Getting Projects off the Back Burner

I haven't been blogging much lately nor have I been on line much either.  For my own lack-luster blogging performance I offer no apologies, however I do apologize for my lapse in visiting the wonderful blogs of so many of my favorite bloggers.

The last few weeks I've focused upon trying to complete several projects that have been gathering dust, along with neglect, on my work table.  The Kitty Cat earrings pictured were one of many such projects.

My youngest daughter, Wendi, loves cats and has her own BFFF (best feline friend forever).  Her cat, Mimi, knows who is boss around Wendi's home and that boss is Mimi.   So when I saw these adorable kitty cat bead caps I thought of Wendi and had to purchase them.   I already had the lovely faceted amethyst beads for their bodies and a strand of size 4 mm round amethyst beads, which I used

to embellish my handmade hook earrings.   I must admit that the large, faceted beads are synthetic amethyst that has been created in a lab, it has all of the properties of real amethyst but cost a lot less - real amethyst of this size and quality would have cost me a few hundred dollars!

 

 

These are going in a drawer until Christmas.  Hope she will like them, though maybe Mimi might get a bit jealous as she thinks Wendi should be a one cat woman.



Multi Functional - Is that a Good Thing?

Things that are multi-functional are favorites with me. Never found myself in adoration with one trick ponies.

Many moons ago I worked as a sales-rep for Sarah Coventry.  Sarah Coventry was an in-home distributor of unique jewelry, following the same principles as Tupperware's infamous home parties.

One thing that captured my attention with Sarah Coventry jewelry was that most of their pieces were multi-functional. Brooches could be used as necklace pendants, long necklaces could be worn doubled up or even as a belt, necklaces had matching bracelets that one could couple together to form a longer necklace, clip-on-earrings could be used as shoe clips or clipped to a chain and worn as a pendant. 
Come to think of it all of Coventry's earrings were clip-ons, not many women back then had pierced ears - unlike today where just about anything and everything is pierced - guess we were all very timid back then or it just was not the vogue thing to do.

Occasionally I try to create multi-functional pieces, pieces that can be worn different ways, switched around. Recently I came up with these "Change About" earrings for my etsy shop, Almost Precious . The sterling silver earring hooks are my own handcrafted earrings to which I've attached a tiny little sterling silver lobster clasp. 

This clasp allows one to change my two sided earring dangle around to display a different side. 

Both dangles feature a beaded bead, Swarovski crystals and sterling silver jumprings.

I can also imagine someone using the basic earring hooks to hang a favorite charm from, or another cute little drop or dangle. 

My own handmade sterling ear-wires with Swarovski White Opal crystal and teeny little sterling silver lobster claw clasp ... can you see this with a cute charm dangling from it?

Photos above and below show earring with charms (starfish and sand-dollar)

Hope people can see the possibilities of this versatile piece of jewelry. What do you think? Is it practical or is it just plain dumb?

A Pearl of a GIVEAWAY from Plantress...

Now confess, you love getting something for nothing...right? Well I know I sure do! That's why we all love to enter giveaways, the chance to win a prize, get a lovely gift, a little freebie.

Well here's a wonderful giveaway that you have to check out. Plantress has a pair of enchanting pearl earrings that would look divine on any girl or lady and her requirements are simple and easy...Just head on over to her blog and check it out ... tell her aBeader'sBlog sent you. :)
But hurry as this Giveaway ends on Sunday...

The End Of The Giveaway

 

The giveaway has ended and it's time to get my favorite mini-pitcher out for the drawing. This little pitcher is really the creamer in a set of ceramic ware consisting of sugar bowl, napkin holder, large serving platter and salt and pepper shakers. I've never used the creamer as it held over a cup of cream and, let's face it, just how much cream does one put in a cup of coffee or tea ? But I loved the pattern and the shape of the pieces, guess it was an impulse buy !

On to the draw and the process thereof...

 

Entry slips are filled out and folded into neat little triangles, so each slip is equal and has the same amount of surface area and corners.

A list is prepared placing each entrant into the numerical position in which their comment was made. My mini pitcher will be used as a receptacle for the drawing slips, mainly because it is not too big but not so small that I can't get my hand into it, two very important criteria.

 

 

Above . . . All entrants are now in place awaiting the fickle hand of fate.

And the "fickle hand of fate" reaches in and extracts the First Draw . . .

 

Ta Da . . . and the winner is number 4 . . . Bridget !!!

Once again the fickle hand of fate reaches and snags yet another slip . . .

And 2nd draw goes to number 8 . . . Cindy !!!

 

CONGRATULATIONS !!! Bridget you have won your choice of earrings. Cindy you have won a pair of my handcrafted earrings but until I hear from Bridget I can't say which pair will be yours...will let you know as soon as I hear.

I WISH TO THANK EACH AND EVERYONE OF YOU WHO TOOK THE TIME TO FOLLOW MY BLOG AND ENTER THIS GIVEAWAY...YOU ARE ALL SUPER STARS IN MY BOOK AND I WISH THAT I COULD SEND EACH OF YOU A PRIZE .

Don't Forget to Enter my November Giveaway !

Just a reminder that the week is flying by and my Giveaway will be over on November 29th. To enter my giveaway and have a chance to win a pair of handcrafted earrings...free...only 2 things are required :

1. You must be a follower of my blog


2. Leave a comment at November Giveaway post. Be sure to give me a way that I can reach you should you be the lucky winner.

Remember there are 2 prizes and therefore 2 winners. The first draw will have their pick between the 2 pair of earrings and the 2nd draw will receive the pair that remains.

They're Lovely But....

People’s perception of what they say they want and what they really want are usually very different. Recently I was asked if I could make a pair of "simple, easy" earrings to match a necklace that I had made. Sounds like an easy enough task, right ? Well I made a pair of sweet little dangle earrings (photo below) using gold filled wire, and beads that matched previously stated necklace.
How did they turn out ? Quite lovely...buuuut just a tiny bit too small; "could you make them bigger ? Oh and maybe a little more, well you know, special?"

Oh I was afraid of that. Simple things always tend to grow into something more complex.
So yesterday was spent creating a design for a pair of earrings to match a necklace, of course not just any little pair of earrings but a pair that were "special". Worked yesterday and today on them and as you can see from the photos they are not finished as I have yet to make the gold filled ear wires. Well maybe tomorrow as my eyes hurt and I’ve also broken 2 ultra fine #15 beading needles making a pair of "simple, easy" earrings...all for less than $20...right now I’d laugh but I’m too tried to.

Here is a picture of the original, simple, easy earrings with a bit of gold filled wire work, handmade headpins and a few beads...buuut they were just a little too small ! : )

Would anybody like to buy a pair of "simple, easy" earrings, only $10...not including shipping?

Above photos: top left, is partially completed earring without embellished top.

Photo top right is after embellishment.