MiShel Designs

I Heart Macro - It's Sunday!!

Today's post is about Beautiful Memories.

It's about Before and After.

It's about Death and Rebirth.

It's about the Obvious and the Hidden.

As always, click to enlarge the photos

Wilted, "Rusted" and Wrinkled

My rose bushes got a bit of a 'hair-cut' last week.

There's currently no beautiful roses to look out the window and see, but I've got MEMORIES. These memories evoke soft, peaceful, happy and beautiful feelings.

Fresh, Vibrant, Soft

Then there's "Rust" MEMORIES. These memories evoke sadness, loss, fright, and perhaps a bit of longing, too. Longing for what once was,....

Burned, Rusted

Even when the obvious beauty has been removed, there's hidden beauty beneath what once was,...

Heavy, Strong

I'm linking up today with I Heart Macro over at
Studio Waterstone - won't you join me?

Until Next Time,

Peace, Love and Rusted, Rose Colored Memories

Cheers,

~Shel~

Useful, Salvaged

P.S. ~ You have to admit, the rust would make for a very cool color palette, don't you think? ~

Time to Laugh!!

I've had a few folks ask me to do a video tutorial so they can see how I create my "Signature Style" earring wires and I've been trying.

But, as I've confessed before, I am extremely "Techno-Challenged".

So, it's been a bit slow.

And, it's still not really 'there' yet.

But here's what I've got so far.

First, keep these things in mind:

1 - I haven't figured out how to truly use the video function of my camera and the new Sony video camera we returned yesterday wasn't any better at getting video close-ups than my camera is.

(neither is my flip camera)

2 - All of these little techno-gadgets probably work fine - it's the operator that's got a malfunction!

3 - I can't even figure out how to get my lap-top to video me, unless of course, I'm on Skype!

4 - There's probably software out there that takes your videos and does really cool things with them, but I'm sure all their cool features would be completely wasted on me.

and

5 - I wish I could get really cool close-up 'macro' jewelry making shots using the video mode of my camera like I do when it's in picture taking mode. But I can't.

Oh, and

6 - Keep in mind, this was only my second attempt. My first attempt was shorter and is still up over on You Tube (as is this one) but this one I was able to actually add some captions to.

I know - I'm such a dork - there's no other excuse!

Me - "Dorking-Out" for the Camera!

When I do this again, I'll take this one down (it's here on the blog over on the Tutorials and Fun Stuff page) and put a new one up - but in the meantime, if you have any suggestions or anything, I'm all ears (and questions, too, I'm sure!)

So, here's your laugh for the weekend!!

Enjoy!

Until Next Time,

Peace, Love and Techno-Dorkiness!!

Cheers,

~Shel~

Scottsdale Art Walk - November 2011

Taking a Break

I've come to the conclusion that I need to take a break and sit and chill for a spell.

Be back soon.

Until Then,

Peace, Love and Nuturing My Soul!

Cheers,

~Shel~

Rare Disease Day

Today is World Rare Disease Day.

Didn't know there was a day for that, huh?

Well, neither did I until I participated in a blog hop this past weekend co-hosted by the wonderful ladies of Elysian Studios and One Kiss Creations for 7000 Bracelets for Hope Campaign.

The Global Genes Project (GGP) volunteer team collected blue jean/denim inspired bracelets for families living with rare disease through the 7000 Bracelets of Hope Campaign and they distribute them to those who care for people (mostly children) affected with rare diseases.

Learning about the Global Genes Project and the 7000 Bracelets of Hope Campaign really opened my eyes. I had no idea there were so many people suffering from so many unexplicable diseases and how little we truly know - medically speaking.

Please take the time to learn more about the Global Genes Project (GGP) and the 7000 Bracelets of Hope Campaign (you can still send in a bracelet yourself!!),

by clicking on the link ---- here.

"Global Love"

Until Next Time,

Peace, Love and Finding Cures!!

Cheers,

~Shel~

I Heart Macro - It's Sunday!!

I was a busy girl yesterday and had two hops to participate in and had a blast doing them both!

If you're looking for the Echo Creative Club

February Reveal - click here.

If you're looking for the 7000 Bracelets for Hope

Blog Hop Pics - click here.

Today, I'm shooting some things up close and playing along with I Heart Macro over at Studio Waterstone with Lori Plyler and the gang - won't you join in the fun?

White Shell Beads - One of my fun purchases from the Tucson Gem Show 2012

Right now I'm having a love affair with these beauties!

Not sure what I'm going to do with them or how many years I'll hoard them before making something, but they're so smooth and cool to the touch - it's true love!

Until Next Time,

Peace, Love and Happiness up Close!

Cheers,

~Shel~

2 For 1 Today!

Yep, today's post is a 2-for-1!

It's not only the Echo Creative Club's February reveal date and blog hop, but it's also the reveal date for the 7000 Bracelets for Hope Blog Hop! Woo Hoo!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So, first up, Echo Creative Club, which is the brainchild of Jeannie Dukic over at Jeannie's Blog, is a monthly challenge and blog hop where everyone who's participating that month creates something really cool with either Jeannie's 'Peeled Paint' beads or her beautiful 'Gin Blossom' pendants that she makes. It's a fun way to stretch our creativity and try different colors and art beads in our designs that we might not have tried before.

"Passion" Earrings by Michelle Buettner of MiShel Designs
Copper Peeled Paint Beads by Jeannie of Jewelry by Jeannie

I've asked Jeannie to surprise me on the month's I'm participating (April, September, October and November) with whatever she wants to send me and this month she sent me some of her 8mm Variegated Copper Peeled Paint Beads. Pretty, aren't they?!

"Passion" earrings by Michelle Buettner of MiShel Designs
for Echo Creative Club - February 2012

I chose to create a pair of earrings this go-around. Whatcha think??

Earring Design by Michelle Buettner
Handcrafted copper ear wires, brushed copper circle links,
green turquoise beads and Peeled Paint Beads by Jeannie Dukic
of Jewelry by Jeannie

Here's a list of the other Echo Creative Club members who are participating this month.

"Passion" earrings by Michelle Buettner of MiShel Designs
Copper Peeled Paint Beads by Jeannie of Jewelry by Jeannie

Cindy Cima Edwards

http://www.cindycima.com

Courtney Breul

http://www.beadsbybreul.blogspot.com

Dagi

http://www.kokopellidesign.blogspot.com

Jeannie K Dukic

http://www.site.jkdjewelry.com/blog

Kristen Stevens

http://www.kristen-beadjourney.blogspot.com

Lola Surwillo

http://www.beadlolabead.blogspot.com

Malin de Koning

http://www.beadingbymalindekoning.blogspot.com

Michelle Buettner

http://www.MiShelDesigns.blogspot.com

Molly Alexander

http://www.beautifullybrokenme.blogspot.com

Shannon Chomanczuk

http://www.formysweetdaughter.blogspot.com

It would be really nice of you to drop by each one of their blogs and check out what they created and leave them a lovely comment. And, I'm sure it would be greatly apprecaited, too!

Peeled Paint "Passion" Earrings
by Michelle Buettner of MiShel Designs
Copper Peeled Paint Beads by Jeannie Dukic
of Jewelry by Jeannie

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

2nd up today is the 7000 Bracelets of Hope Blog Hop organized and hosted by

Erin Fickert-Rowland, owner of Elysian Studios and

Christine Altmiller of One Kiss Creations.

"Global Love" bracelet by Michelle Buettner

The 7000 Bracelets of Hope is a project to raise awareness for people suffering from rare diseases. You can read more about the 7000 Bracelets of Hope project and The Global Genes Project here.

"Global Love" by Michelle Buettner of MiShel Designs

We were to create a bracelet that is blue in color (Kinda like blue-jeans,...get it 'genes') that could be adjustable to fit a size 6 to 8 inch wrist and then send it off, along with a note to the family who will receive it, to the address on the 7000 Bracelets of Hope / Global Genes Project website so that it can be given to someone who helps or cares for those with a rare disease.

Pretty neat idea, huh?

7000 Bracelets for Hope - submission by Michelle Buettner
of MiShel Designs - "Global Love"

So, here's the bracelet that I created for the 7000 Bracelet of Hope Blog Hop. I sent this off, along with a note to the family and I truly hope it brightens someone's day and shows them they're appreciated!

Little round, blue lava beads represent our "Globe/World".
The little, sterling silver swirl heart charm represents
"Love" for all those with a Rare Disease.
~Shel~

Here's the list of the other 7000 Bracelets of Hope Blog Hop Participants.

Won't you please check out all the cool bracelets they created. I know you'll love them!