Barbe Saint John - New Treasures from Forgotten Artifacts

Book Review: Kaffe Fassett's Quilt Romance

2009-12-07T11:54:00.000-08:00

Kaffe Fassett's Quilt Romance Paperback: 144 pages Publisher: Taunton Press (October 6, 2009) Language: English ISBN-10: 1600852599 ISBN-13: 978-1600852596 Kaffe Fassett is a well known name in the fabric industry. His latest book is the 11th in a series of quilt patterns featuring Fassett designed fabrics. It has 20 stunning new quilts with the feel of a long ago romantic era. The

Dog Parties and Bead Bloggers on a Rainy Sunday

2009-12-07T00:46:00.000-08:00

AirShips Ahoy! Necklace ©Barbe Saint John/Saints and Sinners® Yesterday I did a small gallery sale that I was hoping would go well. I was feeling terrible when I woke up, and pushed myself to go when I should have really stayed home recuperating. There were alot of lookie Lou's but very very few shoppers. ;-( I sold 3 pr of inexpensive earrings and a $10 ring. Not at all good for a 6 hour

Fill up your Steampunk Jewelry Trunk! Steampunk Style Jewelry Book Review

2009-12-04T14:35:00.000-08:00

Steampunk Style Jewelry: Victorian, Fantasy, and Mechanical Necklaces, Bracelets, and Earrings I just got my review copy of this book, and WOW!!!!! It is BEAUTIFUL!!!!! And I'm not biased, it really is a fantastic book! Even the book it self is a work of art, from the embossed cover to the metallic copper liner paper. This is just a lovely book inside and out. This jewelrymaking how-to book

Happy Bloated Bellies Day, Newsletter and ArtBeads.com

2009-11-27T21:59:00.000-08:00

Hope you are all feeling well today and don't feel like this poor squirrel looks LOL. This is what I call the day after Thanksgiving because we usually make so much yummy food and eat far too much. I didn't eat too much yesterday but Rob and the dogs went into food coma and took a nice long nap after dinner. While they were napping, I took the opportunity to go thru some stuff in our closet.

Big News!!!

2009-11-24T20:44:00.000-08:00

I've got a couple of great things to crow about!! First = I've got a project in the winter issue of Belle Armoire Jewelry - Tattered Garden Ring. I got the issue the other day and am also happy to be included with such a talented group of artists including my birthday twin Kecia and online friends Deryn, Kristen and Richard Salley. I absolutely LOVE the photos they took of my work, they are

If Cupcakes are wrong,let me live in sin!

2009-11-23T16:41:00.000-08:00

Never have truer words been spoken! Especially when the tasty goodies are from Cups and Cakes Bakery whose motto is: If cupcakes are wrong, we don't wanna be right. Luckily (or unluckily for my behind) they just opened their pretty hot pink and black storefront on 9th St this past weekend. It;s a great location because I have to walk by it any time I go to Trader Joes. If you are in SF and in

Enchanted Adornments Book Review

2009-11-23T11:09:00.000-08:00

Enchanted Adornments: Creating Mixed-Media Jewelry with Metal Clay, Wire, Resin, and More by Cynthia Thornton. Ok=so I'm about a month late posting my review and I apologize. It has nothing to do with the book, its me. I seem to have fallen out of the habit of blogging every day like I use to when I was on craftgossip. Anyway, on to the book. Enchanted Adornments is more than just a "how to

San Francisco Bead and Design Show Review and Bead Blog Reading Rainbow

2009-11-22T21:15:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I went to a new Bead Show being held in SF, The San Francisco Bead and Design show. It was in the Hotel Whitcomr in the Civic Center/Theatre district part of downtown. It's a dicey area but the hotel is absolutely gorgeous. It was a really nice show, with tons of interesting jewelry and supplies. There were probably more jewelry and clothing for sale than supplies but the mix was nice.

Bad Blogger

2009-11-16T21:46:00.000-08:00

Yikes, its been a while since I've blogged.Will try to remedy that this week! I've been working on some funky new jewelry pieces, like these head shrine necklaces and sending out a few "random mailings of love" the past couple of weeks. Those have all arrived their various destinations during the last week, and this week I will hopefully be sending out a few more. I find it so fun to get an

Mini post-This weeks Bead Bloggers

2009-11-02T00:08:00.000-08:00

Still under the weather, so this is gonna be a tiny post. I've spent the past few days web surfing and blog reading so here is this weeks Bead and Jewelry blog links for you to enjoy too! A Bead A Day: Looking for a great way to commemorate a special moment or gift? Design a piece of jewelry! About.com Jewelry Making It's like Wal-Mart, only you want to be there in this virutal tour of

Happy Halloween!!!

2009-10-31T17:50:00.000-07:00

Happy Halloween Everyone! Hope you night is full of treats and not so many tricks. Halloween is extra-special in our house, because we have two pumpkin birthdays to celebrate - Rob and my kitty Neffie. Halloween is weird this year in San Francisco. I haven't seen ONE person in costume either yesterday or today. Usually theres a bunch of people who dress up to go to work, and should be alot of

The final link in the Necklace Round Robin

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

Isn't this gorgeous! I was the final creative stop for the necklace round robin I was in. The group consisted of myself and 3 other fabulous jewelry artists - Lorelei Eurto, Mary Dodd and Kerry Bogert. This is my necklace. I borrowed the pic from Mary's blog but its been on my neck since I got it! We all started with a partially started necklace, a note about our theme, color and length

Bead Bloggers!

2009-10-25T13:55:00.001-07:00

Where did the week go?? Bettie wonders the same thing. Is Mercury still in retrograde, because it has been a week of setbacks and frustrations for me. Sigh..... I don't like losing time to things gone wrong and do overs, makes me cranky. I didn't get to do a review of Enchanted Adornments yet, or put up my Round Robin necklace photos. Fear not, I will have lots to post this coming week. I did

good mail days

2009-10-19T23:08:00.000-07:00

I've had a lucky streak of fun mail days since this weekend. On Saturday, I got my order from Glass Glitter and Beads. I wanted to try some small amounts, and they have really good prices. They came within a few days and all are really pretty. She also has a "Happy Holidaze" coupon code good thru 12/31. Get 20% off by using coupon code holidaze4. I am so excited to start covering everything in

Sunday and the living is easy...........

2009-10-18T23:01:00.000-07:00

ok, I know that's not QUITE they way the song goes but it is the way my day has gone. I slept for over 10 hours last night. and got a VERY late start to the day. Which has kind of been par for the course all week. This stomach thing took more out of me than I thought, so I was slow moving all week. I have been at the worktable off an on, between laying down. I got a full box of stuff to

Book Review: Chain Style

2009-10-13T23:51:00.000-07:00

Chain Style: 50 Contemporary Jewelry Designs by Jane Dickerson Paperback: 128 pagesPublisher: Interweave Press (October 1, 2009)Language: EnglishISBN-10: 1596681500ISBN-13: 978-1596681507Chain jewelry is HOT right now. I'm not talking one little chain with a little charm on it, I'm talking big fancy chain, or lots of chains or a tangled web of chain. Chain is the star, not the pendant or charms.

A bit under the weather

2009-10-12T12:33:00.000-07:00

I got sick yesterday and am still feeling out of it. Unmentionable stomach woes and a slight fever, and I am praying I don't get the piggy flu. I have a bunch of books I wanted to get up this weekend but didn't, including Chain Style and Enchanted Adornments. Promise they will come soon!I didn't get to post this yesterday, so doing it now: this weeks bead blogs!A Bead A Day Do you buy beads for

Miniature Masterpiece Beads from Artbeads.com

2009-10-07T22:53:00.000-07:00

I got this absolutely GORGEOUS Russian hand painted Mucha bead from Artbeads.com about 2 months ago. put up a post about this gorgeous bead a few weeks ago and only last week realized it has disappeared. I don't know if it even posted or not, and it is gone from my dashboard. I pulled out the necklace to take more pics and repost. Its a blessing in disguise because I took it apart and re

A Crafty Start to the Week

2009-10-06T19:16:00.000-07:00

This week started with art/craft fun and is going strong. Sunday was the Alameda Flea Market, where I got some fun metal things to work with. There was a bunch of larger stuff I SHOULD have gotten for assemblage but didn't. I was focusing on jewelry stuff, next month I'll get some larger art junque. My friend Shoshanah picked me up and away we went. She is great to go shopping with, we both like

Sunburnt

2009-10-04T20:35:00.000-07:00

Today I went over to the Alameda FleaMarket with my friend Shoshanah. Mapquest got us a bit lost so it took a while to make it over but eventually we found it and met up with Vivian and had a grand time.I got some fun stuff that I can't wait to use. I also got an unwanted sunburn because I apparently forgot to put on my facial sunscreen this morning. DUH! I hope it feels better tomorrow!And now,

And the winner is................

2009-09-30T21:16:00.000-07:00

Thank you all for commenting on my post about giving. I appreciate your comments!Using a random number generator at random.org - The winner of the book is JAIME!!! So Jaime, email me at barbe AT barbesaintjohn.com and I'll send this off to you!

Seed Bead Fusion Book Review

2009-09-28T22:39:00.001-07:00

Seed Bead Fusion: 18 Projects to Stitch, Wire & String by Rachel Nelson-Smith ISBN: 978-1-59668-156-9WOW. I haven't picked up a beading needle and nymo thread in years but this book has me itching to get back to it.Ms. Nelson-Smith passion for bead work and jewelry making is evident by this book. It is OUTSTANDING. She has combined seed bead weaving techniques and wire work to create some

Time for Tea

2009-09-27T23:29:00.000-07:00

It was a gloriously warm, Indian summer day in SF and a wonderful day to go out. I met up with Jessica and she took me out for a belated Birthday lunch at Crown & Crumpet. It's a gorgeous little tea cafe, filled with gorgeous things. Anyway, after a bus trip that took 3x as long as it should have we had a lovely afternoon. And I got prezzies!I've included a closeup on the vintage Welsh

When you feel empty, give.

2009-09-23T22:27:00.000-07:00

I have been planning to start the 29 Day Giving challenge on October 1st. Today I decided it I would start sooner. I felt I needed to take my focus off my own problems and onto the joy of giving. What is the 29 Day Giving Challenge? The premise is: GIVE A LITTLE EACH DAY. MAKE A BIG IMPACT. You give one thing away each day for 29 days. Why? Because to see our world change, we have to do

The Cheese Stands Alone

2009-09-23T00:55:00.000-07:00

This is a cartoon drawing of how I feel right now. I don't think its humanly possible to feel any sadder than I do at this present moment. I don't want to get into to it publicly, but know that if I don't answer your emails or calls - it's not you, it's me.