MJB Creations

Blog Temporarily Closed Due To Cancer

noreply@blogger.com (MaryB) — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 16:10:00 +0000

I wish I could be witty and share some uplifting cancer stories with you, however I chose to write it all in a journal and save it for my children. It may be of some help to them in the future.
June 1st I was diagnosed with cancer and have since been through both Chemotherapy and radiation, and will have surgery sometime before the end of the year. I made it quite easily through the chemo and radiation with very few set backs.
I'm sorry I wasn't visiting many blogs, I just didn't have the energy, but I sure did watch a whole lot of food network.
Everyone, please hug your loved ones. Tell them you love them, tell them once more, tell them again, and yet once more.

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How Do They Know

noreply@blogger.com (MaryB) — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 23:47:00 +0000

I'm not one to drag company names through the mud, BUT if you look closely enough you'll know who I'm talking about.

This computer is exactly two months out of it's ONE YEAR warranty. Isn't it sad the price we pay for laptops, and they barely make it past their warranties.
When I first bought it, I had graphic card problems and called their call center in East Asia, they helped resolve the problem.
Then I had the wireless card go bad, and they wanted the entire computer shipped back, but at least this time they only wanted it to go to Tennessee.
Now that it's out of it's warranty, I'll be calling my friends son who is going to college for some big long computer techie name..
This scares me because, I had to be sitting here, maybe watching the tv when the keys decided to melt or whenever whatever it was on the motherboard burnt up.
Well, I guess I'll be shopping for computers instead of buying more jewelry making equipment.

Warm Copper Experiment

noreply@blogger.com (MaryB) — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 17:16:00 +0000

We don't have any sterling or copper sheet suppliers in the area, we also don't have any great bead shops, now if I could just win the lottery, and start my own supply shop. Hey, a girl can dream can't she??
I'm waiting for an order to come in from Monster Slayer, Amazon and Harbor Freight. It's not like I couldn't have cleaned house all weekend or something else just as mundane. However I chose to pick out some supplies I did have on hand and work with them. I used copper wire and made jump rings, turned that into a simple 2 in 2 chainmaille bracelet, then I had some copper (craft) sheet here, and used some paper punches to punch out some shapes, hammer the heck out of them to harden them somewhat. Then I attached each one with a jump ring to the bracelet, then I oxidized it (not knowing if the craft sheet would oxidize) but it did, and nicely I might add. When I was happy with the color of it, I tumbled it for about 12 hours.

However, the charms/dangles are still not hardened enough. Would I sell it? No. Would I wear it? You betcha!! It makes a very nice shimmery sound when you wear it. The dangles remind me of sequins. I love the warm color of the oxidation.
Ok, so my house doesn't look any better, but I sure will when I wear this bracelet with a nice warm brown/orange shirt.
Housework can wait.

The Typealyzer

noreply@blogger.com (MaryB) — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 16:55:00 +0000

This is what the Typealyzer say's about me and my blog...Hmmm, not sure it's entirely correct. What about your blog, what does it say about you?

ESFP - The Performers

The entertaining and friendly type. They are especially attuned to pleasure and beauty and like to fill their surroundings with soft fabrics, bright colors and sweet smells. They live in the present moment and don´t like to plan ahead - they are always in risk of exhausting themselves.

The enjoy work that makes them able to help other people in a concrete and visible way. They tend to avoid conflicts and rarely initiate confrontation - qualities that can make it hard for them in management positions.

One World One Heart Winners

noreply@blogger.com (MaryB) — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 23:06:00 +0000

I used the random number generator to pick my winners........and they are as follows:

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

33
200

Timestamp: 2009-02-12 22:59:27 UTC

Congratulations to #33 Sandee

Congratulations also to # 200 Mimi

I will be contacting you both through email to get your addresses. Enjoy the earrings!! One cannot say enough thanks to Lisa for hosting the most wonderful blog event (IMHO) three years in a row now. Thank You Lisa for allowing me to be introduced to so many new wonderful bloggers.

One World One Heart Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (MaryB) — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 02:21:00 +0000

COMMENTS ARE NOW CLOSED

WINNERS TO BE ANNOUNCED ON FEB. 12TH

Another year has passed and it's time for the Third Annual One World One Heart giveaway. Thanks goes out to Lisa for arranging this all 3 years. You may read more about it by clicking the link above. There are several hundred blogs that are involved with this, click on the picture above and it will take you to where there is a list of all the bloggers that are involved in this. If you would like to join in on this, it's not too late. You will see some amazing blogs and their artwork, and hopefully make a few new artist friends.

I will be giving away two pairs of what I call Eternity Earrings. They are as handmade as I can possibly get, I've made the sterling silver jumprings and also the sterling earwires and then tumbled them for the nice shine and also to make them sturdy to wear. Everyone is welcome to enter as many times as you wish

Winners will be announced February 12th. I cannot stress this enough, only comments left on this post only will be included in the drawing. I will be using a number generator to come up with the winners. If you plan to enter several times, please remember to leave all comments on this post. I will also need an email address where you can be contacted. You may leave it in your comment or leave a link to your blog.

Thanks, and good luck to everyone, and go to the other links and visit all the other blogs that are giving away some amazing gifts.

My First Hand Forged Ring

noreply@blogger.com (MaryB) — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 14:29:00 +0000

Ok, so I got side tracked from the original piece of jewelry I'm making. A few weeks ago I purchased a book on metal jewelry, while reading a few articles (more like from front to back), I was itching to try a project. What looked like the simplest project to me (and supplies allowing), I went with the hand forged ring.
There is just something about taking a 3" piece of wire, heating it up, beating it up, hammering it to smitherines and still come out with a wearable piece of pretty jewelry. Oh...it has many imperfections, but I'm pretty proud for it being my first hand forged piece.
Something tells me, this is the direction I want to be going with metal working.
We got a dusting of snow last night, and I was surprised that the snow plows went by this morning, but I guess with it only being 19 degrees outside, it would ice up if they didn't.

Creations Still In The Thought Process

noreply@blogger.com (MaryB) — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 18:14:00 +0000

Hopefully in the next few days all these items will end up in one wearable piece. I've been thinking about how it will all come together for awhile now. Here's to hoping my fingers and my mind can word cohesively together. Whoa, that is a scary thought.
I'll be posting it again when it is finished. So, this is my project for the next couple of days. Wish me luck!
Have a great week!!

Twilight Frenzy

noreply@blogger.com (MaryB) — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 17:00:00 +0000

There is a lot of Twilight frenzy going around. I had a request for one of my brat pods, made into a twilight charm. Well, I've tried, not having ever seen the movie, so I googled some sayings from the movie. Here is what I've come up with so far.

Sorry about the poor quality of the pictures. I take one step forward with taking pictures, and then one step back. One day hopefully it will turn on a light bulb in my head.

Ice Storm For Us

noreply@blogger.com (MaryB) — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 17:53:00 +0000

We had an ice storm last night into early this morning. However, they only delayed school by 2 hours. That makes me happy, that means no making up any snow days. Driving in it wasn't bad, just wet.
This is what it looked like this morning across the street from my house.

I've Become Tim the Tool Man

noreply@blogger.com (MaryB) — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 01:40:00 +0000

My son asked on Christmas evening what Mr. R and myself got each other. We looked at each other and sort of snickered.
I had asked for a bench grinder, and Mr. R misses our old Bread Machine, so that's what we got each other, well among other things, I also got a whole new set of drill bits, and I've ordered bread mixes for Mr. R online.
My son said he could hardly wait until someone at work asked him what everyone got for Christmas. Of course the children spoiled us with many other gifts, but these few gifts just didn't fit into the norm for your parents, however they suite us just fine.
I've already started my birthday wish list. More tools of course, jewelry tools. None of the nearby colleges have any metalsmithing classes or that would be on my list, so I guess with the help of some books and I'm sure some very sore fingers, I'm going to attempt to teach myself.

But for now, I'll share pics of our newly acquired household items.

This would be the Binford 1000. I requested that one of the wheels be a buffing wheel.

This is the new Sunbeam Happy Man Maker. We both love fresh bread. I remember years ago one summer when I stayed with my Aunt, she made homemade bread, I went home quite a few pounds heavier that summer. So now, I just try to eat just a slice or two, with real butter of course.

What A Nice Surprise

noreply@blogger.com (MaryB) — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 14:20:00 +0000

I had a nice surprise visit from my sister and my nephew. My sister drove my Mom to the Lancaster area to spend New Years with my Aunt, so while my sister was traveling the highways and byways of Central PA, she decided to give me a visit.
It was a lovely visit, I got to see my nephew Henry who I normally only see when there are boo-koo relatives around, so it was nice to get to spend some quality time with both my sister and my nephew.
While I was waiting their arrival, I was messing around with some jewelry findings and stuff and decided to make what I called a "brat pod", does anyone remember the brat necklaces? I have one for my 34 yr old brat. Anywho, I stamped my nephew's name on it, included a birthstone bead and attached a chain necklace that I had made quite some time ago. Yes, I'm still calling it a Brat Pod.

Yesterday we decided to do what sisters do best....Shop.... so Henry waited oh so patiently for 2 women to get ready to go out. Not at all easy for a male child to understand. But Henry kept himself occupied with a coloring book while waiting for us.
Notice the necklace he's wearing? After he saw my sister's brat pod, he decided he would like a necklace of his own, so we heard Henry and Mr. R out in the garage hammering away for quite sometime, Henry walked in the house and produced his own pod, leaving out the brat part. He took a token that he had received from Chuckie Cheese and smashed it to perfection, then had Uncle R. stamp his name in it. I have convinced Henry that his necklace has special powers, that when he felt he needed extra help to rub his pod necklace....hahaha! Too cute, he is just so cute, and he's not even rattled by my teasing and fairytale stories, because my sister does quite well at it herself.

I truly enjoyed getting to visit with my sister and nephew. We don't live close to each other, and it is quite rare that we get together and actually have some quality time together to talk about the other siblings, I mean to talk about life in general.

Love Ya Henry and Sis!

Just A Few More Christmas Gifts

noreply@blogger.com (MaryB) — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 03:15:00 +0000

There are only a few more Christmas gifts to be made. I found this great tutorial on Etsy for the pendant I made below. This will be for my stepdaughter once I get the weaving part down right. I love this simple style. The tutorial is great, she literally gives you step by step directions. I need to practice more on the weaving or get stronger wire working glasses, but I love, love, love the design and all the possibilites with it. I took a picture of it in my old hand so you could see the actual size, a very becoming size for a pendant, or so I think.

If anyone would like to try wire working, I highly suggest the tutorial from the above mentioned link. I am in no way affiliated with the maker of the tutorial, but I do so love her style.

Look What Santa Delivered

noreply@blogger.com (MaryB) — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 02:26:00 +0000

Yes, this must be my early Christmas present, an entire trailer full. While I was driving home from work I heard another driver on the radio say that part of our road was blocked due to a truck losing it's trailer, she mentioned a business, and I thought, hmmmm...thats right down the road from my house, I wonder if I can get through. I figured if I couldn't get through I would just detour around another road. When I came up on the fire police I saw in the distance a trailer sitting on the side of the road, I asked if I could get to 123 HitMyHouse Street? He replied, thats where the trailer is sitting.
Ok, that puts a whole new perspective on a possible detour, he informed me that my driveway was open and I could get into the driveway. Gee, thanks fella!
First of all, we live on a busy rural road, if that makes any sense. Our mailbox gets hit at least once a year. In fact the one that is underneath that trailer right now is only a few months old.
The police were here, the fire company, an ambulance, everyone but the homeowners, once I got out of my vehicle I talked to the State Police, asked if anyone was hurt, (no, thank heavens). I had him retrieve my mail out of the mailbox from under the trailer because there was an expected and important parcel in there.
The poor driver, I felt so bad for him, I guess he was expecting me to lose my cool, but I was just happy that nobody was hurt, and that they didn't come up and hit the house. However it looks like that company will be doing some landscaping in the near future in our yard. The companies safety manager showed up, told us that he would handle everything, and gave us all the information. Everyone was very nice.
Unfortunately it is to rain the next few days and with the new plumbing he put in the yard, there could be some ponds in our yard.
Oh the joys of living on a main road in a rural country area, and I'm originally a Philly girl.
I'm feeling the Green Acres theme song coming on, I better go!!

**Edit** I forgot to add that the trailer was empty, but had there been anything in it, it would have been residual waste....Yuck!! recyclables in my front yard. I guess it's okay that here it is December and I still haven't pulled out my marigolds.

Spoon Jewelry Overdose

noreply@blogger.com (MaryB) — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 21:23:00 +0000

This watch was a request from a friend months ago, well I finally got around to it yesterday and went on overload since I've made them wait so long. While we were cutting the sterling plated flatware, I decided matching earrings and a pendant would be nice.
The pearls were a recent purchase from the bead show, so last night I sat down and just put pearls wherever they would fit. I wasn't crazy about the watch with just the spoon handles, it had too much open space. I finally polished and finished it up this afternoon.
p.s. The watch faces can be purchased on Ebay in quantities (I ordered 12 at one time, and it came out very affordable).
So everyone head out to the thrift stores for some silverware and make yourself a watch or earrings or pendant, or all of them.

Christmas Gift For Someone That Has Everything

noreply@blogger.com (MaryB) — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 15:44:00 +0000

I don't know about the rest of you, but if you have grown children or elderly parents who always tell you they don't need or want anything for Christmas, well then I've found the perfect gift.
I was surfing around Stumble Upon (a firefox add-on) and came across this website. I couldn't help but think it would be the perfect present for my grown son, however I will not be spending that much money. (sorry Doug)!

Here is the link where I've found it. I have to give credit where credit is due. Check out the golden poop pills site.

Remember, if you have someone that is hard to buy for on your list, this certainly would brighten up the holidays for them.

Bead Show Spending Spree

noreply@blogger.com (MaryB) — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 19:13:00 +0000

I went to the bead show with a friend on Saturday, and as normal we came out 20 mins. before they were closing. When we did come out, it was snowing. We made it home ok and we were both very happy with our purchases.

This first picture, I highly recommend this silver Dip cleaner. I had two sterling silver bracelets come out of the tumbler last night a nice rosey-copper color...Acccck! I used this Silver Dip Cleaner and they are perfect, wonderful!!

I must have been in a green and blue mood yesterday, I was highly attracted to those two colors yesterday.

My favorite vendor had these little packs of what I call bead soup. She said that's how she spent her Thanksgiving weekend. Making these little quick packs to make up earrings, or a bracelet. I thanked her for doing most of the work for me.

She also had these very cute Chili pepper glass beads. Earrings??? who knows at this point.

My next purchase was onto these glass and shell funky kinda retro shaped beads. I have plans for these, but will show in another post.

My next stop was for more spacer beads and also some bead caps, maybe more scrunchie rings??

Thank heavens they only have the bead show 3 times a year in my area. I am in sheer heaven the entire time I'm there. We did have another shopper that was there tell us that the Lebanon, PA bead show is much much better, and it's held in August, so I'll probably go to that one also, since it won't interfere with the others. What a fun way to spend a snowy Saturday.

Vera Bradley

noreply@blogger.com (MaryB) — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 00:04:00 +0000

Does anyone have a nearby T.J. Maxxe store near them? I didn't have to work today, so I went to do a little Christmas shopping. I only had one gift in mind that I was out looking for, but the sales girl started putting these Vera Bradley items on a display next to me, she said isn't this a deal?, Well of course I had to look, I don't have anything Vera Bradley myself, but I know of several people that do like her collections.
I was very proud of myself, everything was less then 6.00 each. I'm sure the collections are retired or outdated, but if you actually collect Vera Bradley things, then a retired item would mean more to you right? So I had myself convinced.
These will be Christmas gifts for a few people.

They Are Multiplying

noreply@blogger.com (MaryB) — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 21:12:00 +0000

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend. Mr. R and myself just stayed home and made turkey dinner for ourselves. We didn't feel like traveling since our dogs don't travel well (car sickness), and putting them in the kennel for 3 days is too expensive and such a hassle for them, so it ended up just the two of us. It was quite enjoyable to not have to rush, and it gave me the chance to create some more jewelry.

My sister is putting in orders from me now for the scrunchie ring, so I've made up a few, she said various colors would be fine, the girls in her office would like some. I just came home from one of those food home parties, and the hostess wants a ring just like the one I was wearing.

Is everyone ready for cyber Monday?? I haven't really seen any deals that I must have, but I'll still be looking. Anytime I can shop from home, is a wonderful shopping trip.

Have a great week!

Beads Everywhere

noreply@blogger.com (MaryB) — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 02:27:00 +0000

How many beads are too many? These pictures represent just two of around a dozen boxes that hold just my beads.

The sad part is, I love going to all the bead shows and purchase way too many and fondle every bead there. When I get home I show them off, then put them in the little compartments. Now you would think I would know to label them (because I always have to ask what kind of bead it is)....but NO, while I'm there I'm thinking, Oh I'll remember the name of that.

So now that I want to make jewelry to put on Etsy, it sure would be nice if I knew the name of a particular bead.

I know, you're thinking the same thing I was earlier, she's screwed....but then I had a thought...I'm going to take one of each bead with me to the up coming bead show, and put a number on it, take them to my favorite vendor and ask her what the names are, and when she say's no#1 is icky sticky, I'll write on paper no#1. icky sticky....think it will work??

If all else fails, I'll take more pictures and put them in a photo album on a Yahoo jewelry group I'm on and ask the members there.

So much for trying to be organized. They are nice containers though, there are 24 compartments in each container and then 4 of them fit into guess what??? a tackle box. Easy to carry around, hard to remember what you're carrying. Maybe that's why I'm playing with wire lately, to hide from my beads because I don't know their names.

Well, back to the wire working. I'll be sure to take pictures of the next bead show treats.

Scrunchie Ring

noreply@blogger.com (MaryB) — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 16:39:00 +0000

I don't know if this is the official name for it, but it's what I call it. My sister emailed me the other day and gave me a link and said, look what I bought. She had bought 3 (not just one) rings from that website, hmmmmmpf, I told her I had the beads, etc, to make them. She say's she frequents a shop in Princeton, NJ and every time she goes in there they are out of them. They are a new trend there right now. I will not give a tutorial since there is someone out there with a website selling them, however I do have my email available on my blog, feel free to ask me questions.
My sister knows that I just love blue in the winter, reminds me of snowflakes or soemthing, I don't know, but blue is a good winter color to me. That is why I picked a blue stone for this ring. Oh, and the ring takes all of about 5-10 mins to make.

I don't know how often my sister frequents my blog, but just in case, here you go Tina...neener, neener, neener!!

Chainmaille Thats All I Know Anymore

noreply@blogger.com (MaryB) — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 18:45:00 +0000

I'm still hooked on doing chainmaille. It just seems to sooth me and take me off into another world (not like I'm on this earth anyway), after all I did survive the 70's.
My latest addiction is a Japanese Cross pendant, it's supposed to be a pair of earrings, but I think I'll be keeping this for myself and I will make it a pendant. It's so tiny and cute.

Yesterday I did make two pairs of sterling silver freeform earrings, but I'll have to wait to show pictures of them, they are going to be shipped off to a BFF after they get tumbled.

I wish I could say there was something new and exciting going on around here, but I kind of like the nothingness that is happening right now, because sooner or later I have to start some Christmas shopping.

Have a Great Weekend!

More of My Current Addiction

noreply@blogger.com (MaryB) — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 15:46:00 +0000

Well, apparently taking bad pictures is a current addiction that I'm hoping to fix. I've taken probably 50 pictures in various places throughout the house and outside, and can't get a good picture. I must take the time and get the book out. My other current addiction is still working on chainmaille, now this addiction I like.
I made a pair of the shaggy loop earrings and added seed beads to it. They are all sterling silver, I'm even making my own jump rings now.
They will look much prettier once tumbled (still waiting and bitching about not getting my belts for my tumbler)!

This pair of earrings are the mobius earrings, the ones earlier in the week I got frustrated with trying to figure out. I figured out the problem, the photo directions show holding them in your left hand and working with your right hand. Doh...it took me several tries to remember that I'm left handed. I love these earrings they are actually only 3/4 inches from the top of the earwire. They are so light to wear.

I've read a few hints and tips on taking photo's of jewelry, but I seriously need to improve 100% on this.

I can't put these on Etsy until I am able to take a decent picture of them. (well they still need tumbled also)... Okay Mary, enough on the bad pics and the lousy tumbler already. Get creating!

Okay I'm done with my bitchfest for the day. Upwards and onward I'm moving. Everyone have a great day!

Shaggy Loop Amethyst

noreply@blogger.com (MaryB) — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 18:16:00 +0000

Yesterday I was complaining about not being able to understand one particular weave in chainmaille. Well, when all else fails, try another.

This weave (pattern) is called the shaggy loop, and it was very easy to do. I know the picture is huge, but from the top of the ear wire to the bottom of the amethyst is only 2-1/4 inches.

I really need to make a light tent. I was trying to use all natural light, but it's cloudy again today. Sorry to the person that finally felt sorry for me and helped me figure out how to mess with my pics. in Photoshop, but it's the light, I swear...heeehee!

I guess it's back to reality now, laundry, dinner, get ready for work tomorrow...ugg!

Lost in Time

noreply@blogger.com (MaryB) — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 18:21:00 +0000

All of the leaves are now off of the tree's here, and I thought we were well into our way of winter facing us. But, today we have tornado watches. Weird, weird weather! Oh look at the poor abandoned birds nest.

I was up very late last night trying to work out a particular chainmaille pattern and found it very frustrating, so I watched a movie until 4am. I haven't done that in quite a long time, and I'm feeling a little sluggish today, but I'm determined to get to that chainmaille pattern.

Well I guess I'm headed back to the jump rings, I hear them calling my name, or is that them calling me names??
Have a great weekend everyone!