Looking for a better magnet

For my glass garden bracelets I use a simple but strong magnet clasp. In the past I have tested it by wearing the bracelets myself and the magnet appeared to be strong enough. But recently I am questioning that. This weekend as folks were trying these bracelets on sometimes the claps came apart. It is the same magnet - but perhaps the manufacturer has changed it, or I am using more beads and creating a heavier bracelet, or do they wear out with use, or heat, or...??

If you have one of my glass gardens I'd love to hear from you about how it has held up. If you also make jewelry and have found a magnet you like, I'd love to hear from you. I will continue to search and if I find a stronger one I will replace the ones I am now using. This includes a bracelet you may already have purchased from me.

Fathoms O'Fun

My online boutique will be closed this weekend while I am at and arts and crafts show. If you live near Port Orchard come on down to the Fathoms O' Fun Arts and Crafts show on the waterfront and say hello!!

Gardenware

My newest items are garden markers made out of vintage soup spoons. I saw these in Sunset magazine and decided to try making some. Mine have an added twist - I decorate them with BEADS! I have been scouring local thrift shops for spoons and even have a few friends keeping an eye out for them. They are selling faster than I can make them!! Here is a peek at the process....

The head spoon smasher at work.

The goal is to make it flat.

Next a hole is drilled for the copper beaded wire. 

Adding letters. All this pounding is very therapeutic!

A few finished products. 

The display I use in my booth.

Gone Fishing

Ok, not really, but my online boutique will be closed this weekend while I am at  Meeker Festival  in Puyallup. We set up the tent tonite. I am in space #94, in the park at the end opposite the community stage and near the bathroom building. It is a pretty little park. We are near a pizza stand, an elephant ear booth and some Asian food. Hmmm, I can see my profits dwindling.....Come on down and say hi, enjoy the music, the food and vendors.

Getting Ready

I am getting ready for my first, big, 3-day booth event. I am a bit nervous about not having enough stuff, but I have a pretty good inventory built up. And if it all sells, I would not complain! Today I am making moonlight glass garden bracelets. A few of these and then I will switch to one I call Fiesta, with a black base and red, orange and yellow fringe. I thought it might be fun to post a few pictures of one in process.

I like to layout all the bead possibilities ahead of time so I can easily pick and choose the right one as I go. For this one the theme is blues, and I have various shapes, moons, stars, crystals and leaves. I like using these velveteen tray pads as my work surfaces. Keeps things from rolling away and if I want to work on a different project I can set these aside.

Here I have the base layer of size 6 seed beads and the first row of fringe completed. I use about 180 inches of thread for each row of fringe. I sew in and out of each seed bead on the base layer. Patience is required!! Time for a lunch break before I start the second row.

June Birthstones

For those born in June or under the sign of Cancer (June 21 to July 21) your birthstones are moonstone and pearls.

Moonstone brings love and good fortune into ones life. They can be given to celebrate the 13th wedding anniversary. Used as healing stones they align vertebrae, are a good digestive aid and soothe and balance the emotions. They are also thought to have mystical power to protect women and babies, are associated with the sea and planting cycles, and can be used to balance yin and yang. In India, moonstone is regarded as a sacred stone. Legend says that moonstone is a highly prized gift for lovers as it arouses tender passion.

Pearls are an emblem of modesty, chastity and purity. They symbolize love, success, and happiness. Freshwater pearls are given for a 1st wedding anniversary and saltwater for 12th & 30th anniversaries. Used as healing stones pearls eliminate emotional imbalances and aid in stomach, spleen, intestinal tract & ulcer problems. Pearls are thought to have the power to help one see themselves and help improve your self-worth.

All have been  SOLD

 Moonstone and Snakeskin Jasper Choker

Moonstone and red glass - Fire and Ice

Freshwater Pearls - Hearts Desire - SOLD

Freshwater Pearls and Green Jasper

Paper Panache

My usual neighbor at the Fremont Sunday market is Dawn who makes the most wonderful and unique paper collages. Unique is hard to do anymore, but she has created art that is just that. Dawn takes photographs of buildings and structures with interesting lines. Then she uses the computer to "kaleidoscope" them. She prints out several copies of each photo and then uses small, sharp scissors to cut out layers, stacks them up, and wa-la........ a 3-D, mini-masterpiece! You can see more at her website. My photos do not do her work justice, but here are some samples....

Peacock feathers

Eiffel Tower, Paris

A selection of 2-D cards

Frances would like this 2-D card - it is yarn!!!

Eat Cake!!

Sunday was my best day yet at the Fremont market - despite it being a bit wet on and off. I suspect it may have had something to do with the fact that we were next to the cake ladies! Happy Cakes are so delicious! They give out samples all day long so there is always a crowd in front of their booth. A dangerous neighbor as they kept popping over with samples for us. Mike even got a free piece of red velvet cake at the end of the day. Yum!