I got my new stones today, but first...

I did  get my stones today, but I felt that I should probably practice the design that I have floating around in my head before I actually put it to use on one of my OOAK stones. If you do not know what OOAK is~please read my last post.
I got some really pretty cabochons from here http://www.etsy.com/shop/cabbingrough. They are Malechite Azurite and I had to try the Liver of Sulfur technique before I actually did it for reals. All I can say is WOW! This pendant and chain turned out so nice! It is so renaissance looking, just the look that I was after. Do you want to see it? OK, OK, here you go...

Well, what do you think? Now I am really anxious to use the other stones and get just a tad more creative. I still have my idea and I really want to put it to use, especially now that I know I can accomplish this! This stone is so pretty though. I definitely will be going back for more. Just look at those colors!
I am really tired, so I think I will be turning in for the evening. Be sure to check back soon to see the pendant I will be working with. I am not sure if I will be showing the finished product until after  the contest though. I am a bit superstitious and I would hate to jinks myself.
I would really love to know what you think of this design. I don't honestly know if I will ever be able to do anything with shiny copper again. I LOVE the look the Liver of Sulfur gives, so I may just stick with it for a while, we will have to see.
I hope that you all sleep well tonight and that your day is bright and sunny tomorrow. May you all be blessed. Good Night!

No Stones Yet...

Well, I thought I might have some new stones to play with tonight but no such luck. I really want to see if my design idea is going to work. Have you ever tried to do something and have it turn out COMPLETELY different that what you have pictured in your mind? I really hate that. I see things in my head and when I go to create them, it turns out TOTALLY different than what I saw in my head and usually it does not look good at all. I can honestly say that doesn't happen to me with my wire creations very often. That is one of the reasons I LOVE to do wire work. I am a terrible artist when it comes to drawing or painting. I can totally see in my head what I want my drawings or paintings to look like, but when I put paint brush or pencil to paper, they NEVER turn out the way that I see them. Wire, on the other hand, turns out like I see it and I am so thankful for that. 

I have this creative side of me that never turns off. Sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night and I JUST HAVE to make what I can see in my head. If I could not channel that into something pretty or cool, I think that I would literally go crazy! I have to be able to create because it is so much a part of me. I do feel as if jewelry design is a form of art. Usually the designs are created in the mind of the creator and then that creator puts forth the effort to make those designs come alive. It is just as much an art form as photography or painting or woodcarving or anything else. This I know because every ounce of what I create comes from my heart and soul. I am just as proud of my work as the pencil artist that sketches the Victorian Lady in all of her grandeur, or the photographer that waits for the perfect light before snapping that shot, or the wood carver that looks for the perfect piece of wood to whittle away at until the  miraculous piece that he sees with his minds eye is revealed. Art work~yes definitely artwork.

Blog Re-Design

OK...The re-designing of the blog is finished. What do you think? I LIKE it A LOT! Now I feel as if I can start posting about the jewelry and have that be my main focus. I am excited about blogging once more.
I am entering another contest with a new design. I haven't designed it yet, as I am waiting to receive my cabochons and wire from www.wire-sculpture.com. The contest is to design something using a OOAK {ONE OF A KIND} stone from Wire Sculpture. I have chosen a couple different stones so that I have a little bit of time to change my mind~if I want to. I think that I will use copper wire in my design and make it look old and tarnished. I love the look and I think that it will really look good with any of the stones I have chosen for my design. I really can't wait to get started, so I hope that my stones show up soon.
I am starting to do a little bit of the wire weaving and this is the direction I am leaning toward for my design. I have an idea and I am hopeful that I can pull it off. It is really beautiful...in my head. I just hope that it turns out when I try to put it into an actual design. I guess we will see. I will post pictures as soon as I get it finished. I really want it to be a head turner, so it may take me a while to get it done. In the meantime, here are some pictures of some of the things I have been working on in my absence from blogging...

This is a necklace that I entered into a contest. I didn't win, but I am still pretty proud of it. It has some beautiful stones incorporated into it.

This necklace took me 7 hours to put together. It is 5 ft. long and I wire wrapped each section individually. I also hand beaded the C bead sections. This necklace is GORGEOUS!! I designed it so that the wearer can wear it long, or wrap a few wraps as a choker and let a long section hang down, or wrap it evenly around one's neck. It is very versatile and very Victorian~very much my style.

 And these are a few of my big chunky Wings, Fleur De Lis, Crosses, and Stars necklaces. I LOVE doing these. They are very fun and I love the BIG of them. FUN, FUN, FUN!
I am doing some things with crystals and cubic zirconium too. I will post some pictures of those pieces later. This is what I have for now, so I hope you enjoy looking...

How do I come back?

I really don't quite know what to say to you all that have come here to read about the latest and have been left hanging with no new news. I am truly sorry. I guess that there is not much I can say other than that. I have been away for so long and I have pretty much given up on getting published...for now. I received my rejection letter and it really took the wind out of my sails. I have re-written this book many times to re-submit, but it just feels as if it is not meant to be right now.
I do have something else taking up a TON of my time, so I really don't even miss the book. I have become JKC Creations and it has been very fulfilling. I create handcrafted jewelry and it has been a journey in and of itself. I have done some shows and even did my first juried show in Billings on June 11. I believe that I may start an Etsy shop and start selling online. I think I may have to change this blog again so that I can come and write and tell you all about the wonderful things I am creating and selling. I hope that you can give me another chance.
I have some great pics of some jewelry pieces I have made. I plan to post some soon. After I post, maybe you can tell me what your thoughts are on an Etsy shop. I have been looking into getting a website as well, but have not decided yet. I can tell you that jewelry design brings much happiness to my life. I have a lot of fans that really like my work and that is very rewarding. I have a lot of people that buy my stuff and rave about it every time I see them. I love it!
Well, I guess that is it for now. I hope that you will come back to me and begin following once more. All I know is that it feels good to sit and write. I haven't done it in so long and maybe writing about jewelry is what I need to do. I plan to change the look of the blog too. I want a different feel for the whole thing.
Stay tuned to see what I come up with!!

Still Nothing...

I still have not heard back from the publisher. It has been about 6 weeks. They say it could take up to 8 weeks and perhaps even longer. I hope this is a good sign.
We went on a hike...a big hike!! We went to the Beartooth Mountains and hiked to September Morn Lake. The plan was to go over Sundance Pass and out the other end of the trail, but it didn't work out that way. We made it to September Morn Lake and then we got snowed on. We got snowed on a lot!!! We had to turn around and hike back out the way we came. It was a disappointment, but it was a lot of fun despite the snow and the long hike out. Good times with good friends, it is what makes the world go round!
Do you want to see pictures? Here are a few...

Beautiful, huh? I think so...

Still Waiting...

Well, I am still waiting to hear from Shadow Mountain. it has been a while, and still nothing. I am holding out hope that the fact that it is taking longer is because they are really contemplating publishing the book. As you all know, this is my dream.
As I wait for the publisher to respond, I work at my newly acquired job and I still make my jewelry in the evenings. I am really getting into the wire wrapping and I believe that I have found my niche. Want to see some?
Here you go...

Rhodonite Pendant

Magnesite Heart Set

Wire Wrapped Petrified Wood Necklace

 Wire Wrapped Rhodonite Ring

Silver 'Wave' Ring with Magnesite Beads

Well, these are just a few of my favorite things.

I am still reading the first book to the boys.  I still work on the second book when time allows. My life is very busy these days, with working full time once again and trying to get my exercise in, so I don't have as much time to work on the books like I did not so long ago, bit I still press on, never giving up. 

Well, this is as much information as I have for now. I am working on a website for my jewelry, so I hope to be telling you all about that when I get it up and running. I may just have to post another blog all about that avenue in my life as well as the book. We will see how much time I have left in the days once my website is up and running.

I will continue to keep you updated on the book. As always, keep your fingers crossed that this is the 'yes' I have been looking for. 

Love to you all,

Janet

Back to Book 2

Well, I have been very busy once again. It is now almost 11:30 on Sunday night and I just stopped reading. I am diligently working on Book 2 once more. It has been quite some time since I have read it, or worked on it, and guess what? The story is AMAZING! I am glad I took a break from it for a while. Now that I am reading it again, I am finding it to be a great story. I am on chapter 5 and I find it to be very well written and I have not had to change a lot of it. I learned a lot from writing the first book and I am hopeful that the second book continues to read the way that it is right now. I don't feel that I will have to read it 10 or more time to edit it. I had to read and edit the first book many times before I felt that it was 'good enough'. I don't feel that I will have to do that as many times with the second book.
I find the quelks to be scary, just the way that I want them to be. I don't want them to be gross scary, but I do want them to put s little pound in your pulse. I think I have accomplished just that. I can't wait to read it out loud for the first time to the boys. I hope that they find as much enjoyment in it as they do in the first book. We are reading the first book again now for summer reading. They will hardly let me put the computer down once we get started. They want to hear more and more, not wanting me to stop reading. I am getting as much enjoyment out of it as they are. I just love the story and I am so hopeful that all of you will be able to read it someday.
I still have not heard from the publisher. I am optimistic that this is a good thing. I hope that they are passing it around to all the people that they feel need to read it to make a decision. I am hopeful that they are reading it and it is taking time for them all to do so. I am hoping that they are passing it from person to person and telling each other that they just have to read it, it is that good. This is my dream anyway, that they are reading it and they are going to say 'yes'. Time will tell.
i will keep you posted on how book 2 is going. I am hopeful that the passion to get it done will remain with me now and I will finish it before too much longer. The passion has always been there to write it, I just get depressed when I get rejected and then I have to wonder what I am writing it all for if no one will ever get to read it. This makes me pause, but still, I never give up. Writing is a part of me, as living and breathing and eating and drinking. I will never stop, but I may take a break once in a while. The frustration of it all just gets to me once in a while, but then, I find my way back and I realize that the story is just as amazing right now as it was when I started all of this, and I keep going. I know that I just can't give it up. I will persevere.
Keep your fingers crossed, as always, and I will let you know as soon as I know whether or not this is the 'yes' I am waiting for. In the meantime, I will continue to write and work on Book 2. My passion is back and I just have to keep going. Stay tuned.....