Barbe Saint John - New Treasures from Forgotten Artifacts

Bad Blogger

2009-07-12T21:58:00.000-07:00

copyright 2009 Barbe Saint JohnI've meant to blog all week long...somehow it didn't happen. I also wanted to get a newsletter out, since I've marked the art yarns at 40% off. That didn't happen either. The road to hell is paved with good intentions so they say.I've been busy doing work and attempting to be creative. Everything I touch this week seems to be fighting me, taking me so long to

Oops, I did it again

2009-07-06T23:57:00.001-07:00

Put up the Bead Bloggers post last night and didn't hit publish! In my own defense, I was a bit down yesterday but for a good reason=Mr. DJ Puppy got adopted!!! A wonderful couple fell in love with him at the Chihuahua Meetup and adopted right then and there. I'd been telling him all week "We're gonna find your new parents at the meetup on Sat", but I seriously didn't think it would happen like

Happy Independence Day!!!!

2009-07-04T09:15:00.000-07:00

Hope everyone is having a great day of celebrating our freedom. We are a country born out of rebels, revolutionaries and radical ideas/philosophies and we should NEVER forget that. 233 yrs ago we declared our independant nation to Great Britain who was none too pleased. "That's treason and punishable by death" Great Britain said. "To bad,we tired of your oppression and are going to be free, no

Simply Gemstones Book Review

2009-07-02T16:07:00.000-07:00

Simply Gemstones: Designs for Creating Beaded Gemstone Jewelry by Nancy AldenPaperback: 144 pagesPublisher: Potter Craft (July 14, 2009)Language: EnglishISBN-10: 0307451356ISBN-13: 978-0307451354 I recently got this book and it was soaked to the gills from some problem at Fedex. I really wanted to read but had to wait until it dried out which took a few days. On the cover is a necklace of YUMMY

Questioning the unknown

2009-06-28T12:00:00.000-07:00

Dear Supreme Being/Beings/Powers that be,I know you have a grand plan for me. I know there is SOME reason that instead of being in a small Cardiff apt, getting read to start a Welsh Language intensive Wlpan at Cardiff University tomorrow morning, I'm still in SF. Don't get me wrong, I love my home and family. Also, I'm loving the REAL summer weather and 80 degress outside but I'm still sad I'm

Polymer Clay Play Day

2009-06-27T18:10:00.000-07:00

I finally pulled out my box of ancient polymer clay this week and did some playing around. Still usuable if a bit stiff to work with. Some things turned out great, others not so much. I love the way these 3, double sided soon to be beads or charms turned out. I used some old homemade texture sheets I created for a mica shift class I took with Grant Diffendaffer about 8 yrs ago. I'm glad I kept

Nose firmly planted on grindstone, grind grind grind!

2009-06-24T15:05:00.001-07:00

I've spent the morning, doing my favorite (insert sarcasm)- resizing photos and adding new jewelry to the website. I got 3 pair of earrings and one bracelet done and now I need a break! Going to the worktable and work on some swap stuff.I also need to go over to Douglas & Sturgess today too. I've had it on my to do list and, have forgot about it for 3 days now. I want to get some quickset molding

Back and getting busy!

2009-06-22T15:20:00.000-07:00

I've got an article in Belle Armoire July/Aug issue! The article is "Dragonfly Baby Necklace" and is available on some newstands now. I have another Dragonfly Baby necklace to put up on the website soon. This week is ALL about catching up. I am FINALLY feeling ok after 10 days of fibro hell. I don't talk about it, because its been mostly managable the past 7 yrs however this past one was a doozee

Is it Sunday already?

2009-06-14T22:17:00.001-07:00

This weekend has flown by. We got a new temporary addition to our family, we are fostering a little Chi Mix puppy whom we've named D.J. Ska Bee. He has a non contagious skin problem, that needs to be cleared up before he is able to be adopted. Currently he is 2 1/2 pounds of pure energy, constantly running around trying to get the cats and Bettie to play with him 20 hours out of the day. He

Bezel, Bezel, who got the Bezel?

2009-06-11T10:46:00.000-07:00

I do, I do!!!! and I know what I'm doing with the rest of my day-playing with my new bezels. I just got in a shipment of Patera Jewelry findings from Nunn Designs. Aren't they all lovely? These are all bezel settings, along with some great chain and other fun stuff like leaf connectors & toggles. I think I'm in love with the copper ones in particular. Copper findings are getting easier to find,

Perfumed Locket Class

2009-06-09T21:06:00.000-07:00

Another class to tempt you! This will be at the lovely Tangerine shop in Dublin, CA on July 12th 10am to 1pm Special price=$65 Email me if you want to be included!Perfumed Locket Necklace In ancient times, solid perfumes were the standard. You’ll love applying and wearing perfume this way! In this class we’ll create a lovely necklace with a hammered wire centerpiece and personalized locket

Book Review: Ancient Modern: Polymer Clay & Wire Jewelry

2009-06-09T13:49:00.001-07:00

Ancient Modern: Polymer Clay + Wire Jewelry by Ronna Sarvas Weltman Paperback: 136 pagesPublisher: Interweave Press (June 1, 2009)Language: EnglishISBN-10: 1596680970ISBN-13: 978-1596680975 I was blown away when I saw the cover of this book and HAD to have it. The look of this necklace reminds of when the movie Bell, Book & Candle opens up, you see Gillian's shop full of African Statues and

A week of errand running

2009-06-07T23:42:00.000-07:00

Yet another week that has just flown by WHOOSH! I did work on a few projects and run a bunch of errands. I also restocked my display space at Artist Xchange with lots of new jewelry. I went to get jump rings yesterday and came home to find the girl gave me the wrong size rings and wrong chain. Now I have to go back or go over to Pearl and get the right size gold rings. My intention is that I am

Jewelry Alchemy Class

2009-06-06T12:37:00.000-07:00

Space still available in the "Jewelry Alchemy" at Tangerine in Dublin June 14th from 10am to 1pm. Turn your old parts into fabulous new jewelry. $55. For more details email me or call Gina at Tangerine 925-548-8447We'll transform ourselves into glamorous alchemists as we meld orphan bits & bobs, broken jewelry box treasures and modern components into fabulous one of a kind jewelry pieces. Bring

Writeup Love from Tangerine

2009-06-05T12:54:00.000-07:00

Tooting my own horn and sending big THANK YOU to Gina for the linky love and kind words.Gina from Tangerine wrote a lovely post about me on the Tangerine Blog, Thank you so much Gina!!!!If you live in the Bay Area you MUST visit Tangerine. It's absolutely precious, you'll want to buy everything in there and sit on the floor and start making stuff.And reminder-I'm teaching the Jewelry Alchemy

Get to know me better on Objects & Elements Blog

2009-06-02T11:17:00.001-07:00

photo copyright Barbe Saint John 2009I'm the "Meet the Design Team Member" this week on the Objects and Elements blog! You can read my interview by clicking the pic above or here. You can also see the full version of this necklace over there too.Jane Salley's interview is up as well so you can get to know her a bit better. Deryn, Kristen and Jen will be up in the coming weeks. And if you love

Bead Bloggers Linky Love

2009-06-01T09:52:00.001-07:00

Still recovering from Maker Fair on Saturday and a long day at Union Show yesterday.It was typical grey, overcast and chilly Sunday to do a street fair. Jessica came down to help out and I finally got to meet Shelly of Lightbox and saw friends like Lisa & Willfredo, Leslie, Nadine, Annie and Joey. Had fun with my tent partner Vanina of 12 Moods Studios, but we barely sold anything. So today I

Still here, just quiet

2009-05-30T21:24:00.000-07:00

I'm still here, been meaning to do a post for DAYS...Swamped since I got back from S.C.Tomorrow is Union Design Show in Hayes Valley,SF 11-6ish. Not sure I'll last until 6 but will try. If you are in the city, please stop by and say hi. I'll be in spot #13-which is across the park against the buildings. I think by the new French Sweets shop.Went to Maker Fair today and had a great time. Got to

Get Steamy with me! Another bit of fabulous news

2009-05-20T11:25:00.001-07:00

The Steam-Punk Style Jewelry: A Makers guide of Victorian, Fantasy and Mechanical Jewelry is now available for pre-order! I'm also happy to say that I'm one of the 13 jewelery designers who have projects in this book! It's going to be a fabulous book. All hte projects are cold connections, so anyone can do this at home. Not only are there some cool jewelry projects, but also a steamy gallery

An Afternoon at Tangerine

2009-05-19T23:34:00.000-07:00

"To know someone here or there with whom you can feel there is understanding in spite of distances or thoughts expressed, That can make life a garden."~ GoetheToday I went out on a business trip to a sweet shop called Tangerine out in Dublin. I went over to talk to Gina about some different classes I could teach and hopefully schedule a couple. It was a lovely day and the ride over on Bart would

Monday moves in like a lion, out like a lamb.......

2009-05-18T19:22:00.000-07:00

Glamour Girl Mixed Media Necklace ©Barbe Saint JohnI found a bunch of jewelry today that I never put on my website or Etsy site. Some I had taken photos of while others were just put in the "take photo's of this stuff" box. I made this Glamour Girl necklace last fall for the KPFA show, but it never made it to the website. Bad me! Most need to have the photos redone so I guess I know what I'll be

Secrets revealed..........

2009-05-15T14:12:00.001-07:00

Like this teaser pic? After a few months of hinting around and biting my tongue, I'm finally able to tell share my happy & exciting news. I'm was chosen to be on the first ever Objects and Elements Design Team!!!! This is one of my projects you'll see soon over on the Objects and Elements blog. I'm sure most of you are familiar with Susan Lenart Kazmer, whether thru seeing her jewelry work,

Cultivating an attitude of gratitude

2009-05-14T16:00:00.001-07:00

specimen necklaces ©Barbe Saint John/Saints & Sinners®So while the beginning of my week wasn't so pleasant, it has been turning itself around. I needed to look at why certain stupid things upset me so, understand why I reacted as such, then focus on all the wonderful things in my life right now and what's to come. Gotta keep that "attitude of gratitude" going or you just sink into the mire. I

Mercury Retrograde Monday

2009-05-11T23:09:00.000-07:00

Mercury is in retrograde right now and BOY has it been humdinger of a weekend. Today has been especially "challenging" and this picture is how I feel today. Also I think I made this same freakout face when I got the email I was rejected to vend at a craft show. I am hoping that the rest of the month goes a little easier or that I gain a greater capacity to handle it better. I came

2009-05-10T23:28:00.001-07:00

Happy Mother's Day to all you Mom's out there. My fur 'kids' didn't get the memo and created messes all day long for us to clean up, so not the BEST of days for me LOL.But, I'm about to sit down with a pot of tea and do some reading on this weeks Bead Bloggers!About.com Jewelry Making Hook up with a cute little fiber flower charm and necklace project! Combine your crochet and jewelry making