Saturday TastyLinks™!

We interrupt the regularly scheduled blog post for a moment of Shameless Self Promotion. The fabulous Brini Maxwell and I are hosting a crafty cruise that is going to blow your ever lovin' crafty minds. In October 2010, we'll perform our Crafty Cabaret show, teach four fabulous classes (I'll be teaching a tiara class!), have an open craft studio for 24 hour crafty fun and you'll visit some of the best locations in the Caribbean. Nine craftacular days of fun in the sun with two delightful, divalicious hostesses. Here's the story, Mornin' glories. You go to the ScrapMap site to sign up. All you need to do is put down a small deposit and make monthly payments, you are not locked into the cruise and can pull out and get your money back up to 120 days before the ship sails. So...what on earth are you waiting for? We want you...we need you...let us craftertain you!

I now return you to your regularly scheduled blog post...

It's time once again to spread the Linky Love across the Blogosphere! Woo hoo! I'm back in the saddle big time this week. I've been assembling kits for my new book shoot, selling and shipping stuff from the newly replenished Etsy shoppe, doing freelance blogging and design and lots of networking post show to maximize my new connections.

Phew.

I woke up this morning with my head spinning like a ball in a bingo cage...

"Get drivers's license photo...do something about my hair first.
Make appointment to take daughter to doctor for vaccinations and school required check up
Finish packing supplies for book photo shoot
Take pics and load new designs into Etsy Shoppe
Work on proposal for big event
Create widget for cruise
Fine tune idea for pitch
Write some pages for my e-book
Plan a new The Impatient Crafter™ video
Herd dust bunnies out of studio
Finish follow up emails post CHA
Pay bills
Work on design and blog post for manufacturer."

Damn...it's Saturday...and my straw pile is still HUGE! Enough whining about all of the work I have to do...it's better than having none at all!

My friend and colleague 'Daliciuus™' Fernando DaSilva is running a great contest on his blog. He's looking for a few good followers...Go see!

Here's what the Crafty Blogger Gang has for your education, entertainment and edification this week:

The Crochet Dude Drew is giving away all his latest designs that are included in his new line of patterns that just launched nationwide! To enter you just leave a comment on his blog!

The Artful Crafter Eileen blogs about learning photography - one frame at a time.

Stefanie Girard's Sweater Surgery Earrings made with something old, something new and a how-to from the new book- Simply Gemstones by Nancy Alden

Naughty Secretary Club Jen dishes up a recipe for making a pin cushion out of vintage tin.

Mixed Media Artist Cyndi has an imaginary friend named Jim...from 100 years ago!

Cross Stitch at About.com Help Connie decide a caption for her free Bat Cross Stitch pattern.

CraftyPod SisterDiane interviews a top Etsy seller who decided to downsize her business.

Crafty Princess Diaries Tammy has a bag full of fun crafting ideas for the crafter with a birthday.

Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at a crafty world Craftside has a how-to on making a Traveling Mail Art Kit from the soon to be released book-Good Mail Day, a tutorial on how to line a flap and step by step directions to make a painted fusible web postcard. Be sure to answer the week's questions to be entered to win free books while your getting your fill of crafty goodness.

Cathie Filian Join Cathie Filian on HSN August 17th where she will be showcasing the new formulas of Mod Podge, Chalkboard Paint and Texture Paint.

Alexa Westerfield a.k.a. Swelldesigner Alexa shares 3 great photography tips for taking better photos of your crafts. You don't even have to have an expensive camera!

Aileen's Musings Aileen is offering a book giveaway! See how many ways you can get your name entered in her drawing to win a Ties That Bind Collaboration of Love book...

About Family Crafts Hurry on over and submit your photos and ideas! Sherri is now accepting Halloween submissions. Share your costumes, haunted house ideas, more and browse through the photos everyone else has submitted.

The Impatient Crafter Make a super cute pair of flip flops with your kid or teen for your end of summer vacation! Madge shares the 411 in this post for I Love to Create

Saturday TastyLinks™!

Image Copyright Enoch Bolles

Well hell, Maybelle, has it really been a week? Really? I'm almost ready to leave for Orlando, just a few more things to do before I go on Monday morning. I'll have an I Love to Create post for you this Tuesday, but that's probably going to be all she wrote until the following Monday. I promise to give you a peek at my CHA Show trip.

I wanted to send a little Linky Love shower to my dear friend Fernando DaSilva for the glowing review he posted yesterday of Beyond the Bead. He's an amazing designer, and if you've not visited his blog and website you're really missing out. I truly appreciate his high fashion sensibility and effervescent personality. We're on the Beadalon Design Team with Katie Hacker and I think we make a great team. I'm a lucky gal for sure!

Here's this week sampling of TastyLinks from The Crafty Bloggers! Open wide and say, "Ah!"

Vickie Howell-Craft.Rock.Love 25 Signs that you love to create!

The Artful Crafter Do you know what a bead board is? No, not the kind you nail to the wall. LOL.

Stefanie Girard's Sweater Surgery Check out a A Floral-tasticly good project from the new book- Kanzashi in Bloom

Naughty Secretary Club Jen takes some of her favorite free embroidery patterns on the net and transforms them into plush dolls.

Mixed Media Artist If you get inspired by seeing fabulous work by other artists, check out some of the fabulous profiles that Cyndi has posted!

Crafty Princess Diaries If you have always wanted to make your own crafting video but didn't think you had the techie know-how, then you'll love this new free software the Crafty Princess recently discovered.

Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at a crafty world This week at Craftside there are tutorials on how to do recycled paper napkin casting, make a movable fighting girl element, an interview with Norma V. Toraya author of Paper Puppet Palooza, a video on how to die cut and needle felt a bookmark from a recycled wool sweater and how to create a window for pressed botanicals in your gathering journal.

Cathie Filian Whip up a custom belt buckle with a little paper, creativity and Dimensional Magic.

Aileen's Musings Aileen has an exciting announcement! She's just finished creating a book for Project Ties That Bind benefiting Ovarian Cancer Research Fund (OCRF). 100% of all proceeds from the book are going to OCRF. Stop by and take a sneak peek at this beautiful 68 page book filled with beautiful vivid pictures and inspirational quotes and stories.

About.com Cross Stitch Can You Stitch and Ride? Connie barely can and she wants to hear what your situation is - be sure to read the comments and add your own.

About Family Crafts Is it too early to start thinking about Halloween crafting? How early do you start your Halloween planning?

The Impatient Crafter Madge shares a couple of sneak peeks of some mixed media jewelry she's created to wear to the CHA Show!

We Have a Winner!

I have been utterly remiss in announcing the winner of the two signed books! Egads! Yes, time slipped away with the travel and the sinus infection and some last minute deadlines that hit me fast and hard and suddenly it’s foreverandaday and I’ve still not spilled the proverbial beans. Please, please forgive!

The winner is...

Sandy of Auntie Sandy’s Art!

Congratulations! My daughter and I just got the same haircut Sandy!

Please email me at theimpatientcrafter@gmail.com to claim your prize.

News!

Dazzle copyright 2009 Margot Potter courtesy of FW Media/North Light Books from Bead and Wire Jewelry Exposed

The ink is dry and I can share some good news! I sold my sixth book yesterday. It's official! I'll be working with the folks from North Light Books/FW Media again. We've got a good thing going so we're going to keep it up! I'm not spilling the beans on the book title or topic until we get closer to pub date. A gal has to have a few tricks up her sleeves...besides a little mystery is a good thing.

Later today you can watch a video I shot at CHA Winter with the delightful duo of Ana and Megan Araujo of When Creativity Knocks. I share the Dazzle necklace (see image above) from the new book Bead and Wire Jewelry Exposed with Katie Hacker and Fernando DaSilva. It's a pretty cool idea using Beadalon Memory Wire, so check it out! While you're there read up on their WCK Cruise this Fall...I'm teaching along with the fabulous folks from Diva Craft Lounge and Ana Araujo! Come play with us!

I've got a very quick turn around on this book so I'm afraid my blogging is going to be shorter, sweeter and more to the point until the August deadline. Think of it as The Impatient Crafter Lite! I did want to mention that we've decided to move the Beads and the City trip to Spring of 2010. It gives us more time to fine tune things and let's face it...NYC in August is misery. I'll keep you posted on the details as we get them nailed down.

I also wanted to say how proud I am of my amazing daughter Avalon. She was a Student Ambassador last night at a program for the entering students. She had to give an extemporaneous speech to the parents about the various classes offered in her grade. I wasn't the least bit surprised to hear she loves public speaking because she's a natural. She's also been invited to next week's award ceremony and I'm excited to see what award she receives. What a great kid! I'm the luckiest Mom ever!

xoxo
Madge

Final Free Jewelry Project from Bead and Wire Jewelry Exposed by designer Fernando Dasilva

Here's the final free project/sneak peek into the fabulous new book Bead and Wire Jewelry Exposed by Fernando Dasilva, Katie Hacker and Margot Potter from FW Media and North Light Books! I'll be giving away one final copy of the book with a set of 2 ocean blue tear drop multi color CRYSTALLIZED-Swarovski elements pendants like the ones shown above! Leave a comment and I'll announce the winner here next Tuesday before we head off for our Jamaican getaway! Last week's winner is: Shaiha of Love Romances and More blog. Please email me at theimpatientcrafter@gmail.com with your snail mail address so I can get your prize out to you!

Design by Fernando Dasilva
Golden Glow earrings
Featured items: Satin gold cube bead bumpers, German style wire, pinch bails, modern ear posts
Copyright 2009 Bead and Wire Jewelry Exposed for North Light Books by Fernando Dasilva, Katie Hacker and Margot Potter

Fernando says, "My mother never goes out in public without at least a pair of earrings. I know there are many women like her, and that led me to envision a pair of slim and elegant drop earrings suitable for many occasions. I paired polished surfaces with rubber textures. The result, I think, is an updated version of the traditional drop earring. Incorporating the square Crystallized™-Swarovski Elements buttons with teardrop crystals and satin gold bead bumpers™ results in an edgy but wearable design."

Materials
2 14mm light Colorado topaz square crystal buttons
2 24 x 12mm Terrenum long tear drop crystal pendants
14 4mm gold plated light weight jump rings
2 gold plated modern ear post
4 gold plated pinch bails
50 1.7mm satin gold cube bead bumpers
16” 24 gauge gold plated German style wire

Tools
Beadstrom™ chain nose pliers
Beadstrom™ round nose pliers
Beadstrom™ flush cutter
Mighty crimp tool

Instructions
1. Use the outside jaw of the mighty crimper tool to attach 1 pinch bail to each hole of one square button. Be gentle using the crimper tool otherwise the edges of the button will chip.

2. Attach one pinch bail to the long tear drop; use the same techniques applied on step 1.

3. Using chain nose pliers wrap one of the tips of German style wire to the tear drop assembled on step 2; place the tip of wire into the edge of pinch bail and turning around its neck twice; trim excess wire and tuck the tip under the wrapped portion.

4. String 25 gold satin bead bumpers onto the German style wire; wrap around the tear drop on vertical position and finish the same way was done in step 3. Make sure the wire was wrapped tightly around the crystal tear drop and then trim excess wire.

5. Open 1 4mm round jump rings and slide through tear drop’s pinch bail ring and then close gently. Attach a second jump ring following same directions.

6. Open a 6mmm round jump ring and string 4 bead bumpers into it.

7. Repeat step 5 to attach 2 others 4mm round jump rings to square button pinch bail and then attach it to 6mm jump ring;

8. Attach the portion finished on step 7 to 2 round jump rings and then attached to a single jump ring previously attached to modern ear post;

9. Repeat all steps for second earring.

Fernando's Tips
* Use the tip of chain nose pliers to create a subtle kink to the side of the German style wire adding an extra interesting feature around the tear drop crystal. It will end up with a sort of a lightening shaped design.
* Space bead bumpers strung onto the 6mm jump ring to add enhanced texture.
* You are welcome to replace button shape (e.g. round or oval) and also to create a different color contrast.

There are detailed step by step photos in the book!