Steampunk

I need help with aging metals. I have lots of new jewelry findings that I would like to look old. Does anybody know how to age them?
I've been trying to work on my Steampunk swap for http://ipokedabadgerwithaspoon.blogspot.com/
I have a bunch of these gears collected up to use..

I can't decide on the other elements of the charms. I haven't ever designed anything like this. I'm going to try to go to Michaels Crafts tonight to get some antiqued looking brass and copper materials to use.
Thank you Glenda at http://peppercornminis.blogspot.com/
for the tip about washing all the watch parts with soap and hot water. I wouldn't have thought of that and would have been really mad when the parts wouldn't stick with glue.

Monday's Beads

Photobucket is down for maintence today. So I'm hoping I can load my photos straight into blogger.




I worked on my steampunk swap last night. I was using a tiny screwdriver to take apart an old watch when it slipped and I ended up with a screwdriver buried a quarter of an inch under my fingernail. It hurt so bad and bled like crazy. I finally got the gear off I'd been working on and called it a night.

Glass Beads

I tried to make beads last night but the wind kept blowing my flame around. I did manage to make 10 but I haven't uploaded the pictures yet.
I put all of the beads I'd made by Sunday on a string just to see how they look. I'm pleased with them. I've since added 10 more to the strand I'll post photos tomorrow.
I think I'll take a break from glass beads tonight to work on my Steam punk charm swap with http://ipokedabadgerwithaspoon.blogspot.com/
I love the name of her blog it just gives me a funny mental picture.

These are the remaining weekend beads that I made on Sunday.










I broke two on Sunday.

Saturday Beads

I went to Hobby Lobby on Friday after work and got more glass rods. There weren't any black or white rods in the packs so I guess I'll have to order them online. I made a few beads on Saturday morning only using my new rods.








I only broke one bead Saturday.

Do you believe in Ghosts?

I am a believer of spirits and ghosts. I love the show Ghost Hunters and I'm always in search of the paranormal. I just wanted to see how many of my blog land friends were also believers. The only spirit I've ever seen with my own eyes was a white German Shepard we had when I was growing up. My parents had also witnessed this same spirit running past the windows in different locations. We stopped seeing him when we got a new dog.
This picture was taken at a local cemetery in Rome, GA.


Do you see the soldier sitting on the stairs?

Weekend Plans

I bought two tanks of fuel for my torch on Wednesday but I haven't really had time to create the past couple of days. I plan on going to Hobby Lobby after work today to get more glass rods. I'll have the house to myself all weekend so I plan on creating a lot of beads.
It's supposed to rain tomorrow so there probably won't be any yard sales. I really don't need more stuff. I still need to assemble the 6' bookshelf I bought last Saturday at a yard sale. I want to reorganize my craft area. The shelf will take all the books off my wire cube racks and free up space for all my craft containers. I know my boyfriend would love for me to get rid of a lot of stuff but maybe if I just make it all fit in the space better he will be happy.
Wish me luck. I'll have new beads to show off on Monday.

Tuesday's Glass Beads

The one in the center is a vessel instead of a bead. I wanted to try something different





I ran out of fuel while making this one

Monday's Glass Beads

The goofy shaped one is one I stopped on because it was sticking to the metal

Yard Sales

Apparently the steroid shot I got on Friday was still kicking my butt on Saturday. I couldn't get cooled off. I probably should have stayed out of the sun completely.

This weekend I decided to keep it close to home for yard sales. The church down the street from my house was having a indoor yard sale so I started off my morning there. I didn't find anything that I had to have. I heard about a community yard sale across town and decided to check it out. Almost every other house in this subdivision was having a yard sale but nobody had priced anything. (big yard sale pet peeve) These were the most crowded yard sales ever. There wasn't any shade in the whole neighborhood. Back to my car air on high driving on to the next sale. Mostly old kids toys and nick-knacks being sold. I did find two wooden tray tables for $5. I also found a black 6' bookshelf new in the box for $10. I ended up leaving that subdivision before stopping at all the sales, I just couldn't take the heat.
I drove back towards where I work and knew there were at least two sales in the shade. I found a plastic case for .25 cents and a box of domino's for $2. I called it a day before noon.

Making Glass Beads

I love the Glass bead making kit I got for my birthday. I have had so much fun making beads.

These are the first 5 beads I made on Thursday night. The large blue one on the right broke.

Here are all the beads I've made... (broken ones too)

I loved the colors in this one but it broke when I tried to remove it.

A few more of my favorites