Keys To My Heart

LW and I are the just because gift kinda people. No reason except I was thinking of you, or I thought you might like this. Never elaborate mind you. Just simple little gifts from the heart. I love when he goes to do a bit of grocery (yup he does that hideous chore!! VERY Lucky I am!!) and comes home with a bouquet of roses. When Sorianas has them they are about $4.50 a dozen!! But they always bring a million dollar smile to my face!! :)

I found some dried boxwood at our craft store. Yeah I by sheer luck of the patron saint of crafters was standing next to the gal as she was unpacking them. I bought 2 big bunches knowing that if I want more anytime in the next ten years I will be out of luck!! :) I bent some of my heavy gaged wire (read coat hanger) into the shape of a heart. Gathered of a few brass keys to tie on and wired on an old candle holder I salvaged some where. And waaa laaa gave LW the keys to my heart this morning!!

I thought I'd take pictures of the necklaces I have finished. However I didn't realize that today was our designated day of Winter. A bit rainy (dry season remember) and COLD. So cold in fact we had to wear our polar fleeces!!!! Can you imagine. I think we might have to close the window in our bedroom tonight and put the blanket on the bed!!!!

Anyway back to the pictures. I only got about half done before the rain drops started to fall to fast to dance between. Also it was getting murkier by the minute. So I'll show you what I managed to get pictures of today and the rest will have to wait until Spring returns :)

I used a few white fresh water pearls and a couple of dark rose colored rubilite beads. I wired them together with a rosary link.

Added a bit of raw and burnt umber to a silver (colored) bird charm bought at chez Michael's. Gave it a nice bronze colored patina. Used some bronze and copper wire to make a nest and 3 white pearls for eggs.  Finished off the clasp with bronze wire and wrapped a bit of copper wire for some contrast.

You remember back in December I made a necklace for the Art Bead Scene Blog's December challenge. Yep had a bit of a rustic African feel, with the antique African glass beads. Everyone seemed to like it so I gave this necklace a lot of the same feeling.

Since I only had the one antique  clay whorl for a focal I used a hand carved wood bead Used a bit of fire oxidizes copper wire I ran through the bead, crossed ends and wire wrapped them with copper wire. Oh you know I couldn't go to many projects without a tiny bit of rust now did you??!! So I added a nicely rusted bird. Remember on the first one I offset all the rustic by making the clasp out of two rhinestone earrings?? No rhinestones this time. Just a bit more of the patina copper wire like the focal has for a clasp.

    UPDATE This as a five alarm gihugeous apology!!! Have you ever had one of those really great visions and as you are working on it in the back of your mind is I know I've seen this before but for the life of me where??? Oh man, I know we all have  but it doesn't help the feeling of mortification when you realize !#%@^ that wasn't my divine vision I saw it on a piece so&so made!!!! WEEELLL the copper wire the bird is swinging on and the copper wire clasp is the I've seen that somewhere but where booboo :( My ever so talented art sister Sharon from Livewire is the true creator of both!!! SOOOOB how could I be so dang stupid I know better at my age to ignore that little voice!!! Sooooo I,m now headed over to Sharon's to confess and apologize. They say confession is good for the  soul, but I'm not feeling so good right now!! :(

Well there you have them, I'll show you a couple more as soon as I can get some decent pictures. Might even have a couple of more by then. By the looks of it we are going to need a few more then a couple for the sale in April. I have already talked to a number of people looking forward to our debut next month. EEE Gads, if I let myself think very hard about that I can really put a good scare in me. Sooooooo I'll be using the "Scarlett O'Hara Syndrome" What you're not familiar with that one??? "Well fiddle de dee I'll think about that tomorrow" !! :)

I'll leave you with that thought, I'm off to dig the blanket out, we'll be needing it on this cold wintry night I'm a thinkin!!

I wish you could see the black outline better it really does make it look like a coloring book or old comic book!

I'm off but remember kids NOW is a perfect time to make art no matter where in the world you are  p;)