I have returned from ConStruct and had a wonderful time! I am so exhausted from so much relaxing and stuff though! *grin* So I am easing back into my work week tonight, with a big list of orders and deadlines, and I wanted to blog really quick about two things:

First an exciting announcement! Fusion Beads has started carrying Earthenwood beads and pendants! All the production I have been doing over the last few months has been to stock them up with my work. Fusion is one of my very favorite resources for all of my beading supplies and I am very proud to be working with them. It is quite a thrill to see my beads up on their website. Many of the designs that they are carrying are only available with them, so if you are looking for some of my beads, go check out what they have.

Secondly, I have a round of Extra links to share with you, so click and enjoy!

The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton
Come join the fun in Philadelphia this weekend at Beadfest! Stop by the Green Girl Studios booth to say hello to Andrew and check out all the great new things available!!!

Strands of Beads
Melissa reveals her Use the Muse II Entry, "Briar Rose"

Lorelei's Blog: Inside the Studio
Take a peek into Lorelei's studio and see some cool bead storage solutions!

Katie's Beading Blog
Katie's project is a free, featured download on Beading Daily. Yay!

Jewelry & Beading
Cyndi wants to know, what's the best thing you've made so far this summer?

Jean Campbell
Jean's whipped up a free vintage button brooch project for you to try.

Cindy Gimbrone aka The Lampwork Diva
What do bronze and rawhide have in common? Cindy explains how she uses both in her studio.

Carmi's Art/Life World
Carmi has a short demo on how she came up with a contest entry.

Art Bead Scene
Art Bead Scene gets green findings at the local re-use store.

About.com Jewelry Making
Check out my beautifully organized list of mixed-media book reviews and find the perfect book to help you mix up your jewelry making.

A Bead A Day
Creating a "tiara" for your wrist is easy using Jill MacKay beading components and bicone crystals.

Here are two more of the new resin collage pendants. I really love these. They are made from oval blanks from Vintaj that I domed, one with a key and one with a lock. Both have a paper leaf behind the brass charm, and they are filled in with clear resin. I kind of like the idea of a pair of lovers or two friends wearing these necklaces, sort of like those best friend charms, but a little more subtle and grown up.

So I have been working on my big order still, and the end is sort of in sight, finally. AND I wrote and sent off two projects for a super secret project that I needed to finish by the end of the month. I have been swamped with deadline after deadline lately. It's not bad, it just gets a little tiring when it is all at once. I was glad to have the resin playtime, but when I get in production mode and need to work, but am wanting to play more, I tend to get myself into a little bit of shopping trouble. So I have an order from Rings and Things and ArtBeads on the way (and already received my FusionBeads and Vintaj orders, hehe), as well as a really cool find from a rubber stamp store that I will blog about when I get the shipment. When I get a day or two to play... look out! I will have the supplies at hand and the ideas are bursting out, so I will have a bunch of new stuff to share! For now, though, I have to hold on and finish these loose ends...

Here are a couple more pictures of the brass and resin pendants I made last weekend during my playtime. I am starting to list them over in the Earthenwood Etsy shop. I have made them all into pendants on faux leather cords, and I think they are very stylish and wearable. I do think I will need to take some new pictures, perhaps under sunlight instead of my light set-up that I am using now. I just haven't had time or sun to do so.
I have ordered more brass blanks from Vintaj and some Ice Resin, and am excited to get them so I can play more at home, with more of my stuff. I have started collecting bits and pieces to use with them... things I have been holding onto for a long time that can now find a home. It is refreshing to work on these sorts of things that cannot be easily reproduced. I do enjoy production work, but the unique creative playtime is much needed lately.
I am working diligently to finish a bunch of stuff, all with a deadline at the beginning of next month. I am coming along well with it, its just slow and tedious work. I also have been watching as my kitchen is getting closer and closer to a finished state, because of my awesome brother/roomie! I have a full day of work to do tomorrow, and then a fun weekend planned ahead, so I will wish you a great weekend, and will talk to you next week! I hope to continue to list more of the new Resin Collage necklaces to Etsy tomorrow, so keep checking back there for new stuff!