New bead and marketing thoughts

So I'm so, so excited about the way my paper mache bead necklaces are turning out!

the whole world, in my hand...

Oh how I love my new Utee melting pot!
Today I dipped some of my paper mache beads into the thick, amber colored magic for the first time. I was so excited how a little bit of shine can make colors and depths appear and turn ordinary beads into extraordinary.
It's a little tricky dipping the stuff. It's super hot, and not exactly easy getting the coating on each bead evenly.
After some practice, I'll get it down.
In the meantime, here's a pic of some of the beads, and the necklace I made today with three of my favorite paper mache beads.

Bright colors for late January

I can't stop thinking about how cold it is in other places in the US right now.
I just finished up working on some really colorful pieces and I think they might have been inspired by the metal sand crab I bought this week at Homegoods. Of course only in South Florida would you think to buy a painted metal sand crab for your garden in the middle of winter. So I suppose the inspiration could have come from everywhere!

In order, here are some bright, cheerful items I'm posting today:
1. 5x7" burned, painted wood plaque. "Kites."
2. the aforementioned metal crab
3. 6x6x2.5" deep wood boxes. painted and burned. "Playground I" and "Playground II."

Turquoise and red this time

After a few months of pure heck, I'm back and home and tinkering again. I got some bead box organizers at Jo-ann Fabric the other day and it inspired me to make something with all my beautiful supplies.
Here's a paper mache bead necklace I finished today. I made the turquoise and red beads from paper mache I recycled from old newspaper.
It's chunky, funky and colorful -- an instant old favorite!

Springtime in November

Yes, I'm going to rub it in to those people who live in really cold places where sweaters, heavy coats and ice scraping are now, or soon to be, part of your daily rituals.
I might complain in the summertime about the heat here in South Florida, but wow is the weather spectacular now. It's hard to get too wound up about Christmas and turkey yet while I'm humming around being inspired by all the glorious color in the plants and blue skies...

So, I offer my collage of colorful happies.
In numerical order, here are some of my recent moments of creativity or inspirations:

1. My first ever mosaic. As long as you don't look too closely at it where the grout has cracked a bit, I'm pretty damn pleased with myself! It will be hung proudly outside of our purple door home to hopefully let any strangers who come to the doorstep understand that 401 is a happy, colorful little home.

2. Two items in this photo are pleasing. First is the purple wreath I got at Target this week on sale for under $7. I guess it's out of season.. (sarcastic snicker.. ), and tucked in the middle is a little glass "screen bug" that I picked up from a craft fair in Key West last January. I can't remember the name of the artist I got it from. She was a real sweet lady.

3. Who says planters have to be really expensive? I bought that plastic planter at Home Depot last week and spray painted it purple and paprika to match our house. I think it turned out pretty nifty. And for about $5, plus the cost of paint, it was a custom-made bargain!

4. This is a close up of Ixora -- a hardy and native shrub that I hope will do well in the finicky area of our front porch. For more on this beautiful flower, click here.


5. This is a tiny little purple and pink-roof birdhouse I got on Etsy from seller Birdhouse Accents. It is adorable, and although no birds actually live there (very similar to all the empty swanky condos around here!), I'm happy to offer up a cheerful spot for them to visit someday.

6. Not a postcard, folks! Just a quick snapshot my hubby took today during our Sunday morning stroll on the broadwalk of Hollywood Beach. I LOVE palm trees!

7. Almost Martha Stewart-like overspilling pot of bright pink Impatiens. These flowers are pretty common, but are beautiful and generally pretty easy to keep up with. For more on impatiens, visit here.

New wood burn pendants

I'm just so excited about a new batch of wood burned pendants I've been working on.
Here is a preview of a couple I've completed this week.
After I find some time, they will go for sale in my Etsy store.

Shrunken Monday Night

On Monday night, life unexpectedly gave me some FREE time. My daughter stayed over at her abuela's house, and my husband was obligated to work late.
I dashed over to Michael's Craft Store and bought some Ruff 'n Ready frosted Shrinky Dink plastic and some colored pencils.
I played around and made several pendants with the stuff, and was overall pretty pleased with how they turned out. I especially like the hippie-colored rainbow ones.
Late into the night, I also created this turquoise beaded necklace that will probably become a staple in my everyday jewelry collection.
Not bad for a few hours work!