Carmi's Art/Life World: February 2010

Sunday, February 28, 2010

My Olympic Monkeys

We never doubted it for a minute!

My happy unisex monkey cards are perfect for the men's and women's team!

Is Sunday The Beginning or the End?

Sunday feels like the end of the week for me. I always want to wrap things up and take stock of what I accomplished during the week. This past week was especially busy. I did manage to make another necklace with my Easy Knotter....and set up a few more designs. These knotted necklaces take me about an hour...or roughly a TV night. It is a lot better for my hands after a day of card making too..since I used to do hand stitching in front tof tthe television.

I have a few more supplies for necklace making because during the week I was at our huge Toronto wholesaler: John Bead. They hosted an afternoon lecture which I was really happy to attend: Swarovski Spring/Summer 2011 Seminar. And Yes,we were looking at 2011. Swarovski does the best trends forecasting in the world and if you are lucky enough to go to one of their seminars you get an amazing look at their predictions for trends in both the fashion and home dec arenas. And their materials are spectacular! I love their magazines and forecasting kit. I plan to mount most of it so I can see it in my studio.

And look at their trend pieces! This is the sample kit we received of some of their new designs based on the 2011 forecast. Ahh. It was so great. Naturally, I shopped at John Bead too. After an inspiration lecture like this one you'll want to start making things right away! Thank you John Bead!

The Beadbloggers were also all busy this week! Here are my links!

A Bead A Day
Have you ever fallen in love with a piece of jewelry? Lisa fell head over heels for a bracelet on a fellow beader's blog and ended up trading for it!

About.com Jewelry Making
Tammy got the 411 on some very cool new metal stamps. Though these can also be used with clay as well.

Art Bead Scene
The Art Bead Scene begins a new monthly feature - the ABS Carnival Blog! Let the Carnival begin!

Barbe Saint John - New Jewelry from Forgotten Artifacts
Bopping Along the ICE Resin Blog hop - My resin version of Little Egypt.

Beading Arts
Do you want to try lampworking? Cyndi's been busy at the torch again.

Carmi's Art/Life World
Carmi uses a candy mold to make a new resin pendant.

Cindy Gimbrone aka The Lampwork Diva
Cindy takes a bead shopping trip to the Great White North and almost passes out!

Earthenwood Studio Chronicles
Melanie unleashes her grumpy feelings with a little rant and a bead sale!

Jean Campbell
A mystery package is the catalyst for this creative challenge. Up for it? You could win a free book!

Lorelei's Blog: Inside the Studio
Lorelei had a chance, a while back (2008) to have a nice little interview with etsy seller, Patina Queen! This is Lorelei's wire supplier, and she ROCKS!

Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done!
Jean is breathless with delight when she receives a gift from her friend the artist Lisa Kan!

The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton
Andrew shares his feelings about the awesome new Spring issue of "Stringing" magazine.

Saturday, February 27, 2010

I Have a Coupon!

I just added this to the side of my blog too.

The $3 off coupon for the Spring One of A Kind show! The link to online ordering is right here!

My discount code for you is: ADf6fu6

Friday, February 26, 2010

Resin Work

Bakers must get this feeling all the time. You know, when you gather all the ingredients, mix them and then put it in the oven...and it actually rises and comes out a cake.

That's how I feel when my resin hardens perfectly overnight.

In the morning I come downstairs, put the lights on, make my coffee and then have a peak at what I left out overnight. YEAH! They are perfect!

Thursday, February 25, 2010

Resin You'll Want To Eat

I have a new simple and sweet necklace. Actually, it is a choker.

I made this assortment of resin hearts on the weekend because I was dying to see what this paper would look like embedded in resin. The word LOVE just happened to be in my art box and at the last minute I just added it to every heart.

I need these for some special cards. I was trying to make them a little bit thinner, but since I refuse to measure when I pour...I have a few pieces thicker than I would like.

That's okay. Everything can be used. I turned the fat pieces into this cascading heart pendant.

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Resin Embellishments

I have almost finished using my supply of resin bezels filled with Asian beauties. Looks like I need to set up a new collection. They are the perfect adornment for these current cards.

I found this wonderful piece or orange coloured acetate in my stash. I have no idea when I bought it...but it was the perfect backdrop for these vintage buttons I also made from napkins I salvaged.

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

From The Winter Wonderland

The more the snow comes down outside,

the more productive I am inside.

I really love the cards I am making this month.

The shiny pink card is the current favorite.

I love the black and white bird cage buttons!

Monday, February 22, 2010

Embellishing

From fabric to wood. There are no crafting aisles I won't travel down for card embellishments.

Sunday, February 21, 2010

Working Weekend

Although the sun is shining I have made this a work weekend.

I really needed a big block of time to get some sets of cards completed.

I have been adding unusual embellishments all week. Pieces are calling to me and before I know it a resin embellishment is sitting in a bird cage.

But I have not lost my sense of humour. I have no qualms about a funny quote with a vintage image.

And there are monkeys everywhere. Too many cards to post now.

I am going to enjoy the Sunday solitude.

If you have time, here is what the beading gang showcased this week.

A Bead A Day

Are there color combinations that are always in style? Black and white seems to fit that description.

About.com Jewelry Making

Tammy reminds you about a thriving jewelry community and how to keep up with news on her site.

Art Bead Scene

Art Bead Scene teams up with Margie Deeb for a color challenge.

Beading Arts

Cyndi's new bead embroidered necklace has everything but a name!

Carmi's Art/Life World

Carmi restrings a strand of cheap plastic beads with a wristlet. Repurposing is great!

Cindy Gimbrone aka Lampwork Diva

Inspired by the color of summer gardens in a seed catalog, Cindy creates a new bead.

Earthenwood Studio Chronicles

Celebrate the many uses of Ice Resin with Melanie's blog latest blog series which highlights some of her newest works

Jean Campbell

Jean reviews Margie Deeb's (pretty fabulous) Spring/Summer 2010 Color Report.

Jewelry & Beading

Have you heard of Zulugrass? Find out about the wonderful industry that's helping to support the Maasai, and enter to win a piece!

Lorelei's Blog: Inside the Studio

Lorelei is still a little nervous to try her hand at using resin. But the pendant in this necklace turned out nice at any rate.

Snap Out of It Jean! There's Beading to be Done!

Jean is embroiled in a conundrum--help a girl out!

The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton

Working with Jill MacKay's new line of decorative bezels, Andrew experiments with resin and takes advantage of the bezels' deep walls.

Saturday, February 20, 2010

Paris Inspiration

Last weekend I wandered around Micheals with my 40% off coupon burning a hole in my wallet.

I just had to use it.

But everything I was interested in was on sale.

Then I spotted this magnetic white board. I don't need a white board...but I sure do have lots of magnets! I decided it was high time I got all my amazing Paris postcards out on display.

I really do have a lovely collection of Paris postcards. I hung the board over one of my key workstations: paper cutting. I stand here a lot, so I'll enjoy my new view every day!

Friday, February 19, 2010

Perfect Sentiment

I took this picture in Bruges last April.

I was really attracted to the lettering and colour. Vintage but new.

It was the store sign hung just by their door on a whitewashed wall.

I am going to try and make such a sign this summer!

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Easy Knotter Repurposing Project

Does this look like a cheap plastic necklace to you?

It really was. A $1 strand I picked up in my travels. It's been hanging on a hook in my studio when I noticed the colour of the plastic matched this broken ivory beaded wristlet I had too.

So I unstrung all the beads and looked to see if there was anything else I might want to add. The button worked too!

The beaded wristlet was damaged which is why it was donated to me. I figured that sooner or later I might repair it but I never found the right time. I needed to sew on new beads and secure the ones that were already on it. I folded it in half when I was done and then sewed a row a beads across the bottom of my new necklace embellishment. And here is a tip. Wash old necklaces before you restring them. The beads looked less like plastic after I washed them.

The wristlet never did fit me...but now I can still wear it!

The Easy Knotter secured all my sections perfectly!

My camera is acting up a little. Sorry about the tones in this image. Isn't repurposing something the best? My total cost for this new necklace was $2.50. $1 for the strand of beads. The wristlet was just in my donated stash and the Beadalong string was $1.50. The string was my big investment!

Ta Da!

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Is it Wednesday?

The days seem to be blending. When I make this many cards I feel like time is standing still.

But, one look at the countdown at the side of my blog and I start to feel a little anxious.

This is an unusual grouping. I have been wanting to use the metal word embellishments for a long time and finally found images that would showcase them.

Inspired by the word Love.

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Monkeys, Devils, Children

With so many cards to make there are many different images and themes happening in my studio right now.

I have both sweet and serious imagery.

I am trying to empty a lot of drawers this time. I have hung onto so many embellishments for too long. I am finally finding cards for them to be attached to.

Monday, February 15, 2010

So Many Cards - So Many Details To Show Off

I am finally using some of my bird fabrics. Will we ever tire of bird themes? I think not.

Dragonflies are so pretty too..in cartoon form. If one landed on my arm though I would not be so welcoming.

I am using all my shells! There is one last grouping of images transferred to shell. It is difficult to photograph though. These look lovely in person.