Peridot Birthstone For August

This is a picture of Perdiot in the rough, for more information on it visit Wikipedia

Peridot is a green gemstone that is as popular for jewelry today as it was in the past. It has been found in ruins of ancient Egypt and Greece and was often called the evening emerald by ancient Romans, who noticed that its green color shone even more vividly in lamplight, making it resemble deep green emeralds. Most ancient peridot probably came from the Red Sea island of St. Johns, which produced highly prized dark-green peridot.
The above excerpt is taken from here


1) Freshwater pearls, Swarovski 4mm bicone peridot color crystals and a swarovski 4mm and a 5mm pearl.
They measure .75 " from earwire drop. The wires are 14k goldfilled wire.
2) The peridot glass drops are 6mm Czech glass the pearls are 4mm Swarovski . They measure 1.25" from the 14k earwires.
3) Made with Czech peridot colored glass teardrops and 6mm round beads, joined with 5mm Swarovski pearls. They measure 1" drop from the 14k earwires.


4) The heart pendant is made with 14k goldfilled twisted wire. It has a 6mm and a 4mm peridot color Swarovski crystal and a 5mm and a 4mm Swarovski pearl. The heart including bail measure 1.50".
5) The triangle pendant is made with 14k twisted goldfilled wire. It has a fresh water pearl a 5mm and 4mm Swarovski pearl and a 6mm and 4mm peridot colored Swarovski bicone crystal. It measures 2.25" long.

Folklore, Legend, and Healing Properties:

It is thought to bring the wearer good luck, peace, and success,. Its powers include health, protection, and sleep. The advantages of peridot are to attract love and calm anger while also soothing nerves and dispelling negative emotions.
The Folkore, Legend, and Healing Properties excerpt was taken from here

Until Next Time Rock On!

Jean9

Advertisers July 22 - 28

These have been my advertisers from July 22 to 28. Click on them to visit their sites.

Easy Crayon Apron For The Little Artist In Your Life

Here is a really neat little idea for the little artist in your life. An easy to make crayon apron. The crayons may not stay in the crayon pocket for too long, but the artist will still have an artist apron to help with little messes on clothing.
Make Your Pattern
On the picture below are the measurements to make the pattern for the apron. These are the measurements I used to make my sample apron. Adjust your pattern to fit the child that you are making the apron for. I laid the pattern out full size to make it easier to see. To print your pattern on paper it would be simpler to make it on the fold, just cut the numbers of the measurements in half.

The Materials You Will Require
I bought 20" of 60" wide fabric, which was plenty to make this crayon apron and the bias tape required to finish the apron. If you are not making the bias tape then about 16" of 45" fabric is enough to make the apron.

You will require:
In my sample apron I used 1 package of Extra wide double fold bias tape, the package has 3 yards, I thought that was not quite enough. Just about .5 of a yard more would have been so much better to extend the waist ties.

1 package of 8 crayons or what ever you would like, in my sample I put 2 regular crayons in each pocket.
or if you prefer
1 package of 8 jumbo crayons

Note
When applying bias tape I sew the bias tape onto the wrong side of the fabric and then top stitch on the right side.


Apply the bias tape to the top edge of the crayon pocket and then top stitch on right side to
finish.


Starting from the center and working out both to the left and to the right mark the crayon pocket with as many 1" slots as you want crayons. Pin the pocket onto the apron and top stitch the slots, making sure that you backstitch to secure the slots.


Sew the bias tape to the top edge and around the apron, again sewing onto the wrong side of the apron and top stitching on the right side.


To form the neck tie and the waist ties
Leave about 14-16" of bias tape on the one side for one waist tie then sew up around the arm cut out towards the neckline. Leave enough of a band to fit the childs head through or you can cut the bias to make a tie strap around the neck. Then go back down the next side, and leave your 14 - 16" for this waist tie.

There you have it, a simple little artists apron. There is such a variety of great fabrics the sky is the limit there!

Bias Tape
If you are a regular crafter or seamstress you may want to learn how to make your own bias tape, it is really quite easy to make and costs pennies. When I was into a lot of crafting I made all of my own bias tape. The beauty of this is also you can make the bias to match your project. When I make my own placemats I like to have matching bias. You can also make it to your own custom width. If anyone is interested in a tutorial on how to make bias please let me know.

Until Next Time Sew On!
Jean9

My Advertisers July 15 - 21

Thank you to the following bloggers for advertising with me.


Jean9

Practice With Wire Sculpture Pendants

I have been wanting to try wire sculpting for a while now and finally this weekend I worked up the courage to give it a whirl. It's a totally new thing for me. For wire sculpture a dead soft wire is used which I had never worked with before. I usually work with half hard wire. The first pendant I followed the instructions on video by Preston Reuther. He has video for several different pendants, I used the video "pendant setting for square stones" I used an oblong picture jasper bead for my practice piece, I am happy with the effect of the bead. For this pendant I used 6 strands of 18" wire.


The second pendant I used a jasper stone which we picked at the Souris Rock Pit . We used our lapidary equipment to slab and trim the rock and then cabachoned it into a 22mm x 30mm oval rock. For this pendant I used an E-book course that I purchased from Wire Creation . This pendant is made using 3 strands of 18" wire and then 2 strands of 10" wire, again this is dead soft wire. The 3 wire sculpture was easier to work with for starters. Which method a person uses depends on the end result that you wish to attain. I am sure I will use them both.
This is the back view.

I still need a lot of practice!

Until Next Time Rock On!
Jean9

Sweet Home Blogger Award

I visit Health Nut Wannabee Mom on an almost daily basis. Heidi always has a wealth of information on all things to do with living a high quality of life, from the foods and liquids we ingest to the exercise we get to sleep and more, pay her a visit and see for yourself!
Heidi is an appreciated visitor and commenter on my site. I am so pleased to have met her in this wonderful world of bloggin'
She has honored me with this Sweet home blogger Award, I thank her so much for thinking of, and passing it along to me, this makes my heart feel all soft and fuzzy inside.


I am passing it on to a few of the sites that I visit most days.
Craft Junkie
At Craft Therapy stop by and have a look at her tutorials and some of the items she creates for sale in her Etsy Shop .

Sandee At Comedy Plus stopping by and reading her posts always puts a smile on my face. Thanks Sandee in this all too serious life we need to lighten up once in awhile.

Five Blonds This is an interesting blog written by 5 sisters. There are photographs and lifes happenings.

The Peanutbutter Blog Check this one out, you will be amazed at how much can be said about peanut butter and you will wait to see whats next!
Until Next Time Rock On!

Jean9

Simple Pincushion Tutorial

I am changing the pace up on here a bit, from lapidary to sewing? Yep! I am having some difficulty in coming up with a variety of articles on lapidary or on jewelry so I am going to be adding other types of tutorials and articles. May make it a bit more fun!!
This is a fun easy pincushion project. This pincushion can be done by hand sewing.



Materials needed for the pincushion

- A 6.5" paper or foam plate
- Screw lid from a regular mouth canning jar the older lids work better as they have more depth.
- Some fiberfill
- A large fabric circle about 11 - 12'' in diameter.
- A small fabric circle about 8" in diameter.
- Bits of ribbon and decoration

Instructions












1) With a hand sewing needle, sew a gathering stitch around the perimeter of the large circle
2) Pull the thread to start gathering fabric. Insert your paper plate face down onto the fabric.
3) Pull the gathering thread tight around the circle and tie the thread off. I like to off set the circle a little more towards the bottom.


4) Gather the small circle same as you did for the large circle. Lay the jar ring top down onto the small circle then stuff the lid with the fibre fill.

5) Pull your gathers tight and tie thread off.

6) Place the top onto the base.


7) Hand stitch top to base.
8) For the finishing touches decorate as you like. I use some ribbon for a band and a few ribbon roses.
9) Attach a piece of ribbon or crochet a loop on the back for a hanging loop.

You have a very quick and simple to make pincushion. This is a great inexpensive craft idea if you are into donating craft type items for craft sale fund raisers.
Until Next Time Craft On!
Jean9

Advertisers July 8 - 14

Thank you to these blogs who advertised on my site this past week. Click on their logo to bring you to visit their sites.

Things About Me By 4's

Jules at Arduous Nincompoop has tagged me for this meme so here goes!

Four jobs I've had:
1) My most accomplished job, being a mom to 2 daughters
2) Clerk at a hotel
3) Seamstress
4) Co-owner of a Pizza Store

Four movies I can watch over and over
1) Gone With the Wind (I have watched it upmteen times)
2) Titanic
3) Pretty Woman (I know I know!)
4) National Lampoons Christmas Vacation

Four places I've lived
1) Alberta
2) British Columbia, various places
3) Manitoba

Four Pet Peeves:
1) Backed up traffic
2) Tardiness
3) Rudeness
4) Phone ringing early on saturday morning.

Four TV shows I love
1) So You Think You Can Dance
2) Dancing With The Stars
3) Moonlight (it has been taken off and I am still pissed!)
4) I can't think of another one that *I love*

Four places I've vacationed
1) Dominican Republic
2) USA
3) Yukon
4) Alaska

Four of my favorite dishes
1) Roast Chicken
2) BBQ Steak and baked potato
3) Chinese Food
4) Shrimp Stirfry

Four sites I visit daily
1) DJ's gemStones
2) Blogger
3) Entrecard
4) Email

Four places I would rather be right now
1) Daughter #1s house
2) Daughter #2s house
3) On a Cruise
4) At the beach

I am not tagging I am going to be a copycat and do as Tashabud at Tasha's Take did and let people decide if they want to join in the fun.
Have a super week!
Jean9

New Jewelry In The Land Of DJ's Gemstones!

I ordered some new supplies and they arrived, that always gets me motivated for awhile.
So I have sat down with my new "stuff" and made a few pieces of jewelry *yeah*, It's been a long time coming!





Miss Filigree
Is made with 14 kt goldfilled
wire. The band is solid wrapped it is about 1/8" wide. This ring is size 7 but I can make any size.









Roses
This is a pendant made with 14 Kt goldfilled wire
with a rose colored Swarovski 18 x 6.5 mm teardrop crystal.
The pendant including the bail measures 1.5" long and 3/4" wide. H09
Price is $22.00 with $3.00 shipping in Canada and the USA.
Elsewhere pls contact me for shipping.

Heart Drops
I used 14 K goldfilled twisted wire to make the heart. The heart is a 10 mm swarovski crystal. The pendant including bail measures 1 1/2" long by 1 1/4" wide. This pendant is $23.00. H04
I am not putting shopping cart buttons on each item but if anyone is interested please contact me and I will add the cart button for easy purchase using Pay Pal.

This is a very dainty light pair of earrings.
These earrings are 14k twisted goldfilled wire
they measure 1 " from the earwire drop.
They sell for $15.00 (gf01)













Carnelian
Earrings made with argentium sterling silver with 4mm and 6mm Carnelian beads. They measure 1 1/8 " from the earwire drop. They sell for $18.00 (ss01)

Until Next Time Rock On!
Jean9
Argentium Sterling Silver
Here is information on Argentium Sterling Silver and its properties, taken from Wikipedia.
Argentium Sterling Silver is a modern sterling silver alloy which modifies the traditional sterling silver alloy (92.5% silver + 7.5% copper) by replacing some of the copper with a rare metallic element called germanium.

Argentium Silver is the result of research by Peter Johns at the School of Art & Design, Middlesex University. The project began in 1990 with research on the effects of germanium additions to silver alloys. Germanium was discovered to impart the following properties to sterling silver:

• Firescale elimination
• High tarnish resistance
• Precipitation hardening and simple heat-hardening properties
• Increased ductility
• Increased thermal and electrical resistance (making alloys suitable for welding and laser forming)
• Environmental advantages (associated with not having to remove or plate over firescale)

Many of these properties significantly affect the traditional methods of working silver. For instance the absence of firescale eliminates tedious and time-consuming steps required by the silver worker using traditional sterling silver. It also eliminates the need for plating the final product which is often done on manufactured items because of the problems introduced by firescale. Tarnish resistance is of significant importance to both silver workers and the wearer of silver jewellery.

The development of Argentium Silver has stimulated the industry to question the properties of traditional sterling silver and has prompted others to research in this field. This has resulted in a variety of new alloys being introduced into the market in recent years. Thus far field tests indicate that germanium is key since the improved properties of the patented Argentium Silver system have yet to be replicated by another element or combination of elements.

Argentium Silver is patented and trademarked by Argentium Silver Company, UK.

Recycle Food Tins

I have been saving some of my tin cans and making pencil holders, change holders, candle holders or whatever turns your crank!
I like to save my tuna tins or salmon tins they make fabulous catch alls. The taller tins are not easy to come by with out the ribs in the tin. The ones that I have were from canned asparagus, that is the only tin that I have found that is not ribbed.

Make sure that you do not have any rough tin burrs left on the can from opening. Peel the paper off and make sure that the glue is removed really well, if there is some residue of glue it will show after the tin is painted.










I know aerosol is not at all a green product!
You can use brush on paint for the tins so as not to use aerosol, but it really doesn't work too well.

Spray or brush the tins with a flat black, or color of your choice, spray paint. I like the black background, I think it looks really cool with whatever I decide to decorate with.















For this tuna tin I used acrylic paints and used a flower pattern and method that I learned when I used to tole paint eons ago! I use it for a candle holder. I sprayed it with a matte finish krylon spray.



This tin has been painted with acrylic paints as well. Just use whatever method of painting or embellishing you choice to use. You can see that this tin has not been sprayed with a lacquer.


This Tin is easy enough for kids to make.
With this tin I simply glued some really nice flower decals and embellished the rim edge with some gold trim. For a kids project there are so many wonderful decals, trims, phrases and letters. Using your imagination the possibilities are endless. What an easy, inexpensive and useful little gift to make for a childs teacher or daddy or mommy!






Here are a few different embellishments that I picked up to decorate my tin with.



When you have your tin decorated the way you want it to be you can paint it with a clear lacquer paint, either a matte or a gloss it depends on your preference. The tin that I have displayed as a candle holder has been lacquered, the others haven't been, notice the difference.

Until Next Time
Keep On Rockin' On
Jean9

Advertisers July 1 to 7th

I would like to thank these bloggers for advertising with me. Click on the logos to visit their sites.

We All Love A Contest! This Is Craft Junkies Birthday Contest

Go on over to Craft Therapy and enter often! You gotta enter to win!
The contest is running until Barbs birthday on July 24.

The winner, chosen at random, will receive a custom made bracelet, to give you an idea, she has pictured a recent custom order here ( or you can check out others in her Etsy shop). She will make the bracelet with the word or name of your choice in the font and color palette of your choice. No shipping, no cost, nada, gratis, zip, zilch...FREE. But...yep, there is always a but, isn't there.

To enter you have to:
1. Post comments on her blog (anonymous comments will not count and will be deleted) with one entry per comment beginning now through the end of the contest at 11:59pm CST July, 23, 2008.
2. Post about this contest on your blog and share the link back in your comment.
3. Subscribe to her blog feed.

All entries must be received by Tuesday 7/24/2008 12:00am CST to be eligible. The winner will be randomly chosen. Open to US and Canada residents only, sorry.

While you are there make sure to check out some of her other great posts she has a wonderful and very popular post about making your own home made Sea-Salt Scrub check it out!
Check out her posts on the bags she has been making, and her other shrink plastic art projects. She has these items for sale in her Etsy shop.
Good Luck, but to win you gotta enter!
Until Next Time
Keep On Rockin' On
Jean9

Happy Independence Day

I would like to wish all of my wonderful blogger friends from the USA a very Happy Independence Day.

On July 4, 1776, USA claimed her independence from Britain and Democracy was born.





glitter-graphics.com
To the Troops from the USA "Be Safe"
This Canadian Gal says "Thank you"!
You are appreciated.
Until next time Rock On!
Jean9

July Birthstone Jewelry

Birth stones for July - Cancer (Jun. 22-Jul. 22) and Leo (Jul. 23-Aug. 23)

Modern Birthstone - Ruby (Red)
Traditional Birthstone - Ruby(Red)
Mystical Birthstone - Ruby (Red)
Ayurvedic Birthstone - Ruby (Red)
15th-20th Century Birthstone - Onyx (Black), Turquoise (Blue)
This information is found Here visit to learn more.


Heart Me in July!
This heart pendant is constructed with 14k goldfilled twisted wire. The beads are swarovski 6mm bicones. Measures 1 1/8" wide by 1" high.

For $18.00 + $3.00 shipping in Canada and USA, everywhere else please contact me by using the email link from here for shipping costs.








Square For July
Pendant made with 14kt goldfilled twisted wire. The beads are Swarvoski 6mm and 4mm bicones and 4mm swarvoski pearl. The beads are attached at the top with a s hook. Length including the bail is 1 5/8" long and 1 1/8" wide.




For $20.00 + Shipping *note shipping instructions as above apply to all items.







July Earrings

These earrings measure 1 1/4" from the hanger loop. The wire is 14kt goldfilled. They have fresh water pearls with 6mm and 4mm Swarvoski bicones and 4mm Swarvoski pearls. The earwires are hand made using the 14 k goldfilled wire.

For $16.00 + shipping


Teardrop For July
This teardrop pendant is made with 14kt goldfilled twisted wire. It measures 1 1/2" long and 5/8" wide. The beads are a fresh water pearl, a 6mm and 4mm swarovski bicone and a swarovski pearl.



For $20.00 + shipping








Visit here for more jewelry

I also have 12kt goldfilled and sterling silver fine cable chains available in
18" goldfilled for $12.00
18" sterling silver for $12.00
24" goldfilled for $14.00
24" sterling silver for $14.00
If shipped with another item shipping will be $1.00 but please contact me prior, so I may adjust shipping costs. Shipping separate will be $3.00
I know it seems weird that the sterling silver and goldfilled chains are the same price, but that is the way the prices are at the moment.

Until Next Time
Keep On Rockin' On
Jean9

Advertisers For Me To Thank

I sincerely thank all of these people with these fantastic blog sites for advertising on my site I really do appreciate it. I wish you all a very happy summer, if you are traveling for your vacation "be safe". Have a happy bloggin' week!

Josh's Unconventional Marketing Blog

Josh's blog is dedicated to the unconventional marketing techniques displayed on and offline. There is a ton of terrific advise here.

Magic & Moments at Dragonfly Cottage
Maitri is a writer, an independent publisher, and a fiber artist. She has various interests and one of those is a book she is currently working on called "The Road To Dragonfly Cottage." This is such a wonderful site.

The Sewing Mom
Lots of beautiful bags for sale here Lynne is a talent for sure. As you can tell she loves to sew, scrapbooking is another of her interests.

Embrace Simplicity
A wife and moms personal blog where she shares her love of digital scrapbooking and photography.

Applecreek Designs
A school teacher, an artist, a crafter. This busy woman makes fused glass jewelry which she sells at her Etsy shop. You can link to her Etsy shop from her blog site. Lots of interesting posts here.

Health Nut Wannabee Mom
Fun site that gives tips on damage control for our bodies, recipes,weight loss with a dash of humor too! Heidi gives information on foods and snackie foods and why they are good for us...So much good information and an over all great blog to read.

Craft Therapy
Craft Junkie crafts to maintain her sanity. She blog about her creative endeavors..making jewelry, resin, knitting, stenciling wearables, sewing, and more. Barb also features a fellow blogger each day, a really nice touch from her.