Happy MiStakes

So, as I was working on some things this week, I sort of had a little mishap with these shapes here,...

They just didn't come out the way I wanted them to. 

But they're silver.  Silver's not cheap. 

Less expensive than it was about 8 to 10 months ago maybe, but it's still a pretty penny.

And, I didn't feel like setting them aside until a later time either.

Nope, for some reason, my hands just kept going and the ideas flowed and here's what they became.

Rugged, mishappen pieces of silver,....like that of an old spur perhaps, or a bridle.

So, these became "Horseshoe Pass".

Living here in the 'Wild West' can really spur your imagination.

No pun intended!  

What happy mistakes have you made recently? 

Or, what's your best-ever happy mistake?

Please share it with us!

Until Next Time,

Peace, Love and Letting It Flow!

Cheers,

~Shel~

P.S. - Did any of you happen to catch my little 'MiStake' in the blog title today? 

Or is it a mistake,...it's kinda like the name of my company.  ;-)

Housing Authority

This little fella decided to make camp in the hubby's grapevine.  

I was surprised at how large he was.

And, he could eat at a rate of speed like I've never seen before. Within 5 minutes of finding him and going back in the house to grab my camera he'd devoured about 3 leaves the size of my hand.

Poor Little Grapevine!

So, after the nice photo opp he gave me, I called in the Housing Authority (aka - the hubby) and had his happy little butt relocated to a tree in the common area of our subdivision! 

Hey - you should catch all the cool photos over at

Studio Waterstone today for I Heart Macro.

They're pretty amazing!

Until Next Time,

Peace, Love and Bugs!

Cheers,

~Shel~

I Call It,...??

My "Moonlit Owl" Bangle Trio

Remember back here, when I showed you the funky bangles I'd created after getting the fun Tribal Gypsy Bangle Tutorial from Fanciful Devices over on Etsy?

My version of "Tribal"

Well, I posted on Facebook how I was creating some with a sort of 'Goth' look and feel to them. I mentioned they were kind of "Dark Shadows meets the Adam's Family" and some people asked me to post them once they were finished and photographed - so here they are.

I still haven't used my Renaissance wax on the fiber portions yet to control all the 'fuzziness' and that's because,...well, I'm kinda likin' the soft fuzzy feeling and the way they look.  I also haven't taken any photos with my metal 'filler-bangles' put into the mix yet either.

I'm not quite sure what 'style' to call these or how to label them as I put some in my Etsy shop. Any suggestions?

These are completely different than the bangles in Fanciful's tutorial and they have my own 'signature' (if you can even call it that) style woven into them.

Not tribal and not really Gypsy, either.

They have a sort of 'Gothic' look and feel to them - or maybe that's just what I see.

I really like playing around with the darkened metals,...whether it be the annealed steel or my blackened silver and copper. 

It's just cool looking and I've always loved blackened metals.

I haven't always created designs using dark metals - but I love the look. Case in point - my love for Todd Reed's dark metals and raw diamonds, Emanuela Duca's blackened metals (her designs are what I see in my dreams!!) and of course Sarah Graham's signature designs.   These designers embody such a raw elegance. Their designs are full of mystery and intrigue. Not to mention they're just plain gorgeous and super cool.

Emanuela Duca - Magma Ring

So, tell me what you think - how should I label these and what should I call them?   I've seen things such as 'Post Apocalyptic', Goth, Rocker, Grunge, Organic, Urban,.....??

 

They're definitely eclectic.

What are you playing around with this weekend?  

Are you creating anything special? 

What types of styles and designs are you interested in at the moment?  Please share with us!

Until Next Time,

Peace, Love and Funky Styles!

Cheers,

~Shel~

Memorial Day

Thinking of all the brave men and women who serve our country this

Memorial Day weekend

and remembering those who have 

paid the ultimate sacrifice.

Marine Sgt. Wade D. Wilson Memorial
Photo Credit - Portraits by Karen

Thank you for keeping me safe and

allowing me to live the life I do.

Marine Sgt. Wade D. Wilson Memorial

Photo Credit - Portraits by Karen

I honor you.

BTW,...

There's a few things on my bead table this Wednesday.

Easy Beading - Volume 8

Kalmbach's Easy Beading Volume 8 arrived on my beading table this week. I've got a pair of Keshi Pearl Dangle Earrings on pages 236-237.  I was very excited to learn this!!

Keshi Pearl Dangle Earrings
by Michelle Buettner

You should see all the very cool projects in this book - oh my!  It's eye-candy central and the various designs are just delish!

Fanciful Devices - Etsy - Tutorial

Then, this past weekend, I got the opportunity to play with the tutorial I ordered from Fanciful Devices over on Etsy. Her Tribal Gypsy Bangle Tutorial.  Wow - how fun are these?!!

My attempt at 'Tribal'

Trust me when I tell you they're addicting to create - seriously!!

My White Pearls Bangles with a little Hootie!

On another note, tomorrow's the last day of school for our son.  Summer will officially be here and I'm so grateful for that.  I'd prefer it not be 114 degrees for the next 4 months, but the rest of the year really rocks when it comes to weather, so I'm not going to complain.  I will tell you that I'm extremely grateful for air-conditioning that works though!!

Arizona Desert

What are your plans for the summer - got anything special going on? Are you traveling, seeing family and friends, hanging out, having BBQ's and enjoying the season? 

Family BBQ at the Cabin

How about your creative side?  Are you crafting, beading, smacking some metal around and playing with fun stuff this summer? 

Painting at Creative U!!

I'm hoping to be teaching a couple of classes over the summer when I'm here in the Valley. 

Words on the Wall at Creative U.
So True,....So True!!

I also want to play with some new materials and create a few fun, new designs.

Front Porch of the Cabin

I'm also going to be visiting with my sister in the mountains at her cabin.

Moon over the Cabin

 I love it up there!  It's so beautiful.

There's inspiration everywhere you look!

Wild Flowers in the Meadow

I hope you're planning on having a wonderful summer, full of creativity, family, friends and all the things you love!

Linking up today with Bead Table Wednesday
over on Flickr - won't you join in the fun?!

Until Next Time,

Peace, Love and Let the Summer Fun Begin!

Cheers,

~Shel~

All Gave Some. Some Gave All.

This is the case with Sgt. Wade Wilson, U.S.M.C.

We feel cheated when we loose people we care about. 

We're sad and we hurt.

The loss leaves a hole in our hearts and in our world.

Even though my family and I have only known Wade for a few years, it seems he left a big impression.

Marine Ball

I think he'd be pleasantly surprised to find out how many lives he's actually touched.

Andy and Wade at the Cabin - 2009

We met Wade through my niece, Misha, and her husband, Andy.

Misha and Andy

Andy and Wade were stationed together at Camp Pendleton.

~Halloween ~
Leland (Wade), Beth (Misha) and Dog (Andy)

According to one of his friends, "Wade was very Patriotic".

April 2011

I think that might be an understatement.

Here's the pumpkin he carved for Halloween one year.

He had a infectious smile and bright, blue eyes that could light up a room.

Wade with my great-niece, Layla

He could be very quiet at times and it took me sitting in the emergency room with him in Springerville, AZ during Thanksgiving weekend one year to get to know him (You'll have to ask Misha and Andy why we were in the ER that night!).

Thanksgiving 2009

The conversation went something like this:

"So, how you like the Marines, Wilson?"

"I like it, Ma'am."  (Ma'am?!!)

"How about California vs. Texas?  Are you enjoying California?"

"Yes, Ma'am.  I really like it up here in the mountains (AZ) though. It's nice."

"So, you're from the same town in Texas as Fisher, huh Wilson?" 

"Yes, Ma'am.  That's funny how he's Misha's family friend and you guys all know him.  I'm pretty sure I know right where his property is back home, too."

"Dude, you gotta stop with the Ma'am stuff!  I'll tell you what. I'll stop calling you Wilson and you stop calling me Ma'am,...okay Wade?!"

"Okay, Ma'am" (with a very big grin!)

My son really liked Wade and looked up to him; just as he does all the young Marines he's met through Andy and Misha.

Cody, Andy, Logan and Wade

It's going to be hard to let Logan join the Marines when he graduates here in a few years like he plans to. 

But, what's a mother to do?  Be proud.

Wade, Derek, Tom and Andy

The Marine's lost a good soldier last week when they lost Wilson.

 

The world lost a wonderful young man.