by Cindy on October 12, 2007
My 1st grade son brought in 3 bangle bracelets for show and tell today. One was a brand new bracelet he made just yesterday. He was excited to show them to his teachers and friends, saying he thought they looked “artistic”. 🙂
I have a show and tell for you too. This wire bracelet is fresh from the studio and features boro beads by a talented Ohio lampwork artist. Daniel Echeverry’s beads were my first experience with borosilicate. If you are not already familiar with boro, I thought I’d fill you in with a very brief description. Lampwork bead artists work with many types of glass; “soft glass” is made from soda-lime, and “hard glass” which is borosilicate. Borosilicate glass requires a higher temperature to melt, and is known to be extremely strong and resistant to breaking. Laboratory test tubes, beakers, glassware (Bodum) and even some French coffee presses are made with borosilicate glass. There is a distinctive color-changing quality with boro beads. When you look at the beads in natural sunlight, you will see such incredible color and depth. The bracelet below is one of my first using boro beads.
Before I go, I have one more picture for you. I created a bracelet, and then a necklace using a single lampwork bead for inspiration. It’s always fun to select complimentary beads in similar shades. These pieces are aptly named “Brilliant Brunette”, for the many brown beads I used and for the brilliant sparkle in the Swarovski crystals.
Have a great weekend everyone!
by Cindy on October 10, 2007
There’s a first time for everything. I know this is a jewelry design blog, but I couldn’t resist sharing a recipe with you. Today I made a meal for a friend/neighbor who had a new baby (her fourth!), and I wanted to add something sweet to go along with it. I figured the new Momma would love a little chocolate (and of course, so would the kids). I found a quick, super fast recipe that would do the trick. I thought you might like to try it too when you are in a hurry and want something warm from the oven. I bet you have all the ingredients already.
Chocolate Cake Mix Cookies
1 (18.5 oz) box cake mix
1 tsp. baking powder
2 eggs
1/2 c. vegetable oil
1 c. chocolate chips….I used Halloween M&Ms!
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Stir the cake mix and baking powder together in a medium bowl. Add eggs and oil and mix well. Stir in the chips (or other add-ins such as M&Ms or nuts). Drop onto cookie sheet. Bake for 8-10 minutes. Underbaking is good = very fudgy.
My 3 year old and I give these our stamp of approval! 🙂
by Cindy on October 4, 2007
I enjoy reading about how one is inspired to create their works of art, especially when it’s not the usual, “I was inspired by the colors of nature….”. I had an unusual inspiration myself. For my son’s birthday, I wanted to make a little something for him – a piece of jewelry he could wear around for fun. I know he may not want to wear it out and about, but the other day I did catch him playing with a bangle as if the bracelet were a person living amidst a fort of blocks that he had built. In the picture above, the bangle that went “live” is the one you see on the left. Quite a while ago he made that bangle with a little help from me, and now it’s too small for him. The one on the right is the new one I made. I even included my own (rather unattractive) lampwork beads.
Now getting to the inspiration….see the silly little doodle below? I’ve been making “spoon elephants” since I was little. I’m not sure how or when I learned, but it was an easy way to draw an elephant. Did you ever draw one of these guys? You start with a spoon and add the ears and legs…easy! My husband and I now draw this friendly elephant on notes for the kids all of the time. There is the inspiration for using the Thai silver elephant in this whimsical birthday bangle. 🙂
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