New Techniques!

About a month ago I invested in an embossing machine. I've been using it to create some new jewelry using Vintaj brass disks and then colorizing the metal with patinas from Vintaj and from Lisa Liddy's Color Me This line. Every project has been a joy and I am totally in love with the technique. Embossing is so easy to do and the results are stunning! I encourage everyone to try out the technique!

Here are a few pieces that I've made recently with these techniques.

All of these pieces are available in our Etsy shop at http://www.etsy.com/shop/thepinkmartini

Bead Love!

Today our mailbox was stuffed with two great packages! First, I received some silk sari ribbons in the mail from my friend Vonna. She spoiled me with awesome! I have been wanting to try my hand at using silk ribbons but I never seem to have the cash on hand to purchase the overflowing basketful of ribbons I choose everytime I look. I am a terrible one for making decisions on new stuff. She took the guess work out of my choices and sent me some amazing colors. The wine and the blue green are my favorites but I think I'm going to work with the goldenrod yellow ones first.

My second bead love package was from Terry Jeanette Carter from over at Tappingflamingo Blog. Terry and I were partnered up in a Pantone Fall 2012 bead swap in the Bead Soup Cafe group on Facebook. The idea was to exchange beads based on the Fall color palette designers are using this season. She and I both tried to hit every color in the palette and I think we came pretty close! I think my favorite thing is the glass saucers in the teals and blues mix but I would be hard pressed to point at something I wasn't tickled with. I want to thank Terry again for being my partner for making this exchange so fun!

1 Love Letter by Clairy Browne

1 Love Letter by Clairy Browne


Rome and I LOVE the musicians they feature in the Heiniken Beer commercials. We've been singing the Love Letter song for a month now. Who ever thought up the commercials should get kudos for choosing such amazing tunage. I looked up the singer of Love Letter tonight and I am totally in love with this groups sound. Very bluesy and funky 50s. I'm going to get the album as soon as I figure out if it's North America compatable. The group is Clairy Browne and Bangin' Rackettes and they are from Australia. Check out the link and enjoy the tune!

New Techniques!

I tried my hand at something new this past week. Riveting...seriously. LOL. I riveted my first items together and it was SO much fun. I'm searching all over for more things I can jam together with a rivet. I don't know why I waited so long to try this out, it was really very easy.

I also stamped out my first word. That will take more practice to perfect but I enjoyed doing that too. I need to find more inspiration for words and blanks to try this out on. I'm LOVING learning all of the metal smithing techniques.

Here is my project piece. I used a 34mm Vintaj brass blank and riveted on the 'flower' bead cap. I then stamped out stem and leaves and finally added the word 'blossom' and another flower to the end. My spacing isn't great yet, but I think this one has lots of character.

My beading group, The Bead Hive, has a new inspiration up this month. I LOVE this color palette and wanted to use the colors for a project.

I decided to use my new pendant with the crystals picking up the colors from the inspiration palette. I used rose, olivine and amethyst crystals and the brass chain picks up that tone from the palette nicely I think.

What would you make using that color palette? Does it say Fall/Autumn to you too?