My Beading Goals for 2010

My beading goals this year are to develop new and interesting designs both with my beading and my wirework, concentrate on more One of a Kind designs and pursue a more art inspired direction in my work. My art pieces may not sell often, but when they do and are purchased by someone who is either really inspired or really appreciates the work that went into it, it makes it all worthwhile. In pursuing this I hope to get invited to shows that will really get my work out there and noticed. Preferably by some celebrity with lots of money that will pay me to design jewelry for such events as the Grammys, Golden Globes and the Oscars - Kate Hudson are you watching??

Open House starts TODAY!

The wine is chilled, the cheese and crackers are ready, the cake and cookies are baked. Need directions? call me at 717-371-3726. Need to come earlier/later? No problem, really, I'm here anyway. If you come too early Saturday I may be sweaty and smelly from working out but you are welcome anyway - I may make you do a few lunges or bicep curls along with me though!! Inflation busters featured at this year's show -

These Heart Earrings are just 15$ and available in Copper, Sterling Silver or Gold Filled with any color drop in swarovski crystals or pearls that I have in stock. Will even do special orders in time for Christmas. Another Swirl style available - same deal, same metals. Next year the prices will go up - especially the Gold fill as it has become way more expensive. These earrings make fantastic gifts for both young and mature women.

Remember, also available are the Tree of Life Custom Pendants - I will also make these in time for the holidays!! Order form is available per request or search back in my posts. I will e-mail it to you or you can order at the open house.
Have a wonderful weekend and enjoy the fine weather!!

Dianne

Use the Muse III

Okay, I can't wait any longer. But I must. I really want to know if I've won, placed or even shown on this contest. I can't even post my entry yet!!! Waiting is so hard!!! So here's a peek. You will note, well, I will tell you, the Muse piece is not included in this photo. I will post the entire thing after the muse is revealed but if you are as curious as I am, you can keep checking back to the Beader's Muse (www.thebeadersmuse.com) web site for the results of judging. Please keep your fingers crossed for me as this is my first contest entry of my jewelry in any contest.

Events Coming up

It is that time of year again, open houses. First I have a group show in Mount Joy at Pam Barto's Christmas Open house. Lots of goodies, fine craft, lovely items including jewelry, iron work, Santas (Pam's are just GLORIOUS) and textiles. 12-15 Crafters display at her house and she even provides refreshments!!

Pam's House
215 Birchland Avenue
Mount Joy, PA 17552
Friday -13th - 11:00am - 7:00pm
Saturday - 14th - 10:00am - 5:00pm

The next weekend is my open house;
Friday November 20 4-8 PM
Saturday and Sunday November 21-22 12-5 PM.
Location:
W Jewelry Studio -
59 Ridge View Drive
Leola, PA 17540

My display will remain up for last minute shoppers up until Christmas so feel free to stop by - just call to make an appointment- 717-371-3726. Remember if you want that special holiday jewelry for your events and need something custom made to come by and order it soon. If I don't have the beads in stock it may take some time to get them.

This weekend I will be at the Gem Show in Exton finding new goodies for making jewelry, will be sure to post my finds. I also have new earrings in my "Economy Busting" line starting at 15$. My jewelry is also available exclusively at Salon fin on the corner of Frederick and Mary in Lancaster City.
Have a good week everyone - enjoy the fine weather this weekend!!
Dianne

Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween to all! As many of you know, this is my favorite holiday - and here is one of my favorite costumes, I dressed as Frida Kahlo for a party at the Art Association -

Oh I love dressing up as other people and putting on their personality for the night. But what am i working on today? Making the perfect cuppa chai and the invitations to my open house. If you want to get on the list e-mail me your contact info and I'd be glad to add you. You get a special discount with your invite, but you can always come without one as well. November 21-22 from 12 -5 or Nov 20 from 4-8PM. If you need directions, e-mail me at meleenia@aol.com or call me at 371-3726.

Have a wonderful holiday!!

New Pictures

Finally have some new pictures to upload of some of the work I've been doing.

First - a new studio set up which has since been changed:

I decided that I didn't have enough room to move around so I switched the white storage unit to in front of the other wall of windows and swung the desk around 180 degrees but am going to swing it back 90 so the back of my desk totally faces the room.

This next piece is a wire wrapped dichroic pendant with a herringbone spiral strap. The strap had been laying around for a couple of years waiting for a centerpiece, this worked out well. Who says I never finish anything?? Sometimes it's just not ready to be finished!

Two views of a swirl wire earring with a post for those of you who like that rather than the kidney wire drop style. A lovely hammered finish applied cause I, well, I like hitting things with a hammer! Available with almost any swarovski crystal accent, in gold filled, sterling silver or copper. I'm sure I could make these out of the artistic wire if you're so inclined as well in any other color, not sure if I can hammer that, will have to experiment and see.

Open House Time

It's that time of year again, yes, I'm cleaning the studio and getting ready for my open house. Not only do I have to clean the studio but I also have to get the back walkway in order and pull all the thistle. It's been a busy fall so far, and I don't expect things to change any time soon. Watch for my entry to Use the Muse III in a couple of weeks. I can't post anything yet but I am really proud of myself for my entry. It really stretched the imagination and I can't wait to wear it. I think I may need some chai tonight, the chill is in the air and it's only 6:45 and already it's getting dark. I love fall with all the coppery colors and you will see them reflected in the copper pieces I have been inspired to make lately. I bought all this copper wire because it was cheap but the jewelry keeps turning out so lovely, I just love it!! I've even experimented with applying a little fire to it and the colors are amazing.
That's it for now, will post pictures as soon as i get my act together!
Dianne

Chai Time!

Hey! Sorry I've been gone so long. September is a busy month for me. I was at Roots the beginning of the month and last week at Landis Woods for their art show. Again a wonderful day and not much rain except toward the end. Last year was a real wash-out with a big mud puddle under my chair!!

New pics for you to drool over and now getting ready for two open houses - one in Mount Joy at Pam's Holiday open house November 13-14. Friday 11 AM - 7PM. Saturday 10 AM - 5 PM. She has lots of wonderful stuff - pottery, her lovely Santas, iron work, jewelry, baskets, gourds, etc.

Info:

Christmas Handcraft Open House

Olde World Collectables

215 Birchland Ave

Mount Joy PA

717-653-1525

And My Open House the Next weekend November 20-22

Friday 4-8PM

Saturday 12-5 PM

Sunday 12-4 PM or call for an appointment anytime after that weekend.

Info:

W Jewelry Studio

59 Ridge View Drive (white addition in back of the house)

Leola PA 17540

about 4 miles east of Lancaster, call for directions - 717-371-3726

Everyone is welcome!

okay, now to pictures!!

Notes from the bench

Making some funky earrings today and ordered some more colored wire to make some other jewelry. Drinking chai and trying to work but this has been one weird week. Lost Ed McMahon, David Carridine, Michael Jackson and Farrah Fawcett. As we get older I suppose death becomes a more frequent and real thing as we lose our idols. I, for one, was never really "into" any of the aforementioned yet I feel their deaths as if personal and offer my condolences to all the families involved. It's a sad thing to lose a family member and I guess after losing my grandmother just a couple of months ago it hits closer to home than usual. My immediate and extended family has also had to deal with illnesses, deaths, job losses, injuries and so many other things lately and I am so grateful to have such support on both sides of the family - mine and my husband's. Of course we've also had good things and are looking forward to two new additions as well. Such is the circle of life . . .

Blessings to all of you and look for new pictures later today of some fun jewelry to cheer you up or give you a distraction.

Blogging on my weight loss

Just a bit of blogging on my weight loss. I started out in 2004 at 247 and am now down to 182, I had been down to 175 in 2006 but then gained back. This time I'm working out and wanted to post some pictures.













Even though I was 175 in the photo of me at easter in the pink sweater and skirt, I was not working out. My face and body are much more toned now in the bottom two pictures.






In the Green outfit in April I was down to around 190 and now I'm down around 182. It's coming off really slow this time but I know I'm gaining muscle.

Tree of Life Order Form

Copy this into an e-mail send it off to meleenia@aol.com. I will fill out the estimate/date of delivery, down payment info and contact you for payment information.

Tree of Life Order Form

Name:
Phone Number:
Address:

E-mail:


Estimate:
Estimated date:
Down Payment:


Tax/delivery:

Total Due on Delivery:


1. Outer ring Copper ($50) Silver ($60) Gold Filled ($65)


2. Tree Copper Silver Gold Filled

Copper/silver Combo ($60) Silver/Gold filled combo ($65)

3. Number of Branches 1-10
4. Birthstone/month combos or stone for each branch – cross off branches not needed:
1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.


Misc. options – root stones/colors etc.

Friday Morning Chai

Good morning. I love sitting here at my desk sipping my Friday Morning Chai - well, it's Oregon Chai but since I can't get it at Wawa anymore (hint, hint) I have to make my own. So much to tell, where to begin??
Tonight I will finally get my First Friday Showing at Salon Fin - long awaited since my sudden and serious bout with pneumonia last December that landed me in the hospital for almost a week. Festivities start around 5 PM.
Salon Fin is located at Frederick and Mary Sts. in Lancaster, PA nearby to F&M College.

Can't make it? Then come find me Saturday at Hospital Day in the Park in Ephrata. The show starts at 8AM - bring your own Chai. I'm thinking I'm not going to get to set up today because of the weather (hey-it's OLD 97s on XPN - yayay!! sorry, distracted) so I'll be starting out real early tomorrow morning.

New jewelry! Check this out - made a pendant for my mom and people are asking questions - what is it and how do I get one? This is a tree of life pendant which depicts my mother's children and grandchildren in the branches. The mother's birthstone surrounds the children's. So that's me, the emerald between the amethyst and my kids are the crystal between the emeralds -get it?? This can be done a number of ways - with children's birthstone color between the mother's or both the parents, can be in silver, gold, or a mix, or even copper come to think of it. Price is $50 for copper, $60 for silver and $65 for gold filled or a mix of gold and siver. Mix of silver and copper would be at the $60 silver price. There can be up to 10 branches, with the option of having dangles put on for additional grandchildren - kind of like apples hanging from the tree! The crystals are all swarovski and I have information for what colors go with which birth months. Don't have a lot of children? I only have two but you can do the two branches with your children and leave the rest blank for the future, adding drops with your grandchildren as they come along. Or use drops to signify your nieces and nephews.

Options include putting the Grandmother's/Grandfather's or Mother's/Father's stone color in the roots as well. You can use the tree to signify people in your family, the season of the year or design your own tree to signify healing, strength or the journey of your life. The tree of life is an ancient design used for many purposes.

According to wikipedia - The concept of a many-branched tree illustrating the idea that all life on earth is related has been used in science, religion, philosophy, mythology and other areas. A tree of life is variously, a) a mystical concept alluding to the interconnectedness of all life on our planet, b) a metaphor for common descent in the evolutionary sense, and c) a motif in various world theologies, mythologies and philosophies.

Design your own - have fun! The tree can be just a beautiful using a combined wire motif without any crystals - or choose your own natural stones to be used. I have available a number of different semiprecious stones you can choose from in chips, rounds and other shapes.

That's it for now. Come see me this weekend or e-mail me for a form to order your own tree! Keep me busy and out of trouble this summer!

Friday May 22

Day after my 43rd birthday. It's been a long busy week bookended by long busy weekends. I'm tired, been working out every day but hardly had time to make jewelry. So much to do, so little time. Next show is the Ephrata Hospital Auxilliary Craft Show June 6th. I'll have my best bud Ian helping again, he had such a great time in Elizabethtown. The show is on the hospital grounds, hope to see you there.

I'm Back

Sorry I've been away, I've been so busy these past few Fridays. I did get to see the Bacon Brothers, the following Friday I had classes down in Philadelphia and learned how to make a new bracelet and a pendant, then had to get ready for a show last Friday and today I'm getting ready to take some jewelry down to Salon Fin on the corner of Frederick and Mary. I will be displaying my jewelry there in between shows. There is talk of a First Friday event on June 5th and on June 6th I'll be in Ephrata at Ephrata Hospital's Festival and craft show. Most of the summer I'll be idle until Labor Day weekend when I'll do the Roots Craft show on Saturday, then the Landis Woods Art Show the last Saturday of the month. Other than those shows, I will be planning my open house for November. The show I do in Philadelphia at the Unitarian Church has been cancelled this year. So very sad as my Father and I do that show together every year and it's so nice to spend time with him and his friends.

I recently designed a Mother's Tree of Life Pendant based on many of the Tree of Life pendants I have seen, using birthstone colors in swarovski crystals to signify each child and grandchild for my mom. I'm thinking of making these on a per order basis but haven't decided on a price yet for them. I also have not yet decided what kind of cord to use as the necklace part.

So until next time, that's the update for W Jewelry designs. I'll be posting pictures of the new designs next week sometime.

Be well, and see ya at the Springsteen concert tonight!!

Tribute to Grandmom

I was blessed to have my Grandmom until this past Sunday, when she passed away. She was pretty healthy up until the past few weeks, lived and died at home. She was an active woman who volunteered at the St. Anne's Senior center helping the "old People." When I asked how old the old people were to her, she would only laugh. She was just shy of 94 years old. She lived through the depression, had 8 children, many grandchildren and a boatload of greats. She remembered everyone on their birthdays and was loved by all. She accepted everyone as they were, never judging, always loving. I am sharing some photos of her today from her 84th birthday party, I doubt that many of my family has even seen these photos but this is how I like to remember her, active, healthy and entertaining all. She always smiled, laughed, and told it just like it was. Her funeral was sad only for us who will miss her. She had a good life and as good a death I'm told as she could.

This is most of the clan, it was really difficult to get everyone to stand still even for a moment.

Grandmom surrounded by 5 of her daughters, Aunt Queenie, my mom Edna, Aunt Annamay, Aunt Roseanne and Aunt Marion.

Some of the family dancing, Aunts Queenie and Marion are in this shot, Rocky, Mary and Dana

Here's some of my family, sister Brenda, mom Edna, sister Janet, cousin Mary, me, Kristen, and niece Kathryn

Aunt's Annamay and Marion with Grandmom





Grandmom - we all love you. You set a wonderful example for being a woman, mother and role model. You gave back to the world much more than you were given, and you made the best of every moment. You will never be forgotten.

April 3, 2009 - Warning - Alex - spoiler alert!!

I worked on a birthday present for my niece today and finished it, let me know what you think. I loved this stone, purchased with no real project in mind other than what a great specimen it was. I'm pretty happy with how it turned out.

Ugh, Taxes

Nuff said. I'm in the office working on taxes today. I hate this day but my appointment with the accountant is tomorrow and it absolutely must be done. I have most of my receipts together, must log and then do math. Math. I hate math. It can explain so much about the world but the actual thinking of it. Thank goodness for calculators and the giant one my hubby bought me last year. okay, enough dawdling. There will be no good jewelry pics today, just my whining. Will get back to the fun stuff after this weekend.

Finally getting the photography thing !!!

Oh, this has taken too long to figure out my camera, find the wand that attaches to my tripod, and get things working. But I think the results speak for themselves. Here are some of my recent photos of my work, much improved I think. Let me know if you agree. (If you don't, keep it to yourself because I worked really hard on this, lol. No, really, let me know if you have any suggestions. The learning curve is way too steep without help.)

This one is still a tad dark at least on my computer screen, but I'm really happy that the camera shake is gone:

Facebook got me!

Okay, I admit it, Facebook has me. The ability to reconnect with people I know or used to know has me mesmerized. I am compelled to look at every picture, every update and check in several times a day. So far I have found: a cousin who is #3 in the world mixed martial arts championships, a cousin whose name is not what I thought it was for 42 years, an old high school acquaintance who apparently married my 3rd grade boyfriend, my coworker who hates to shop at Walmart on Saturdays, my niece does not like to do her english homework, videos of my nieces dancing, no one who can follow a Logan's Run reference, a new way to connect with my best friend who lives near D.C., the boy who gave me my first "real" kiss, my kindergarten crush, and the bad stuff, divorces, illnesses, deaths of former classmates.

So, in a nutshell, that's why you don't see any new jewelry. And, the jewelry muse has other things to do than grace my studio, or maybe she's waiting for me to cross the room to my workbench. I did start a piece the other night, was trying to make a more affordable line for this declining economy, but the piece got away from me and turned into a monstrosity of ocean jasper, aventurine and poppy jasper. Keep your eyes on me folks, it's coming, it's just taking its time.

Bead Girl Gone Crazy

I just can't help myself, I go to a bead show and there are so many pretties. So here is a preview of what you might see in the coming months from me.

This first shot is the entire bead stash that came home with me:

Next we have pearls pearls pearls:

These next three pictures are beads/charms you may or may not see in jewelry to be sold, I bought them primarily to make myself jewelry, I'll have to see if I can part with what I make from them:

Pressed glass czech beads that will make their way into some fine jewelry:

Some Raku ceramic findings and pretty colored drops that will make it out of my stash as closures and some embellishments on some pretty fancy pieces:

Here are some semiprecious beads just waiting for stringing - ah - I can see it now - and some pretty amethyst i picked up - no peeking mom!

Gorgeous charlottes ready for beading in some intricate designs!

February 20, 2009

My Mom's Birthday - Happy Birthday MOM!!

Okay, busy week. I did manage to get some photos taken last week and posted some here. To see the rest go to http://www.wjewelry.shophandmade.com/. There you can see all the details, prices, etc. I am busy today tumbling (jewelry, not me), taking pictures and posting online. Hope all is well with everyone out in cyberland.

Getting it all together

It's been a while, January was a blur of catching up from being sick in December. We had repairs to our heating system, the house blessing, doctor appts, dentist appts . . . oh the list goes on. So here we are in February and my goals are this.
1. Get ready to have my taxes done - oh and I started off so well last year, but really dropped the ball after June. Time to play catch up.
2. Get my web sites updated and photos of all my jewelry.
3. Finish at least one piece of the five pieces of jewelry I have started.

Can't sit here chatting, must get to work!!

What I learned in the Hospital

1. The call button is not a microphone

2. Disconnecting your EKG leads and playing dead is not funny to the nurses

3. Changing around the lead wires on the EKG can not make the readout say "Merry Christmas" or anything else.

4. Don't push your own IV pump buttons, alarms WILL go off.

5. There are no Dr. McDreamys, McSteamys or McHunks, there are only McChunkies, McNuggets and McMuffins.

6. Doctors don't really like it when the patient talks during surgery or wakes up and grabs the anesthesiologist by the throat (true stories).

7. The phone will always be where you or your IV or Oxygen tubing will not reach when it rings.

8. You will always realize that you forgot to put on your robe just after your nurse hooks up your IV.

9. The hospitals, doctors and nurses do not have scanners like on Star Trek to instantly diagnose and cure you so stop asking them.

10. Oxygen masks do not make you sound like Darth Vader or Mickey mouse.

11. A white robe does not make you a doctor and you can't write prescriptions or tell the other patients what to do.

12. Wii does not make an incentive spirometer but they should (this is just a suggestion).

13. Nurse Ratchett does not work here so stop asking for her.

14. Orderlies are not your personal cabana boys and they don't give massages.

15. The pool in the hospital is only for physical therapy and there is no poolside concierge.

16. There is no room service so stop calling the operator and asking for it.

This is certainly not a comprehensive list, feel free to add your own to the comments!

New Year! New ME!

Welcome to the new year. I am now somewhat recovered from pneumonia, back to work anyway. Trying desperately to balance activity vs. rest - not easy for someone like me who is always on the go. My plans for the new year include losing 30 lbs that I put back on last year. Overall, I'm still down 40 lbs from my high, but I'm not letting it get that far again. Me and Oprah! So I have been working out with Jillian Michaels, okay, only via wii but that gets me sweating, muscles sore, etc. I'm up to 30 min on medium, from starting Dec. 27 at 10 min on light. Haven't made much jewelry lately, matter of fact my open house is STILL set up. I am offering 20% off the non-woven jewelry until it gets taken down, and it won't get taken down until all the jewelry is photographed. I am starting that this afternoon.

In addition to working out, in an effort to get healthy, I have made my yearly gyno appointment - Have You? I also made appointments for my kids to get their teeth cleaned and my eyes to get checked. This will also lead, I am sure, to my first mammogram. Gotta take care of "the girls."

My best to all of you in this new year. Pay off your credit cards, take care of your health and do all those things you need to do to be the best you!

Dianne