Merry Christmas Everyone!!

Dear Friends,
It's Christmas time again and the years roll on faster and faster.  I just shake my head and wonder where the time goes.  Christmas time is a time for getting together as families and friends and sharing company.  It's a time for hugging those we haven't seen for quite awhile.  It's a time for making recipes we only make once a year.  It's a time to remember "it's not what we get, but what we have," that matters.

It's a time to remember loved ones who aren't with us, and how they added so much love to our lives...we miss them.  Christmas is a time to remember our Savior and because of Him, we will be with our loved ones again.

Please enjoy this short video about the loving example of our Savior.

Merry Christmas!

Love, Julie

https://www.mormon.org/christmas/light-the-world

Fun With Solder  

The first time I saw soldered glass shadow box type pendants was years ago in the Jewelry Affaire Magazine with Fussbucket's world showing darling little boxes with teeny cut paper flowers and pictures inside.  I thought I'd like to learn how to do that someday.  I took an in-person soldering class with a few years ago with Sally Jean Alexander and enjoyed it, but didn't practice.  I found  a terrific teacher in Terri Brush who teaches in her beautiful studio, but also offers on-line classes that don't expire! Such a great way to learn and review techniques. So I've been practicing!

                                     

This cute little girl is my mother, Shirlee, and she's sitting on a small round table staring into a large goldfish bowl.  I soldered beveled glass which adds movement and gives the impression of light bouncing off the glass bowl.  I made this for one of my sisters.

                                      

I've enjoyed learning soldering at my own speed with Terri Brush classes at  http://terribrushacademy.com/ You can purchase classes and then enjoy them on-line.  This way you can view them anytime without having to sit at your computer with a CD.  Terri teaches classes in her own studio and abroad. She's very helpful and personable.  While I have enjoyed purchased CDs of classes, the on-line classes are the most convenient.

These examples I made show some antique lace and a mother of pearl button with decorative solder surrounding the glass tiles and finished with sterling silver chain.

Here are a some more pieces of the jewelry I've been working on in my not so spare time.  I love to work with metal by etching it, making frames for pictures and resin.  I enjoy working with glass and solder as well and of course, love vintage mother of pearl buttons...any antique buttons actually.

Taking a class in-person or on-line is a wonderful way to learn new skills. Another idea is to check your local college or university.  I'm taking a community education class at a junior college near me and the cost is very low: parking for the semester actually costs more than the class! The class is fun because the teacher, Tony Guzman, is very helpful and so are the other class members.  At class, I get to use various tools that I don't have in my home. When you take a class you set aside at least a little bit of time to work on projects you might not be able to work on at home.  I highly recommend taking a class every so often to learn new skills and make new friends!

Have a wonderful and inspiring day!
Yours truly,
Julie

Who's a, What's a DINGLE DANGLE??

I was asked by a dear friend to make her a little sparkly something to use as a zipper pull for an outfit she wears to work.  When her co-workers saw it, she was asked to ask me if I would make them some with different themes.  So I made these chain tassels, or, I call them "Dingle Dangles."  I made some religious, some for tea lovers, dog lovers, cat lovers, cowboy, beach/ocean and even Flamenco Dancer themed ones.

                                         

These are fun to make and you can use just small amounts of chain and the little doodads you pick up from various places.  I bought a number of base metal charms from www.bohemianfindings.etsy.com who have a large selection.  I also buy interesting and wonderful finds from Crystal Basica at www.vintagefairyfinds.etsy.com and Robin Dudley-Howes at www.shadesofakasha.etsy.com.  Can you tell I like to shop and peruse www.Etsy.com?

I like to pick out a number of chains in different sizes and lay them out with the little charms. I place the charms with some higher and some lower along the various chains and then cut the chains into different lengths so that the charms don't all land at the bottom of the tassel.

 After I put the charms onto each of the pieces of chain with jump rings, I run about a 10 inch piece of 20 gauge wire through the tops of all the chains.  From one end of the wire, I cinch together and wrap the wire around the top a couple times to hold the tassel together and leave the longer piece of wire to put up through the bugle bead.  This hides the wrapped wire part of the tassel with the tops of the chains.  I usually add spacer beads and another pretty bead to the top of the bugle bead.  I wire wrap the top of the large bead with a loop that I can then finish with a clasp.  

 Here are a couple of different Cowgirl/Cowboy themed tassels.  If you use rhinestone cup chain you'll want to use a wire wrap or you can find cup chain holders in different sizes from Crystal Basica at Vintage Fairy Finds.  You'll need to contact her for a custom order, but she's fun to work with and can get them in different sizes.  She also has little crowns, vintage chandelier crystals, cameos, metal stampings and lots of different sizes of rhinestone cup chain.

Robyn Dudley-Howes has miniature crosses, mini Eiffel towers in silver and gold base metal and Mardi Gras type masks.  Great stuff.

I've shown a few of the types of tassels I've made.  A happy coincidence is that you can use these to add sparkle to your zipper pull, your purse or use with your own chain, ribbon or leather strand to use as a pendant.  I hope these inspire you to try and make these yourself or to give as a gift, but if not, I sell them at www.ribbontapestry.etsy.com and can make custom Dingle Dangles for you.  

Have a wonderful day! 

Julie