Jewelry Affaire Magazine Summer 2015 and a Giveaway

Have you seen the Summer 2015 issue of Jewelry Affaire?

Like always, it is fabulous....

I want to take you on a quick walk down memory lane.

Summer 2011.

I was at Barnes and Noble looking at magazines.

I found 2 titles I could not put down: Jewelry Affaire and Belle Armoire Jewelry.

I had never seen anything like them.

But $14.99 a piece....

I kept looking through them.

So many beautiful pieces.

And I realized....what a great value they were.

The quality of the paper and the photography was like nothing I'd ever seen before.

There were SO MANY pieces in each magazine....over 50 or 60 at least.

I would pay $20-25 for a book that was only 20-30 pieces.

Once I looked at it like that, it was a no-brainer.

Those first issues came home with me and I have not looked back since.

The current issue is the same.

120+ Pieces to inspire...

Jewelry Affaire has lots of inspiration pieces...

This typewriter key necklace set from Melinda Barnett is different than many out there...

Here is another piece by her in this issue.

This time with a full set of directions on how to make this elegant bracelet.

I love her style.

There is another sweet necklace tutorial by Melinda Barnett in the Artistic Affaire section.

These wire rings are on my to do list.

They are made by Donna Miyasako-Blanco.

Who would guess some wire and a few beads could become something so lovely?

Hey, this set looks familiar...

I made it!

Seriously...

page 49.

There is also a technique article in the Natural Revelry section I did.

This series incorporates natural elements like moss and twigs and tree bark for whimsical pieces that make me think of fairies and fanciful forest creatures.

When I was making them, my husband said it looked like I was wrapping a mouse with a Lasso of Truth to a piece of bark from where he was sitting.

I am no Wonder Woman so this made me chuckle.

I love this series so I am so honored that Stampington chose to publish it.

I love that there is a mix of techniques and styles in each issue.

For a starting jewelry maker, each issue will make your head swim...in a good way.

Amanda Lee Slaughter shows you a twist on spoon jewelry...

Cindy Wimmer's necklace is outstanding as all of her designs are...

 I saw these birdhouse necklaces on the preview for the issue at Stampington.

Shelleen Weeks has an amazing mind...

Learning how to make these sweet necklaces out of silverware handles was reason enough for me to buy the issue.

Aren't they amazing?

One of my favorite materials to work with is leather.

The Summer 2015 issue has 2 articles that feature unique leather pieces that I love.

Colleen Jensen made these amazing leather cuffs.

I definitely want to try something like this...

And Lisa Hancock created these necklaces from bits of an old leather jacket.

Love them!

This issue is packed with over 120 ideas and inspiration pieces.

You should be able to find it at your favorite book store or craft store.

You can also order a copy directly from Stampington here....

Or you can leave a comment for a chance for your own free issue from Stampington...sent right to you.

Leave a comment below with a piece that left you breathless from this post and you will be entered for a chance to win a copy of this issue.

I will choose a winner from the comments with an impartial number generator next Thursday and announce the winner Friday.

Good Luck!

Thanks for stopping by....

Linking up with these great blogs.

Last Guest Post at Plucky's Second Thought

My Last post with Jess is up over at Plucky's Second Thought.

Head over to find it here.

If you want to see any of the other posts I did over there, here is a quick round up.

This post shares ways to keep your child reading during the summer.

Want to see how to make this cute Peas in a Pod necklace?

Find it here.

This necklace was one of my favorites.

Find the post here.

I showed some sweet tin ornaments for your country Christmas tree in this post.

As a part of my Msason Jar Monday series, I did a pet post here.

Here is a post for another fun polymer clay necklace.

Looking for a fast easy gift?

Try hopping over to see the tutorial for these Butterfly Earrings.

And here is the another pair of easy Clay Earrings.

It is a nice little walk down down Memory Lane for me as well....

Thanks for stopping by...

Felted Wool Dryer Balls

Last week I showed my workbench with the wool dryer balls in progress.

This week they are done.

They took a few rides with loads of laundry.

Any load that required a hot washing.

After 4 or 5 loads, I threw them in with 2 loads in the dryer to be sure they were thoroughly dry.

Then I removed them from the nylons.

What do you do with them?

They can be used for lots of things.

Juggling.

Cat toys.

And in the dryer.

They are a natural way to cut down on dry time.

I have tried them.

I added  4 of them to a load in the dryer and it got dry about 20 minutes faster.

Supposedly if you add more, it can cut the time down even further.

I usually make them and sell them at craft shows.

I also have plans to make some felted ornaments.

I will show you when I get them done.

Thanks for stopping by...

Linking up with these great blogs.

And the winner is.....

Last week I was thrilled to offer you a chance to win a copy of the Somerset Studio July/August issue.

All you had to do was leave a comment about what project you loved from the ones I shared....

Thank you for all your lovely comments. 

 I wish I could have Stampington send a copy to each of you...

I used an online random number generator to find the winner....

The winner is Valerie Rennel!!!

Valerie, leave a comment below and I will get in touch to have Stampington send you your issue.

If you have never looked at Somerset Studio, you are going to love it....

I encourage everyone to take a look at the newsstand as well...

Next week I will be offering a chance to win a copy of the new Summer issue of Jewelry Affaire.

  Be sure to stop back in for your chance to win and a preview of another great issue...

Thanks for stopping by...

Workbench Wednesday: Leather Cuffs

I always have to chuckle when it comes time to photograph Workbench Wednesday.

The location varies from week to week.

Sometimes it is in my garage/studio.

Sometimes it is in the living room. 

 It can be in the annex on the workbench outside.

I work in different places for different tasks.

Any hammering is completed on a cement floor.  

This time it was on our back porch.

Yes, the cement porch floor is carpeted.

  The couple that built the house glued it down. 

It is there to stay.

This week I was stamping cuffs.

I love picking up leather belts to use for making bracelets.

I have my handy dandy leather stamp alphabet set.

The sponge is for wetting the leather before stamping.

The sweet double enamel bucket was a clearance buy years ago at a drugstore in town.

It has a handle so it is easy to move current projects.

I usually do more than one of each word or phrase on different cuffs.

These have all been cut, trimmed and had the holes punched.

I will sit and stamp until they are either all done, or I am tired of sitting on the floor.

My body does not enjoy sitting on the concrete as much as it used to.

Next I will use some gilders' pastes and waxes.

I am so proud that cuffs similar to these are in the current issue of Somerset Studio.

I actually am choosing a reader to receive a free copy of the magazine this week.

  If you  missed out on the post, check it out here.

I am a messy worker.

This is actually neater than usual because I can't leave the mess here.

I will have to clean it up as soon as I am done.

Not pictured are my two art buddies, the dogs. 

 Both are off camera.

One on each side.

Hope you enjoyed a peek at what I am working on...

What is on your workbench?

Thanks for stopping by....

Linking up with these great blogs.

Every Collection Starts With One... Aprons

My husband's grandmother was the sweetest woman.

Before she died, she gave me one of her aprons.

I never wore it, but it hung in my kitchen at our first house and does the same in our home now.

Soon, it had friends...

And like all sweet souls, they attracted more friends...

And more friends...

And more friends...

And so on...

Each one has a sweet little personality of its own.

I loved the sweet rosebud fabric in this one.

This one was well-loved and I got a kick out of the ruffle along the bottom.

More pretty pink rosebuds...and a pocket.

This one seems like a cocktail party apron.

The sheerness seems impractical, but I loved those birds.

How sweet are they?

This one is extra long to go the whole way around the wearer.

See?

It has the button hole to pass the tie through.

I love the colors, fabric and tiny pockets on this one.

Fun diagonal detailing...

This one reminds me of those old fabric wall calendars.

Fun fabric and rick rack made this one impossible to pass up.

I like polka dots.

And this one has been well-used.

I can imagine what heavy items started to pull the stitching.

Maybe the wearer tucked her hands in there often and that pulled away at the seams.

This one just epitomizes aprons to me...

Great colors and fun strawberries.

It has a few stains that have not come out after repeated washings.

Each stain has a story, a secret I will never know.

The crisp white of this one is lovely.

See those darling blue birds on the pocket?

Almost all my aprons except for the first one and this next one were picked up at flea markets for $1 each.

This red gingham one I bought at a church craft show.

 The lady selling them had not sold any.

I knew it was a gingham friend for Grandma's first orange gingham apron.

I also loved that the woman made aprons...

It seemed so nostalgic.

Most of my collection tie around the waist.

  I have just a couple that have a chest covering.

This one is a child's apron.

The only one in my collection.

I thought this one was a sweetheart...

Sorry...

I could not resist.

And this last one is so practical.

Like any collection, it begins with one.

I have them all hanging on a little hook rack on the side of my fridge.

In the summer I take them all down and wash and hang them on the line.  

I hope you enjoy seeing them today.

What special things do you collect?

Thanks for stopping by....

Linking up with these great blogs.