Mind you, these sketches and scribbles arent created for beauty, but more to capture the blur of an idea and get it transferred onto paper before it disappears from my memory.
Some sketches are completed projects, like this lariat necklace that I created on a whim.
The finished piece turned out so well that I made a quick sketch of it, and along side of the sketch I detailed the materials that I used, so that if I wanted to create another one in the future, I had a written guide to what beads I used and in what sizes.
Most of what you will find in my jewelry design sketch book are quick sketches, what I think of as impressions of shapes, sizes, movements, sometimes little details. To some people they probably look like scribbles, but when I look at them, I know whats going on!
For example, the design above was the way the cables were installed on my basement wall. Funny, right? For some reason, the design of the cables and connectors just caught my eye, and I had to sketch them down. Who knows, maybe they will inspire a design sometime down the road!
The sketches above inspired the finished projects below...
Copper wire shawl pin. This is one of my very favorite pieces. Glorious simplicity!
Copper and turquoise earrings (unfinished)
Selasa, 29 Maret 2016
Treasure Hunting Thursdays The Odd The Unexpected
Hi friends! This week my daughter had an early dismissal from school so I got to take her along with me when I hit the thrift stores. I usually go alone, so it was nice to have some company this time around. I like to go during the day because I find that in the evenings the stores were I shop tend to be more crowded and more picked through after 5pm.
I wrote my list of things I was hoping to find and out the door we went. The first shop we went to had half price off of bric-brac (aka dust collectors) which I usually never buy unless I am looking for something for a specific project, such as a mosaic. Here are a few things we came across...
This ram creamer kind of weirded me out so I took a picture of it. I guess if you are an Aries or collect rams it would make you happy.
Ahhh this was a find. The moment that I spotted this, the entire trip was instantly worthwhile. My very first vintage glass electrical insulator! Yay! I finally found one at a thrift store! I had seen them in antique shops but had never found one at a thrift shop before. It was a really pretty shade of emerald green. For $2 I had to have it. It looks great on my window sill...
Just yesterday I updated my blog post about upcycling vintage glass insulators, so if you havent read that blog post, you should check it out! (Creative Ways To Upcycle Vintage Glass Insulators) If youve never seen one of these before, these were used to insulate telephone poles from the electrical wires. See the grooves on the sides of it? The electrical wires would rest against those grooves. The bottom is open and the inside is hollowed out. That is where it would fit on a peg on the wooden pole.
Like I said earlier, Im usually not one for bric brac but I had to have these elephants. Vintage with iridescent pink finish and half price (I paid only $2) they make a neat addition to my studio. I just may add a piece of copper wire to them and turn them into an incense holder. Right on.
We stopped at a second thrift store on our way home and when my daughter found this plate she was beside herself. Presidents! She is currently obsessed with American history and politics and is considering majoring in Political Science in college (which is four+ years away!) Of course, she wants me to make her jewelry out of it...hehe. Half-price, so she got it for $2.00.
Lesson for the day: Even if you bring along a list, you never know what youre going to walk out of a thrift shop with, so always go with an open mind. Its treasure hunting at its best.
Do you have a treasure story to tell?
Please share it with us by leaving a comment below!
Enjoy the rest of your week.
Love, Laura
Check out my new jewelry instruction books and DVDs!
Learn how to solder and make unique jewelry!
My broken china jewelry is always available for purchase at https://www.etsy.com/shop/dishfunctionldesigns
Cheddar and Bacon Loaded Pub Fries
Nothing says movie night comfort food on a cold winter weekend night than these
cheddar and bacon loaded pub fries! My family goes wild over these, and you will too!
A few side notes: I like to use a large glass lasagna pan for this recipe.
The jalapeno peppers are optional. Serve with ranch dressing for dipping!
Ingredients
2 - 28oz. bags of Steak Fries (I use a bit less, about 1 & 1/2 bags)
1/2 lb. bacon, fried crisp and crumbled
5-6 green onions, thinly sliced (a little bit less than 1/4 cup)
8-12 oz. sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
pickled sliced jalapenos
Ranch dressing for dipping
Instructions
Preheat oven as directed on steak fries package.
Spray casserole dish with cooking spray. Arrange steak fries in the
casserole dish and bake according to package directions.
(I bake mine for about 25 minutes at 425F)
While fries are baking, fry, drain and crumble the bacon.
Chop the green onions and shred the cheddar cheese.
Once fries are finished baking, remove from the oven and top with toppings in this order:
shredded cheddar cheese, crumbled bacon, green onions, jalapeno pepper slices.
I also like to top with additional cheese but thats just my preference.
Return the fries to the hot oven and bake for an additional 10 minutes or until cheese is melted. Serve with ranch dressing for dipping.
I use one and a half bags of these fries to feed 4 adults
Spread frozen fries in your casserole dish. I use a glass lasagna dish.
Fry, drain, and crumble bacon while fries are baking
Dice green onions while fries are baking
Remove baked fries from oven and sprinkle with cheese
Top the cheese with crumbled crisp bacon
Top the bacon and cheese with the diced green onions
Top with sliced jalapeno peppers
I like to put extra cheese on top of it all before baking the second time!
Bake in 400 F oven for approx. 10 minutes or until cheese is melted.
Serve with ranch dressing on the side for dipping.
Serve with ranch dressing on the side for dipping.
Perfect for movie night!
What do you think?
Check out my new DIY jewelry instruction books and DVDs!
Learn how to solder and make unique jewelry!
My broken china jewelry is always available for purchase at https://www.etsy.com/shop/dishfunctionldesigns
My broken china jewelry is always available for purchase at https://www.etsy.com/shop/dishfunctionldesigns
