll show you soon, what I've come up with and post it. OH YEAH, I looked online at Michaels.com and couldn't find any stamping products on their website? Maybe their updating it? Anyways, just wanted to give you the heads up in case you tried to research it. I'll keep checking too to let you know if it's on their site, so you can check it out.

I'm trying to win another contest

I have to post Beaducation's link and find a four leaf clover lol Wish me luck http://blog.beaducation.com/2011/03/national-craft-month-contest-week-5.html

Uno Wanted To Be Photoed Toooo

This is my cat, Uno. She was a liter of one and so I named her ''Uno''. She loves attention and tries to get it from me at the most inopportune times. Here, I was trying to set-up my new little photography studio and of course, she wanted her picture taken too. She looks so fat there? She really isn't that fat. Let me find some other pictures to show you.



She kinda looks chubby there too? Let me look for another picture...

AAAwww, she never sleeps under blankets but the kids [niece and nephews] were goofing around and covered her up. I'm surprised she let them? One annoying thing about Uno is, she seems to think every blanket that enters my house is hers.

She's a super sweet cat [and I don't even like cats] and would never trade her for anything.

I Wanna Win This SOOOO Bad

blog.Beaducation.com is giving away a SUPER DUPER package of ALL sorts of wonderful things to create jewelry and I wanna win it so bad. The question is ''If you're in a creative rut, what do you do to get inspiration?'' And this was the comment I left... ''I would love to win this box of goodies. I recently broke out my riveting tool and started layering all of those wonderful blanks together, so I need more please. lol I get inspiration from Beaducation's Tips and Design Ideas. I also get inspired by looking at all the stores on Etsy.com. Beading magazine's are great too.'' Well, WISH ME LUCK

For Lent...

I decided to give up Facebook until after 5pm, for Lent. At first, it was hard but I'm getting use to it. It's really hard on the weekends not to go on it until after 5pm, but, a couple more weeks, I'll be good. lol The thing that I've noticed is, not only am I getting more work done, [duh lol] BUT there are a lot of people on FB during the day at work? HHHmmm lol

I bought a riveting tool from Beaducation awhile ago and broke it out last week. I found a new love for making jewelry and to incorperate my stamping. Oh yeah, I've been stamping too. I FINALLY figured out a way for me to hold the metal stamp and hit the stamp with a hammer at the same time. I bought the Thumbsaver, from yes, Beaducation, put the Thumbsaver in my vise to hold the stamps. The tricky part is to not tighten the Thumbsaver around the stamp too much because it wont move to make a mark. I'm sure you wanna see some pictures huh? Let me see if I have any that are clear enough for everyone to see....

Stamping on Metal

The first picture is the set-up, the second picture is me stamping [hello lol] and the third picture is the beautiful necklace I created and sold. The word ''Zumba'' that I've stamped is actually an awesome exercise, it's dance moves/exercise moves with latino flavor music. Totally addicting and fun. Zumba is one of my many passions.

Nuts and Bolts

I've been experimenting with new types of ''materials'' for my jewelry. I went to a couple of hardware stores and found some really cute components that you wouldn't normally create jewelry. I will download pictures soon.

West Allis Ala Carte and Jewelry By Jaws

Here I am at 1 of my tables getting ready to sell ALL of my jewelry. LOL


Here I am dying in the heat, selling ALL of my jewelry. lol

Crazy West Allis Customers... gotta love'm

I didn't sell ALL of my jewelry but I did sell ALOT and I'd like to thank everyone for stopping, buying and supporting my business. Lots of family and friends were there but I'd like to thank someone special for helping me make it all happen... Jennifer Moes, take a bow. She was my ''right hand man'' and worked her bum off. Great job Jenny... and we had fun too.

Oh her friend Travis also needs to be mentioned too. He was the ''muscle'' behind this event... thanks Travis.

Bead and Button Show 2010

I went to the Bead and Button Show to find new tools and learn different jewelry tecniques. I learned about Resin and bought a starter kit from Little Windows. Their resin is non-toxic which was a huge selling point for me, since I put everything in my mouth.

Next I bought a Wire Crinkler from the Beadalon booth. This little gizmo does what its called ''crinkles'' wire. I've seen this advertised in many Jewelry Magazines but could never find a vendor who sold it... until, The Bead and Button Show.

Then I bought a flat nose pliers which isn't that exciting but I found one with a little wider nose on the tip of the pliers. So, it was exciting to me. lol

Lastly, I bought a tool that helps you braid wire. It's a ''contraption'' that I was kicking myself for a year for not buying it. Cindy [I believe her name was?] has a company called The Cool Tool Chick and the tool is pretty cool. I haven't tried it yet but it comes in a very nice bag with ALL the supplies you'd need... oh, except the wire.

I was so excited too because I got to meet one of the artists that inspired me to do wirework- Lisa Kelly Niven. I was really nervous to talk to her but I asked her a few questions and she was too kind to answer them.

I cant wait until next year. lol

Finally, some new Designs

These earrings are inspired by the MILWAUKEE BREWERS!! GO BREW CREW! The coils are made with navy blue, white and gold wire, to represent the Brewers colors. I love these earrings and almost kept them for myself. lol

If it's not one thing...

So, now my camera wont download my pictures that I have taken. :0( I'm really bummed because I created this really cool wire wrapped bracelet that was inspired by Sharilyn Miller. I really love this bracelet and wanted to share it with others but cant until I figure out what's wrong with it. Hate to leave you hangin but....

Trollbeads

I've been checking out Trollbead bracelets on ladies and I have mixed feelings about the beads and the jewelry.

The bracelets look sloppy. I'm sorry to say that but they do. I always see women struggling with the beads because they are floating around their wrists and it looks annoying and distracting.

The Trollbeads themselves, are very polished and clean looking. I see more and more of these beads and have started to research them. I'd like to just make my own by putting the metal part in the middle but again, will have to checkout more sites.

The beads that I've used in the bracelets above are a less expense version of trollbeads. I've mixed wire and other beads to go along with my faux trollbeads to create a tighter bracelets... I personally like mine better. lol

More Slacking?

Yeah, I've been slacking again. I've discovered FACEBOOK. It's distracting me very much and really need to put that little addiction aside. I've been looking at a lot of my Jewelry Magazines to get inspiration, also Etsy and other peoples Jewelry and now I got a big burst of creativity.... what to do first? Well, my friend asked me if I would make her Mom and some Vegas goers, some Vegas themed bracelets for their upcoming trip. Here's my problem, they dont want to pay a lot for the bracelets [understandable... why not save your money to put in a slot machine and have nothing in return. lol] so, I just made a cute but kind of cheap looking bracelet and I'm upset with myself because I know that I can do something more fabulous but more timely and more money. I know, ''suck it up Michelle'' and just whip out the less expensive jewelry and make a few bucks.... right? I think I'll wire wrap something to make myself feel better? lol Well, here's a new post and I'm REALLY goona try to post something at least once a week.

Selling Clay Bead Making Stuff...

Clay bead making is not for me. I purchased EVERYTHING and not once have I enjoyed making beads. :0( So, not only did I ruin a perfectly good toaster oven [once you bake polymer clay in the toaster over, you CANNOT use it for making food. The clay gives off poisoness fumes] but I have all of this stuff crowding my workspace. So, I'd like to sell everything and was wondering if anyone would be interested in purchasing it?
It would include:
Toaster Oven
Pasta Maker
Bead Rollers
Baking Rack with PinsClay
Working Tools
Clay Cutter
CLAY- I think over 15 different colors of clay
If you're interested, please drop me a note and we can discuss prices and I'll post a picture soon.

I've been slacking lately

So the large hole beads I filled with a piece of coiled wire and put swirls at each end so they wouldn't slide around. Then I took some very small seed beads, strung them on wire and coiled a tube creating a ''beaded bead''. I love this bracelet. It turned out so colorful and cute.... great for summer.

FINALLY... some new pieces

Green, white and gold twists of wire are spacers for this clossienne beaded bracelet.

Purple wire knitted to be the closure of this purple and silver beaded bracelet

Black and silver watch linked together with black/gray oval shell beads with silver spacers bent at the top and botton of the beads.