Pretty Patina ::A Giveaway::

Isn't this a beautiful blue?

This is the result of raw brass filigree with an oxidized patina verdigris finish.  

Ooohhhh.  Aaahhhh. 

Wanna know how I did it?

Here are a few pictures of my process.

Start with clean raw brass. (It works great on copper too.)  Clean your metal with some soapy water.  This is helpful because even oils from your hands can effect your results.  Use gloves, so you don't get oils on the metal after it's clean.  Then, give your metal a little dip in some salty water.

Since I don't have a torch (it's on my wish list) I heated my metal in the oven.  It works faster if your metal is hot!  If I were you, I would recommend heating it on 350 degrees for nine minutes.  Ten minutes is probably too long.

Now here is the magical set-up:

First, before you do anything else, put on a mask.  Or tie a scarf around your face.  Or put a clothes pin on your nose.  ANYthing for protection.  

You will need:

ammonia

small bowl or container

mesh screen (anything that will allow fumes to pass through)

large air-tight container

Pour the ammonia into the smaller container, and then balance the screen on top of the container to allow the ammonia fumes to pass through.

Place your heated metal on top of the screen and then put the lid on the large container.  This keeps the fumes contained so that the metal can start to react.

Now wait.  Don't get too anxious.  When you go to check to see if it's working, don't eagerly lean over the table and breathe.  If you must breathe, don't breathe in the fumes.  I unfortunately have learned from experience, that the ammonia smell will stay in your nose for a minimum of 3 days.

After you start to see the oxidation on the metal, and you are happy with the results (the longer you leave it in there, the darker it will get-eventually turning black), take the metal out and let it start to dry.  As it dries, the colors will become brighter.

The next step is crucial:  Oooh and aahhh over them for a few days.  Take pictures so you blog about your science experiment.  Then make sure you put a finish on the metal to stop the oxidation process.  You can put a finishing wax or a spray acrylic finish.

Now here is the part that you've been waiting for:  the finished product.

Maybe it was the fact that this was our Independence Day weekend, but I couldn't help myself from pairing delicious reds with these beautiful blues.  

I made four pair of earrings.  

And one of them can be yours, because I like y'all a lot--remember?

It's simple.  You don't have to do anything except leave me a little comment love.  It's a very unofficial giveaway.  But its oh-so-fun!

I've recently come across a few sweet friends that I didn't know had a blog.  I was giddy with excitement when I found them too!  Do you have a blog, and I don't know about it?  I would love to read about your story.   Even if you don't have a blog, I still want to know if you're reading!  

So, just leave me a comment and let me know which pair of earrings is your favorite.  I'll put all the names in a hat, and let the Husband pull out a winner.  He gets really excited about that!  

***I will draw a name on Friday afternoon!***

A Day to Remember

Yesterday morning, my gorgeous husband and I decided to go to the beach for the day.  It was spontaneous and unplanned.  Totally unlike us.  We like to make lists and check the calendar. 

We woke up, and within fifteen minutes of deciding to spend the day in the sun, we were on the road.  We did manage pack a beach bag with towels and a change of clothes.

But we forgot it.  So we had to stop to get more towels.

The beach was crazy crowded.

But the water was clear, and there wasn't a cloud in the sky.

The water was chilly, but it only took a few minutes to get warmed up to it.  

Holding on to my Honey helped.

Since we were being spontaneous, we drove to downtown Wilmington to watch fireworks too.  

This battle ship was our backdrop.  Breathtaking!

Our camera died at sunset.  Which forced us to keep our eyes on the show, instead of trying to take pictures.  It was the best fireworks show I've ever seen, hands down.  It may have moved me to tears.  Our day was that great.

We drove home holding hands.  We were sandy, sun-kissed, and sleepy.  As we talked trying to keep each other awake on the drive home, we promised each other this:  

When we are old and gray, this is going to be one of those days that we will always remember. 

Glorious Oreo Balls

Here is the recipe for the Oreo Balls that I posted on Facebook.  It seemed to be quite a hit!  And I haven't forgotten about my little project!  It worked, and it was fabulous!  I just have to find the time to make something now, so I can give it away!  

Without further adieu, 

• 
  
• Ingredients:  
• 1 package regular size Oreo cookies, crushed 
• 1 1/2 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 1 package vanilla almond bark
• 1 package chocolate almond bark 
• 
  
  Directions:
• 1
• Using a blender or hand held mixer, mix Oreos and cream cheese together.
• 2
• Roll into walnut size balls.
• 3
• Chill for an hour.  Resist the urge to lick the bowl.
• 4
• Melt approximately 3/4 package of chocolate or vanilla almond bark.
• 5
• Stick a toothpick in an Oreo ball and dip it in the melted chocolate almond bark.
• 6
• Allow to harden on wax paper.
• 7
• Takes about 15 min.
• 8
• While waiting, Resist the urge to lick the spoon. Melt about 1/4 package of vanilla or chocolate (the opposite of what you dipped the balls into) almond bark.
• 9
• When Oreo balls are no longer sticky to the touch, decorate with drizzles of chocolate and white almond bark.
• 10
• I just use a sandwich bag with a tiny hole cut in one corner to drizzle the almond bark. And I like to double the recipe!  You can never have too many Oreo balls!  Enjoy!

Sneak Peek

I think it's going to work!

Keep your fingers crossed. . .

I'm working on a little project.

And if it turns out well, then I think I might just have another {giveaway}!!!

But you need to keep your fingers crossed.  And say a little prayer that I don't singe my nose hairs on ammonia fumes, again.

It will take at least 24 hours to know if it's been successful.

I promise I'll tell you all about it.  

But, please, keep your fingers crossed.

{While we're waiting, go send some comment love to my sister.  Maybe she will update her blog.  I know for a fact that all of her boxes are unpacked.  Let's demand that she put up more pictures of those cute girls!}

100

Oh, Let me tell you something funny.  

Are you ready?  

This is my 100th post.  

But that isn't the funny part.  

I thought this was my 105th post, and I was very prepared to do a post about totally missing my 100th post.  I even went back to check and see when I started my blog, so I could do the math and let you know that I have a pathetic average of posting less than 3 times a month in the past three years.  And that's when I saw them--my drafts.  Those lovely little half-finished thoughts that never completely made it to blogland.  Ironically, there were six of them, and as I deleted them I watched my total slide down to 99.   Which makes this my 100th post.  Whoohoo!

But that wasn't what I was really going to blog about.  I was just going to tell you I'm back.  Yeah, I'm sure you didn't realize that I was gone, but I didn't really want to advertise that my house was going to be vacant for an entire week.   

Mr. B had to go on a business trip for the week, so I spent a busy and eventful week back and forth between my sister's and my mama's house.  I got some good crafty time in with my mom, and helped my sister get settled into her new home.  Of course I got some good niece time in too! My week went by way too fast though!  

And just so I don't have a picture-less 100th post, here is the only picture that was taken on my trip.    (We are in the middle of target and my Bitty niece was in a happy mood and talking to her Auntie Lib, & I just had to get a picture!)  

So, Happy 100th post!  Finally.

Stretching my boundaries

As a jewelry maker, I have a hard time trying not to keep all the jewelry that I make for myself.  It's not always easy to put a new rockin' cool pair of earrings in the sale pile.  So I limit myself to only the earrings that will fit on my frame.  Simple boundaries, right? My necklaces live on these two crosses that sit on top of my dresser.   I like my system.  It is a very good system.  But I decided to change it anyway...  

I had an epiphany in the middle Ikea the other day.  I found these simple place mats and knew that they were destined for something amazing.  Something glorious!  So I bought three, {odd numbers people!} and couldn't wait to get them home.   

After I spray painted them, {and anything else that I could get my hands on to spray paint} I oohed and ahhed over them.  Seriously, the colors are rocking my face off.  Especially the red.  The picture doesn't do it justice.  And then I set out to give them the amazing, glorious life that they were destined for.  

You can't tell it from this picture, but they are hanging in my bed room.  Let's pretend like I took a picture of my entire bedroom, and in this picture you see my bed that is made up, curtains are actually hanging up and they match this made-up bed.  {I can't find curtains anywhere on this planet to match my quilt!} Also, the basket of socks has mysteriously disappeared because all the socks have found their match.  And you can see my yellow, blue, and red circles hanging in the corner in all their glory.  Ahem.  Let's pretend ok?

Now, if anyone from the housing department asks, my fabulous circles are magically hanging in mid-air. Magical, I tell you.  But if you really must know, I used these little guys.  They are probably my favorite thing that I've discovered in the Hubs' tool box.  

I used my bare hands to screw them into the ceiling.  Be impressed (or don't be, it was easy smeasy.)  

And then I used fishing line to suspend the aforementioned gloriousness in mid-air.

So that I could hang my earrings on them.  And stretch my boundaries a little bit further.  I think I am gonna like this new system.  

A day with my girls

I got to spend a day with my two oldest nieces by the pool last weekend.  Their mommy and daddy were house hunting, and I needed some Auntie time.

For those of you who don't know, this is Austin Kate, or AK (my sister's middle nugget).  She is currently sporting a snaggle-tooth smile that melts my heart.  

This is Averie Elizabeth, or Ave.  She is almost eleven years old! {Gasp!}  Sometimes I want to put my hand on her head and push down to see if she will stop growing.  Her sweet and maturing laugh takes my breathe away.  

A day by the pool was just what the three of us girls needed.  

We only had to have one discussion about manhandling little sisters.

Then, we were very silly.  

We laughed and giggled.  A lot.

We tried to see how many pictures we could take mid-air.

And we got a little better each time.

This day made my heart so happy!

Peace out.

Laziness

This has been a wonderful weekend, despite the fact that this is the second weekend in a row that we've had to cancel a trip home to the sweet upstate of SC.  We've been lazy.  A stay-in-your-pajamas-kind-of-lazy.  We haven't really left the house, or the couch for that matter.  And I love it.  

I've been productive though.  I reopened my Esty shop.  {Get excited!}  I have many delightful new items that I'm in the process of adding.  It will probably take me a few days to get them all uploaded, but that's ok.  I feel well rested.  

Wanna see some of the new things that are on their way to Benedetto?  Here are some pictures...

Keep checking the shop often for more things!  

Twins

It never fails.

Every year, I always get asked the same question.

"What is it like to be a twin?"

Usually, my answer is always the same.  

I love it.  I've never known it any other way.

I wouldn't want to share this day with anyone else!

Happy Birthday Judi!