Adventures with Rod: A Break in LA

Rod and I decided to take a break from our constant job search and need to try and figure out if we can make something out of our art... We went to LA! There is an epic library in Los Angeles. Its the central location. IT WAS HUGE! I almost wept. I went straight for the crafts section and found a wonderful book on beading with filigree. Also took a look at some ethnic jewelry books. No LA library card but it was fun to look!


William Joyce had a little gallery space in the library. He created "Rollie Pollie Ollie." A peak into his work process- he draws out an entire book in a sketchbook... page by page, making a mini-book. I think I should try that!


Hunger struck and we hit Phillipe's, home of the French Dip sandwich. I had a beef with swiss and Rod had a pork with bleu cheese. YUM!


After lunch, Rod was awesome enough to drive me all the way to Pasadena to show me a bead store he knew of from when he used to live there. I was expecting a regular bead store with maybe a few hidden treasures. What he took me to was an awesome resource for TOOLS! I bough a sizer and wished I had an income so I could've bought a draw plate... some of the copper sheets... mandrels... I like touching things before buying them. Don't get me wrong, I love shopping online as well but if I can find something in a store, so much better. The shop was called Farrin O'Connor Design Studio.

We also hit the Bodhi Tree Bookstore in West Hollywood. I picked up a little book on Buddhism and awareness. Rod found a cool book on Sufism and a great CD. That store had some great smelling incense but I don't think my cousin would like the smell (it used to tick my mom off something good... but that's ok, cuz it was my mom :P)


We had a LATE (almost 9pm!) dinner at Yoshinoya! I missed it so much. There isn't one in my area. I thought maybe Rod wouldn't go for it because, let's face it, that rice bowl doesn't look too appetizing, but I just HAD to have it. Rod said he liked it! YAY! I had a beef bowl combo meal. In that drink cup is a combination of HI-C fruit punch and coke. Totally yummy. You must try it! BTW, when did they add a SIDE to the meal? I don't remember that!

A wonderful day. And today, I found some pretty buttons that were discounted because they were missing buttons in their packages! I don't need a lot. Just a few to play with. What a good two days! :)

Hope the weekend is just as good! Jewelry post tomorrow, hopefully... if I can get it done! HA!

It's A Spring-like Bracelet

After getting up at 5:45 this morning, I couldn't go back to sleep. So, with the second season of Gilmore Girls playing in the background, I decided to play with one of my buttons from my previous post. This bracelet is made up of glass beads, a ceramic bead (the pink and brown one), and two drilled gold disks with green Magatama beads... all of which are wrapped up nicely with gold plated wire and chained together with twisted jump rings. The chain hanging off of the pretty pink button (which is the clasp) is made up of more twisted gold jump rings and features a pink glass bead with a flower cap and, to carry the green over, a piece of Chinese crystal.

The clasp is made up of a pretty pink button and a piece of an old shirt (100% cotton, thank you very much). That shirt was actually my favorite shirt but it was WORN OUT. The elastic was all stretched out and the colors weren't as vibrant as they used to be. But I still love it and just knew I had to work it into a piece of jewelry.

Soo... viola!


I like this bracelet so much I'm going to wear it today! Yay for being selfish and making something for myself :D

BUTTONS! BUTTONS! BUTTONS!

Lorelei has made some wonderful button jewelry... This post is a favorite of mine.

Sooo...

I bought some buttons of my own to play with :D

I think the flower buttons will probably end up being clasps... easy, I know but hey, baby steps, yo :P

I have an idea for the other buttons but I'm not sure yet. Hmmm....

Yay for trying something new! Buttons!

Its a Keeper

It's been a while since I made jewelry specifically for me. I noticed that I don't wear a lot of what I've made because I want to try and sell those pieces (and someone told me that worn jewelry is harder to sell... plus I don't want anything to happen to the piece while I'm wearing it). But, for people to see what kind of stuff I make or to be able to say "Oh thanks! I made it, here's a business card," I have to actually be wearing something I made (and also have business cards, but hey, one problem at a time, ok?).

The earrings are made of copper wire, dark copper chain, Cryztazzi crystals, fire polished glass beads, and glass pearls. The bracelet has seed beads, Czech flower and fire polished beads, purple glass beads, and glass pearls. The copper toggle is a gift from my wonderful friend, Liz. Thanks, Liz! I looooove it! :D

Detail of the bracelet!

Who is "Ahtee?"- Week 14

My allergy medicine makes me feel funny. I got non-drowsy to AVOID this funny feeling. O_o

Ahtee's Links- What I'm Reading

A Bead A Day- I didn't think skeletons could be this cheery!

ammjewelry- Millie finally this copper clasp she was searching for and added it to a beautiful bracelet!

Art Bead Scene- Check out this month's challenge!

Artisan Beads Plus- A peak inside MaryAnn's kiln.

Beading Arts- Fabric flowers!!! Will HAVE to try this!

Beads, beads, beads...- The blue here is GORGEOUS! So perfect for Spring!

Bei Mondi- Showing off some beautiful custom orders.

Be~Jeweled by jana- This bracelet IS Spring. So beautiful.

Dawno's Beaded Badge Lanyards- Dawno is at Norwescon!

Deez News- Showing off a few necklaces. Love the first one!

Earthenwood Studio Chronicles- These birds are adorable! The green/peach combo is my favorite.

Humblebeads Blog- Bead Cruise 2011!

JustATish- I love Tish's pendants. They're so free and fun.

La Bella Joya- A pretty embroidered headband.

Lorelei's Blog- This beautiful necklace is headed for the Bahamas. Lucky necklace :P

Marbella Jewelry Designs- Beautifully blue Cezch glass bead earrings!

maryhardingjewelry bead blog- I wish I had more patience for beadweaving. This Russian Spiral weave is beautiful!

Missficklemedia.com- Shannon's having some fun naming her new components.

Painting with Fire Artwear- Pretty pretty bangles!

Pearl and Pebble- These colors all work so well! And I love the pendant!!!

RASBARRI- Barri Bunches is a totally appropriate name for these darling earrings!

The Rabbit Muse- Its a little late for me to list this blog but Nancy makes a good point about bunnies... I, however, still want one :P

To Bead Or Not To Bead What A Question- I, too, adore the spiral stitch... especially the way Jessica uses it!

[Insert Clever Title Here]

Hi All! Sorry for the lack of posts this week. It has been an incredibly stressful and busy week. And I just wanted to let everyone know, I'm not dead. Been so busy I can't even think of a title for this post!

Anyhoo, I'm going up to my parents' house for the weekend to visit my mom and dad. There will be no self-portrait tomorrow but I will post one on Monday. There will be links on Monday and a jewelry post and I want to show all of you the buttons my BF bought me! I'm going to make some button jewelry! Huzzah!

OK. Must get onto the freeway. Please wish me luck and hope that there is minimal fighting and my mother doesn't ask me more than 5 times to move back home because I am jobless.

Til Monday! <3