Display

I turned my car into a studio today at lunch

Here are pics of my display

Slate and glass marble pendants

Slate mini subway tile, copper wire

Flat back marbles, scrapbook paper, copper wire

Playing with washers and wire

Gold plated ear wires and wire, brass washers, blue rondelle

Silver solder base, zinc nuts, blue rondelles, blue large hole beads

Silver solder base, zinc nuts, brass washers, blue ceramic beads

cards

Today I managed to get some cards made. On my new display I have spots for 36 cards. I almost filled it up. Here’s the skinny:

http://ab-stractions.com/greeting_cards7.htm

http://ab-stractions.com/greeting_cards8.htm

I just can’t stay away from the hardware store

Today I visited the tile and lighting sections of Lowes. I got a sheet of eighteen Indian slate mini subway tiles, 7/8″ x 1 7/8.” The colors are really muted. I think I will experiment with a clear finish. These will make great wire wrapped pendants.

They had tiled a counter in the kitchen idea section with these tiles called Cayman Dolphin. They are gorgeous and must be seen in person to appreciate. They are 3″x3,” so I’m going to see if someone can cut them for me. Link

And last but not least I grabbed the last two of these fan pulls. To be used as pendants of course. The top screws off so it can be used as an amulet as well. There were other pulls that would be cool pendants too. Link

I saw some half inch jade mosaic tile on display for $15 a square foot. They also had granite and other stone in that size. The sales people were busy, so I didn’t bother to ask if they sold it per sheet. I can’t find it on their website either, so it might be special order. I will go back another time and ask.

I hope I make a lot of money at my sale next weekend. I really want to buy some other types of wire besides what I can get a the hardware store. I also want to buy some more tools.  One can never have enough tools!

Been busy

I made these til it hurt. 40 cell phone charms/stitch markers

Wha? O_o

I gave this necklace set to my mother-in-law for a benefit auction that was held last night. It went for $150! I was stunned.

Prong set cabochon

This is my first attempt at a prong setting. The cabochon is a flat back marble with scrapbook paper glued to it. I ran copper foil around the edge too. I used a swirl ornament hook as the base, and wrapped 20g silver craft wire around it for the prongs. I do not like the craft wire. It is too stiff. My prongs aren’t neat, and I can’t get them to lay flat. I didn’t wrap the whole ornament hook either. I think I will do that next time. I have 24 g silver craft wire that’s softer, but I worry about it being stiff enough for the prongs. The marble is about 1.25″ diameter.

Front:

Back:

Floor tile necklace *sold*

This a one inch Italian slate floor tile from Home Depot. It comes in a 12×12 inch sheet, and you just break them off the backing. The scan does not do it justice. The face of the tile is very silvery and shimmery. The square beads are magnetic hemalyke, the jump rings are washers, and the wire is aluminum. Everything but the beads came from Home Depot.

Bugle bead bracelet

I have had these bugle beads sitting around for eons and finally found a use for them. I may try one with several layers next.