Heart Your Art!

                                      Love is in the air...

pink heart wire and pearl bracelet

Well today as an Artist Date from The Artists Way, I ended up making many hearts out of wire! I love hearts they make me happy they remind me of love and loving others and giving! As you can see I really went to town with them...

I started with bracelets. I like thick bracelets so I thought I would add some hearts to a freestyle wrapped bracelet.

red heart wire and pearl bracelet

 I think they look better on the wrist but here are some pic's of them on the counter.

Then I started making rings with tiny hearts out of the large wire and small wire and a bead. I like how they turned out. I wrapped them many times to make the band thick.

 I named them Heart your art rings because I was thinking about how my daughter wrote heart the art on my Birthday card this year. I thought it was so clever. These rings are to wear when you make your art. Whenever you go to create something you can put this on to remind yourself it's your time to let go,  enjoy and paint, make jewelry or express yourself in any of your creative arts.

Heart Your Art Rings!

I like this black glass bead with the flowers in it!

They are all different in their own way, color, wraps and stones. This one has a swarovski crystal in it.

 This one has the red and blue wire with a blue pearl in the middle.

I'm sure I'll be making many more in the near future. If your interested in buying one just leave me a message. I will get back to you about it. I am not going to sell them on etsy at the moment. I can custom make one for you as well if you like certain colors.

Have a lovely day!

Chandra

I always love your comments! Thanks for leaving them :)

Beginnings

Welcome to The Flying Lessons Blog Circle on beginnings. This year has definitely had some beginnings for me! I am so excited to have a wonderful group of Artists coming into the shop for Mixed Media Art. 

Mixed Media Art has blossomed! 

Who knew there were so many Artists out there interested in mixed media? It's interesting because I wanted my business to grow, I wasn't sure how it was going to grow but I knew it was coming.

I knew that my little whispers about making art were a good sign. If you dream it it will come. I wanted to make art. I knew I liked doodling, painting ( but I wasn't sure how to paint) and collage. That's what mixed media art is all of these things and more. There are so many neat techniques out there just waiting to be discovered. It's definitely a new beginning for my creativity to fly! And the shop is filled with wonderful people making creating and having fun! What more could I ask for? 

If your interested in coming to the shop for Mixed Media Art check out my Meetup site. 

The Cozy Craft Corner

My Jewelry making is changing and twisting and growing as well! 

Cheers to beginnings!

Chandra

Hop on over to...Laly Blue

In Memory of Marianna...

Lori Anderson a wonderful woman with spunk and creativity galore who has made the most wonderful Bead Soup Party Blog Hops. It's a wonderful Hop where you get bead soup from your partner and then you create something out of it. What a great idea Lori! 

I have signed up for her Memories and Thanks Blog Hop. Here is what Lori said about this Blog Hop...

"You never know what you might mean to someone.

In order to participate in the Bead Soup Blog Party, you need to have a blog.  My friend Marianna emailed me, excited about the party but needed help to build a blog.  No problem.  We talked about what she wanted and I made it for her, and she started blogging.

The Bead Soup Blog Party came and went but Marianna hadn't signed up.  I'd sent her a few emails to see how she was but there wasn't a response.  Then one day, her daughter emailed me to let me know Marianna had suddenly passed away.

That news just took the breath out of me.  I miss her emails and constant cheerfulness.

Then a few days ago, I got a box in the mail from her daughter.  I knew the box was coming, and that it had something in it from Marianna that she hadn't had a chance to mail before her death.  What I DIDN'T expect was for each bead to be individually wrapped with Marianna's personal messages attached to each one, and a card that told me how she valued my friendship.

I can't let that go.

This blog hop is both for Marianna and for those people in our lives who mean a lot to us -- a mom, a friend, a brother -- anyone who has meaning to us.  Create a piece of jewelry that tells that story."

A Heart Ring

In memory of Marianna I made these...

A Heart Bracelet

Marianna liked red. I chose red wire and red beads and went to town! I also made these while thinking of my Mom who is very special to me. She is supportive of my creativity. She loves hearts! I do too, so I made many wire hearts and wire wrapped them with beads that my Mom had brought into the shop. I love that my Mom always brings me beautiful beads! Thanks Mom :)

Another Heart Bracelet

I ended up making two bracelets, a ring (picture is the first one) and a necklace that's still in the works. 

Cherishing you always,

Chandra

I know you would love to see all the lovely jewelry that is made in this Blog Hop here is the list of talented jewelry artists...

Hostess, Lori Anderson       Pretty Things

 Adlinah Kamsir                   Dream Struck Designs

 Aimee Biondolillo               Aimee's Jewelry Treasures

 Alicia Marinache                 All the Pretty Things 
 Andra Marasteanu               Handmade by Indra Marasteanu 
 Andrea Trank                      Heaven Lane Creations
 April Grinaway                   Brooklyn Bead Goddess

Barb Solem                         Vivi Magoo Presents

Becky Pancake                    Becky Pancake Bead Designs

Beth Emery                         Stories by Indigo Heart

Bonnie Coursolle                Jasper's Gems

Cassi Paslick                       Beads: Rolling Downhill

Catherine King                    Catherine's Musings

Cece Cormier                      The Beading Yogini

Chandra Merod You are here Juniper Goods 

Charissa Nesler                   FireStorm Designs
Charlie Jacka                       Clay Space

Christina Hickman              Vintage Treasures Jewelry

Christine Murrow               Charis Designs Jewelry
Christine Stonefield            Sweet Girl Design

Chrizette Bayman               Bead Soup Mix

Cindy Wilson                      It's My Sea of Dreams

CJ Bauschka                       4 His Glory Creations by CJ

Crystal Thain                      Here Bead Dragons

Cyndi Lavin                        Beading Arts

Debbie Rasmussen             A little of this, a little of that

Denielle Hagerman             Some Beads... and other things I like
Diana Gonzalez                  Arte y Poemas

Diane Hawkey                    diane hawkey

Dita Basu                            ankarshilpa

Donetta Farrington             Simply Gorgeous

Dyanne Everett-Cantrell     Deeliteful Jewelry Creations

Emma Todd                        A Polymer Penchant

Erin Kenny                         beadiful therapy

Erin Prais-Hintz                  Treasures Found

Gina Hockett                      Freestyle Elements

Gloria Allen                        Innovative Dreams Jewelry

Heather Marston                 CSW Designs

Inge von Roos                    Inge's Blog

Iveth Caruso                       Creative Atelier

Jacqueline Marchant          Fiddledeedee Jewelry

Jami Shipp                         Celebrating Life!

Jean Yates                          Snap Out of it Jean, There's Beading to Do!

Jennifer Reno                     Musings of a Crafty Jenny
Jenny Robledo                   Peppa's Dream

Jennifer VanBenschoten    Jewelry, Art and Life
Jessica Klaaren                  Cellar Door Jewelry

Jessica Murray                   Whimsical Monkey

Joan Williams                     lilruby jewelry

Jo-Ann Woolverton            It's a Beadiful Creation

Joanne Browne                   josjewels1

Jodie Marshall                    Jodie Marshall Lampwork Beads Wearable Art

Johanna Rhodes                 Fire Phoenix Creations
John Rasmussen                 Rasumussen Gems and Jewelry LLC

JuLee Wolfe                       The Polymer Penguin

Julie Bean                           Blue Pig Blog

Karen Mitchell                   Over the Moon Designs

Karin King                         The Sparklie Things Blog
Karin Slaton                       Backstory Beads

Kat Douglas                       Washoe Kat's
Kay Bolton                        Toodles and Binks

Kelly Hosford Patterson     The Traveling SideShow

Kim Ballor                          Vitamin C ... A Daily Does of Creativity

Kim Dworak                       CianciBlue

Kim Houston                       The Pink Martini
Kym Hunter                         Kym Hunter Designs

Laren Dee Barton                Laren Dee Designs

Lea Avroch                          LA Jewelry Designs

Leanne Loftus                      First Impression Design

Liddy McLaughlin               Liddy McLaughlin Art

Linda Florian                       Lily's of the Valley Jewelry & Creative Creations

Linda Inhelder                     Must-Haves Jewelry

Lisa Hamilton                      Simply Irresistable Jewelry
Lisa Suver                            Fancee That

Lori Bowring Michaud        Artfully Ornamental

Lori Poppe                           Adventures in Creativity with Lorillijean

LouAnn Elwell                    Southpass Beads

Mandi Effron                       Craft-o-licious

Marcia DeCoster                 MadDesigns

Marcia Dunne                     The Alternative Foundry

Marie Covert                      Creating Interest

Marjorie Savill Linthwaite     bennubirdrising

Marlene Cupo                        Amazing Designs by Marlene

Martha Aleo                           Ornamento

Marti Conrad                          Marti's Buttons -n- Beads

Mary Ellen Parker                  BeeTree by m.e.

Mary Govaars                        MLH Jewelry Designs

Mary Lindell                          Mary Lindell Artisan Jewelry

Maureen Connolly                 Mrs Beadsley's Workshop

Maybeline Tay                       The Jewelry Larder

Melissa Elgin                         The Addicted Beader

Melissa Mesara                      one-eared pig beads

Menka Gupta                         Menka's Jewelry

Michaela Pabeschitz              la mar de bonita

Mischelle Fanucchi               Micheladas Musings

Mona Rae Baroody               Who Does She Bead She Is?

Nan Emmett                          Spirit Rattles -- Spirited Earth

Nancy Pedersen                    Something Heartfelt by Nancy

Natalie Davidson                  NorthShore Days
Nikki Douglas                      Bead It and Weep

Pam Farren                           re-maker

Pam, the Crazier Sister        The Crazy Creative Corner

Pam Traub                            Klassy Joolz
Priya Krish                           Hellopalz  
Rebecca Anderson               Song Beads

Rebecca Sirevaag                 Becca's Place

Robin Kae Reed                   Artistry HCBD

Rochelle Brisson                  a creative chelle

Rosa Maria Cuevas              Helena de Troya

Sabine Dittrich                     perlendschungel

Sandi Volpe                          Sandi Volpe

Sandra McGriff                    Creative Chaos

Sarah Goode                         Pookledo
Sarah Singer                         String a Song of Sixpence

Serena Trent                         All Things Made Jewelry

Shai Williams                       Shaiha's Ramblings
Sharon Palac                        Sharon's Jewelry Garden

Sharyl McMillian-Nelson    Sharyl's Jewelry & Reflections

Sheila Davis                         Stone Designs

Shelley Graham Turner        Fabric of My Life

Sherri Stokey                       Knot Just Macrame

Sherry Baun                         Unicorns Jewels

Skylar Bre'z                         Brising Beads

Stephanie Haussler              Pixybug Designs

Tania Spivey                        Moobie Grace Designs

Terri G.                                Blooming Ideas

Terry Carter                         Tapping Flamingo

Terry Matuszyk                    Pink Chapeau Vintage Jewelry

Toltec Jewels                       Jewel School Friends
Tracy Kruse                         Goldkisses Art

Tracy Martin                        Nutkitten's Jewelry

Zia Parks                              Anzi~Panzi's Work Shoppe

Zoe Marcin                          Beads, Tea and Sweets

Thanks for the comments they are always appreciated! :)

Word of the Year!

There has been talk about choosing a word of the year. I have chosen words for myself over the years to help me remember what I need to do or become. The first word I chose oh, 10 years ago was smile. When I remembered this word and used it over and over I did smile and was happier. I used this word to help me get through many mental blocks. The second word I used was strength. I felt at the time I needed strength to get through life. I strived to be strong in everything I did. It was many years of this word over and over to help me develop strength. It helped change my view of myself. Then I chose wisdom as my word for many years. I really wanted to be wise to know how to be in the world with wisdom knowing all. 

So now here I am in the beginning of January 2013! I am ready for new words. I am in a group of women who are Artists and they have been talking about how to choose a word for the year. I can do that! So I thought and thought. Last night my words came to me. Not one but two this time! Wow, I said to myself, I am ready for changes. The words I picked are Growth and Joyous. 

So what do you do with these words you choose for yourself? Yesterday I had a mixed media meetup. It was so fun! There were 8 women who came and created their own mixed media art piece. It was great to see Artists in person and talk about all their projects. One woman talked about words of the year and how she is doing all these different things with her word. Like look up the definition. I liked that! Here are the definitions from the dictionary for my words. 

Definitions written in KRR's book

I also picked out a book to write quotes, definitions and anything I wish to write about these words.

My book from KRR for my words

I am growing. I look at my business and see changes and growth. I am increasing and developing my artistic abilities. Yay! I can't wait to see the GROWTH I have this year!

A mandala I made with growth in mind

An Artist in my Flying Lessons group has a mother who makes beautiful mandalas out of words. I thought that was a great idea. But I prefer to do it myself to really get to know the word. Use it over and over again. That's how it really sticks.

Some inspiration for my words 

 I also created some pictures with my words on pic collage! I love this app. It is wonderful! See how my words turned out! Lovely indeed!

I think JOYOUS came to me in my sleep last night. I was thinking how I would like to master being happy in everything I do. If I make a mistake, happy, If I have difficulty in life, happy. I know that these are lessons in growth. 

Remembering to be joyous in all I do. Like this lovely Artist Cori Dantini says in this picture below, "Joyous Living a challenge worth taking"

Cori Dantini I love her art!

I drew this for Joyous

 It feels great to share my words with you! I have never shared them before in all my years of choosing words for myself. I can't express how happy I am to be a part of a community of Artists. I didn't know I was craving this community before. It is fun to have my virtual Artist community and my Personal Artist community. There are many ways to use your word of the year. All of the above and more! I have seen jewelry made with the words. I know I will be working on this for myself. I am just learning to stamp in metal. I'll share this with you in a future post. So I hope you choose a word or words for yourself this year. Enjoy ( the first word I thought of using this year but chose joyous instead ) the power of repetition and imagination with these words. Have a wonderful New Year filled with personal inspirations and love.

Chandra

Now hop on over to Nazmoon Laila's blog to find out what her word of the year is...