MiShel Designs Fall Jewelry Boutique and Trunk Show

 

 

Just a reminder that I will be hosting, along with my sister, the MiShel Designs Fall Jewelry Boutique and Trunk Show down in Casa Grande, AZ this Sunday, November 10th from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. 

 

 

 

 

Along with several new and fun jewelry designs to see and handle, Marsha's making her famously delicious Pico de Gallo and we're serving up some yummy drinks, too.

 

 

 

There will be live acoustic guitar (and possibly some ukulele) music to relax with and Mina (the best massage therapist around) is going to be setting up in a private room so you can book a half-hour back massage with her and be able to go home feeling super relaxed in your new jewelry designs!

 

 

 

Looking forward to seeing everyone there!

 

Until Next Time,

 

Peace, Love and Fall Show Time!

 

Cheers,

~Shel~

 

The Key,...

~The Sea Will Forever Hold The Key To All That Is Me ~

 

A little while back I received an email from my ultra talented friend Jeannie Dukic of Jewelry By Jeannie. Some of you may remember last year when I participated in Jeannie's Design Group, the Echo Creative Club.

Jeannie makes fabulous beads (and really cool jewelry too, by the way), and not just any beads, but super great, polymer clay beads. I had never really worked with Polymer clay beads or pendants in my designs before Jeannie asked me to design with hers last year and wow, what a treat, let me tell you what! 

"My Cherry Tree" necklace by Michelle Buettner

 

I truly enjoyed designing with Jeannie's beads and pendants.  They helped me step out of my design box a bit and try new colors, new materials and different styles - it felt good. And challenging, too. 

So, in Jeannie's recent email, she asked me if I'd be interested in designing something with a few of her new beads she just 'perfected' to look exactly like lamp-work glass beads.

 

Um,....YES, I would! :-)

 

She explained how after much trial and error and going through A LOT of polymer to get them exactly right, she was ready to put them up on her website store and she thought about asking me to design something with a few of them. (Thank you so much Jeannie!!)

Polarity Beads - Jewelry By Jeannie

 

When I opened the package Jeannie sent me (which itself was a work of art!) I was delighted to find these beautiful beads staring back at me.

 

See what I mean - lovely!!

They really DO look just like lampwork beads!!

Incredible!

I was excited at their beautiful blue color. They remind me of aquamarine blue and the color of the sea.  I tried to put some of my aquamarine stones with them - but what I had in my gem stash just didn't go with these beads - mine were too 'green' or something,....not what I had envisioned. 

To me, these beads were screaming "Sea!! Ocean!! Waves!!", so I got out some of my glass beads that look like beach glass and went to work.

I grabbed some C-Lon cord (beadshop.com) in Turquoise and did a bit of macramé to mimic the 'wave' feeling I had with these and added some various sizes and shapes of seed beads in different shades of blues to the glass beads for some contrast in size and texture.

 

I know, I know,...you're all shocked that I actually HAVE seed beads aren't you?  Well, truth be told, I have two little 'bins' completely full of them. Why?  I don't know.  Food for the vacuum, I guess. I can hear it squeal with delight from the broom closet each time I get the bins out. Lord knows that other than stringing them (and I don't even do that very well!), I could never work with these little rascals.  I have such admiration for people who work with them.  I mean seriously, the art they create with these tiny little things just amazes me.

Anyway, I got in this 'zone', if you will, while creating with Jeannie's perfect polymer beads and here's what came of my creative session.

 

 

Jeannie's new beads are called 'Polarity Beads' and they are a dream to work with. So light and versatile. That's one of the main things I like about polymer clay pieces (other than the fact that they can actually look like any other material on earth),  - their weight - or lack there of, actually. It helps when designing pieces so you don't have to have objects of equal weight on the other side to balance the bracelet or whatever you're designing. And, for earrings, these beads would be perfect because they can be larger, but not have the over-the-top weight of some glass beads - thus not weighing you earlobes down. Yeah!! 

 

 

I used this little Heart/Key charm from B'Sue's Boutique as my focal for the necklace. You can't really see the inscription - especially since I used some gilder's paste (also from B'Sue's) over it - but it says:  "He who holds the key, can unlock my heart"

 

Well, the sea holds the key to my heart.

At least that's what it feels like when I'm there,....

 

 

I truly enjoyed creating with Jeannie's new beads and using them as the inspiration for this set.

 

I guess you could say they unlocked a sort of 'key' to a certain area of creativity for me!

"The Key" Jewelry set by MiShel Designs, Polymer Clay Polarity Beads
by Jeannie of Jewelry by Jeannie.

 

 

I hope you get the chance to hop on over to Jeannie's shop and check out all her other lovelies!

 

I personally have my eye on one of her newer Acanthus Pendants (the blue one will go perfectly with some of my Ancient Roman Glass Beads from both Happy Mango and Philip Mertens).

 

I mentioned to the hubs that it would be cool for Christmas - so we'll see what shows up in my stocking on Christmas morning!! :-)

 

Until Next Time,

Peace, Love and Keys to Creativity!

Cheers,

~Shel~

 

Focus on Life: Week 44~ Saints, Souls, Sugar Skulls and Scares

The prompt from Sally over at The Studio Sublime for Week 44 of Focusing on Life: 52 Photos was this:

 

 

 

Saints, Souls, Sugar Skulls and Scares

 

"Whether 'trick or treating', celebrating the spirits and souls of loved ones that have passed, or having a scream from a scare, this week take a moment to capture a spirit, spider or other spectacle of the season!" 

 

We're celebrating  Dia de los Muertos,

so here's the only thing I captured this week.

 

 

 

 

Sorry, no cool sugar skulls!

But you can see my post about it HERE!

 

Time to hop-along and see what everyone else has captured this week!

 

Until Next Time,

Peace, Love and Celebrating the Season!

Cheers,

~Shel~

Dia de los Muertos

 

From Black Snow Comics - Via Pinterest

Here in Arizona (and many places around the world) Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is a heavily celebrated, three day celebration from October 31st through November 2nd.

 Breaking it down:

October 31st - All Hallows Eve - Young ones make a Children's altar to invite 'Angelitos' (spirits of dead children) to come back for a visit.

 

November 1st - All Saints Day - Altars are made for spirits of the adults who have passed to come back for a visit.

 

November 2nd - All Souls Day - People go to the cemeteries of their relatives and loved ones who have passed and decorate their graves/tombs and leave marigolds, muertos (bread) and sugar skulls (cookies).  Families celebrate their loved ones lives and remember them by saying prayers for the departed and by sharing stories with each other.

*You can find a more thorough explanation on Wikipedia under Dia de los Muertos - summarized by Frances Ann Day (Latina and Latino Voices in Literature (Frances Ann Day), Greenwood Publishing Group, page 72)

 

The decorations and pictures used to symbolize Dia de los Muertos and the Day of the Dead can look a bit morbid or offensive to some people.

 

Here where we live, we're used to seeing many paintings, figurines, sculptures and the like - so it's not offensive or morbid to us.

 

It's honoring those you love through art.

 

Just like any other holiday or celebration.

 

 

 

 

We have many loved ones who have passed on.

 

Family and friends who we miss, but are blessed to have had in our lives.

 

We choose to celebrate their lives by honoring their memories and celebrating their souls.

 

Knowing quite well how much richer our lives are because of them.

 

Believing they are always here, within us, guiding us and helping us as we go through our own lives.

 

Here's to our loved ones.

 

To the Celebration of their lives.

 

 

 

Happy Halloween!

Have a safe and Happy Halloween!!

 

 

 

Until Next Time,

Peace, Love and Halloween Goodies!

Cheers,

~Shel~

October Component of the Month Reveal

I was super lucky this month and won one of the Art Jewelry Elements Components of Month!

 

It's a sweet Ammonite Focal from Kristi Bowman Design! 

 

I just happened to see the AJE post come up in my email inbox on the day it was posted (usually I miss it!) and was super psyched to see one of Kristi's components - hers are some of my favorites - and so I threw my name in the hat and was so excited when she contacted me that I was one of the winners this month!

 

I actually have a nice little selection of some of her pieces.

I'm known to hoard them.

You can ask her. :-)

 

Anyway,....I knew right away that I wanted to make a really cool bracelet out of her focal pendant.

 

However, what I had inside my head and what happened to come out of my hands are nowhere near anything alike at all.  Nope. Not.At.All!

 

I do think that what I ended up creating is much better than what was floating around in my brain, though.

Where my brain was going with the design,.....

I'd pictured some purple cord with a few dark pearls with purple over-tones and possibly some nice chunky pieces of amethyst I have hoarded stashed away and a few copper beads and a handcrafted copper toggle clasp.  

See?  What's below isn't at all like what I just described, is it?

What actually happened! :-)

Well, in between getting Kristi's focal and having a chance to actually work on it, I was fortunate enough to get Cindy Wimmer's book, The Missing Link, (which is truly fabulous - you MUST get it!) that I had ordered.

I was devouring Cindy's book the weekend after I received it and when I got to page 89 and eyed the Spiral Swirl Link - I let out a little squeal!  I ran into the house and grabbed Kristi's ammonite focal and held it up against the pages in the book and said, "Perfect!"

 

Since the focal is quite large I was only able to use two perfectly beautiful, dark, freshwater cultured pearls (Bead World - Scottsdale), a few copper beads and two of the Spiral Swirl links I created following the step by step instructions in Cindy's book.  Then, I just 'adlibbed' a bit and made my own spiral hook clasp to complete the look.

 

I'm so excited! It feels great on and will, coincidentally, go fantastically with one of my outfits I'm wearing up at my sis's cabin over Thanksgiving weekend.  (yippee!)

A huge THANKS to Kristi for sharing her amazing focal pendant and to all the contributors over on the

Art Jewelry Elements Blog - you gals ROCK!

 

Thanks a bunch for stopping by to check out what I created - I appreciate it.

 

Now it's time to hop on over to the AJE blog and see what the other winner, Kym Hunter with Kym Hunter Designs and all the regular contributors on the AJE Blog created.  I'm sure you'll be drooling!

 

Until Next Time,

Peace, Love and Nice Surprises!

Cheers,

~Shel~

Focus on LifeL Week 43 - In the Shadows

This week's prompt from Sally over at The Studio Sublime for the Focusing on Life: 52 Photos weekly challenge was this:

Week 43 - In The Shadows

 

 

"For this week we will be focusing on Light and Shadow!  Capture what you find intriguing about light and shadows." 

 

What an appropriate prompt with Autumn upon us and Halloween coming up this week.

 

Although I wasn't able to capture any photos of ghostly shadows or light orbs or anything like that, I did capture these two photos of some shadows.
 

 

 

 

Shadows produced from light shining through glass objects - always cool!

 

 

 

 

Hop around today and see what 'shadows' every one else caught a glimpse of, won't you?!

 

Until Next Time,

Peace, Love and Shadows of Light!

Cheers,

~Shel~

Focus on Life: Week 42 - All In A Day

This week Sally's prompt for
Focusing On Life: 52 Photos Challenge was this:

 

 

 

Week 42 - All In A Day

 

"There are many things that can happen in a day. Let's focus on 24 hours and see what goes on during your day!"

 

Well, all days at the Buettner household are pretty normal (for us!) yet not one of them is actually normal, if you know what I mean. 

 

Monday was "Fall Break Day" for our son and we had lots of thing scheduled for that day.

 

First, the soft water system decided to rupture last weekend and spray tons of water all over the garage, the workbench, Mike's old desk and the ceiling (good thing we know a mold guy and he knows how to clean things up - I actually moisture mapped the garage later in the week for training!!) and so Monday our new soft water unit arrived - it's pretty nice. And and I love having my soft water back (my boys hate it - they tolerate it just for me!)

Click any photo to enlarge

 

 

Then, Logan's QX4 had the air go out -again- so neither he nor the hubby were happy they had to return it to the shop but Logan "called" the convertible (Our son loves Mike's BMW - even though it's practically as old as he is and he drives it as often as possible!) and so Mike hopped in to the Q and they drove down to the car place to drop it off and then grab a bite to eat on their way home.

 

I heard tons of sirens no too long after they had left so I texted Logan (Mike was driving them back home) to see if they were okay.  Did you know you can pick GOD up at Taco Bell?  LOL!!  I didn't either! :-)  Auto-correct can be a hoot!

Text between Logan and me

 

 

Then there was work stuff, filling an order, afternoon tea, folding laundry, and putting things aside for when I would eventually get the time to create with Kristi Bowman's awesome component for the  AJE October Component of the Month Give-a-Way that I'd been fortunate enough to win. (The reveals is on the 30th,...so plan to stop back by!)

 

So, just normal stuff around our house. 
What's a typical day look like for you? 

 

Anything but typical, right?  But it's All In A Day!

 

Now, hop on over to The Studio Sublime or scroll down to the bottom here and see what everyone else has going on today!

 

Oh, I almost forgot - TODAY I get to devour Cindy Wimmer's new and ultra-super-cool wire-work book, "The Missing Link"!  (Insert dorky looking happy dance here!)

My joy for Today!

 I can't tell you how excited I am to try out some of the fun links this weekend and play with my wire! (my wire feels a bit neglected because I'm usually playing with cord and pearls!) and then tonight we're having our annual neighborhood Cul-de-Sac party with our ultra-fun and cool neighbors - it's gonna be a super day!!

 

Have a great weekend everyone!

 

Until Next Time,

Peace, Love and Having Fun "All Day"

Cheers,

~Shel~

Focus on Life: Week 41 - Connections

This is week 41 (wow, can you believe it?!)

and Sally's prompt for the

Focusing on Life: 52 Weeks Photo Challenge was:


 

Connections

Sally told us, " We have, make and witness connections everyday.  Connecting to one another makes us feel that we are a part of something more, something great!  This week focus on the connections you make, the connections that naturally occur, a connection of things, your connection to your environment, craft or faith."

Wow, how timely.  Again!  I swear, Sally has this uncanny way of honing in on what we're all going through. It's like she has this little crystal ball that has all of our lives on 'speed dial'.

 

Or maybe, it's because we really are all connected to each other.

Jewelry-world related I've been rather unconnected for the last month or so.  However, business-wise with our environmental business and personally with those around me, I've been more deeply connected.

Aside from answering phones, fielding questions and taking care of the front office work for RespirCare (the company my husband built that we own and run together) I'm becoming educated and trained in the microbial science behind our business and taking a more active role in the strategic marketing and growth aspect of our company. 

 

This week, I sat in on a two day, hands on training class that my hubby taught.

 

Mike Teaching one of the sampling courses

 

It's interesting, but far removed from the likes of pearls, jewelry or the craft world.  However, the links between the two industries are more 'connected' than I imagined.  

I enjoy seeing the light bulb go off in someone when they grasp a concept that was alluding them, or they are able to thoroughly understand a portion of the science behind the business and see how their new found knowledge can further assist them with not only helping their customers, but actually help them to build upon their own business.  

 

Mike with RespirCare Associate,  Don - Our Canadian "Connection"

 

 

It's rather similar to when I'm teaching and I experience a student learn a jewelry technique and how their brain starts seeing all the exciting ways they can incorporate their newly acquired skill and add to their repertoire of designs.

So, these last few weeks have been spent connecting a bit more in-depth with my hubby; with our business, our family, our clients, customers and ourselves. These connections have brought us closer as a family to our future goals, to each other and to those we interact with.

 

I have to admit though, it's quite challenging to step out of my comfort zone and stretch my knowledge and skill set.  It's cozy, warm and comfy in my comfort zone. I like cozy, warm and comfy,....kinda like some fungi I know.

 

Sorry, I couldn't resist!! LOL!! ;-)

 

So, who or what are YOU connecting with these days?  Please connect with all of us this weekend over at The Studio Sublime. You never know where your connections will lead,.....

 

Until Next Time,

Peace, Love and Forming and Fostering Connections!

Cheers,

~Shel~

Focus on Life: Week 40 - Give Us A Smile!

So this week's prompt from Sally over at

The Studio Sublime was, "Give Us A SMILE!"

 

 

 

It really does help to lift the spirits of people when you give them a smile, or you get one in return.

 

These two are always smiling. 

 

The "Masked Rider"(Unmasked!) and his sweet and beautiful girlfriend.

 

Their future's are bright, they are both respectful of each other and those around them, they're funny, smart and all around good 'kids'.  

 

Seeing them happy, makes me smile! 

 

Scroll on down the page here or head over to the Studio Sublime to see who else is smiling and what they're smiling about this week won't you?

 

Until Next Time,

Peace, Love and All Smiles!

Cheers,

~Shel~