My husband, my crow

I lovingly call my husband my own personal crow as he is always coming home with shiny bits and bobs for me to use in my artwork. When he worked in security at a local club, he would bring home "floor score" each night: all sorts of broken bits of jewelery for me to use. And he'll bring home interesting furniture or statues or just things that he thinks I can do something creative to or with. He doesn't buy me flowers; he finds things to make my creativity sing! Well, this last time he totally outdid himself!!! He arrived home with these 2 wooden boxes...

 

What are these interesting objects? They are these totally amazing little mannequins! He got me 8 of them for $2.00 each!!!! They are so cool and show off my jewelery really well. Check it out...

 

 

 

They are on these really wonderful stands that can go up and down. Everywhere I turn in the house now there is a mannequin with one of my necklaces hanging on it. We only live in about 800 square feet so you can imagine that there is not that much room. They are  in the living room, my studio, the kitchen, the bathroom, our bedroom. I think the only place that doesn't have one is my daughter's room. And not for lack of trying!

I have been inspired to create more jewelery since he got me these. For some reason, I have turned back to the beadwork that got me started on this path 6 years ago. I am working on a bracelet but have finished a pendant for a necklace. Here it is...

Sorry for the blurry photo. My little point and shoot really doesn't like taking detail shots in my studio. I think the light just isn't good. If you can't tell, it is meant to be a gate opening into a garden. On the back I stamped the following...

 

Can you read it? It says Unlock the gate to follow your bliss. I have an antique key that will hang from the pendant and then I will attach chain. I have never done beadwork quite like this. I've done more of this...

and this...

but I am enjoying being back into it. I have the time to give it now that I am on summer vacation. I just wish my wrists were loving it as much. They are feeling the pain from doing so much beading. My carpal tunnel just doesn't like working for hours and hours. I have this problem with stopping a project once I get going. I can't. So, I will have to find some projects for the coming week that don't require so much hand sewing. Any ideas?