The Global Genes Project 7,000 Bracelets For Hope

lutkaandco — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 20:28:49 +0000

The Global Genes Project volunteer team continues to collect blue jean/denim inspired bracelets for families living with rare disease, the campaign is called “7,000 Bracelets for Hope.”

To help raise awareness they are asking 7,000 jewelry designers, volunteers from the craft community and various artists to donate one bracelet to this campaign to show their support for kids living with rare disease, disorders or conditions. These bracelets will then be distributed to participating families.

As February 29, marks the fifth international Rare Disease Day, I thought I would make a few more bracelets:

I found this nice painted ceramic focal at my local craft store. I added some vintage glass beads I found at an antique store a while back:

I also found these nice ceramic beads at my local craft store - I liked the feel of the chunky beads. The bracelet is finished off with seed bead/ceramic button clasp:

This bracelet is made of a lucite flower with CZ center, and cut glass beads:

Here is a charm bracelet, ready for some personal photos to be inserted into the small frames:

A delicate memory wire bracelet with vintage glass flower bead dangles:

Another memory wire bracelet. This time with Asian ceramic beads that I got many years ago when we lived in Australia:

And finally, a lampwork focal with flowers that I made:

If you would like to participate and make a bracelet, go to 7,000 Bracelets For Hope.

Little Houses Project By Jojoebi Designs

lutkaandco — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 05:08:21 +0000

I do my share of looking around the blog world, and recently came across Jojoebi Designs and her Little Houses Project. My family came from Japan, so I found her blog, a western woman married and living in Japan blogging about life there very interesting. You can go to Jojoebi Designs blog to get the details of the Little Houses Project. In a nutshell, it is to make and send a small handmade house as a gift of encouragement to the survivors of the Tohoku Disaster:

Since I still have my sewing machine out from the time I started making my daughter her Homecoming dress, it was fun and easy to do. The dress on the other hand may make it for Winter Formal, or perhaps the Prom… Anyway, here is the house I made:

I added a frog for luck, and gave him my handmade lampwork lily flower and pad. If you would like to participate and make a house, go to Jojoebi Designs.

Digital Scrapbook Kit “Vintage Valentine” Freebie

lutkaandco — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 01:29:50 +0000

I have been busy CT’ing for Created By Jill, GDS, and NDISB making layouts. It is a lot of fun but I also wanted to try my hand at designing. So when I saw this adorable vintage Valentine at our local antique shop, I decided to design a kit around it:

I took photos of items from my various collections, the plants and flowers in my garden, and added some CU elements from The Scrappin Cop. And here is the kit:

And here is a layout I made (QP included in kit):

Photo: 123RF Stock Photography

And here are the downloads (in three parts). Please note that this kit is for personal use only (PU Only). Enjoy!

December Garden 2011 – Wrap Up

lutkaandco — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 23:34:47 +0000

Just wrapping up my 2011 garden post for December. I took these shots, and never had the time to post them. Here is my dormant vegetable garden waiting for spring planting:

This one is of our dog Hiro under the grape vines. This year will be the first year they will be allowed to fruit – yay!

And here are our lovely avocados – delicious!

I thought I would add this one. It took me half the day to trim the pygmy date palms and New Zealand flax, and here are the results of my efforts; I can now see across the pool:

The rare color in my December garden – an ivy geranium, in my favorite color, pink!

And finally, the first crop of Mexican limes. They are tiny, but sooo juicy with a wonderful aroma and flavor:

2012: I will post about my garden, but probably not on a monthly basis. Thanks for visiting!

A New Year, New Beginnings?

lutkaandco — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 23:08:24 +0000

It has been over a month since I posted, or even looked at my blog. The holidays have kept me busy, but as it wound down, it also gave me time for deep reflection. So much has gone through my mind the last few weeks. Middle age, and so many unanswered questions… As 2011 was my year of “Living Artfully”, I have decided 2012 will be my year of “Spiritual Rediscovery/Renewal”. Of course, I will still continue with my artful life.

As part of this spiritual journey, we have started attending our local place of worship. One of the things I found amusing was our “words for the year”. There was a basket full of words, and we randomly picked one. My daughter got “Surrender”. Her first reaction; “OMG mom, now I have to listen and do everything you say?!” – I thought it was funny . My word is ” Enthusiasm” – very appropriate as I have been lacking it the last few weeks. So, with a renewed sense of purpose, I will go forth on my spiritual adventure. I am also planning on catching up/finishing up past projects as well :-). A Belated Happy New Year to you all!

Drawing Lab 2011: Christmas Tree

lutkaandco — Sun, 25 Dec 2011 16:18:29 +0000

This is finally the last Drawing Lab assignment, to draw a Christmas Tree. I wanted to draw our very own Christmas Tree, but as is usually the case, life gets in the way. With both boys home, and the hectic holiday season, I decided to draw Charlie Brown’s Christmas Tree. I like it for it’s simplicity and meaning:

Merry Christmas Everyone! And God Bless!

Jeannie’s Art Beads

lutkaandco — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 03:38:03 +0000

My art instructor, Jeannie Dukic of the Drawing Lab is not only a talented artist, but also a very talented jewelry designer. She offered her beautiful art beads to us as a challenge in making our own jewelry. Here are the beads she sent me – handmade polymer clay beads with real gold leaf:

And here is what I created. A bracelet and earring set. I love to combine metals; gold and silver:

Thank you Jeannie for providing me with such beautiful beads to work with!

Bird A Week Challenge: Weeks 51 & 52

lutkaandco — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 04:30:32 +0000

Well, this is it. I started the challenge with the best intentions. Somewhere along the line, coming up with a bird a week idea became a challenge in itself. So, to finish off, I drew a partridge in a pear tree, and two turtle doves:

Drawing Lab 2011: Student’s Choice #15

lutkaandco — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 04:25:44 +0000

Well, I thought this was our last drawing lab. There is one more, and our official last lab was to be the traveling journal. Well, I got it, and sent it on to the next student in Germany, and it got lost – on my watch… Maybe one day, it will reach her. So, for my second to the “last” lab, I drew a partridge and a pear tree:

Bird A Week Challenge: Weeks 49 & 50

lutkaandco — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 16:54:13 +0000

Just two more weeks of this challenge? For week 49, I am featuring a bird in a basket ornament I made. And for week 50, I am featuring a little cardinal my niece made out of a walnut sitting on a brazil nut: