When I get a really cool custom order, I like to share the story. I was asked by a wedding guest to take the scrollwork from the invitation and make it into a pendant with the bride and groom's monogram and a bead drop to match the wedding color.
Some of the scrollwork ran off the page, so I had to do a little Photoshopping before I had an image I liked. Originally the customer wanted me to stamp block letters into the pendant for the monogram, but because I'm working in Photoshop I can use whatever font I want. Customer liked the chiseled monogram.
Okay, it's been a month since my last 
Meanwhile I have been hoarding some Patti Cahill lampwork I purchased a year ago, and finally broke up the set rather than put all the gorgeous eggs into one basket-necklace. First of all, putting all the special beads into one piece makes it pretty expensive (Patti is one person who has great talent and charges what it is worth). Secondly, when I break it up it makes for a nice grouping at the shop downtown. 
For those of you looking for discs to use in your Spinning Wheels, check out Serena's Beadery. The color pictured here is called Dirty Copper Green, and the pendant in my tutorial features a Silver Dark Plum disc. 
Steve and I just visited the Outer Banks, and for a couple days it poured down rain. So I was on the sofa with my laptop, doing a little web surfing and, more notably, writing the Spinning Wheel Pendant Tutorial.
Riveting is fun, especially tube-riveting (because I find it easier than wire-riveting). It may seem like a long list of tools and supplies, but many of them are basic jeweler's tools or items you can find at a hardware store, and you can buy the kit ($20 including the tutorial) if you want to skip the drill, saw, and file steps. It's a great way to dress up a basic stamped name necklace for a new level of cool Mom Jewelry.
I have other *riveting* tutorial projects up my sleeve, including one with PMC and another that covers wire rivets, so stay tuned!
Wow, the summer is flying by! I've been a busy bee, so that probably has something to do with it.
If you're looking for new AnneMade jewelry, I hope you live nearby because Simply Charming Boutique has all my newest pieces for fall. And I know this is a good thing, but they have been selling before I can get pictures! Here's a few I did capture...
Steve and I took a quick trip to Delaware this week. I got to visit with Connie at Sparkles Bead Shop a little this morning, which was so precious. Olivia's sweet little face was even posted on the bulletin board!
I really do miss teaching classes at the shop, and I miss the students and hearing what's new in their lives and seeing what they make with the techniques they learned in class. Not to mention it got me out of the house.
I work from home and when Steve travels for work I get really starved for conversation. Fortunately my friend Lauren has been helping me out lately, which in turn makes me a lot more productive. (The Laptop Lid Closing plan didn't stick.) If Lauren is at the computer listing items on Etsy, then I'm relegated to the workbench to work on my fall collection.
Feel free to drop me a line and let me know what you'd like to see, jewelry or tutorials. I appreciate the human contact!
I have been offering a tutorial on how to make a Beaded Branches Pin. It included brief bonus instructions on how to transfer those skills to make a necklace. Now I have posted the full Beaded Branches Necklace tutorial complete with step-by-step instructions and lots of pictures. This is a great technique for weddings, whether you're just going as a guest or you're making "something new" for the bride to wear on her big day.
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