Week 3: "Serendipity"
This has been my favorite word this year, and I was astonished to see it come up as a theme. Coincidently, I was working on one of my newest kind of bracelets that is all asymetrical, and as I was putting it together, newer and different beads were replacing the original ones I chose, and it was calling for a special focal bead. I didn't have anything that special, but I realized I could make one with the new herringbone technique I learned! So here is my version of Serendipity ~ the way the components fell together was indeed a Happy Accident! The bracelet contains fresh water pearls in various colors in stick, square and potato shapes ; a gold dusted lampwork bead with crimson and forest green swirls; and Austrian crystals in stunning fall colors of topaz, olivine and amber, all punctuated with gleaming Bali silver. The sterling silver clasp is a lobster which catches handmade adjustable wrapped loop links culminating in a pretty charm bead dangle.

Week 2: "Flowing Rivers"
August 24, 2004: The misshapen harp I attempted still bothers me, so I have decided to practice the skills needed to render a good one. For this week, I have used some 12 gauge and some 22 (?) gauge copper wire, some silver lined grey E beads and an enigmatic black disk spattered with gold to practice wrapping beads onto a frame. I also made an adjustable "knot" cord using handcrafted copper findings. This pendnat flows like a molten lava river reflecting a magical black full moon.

Week 1: "Music"
August 16, 2004: A new moon and a new mind set. Events are unfolding that may put my art at the forefront instead of existing as a hobby.

For this week's project, at first, my ego succeeded in convincing me to take on a project for which I am untrained and unprepared. A harp! Taking scrap copper and craft wire, I happily began to craft. An hour later, I sadly surveryed my sad little harp and then sought my bed, defeated.

Aug. 18: A few days passed and, upon browsing another jewelry artist's page, I saw a pair of earrings which evokes the spirit of the musical, Mame.

As the theme was music, and I was now musically inspired, I tried my own rendition of the rich looking and eccentric earrings, using lemon jade and pineapple quartz. As usual, after finishing the first earring, I wanted to set the project aside, because the second earring is always so tedious. Nevertheless, I finished both. Total time about 45 minutes. I also managed to make use of a bit of the many inches of bulk chain recently acquired!.