Dec. 18, 2011

Here is my photostream of the Special Stain Collection. http://www.flickr.com/photos/63727748@N06/sets/72157627025296258/

It's not too late for Christmas shopping.

Dec. 12, 2011

I made this lovely 17inch spiral necklace using gold bulge beads, size 8 gold core beads and size 11 gold Delica as accents last night. I made a peytote toggle and four loops to give it extra length. I think it is going to look spectular with my red top tonight on the Christmas cruise down the intercoastal.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

This is my Christmas inspired spiral. I just love wearing it to all my Christmas parties. It always gets the "Wow, I like your necklace" comment. I hope you all are ready for Christmas. I still have a few more gifts to make and buy. I really need to figure out a jewelry item I can make for all the guys on my list. If you have an idea feel free to share it here.

Dec. 09, 2011

This is so awesome. I made the tennis bracelet with two rows of bicones using right angle weave technique. I used copper Delicas putting a single row between the two bicones. It is a size 6 and 3/4 inch and used 37  4mm mocca bicones on each row. I also, made a loop of copper Delicas to put the copper lobster claw on and a loop on the other end to put the closed copper jump ring on. I estimate about 4 hours went into creating this heirloom quality bracelet. 

Dec. 6, 2011

I was very busy this weekend making tennis bracelets. In descending order, Caribbean blue, crystal, jet, rose, and sapphire Swarovski 4mm bicone crystals with gold seed beads and gold filled lobster claw clasps. I make them using two needles and a right angle weave. I go through each crystal one way and then the other way with the other needle. This way the bicone is reinforced.

These two are Siam and Peridot Satin Swarovski 4mm bicones. I think they look great for Christmas worn together. In fact, they look great worn with my Chainmaille Christmas tree, I made a Bead Day at Terri's on 11/ 25/11.

Bead Day Luncheon

 Terri put on a great luncheon for us and we had a great time sharing and laughing. In this group photo - Me, Mega, Lucy, Dell and Linda. Top photo is Terri, Vonda and me. Middle photo is Linda and Vonda.

Bead day at Terri's Nov. 25, 2011

Here I am with new friends Vonda and Irina. I made jump rings and showed the group how to do a Christmas tree pendant in chain maile. Boy, those little jump rings are tuff to work with but they really make the pendant stable.  Vonda was already into chain maile and brought samples of her work to show us. Beautiful, Vonda.

11/20/11

This is my latest bracelet made with iris metallic tila beads, dark purple Swarovski Crystal 4mm bicones, iris 11 seed beads, amethyst 11 seed beads and silver 15 seed beads. I really enjoyed making this one over the weekend.

Luxol Fast Blue Bracelet

Luxol Fast Blue is used in the demonstration of pathologic processes in the nervous system. In particular myelin, the white fatty nonliving material, which insulates and protects the nerve fibers are demonstrated. 

This bracelet is a tennis bracelet made Swarovski 4mm crystals  and pladium delica's for the setting with a small Sterling Silver toggle.

These are a few of my different bracelets. The turquoise and the purple one are made in a very popular style. I have made that one in many different colors and beads. The top bracelet is a herringbone pattern and can be made with a center stone. It is a great everyday bracelet.

Earrings

These are some of my favorite earrings. I especially like the Siam Red dangles with the sterling silver cones. I call them my Congo Red earrings. They have a silver flower between two Swarovski Siam 4mm bicones crystals. I hope you all are planning some fun projects for the weekend. I have several orders to fill.

Oct 28, 2011

Hi All, I have a friend who wants to have a home show for me, however she is having a difficult time getting her friends interested in coming. So, she is going to model my jewelry this week at several events and take my photo albums to show samples of my work hoping that will generate excitement.

My question to you all is, what do you think of the idea of me putting together a kit to sell them and have a make it and take event? Something like a simple but dramatic earring. Please send me some feedback.

80's Rock Star

Here my sister, Linda and I are at my son and daughter-in-laws '80s Halloween party tonight. We are both wearing our jewelry. The necklace I have on is one of my favorites. It is Swarovski black and crystal wire wrapped dangles in a graduated pattern.

I am getting ready to do a craft show in Aventura next weekend and then a home show for a close friend. Time to get everyone in the mood for Christmas shopping. My motto is " Jewelry is always appropriate".

Oct 6th, 2011

My husband came to town last evening on his way to fly out of Ft. Lauderdale airport today. He went to NJ to attend his 45th high school reunion. He brought me some beading supplies from our new home and my Step by Step Wire Magazine which had gone to the new house. While he is visiting with old friends I'll be working on some beading projects that were ordered while I was at the NSH S/C. Amy, who purchased the Alcian Blue bracelet wants earrings to go with it. She wants a long drop and of course I can't find the tear drop shape bead in the color to match the Alcian Blue. I am going to try making it with a square Swarovski crystal and a bicone under it. I'll also be checking out the Step by Step Wire magazine. I do so love  working with wire. If I had started making jewelry when I was very young before I spent so many years working in a histology lab and getting repetitive motion damage to my hands, I think I would have majored metalsmithing. Oh well, I love bead weaving, too. I hope you all are working on something fun this weekend.

Sudan Black B

This necklace depicts the Sudan Black B stain, a stain to demonstrate fat. Fat found in an abnormal place such as the kidneys or brain affect treatment and prognosis. Injuries causing fractures or crushing of tissues may cause fat to be released in the blood stream and cause a fat embolism. The Sudan Black B stain would verify a fat embolism as being the cause of loss of function. Fat Stains are also helpful in determining if a tumor is arising from fat cells or other types of cells. 

This necklace is a spiral made with size 8 iris beads as the core and size11 iris seed beads beside the accent of Iris 4 x 4 cube beads. It has a self made peyote toggle with 3 loop closure which enables it to be extended. This spiral necklace is so much fun to make.

Special Stain Collection with new additions

http://www.flickr.com/photos/63727748@N06/sets/72157627025296258/

Here are my newest additions along with the first ones. If you click on a photo it should open up and enlarge.

This is a very happy customer displaying her Verhoeff's Elastic Necklace. Jan puchased this right after the House Of Delegates at the NSH Symposium/Convention.

I really enjoyed making this spiral. It is made with dark metallic iris 4 x 4 cubes and dark black iris metallic Seed beads. It has a self made toggle closure with three loops at the end for extending the length.

The Verhoeff's Elastic tissue stain is done to demonstrate atrophy of elastic tissue ( for example emphysema). It can also demonstrate thinning and loss due to arteriosclerosis. Also, of value is the ability to show if cancer has invaded blood vessels, which may change treatment plans.

Deb Foster was the lucky winner of the PAS Bracelet I donated to the NSH Public Relations Committee to give away. Deb was very happy and excited. It fit her perfectly, too.

I had a great week at the NSH convention/symposium with a lot of excitement generated about by "Special Stain Collection".  I think I will see more sales in the future.  A lot of people took order forms and business cards. I will post more pictures soon. I picked up a cold or had an allergy attack and am still sick. I slept all afternoon after getting home and I am going right back to bed just wanted to get this one picture up for you all to see.

T'was the night before NSH S/C 2011

Well, I am off to the convention tomorrow. I have just about made myself crazy trying to get lots of new pieces of jewelry made to add to my Special Stain Collection. So, it is time to stop the craziness and finish packing. I will add all of the pictures and discriptions of the new pieces when I get home after next Thursday. I did however want to give you a sneak preview. This is one of my new pieces.

I hope to generate a lot of buzz about my jewelry. I am donating a piece for the Public Relations Committee to give away. So, they are letting me put a small sign and and album of pictures on display at their table. Wish me luck. I will post again as soon as I can. That might be after I get home as I will be extremely busy the whole week.

My Angel

This is my lovely "Angel" Lucy Moreau and me showing some of our handiwork. Lucy has been so very sweet to let me stay with her while I am continuing to look for a job in Crystal River now that my house has been sold. So, I am showing her some of the bead weaving patterns that I know. I have taught her the wave bracelet made using tila beads and 3mm Swarovski crystals. I also taught her how to do the spiral like the Trichrome Necklace that I made here in this picture. We have really been having fun. She has discovered I am a hard task master. I don't let her give up. I am patient but surrender is not an option.

I hope to have some more pictures of new additions to the "Special Stain" collection before I leave for the NSH Symposium Convention on Friday. So be sure to check back later this week.

Von Kossa Calcium Stain Bracelet

Calcium salts are normally present in bones and teeth. Abnormal deposits may be found in areas of TB infection, lymph nodes, fibroids, etc. This Von Kossa Calcium Stain bracelet depicts the brown to black calcium salts  using iris 3 x 3 mm cubes surrounded on all sides by iris seed beads with their various shades depicting the pink to red cytoplasm and nuceli. In the lab, tissue sections are treated with a silver nitrate solution and silver is deposited replacing the calcium. It is then reduced by a strong light and is visulized as metallic silver. That is why I picked the metallic iris cubes used in this bracelet.  This bracelet lays flat against your wrist making it a good choice for daily wear.

Congo Red Amyloid Bracelet

This stunning tennis bracelet depicts the Congo Red Amyloid Stain. The Congo Red Amyloid Stain demonstrates myeloma-associated or tumor-associated amyloidosis.  Amyloid deposits may become very large and damage surrounding tissue.  This bracelet uses 4mm Siam Swarvoski Crystals surrounded by Palladium Plated Miyuki Delicas in a single row. It looks fabulous with your evening wear or stunning with jeans and a tee-Shirt.

Elastic Stain Necklace

This beautiful necklace depicts the Elastic Stain. The Elastic Stain demonstrates atrophy, arteriosclerotic changes and helps the pathologist to determine whether blood vessels have been invaded by a cancer. Black Iris 4 x 4 cubes are used to depict the black elastic fibers which Verhoeff's working solution stains and iris seed beads depict the pinks and red collagen that is counterstained byVan Gieson's.

Saturday 8/27/11

My sister Linda, my Mom Dell and myself celebrating Mother's birthday during a break from all the unpacking. Notice my necklace.  I purchased those stick pearls at a "Down the Street Bead" Show in Pompano Beach and put them with Swarovski 4mm medium vitral crystals in between.

Saturday August 20, 2011

Well, I had a quiet night at LaQuinta in Ft. Lauderdale last evening. David was in town so he could fly out of the Ft. Lauderdale airport. We enjoyed time together, same as always me beading and him watching baseball. I almost finished a Trichrome Spiral necklace. Boy, it is so pretty. If you are a beader and you haven't done a spiral, you really need to learn that stitch. It makes up so well and you can use so many different beads to vary the look. I need to finish up the toggle bar (forgot to bring the drops that I use on the toggle bar) and the loops. I won't get back to beading until later this evening. I was given a spa day by David's family for my birthday. So, today is the day for a facial, massage, mani & pedi as well as lunch. I am so looking forward to it.

Genta Triple Stain Bracelet

This Genta Triple Stain Bracelet is made using 4 x 4 cubes, Crystals and Seed Beads. The 4 x4 cubes depict the helicobacter pylori and nuclei. The Crystals depict the goblet cells and acid mucins with the seeds beads depicting the background counterstain of pink to brown. Helicobacter pylori is the bacteria responsible for ulcers and it is important to identify the bacteria quickly in order to get the correct treatment as soon as possible.

Special Stain Collection

Special Stain Collection, a set on Flickr.

I have added new designs to my collection!

Sunday 08-07-11

I was doing so great getting a lot of beading done while a storm raged outside. The storm finally moved away and I just had a great idea for a new design and the power goes out. Now I can't see a thing. My son, Lance says I need a head lamp. I'm getting one. I am afraid I'll forget my great idea before the power comes back on. That would be a bummer.

Red Letter Day

Well, today is a great day. I have had a follower join my blog today who I don't know! That is awesome. She is a girl after my own heart. She is a PA in pathology and she bakes cakes. Check out her blog. Tetmet nosce: Know thyself

David and I have a buyer for our house finally after 6 years of being on the market. We plan on having a big celebration the day of closing. It has really been a rollercoaster ride, one I hope to never repeat. So, now we have the fun chore of packing. Of course, we have been doing some of that all along. I have so many boxes that have been packed for ao long, I am thinking maybe instead of unpacking them I'll just donate them. I mean I haven't usde the stuff in years maybe I don't really need it. After all, if I have my jewelry making supplies what more do I need. We were even cleaning out the space above the garage today, Yuck!

It has been a real trip trying to pack and design and make jewerly all before the NSH S/C. I really want to have a lot more new designs to take to the meeting.  so, I guess the real question is , "who needs sleep?"  I just need the Engerizer Bunny to come visit.

Friday Aug 5, 2011

Wow, today is the day. My fanastic husband just bought me a labtop computer and set it up. I am so thrilled. Now I can blog more often. I'll be adding a lot more pictures of my jewelry, so stayed tuned. this so cool. No more waiting to use his computer.......

Thoughts of the Day

I am sorry it has been so long between posts. However, my husband is a real NY Yankees fan and he ties up the computer in the evenings. Luckily, he is playing golf this evening.

It was a busy weekend with Linda here. She really kept me motivated and we got a lot of beading done. I am trying to get quite a few more pieces designed for my Special Stain Collection to have ready for the NSH Symposium/Convention. Fellow histotechs are the people who motivated me to make this collection.I wanted to honor some of my heroes in the profession. Much of the advancements made in medical research would not have been possible without a histologist. I have really enjoyed taking my profession and combining it with my jewelry designing. It helps me to think outside the box.

Linda and I did take a evening to go to our favorite Mexican restaurant. It was great as usual!

I had a real shocker today when I went to place an order for Sterling Silver findings. Sterling Silver is $40.00 an ounce. So, I have had to rethink my clasps. I will be designing more self made toggles. Linda and I will have to start looking for those unusual buttons at the Thrift stores again. In the past we have bought dresses and blouses for a $1.00 a piece and cut the buttons off and used them.