tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16971716299320996002024-03-13T08:27:07.227-04:00Here to N.E.wearWelcome to N.E.wear; unique jewelry and accesories made from acrylic paint skins, insect wings and bird feathers. Wear it. Anywhere. Simple.N.E.wearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02378841257894848498noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1697171629932099600.post-25983188181537491722012-07-24T21:47:00.000-04:002012-07-24T21:47:48.528-04:00Facebook pageHey everyone...<br />
My blog site has been having some issues. To get up-to-date info please go to my Facebook page: <a href="http://www.facebook.com/N.E.wear.Jewelry">www.facebook.com/N.E.wear.Jewelry</a>. <br />
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Sorry for the challenges. Hope to catch up with you soon!N.E.wearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02378841257894848498noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1697171629932099600.post-42009493629330189982012-05-23T10:44:00.004-04:002012-05-23T10:44:35.698-04:00The Challenges of Cyber Life<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
May I be the first to wish <span style="font-family: Papyrus;">N.E.wear</span> a Happy 1<sup>st</sup> Anniversary!!!</div>
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And what a great year it’s been.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve met so many people and sold a ton of pieces.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who knew??<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve just added a “<stockticker>TEAM</stockticker>” line so fan appreciation day can be any day, and not just on dress-down Friday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Wave your fan flag with a piece made using your favourite team colours.</span></div>
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With this installment I’m asking you to stay tuned.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My photo provider has decided to delete my photos and replace them with b & w triangles with exclamation marks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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So… I’m not gone, just regrouping.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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Thanks for all of your tremendous support.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll be back up and running soon!!</div>
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</div>N.E.wearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02378841257894848498noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1697171629932099600.post-81381561698339018462011-12-29T21:40:00.001-05:002011-12-29T21:42:34.606-05:00For Unto Us...<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Merry Christmas week and pre-Happy New Year!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Let’s go back a couple of weeks to the day we were finally able to get our tree.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We went to the same place we go to every year and came home with a beauty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was an easy choice and we were able to begin the decorating process in record time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have a box (many boxes, actually) but a specific box for Christmas lights.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each year, I put them away in working order so there are no surprises the following year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When, what to my wondering eyes should appear… but 3 strings of lights with 50% of the bulbs blown.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>**sigh**<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Last year I spent 2 days searching – and finding – the non-working bulbs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This year, with N.E.wear projects and a deadline, I opted to replace the entire strings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There must be a better way!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>L.E.D. lights, you say.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My track record happens to be tarnished with them, too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, I supported our local hospice thrift store and replaced my strings with someone else’s donation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And now the tree twinkles in colours that surround our angel decorations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the top of the tree is “Angie”, the same angel we used on our family Christmas trees when I was a little girl.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">I have to say our Christmas has been delightful – we’ve been able to “skype” with our long-distance relatives and kept our busy-ness to a minimum.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But here’s the question:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is it right that a Canadian girl celebrate Christmas with green grass and a blooming weeping pussy willow?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve searched my snow-starved soul long and hard, and my husband has convinced me that the lack of snow over Christmas has saved lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This season is already riddled with stressful travel time issues and with whom we spend that time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So… I put on my big-girl panties and let this one go; not having miserable road conditions to deal with was a Christmas blessing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Today is Thursday, December 29 – 3 days from 2012.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have been very blessed this year and look forward to making the most of each day we’re given.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From our home on the pond, our family wishes all of you good health, good friends and enough free time to appreciate what you have. </div>N.E.wearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02378841257894848498noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1697171629932099600.post-64475492279267704662011-12-04T21:53:00.001-05:002011-12-20T22:28:21.446-05:00Frosted Window Panes...<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">I’m not usually on the road at <time hour="8" minute="30">8:30</time> in the morning, but last Thursday I was headed to the Certified Angus Beef meeting room to pick up what remained of my stock after their Christmas Show & Sale.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was my second such show and at the very end of the day, someone bought the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">dragonfly wing earrings</i> and the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Tiger Swallowtail butterfly wing pendant</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even though everyone who sees my wing pieces catches their breath when they find out they’re made from <stockticker>REAL</stockticker> wings, this jewelry is not for everyone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not unlike switching summer dresses for chunky sweaters, finding real wings is seasonal so I await next summer with baited breath.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Being on the road at <time hour="8" minute="30">8:30</time> last Thursday morning was a gift; the landscape was covered in a heavy frost.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I call it <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">hoar frost</b> and someone on Wikipedia wrote:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“T<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">he name <b>hoar</b> comes from Old English and can be used as an adjective for showing signs of old age in reference to the frost which makes trees and bushes look like elderly white hair.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I like that definition.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everything was still. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everything was quiet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kind of like what the carol Silent Night says – “all is calm, all is bright”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Evidence of the death of fall was everywhere.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And it was beautiful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Really beautiful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">In our road trip last month, we saw the same vision while driving through northern Ontario one morning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The only sign of life was a lone wolf standing in the middle of a small, frozen pond.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m not sure why I’m so smitten with this image.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perhaps it goes to simplicity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Being in awe of what’s in front of us and not taking it for granted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My friend, Ginny, has a generous bird feeder hanging from the tree in her front yard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She has the most beautiful collection of birds who frequent her feeder daily.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ginny also has a hunter kitty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One day she handed me a handful of feathers – striking, red feathers, and striped grey/brown and black.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sadly, she explained that they belonged to one of the cardinals and a Carolina wren that used to visit her feeder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She hoped I could use them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve added them to the Khepri jewelry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of all kinds.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tNJtWGKV2JQ/TtwxalTFLfI/AAAAAAAAAXQ/9o4l9RCzV2I/s1600/224+-+Cardinal+%2526+Carolina+Wren.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dda="true" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tNJtWGKV2JQ/TtwxalTFLfI/AAAAAAAAAXQ/9o4l9RCzV2I/s320/224+-+Cardinal+%2526+Carolina+Wren.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>N.E.wearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02378841257894848498noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1697171629932099600.post-11523939166731721552011-11-21T13:02:00.001-05:002011-11-21T13:03:12.515-05:00Here to N.E.wear - It's Official!Welcome to the official Grand Opening of "Here to N.E.wear". While I do like to journal, the main purpose of my page is to keep you current with N.E.wear designs. Here you'll find examples of custom pieces in the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Commissions and Sold Gallery</b>, and all my work that is available directly from me, from The 120 Artists CoOp and from Westwood Studio, both located in <city><place>Wooster</place></city>. The options are almost limitless as to the colour combinations, shapes, designs and findings materials. With Thanksgiving just around the corner (for those who live south of the border), the Christmas season is almost upon us. Maybe this year you'll want to give one-of-a-kind gifts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Check out the photo galleries and see if anything strikes your fancy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
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As for my recent road trip, I made it home safely after a week-long trip across western <country-region><place>Canada</place></country-region>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m in grandchild withdrawal already.N.E.wearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02378841257894848498noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1697171629932099600.post-59440151806633759002011-11-14T22:18:00.001-05:002011-11-14T22:18:35.200-05:00Road TripsThe beautiful thing about a road trip is... actually, there are many things; you get to know your trip mates REALLY well - you get to try regional foods - your surroundings can be inspiring - you gain a new appreciation for what you love about being at home - you get to drive, and drive... and drive. I think after we're finished, Amy & I will have driven over 3300 Canadian km. or about 2100 miles (for my friends at home). For the most part, the roads have been clear, the skies have been kind and the deer and moose have kept to themselves. Today, we had lunch in the Cornerstone Bar & Grill in Kenora, Ontario. It used to be an historic bank building. We have been eating the usual as-healthy-as-you-can-eat road food, but today we felt like having a treat. We ordered a yummy chicken, avacado, tomato, greens, roasted red pepper sandwich on toasted sourdough with the REALLY YUMMY house salad of spring greens, candied pecans, red onions, goat cheese and balsamic vinegrette. We thought we'd been to heaven. Why can't I get inspired to make that for lunch at home? Oh - Did I mention my two grandboys are with us? They had pizza. Did I also mention they've been champs the entire time?? We've been on the road since Friday night. I have been inspired by a couple of things this trip: the strength of my daughter as she has wrangled the details of this move, and the turbines at the Red Lily Wind Farm near Moosomin, Saskatchewan. My fascintation has to do with the steady, graceful motion to get the job done - both with Amy and the turbines. I believe N.E.wear will benefit from this inspiration!!N.E.wearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02378841257894848498noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1697171629932099600.post-26527032537061017692011-11-08T21:15:00.000-05:002011-11-08T21:15:11.086-05:00My favourite season.Fall has always been my favourite season. Always! And I really like the idea that the word "fall" has <em>Old Norse</em> derivatives - from the <place><placetype>land</placetype> of <placename>Vikings</placename></place>, and all. Maybe that’s why I have such an affinity with rocks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
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So much has happened since N.E.wear’s inception.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And "N.E.wear" wasn’t the first alphabetic configuration.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let’s go back over a year ago, to last August.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My daughter, Amy, was here visiting with our two grand boys, Ethan and Christian.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I thought it might be fun to make some jewelry with Ethan, who was about 4½ at the time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We chose colours of polymer modeling clay and E. thought he would be good at turning the handle on the pasta roller.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After a few passes, the exact thickness was achieved.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We cut some shapes from different colours, placed them on the base, rolled again and merged them together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Amy started cutting out shapes and by the time we were finished, we had 2 sets of earrings and pendants.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is really when I had my first vision of making jewelry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And of course, never mind having enough pieces to sell, or where to sell them or any sort of business plan – I needed a name.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> And </span>I wanted to use our initials:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>N, A and E.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“NEA”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“<stockticker>ANE</stockticker>”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“EAN”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nothing worked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then, suddenly – there it was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>AnE.wear. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After some testing, however, it became evident this was going to require some phonetic symbols to ensure correct pronunciation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Argh – too complicated!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
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Finally, after simplifying my medium from polymer clay to acrylic paint came the simpler spelling of N.E.wear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It wasn't a TRUE epiphany, but it was certainly a great ah-ha!N.E.wearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02378841257894848498noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1697171629932099600.post-60834213325133367822011-10-31T16:24:00.001-04:002012-01-01T21:12:48.116-05:00In the beginning...<span style="font-family: inherit;">My jewelry adventure began on <date day="5" month="12" year="2010">December 5, 2010</date>. I attended a Christmas decoration workshop at our church. I made a few things, but what caught my attention was the process of squirting acrylic paint into clear, glass balls, turning them upside and allowing the paint, which I so carefully squirted inside, to drip out. The result was a gorgeous mix of red, silver and white, flowing into and around each other – creating a decoration card shops could only dream about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After 3 days, the paint had finished dripping and had dried.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The workshop leader supplied a beautiful wired ribbon to tie onto the cap of the glass ball.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve always been crafty, but this was extremely simple and produced an amazing effect.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I got my Scrabble friends together one afternoon and before our weekly Scrabble tournament, we made glass ball decorations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not only were the colour options endless, the assortment of glass balls available made each piece unique.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We squirted and twirled and when the last ornament had been turned over in its own little plastic cup, we stood back and surveyed our handiwork.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our homes would be well-decorated this Christmas with the most eclectic array of coloured glass balls.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hand-made!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We could give them as gifts, too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our minds were dizzy with the possibilities.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Christmas came and went.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We put our precious glass balls in storage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I even found a few of our “gifts” in the spring rummage sale.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hm…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Throughout the winter I made more glass ball ornaments experimenting with different colour combinations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I looked at the paint drippings, I realized there was more to this than just glass ball ornaments.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With this revelation, N.E.wear jewelry was born!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FlACzXQ1BEU/Tq8DP3sddWI/AAAAAAAAABA/ek9l0j1IvEg/s1600/DSCN3045%255B1%255D" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ida="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FlACzXQ1BEU/Tq8DP3sddWI/AAAAAAAAABA/ek9l0j1IvEg/s320/DSCN3045%255B1%255D" width="320" /></a></div>N.E.wearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02378841257894848498noreply@blogger.com1