Zip, Zilch, and Zero

Hooray!!!!!! I made it to Z! Z is for Zip, Zilch and Zero, which all mean nothing. As in what I have for you today is pretty much Zip, Zilch and Zero!

Thanks to all of you that visited, followed and have hung in there with me this month, it has definitely been a learning experience for me. I love that I discovered so many talented writers and blogs because even though writing is not my strength, I dearly love to read!

I will leave you with a couple of pictures of my favorite Cobalt & Copper Model who's last name just happens to fit in with the Z theme!

Say "Hello To Jonathan Zadok!

May you always BEAD happy! ~Cova

Yesterday

Yesterday I took a much needed day off and went to Palm Springs to visit friends. While I was there we ran into a Huge Hollywood legend!

Title: Forever Marilyn
Artist: Steward Johnson
Height: 26 feet
Weight: 34,300 pounds
Materials: stainless steel and aluminum

I just LOVE public art!

May you always BEAD happy! ~Cova

X????

What the heck does X stand for?? Hmmmm, There just isn't much that comes to mind except the letter X in the game of Scrabble. It is a letter that I'm always happy to draw because it's worth 8 points and that 8 points can really add up when used in combination with one of its two letter words.

Two letter X words include:

XI - The 14th letter of the Greek alphabet

XU - A coin formerly minted by South Vietnam equivalent to the cent

OX - An adult castrated bull of the genus Bos

AX - an edge tool with a heavy bladed head mounted across a handle

EX - The 24th letter of the Roman alphabet

The other things that came to mind for X were:

1. X marks the spot, as in right here

2. X-mark, as in signature

3. X-factor, as in what is the X-factor that sparks your creativity? My X-factor according my other half is to selling enough of my jewelry to buy him a big screen TV... HA! ☺

May you always BEAD happy! ~Cova

Wands

W is for Wands ~ Because there are moments in life that Everyone needs a little Extra Magic!

And because every Fairy, Fairy Princess and Fairy Godmother has to have one...

 May you always Bead happy! ~Cova

Verdigris

Verdigris is the fabulous bluish green patina that copper takes on as it ages and is exposed to the elements. The perfect Verdigris finish is what every artist that works with copper wants to achieve!



I have been experiment for over a year with different methods to oxidize copper. I have recently discovered the best way to get a VERY green Verdigris finish is to start fuming a piece with ammonia, get distracted by a Jean Claude Van Damme film, and forget about it for hours...OOPS! But seriously, if you pay attention to timing and check it frequently I have found Ammonia works best to produce a pretty Verdigris finish. Just get an air-tight container and fill the bottom with about an inch of ammonia, suspend the piece above it (do not let it touch the ammonia) and seal the container. Let it oxidize for 1/2 an hour to an Hour or more depending on the depth of color you want and viola!

May you always BEAD happy! ~Cova

Up-Cycle

As some of you may know I moonlight (HA! It's my day job) as a Furniture Store Manager and being the pack rat that I am, I cannot bring myself to throw anything away! This means that I have piles and piles and piles of discontinued upholstery samples in my car and in my closet and in my crafting boxes and so on and so on.

So what do I do with all these samples!? I have tried giving them away but have not had any takers so I finally designed a way to repurpose them and the Up-cycled Bracelet was born...

Using a variety of beads, vintage buttons and pretty ribbons, I have slowly been working my way through the piles of fabric. At this rate it will take years but at least some of them are now on happy wrists.

May you always BEAD happy! ~Cova

Trees

Trees inspire in me a sense of well being and tranquility like nothing else on this earth. I find them completely awe inspiring and majestic, they put a smile in my heart.

I am quite literally a Tree Hugger, I cannot even pass by one of my favorite trees without saying "Hello" to it. Crazy!? Quite possibly. But they add so much beauty to my world and such joy to my day that it's my small way of saying "Thank You!".

Have you hugged a tree today?

May you always BEAD happy! ~Cova

Seaglass

Happy Earth Day Everyone!

S is for Seaglass and I have quite a few pieces thanks to my friend Larry who lives in Hawaii and collects it off the beaches for me to use. I find it amazing that something so beautiful as Seaglass starts out as trash that some thoughtless person tossed on the beach and nature turns it into a stunning treasure.


I love Sea glass because working with the different shapes, textures and flaws that each piece has to offer makes for very unique one of a kind wearable jewel.

Larry also provided me with some beautiful velvety Mgambo Seeds to make necklaces with.

I loved that this piece has the original pattern of the bottle etched in it so much that I kept it for myself!

Every Piece has its own unique character complete with chips and flaws, in my opinion this makes Seaglass the perfect material to up-cycle into wearable art.

May you always BEAD happy! ~Cova

Roses

R is for Roses! I live in Pasadena, a city that is famous worldwide every New Year's Day for the Tournament of Roses Parade so I couldn't think of anything else that "R" could stand for. I have seen the Rose Parade every year for the last 18 years as it passes by my house. It is indeed one of the most incredible things to see, especially the floral details that cannot be seen on TV and the smell of all those Roses is heavenly.

2013 Theme "Oh, the Places You'll Go!"

Close up of Gorgeous Roses on one of this year's floats

We have Roses all year around in Pasadena and this Month we have been enjoying some Exceptionally Glorious Blooms in our garden...

"Rain Drops on Roses..."

May you always BEAD happy! ~ Cova

QUEEN of Hearts

When I was a kid one of my favorite books was "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" by Lewis Carroll and of course my very favorite character was the "Red Queen" or "Queen of Hearts"! I loved nothing more than to run around for hours screaming "Off with her Head!" at the top of my lungs, I'm sure I drove everyone around me absolutely crazy.

Last October when it came time to start making items for Halloween the first thing that came to my mind was "Queen of Hearts" Scepters and Crowns...

Now I can run around screaming "Off with her head!" in style! ☺














May you always BEAD happy! ~Cova