HAPPY HOLLOWEEN

Batman and the Ninja Turtle are off, trick-or-treating.  It's a warm, windy night -- perfect Halloween weather.

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This simple pendant pairs a small, time-worn silver key with a speckled blue ceramic bead held in place by a jet-black glass bead.  They are strung on a long, silver-finish chain with charmingly-irregular links.  A vintage shell button keeps the clasp company at the back of the neck.  

"Worn"

The photos don't do these justice.  These are one-of-a-kind earrings and necklace set made with vintage buttons and amethyst-colored lampwork glass beads on antique-brass-finish fittings.  I love how the subtle colors of the old buttons pick up the purple tones of the beads, the contrast in the shapes and finishes, and how the worn and irregular shapes of the stacked buttons look both geometric and organic.

The "Zermatt" collection

I made these with the clear glass buttons.  I wire-wrapped the buttons and dangled them off a loose silver-colored chain.  The bracelet includes three speckled blue ceramic beads, like tiny planets.  Clean and cool.

The "Heidelberg" collection

I made this coordinating pendant and earring set out of beads from the Murano glass necklace from the Heidelberg flea market, combined with some little brass rings I've been saving for years.  Emerald green vintage Murano glass beads and vintage brass rings with slight patina on antique-brass-color fittings.

Inspiration

Thanks to Oma and Mika for scouring the flea market in Heidelberg and finding this fantastic Murano glass bead necklace.  The necklace was a bit much as it was, with five layers of heavy glass beads, but with a couple of snips with the  scissors and an evening of sorting, and I now have six or more plastic baggies stuffed with emerald green beads of various sizes and shapes.  I don't think I would ever have chosen green, but necessity is truly the mother of invention -- it is when I am presented with limitations that I am most inspired.  I have already had many hours of fun creating earrings, necklaces and bracelets.  

Topsfield Fair

Right now it's snowing outside, so it's almost nostalgic to look at these photos from two weeks ago.  We went to the Topsfield fair and looked at animals, rode crazy rides, and ate corn dogs and cotton candy.  The second annual trip to the fair -- it's a tradition