Sue Beads

Sorry it's been so long, I can't believe it's been 2 months since I posted! This month, the AE Theme Challenge is Horses, and I'm glad I had a little time to participate. I didn't get to make anything last month because my boyfriend had a total hip replacement - he's on the mend and doing great. First, I made a pair of earrings for a friend's birthday. If she reads this, she will know it's her! I made them with gorgeous charms from Foxpaws Beads - I follow Jill on Instagram and went rooting around her store one day and found these delicious clay charms. She really does amazing work and getting her package is like opening a present! Next, I made a beaded necklace using a great polymer clay cabochon by JoAnn St. James of Studio St. James . She makes awesome polymer beads and cabochons. I was attracted to this cabochon because it depicted a prehistoric drawing in the Caves of Lascaux in France. I actually went there when I was 20 - I spent a summer ...

So remember when I posted about the Facet Jewelry Box - a subscription where you can get a monthly project in the mail? Well, they're out! I received mine! They come in a very pretty teal box that you can not mistake! However, I can't show you a photo of my box because it has ended up in recycle. Oh well!  But here are some photos of the projects in my box! You get two beginner projects and an instruction booklet. In my box, I received an earring project, wrapped briolettes, and a necklace project, Pearl Cascade.  Your instruction booklet lists materials, tools, and clear instructions with photos! The project baggies come with all materials needed to make the projects - you just need to supply your tools. They show you how to make everything. Here are some up close photos of the projects from my box. The back of your instruction book also provides you with a way to share your creations, and a coupon code to get 10% off a purchase at their web site! ...

Wow, time flies! And this is the last "Component" of the Month Challenge - if you didn't see it, we're switching over to themes for the rest of the year, to allow for a wider variety of interpretations and mediums. Niky made these awesome copper clay Runes for us for February. A rune, in case you're not familiar, is a symbol used in ancient Germanic languages before the adoption of the Latin alphabet. The runes Niky chose are "Elder Futhark" which is the oldest of the runic alphabets. As usual, I didn't take a photo of my rune until after I was done making something with it, but the one I received is the bottom left in the photo above. My rune is Uruz. The meaning is Auroch, or wild ox. The "esoteric" meaning of this rune is physical strength, speed, a time of great energy, action, courage, tenacity, wisdom. I wasn't sure what I wanted to do with my rune, but I used it as a cabochon. I didn't want to put any holes in it ...

Usually I'm so much better about the January Use Your Stash Challenge (hosted by Lindsay Starr this time), but this year, time is just not my friend. Between the holidays, going away on vacation, and getting back to work and trying to make new beads, there's just not a lot left in me at the end of the day.  But I did manage to get this pair of earrings made using Inviciti heart charms, some new metal spacer beads I just got, and some titanium hematite beads picked up at a Bead Fest here and there! I really like them, mostly because they are simple and hearts are my thing!  Check out what everyone else made! Thanks for stopping by! Guests: Kelly Rodgers Sarajo Wentling SamanthaWescott KathyLindemer Patty Miller Linda Landig Renetha Stanziano Art Elements: Jenny Davies-Reazor Jen Cameron Claire Fabian Sue Kennedy Niky Sayers Lindsay Starr