A random Monday

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I got back from my Asheville trip! I had been feeling so detached from it all. I was around a computer (a laptop). I have never been one to fully grasp the mouse on a laptop. I just scroll so slowly. If I get one, you better believe that it will come with a mouse attachment!

So, here’s some random stuff going on in my world:

1) I made this necklace tonight:

new-necklace

I am sooooo picky about my own personal style of necklaces that I wear. I like a little chunk, a little funk, and a lotta color. I’m not really into dainty or uber sparkly things. I do like a little bit of glam every now and then, but restrained myself on this piece.

2) I got a new hot pink coat (Land’s End from Sears), new scarf, new gloves, and new iphone cover (Thanks Chris . As shown here:

At the vacation house

The iphone colors always are very dull. The coat is def. brighter than this salmony color it looks here!

3) I didn’t buy a single souvenir. I personally am not much of a souvenir person…sometimes I do like getting a t-shirt or wearable item, but that’s about it. As you saw in my rather unsuccessful attempt, I tried to give away a whole bunch o’ stuff last week, so the last thing I need is more stuff to bring home. If it was uber kitschy, then maybe, but I can do without a Biltmore mug or mousepad.

4) While I enjoyed the Britney documentary last night, I still think she didn’t totally answer everything people are dying to know about. But, I do feel for her, and I think in her world, she has to keep some things left unsaid to protect herself. The paparazzi are so nuts. I can’t imagine how scary it must be to deal with them everywhere you go.

5) Oh, and here’s my adorable nephews and niece dressed in their Christmas duds (the lighting was so sunny and splotchy…it was so hard to get a good pic!). I’ll try to post some more trip pics when I get the chance!

Taylor & Brock
brock&tay

Grant
grant

I was watching the Parent Trap yesterday (on briefly) and I discovered that my niece looks a lot like Lindsey Lohan in that movie. I’m comparing her to the old Lindsey, not the Lindsey she has become.

Anywho, what’s new in your world Swellions? Hope everyone had a swell Turkey weekend!

Ornament Thursday – Red Hot

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red hot necklace

This month’s theme for Ornament Thursday is Red Hot. I racked my brain to figure out something that screamed “Red Hot” to me. I immediately thought of a heated burner and the cool spiral it creates when it’s hot. I thought I would use that as a visual statement for the pendant for a necklace. Here’s how I did it:

Supplies

– necklace memory wire

– black 3mm ab faceted glass beads– orange 4mm ab faceted glass beads

– long red coil beads

– small jump ring

– pendant blank (Beadalicious by Horizon)

– cardstock

– inkjet printer

– xyron runner or bonding glue

– decopauge medium

– foam brush

– pliers

– pendant image

Visit my flickr page for thependant design (Thanks Chris for taking this photo for me).

Instructions

1. Cut necklace wire with wire cutters to desired length. Use pliers to make loop at end of one end of necklace.

2. String beads according to photo. At end of necklace, make loop.

3. Open up image in Photoshop or related imaging program and print out pendant image onto cardstock. Use a xyron runner or bonding glue to adhere image to metal pendant. Using foam brush, apply decopauge medium. It you wanting a more substantial look, try using something like Diamond Glaze or Envirotex to make the image pop off.

4. Poke a hole with safety pin on back side of pendant through paper. Open up jump ring and poke jump ring through hole. Add jump ring to center of necklace image and close jump ring.

That’s it!

On a side note, I photographed this on a piece of dyed marble effect material that I made in college. It was the colors of fire so it worked out perfectly!

Check out these other OT links!

Art Bead Scene

– ABS Editor Cindy Gimbrone Goes Red Hot Crazy!

Beading Help Web is RED HOT!

– Lynn Kvigne takes up the torch and shows you how to make a toe ring using fine silver.

Cindy Gimbrone aka Lampwork Diva

– Trendy, Popular and Red Hot!

It’s a Red Hot July in Arizona!

– Lisa finally finishes a project from over a year ago. Check out this “hot” take on a changeable necklace.

Katie’s Beading Blog

– Check out Katie’s Red Hot faux coral necklace! It’s a punch of color with a summery feel.

Linda Augsburg at BeadStyle Magazine

– Linda shares a red-hot card she created

Michelle is RED HOT!

– Well, really, Margot is…

Strands of Beads

– The heat is rising, and Melissa is making a Red hot Firecracker necklace!

Swelldesigner a.k.a. Alexa Westerfield

– The Swelldesigner gets red hot with a Hunka Hunka Burner Necklace!

Too Red Hot

– Our own Michelle Zimmerman has been hard at work this month sculpting a devil of a project for your enjoyment.

Until then, Swellions, have a great day!

Alexa

All content/photos copyright, © Alexa L. Westerfield, 2008

A quickie

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necklace set for sis

This is going to be an off the cuff post today. The photo above is a necklace set I made tonight for my sister. She’s turning 40 and I’m going to Nashville tomorrow to celebrate with my other sisters. We are going to the Taste of Nashville (I hope it is good, cause it is like $55 to go -yikes- but that is where Cynthia (the b-day girl) wanted to go. Then we are going for dancing at Centennial Park afterwards. It’s some Big Band dance…my sister takes ballroom dancing lessons and recently competed, so it is totally her thing.

I have to get up earlier than I would like tomorrow…so like in rougly 7 hours. Not nothin’ new for me, but I do love to sleep in on the weekends and desperately look forward to it. The good thing, though, is that I will see my nephews and niece tomorrow and I’ve been missing them like crazy!

So, I’ve been kinda down about my weight and personal image tonight. I really, really, have to make a change. I have stayed consistently in a weigh range that I’ve been comfortable with for the past 4 or so years and now I’m past that range. I have the biggest sweet tooth on the planet and hate preparing foods. I’m going to have to start doing something…I’ve recently drank some more coffee in the morning and been eating later at night than I did before. I’ve got to cut those things out, cause it is killing me. Also, while I have gotten a brand new bike, I’m going to have to have a consistent exercise approach using it and doing other things. Perhaps I might start eating in and then walking around my building at lunch. That could be a positive thing…just as long as it’s not too scorching.

Anyway, I did want to share a new site I’ve discovered and gotten quite a few blog hits from (as shown in the little box at the bottom right of my blog)…Blog Catalog. It’s a really neat site and has a cool bloggy network. There’s also a lot of great links to my favorite things…crafts, graphics, marketing and blog ideas, and photography.

Oh, and you must check out my very impatient friend, Margot’s spankin’ new video! It’s super swell!

Until Sunday, Swellions (don’t know that I’ll have computer access tomorrow). Have a great one!

Alexa