Broken Branch

This necklace is named because I broke the pendant while I was getting ready to put everything together.  I couldn't just discard it, for it is too lovely and I don't mind wearing something that has been repaired it adds some character to the design.  The pendant was purchased on Esty from Shaterra Clay Studio, Sharleen has a gift for putting complimentary colors in her pendants that I love and the reflective finishes she uses add elegance to her designs.

I used some Vintaj brass and wire wrapped each of the fancy Agate and sponge Coral as well as adding some Czech glass beads.  Finished it off with a bit of chain and a hook clasp.

 You can see where I glued it back together.  On the top right side.

Happy New Years everyone, thank you for stopping by and following my blog.  I am looking forward to the New Year, I am taking the Christine Kane challenge and picking a Word of the Year for myself.  You should check it out.  You can download the discovery tool.  Very fascinating reading.  I will be sharing my word of the year with you in later posts and letting you know about my progress.

 Thanks and take care,

 Penny

Window Shopping

I was going through some of my favorites on Esty tonight and I found a few things that I would like to get my beady little hands on.

These are from Dream Girl Beads

Aren't these look alike vintage drops dynamite they are from Blue Marble Beads

Many possibilities with this pendant.  This is from Shaterra

Aren't this awesome. Beady Monkey

Love, love, love this bracelet that I found on Beady Monkey, it is called the Gold and Green Fern Bracelet.

Happy shopping!

New at Copper Penny Designs

I have been doing a bit of experimenting lately and been making some of my own pendants.  I recently made four glass pendants in different sizes and shapes, one rectangle, two circles and one square.  I made three for my nieces and the other one for my friend.  When I was making them I thought you could do something very simple just a silver or base metal chain or you could add various chains or silk ribbon, seed beads really it could  be endless.  I will be trying many different things over the next while as I ordered some more supplies from SunAndMoonCraftKits on Etsy.

Here are the necklaces that I did for my nieces.

How are your holiday plans going are you all prepared or do you still have things to buy, prepare, bake?  I still need a couple more gifts which have been ordered I just need to pick them up then it is wrapping and hopefully a bit of relaxing.

Happy Holiday Season Everyone.

Gratitude

The definition of gratitude:  The state of being grateful; warm and friendly feeling toward a benefactor; kindness awakened by a favor received; thankfulness.

This is the way I am feeling today, I spent the day in bed yesterday and my husband and parents were there to pick up the slack that I was leaving behind.  My dad took my oldest daughter to school then kept the youngest for the afternoon so I could rest.  My parents then kept the girls for the whole evening and a sleepover,  I was so grateful!!  I could rest and recover taking care of only myself and not having to worry about too hungry little mouths and keeping them stimulated and out of trouble.

Gratitude that is what I am feeling today with my heart full of how lucky I am to have such a wonderful family.

with love to my husband and parents. 

My Family

This last little while has been very busy around our house with birthday's and Christmas celebrations and I believe that will all of the excitement everyone's immunity was low from late nights and not eating the best so last night the girls ended up throwing up all night long so today was a pajama day.  My son who often will not pose for pictures let me snap a few of him and our wonderful chocolate lab Rio.  The picture doesn't do my handsome son justice but it makes his mom happy that he let me take a couple.

My oldest daughter celebrated her 6th birthday last Saturday, we had a big celebration is was her first invitation party and she was so thrilled that all of her friends were coming.  We had a magician and all of the kids loved it, we had 14 kids in all. 

We are getting ready for my husband's side of the family Christmas celebration this weekend and we will be attending the Airdrie Festival of Lights with my parents this week.  I still have shopping to do, so I will be busy the next while.

Christmas Bling

I had a very successful day today, a wonderful friend of mine hosted my first home party.  It was a great time visiting with a bunch of lovely ladies having some Christmas cheer and tasty treats.  I had wonderful feedback about my jewelry, which pleased me greatly.  I always wonder if people are going to like what I am creating and if my designs are appealing.  I have been slowly trying to build up my business by launching my online store on Facebook as well as visiting a few farmers markets this past summer, but I have decided that farmers markets are not the venues for me and I will need to do a bit more research on where I can do some sales.  I am really hoping that I can get more followers from blogging as well as Facebook and build the online business, I think that will be a win-win all around. 

Onto the Christmas bling, with our holiday season upon us I wanted to make a few pieces that would have a bit of flash for the season but could also be worn even everyday.  I have been busy making some viking knit bracelets which two sold both to my lovely host and then I made a necklace that I really like too.

Not Your Basic Beige

Isn't this pendant from Round Rabbit just so pretty.  I have listed this necklace in my Facebook shop Copper Penny Designs.

Online Store Now Open

Copper Penny Designs has opened an online store on Facebook.  I am offering 15% off from this Sunday November 7 to Sunday November 14.  If you are interested in purchasing anything please email me first so that I can make an adjustment on your invoice.  I was doing a bit of window shopping this evening on Esty and came across a few pendants that I couldn't live without.

This pendant is from RedCrowArts, I just love the colors.

This pendant is from Shaterra Clay Studio, aren't the colors so rich and vibrant.

Green Tango

I ordered this pendant from Blue Seraphim and I have been holding onto it wondering what I should do to make the spectacular pendant shine through.  I decided that I wanted to use a mulitstrand effect highlighting the colors but adding some dimension to the design. 

The Unknown World

I made a huge decision over the weekend that has moved me into an unknown world where there are many possibilities that I could explore, and my options are endless.  My decision is a scary one, something that I have never done before and truthfully I don't know what the outcome will be.  The last four months of my life I have spent on medical leave because of some very tough times that my husband and I went through and life got the better of me and I could no longer handle all of my responsibilities and I took my leave from work.  I have had good days, but some dark days where my mind is not in a good place.  I was scheduled to return to work this Wednesday, but something happened over the weekend and I decided that I couldn't do it, I wouldn't be able to give my co-workers or boss 100% and I knew that in the best interests of all involved I choose to had in my resignation.  I have worked for this organization for 9 years, so it is a very big thing to walk away from but I felt that I must.  I feel like I have hit a big milestone in my life I turned 40 on Friday and this is just one more piece in the puzzle.  I hope that I will be blessed and that my risky decision will pay off for me in the long run and bring many blessings to my family and me.

I turned 40 and I have been working in a professional setting for the last 19 years, I became a single Mom early in my life and I always had someone that I needed to be responsible for, which I will never regret but I also realize that there are parts of me that I have never taken the time to explore so this is a journey that I am going on to find my true passion, and bring joy, love and happiness back into my life.

I think one of the first things I might do is buy The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin. 

Wish me Luck!

Sun Star Re-Do

A few weeks ago there was a challenge by Lorelei Eurto that anyone who wanted to could pick up beads that she selected from Michaels and then you could post your necklace or bracelet or whatever you chose to make and it was called the Michaels Reader Challenge Blog Hop on Sunday October 17.  Be sure to check out all the wonderful work from all the designers that participated it was all so lovely and individual.  I wasn't able to participate but I was anxiously awaiting all of the designers creations and I love the beads that Lorelei had selected.  I recently went out and purchased the beads and decided to re-do a necklace that I had done for my craft sale.  I am really happy with how the design came together and I just loved the cool tones of the green Adventurine.  I have attached the first picture from the Sun Star necklace and then the re-do pictures.

Custom Order

I recently made some earrings that I was going to take to my craft fair last week, and a new friend from my daughters school really liked them and asked if I could make a necklace to go with it, I have been thinking about the necklace all week and had to pick up some extra supplies to complete the necklace and the finished product is finally done.  I hope that she likes it!

Shaker Fall Craft Fair

I made a few more things today to take to my sale tomorrow, I am really hoping for a good turn out and lots of interest in my Mom and my designs.  I was playing around a bit today and went a bit out of my comfort zone but I am striving to make some unique pieces to attract customers.  I really love these pendants that I used today I came across them at Michaels, they were some brand new stock.

Fall Earrings

I am gearing up for my Shaker Craft & Small Business Market in Calgary this weekend and I have made a few selections of earrings that I think are inspired by the fall. The earrings on the right are actually replicated from Lori Anderson in the September 2010 issue of BeadStyle, thank you Lori for your great design.

Something New

Another piece inspired by Fall, I am thinking that this could be worn over a sweater or even a simple t-shirt. 

Also wanted to give a shout out to Julsbeads, Julianna Cannon is having a wonderful giveaway be sure to check it out she is giving away some of her own fabulously designed pieces, 6 in total.  Good luck!!!

Falling Leaves

It took a bit of time but I finally figured out how to do a collage. This collage is featuring my Falling Leaves bracelet and necklace. I am in love with those shoes. I want to thank Lorelei Eurto and the Art Bead Scene Blog: Studio Saturday's for the post last Saturday on how to make a collage, it was very interesting and I love the finished product. 

Magazine Submission to Stringing

I just wanted to share my excitement, I have submitted for the first time a design to my favorite magazine Stringing.  I have been an avid reader of Stringing since about 2008, I love all of the creativity that is packed into each issue and I found so much inspiration from the magazine as well as been introduced to some of my favorite designers.  I am crossing my fingers that what I have submitted may be of interest, here's hoping.

New Designs

I have been in a bit of a slump lately not really designing anything and being unhappy with my work space I am dreaming of having a bigger space where I can have large storage and places where I can organize my beads better.  A friend of my has extended an invitation to me to setup a booth at a farmers market and that is just what I needed to get me going.  I am going to post the time place and name of the farmers markets in a later post.  I made three things last night and wanted to share.

I am going to try and challenge myself and keep my blog current and try and post a new design each week.  Here is crossing my fingers.  I hope you like what you see.

New Giveaway at Pretty Things

Please check out Lori Anderson's blog Pretty Things she is has a great book giveaway you can also check out her new website Lori Anderson Designs with all of her beautiful jewelry.  I am crossing my fingers that I win.  Lori also has a great free Ecourse Blog Your Art Out that she posted, she is very wise and it was wonderful for her to share some great advice.  I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Skye Jewels

Skye Jewels has just reached 10,000 visitors and Marie is having a great giveway plus a HUGE BLOWOUT SALE AT BOTH HER ESTY SHOP'S SKYKE JEWELS AND MORE SKYKE JEWELS!!!  I have been drooling over Marie's stuff for along time and in a few weeks I am going to get an opportunity to visit her at her studio.  I am so excited I love the vintage romantic feel that her pieces have.  Please be sure to check out her blog because she is having a giveaway for designers and people who love to wear unique one of a kind pieces.

Leather Wrapped Bracelet

I spotted a leather wrapped bracelet in the Stella & Dot catalogue and really loved it and I thought I should be able to make this.  I bought the leather and the faceted green jade gemstones from a local bead store Beads & Plenty more, the thread from Bedrock beads, and the button from Mamacita Beadworks, I love the simplicity of this button and couldn't wait to use it on this bracelet.  I bought a few others that you will likely be seeing over the next while, but I will keep that a surprise until later.

When I orginally started the bracelet on the bottom end the thread looked beautiful but on the top it was all over the place after about being 3/4 of the way through threading I realized what I had done wrong so I needed to take it all apart and start over, I completed it last night but then is was too small to fit around by wrist, so I went to bed and must have been thinking all night what I could do, I also was out of thread, so this morning I tied some extra thread and added more beads and now even though it is snug I can now fit it around my wrist.  Next time I will have some extra leather and an ample supply of thread so that I can make it much longer.

Messing around with leftover Viking Knit!

One of the reasons that I wanted to learn how to do Viking knit was because I wanted to pair beads and gemstones with the knit, I have seen several of these variations in different magazines and loved it and couldn't wait to do it myself.  Late Saturday night I made this piece.  I like the way it came out but I am going to be looking for better bead cap covers to fit on the end of the Viking knit wires.

Double Viking Knit

Last Saturday I took a class at B-Dekk Beads in Calgary from a lovely lady Candace Prather.  Candace is a wonderful teacher and took us through the beginning steps of making a double viking knit necklace or bracelet.  I have wanted to take this class for a very long time I just love the way the viking knit bracelet's look and wanted one for my own.  We started off with a dowel and 20 gauge wire, we made a flower that we attached it to the top of the dowel and taped it.  I realize that the picture is a bit blurry and I apologize for that, I need to develop my picture taking skills.  After that we weave the 20 gauge wire through the flower to make our knit.  It takes quite a long time to end up with the finished product, my hubbie actually asked if there was a machine that could do the work for me.  I said there would be no fun in that, and then it wouldn't be handmade.  After you have finished doing the knitting and you have the desired length you then cut off the wire from your dowel and use your draw plate for the finished effect, it is really quite amazing with what you end up with.

I had to wait until yesterday before I could finish off my project because I didn't have a draw plate, I visited Candace yesterday and she sold me one that she had made herself, I couldn't wait to get home last night and give it a try and it worked beautifully.  I even brought some black wire yesterday to do a bracelet for my Aunt.  I am really excited by this new skill I have learned and can't wait to start making some different variations.  I have included a picture of the bracelet that I have make for myself, I am not too sure about the beads that I have used, but I guess I need to look around for some more big holed beads.

Here's my finished bracelet, now to find something to wear today so that I can show it off.  Hope you are all having a great weekend!  Take care.

Winners in the House

Congratulations to the following winners on two great giveaways!

Castaways
Karen
Brenda
Autumn

The Imposters Daughter
Autumn
Demmi
Suzanne

The winners have been contacted and have 48 hours to respond with their addresses.

Cupcakes

My girls and I made cupcakes today!  My oldest daughter asked for them yesterday and I promised we would do it today.  We are going over to Mama and Papa's house today so this is a perfect treat to bring.  I love icing so needless to say there was lots of fingers being poked into the icing bowl.  I don't know if I can compete with one of the bakeries but my icing sure turned out well, we will have to see what my parents think. 

I am also trying to improve my picture taking abililities, so hopefully these don't look to bad.

What do you think of my yummy morsels?