Week 27: 'Mom/Mum":
We are over the halfway point in our YOJ! The work posted in our online album is truly fantastic!
http://community.webshots.com/album/276671176kqFayE

This week, I have been working alongside H to update and declutter my workroom/computer room/office. An amazing amount of things I thought I desperately had to keep has been purged. Just so, it is time to revisit my not-so-little box of projects "in process." These all started out as on-fire projects and somehow stumbled partway into their production and were set aside for one reason or another.

Since I expended most of my design energy on redesigning my new work space, I seized one of these in-process items and allowed it to finally reach completion. The original obstacle of some irregularly-wrapped recangular faceted opal quartz was smoothed out somewhat by a fully developed necklace design from the few parts of wraps I had constructed. I used some chain maille, wire worked connectors and some silver rolo chain with an adjustable clasp.

This week's lesson learned was practicing the discipline of finishing what I start, either with the initial design aspect or with an adapted and improved one.

Week 26: 'Daydreams":
The theme of this piece is what's been happening to me since I saw a photograph of some beads advertising a class offered by Bead and Button. I have been imagining all types of "beaded bead frames," and how they could be used in jewelry.

This piece incorporates sterling silver, faceted AB Czech crystals, fresh water pearls and Bali beads and bead caps. The side beads are silver stardust beads and the neckchain is a fine rolo. There is also a handcrafted clasp.

Week 25 'Whimsical":
"Whimsical" is what I do best *g,* since "Whimsy" is one of my internet nicknames.

When I saw Maaria's copper bangle in week 24, I just knew it was finally time to play with those big random wire bangles I have been wanting to do. I especially liked the spirals at the ends, and I immediately grabbed some copper wire and began to play. To me, nothing is more whimsical than spring, so I took the cue from a little bottle of seed beeds that contained mixed colors of lemons, llimes and oranges, and happily sifted through my glass beads to come up with some fun stones for this bracelet. Of course, I intend to improve my coiling on future pieces once I have more than an hour a day to work with the jewelry.

Copper Whimsy Bangle