KateyDesigns

Atlanta Botanical Garden

2008-07-22T14:27:00.000-07:00

I had a beautiful trip to Atlanta earlier this month - including a visit to the Atlanta Botanical Garden. All the plants were fantastic. The orchid collection was especially amazing. Here are a few of the specimens I was able to capture before my camera battery died :-) K

Sunny Sweden

2008-07-05T18:34:00.000-07:00

I just had a beautiful visit to Sweden! The weather was wonderful - and it was hardly ever dark. Beautiful design inspirations could be found all over! I hope you're having a good summer! More on part 2 of my trip next time...

San Diego Spring Break

2008-04-01T13:11:00.001-07:00

EncinitasCoast
Originally uploaded by kateydesigns

Well, I was fortunate to get a few days in sunny California last week! It was so nice to feel the warm sun again! My meeting ended early one day, so I drove up the coast a little to Encinitas and snapped this shot around sunset. But not before heading into town, to visit a 20,000 square foot bead store! I had never seen anything quite like it! And as if that wasn't enough, they were having a special sale, with more beads on tables outside! So needless to say, I had a great trip!
Have a great day, and think spring!
Katey

Brave Crocus!

2008-03-24T08:19:00.001-07:00

BraveCrocus08
Originally uploaded by kateydesigns

Thank God for these brave little flowers that make their way through the straw brown grass to remind us not to give up! Spring weather is on its way! Please no reminders from those of you in the South who've been enjoying 70 degree days! Here even in the Southern part of New England we have to be a bit more (OK, a lot more! ) patient.
Happy Spring! Lots more flowers to come!
Katey

Etsy Treasury! Yea!

2008-03-13T11:43:00.001-07:00

FirstDance3
Originally uploaded by kateydesigns

Yea! Thanks so much to Mary from Elegant by Design for including me in her bridal treausry! I think it will be posted until Saturday, March 15th, so check it out!

More Fun with Flickr

2008-03-08T17:39:00.001-08:00

Spring Mosaic
Originally uploaded by kateydesigns

Ok, I hadn't played with Flickr Toys in a while, so it was time for a little fun today. I've been working hard on my website, kateydesigns.com . Actually, everything has been behind the scenes, as I've gotten lots of html/css books! It's pretty fun, but a lot to absorb. One of the most inspiring sites for cool websites I've found lately is http://www.beautifully-webdesign.net , where you'll find lots of amazing pages! Check it out and let me know your favorites!

Watch Out! I've got a torch, and I'm not afraid to use it!!

2008-02-18T04:32:00.001-08:00

FirstTorch1
Originally uploaded by kateydesigns

So I finally took the plunge! And I'm hooked! I'm taking my first metalworking class from Naomi Kantrow here in Connecticut. She has some amazing pieces! Eventually I'll get the full set up (Smith B probably), but just as an intro I bought this little guy. It's so fun! So far I've just fused fine silver, but plan to solder at home with it as soon as I get all the extras (flux, pickle, tools, etc.) This is a great way to make a smaller commitment before you know if melting metal is for you. A friend in the class actually got a slightly different one from a gourmet cooking shop (for creme brulee!) But they seem to get things hot enough to get the job done. I like the portability of it also. So hopefully this will open up tons of new design options for me!

Beautiful Bridesmaids !

2008-02-16T04:56:00.001-08:00

Ashley6Bridesmaids1
Originally uploaded by kateydesigns

I'm having a lot of fun working with Ashley from Missouri on the jewelry sets for her bridesmaids for her wedding this June! The dresses are coral with a maple colored sash. We discussed the colors for the design, and came up with this mix of Swarovski crystals and freshwater pearls, both in peach, with smaller padparadscha crystals to tie into the coral color. The sides of the necklaces will be in a chocolate brown Greek leather, to connect with the sash. The earrings are made with one padparadshca crystal and one pearl (You can view them here .) I hope they like them!

Great Neck Jewelry Class: Dangle Earrings

2008-02-10T12:53:00.001-08:00

Wow! Our last class is already here! This week, we will make earrings! The first step is to design your earrings. Once you decide the sequence of the beads, you place them on the head pin. This is a specially designed wire that the beads won't fall off of. Next, we have to make the wire wrap at the top; which is the hardest part. There are many online demos; here is one I found with some good photos. Next we attach to the ear wire or leverback for the finished piece!
See you Wednesday!

Great Neck Jewelry Class: Toggle Clasp Anklet/Bracelet

2008-02-02T15:37:00.001-08:00

Hi Ladies!
I hope you've had a good week. This time in class, we're going to make a bracelet or anklet; your choice. We'll use beading wire to string your design.
To begin, we string a crimp tube on one end of the beading wire, then loop that through the loop on the toggle clasp, then back through the crimp tube. Pull it so that the toggle clasp is hanging from the tube by a small loop that lets the toggle move freely.
We then use our crimper pliers to secure the tube. Use the inner tube to make the first crimp; then insert the flattened tube sideways into the far groove and squeeze to complete.
You're now ready to string your anklet! When you're finished, repeat the crimp process on the other end to fasten the other end of the toggle.
I hope you enjoy it!

Great Neck Jewelry Class: Leather Charm Necklaces

2008-01-27T04:11:00.001-08:00

LeatherCharmNecklaces
Originally uploaded by kateydesigns

Hello Girls! It was great to meet all of you last week! I hope you're having a nice weekend.
This week in class we'll be making necklaces with Greek Leather. I found a great online source for this at Greco USA . The cord is very reasonably priced and comes in great colors! I get the 1.8 mm size.

To make the necklace, first you choose your decoration for the cord. You can pick a pendant or sting some beads; you just have to make sure that the beads have holes that are wide enough for the leather to fit through.

When you're finished, the ends can be finished with endcaps that you can crimp. I haven't found a substitute for these in silver plate, so we'll be using sterling silver. I'll show you how to fasten the endcap to the leather so it stays tight! One side will have a hook, and the other a loop to fasten.

See you Wednesday!

Great Neck Jewelry Class: Memory Wire Bracelet

2008-01-23T03:47:00.001-08:00

MemoryWireBracelet
Originally uploaded by kateydesigns

Hi there! For our first project, we'll be making a memory wire bracelet!

I think it's called memory wire because it 'remembers' how big your wrist is! Not exactly - but the wire is designed to retain a certain shape that fits on most people's wrists. You can also get it in necklace size, and recently I saw some for rings. You can get it at AC Moore, in the jewelry section.

The first step is to cut the wire so that it goes around your wrist at least once. If you want to make a thicker bracelet, you can make it go around your wrist several times; it will just take longer to add more beads.

The next step is to finish one of the ends by using your round nose pliers to make a loop, so the beads can't slide off. Another option would be glue a half-drilled bead onto one of the ends.

Then comes the fun part - add the beads to your bracelet to create your design! You can fill the wire completely with beads, or leave some room for the beads to slide around a bit. Finish the bracelet by using your round nose pliers to make a loop in the other end of the wire.

I hope you enjoy wearing it!

Hammered Wire and Bead Earrings

2008-01-21T14:21:00.001-08:00

Hammered Wire and Bead Earrings
Originally uploaded by kateydesigns

I got a wire jig before Christmas, but it took me a while to get it out to start making my own ear wires. I got the hang of it after a few tries, and I'm hooked! I haven't tried using it for other parts of the design yet. I added some colorful gemstones and crystals for some interesting designs!

Caribbean Chill Pill #4

2008-01-15T17:09:00.001-08:00

OrientBay
Originally uploaded by kateydesigns

For those of you stuck in colder climates this winter (that includes me!) here is a lovely shot of Orient Bay in beautiful St. Martin to lift your spirits.
Have a great day!

It's a New Year...

2008-01-14T05:16:00.001-08:00

RoseBall2
Originally uploaded by kateydesigns

...and I've got lots of exciting plans! On the jewelry front, I'm excited to start studying metalworking at the Guilford Arts Center here in Connecticut. My work has been limited so far by my inability to solder. I hope I can do it! There's one way to find out.

Also, I'm very happy to be teaching a Jewelry Making Class at Great Neck Elementary School this winter! I plan to post details of our projects each week on my blog, so stay tuned!
Happy Snow Day! Katey

Wild West Christmas

2007-12-29T16:55:00.000-08:00

Howdy!
I had a great Christmas in Utah this year! It was my first trip to the SouthWest, and I was really impressed with the beautiful country and friendly folks! Here are some photos to share with you; please visit my flickr for more on Snow Canyon and Zion National Park!

Merry Christmas Everyone!

2007-12-21T11:24:00.000-08:00

From me and Max to you and your family - Have a wonderful Holiday! We will both enjoy the break from school and work. We hope you have a fun and relaxing week, and look forward to catching up with you in the new year!
Wishing you love, peace and joy!
Katey

Flickr Toys - too much fun!

2007-12-19T10:30:00.001-08:00

KateyDesigns
Originally uploaded by kateydesigns

I made this on the most fun site I've found in a while!
If you're into photos, and especially if you have a flickr account, check out
http://bighugelabs.com/flickr/
I made these to promote my shop; I had tons of 4x6 photo paper lying around (free every time I bought ink) so I printed them out for unique little business cards. There are other mosaic styles, plus other things you can make (calendars, puzzles, etc.)
I hope you don't have anything else you need to get done this afternoon ;-)
Katey

Dedication

2007-12-16T12:00:00.001-08:00

BaskBallWint3
Originally uploaded by kateydesigns

Kids are so tough! They seem not to mind the cold, icy conditions that grind our adult activities to a halt. Although he could barely stand on the ice, my son Max wanted to shoot some baskets. I checked on him after a while, sure he'd be frozen, but he was still going. When he finally came in, I made him some hot chocolate :-)
As for me, it was back inside after snapping a few shots - back to my Caribbean Dreaming!
Stay warm, dry and safe!
Katey

Caribbean Chill Pill #3

2007-11-29T03:51:00.001-08:00

Sunset2.jpg
Originally uploaded by kateydesigns

As if Manchebo Beach in Aruba wasn't perfect enough, every night there is a chance to see a beautiful sunset! As the weather outside turns colder in the North East US, here's a little reminder of a warmer place that is waiting for your next visit!

New Camera!

2007-11-28T03:47:00.001-08:00

New Camera Collage
Originally uploaded by kateydesigns

I think once you get hooked on the internet, posting photos, etc., your camera becomes really important to you. I had a nice point and shoot (a Nikon Coolpix L11) but wanted to do more...So went for the awesome Nikon D40x. I'm so glad I did! I highly recommend this camera! I'm far from a camera expert - I can just tell you that the menu and screen controls are really cool and easy to use. Also pushing the button to take a picture, and having the instant response (instead of the delay with point and shoot cameras) is really satisfying. It's maybe a little bulkier than I would like, but until they make a digital SLR that's the size of a credit card, I guess I'll have to deal with it! I'll try to keep more photos coming so you can judge for yourself!
Have a great day!

My new workspace!

2007-11-27T17:10:00.000-08:00

Hey! Have you ever transformed a corner of your house into your favorite space! Here's mine right now - my new workspace! I've gotten bolder with paints as I've worked on my house - at first, I was only working with the 'off-white' pallet. With my latest project, I've combined two of my favorite colors (pink and brown) on opposite walls. The red drapes are SWEET! This combination, along with the prints, makes me feel creative and lively - a great place to work!
What's the sweet spot in your home right now ?!

Happy Thanksgiving!

2007-11-22T05:23:00.001-08:00

WBPTgive12
Originally uploaded by kateydesigns

I had a great sunny warm morning to go for a walk at the beach this Thanksgiving! Also got to try out my new camera, a Nikon D40x. I luv it!! Check out my flickr for more photos from my walk (just the decent ones - of course there were lots of goofs while I learn the ropes!)

I hope everyone has an enjoyable, restful day! Take Care - Katey

Caribbean Chill Pill #2

2007-11-10T15:16:00.001-08:00

NorthCove.jpg
Originally uploaded by kateydesigns

The rocky north coast of Aruba is in sharp contrast to the south coast where the resorts are located. We followed the road, which was only a guess in places - we weren't sure our small jeep could even navigate. Boy, was it worth it!

Caribbean Chill Pill # 1

2007-11-05T04:04:00.000-08:00

Hey! I thought I'd add a new series to my blog called 'Caribbean Chill Pills.'
Hopefully these photos will help you relax and unwind as much as my memories of my trips do for me!
This photo is from the island of Providenciales on Turks and Caicos. When I visit a new island, I like to explore! On the map, we saw an old game show site on a remote coast of the island that looked intriguing! On the way there, though, our tiny car got stuck in the sand road, and we had to leave this enticing path for another visit.

The road to enlightenment...

2007-11-05T03:41:00.000-08:00

... is paved with laughter!

A friend sent me this list of office coping strategies; it made me LOL!
I thought I'd share it with you!

Ways to Maintain A Healthy Level Of In sanity.

1. At Lunch Time, Sit In Your Parked Car With Sunglasses on
and point a Hair Dryer At Passing Cars.
See If They Slow Down.

2. Page Yourself Over The Intercom.
Don't Disguise Your Voice.

3. Every Time Someone Asks You To Do Something,
Ask If They Want Fries with that.

4. Put Your Garbage Can On Your Desk And Label It "In."

5. Put Decaf In The Coffee Maker For 3 Weeks ..
Once Everyone has Gotten Over Their Caffeine Addictions,
Switch to Espresso.

6. In The Memo Field Of All Your Checks, Write
" For Smuggling Diamonds"

7. Finish All Your sentences with
"In Accordance With The Prophecy."

8 . Don't use any punctuation

9. As Often As Possible, Skip Rather Than Walk.

10. Order a Diet Water whenever you go out to eat,
with a serious face.

11. Specify That Your Drive-through Order Is
"To Go."

12. Sing Along At The Opera.

13. Go To A Poetry Recital And Ask
Why The Poems Don't Rhyme?

14. Put Mosquito Netting Around Your Work Area And
Play tropical Sounds All Day.

15 . Five Days In Advance, Tell Your Friends You Can't Attend Their Party
Because You're Not In The Mood.

16. Have Your Co-workers Address You By Your Wrestling Name,
Rock Bottom.

17. When The Money Comes Out The ATM, Scream
"I Won!, I Won!"

18. When Leaving The Zoo, Start Running Towards The Parking lot, Yelling
"Run For Your Lives, They're Loose!!"

19. Tell Your Children Over Dinner.
"Due To The Economy, We Are Going To Have To Let One Of You Go."

20. And The Final Way To Keep A Healthy Level Of Insanity.......
Send This To Someone To Make Them Smile.

ruby red and chalcedony blue

2007-10-30T16:47:00.001-07:00

Hey! I just got some gemstones I have been wanting for a while - rubies and beautiful aqua blue chalcedony! I put them in a couple of designs on their own, and a together in a combination earring. The ruby rondelles and chalcedony drops are both faceted, for my favorite look. I hope you like them!

I love the deep rich ruby red color together with the translucent aqua. It's neat how a color combination takes on a new life, greater than the sum of it's parts. It seems that a lot of combinations with brown have been popular recently, such as pink and brown, and aqua and brown. Ah, that gives me an idea - look for something soon in ruby red and chocolate!

What color combos brighten your world?
Take Care-
Katey

Ready for Winter?

2007-10-25T05:04:00.001-07:00

WinterWind1
Originally uploaded by kateydesigns

OK, I'm not, although... In this simple painting I tried to catch that after snow feeling, when the sky clears to that perfect winter blue, but snow is still everywhere, blowing around...

How about you? Do you like winter?

I love red!....and circles!....

2007-10-24T10:10:00.001-07:00

RedDoor3
Originally uploaded by kateydesigns

So it's been a few months, but I finally made it back 'into the studio' (OK, the basement!) this weekend, to paint a bit. It's so relaxing! If you've never tried it, I suggest you give it a go! You will probably enjoy mixing the colors, experimenting... maybe you haven't since you fingerpainted as a kid! You might surprize yourself!

This one I'm calling 'Red Door.' I love red doors on houses! They are so inviting. I'm experimenting with 'color therapy' right now; or exploring the power of bright and positive colors to lift your mood. Hopefully looking at this painting (photo) will raise your spirits, or give you a bright idea!
Have a great day!
Katey

Let's start bloggin'!

2007-10-16T16:25:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my blog! I'm so excited!.....

Ok, now what?!