Etsian Artists: Sunday Feature ♥ MadScientists Designs

Check out my interview on the Etsian Artists team blog:

Etsian Artists: Sunday Feature ♥ MadScientists Designs: ENTER SHOP Can you tell us a bit about yourself and your shop? Like me, my shop is quite eclectic. I love to try new things and have man...

What I'm Working On Today...

We left off on Super Bowl Sunday with my jump ring adventure...

This is what the jump rings look like now as I build my latest design, a foray into "statement" pieces:

A bracelet...

and a necklace.

The next step will be to make a clasp and to begin embellishing the base necklace..

Let's see your latest work in progress! Link a picture at the bottom of the post.

xoxo Mad

Copper Jump Rings and Broken Saw Blades

...Or... 

What I Did On Superbowl Sunday

(Before the game of course.)

Today I used my jeweler's saw for the 1st time....

and (of course) I broke the saw blade. Ugh!

Perhaps the jump rings I made were too thick? (12 gauge)

Or, and this is more likely, I used too much pressure while sawing...

But... I did finish the jump rings...

I cut them by hand with wire cutters. 

Big ones I stole, I mean borrowed, from my husband's tool box... 

shhh! Don't tell!

By the time I finished, this is what my workbench --read: kitchen counter-- looked like:

Note the "high-tech" nail file I use for filing the edges smooth.

Next time, I'll try the saw on smaller gauge wire. It's a good thing that the saw came with several blades!

Do you have any good stories about the 1st time you used a new tool?

xoxo Mad

The Best Christmas Present EVER! Guest Blog by Smokey

Guest blogger: Smokey

I had my BEST Christmas present ever when I got the new Smokey Super Mouse I wanted from frenchpackrat. She makes WONDERFUL woolly tailed catnip mice also!

My inside kitty friends  got TWO woolly tailed catnip mice!

Unfortunately, I am VERY hard on my toys and destroyed the regular mouse in record time. Oops! So the lovely Michelle made me a special, super tough mouse for destructive cats, like me. Here I am with my new Christmas frenchpackrat mouse:




I love my new toy! Boy, do I need a nap! Thanks Michelle. :-)

Happy New Year!

Treasury Time

Hello and welcome to treasury time! 

Sit back with a cuppa and enjoy. Cheers!

Featured Treasury by Cat from BabanCat

My 1st Guest Blogging for Etsian Artists!

Etsian Artists: Wonderful Wednesdays

WOO HOO!! I did my very 1st guest blogging today! Check it out! :-)

Happy Wednesday!

Etsian Artists: Wonderful Wednesdays: In the spirit of the holiday season, today's fabulous finds from the Etsian Artists Team inspire you to decorate that tree in handmade splen...

Are YOU Ready For The Holidays? Part IV: More Ornaments

OK, I admit it! I've been playing with ornaments again..... 

As the holidays approach, I get more and more inspiration to create new Steampunk vacuum tube ornaments. They are just so fun and unusual! This new batch includes spirals in silver and gold and some iridescent, sparkly ones... The perfect gift for that special someone... or even for yourself!

Steel Spirals with White Ribbon

Golden Brass Spirals with Gold Ribbon

 Iridescent Hologram with Red Ribbon

And Another Iridescent Hologram

Each ornament will be a one-of-a-kind unique piece because of the use of vintage vacuum tubes and wire-work. All wire work is done by me including the twisted jump rings I used to attach the ribbons.

These make the perfect cross-over gift, working for: men and women, Christmas, Yule, NeoVicotian style, Steampunk, Goth, geekery, techie, and so many more...

Happy holidays!