Tucson Gem Show Returns

     At the end of the month, the Tucson Gem Show is returning after Covid caused its cancellation last year.  I can't wait to go!  Even though I don't really NEED more beads or gems, the show is too much fun to skip. My first stop is always "To Bead True Blue" and "Colors of the Stone". Then I plan to head to Kino and 22nd Street on the following days.  I'm looking forward to seeing lots of new items and many old favorites.

     The show in 2020 just made it before everything shut down.  Most of us weren't aware of the danger that was heading our way.  My own trip was a short one because we had just gotten our Pomsky, Tikaan, a few months before.  The gem show was one of his first public outings.  He did great, but we didn't want to over do it.  Plus the hotel that we normally stayed at wasn't pet friendly.  It was too late to try to switch hotels, so we cancelled our reservation and limited our visit to a day trip.  

      I noticed that a few sellers that I usually saw weren't there, but many reasons could have caused their absence.  But by 2021 everyone knew about Covid and its dangers.  Many countries wouldn't allow, or made it very difficult, for their citizens to travel to the U.S.   Some of those problems still exist, of course, but not as totally.  I'm especially hoping that the Australians will be able to come. I love their Moukite Jasper. 

     I'm not going to put my Etsy show on vacation mode.  But any purchases made after January 30 will be shipped at the end of the week, on Friday, February 4.  This includes the pendant that is the January special.  If you use the coupon code "JanuaryBlog" at checkout, you'll receive 20% off of the purchase price. 

    You can see it in my Etsy shop here.  But hurry - the offer ends January 31.  

Happier New Year 2022

 Once again we're all pretty glad to say goodbye to the past year and welcome in a new, hopefully better, one.  So Happy New Year!

      The Tucson Gem Show is coming back this year.  Hurray!  Can't wait to go and buy too many beautiful stones and beads.  More about that soon.  

       Lately I've been working on wire wrapping cabochons.   Here's the Red Creek Jasper I recently finished.  It's in my Etsy shop.

Now through January 31, you can get this Jasper necklace for 20% off when you use coupon code JanuaryBlog at checkout.  (If you have any problem with using the code, let me know!)

Red Creek Jasper is one of my favorite stones.  It's sometimes called Cherry Creek Jasper.  But by any name, it's a pretty, earthy stone. 

What's your favorite stone?  Let me know in the comments.  I'd love to hear from you.

 

Merry Christmas to All!

      Tikaan visiting Santa

Hope your Holidays are happy, too!

Beaded Bracelet Sale!!!

      I rarely have a sale on Etsy, but I decided to try Etsy's sale feature to give us all a holiday gift.  I dislike stores and shops that always have a sale going on.  But it's the holidays so who doesn't like to look for items on sale?????

      Starting Nov 10 through Nov 30, I have placed 12 beaded bracelets on sale - 20% off.  All of them can be seen here: Beaded Bracelet Section    Or click on the I Sell on Etsy button (on the right) to see my entire shop.

Here's one of the bracelets in the sale:  

Hope you'll stop by and take a look.  While you're there, do me a favor and Favorite my shop.  You'll get updates from Etsy whenever I post a new item.  Hope to see you at Desert Dabbler Handcrafted Jewelry.

Support local artists

Ground floor artists will hold their second sale on November 6.  And Desert Dabbler will be there. If you're in the Surprise area, stop by and see us.

Mouse in the House!

    A few weeks ago I decided to make some stuffed toys. I had made a few years and years ago and had fun with them.  This time I wanted to make some with clothes, joints, and props.  I'm still gaining on the process, but here are my first ones.

     The large mouse on the left is from a pattern in a vintage magazine.  I made a few changes.  I added the flower in her hair and the felt shoes.  Little black beads became the eyes and nose. I made her tail out of leather instead of fabric, too.  

     The "gentleman" in the red jacket is a wolf doll made from a pattern I bought on Etsy. You can't see his tail in the picture, but it's a cute fabric one.  I made his clothes different than the pattern called for, but otherwire he's close to the pattern.  

      The small mouse that's seated is my first one that can be jointed.  Her pattern cam from a book, How to Sew Little Felt Animals, by Sue Quinn.  The mouse's  head moves, but I didn't have the right size "joints" for her arms and legs. Her tail is made out of leather, a deviation from the pattern but one that I like better.  I made a little pair of gold wire glasses for her, although they need more work.  But she sits on my art desk and seems very content with them.

   My next mouse, and the best so far, is going to be a gift for a gardening friend of mine.  

    This one has a turquoise leather tail to match the ears. The pink whiskers are an improvement on my earlier whiskers, but still not ideal.  But the best part is that the little mouse stands on its own! That was a surprise.  Tomorrow it's going off to its new home. I hope my friend likes it.  

 

     Have you made any stuffer toys?  Mice???  If so, let me know. I'd love to hear about your experience.

     I already have my next one in the planning process.  New, smaller joints are on order.  New plastic whiskers have already arrived.  I'm looking forward to making another, better little mouse.  Every house needs one.

  

The Art Challenge Update and End

      As you saw in my last post, I was invited by some friends to participate in a 10 day Art Challenge on Facebook.  It was a great experience. Lots of encouraging comments and views. Lots of practice posting. I posted more in 10 days than I usually do a year!  

       I had planned to update the photos here as the Challenge continued, but as usual I'm behind. But better late than never, here are the other pictures of my art:

                                     A leather and Tila bead loomed bracelet.

                                         Ceramic wolf with Turquoise

                                           A little Steampunk for a fun day.

                                         Shibori silk for elegant times.

     A joint project. Kent wove the scarf and I made the Jasper butterfly brooch.

 And my personal favorite - 

I bought the loom pattern. Changed it slightly to make it look more like Tikaan.  It's Ultrasuede with a leather cord.  

One photo got left out, I think, but it's time to move on to something else.  Hope you enjoyed seeing my part of the 10 Day Art Challenge. If you've done something like this, or have other art projects on your blog, let me know. I'd love to stop by and see them.