lo and behold

There are no consolation prizes behind my doors 1, 2, and 3.  Each door offers me a wonderful and different present.  Hmmm, let’s see,  I can buy one for my birthday, one for my half-birthday, and one for . . . what I tell my kids is called an “I love you present.”  Just cuz. 

My door #3 is Daisychain Jewellery.  And that’s jewellery rather than jewelry because Jo the metal smith is located in Southampton, UK.  I first “met” Jo when I participated in the first Bead Soup Blog Party hosted by  Lori Anderson.  The second Bead Soup Blog Party is happening right now, and I couldn’t swing it play along this time, but I will definitely be crashing the party once the participants start revealing (next week) what they have made with the “bead soups” they received from another blogger. 

Anywhoo, for her bead soup jewellery piece, Daisychain made this lovely focal pendant with a hollow lampwork bead from Island Girl Insights.  

A week or two later,  she offered a tutorial on how to make it for the drooling commenters like myself who loved what she did. 

Let’s just say that I’ve been hooked ever since. On her blog, Jo is very generous with her experience and knowledge of working with metals, and if it she didn’t live across the pond, I’d sign up for one of her “private tuitions” in a minute.  Or, I’ll  just hop across the pond one day and say hello. 

But in the meantime, if I were to own one of Jo’s pieces for myself, here are a few I’d consider from her online shop. 

As one who is not interested in prissy flowers in the least bit, I’m an utterly enchanted by these. And now I understand why she is called Daisychain Designs.  That cuff – it is unlike anything I own – and I think I would love wearing it. 

And here’s another.  She calls it Dusky Rose, and I could put a different stone in the middle if I wanted. . . . This girl can rock flowers.  (And all the photos belong to the artist.) 

So, each of my doors is really a doorway into a different world.  Don’t be surprised to see photos of me sporting some new jewels before my next birthday . . . And can someone please tell my husband to read my blog?

This was a good week because:

I posted in my blog 5 times! (I’m a M-F kind of gal.  I spend so much time on my computer that I just have to put it away on the weekends.)

I got a haircut.

I made a big and bold decision. 

I made waffles for breakfast because I have totally spoiled my kids into thinking that homemade food is required for breakfast, and I got tired of hearing “Cereal again?” 

I  learned about an amazing wire technique in a tutorial on Daisychain Jewellry. The photo below is what she did, not what I did.  Mine most certainly won’t be as even and beautifully tapered, but I sure am going to give it a try. 

I learned from the queen of color herself Kerry Bogart where to buy high-quality colored wire. (photos by Kerry)

I learned about a fun new toy from Lori Anderson.

I finished a necklace.

And I have some leftover handmade lampwork beads from the set ( Beverly Hicklin in the UK.)

Leave me a comment on this post before midnight Monday, and I will enter you into a drawing for these beads - my gift to you for being part of my good week.  And while you’re here, please subscribe to my RSS feed (an invitation, not a requirement for the giveaway.)

Have a great weekend!