Good news for charities

Great site for fundraising!
Replace your regular search engine with Good Search, and everytime you look something up on-line your favorite charity or local school benefits. Every penny counts these days!

Here is a banner link for Good Search:


Spread the word, and start helping out in the easiest way possible.
Happy searching!
Michelle

More Jewelry Class "thoughts"

Hope you have had a great week! I'm not sure how often I'll add to this, probably more if people start reading it (or responding).
Had another metalsmith class on Tuesday night, and was brave enough to move from copper to sterling silver. These pieces will have to be SMALL, it's expensive when you get into the larger quantities! Fun to melt, it has similar properties to glass (in that it balls up completely round if allow it to). I got to cut, anneal, pickle, scrub, melt, pound, polish, solder, scrub, polish, polish... and have the start of a small little pendant about 1/3" x 3/4". Lots of work! The class is instilling a great respect for metalsmiths! I think I will look at all those "artisan made" pieces differently at the local galleries. I used to think...that would be great if it was bigger.
I went home and looked at all the amazing pieces of silver I have from the Karen Tribe in Thailand. I can't imagine what they go through to get that rose to look like a rose.
Check out some of the pieces on my website www.beyondthebead.com to see what I mean.
Let me know what you think,
Michelle

Happy Valentine's Day

Hope that every day is a special one with your family and friends. If you love someone, tell them...daily!
I'm "skipping class" tonight to spend the evening with my family and let them know how much I appreciate them every day...not just because Hallmark says today is a special day.
The class that I'm missing out on is at the University of Oregon's Craft Center. A fantastic place to be creative and learn something new. The people that I've met there are amazing. If you are in this area of Oregon, I highly encourage you to "grow" by signing up! There are so many different things you can do from Glass work (amazing hot shop), weaving, ceramics, computers, photography, woodworking, metalsmithing...check them out on line, and if you sign up for something, let them know I sent you. Diane and Laura get a kick out of how many people I send their way! http://craftcenter.uoregon.edu/
Love what you do!
Michelle

Let's get started!

Hello!
Finally decided it was time to "give it a go" and start a blog of my own. Just a great place for random thoughts, design ideas, gathering of ideas.
If anyone would like to check out my website and give feedback on the site or the jewelry, I would appreciate the information.
www.beyondthebead.com

With appreciation,
Michelle