Handmade Beaded Jewelry

Monday, December 28, 2009

You just never know when you will be visited by your past....Today I received a email from someone who would like information on one of the dolls I made in 1985. Wow, that was a long time ago. A baby born that year is now 25 years old. Kind of freaks me out. Well I told her that the doll was made for a Luncheon. It was a souvenir gift. Can't remember how many I made or how much I was paid. Don't even remember the name of the Doll Club that commissioned me. It's an original sculptured half doll.

Saturday, December 26, 2009

Sisterhood of the Traveling Scarves


I have a group of online girlfriends. They're from all over the world. We all met in the Italian Forum on TripAdvisor and have been hanging out online for the past 2yrs. Last February a group of Ladies got together in Rome for the first time. There is a webcam on top the hotel next to the Pantheon, so they would tell us what time they would be there, and we would all get online to watch as they waved to us. It was such a hoot. People passing must have thought they were nuts waving their scarves at the webcam. If they even knew there was a webcam there. Anyway this March there is going to be another meet up. I was not able to go last year, but I plan on going this year. We will meet up in two places this time. Rome and Venice. Did I mention we nicknamed ourselves the Sisterhood of the Traveling Scarves? Hence the title at the top. In our conversations someone mentioned t-shirts, and I thought what a great idea. Then Michelle sent me a web page of an illustrator from Australia. Her name is Shell Sherree . I just fell in Love with her work and so commissioned her to do an illustration for our group. So that's three of us standing in a gondola in front of the Pantheon.




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Monday, December 21, 2009

2 necklaces using Murano glass beads


Three Black and gold handmade Murano glass beads from Italy accented with black and gold seed beads. $110.00
Matching earrings $25.00
Bronze delica beads worked in a peyote stitch to create the chain and bail. The Focal bead is another one of my Murano glass beads bought on my last rip to Venice. $110.00

Saturday, December 19, 2009


Today's necklace is made with seed beads in various sizes, shapes and colors using a spiral stitch. The focal point is a Murano (Venice,Italy) glass bead. Don't know if bead is the right wrong. But I thought tongue sounded pretty gross....LOL The Price of this piece is $80.00

Friday, December 18, 2009



I've decided to post some of my jewelry that I have for sale. If you are interested please feel free to email me at maxinetom@optonline.net for a price. No obligation.

Today it is 2 Pendants made with Swarovski Crystals and gold vermeil seed beads. Special orders are welcomed.

Monday, December 14, 2009

My birds' nest has an occupant

I just came back from the $ Store where I found the perfect little bird to take up residence in my nest. I know, you think I have too much time on my hands. That or I'm really losing it....LOL.

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Tree top Angel


I made this Angel in the 1980's. This was when I was very much into doll collecting and doll making. I did my own sculpting and mold making. Then the molds were pored in porcelain, fired to a bisque then china painted. With many firings in between.


I don't make dolls anymore. I felt I went as far as my limited talent would go. And with all the so called collectible dolls coming out of the orient it was just not profitable anymore. Even so, I still have my collection. Many of the dolls I own are made by other Doll Artists.

Bird Nest


today I bought some Jordan Almonds and put them into the tiny bird nest.....Looks real doesn't it.....

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

This Years Christmas Tree

It's that time of the year again for our annual Xmas tree hunt. Like last year we travel about an hour and half North of were we live to a tree farm to look for the PERFECT tree. I'm a big fan of the frasier tree. Tight needles, strong branches. Of course it snow the day before. Our first snow of the season. It was a beautiful ride up. But a real challenge to fine that perfect tree. We schook the snow off a lot of trees...LOL...I was sure glad I wore my silk long johns and wool socks.


Today while I was putting the lights on I found this really cute bird nest. I'm going to save it. Maybe get some fake eggs to put in it. I think my grandsons are going to love it.

Macro Quilt

I belong to a SAQA (Studio Art Quilt Assoc.) group that meets once a month. Our latest challenge was to take a Macro Photo of anything that inspires you and make a quilt using the image in any form that you would like. I chose a photo that I took in Florida of a hibiscus. I then sent it into my Adobe Photoshop and posterized it. Which brings out all the subtle shades and printed it on fabric. Next I fused it onto Timtex after which I machine stitched in the different colors with DMC cotton thread. After the stitching, I added beads to the stamen After which I added it to the top of a quilted background.

Friday, December 4, 2009

Disney World part 2

We also loved the firework displays. Especially at Epcot. Illuminations. We saw it twice. Awesome. That all I can say. If you're going to Disney World , it's a must see. We also saw the parade and fireworks at Fantasy Land. After dinner at the Italian Restaurant in Epcot we came out on to the Piazza (It's made to look like San Marco in Venice) There was an acting troupe just beginning their show. Which was called Romeo & Edna. Scene 1 Verona.....And guess who they pull out of the audience to play Romeo. My man Tom. And did he ham it up.



You can hear me laughing myself silly as I was recording this. He really got into it...Who knows maybe he has a new career...here are a couple of more pictures. It's really cute but of course can't compare to the real thing.




Here are some more pictures of our Disney Adventure. Notice how big Joseph's gets. This was the Pirates of the Caribbean ride.

Disney World

A couple of weeks after our Arizona trip we went to Disney World. It was a treat for my daughter and her family. It was so much fun watching my 2 grandsons enjoy it. Especially the Country Bear Jamboree. Which, by the way, is my very favorite.