Inspiration

I get so inspired by materials: the textures, the colors, the patterns, the shapes.
I treated myself to some beads and charms recently.
Look at these sweet multi colored ceramic scarab beads from etsy shop thenile. I also got a bookmark with my order! I forgot to photograph it; I'm using it in a book already.

I don't know what I'm going to use them for yet as I don't make jewelry, but an idea will come.
For now, I have some in a glass bowl on my desk and a few lined up on the keyboard of the computer.

They've got hieroglyphic inscriptions on the bottom!

These gorgeous metal charms are from redvelvet in Sydney, Australia. Now I must learn how to oxidize metal to get the scarab and the owls to look like the African mask. If anyone has any oxidation recipes, please leave me a link! I remember using patinas and heat in bronze sculpture class, but I don't have a blow torch.

Gifts & Swaps

Here are a few brooches I made for my sister and her daughter this weekend. I sent them off to the USA yesterday with about 50 of my brand new business cards enclosed! I thought since she's going to be passing them out, the least I could do was to make her a few little gifts.

This one is for my niece, Sarah, to whom I gave a big set of seed beads in lots of colors for Christmas. Perhaps this will inspire her to try felt too!

Speaking of business cards, I also sent out a few cards to another etsy seller, and she's sending me some of hers. If you would like to do a card swap, let me know in the comments. I would love to include them with my orders, in the USA or internationally!