Cloisonne love...

I picked up some cloisonne beads at the SMBS (that's Santa Monica Bead Show for those who don't know...).

Here's some background info on cloisonne (courtesy of Wiki):

Cloisonné, an ancient metalworking technique, is a multi-step enamel process used to produce jewelry, vases, and other decorative items.

Cloisonné first developed in the Near East. It spread to the Byzantine Empire and from there along the Silk Road to China. Chinese cloisonné is arguably the most well known of all the varieties of cloisonne and enamel making. Russian cloisonné from the Tsarist era is also highly prized by collectors. Chinese cloisonné is sometimes confused with Canton enamel, a similar type of enamel work that is painted on freehand and does not utilize partitions to hold the colors separate.

So here are some earrings I made with my cloisonne beads:

Pictures

Euphoria!

Santa Monica Bead Show

This weekend was absolutely fan-tab-u-lous!! I got to hang out with my favorite girlfriends from college, the weather finally beautified, and I got to attend the Santa Monica Bead Show!! What more can a girl ask for in a weekend?

On a side note, I severely injured my right thumb when helping out the second year dental students with their lab work and will be out of commission for a while.

Secondly, does anyone have any insights about where I can get really cool eco-friendly business cards?

Pictures will follow in the next blog...

Crochet

It's nearing that time of year when alpaca, wool, cotton-blend, spun, and worsted become my daily vernacular. Though, living in Loma Linda, it's hard to justify that fall is commencing and cooler weather is just around the corner because today, it is 99 degrees. However, my Widget weather tells me it will be 73 degrees with a chance of rain this Saturday...

Cooler weather always makes me want to crochet. My friend Kasey, who has her ear stamped to the ground to the sounds of fashion and what's hot, tells me that crochet jewelry will be very "in" this winter...

So this year, I may be incorporating my two hobbies into one: crochet jewelry.

But first, here is a hat I crocheted for my classmate's daughter: Maddie!! She's just too cute to boot!! You can't see it in the pictures, but there's a pink round crocheted ball on the top... I call it my "cupcake beanie"