....whew it has been a very long day for me... a good one but a long one... so needless to say I am a bit behind on posting the Sparks... but here they be... finally.

This week I truly did not feel like making a piece of jewelry, oddly. I think that it stems from the fact that I am so up to my eye-balls with filming my online Jewelry Making Workshops that my brain simply needed a break... and that's just fine with me.

For some reason this week, I just had a fire inside telling me to paint. I haven't in a long while and my hands just needed to feel the brushes... they needed to be free from the repetitive motions of jewelry making... sounds weird but it's just the truth.

I was not only inspired by this past weeks sparks but also by my recent purchase of a vintage dress form affectionately named Greta.

So here's what a little Creative Spark Friday and Vintage Dress Form inspiration makes one produce... a mixed media dream... of paint, ink, bees wax, glitter and so on and so on...

Greta's Summer Flowers

ohhhh it felt so good to have paint all over my hands again.... big smile...

I am so looking forward to seeing what you have created...

Anna Lear of The Laughing Raven

Molly Alexander of Beautifully Broken Me

Alesha Kay of Alesha Kay Jewelry

Patti Clark of PJ Clark Designs

Patty of My Life Under The Bus

(to have your creation added, please contact me by Saturday, thanks!)

*POST UPDATE- I am so excited to announce the fresh new change to Creative Spark Fridays.

I have decided to open up a new group on the Gritty Bird Academy called.... none other then- Creative Spark Fridays (big smile). I have done this to make things easier on me to post and share the sparks with you.

So here's how things are going to work.... from now on ALL SPARKS will be posted over on the academy site.. I will still do a weekly Friday post here to share my sparked creations, but in order to both share and see other participating designers sparked creations you need to become a member of the Creative Spark Fridays group.

Over the last day I have been working hard to get the group set up and it is ready to go, just waiting for you to join in the fun! To become a member of the group is EASIE PEASIE! Here's all you need to do...

First, you need to become a member of the Gritty Bird Academy (membership is FREE).

Then once your a member, visit the classrooms tab, click on Creative Spark Fridays and join the group!

Click HERE to become a member & start getting SPARKED today!

• in other news... I am so behind at the moment. My big plans to reopen the shop this week did not happen but I am hoping to get that done this weekend too... notice the word hoping.

Have a wonderful weekend...

♥ more soon ♥ 

Okay guys... I have to admit it, but I'll be a bit late re-opening the shop... however... the good news is that I am not late with posting all the Gritty Bird Academy Workshop Pre-Registration Specials!

here the scoop....

from NOW until Thursday, November 18- you can take advantage of special discounted workshop rates or as I like to call it- "the early bird gets the worm saves alot of money buys more art supplies and makes something pretty for her birdie grandma pre-registration sale"... I think you get the picture... (big smile). 

The Academy grand re-opening is set to take place on Friday, November 19. As I mentioned before it is FREE to become an Academy member and once you do you get access to the FREE Tip's and Techniques room!

Now if after becoming a member of the Academy.... you decide to take a workshop with me and purchase through the pre-registration special here's what will happen... once I recieve your workshop payment your name will go onto the Workshop Roster and you will given access to the workshop classroom starting on 11/19.

After months on months of planning... I am so excited about my little online academy... I truly love teaching... I love sharing what I know.... and most of all I love having fun and making pretty things! I hope that you will join me for a new creative adventure....

Please visit the Academy to see all upcoming workshops and purchase options. :)

• just a little note- the shop will re-open this Wednesday... I have had my hands full with house-keeping & home-schooling... it is back to the grind folks... back to the grind... summer is officially over at my house. How about yours? 

♥ more soon ♥

.......oh color... how I love you. ♥♥♥

this little muffin that I whipped up is not lacking in the color department... and I simply love it.

It includes some re-purposed flowers, chilly lemonade colored Czech glass beads, chains and some yummy Duponi Silk Ribbon...

Summer Breeze Necklace

Alesha from Alesha Kay Jewelry 

Molly from Beautifully Broken Me

Stefanie from Stefanies Sammelsurium

(to have your creation added, please contact me by Saturday, thanks!)

• I am realizing that I am one very eclectic jewelry designer...

I love working with so many different techniques... that I guess whatever my creative insides feel like working with it at that given moment is what I go with.

If I want to string something... or forge something... or bend something... or hammer something... or re-purpose something... or wrap something... or solder something... whatever... doesn't matter... I don't need to live in a labeled box... I just let go and create. It is wonderful.... and you should join me.

•• I am planning on a working but somewhat quiet weekend... remember to join me on Monday for the shop re-opening and specials..

Have a wonderful weekend. :)

now... are you ready...

... I have been saving this post and I am thrilled to share it with you today. ♥♥

Several months ago I signed up for a wonderful online workshop hosted by the ever wonderful and amazingly talented Stephanie Lee.

Over the past few weeks I have been nurturing my creative spirit, deepening my skill set and enlarging my love for the fine craft of making art jewelry.

This may seem odd to say but every now and again I can feel myself drifting away from just how much I love to design jewelry... ignoring that this is who my creative self wants to be.... but with Stephanie and her inspiration in tow I have reaffirmed my first creative love... She has exposed me to many new techniques and deepen my knowledge of others. She has helped me reaffirm in my heart that that I am an artist and I thank her immensely..

Here is my first completed workshop project.... everything except the beads and lobster claw clasp on this piece have been handforged...

Mysterious Flier Necklace

....do you notice something in these pictures.... oh yes... this is my lovely lovely Vintage Half Scale Dress Form. She arrived today and I am in love with her... Her name is Greta. :) Her and I will be very busy this weekend retaking all my shop pics. It will be a big undertaking but I am thrilled to do it.

•The shop will reopen this Monday (8/30). I am having a wonderful purchase promotion and amazing Gritty Bird Academy Workshop Pre-Registration Specials! The workshops that are planned are simply wonderful (see descriptions in post below).

I have poured my heart and soul into each and every one... I am teaching things that have taken years of practice and refinement for me to get right... I know that you will love them.

Remember that it is FREE to join the academy, please visit by clicking here.

•Creative Spark Fridays will be a bit later in the day tomorrow as I have a ton to do in the morning... join me to see the sparks a bit after 5 pm (eastern time).

♥ more soon ♥

-GRITTY BIRD ACADEMY ANNOUNCEMENT-

I am so EXCITED to announce that my little Academy has undergone an awesome and I mean awesome facelift....

below are some of the exciting new changes....

Firstly, membership to the Gritty Bird Academy is FREE and open to all. I invite you to join, get a feeling for my little Academy from behind the scenes, visit the FREE Tips and Techniques Page as often as you like.... get a first hand look at my available Workshops for Purchase, chat with fellow artist and most importantly share and gain creative inspiration!

♥ Nourish Your Creative Self & Join the Fun Today ♥

............................................................................................................................

here are some more academy workshop details.....

Over the last several months I have spent countless hours.... working behind the scenes setting up the site.... trying and re-trying... formulating and re-formulating SIX wonderful workshops to make sure they are TOP NOTCH and the work will continue for me over the next few months...


I have also been extremely busy working on a very special project called THE INSPIRATION ROOM... ♥♥♥ which I just love... love and KNOW you will too. ♥♥♥


The Academy Grand Re-Opening will take place on Friday November 19 and I will be offering Pre-Registration Specials starting Monday August 30.... YAY! :)


here is a brief overview of what's to come......



♥ The Inspiration Room ♥


Academy Members will have the option to purchase a 12 month pass to a classroom that will be FILLED with fun projects and glorious inspiration... It is going to wonderful!


Jewelry Making Fundamentals and Design


New to Jewelry Making?? Want to improve your skills??? or maybe find your style... need some inspiration... then this class is for you! I will teach not only the basic's on tools, how to shop for beads and to create gorgeous jewelry but I will also go over GOOD JEWELRY DESIGN in very great detail.... We will start and finish several projects in this workshop!


Foundations in Metal Jewelry


Want to learn more about SIMPLE METALSMITHING.... including cold joins using rivets, micro bolts and screws... how to etch... how to file... how to cut metal the easy way... how to stamp in metal... how to stack pendants.... and MUCH MORE... well... then this workshop for you... In this technique based workshop I will teach the tools of trade, and all the techniques you need to get going and start making WEARABLE ART!


Metal Meets Thread


In this awesome project based workshop you will PUMP up your jewelry design skills and learn how to incorporate thread and fabric into your art jewelry! We will complete several projects in this workshop..


Think Links!


The name says it all here... In this technique based workshop you will learn to break your dependency on pre-made chain or stringing materials and create fun... funky and unique links that will make your jewelry designs even more artistic!


Ready Set Go!
Techniques & Tips To Help Your Jewelry Biz Grow


From setting up a online shop.... to taking & editing product pictures.... to product packaging.... to building an attractive blog.... to pricing your work.... this class is fully loaded with ideas and inspiration to get your jewelry business moving in the right direction.


Simple Little Books


In this technique and project based workshop I will show you everything you need to know and all the materials that you need to start making fun and artistic little books....

Well, there you have it.... I am so very excited about this wonderful new creative adventure and I greatly hope that you will join me...

♥ more soon ♥

.... oh maiden of the sea you are my love...... oh maiden of the sea with your eyes and lips so fair.... oh maiden of the sea wrap me in your arms and treat me tenderly.... oh maiden of the sea share with me a locket of your golden hair.... oh maiden of the sea you bless my dreams at night...... oh maiden of the sea save me please from the awful fright of crashing ways and wayward seas........ oh maiden of the sea you are my love.....

I had so much fun with this theme.... I just LOVE sea stories....

The pendant on this piece is enameled in a sea blue and green with a sea maiden brass filigree attached by micro screws and bolts. I used a gnarly looking chain to add the feeling of the ship anchor chains... between the chains you will find the maidens treasure of crystals... and I hate to say this but I am not totally sure what the stones I used are... I lost the tag for them... Bummer... but they to me really give the sea, sand and earth feeling... I adore how it came out. :) Here is my Maiden of the Sea..........

Molly Alexander from Beautifully Broken Me

 Alesha from Alesha Kay Jewelry

Patti from PJ Clark Designs

(to have your name added to the list please contact me by Saturday- thanks)

•• the shop will be closed a bit longer then I expected.... I have recently acquired something VERY SPECIAL to use for a jewelry display when taking pictures for my shop and I am going to wait until it (she) arrives.... I then plan to retake all my current shop pictures and give the shop an overall cohesive feel... :) I am so excited about it!! YAY!

HAVE A WONDERFUL WEEKEND!

♥ more soon ♥

now are you ready......

The lovely Alesha left this question for me in my previous post...

I have a technical question: what do you have protecting the loop of the beading wire where it is attached to the wire wrapped bead? I can see something there, but I don't think I've seen anything like that. If you don't mind sharing what you've done there, that would be great!

and the answer is....

Yes there is something protecting the stringing wire on the necklace. They are simply called wire guards and I LOVE THEM! :) Not only do they protect your wire but they also polish the piece off quit nicely and make a wonderful design element.

You can pick these puppies in Antique Brass (that's what I have) here and search around for other colors.. I think Artbeads.com sells them, but calls them something else. 

There is something else that you can use for this technique. It is called French bullion but it is kinda-of a pain to work with... so I rarely use it although I still have it hanging around in my studio. :)

I hope this helps...

oh and just a little plug here... I will be teaching how to work with both of these along with TONS of other stuff in my upcoming online workshops.... check it ALL out here!

alrighty........ onward and upward to Creative Spark Fridays!

.....oh my oh my... I so ♥♥ heart ♥♥ enameling now..... I am madly and deeply in LOVE! 

I can't tell you how cool this technique is and the design possibilities are ENDLESS I tell you... simply endless. I absolutely adore the colors that are available, you can go crazy with them.

The class I took was taught in such a simple and clear way that as soon as I got home I began adapting the techniques to fit my personal style and way of creating. I have been playing with what works for me and what doesn't... the exploring has been wonderful...

The happiness that I feel from this SO relates back to my last 'woman of many hats' post about Creative Self Nourishment.

and with all that I have had on plate lately I really needed to nourish my creative spirit with this class.... I almost didn't go... can you imagine..... but boy did ever have a great time.

It was my first ever Ornamentea slumber party!

While I was there I got hugs from the wonderful Cynthia, bought some funky Elaine Ray Beads, stocked up on supplies for my new found enameling love, bought some cute charms and cool new tools. It was great. :)

Here are my first enameling attempts....

The two stars I made in class.. :)

and then.... I decided to go super funky and combine my new Elaine Ray Beads with a fun enameled pendant...

It reminded me so much of the Dr Suess book... 'Oh! The Things You Can Think' that I named it after it! (big smile).

oh... I just love the COLOR!

presenting... The Things You Can Think Necklace!

I adore it. :)

I also wanted to quickly share a few other things with you...

• I am changing the way that Participating Designers for Creative Spark Fridays share their work with my readers.

Here's a brief overview what you need to do to be included... 

IF YOU ARE A PARTICIPATING CREATIVE SPARK DESIGNER or ARTIST then please use the contact form located here on my site (upper right corner) and email me a link to where you are sharing your 'Sparked Creation'... I will then include your link within my regular 'Sparks Made Me Do It' journal post. 

PLEASE NOTE- participants have until the Sunday after I post my sparked creation to be added... :)

Just let me know if you have ANY questions on this and I will be HAPPY to help.

also.... a HUGE THANK YOU for ALL your support in this creative endeavor of mine! The response has been wonderful.

• SHOP UPDATE- My little shop will be closed until this coming Sunday. I am doing some dusting and general shelf cleaning... I will be doing a medium size (smiles) update with some new jewelry designs including the one above... oh... and I am offering a REALLY COOL promotion for the next few weeks! More Details HERE on Sunday! :)

I am off to finish my Creative Spark Friday design.... guess what?? it has enameling in it! hee hee.

♥ more soon ♥

P.S. I am so VERY honored to have been chosen for Ornamentea Customer Showcase again!

WOWIE! THANKS SO MUCH GIRLS! :) :)

so sorry to have missed last week's "woman of many hats" post, but some things just can't be helped... I am SO happy to report though that my secret project is ALL done and alot of my To-Do list is complete. :) YAY!

anywho onto my thoughts for this week...

caution... I ramble a bit here but it is good rambling.... ♥♥♥

Being a wearer of so many hats in life can be mentally, physically and spiritually draining.. I know this all to well.

Sometimes in my life I let things take over and I get so overwhelmed that I go into shut down mode and that means shutdown everything mode...

Sometimes I am so overwhelmed with life and all my responsibilities that I might be standing in front of the washing machine getting ready to do laundry and then zone out or freeze just because I realize at that moment how much I truly have to do and my mind says... I would rather not do anything but crawl back into bed and wish for things to be done for me... but we all know that is not how LIFE works and that is definitely not how things work when you are... yep you guessed it.... a wearer of MANY hats.

This burn-out, brain freeze and shut down can DEEPLY effect our creative lives (along with many other things).

SO the question is, how to prevent this burn-out from coming up and stumping on my creative flame???

How do I personally prevent it or should I say what am I attempting to do about it...

"CREATIVE SELF NOURISHMENT"

the taking of TIME out to •stop• •pause• •breath• •RECHARGE• and •REFRESH• yourself to keep going... the taking out of time to nourish who you are on the inside and then in turn to nourish your creative self..

We all need moments in life to breath and it is okay to admit it.

Personally, when I am suffering from normal LIFE burn-out, the thing I stop nourishing first is my creative self and then I end up feeling even more low because I need my creative self to be HAPPY and HEALTHY....

I know that you creative types can understand this well, our lives NEED to have creativeness in them... in some shape and form... and when we back away and neglect and we don't properly nourish it, little gloomies can come in.

Preventing the little gloomies isn't always easy but it can be done...

I have found that what need to feel nourished creatively is to spark myself... (not just with Creative Spark Fridays ♥ big smiles) but to really really get the fire going inside myself.

I have been approaching this by recognizing my need to keep learning my craft. I need to soak in techniques that match my Creative Focus... I need them to nourish my creative self.

This takes balance on my part... yes true balance.. to not want to learn every single wonderful arty thing or technique... but I can't tell you how wonderful it is to learn something and then keep growing as an artist.

Sitting stagnate within your art is not the way to get a happy and nourished creative self.

You have to keep going forward with your skills and this can take HUGE amounts of bravery on your part but the benefits are wonderful when you take those leaps....

When you are a creative person... YOU HAVE TO MEET the NEED to get that CREATIVENESS OUT... or you will never feel fulfilled in that part of your life... trust me on this, I know... I ignored my need for it for many years.

Getting self nourishment from a creative standpoint can be as simple as perfecting a technique, going to the book store and sitting down with a cup of coffee and flipping through your favorite crafty magazine, strolling the isles of the local crafty store, journaling thoughts and project ideas, taking classes both in person and online, taking creative leaps, buying a crafty book and making one of the projects inside... the list can go on and on...

Truly my point here is this.... take the time out to nourish your creative self. Find what it needs to flourish... Be Brave and go with it... it can make a true impact on how you feel through out the rest of your normal daily life. and yes.... I am speaking from genuine experience here! ♥♥♥

♥ more soon... including some NEW enameled work to share... oh I am in love with enamel...  ♥ 

oh this week... this week has been such a busy week for me with a major deadline looming over my head and sucking out every last bit of my brain and creative power.

I almost thought that I wouldn't have time to do a sparked creation this week and honestly what I did do is something that I whipped up in the last hour.... which truly does not make me happy and I am embarrassed to admit it.

My creative spirit does NOT work well under pressure or deadlines or whatevers... It just likes to do it's own thing and take as long as it needs to do it but sometimes the week just truly gets away with you.

For this week's sparks I used a pendant that I forged a while back... The week's "Color Palette Spark", although they were GORGEOUS colors did not translate to well into my piece. I think if I would have given myself MORE TIME I could have done a much better job with incorporating them but alas time was not on my side..... I did however use more earthy tones. I used wood, genuine white turquoise and warm metal tones to hopefully convey a forest or woodland feel. The piece to me has an overall misty quality, if that makes sense. :)

Here is my Sparked Creation... entitled... Forest Floor-

I am so very much looking forward to seeing how the sparks moved you this week!

REMINDER on how to share your "Sparked Creation"- 

PLEASE leave a comment below and follow these simple instructions on how to leave a direct html hyperlink link to your posted "Spark Creation" within your comment.

....simply copy and paste the html code below, be sure to change the text to "your site" address (include the http://www) and site name text-

 if you feel a bit intimidated to copy the html code above and include it in your comment, then please BE SURE to include your site address when filling out the post a new comment form- "author url"... :) 

••• tonight I am thrilled to say that I am going to Ornamentea's Enameling Slumber Party! and even though the drive is around 1 1/2 hours,  I am so looking forward to the creation time.... I really really need it. It will be a late night for me but honestly that is not anything that I am not used to at the moment. I'll be sure to share my creations and finds with you! :)

I hope that you have a WONDERFUL WEEKEND!

♥ more soon ♥

now are you ready..........