Creativity In A Nutshell

I created this piece in the Fall of 2009 in a Figure in Value course using ink, a sumi brush and a thin stick.

My own interpretation is a kinetic simplification of the female form, without objectification. To me, this piece is celebratory, alive and lovely. Perfection is not an issue. The ink and the figure easily slide into one another. Where is the ink and the mark more important than the figure? Where is the figure more important than the line?

Is this a feminist work? Can a work support feminist ideas without being feminist itself?

Dear Readers,
I wanted to share with you a new blog I have started http://youngfeministjourney.blogspot.com/

Dearest Readers,
I hope you can accept my sincere apology for having not written in the past... age and a half. I have been very, very busy between classes and work, and have been dealing with a few personal issues on the side. I hope you have not forgotten me... and I can't wait for the next blog - a tutorial on a fantastic spring necklace! Yes, yes yes! Spring is in the air!
On to unrelated news... I will be heading to a Feminist Youth Conference in Washington DC this weekend, but will return for Spring Break - time to get caught up on projects, blogging and all that shtuff that makes me happy!
I hope you are all well!
Love,
Callie

Hello readers!
I am sorry I have been so absent lately. As many of you know, I am a full-time college student, with a couple jobs on campus - so time has been really short.
Today I want to share this great blog with you. The blogger is a fellow college student - in fact she is in one of my classes! Her blog is fantastic, interesting and tastey! Check it out!

So guess what readers?! I got some new beautiful beads from Artbeads.com! They are so fantastic and I am so excited to make necklaces with them - which I will share with you all!

Look at all of the wonderful Czech glass beads they have! And I love the olivine swarovski beads... and, well, you already know about my weakness for brass...

I wanted to share this beautiful treasury with you all:

Check out this lovely vintage style pendant:
What's the Plan, Stan?
I used it to create this fantastic and beautiful necklace - and here's a tutorial to show you how to make it too!
Check out some of the other lovely Valentines Day beads and findings over at Artbeads.com

Ingredients:

• 24 Dyed jade 6mm red rounds (I got these from Artbeads.com in their great beads for bloggers program, but they don't seem to be available any more)
• 24 Brass eyepins
• Brass chain
• Brass birds pendant
• Brass grape leaf drop
• Brass lobster clasp

Tools Of The Trade:

• Chain nose pliers
• Wire Cutters
• Round nose pliers

Process:

• First, start by placing the 24 jade beads on eye pins. Finish with a wrapped loop.

• Next, begin the actual necklace. For the first part, both halves will be the same:
• 1 inch chain, 1 jade, 5 chain links, 1 jade, 1 chain link, 1 jade, 1 chain link, 1 jade

• At this point, the sides are different.
• Right Side: 2 chain links, grape leaf connector, 3 chain links
• Left Side: 14 chain links ( you will want the left side to match the length of the new section on the right side - the number of links may not exactly match this tutorial, depending upon the size of the chain you are working with)
• From here on, the sides are the same again: 1 jade, 1 chain, 1 jade, 1 inch chain, 1 jade, 4 chain links, 1 jade, 3 chain links, 1 jade, 2 chain links, 1 jade, 3 chain links, 1 jade, 4 chain links, 1 jade, 5 chain links. End with the clasp.

• As a final touch, connect an extra length of chain, about 5 inches long to the link under the brass grape leaf connector, and the link above the corresponding jade link on the opposite side (the fourth jade link from the pendant)

C'est Fin!


Ohhhh Pssssst! Guess what? My earrings and necklace tutorials are featured in the Artbead facebook Valentine's Day Blogger Gallery of Designs
*I have received these products free of charge from Artbeads.com to honestly review in this blog. I have not been paid for my endorsement as it pertains to the products received*

I was perusing through Borders the other day when I found this book on the sales rack: Bead Tempted by Vigdis Mo Johansen

It's a book of beading idea and inspiration, and while there are some nifty things in there, like crocheting copper wire bracelets, it's a book that is perfect for a beginning jewelry maker, rather than a more advanced or experienced one.

Check it out on Google Books
Buy it on Amazon

Hello Ladies and Gents!
Life has a way of getting away with me - and carrying me off in its currents. Luckily for us all I managed to snatch some time back! Here is a picture of some lovely scrabble tiles, which have already been magically transformed into earrings. These earrings will soon debut on my blog, and then in my Etsy shop! Yay!

I wanted to let you all know about a sale over at Artbeads.com
5% off orders of $25
10% off orders of $50
15% off orders of $75

I got to select some new goodies to make some great tutorials for you all via Artbeads - check out some of the stuff I chose:
Antique Brass Pendant
Some Pretty Swarovski Stuff

I was waiting for my class to continue this afternoon and had a spare moment to check my email. Guess what fantastic readers? I won Erin's contest for her lovely necklace over at Every Heart Crafts! I am giddy as a school girl! Thanks Erin - can't wait until I get it in the mail :D

• 
  
  13 Brass Eyepins
• 
  
  Antinque Vintage Brass-plated Pewter Leaf and Flower Hook and Eye Clasp
• 
  
  13 Red Czech Glass Roundels
• 
  
  Antique Brass Vined Heart Link
• 
  
  14 6mm brass jumprings
• 
  
  Brass cable chain

• 
  
  Chain nose pliers
• 
  
  Round nose pliers
• 
  
  Wire Cutters

Process:



Step One: First, place all the roundells on the eyepins. Then, end them with a wrapped loop.

Step Two: Now that your beads are ready, start by creating the pendant. Attach two 6mm jumprings to the Vined Heart Link. Then, attach a 6mm jumpring to the bottom. To this jumpring, connect about 1 inch of chain. Connect the end loop of the chain to the base loop of a glass bead section.
Step Three: Now it's time to move on to the rest of the necklace. I'll give you the pattern for the entire right side, then the left. Remember, it's an asymmetrical necklace, so the sides aren't going to match :)

• Connect one glass bead to the jumpring. Add a 6mm jumpring to the end, connected to 4 brass chain links, 1 6mm jumpring, 1brass chain link, 1 6mm jumpring
• Add one glass bead, then 1 6mm jumpring to the end, 4 brass chain links, 1 6mm jumpring
• Add one glass bead, 2 brass chain links
• Add one glass bead, 2 brass chain links
• Add one glass bead, about 1 1/8 inches of brass chain
• Add one glass bead, about 3 1/4 inches of brass chain, 1 half of the flower clasp

Step Four: One half down, second half to go!

• Connect about 1 inch of brass chain to the jumpring, add 1 6mm jumpring
• Add a glass bead, 4 brass chain links
• Add one glass bead, 1 brass chain link, 1 6mm jumpring, 2 brass chain links
• Add one glass bead, 2 brass chain links
• Add one glass bead, 2 brass chain links, 1 6mm jumpring, brass chain link
• Add one glass bead, 3 brass chain links
• Add one glass bead, 4 brass chain links, 1 6mm jumpring, 3 1/4 inches of brass chain, second half of the flower clasp

Remember this sneak peak?



What's The Plan, Stan?
I'm so excited to share this tutorial with you, using some great Valentines Day Beads and Components from Artbeads.com. I love these earrings, and I know you will to.

Ingredients:

• 2 8mm Swarovski faceted rounds
• 2 Copper headpins
• 2 Copper earwires
• 2 Copper Plated Heart Key Charms
• 2 Copper 10 mm open jumprings

Tools Of The Trade:

• Wire cutters
• Chain nose pliers
• Round nose pliers

Process:

• First, place your swarovski crystals on the headpins. Finish with a wrapped loop.
• Next, open your jumpring, and add one swarovski crystal loop to each jumpring.
• Place the copper key charms on each jumpring, on either side. 
• Add the earwires.

C'est Fin!

*I have recieved these products free of charge from Artbeads.com to honestly review in this blog. I have not been paid for my endorsement as it pertains to the products received*

I had so much fun making these sweet scrabble tile earrings for my friend Olivia: Love on the Rocks


I really like the earrings, and think they came out great. I will be listing something quite similar in my Etsy shop soon, so stay posted! You can have some Love on the Rocks earrings of your own!

**Today is the first day of the Valentines Day Sale at Callie's Creations!**
Be My Valentine Earrings Just $10.50
With Love Scrabble Tile Necklace Just $19.00
Hearts of Porcelain Set Just $16.00
Key To My Heart Set Just $20.00
Je t'aime Scrabble Tile Pendant Just $6.00

It seems like I have been waiting for ages to receive my package of goodies from Artbeads.com ! Well, today I got it, and let me tell you, these beauties are just fantastic!

What's The Plan, Stan?
I sadly forgot my wire snips at home :( so I could not get started on all the beautiful projects I had planned tonight. Instead, I will tease you with photographs of some of these darling beads n things, with links where you can find 'em.
** Sweetheart Sale: You can save 15% on orders of $60 or more RIGHT NOW at Artbeads.com - it's a pretty good deal, especially with free shipping. They have lots of great Valentines Day Beads and Findings to peruse through.





NECKLACE GIVE AWAY:
I also wanted to let you know about this great Valentines Day necklace giveaway over at Every Heart Crafts

C'est Fin!

More Stuff on the Information Highway:

Yesterday, I spent 2 hours and 15 minutes in a car. Driving to my school. Realizing I forgot a bag full of clothes. Driving back home. Then back to school. It was, in a word, great. Ohhh well. I'm here. The problem is, I forgot to bring my chain-nose pliers. Great. I'm sure that someone around here will have some I can borrow...

Today I posted this darling little scrabble tile pendant:



I hand-painted it about a month ago, inspired by some really beautiful japanese origami paper, then sealed it and added the gold plated bail. I think it would make a really nice Valentines Day gift, so it's part of my Valentines Day sale, starting on Tuesday! Full price, it's $10.00 , however, Tuesday the 2nd through Sunday the 14th, it will be just $6.00!

Want to learn more about my scrabble tile jewelry?

On a side note, the Dirt Road Artists now have a fanpage over on facebook! We will be adding photos of our great products on Etsy, info on our swaps etc and all kinds of good stuff! Check it out!

Valentines Day is on the way!
and I'm celebrating over at Callie's Creations with these four fantatic Valentines Day gifts, *On Sale* starting on Tuesday, February 2nd, until Sunday, February 14th.


I'd like to introduce you to Ginny! She's a tallented ceramics artist from Northern California. She opened her Etsy shop, aptly called Ginpins in 2006.
I was perusing through her shop and I just have to share these fantastic and beautiful jewelry components, currently for sale. I'm green with envy for whoever gets to purchase them!

Hello Everyone!
It's the end of winter break and back to classes for me! I start on Monday. Wait. Let me try that again with a little more enthusiasm. I start on Monday! Huzzah!
Better?

I wanted to share some Valentines Day Love with you all!

These are earrings I made for my best friend, who can and does work magical wonders with knitting needles and all varieties of yarn. I never cease to be impressed by her tallent and skill.

After a bit of deliberation, I have decided to go forth with creating a College Student Crafters Team.
My over-arching goals are:


To support college student crafters with networking
To share skills - with crafting, networking, selling etc
To connect with college students all over
To promote each others shops

As the group becomes more established, I would like to look into:

Creating a team blog
Doing team swaps and competitions
Creating a team shop
Creating team  events

Check out this College Student Crafter's Etsy Shop, Bubbleberries
Elizabeth, the creative genious behind the Bubbleberries, is a sophomore, yet manages to craft and sell her wares online.

Check out her adorable  Mr. Ted the Cuddly Bamboo-Yarn Teddy Bear

In my search for unique beads and findings, I have found another great shop on Etsy!
Check out Softcover Jewelry Supply based in LA

I have been looking for flowers to include in my jewelry designs. I have found a few lucite flowers that I like, but I really like these flowers, from the Softcover shop:

Large Metal Rose Cabochon


Enameled Metal Rose Cabochon

Lion Head Silver Ox Stamping

She also has a really great deal on the Copper Cub Chain

Today it was finally sunny out! I was able to take some beautiful pictures, and I'm giving you a sneak peak of the treasured you can expect to find their way onto my Etsy shop in the coming days.

What's The Plan, Stan?
Catch a sneak peak at my process and make some beautiful flower clips of your own

Ingredients:

• Silk or other fabric flowers
• Metal hair clips or barretts
• Embellishments:
• Feathers
• Sparkles
• Glass Gems etc
  
• Glue: I used E-6000, but I'm sure that a hot glue gun would do the trick
  

Tools Of The Trade:

• Patience

Process:

• First, select your flower. Silk/fabric flowers are made up of layers of petals held together with a plastic stamen (that would be the white plastic bit in the center of the flower below). Remove the stamen and take the layers apart.

• Next, glue the layers back together, minus the stamen. You will want to create a flat base so you can easily glue the flower onto the barrett.

• 
  
  Next, glue on a button or other embellishment to cover the hole where the stamen was. In this pictures, I just used a cute white button
  
  
  

• 
  
  Now, glue the base of the flower onto the barrett- I strongly suggest using E-6000 or some other epoxy for this to make sure the flower is secure.
  
  
  

• 
  
  Voila!