My New Etsy Shop AtabbycatArts

I have recently made the step and opened up an Etsy Store, I have so much stuff that I make and I have to create things... I seriously am compelled to not remain idle.. lol. My Etsy shop is

http://www.atabbycatarts.etsy.com/

I will be putting scads of things in there over the coming weeks,, but the main focus I have been undertaking is getting lots of new pictures of all my jewelry that I will be offering and of my painted rock critters... so far I have about 18 items of jewelry in the shop and want to add some painted rocks soon.. I know times are hard and the economy has not made it easy on handcrafters .. but Please in the up coming Holiday season,, Won't you think about buying local handcrafted items for gifts this year... The big outlet stores are great for bargains but most of the items in these mega stores and you *know* who I am talking about.. are imported and that takes away jobs and income from Americans. Make a pledge to support the citizens in our country and buy local and or Handmade items... Good for our economy and our Country.

Above is a picture of a Viking Knit chain and pendant that I am offering for sale on http://www.atabbycatarts.etsy.com/

The chain is handmade from copper wire in 24 ga the Pendant in copper 20ga wire is a piece of beach glass I found and a little blue bead in the top swirl, I did a wire woven bail and the whole piece is meticulously handcrafted from start to finish... I even took the brass end cones and turned the edges over to make them smooth rounded and pokey free!

Please feel free to take a peek at my shop and convo me if you have any questions about anything I offer.

Regards :)

Leo Handpainted Wireworked Pendant

This is the first post in a bit for me, lots to do and not enough time to get things done, just like the majority of folks out there I assume.. :) This pendant I have been working at on and for some time. The lion is painted in acrylics on a flattish stone.. I did this way back in 2003, had it on a necklace with a glued bail and one day I noticed the bail was loose. So I carefully pried it off and then kept looking at the loose stone for months.. started a Toodles wire weave wrap on it and made some mistakes in measurement so had to start it over again not once but twice!

Everyone I am sure has heard The Lion, King of the Jungle! well lions are really animals of the savannas.. preferring flat grasslands to jungles in most cases... but the term has been so ingrained that I thought a good way to display Leo was to have him peeking through some foliage ... A friend of mine saw this yesterday and did get the concept,,, "Oh it's like he is coming through jungle vines!" YES!!!!! I did manage to convey my concept... HURRAH!!! Whew!

Leo, or The Lion is now available for purchase in my Etsy shop at www.atabbycatarts.com
I will have him listed for 100.00 dollars, he is wearable art and the combined time to create not just the painting but the pendant setting was over 12 hours. The Lion can also be displayed as a small miniature painting or is of a good size to display in a vintage pocket watch stand. An interesting gift idea for a loved one who may be a Leo. :)

OOOOpsy Corrected!

Ahhh... the mistake corrected!


Beads in the right places and all shined up..


I took out 2 brass nut beads to snug up the fit a little.

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Royal Blue Pearl Noodle Bracelet

SOLD

Three big Royal blue baroque freshwater pearls are the splash of color in this noodle bracelet. Copper noodles and accents really go well with the deep beautiful blue on these big, I mean big dyed pearls.. the center pearl is 15mm by 9mm the side pearls are around 11mm.. One of the problems that pearls pose is they are tough but fragile at the same time, pearl necklaces have knots between each one to cushion and keep them from abrading and wearing away the nacre layers,, which is damage to the pearl and over time be unattractive, so when I use pearls strung on large wire as this I use very tiny gaskets between the pearl and the metal bead caps/spacer beads... this not only cushions the pearl but helps reduce the turning of the pearl on the wire which helps retain not only the beauty but decreases damage to the pearls.. This one fits 7" and under... A great look with jeans and casual!

Twisted Steel Coil Bracelet

This is one of my favorite twisted coil "noodle" bracelets that I have made, it is mild steel or black wire as I call it, with copper accents and dark green and orange glass beads, hand hammered S clasp with a copper doo hickey decoration on the clasp.. this wire gets Hard with working it... but I do love the steel wire, coils have been buffed to remove some of the dark layer and expose the wire color underneath. It looks very much like a Hematite sheen, Very Goth looking... and as I am kinda Goth I really like it! This fits perfectly on my 6.5" wrist and might fit a 7" if you would like it, 20.00 plus 2.50 shipping (bubble mailer) and insurance is you want it.

Sea Opal Glass Bead and Copper Bracelet

SOLD
This is a "Noodle" bracelet, copper noodles and beads with 3 "sea opal" glass beads... I love the look of the opaline type glass beads, these are showing more violet in the image but are actually more blueish, this is one of the first noodle bracelets I have done. I had heard of them for a few years but as I rarely buy any components other then beads and wire I had never been interested in them, but I espyed these at my fave bead merchants and bought a few... I really like them! I used 16ga copper wire through the noodles which was interesting as most wire used is 20ga, but I wanted a good sturdy bracelet. Fits my 6.5" wrist but would be comfortable up to a 7" I had to gently ream out the bead holes a bit to fit also. Hand hammered S clasp. Wearing copper is reputed to be good for aches and pains, and I wear a tri metal copper bracelet for my arthritis. and truthfully I do think it helps! SOLD

A pair of faceted Tiger Eye bead earrings with copper coiled seed bead wheels. An Eni Oken inspired design. Tiger Eye is one of my favorite gem materials, this pair has a lovely greenish layer of color at the bottom of each bead that is not noticeable in this picture, Irving my lovely modeling assistant was in a snit and threatened to bite me if I tried to press him into any more modeling. Gargoyles can be so moody and disagreeable! Irving can be found hiding in the older posts Irvings SRP, 15.00

Irvings Earrings

Irving modeling a pair of Eni Oken style earrings. And again he is not amused... Three gorgeous golden color button shape freshwater pearls with copper spacer beads. The round dangles are made of copper and gold colored non tarnish wire with little root beer glass seed beads as embelishment.

Three Bracelets

A trio, one which has already been posted by itself. The one with the white, blue and green beads was the first bangle of this kind I had made. The Chainmaille and pearl bracelet is one I enjoy making though all the pearls have to be re drilled to accommodate the 20 to 18 gauge wire I use to "dangle" them.. time consuming and a bit dangerous as I use a dremel and hold the wet little pearls in my fingers as I expand the holes! So far NO mishaps! Wooo Hoo!

In this picture the color of the pearls looks rather "mustardy" They aren't they really are a lovely goldenish color. These are fun to wear and make a distinctive clicking noise that at least to me is rather soothing.

China Blue

Three older vintage porcelain beads with hand formed copper coil tube beads and copper donut beads. The S clasp has a large dyed (but still gorgeous!) freshwater pearl and simulated "moonstone" glass beads. I textured the s arms on the clasp to a light hammered effect though this doesn't show up well in the picture.. the "moonstone" beads are just so pretty in good light. Copper is very malleable and this bracelet can be gently formed fitted to the wrist.

Demeters Flower Bracelet

This bangle style is copper coiled tube beads with green aventurine quartz beads and hand hammered copper disks. A lovely freshwater pearl was set and then small Chechz glass druks and more green aventurine beads were added to the handcrafted S clasp. A Spring inspired creation!

Byzantine Bracelet with Pearls

Anodized Aluminum rings in a lovely bronze color. A Byzantine chainmaille weave with copper clasp and copper wrapped dangling pearls. This is the bracelet I wear the most right now...it is a fun piece as it makes a wonderful sound! Sturdy and kinda Sexy!