New! Tutorial, Antique Copper Earrings

Just in time for holiday creating!  Use fun beads and bright color in the wires
for a unique and easy to make holiday gift.  The 'how to' on the long and decorative hooks
is included and I hope will spark wonderful new ideas to enhance the look of your earrings.
I hope you like ;) xo
Come visit the shop for more tutorials!

... meanwhile, in the garage...

... what else does a cat of this size, do? ...

so I painted 'around' him...

... constellations
Leo
Cancer

... SiriuSly
;)

" the story of a garage "

hey you... Creative One

I'm making cards today :))

greetings...

Some ideas I hope you'll enjoy. Easy to make... okay maybe not toooo easy but fun!
Scrapbook and origami papers.  I make these up as I go, so there are no patterns, but with the origami paper, it's easy to imagine what 'hip' kimono might look like. ;)  I love making these.

For the card body, I used 12 x 12 Tex Tureo Cardstock, which you can purchase at any local hobby store.  This stack is called Far East and I got the from Michael's, the stickers too.  A bit of imagination makes for a unique gift and a great time of it!  Enjoy and have fun!

Remember these?  From my previous post ... Sisters Origami

click to enlarge

Simplicity

”... I’m a carefully calculated and well centered,
yet chaotically constructed complication called, Simplicity…”

hi.Q.can you see me?



updated;
it still applies

Paper & Copper Earrings

Some other fun and inexpensive ways to create and be creative ;) Have I shown you these? Again, simple craft papers, creatively cut, glued into place, wrapped in shiny copper wires and finished with copper ear hooks. Many of these papers are from book marks I created once before and they make wonderful gifts.... there are NOT enough hours in a day and don't even ask, but I also research into why that is! ;)

Who needs a garage...

  

Please  note:  my new email address

izzyzgumbo@gmail.com

The making of a 'studio' ;)

umm... yeah, I do jewelry in here too lol!  Enjoy some older articles I've written on building a creative space...
Health and Posture at the Jewelry Table
Your Jewelry Workspace
Tools for Making Wire Wrapped Jewelry

Well I sure hope you have the space already cleared in your garage before you get started... I had so much stuff crammed into mine, I had to clear it out first!  Anyway, after that.... I had a great time doing the rest!

FUN! ideas are these...
1.  Clear the floor of crap and carpet or other funky garage floor coverings and try to find foundation... mine is cement and was there after the removal of an old carpet left from previous occupants.
2.  Battleship grey is an awesome color to pour out onto a cleanly swept cement foundation and with roller on a broomstick handle, smearing such quick dry paint all over the floor is another delightful experience!
3.  Sweep away nasty cobb webs and corners, don't look, don't think, just do ... and using large sunglasses or eye cover is a must!  Sweep the ceiling without this eye protection and risk the idea of an icky spider filled something falling onto your face.... don't say I didn't warn you :) If you have a vac with hose, it's best.
and....
don't take yourself ... "SO SiriuSly!"  (my painting above)... it's an ART STUDIO and will be a mess most of the time anyway.  Have fun!

For the walls and my eccentric personality, I chose to use black chalk board paint and painted much of the wall spaces with it.  Including a few seats and counter surfaces.... some old picture frames too for portable chalk board space and this wonderful stuff comes not only in black but also GREEN!  And who can have an 'art studio' without whimsy things drawn all over the new chalk board walls. :))  what fun you will have... indescribable.

   

A few more...

While I could have purchased hooks in the same color of wire and saved myself the time, I decided that I wanted a longer and more rustic finding, so I simply made them myself. Take a desired length of wire, create a small end loop, bend the wire softly over your pinkie finger to create a soft curve and use flat nose pliers to create a small bend at the end of the wire.

If your cut is not super clean, use a small jewelry file to clean off the wire... one or two times across a nail file will help smooth out the end as well and make putting the earrings on, more comfortable. Dare to use the unique and more rare stones, crystals and handcrafted beads even. ;)

I've got some new tutorials coming out soon... so keep checking back!

A few things

I've been up to them... ;)

Using the fun and very inexpensive craft wires, you can create wonderful and abundant pieces to enjoy, share and even sell, without the fear of a breaking pocket book.  I began with gold fill and silver wire but as I've moved forward, I've discovered the joy and freedom  in using the colored coppers.  I still use real and quality stones in the designs but had a great time toning down the 'dress'... more rustic and natural in antique and brass colored Parawire, which you can find at any online or local hobby store such as Michael's and Hobby Lobby.  The stones are of Kyanite, Carnelian, Chalcedony, Moldavite, Charoite and Turquoise :) click the images for a bigger view

I hope my images inspire you to create and have a great time with it!
Please note my new email address
izzyzgumbo@gmail.com

new contact!!!

PLEASE change the contact info if you're trying to email me, my new is

izzyzgumbo@gmail.com

Many smiles, inspire something and be inspired!

~ enjoy your rocks! ;)

LOVE... your creative Nature.

Origami Note Cards

After a few days of making these wonderful little dolls, I decided to set them onto card stock and create unique note cards. They have three blank pages each inside along with a beautiful sheer envelope. Each card and Origami Geisha are created one at a time and each are one of a kind.

So that they don't get 'handled too much', I created simple packaging out of paper and some cute bee stickers. The cards can easily be seen but are also protected until purchase.

I've enjoyed them and hope they give you some creative ideas!

Many smiles and much love.

Sisters Origami

I Sa Ya...

I spent the last two days making the Ladies and also some kiddie bookmarks for the shop. I hope you enjoy the ideas and I hope they inspire some fun times! These are wonderful and easy to make. The Kimono patterns are my own so probably not 'traditional' but I love them anyway. :))

Hugs! Wonderful days and bright smiles!

Hairsticks for Spring!

The tutorial is now in my store! Click here to shop.

An easy and fun project using simple materials which can be found at any local or online craft store! I used simple wooden hair sticks that are six inches in length, beading glue, copper wire and some of my favorite seed beads. I strung the beads along thin copper wire and then using beading glue, attached them onto the hair sticks. I've sold quite a few of these at work and certainly I use them! They're beautiful, fun, easy to wear and very secure in holding up the hair.

If you've never worn them, it's easy. Wrap your hair into a bun, stick a stick through and use more then one! :)) I hope you enjoy the ideas!
Hugs and many creative days!

Altitude Adjustment...

"What I do all day works..."
works much better than
"what i do all day is work".

:) Welcome to Spring!

FREE! Earring Hanger, Display, GemA.Tree Tutorial

Well it's not like I've not been doing anything! :)) I created this small, fun and easy tutorial which I hope you'll enjoy! I've made many of these as gifts and just as a place to put my earrings. They're fun and the materials can be found in any craft store. Use your spare large wooden beads, large glass bobbles, mosaic tiles and crystals to create a variety of whimsy designs.

The file is a .pdf file and can be downloaded from my FREE TUTORIAL PROJECTS page

Have fun! Suggestions and comments are always welcome on my tutorials. I appreciate your eyes, your friendship and your time!

New! Wire Wrap Pendant Tutorials, In Time for Holidays!

Hi everyone! Hope your holidays have been as wonderful and (as busy??) as mine have been :) It's been a while since I've wrapped with gold fill wire but it was such a pleasure to get my hands on it again. This amazing Pietersite cabochon, I've had a while and went back and forth with wire choice thinking that perhaps I'd try it in this or that, but in the end, it is easy to see why the color of gold suits this lovely stone. It's warm colors of rich browns, chocolates, golds and reds look delicious and rich inside of gold.

My Tear Drop pendant tutorial was just finished today so I hope you enjoy that as well! It's in the shop too!

My new tutorials can be purchased at my Etsy shop! I so hope you're tempted :)
Many smiles, much love to you and yours for the holiday and best wishes for the New Year!!!
2010... it's a good one. ;)
x

New Copper Pendants, Necklace & Earring sets!

Click the images to enlarge









Well these are the latest! I've been waiting for the copper beads to come and they did today. I prepared the pendants a few days ago and then strung them up when the shipment arrived. I guess looking back, I started off right where I left off... with copper. It's such a warm color, easy to work with and works so well with many stones.

In these, I have tumbled stones of wonderful colors, I used brown leather cord, finished simply with copper wrap and for the focal beads, there are Lapis, Lemon Jade, Carnelian and Pietersite.
Whew! I'll be listing in the store soon but these might end up at the local shops instead... anyway...

They are meant to be worn as chokers and rather then using a clasp, I leave the leather 'unfinished' and they are worn tied. The bulk of the leather isn't uncomfortable and it holds better then anything! Easy to wear. I've sold them this way before and it seems to work out right fine. :) I always give an option for a clasp certainly, but leaving them this way also makes for easy length adjustments. Just wear them as you like!

I've also worked on some new simple but I think, elegant earrings and silver pendants. I'm liking the 'natural' look these days and I think it's starting to show in my pieces! I'll post more images soon.

If you're interested, all the copper pendants are created with the same basic wrap technique, which is easy and great to use with large focal beads that are drilled top down. I lost some tutorials when the computer crashed but have recreated the Butterfly pendant tutorial. :) It's listed in the store...I'm slowly starting to relist things.
Hugs! I'd love opinions if you have a second.

Click HERE to visit the shop listing.

Thanks for visiting!
Please contact me with comments or questions!
izzyzgumbo@gmail.com

http://twitter.com/izzygumbo

New Deschutes Picture Jasper Pendant!

I'm revisiting my old ways and decided to purchase one of a kind designer cabochons again. I know all stones are really one of a kind but you also know that some are more magnificent then others and that's this one. I fell in love with it the second I saw it and even to the point of revisiting ebay to get it. whew! Haven't been there for stones in a while... but you'll see what I mean and I encourage you, if you wrap pendants, to visit Slabitcabit
His/their cabs are truly of wonderful quality. I've purchased several from them in the past and will continue. It didn't surprise me that when I found the seller, it was them. :)

I hope you love it! Click images to enlarge.









"Beautiful waves and unusual patterns in this classic material; a very unique gemstone!! A well designed and beautifully cut gem of this dramatic jasper from Oregon. This stone has a glossy high polish front and back and is professionally cut. It is slightly beveled. This stone measures 41x23.5 mm and is 4.2 mm thick, the weight is 29.5 cts."