Art Bead Scene Ornament Blog Hop

 Art Bead Scene is a jewelry website that features handmade jewelry and beads.  This blog hop features handmade ornaments and ornaments that use art beads.  You can find the post here.  

I made two ornaments that I'll share.  The first was actually a gift for my sister.  We celebrate both the Winter Solstice and Christmas in our house.  The ornaments reflect the former as we have no 'paganesque' ornaments on the tree.  


I made this besom (broom) out of a peacock feather, some artistic wire, and some ribbon.  My second ornament was made from aluminum sheet metal and some alcohol ink.  I cut it into the alchemic symbol for earth, the element that winter embodies.  

The besom is on the tree and the earth symbol will be up shortly.  I look forward to seeing the rest of your ornaments.

Lots going on...

I finally got to use the tealight Halloween house I won.

School.  Samhain.  A baby shower.  Yeah.  I'm still trying to get into the swing of things.  One of these fine days I will make a writing schedule.  

Added a little extra protection by making a pentacle pie.

I've officially been going to school for two months(!) now.  We've had one test on bones and bony landmark, which I got a 93% on.  I should have gotten 100%, but I made dumb mistakes.  Which is a shame, since 100%-ers got a pin for their academic achievement.  I endeavor to ace the next test in December and get that pin!  Posterior muscles on December 8th.  Wish me luck!

Bouquet #1

Bouquet #2

Samhain was really subdued around here.  My mom and sister (the later of whom I celebrate with normally) were both at work, so I was all by my lonesome.  I made stew and pie for the meal, set out our jack-o-lanterns, read my tarot for the upcoming year, and lit candles for our departed family members.  I also put together two small bouquets, which I also did for the Autumnal Equinox.  I think a tradition is forming...

Centerpieces.  These were a sisterly joint effort.

Finally, last weekend we celebrated my eldest sister's baby shower.  I'm going to be an aunt!  She will be having a baby boy named Levi sometime around the end of January.  The shower was fun, including all the work my sisters and I put into the favors and centerpieces.  I think that's been my favorite part... the sisterly bonding.

Leaf plate I won.  Isn't it pretty?

The Great Book Bounty (and other updates)
So.  Nearly a year has gone by.  A lot has happened to my family away from Blogland, so I haven't been very good at keeping y'all in the loop.  That, and I really need to get in the habit of taking pictures of stuff.  Anywho, on to some news!

Pay no mind to the cat in the corner.
He likes to think he's Vanna White.

I'm starting college.  Yes.  Me, a twenty-four year old person, is just now starting college.  What can I say?  I'm a late bloomer.  (I'll write about that later, I promise.)  We went to pick up my books late last week  and I thought I would share them with you.

I'm going to be a massage therapist.  I'm really excited because I love massage, the staff I've met are fantastic, and the electives are all things I would want to learn about anyway.  I'm nervous because it's been a whopping ten years since I've been in a classroom setting, as I was home schooled for high school.

So these are my books.  I'm going to Irene's Myomassology Institute.  The binder and DVD were put together by the school's founder herself.  Also, the workbook?  Has coloring pages.  That's right.  I get coloring homework.  Be jealous.  The only downside to these lovely containers of knowledge is that they weigh A LOT.  I have to bring them all in my first day. Hey, at least I'll build some muscle, yeah?

The other book I have to show?  I won them.  Yeah.  I regularly follow some jewelry making website.  One in particular, Art Bead Scene, regularly has contests where you can post a comment to be entered.  This last week I won three books from Erin of Tesori Trovati Jewelry.  She recently reorganized her studio and had a whole bunch of books to give away.  I chose Rejuvenated Jewels, Mixed Media and Memory Jewelry, and Vintage Redux, all following the theme of repurposing old pieces or found objects into something new.

Erin was also kind enough to send me a baggy full of pieces to be taken apart and repurposed.  I'll show you all what I got here.

I'll take the patina off the lower pieces.  The piece at the top wants to become a large barrette.

That heart necklace?  Sterling silver!  

To the left: an assortment of silver tone charms.  Up top are some nice faux pearls and green beads.  At the bottom are three bauble bracelets to be taken apart.  

CHAIN!  I love chain.  The beads will be taken off these and used elsewhere.  The chain goes with the rest in my hoard.

Love to all of you out there!  I start school this Tuesday.  I'll let you all know how it goes, as well as some more personal updates later on.