Must have something green..

Hello my friends! I am back..I seem to be on a weekly blogging schedule lately!
Today was a fun filled day of scrubbing away. Scrub, wash, fold, vacuum..you name it, I did it!
There is something very fulfilling about sitting back and looking at the results of all your work! Thank god, because other than that I would lose all motivation for housecleaning...there are so many other things I would rather be doing!

As a reward...or as a break!...I made this necklace after my wenching was done. It started out as a bracelet..lol! Funny how things just take on a path of their own!

Once again, I used old jewelry and made it fresh and new!
I tossed some new beads in to mix it all up!
Amongst them are 8 mm faceted round swarovksi crystals from artbeads.com.
The crystals I used are chrysolite, a very pale shade of green.
The plan was to make a bracelet with lots of shades of green...grass green, gray green, light green...you get the picture.

You HAVE to have something green to wear in the springtime..don't you?

At the moment I have two heavy breathing, whiny, crying dogs at my feet. They are both shaking like there is no tomorrow. They just heard a loud noise outside..actually it sounded like a gunshot!!! Must go investigate..and comfort my poochies! Have a wonderful weekend!

Yippeee! It's Spring!

Just wondering what all my blogger friends have been up to? Are you all as happy as me that spring is just about here? It certainly is beginning to feel that way!
I was off from work today, and what a wonderful day it has been..and it is not over yet!

Today started with one of my fave things...well two of them. An awesome couple cups of coffee, followed by my first long run of the season! 8 of my favorite, most mind clearing miles. It was and still is, just gorgeous out! I didn't have to stop except to cross roads! This is really exciting to me for a few reasons. I injured my knee last October during a 1/2 marathon. It is better now. While I was training for the 1/2 marathon, my runs just kept getting harder and harder to do. Strange, I should have gotten stronger and stronger. I was short of breath, had ankles twice their normal size and absolutely exhausted...not to mention a multitude of symptoms that followed those all through this past winter.
I just thought it was age, lol! Being a nurse, I ignored my symptoms. I finally had some bloodwork done a month or so ago. Lo and behold...I have thyroid problems. Well duh, I said, I have every single symptom possible!
I have started on medication and am having mostly, really, really good days. I never thought I would feel like myself again..but am starting to. Thus..my awesome runs lately! No longer am I dragging myself up my driveway after, barely able to walk. So, for those of you who "poo poo" and ignore subtle and not so subtle symptoms..DON'T!!!
On to more exciting things...and off my soapbox.
Pictured above is miss Tia. She and Yogi had a lovely and frolicking walk through the woods, sniff and snaffing. They also decided to roll in something, most likely less than desirable...luckily, it they aren't too stinky!

Ever since I have made my last copper cuff bracelet I have been so anxious to do another!
This one was finished today. The colors that came out from heating up the copper are amazing.

Luckily the sun cooperated also.

This will be for sale in my etsy shop very soon!
distressing delilah
I hope you all have a wonderful and safe weekend!

Copper Cuff Cameo Bracelet

Hello all! I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend! I know mine was full of a few twists and turns. We had a visit to the vet, which as usual, was full of drama. Anytime Yogi goes to the vet, it is dramatic! I thought we were free and clear this time, but when we got to the vet I opened the back of my Exterra and wonderdog flew out faster than I could put his leash on. He then proceeded to ignore me calling him, and ran into the middle of a three lane highway as fast as he could. So there I was chasing a dog, who supposedly could barely limp due to arthritis, up and down the highway. Finally he stood still and I caught him...and that was just BEFORE we walked through the door at the vet! I won't get into the rest of my crazy..but what ended up to be very pleasant, weekend! Maybe another in time or universe..

If you have not already figured this one out...I pulled out the copper and the blowtorch again this weekend! As usual, this was not exactly how I planned this bracelet. I had two different focal pieces I tried before I pulled the cameo out, then it was instant love!
The copper had many different looks to it before the final one here. One that I wish I had stopped at but didn't! I had heated it up to bring out some beautiful colors...but, as I sometimes do, I went to far and lost them! Next time, and there will be a next time, I will know better.

This little bracelet is sold, though...I was quite attached to it! But I can't keep everything I make now can I? I plan on making lots more like it, as it is my favorite design so far.

So now I am off to my week. It is 5:30 a.m. here, a Monday no less..
But I was so excited about my bracelet I just had show you now!

Capri anyone?

I have to tell you, I had the greatest day! My work schedule is usually Monday through Thursday, but I took today off and am working tomorrow instead.
It was like a heat wave here! Well, not really, but it was about 35 or 40 degrees.
Which, if you know me, meant outside for a run! It felt so good to be out there again!
Much more enjoyable than the gym.

I also snuck some jewelry making time in today...along with french bread making and homemade mushroom soup cooking!..Told ya it was a great day!
Pictured above is a pair of earrings I made using, once again, (can you tell I love them!) gunmetal pewter knotwork bead caps. I dangled some 9mm swarovski black diamond teardrops.
The bead caps and the teardrops are both from artbeads.com.

Continuing with my "use up some of my copper sheeting" theme, are these earrings! They are based on design I used for the bracelet in the previous post.

Again, I used gunmetal bead caps that I flattened out...see the gorgeous design that unfolds when you do that? I also used aquamarine teardrop swarovski ab crystals. The the green/blue shade of the patina on the copper, and the beautiful aquamarine color remind me of the water in the blue gratto (spelling?) in the Isle of Capri...(the most beautiful color I have EVER seen, and still remember it from so many years ago!)
The above earrings may soon make their way to Distressing Delilah's shelves..so if you like them, keep your eyes peeled!
and before I go,
I want to give a big thank to artbeads for the gorgeous beads they offer, and for inspiring me to create! Thank you artbeads!

My coppery love

Something old..something new....something copper, something..blue..
with that sentiment on to my story..

I pulled out my blowtorch this weekend and heated things up!

I have had a little clear package of gunmetal pewter knotwork beadcaps
starring up at me from my desk, for about a week now. I tried making a few earrings from them, but just couldn't decide on a design. Instead, I pulled open the bottom drawer of my storage
dresser and there was a partially used, shiny copper sheet calling my name.
An idea then began!
This bracelet uses the beadcaps in a slightly different way than their name indicates they are meant for! But that is why we were given an imagination, right! Do you see where they ended up? I adore their pattern, especially when they are flattened on the copper!
Oh..the blue part...I applied a blue patina to the copper after heating it up.
The old...I used links from a vintage necklace to attach the copper pieces....and the new...
copper and gunmetal beadcaps! The gorgeous bead caps are courtesy of artbeads.com
Visit their site now to enter for a chance to win a $1,000 shopping spree! The chance to enter ends this Thursday, March 4th! For a direct link click on the contest link in the side column.
To view more of the beautiful bead caps artbeads has to other click here: base metal bead caps.

My coppery love bracelet is for sale in Distressing Delilah's etsy shop.

This is my fuzzy, furry king of the hill, returning after a long five minutes of guarding the driveway. I don't know about you, but he LOVES this snow! I have more than once caught him rolling in the snow, back and forth, all four paws to the sky! To each his own I say.