Preparations for Carnegie Arts Wine Tasting and Art Auction are underway

At least on my end, preparations are underway.  Last year I had the pleasure of being asked to donate a few pieces of my jewelry to the art auction.  Of course I was delighted to do so.  It is a great way to get my jewelrypieces out in the public eye and the proceeds go to benefit a local art gallery.  I made three pieces especially for the auction.  For my trouble, I received a pair of tickets to the event.

A piece from last year's auction, made by myself.

Lee always likes to attend this event so he had been going for years.  We went and had a great time.... except for one thing.  I had donated thre items for the auction.  All three of my items were placed on the Silent Auction table instead of in the actual auction.  I had donated three items in the hopes that they would at least place one in the full blown auction.  I was hurt and upset by this.

Another of the pieces donated to the auction by myself from last year.

This year, I have once again decided to donate items to the cause. I will once again be creating brand new pieces fr this event.  However, I am stipulating that at least one of my items be placed in the actual auction. If they do not agree to this, I wil not donate anything.  I don't really think it's too much to ask.  I just want the exposure of having the auctioneer takes public bids on my item and watch it being displayed by the lovely volunteer "Vanna White"s. 
I have been planning to begin work on these pieces all week.. and have yet to actually sit down and do so.  I have however been giving a lot of thought to what kind of pieces I want to create.  My goal is to once again make three items.  I plan to make one piece out of something vintage that has been repurposed, like an old vintage rhinestone piece or beads or chain from a broken piece of vintage jewelry.  I plan to make one small copper wire wrapped pendant with fresh water pearls.  And the last piece I can not decide on a design yet..... perhaps a large pair of wire wrapped earrings. 

Fun with party favors

So, in addition to wire wrapping and beading, I also use resin work in my jewelry designs.  I started using resin as a means to make some "steampunk" pendants for a custom set I was commissioned to do about 3 1/2 years back.  Once I saw how simple it was to use Easy Cast resin (this is a trademarked brand by the way), I decided to explore the options of this medium.  I bought some different sized and shaped molds to use.  I began searching and experimenting with the different kinds of things one could put inside of resin.  I have used everything from confetti (which is super fun) to dried flowers, watch parts to magazine and newspaper cut outs.  I even scanned some of my original artwork and photographs into the computer and printed them up for encasing in resin!


Now some of you may be asking "Cindy, what does this have to do with party favors?  Glad you asked! 
Recently I threw my boyfriend a birthday party.  He decided he wanted to do some kind of party favors for the guests as well as a prize for a game we would all be playing.  But, neither of us had much money to go and purchase anything... and we didn't know what to buy anyways.  Then the light bulb in his head went off.  He remembered that I make things with resin.  He asked if I could take some of the pictures we had of him and turn them into magnets and coasters.  Brilliant idea! 
I tell you all, it was the most fun with resin I have ever had.  I wish I had thought to take pictures of them before we gave them to our guests.  The recipients of the magnets and coasters thought they were brilliant as well.  I just love the idea!  And what fabulous gift idea for the holidays.  They are absolutely customizable.  I'll show you some samples of coasters I've made from various materials.

Alarm clock parts, confetti, cut outs from an old model catalogue, cigar bands and even pieces of old play bills made excellent coaster fodder.

So, get our there and explore the wide world of resin!  Make magnets, jewelry components, coasters... the sky if the limit!



Piece in progress....

... but now I need help.  I need some input about what to make this piece into.  A pendant?  Necklace?  Brooch?  Something else?

Any ideas out there in blogger land?

Recycled Vintage piece

I took care of my sick bf all weekend.  But in between fetching him water and making meals I did manage to create another new piece.  This one is made around a piece of broken vintage costume jewelry.  I simply took the rhinestone encrusted piece and did some wire magic around it adding various crystals and beads.  Then I added some antiqued brass chain and voila!  More vintage bling.

More new pieces!

I have been very busy the past week or making new items with a bunch of lampwork beads I had created a few years ago. They have been sitting in my stock for what seems like ages with no inspiration to utilize them anyway. Then I saw some ideas at the art auction walking around on other women and I discovered what to do. Simple chain pices with mismatched lampwork beads.... how bohemian! And fabulous!

I also did a a few pendants from some of the larger and more abstract beads. I think they turned out pretty cool. I am hoping to get them listed today as well... sometime after lunch but before I get upstaris to torch some more beads.

This one looks like a glowing heart. I wrapped it with brass wire and added an AB faceted glass drop for added color.

This one is a littl more fiery looking.

Again I added some faceted glass beads at the top and bottom for color and wrapped it with brass wire.

This is one of favorite beads becauseit uses a stacked dot technique that imitates fish scales or the petals of a flower. I use silver toned artist wire on this one to enhance the color of the blues and also added more faceted glass beads, this time for sparkle.