Elaine Ray's new Discs

Just checking to see if you've seen Elaine Ray's new ceramic washers at

Ornamentea? They are cool!! They come in a bunch of different

glaze colors, and clay colors.
I used them in this new bracelet

with some vintage buttons, and a little Jade Scott heart charm.

Discs can be used in so many ways, I'd love to see what you can create

using them!

Interview

the interview is up now

read it here

unofficial etsy featured sellers

:)

... i gotta get back to beading.

enjoy!

new haircut = new attitude

i'm not quite sure i could BE more of a dork.

But the camera just kept clicking away and I did really just want to show you my new do.

I went and got my hair did last night. I even got it colored. Good Bye Grays!

whatcha think of the new color? It's kind of saucy, no?

anyway, enough of that nonsense.

go to this blog later today.

you'll probably see a cool interview with a certain someone...

and look around, it's a great blog!
Unofficial Etsy Featured Sellers

Giving Back to Haiti

Surely you haven't forgotten that an earthquake of mass destruction hit Haiti a few weeks ago.
Although it's not been mentioned as much lately on the news, the need for help still exists.
As artists, we want to give back.
What better way, then to pull together a couple of jewelry designers, they're love for art and beads...

to create a collaborative piece of jewelry to auction off for the charity of helping Haiti.

Who:  Andrew Thornton and Lorelei Eurto

 

Auction Starts: Today, Monday March 29th 2010

Auction Ends: Midnight on Monday, April 5th, 2010  

Bids will start at $50.00

Place a bid by leaving a comment on this post. Be sure to post the dollar amount you are bidding, and your email address. At auctions end, I will send a Paypal invoice to you, the winning bidder. I will then make a contribution 

to The American Red Cross/Haiti Relief fund. 

I will then send a receipt to you for the donation.

Read below for details about our collaborative necklace.

 

Andrew started the necklace design and then sent it to me for my additions. Andrew included the following:

Lovely hand-stamped Silver focal pendant from Heather Wynn, which reads: "The entire sum of existence  is the magic of being needed by just one person". Andrew also included wire wrapped faceted natural sapphires, faceted Herkimer diamonds, green Quartz, Vermeil cornerless cubes, silver chain, gold plated chain, and moonstone.  He also used a small section of his own handmade silver metal clay chain, and a Silver Bird toggle from his family at Green Girl Studios.

My additions included a second strand using gold artist wire, pale green and white vintage buttons from my Grandmother's button stash, some faceted Swarovski crystal  rounds in Erinite green, silver wire. I also added a few art beads, such as this cool handmade ceramic bar bead from Marsha Neal Studios, and some handmade chain from Lynn Davis. The ceramic bar and the swarovski crystals add a bit more of the green color that Andrew also incorporated.. Above the pendant, I tied a small section of antique vintage lace, adding a bit of whimsy to this classic and feminine neck piece.

The necklace measurements are: 27 inches long, and the pendant measures 
1 x 1 inch.

Included in the package, the winner will also receive one of andrew's mini-collages in a cello-sleeve of a card, and our business cards.

A big thanks goes out to Nina Bagley who inspired the layout of my post today. Had that not been the case, you probably would have just seen a whole lot of pictures of this necklace with not a lot of explanations.  

Nina mentioned in her auction post the following blog, written from a family who is living in Haiti and reporting about the aftermath from the earthquake. http://www.livesayhaiti.blogspot.com/

I hope you consider bidding... giving back. It's what we have to do.

Bead Blogger Wind Up

Or should it be Round Up? I like Wind up better.

anyway, enjoy the links! And stay tuned for a special blog post coming at 10am!

A Bead A Day
Ahh..spring green!! Otherwise known as peridot, Lisa uses some swarovski components to create a bright, spring bracelet.

About.com Jewelry Making
Tammy has been showing off some of her favorite jewelry pieces on her blog this week like this pretty earring and necklace set.

  Art Bead Scene
It's the Art Bead Scene Monthly Carnival Blog. This month's theme is "passion."

Beading Arts
Does the beginning of spring lift your spirits? Cyndi has made a spring bracelet sponsored by Artbeads to celebrate this most wonderful of all seasons.

Carmi's Art/Life World
A vintage TUMs container becomes a necklace centerpiece in Carmi's project this week.

Cindy Gimbrone aka The Lampwork Diva
Rewind: Is your bronze metal clay warping? Then Cindy's got the tool for you - Rawhide!

Earthenwood Studio Chronicles
Whoo- whoo! New porcelain owl pendants inspired by internet sensation Molly the Owl

Lorelei's Blog: Inside the Studio
Lorelei is playing around with the idea of collections and series in her jewelry line.

Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done!
Jean's sharp eye spots the first announcement of a BeadStyle Magazine special issue she will be appearing in!

The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton
Andrew recaps a recent trip to Detroit for the Great Lakes Bead Guild's Bead Bonanza.

Are you Totally Twisted?

Have you picked up a copy of Kerry's new book?? Whatcha waiting for homegirls!? It's on shelves now! I saw it at the local Barnes and Noble AND the local Joann Fabrics! But I went on Kerry's website last week and ordered my own SIGNED copy, cuz, well- why wouldn't I?? We are friends, I am proud of her, and it's an amazing book!

So today I picked it up and not only flipped through it but learned a few new techniques that I used in a few pieces of jewelry.  In this first necklace I worked up a design like Kerry's "Flying Trapeze".  Instead of a lampwork glass bead, I used one of Barbara Lewis's enameled beads in Robin's Egg Blue.  I changed the shape of the wire above the focal bead, and instead of adding twisted wire, I added a few coordinating seed beads, and some copper rounds. The pendant hangs from some nice brass bar chain from Ornamentea.

I love how the enameled round spins on the wire. It's fun, and wearable, super lightweight! I of course used brass wire instead of Kerry's silver design. I think I Lorelei-ified it just right! :)

In this next necklace I used a few different techniques from a couple of projects in the book, and combined them into one piece.  The chunky wire wrapped links, some hammered large wire wrapped links that attach to the ceramic rings from Diane Hawkey, and the hook clasp too.  I worked in copper wire this time, which matches all the big link chain at the front.  The magic bead at the right is also from Diane. This necklace came together like magic, so it was only fitting.  I added some faceted long recycled glass beads, that are wire wrapped. and the two lampwork glass beads above and below the ceramic rings are etched dotted glass rounds from Mika of Pinocean.

Make sure you check out Kerry's Blog tour... follow her around to different blogs for interviews and an insider's look at what makes Kerry Twistarific!

He brought The Goods

The mailman, that is.

He brought 4 packages yesterday. 3 of them were expected, 1 of them was a surprise gift. Wanna see em?
I know you do.

First up. My business cards arrived. I ordered 100 cards, and went with the larger business card size instead of the mini moo cards. Those are cute but I just wanted something different this time around. Instead of adding a million of my own photos, which don't typically crop down very well in the editing process, I picked their pre-loaded artist images ... I am pretty sure i picked about 100 different ones. They are so sweet.
Then on the back, I included an image of one of my necklaces. However. I am unhappy that I didn't notice that the image was a bit off center... ahh well. And I picked  teal as my font color and overall I am quite happy with how they turned out. Problem with having cute cards is, I never want to give them up.

Second package was a recent order from LimaBeads.com. I found out they have some seriously cool chain for really great prices. I also picked up a few half strands of stones.... the cool think about Limabeads, is that they offer this option on some of their strands. It's nice to be able to try out just a few to see if it's worth getting a full strand next order. I also love that they always include a nice 10% off coupon with every order. 10% sometimes makes a nice difference!

Package number 3 came from Kylie Parry... I ordered a couple of her destash sets of pendants. AND a few cutie bird beads, plus a bird necklace for myself.  I couldn't be happier with Kylie's work. It's so earthy and sweet. But the best part is, she sent a few owls as a surprise. She knows the way straight to my heart, she does she does. :)

If you read Kelley's blog, you might have seen her mention some bead shopping she did while she was in Arizona. She showed off some of the beads, and mentioned sending out a surprise little package to a special someone. Can you guess who that was?? Lil' ol' me. Gosh, I couldn't be luckier. She sent me a little grab bag

of some of the goodies she picked up on her trip. I am in love with them all. Thanks again, Kelley, you are totally da bomb. Love ya girl!

Guess I better get beading!

Art Beads: Blogging for SPRING

SPRING has Sprung. Or it's trying to anyway. Still pretty cold in upstate New York.

But it always takes a little while before it really warms up. But I know it's coming because

the tulips are peeking up out of the dirt, and I've seen some crocuses too.

Spring makes me think of flowers. When Art Beads told me that this month's theme was Spring related,

I searched their website high and low for Flower pendants. I was immediately drawn to the design of this

Golem Studio stoneware pendant with white flowers on a pale blue background.

It was an easy find, however finding the perfect beads to go with it was a lot tougher.

I settled on this lovely strand of 6mm Apatite rounds, which I think play well with the pendant afterall.

There were a lot of choices in stone strands. I could have gone with the green and brown turquoise rounds as well, that would have been a nice unexpected color choice, to bring out the green of the leaves on the pendant.

To bring out the reds in the pendant, I chose a deep red lucite flower bead,

and created a bright yellow center with a brass bead cap and yellow glass cube.

Putting it right above the pendant helps draw your eye up and then placing the white

flower bead up towards the clasp, draws your eye up and around the back of the necklace.

A little unexpected addition!

I created my own handmade brass hook and eye clasp, and flanked it with some brass spacers.

Overall,  a feminine and Spring necklace that could even be worn all year round.

The pendant and apatite rounds used in the previous post, specifically referenced as from ArtBeads.com were provided as promotional gifts by for review or design partnership purposes.

Rings N Things: Blogging with Skulls

When I received the latest bundle of beads from Rings N Things, I was a bit apprehensive. SKULLS? It's not Halloween, and we're still several weeks away from Cinco de Mayo... I wasn't quite sure how I was going to work it.
I sat down and came up with 2 different pieces, that I couldn't be more pleased with!!   This first piece, a bracelet is double stranded. Hand knotted beads are strung on black cotton cording, with small silver spacers in between the knots. Rings N Things sent me these glass skulls, and I picked out the one with purple and green accents and the black with white accents. I added in some purple barrel beads to add some color. Heavy ornamental chain makes up the second strand.  I added some black leather ribbon from London to finish it off in a bow. I also received these sweet Tierra Cast charms and added this skull charm onto the cording strand. This actually turned out cute. Kind of even girly I would say!!

The second necklace is beaded, and the focal is a row of glass peppers.  Flanking the row are 2 top drilled lucite rounds in a fun teal blue. One one side, a matte finish black scroll decorated lucite round, on the other- a black and white skull bead. I added some cream seed rounds for a nice contrast of color. The button clasp is made up from one of the Glass heart beads that I got in the Valentine's stash from R&T. February was a busy month unfortunately so I didn't get a chance to blog projects for the Valentine's bead grouping. So I threw in this red HOT heart to play off the peppers. Pretty clever eh? Makes me think of my darlin' who is a hot pepper fiend. He of course, REALLY loved this necklace.

The glass beads and charms used in the previous post, specifically referenced as from Rings and Things were provided as promotional gifts by for review or design partnership purposes.

Butterfly Series

I absolutely LOVE how these turned out.

Lately I am fascinated with the idea of series.

This is my butterfly series. Featuring Pork Chop Show's butterflies,

some delicate brass chain, coordinating beads, and

handmade button clasps.

Available in the shop within the hour.

Inspiration surrounds me: A wordless post

Inspired by Owls

Remember how I was telling you yesterday about my hurting back? Well last night I asked Joe to lug upstairs my new leafy chair from Target so I could try this type of seat out instead. It was actually TONS better.  Although I'm not facing out the window at this point, this is the small table on the opposite side of the room, a lower table. I just brought over a few essentials to work on this necklace (below). My pliers, my bin of Vintaj brass, a bin of new beads, and my felty little pad for roll-away beads.   I think this might work out for a little while, but I may end up re-arranging the room again for the upteenth time so that this table is facing out the window.

This necklace design actually started out as a bracelet. The 2 strand section, and then I was planning on adding a third strand of brass chain. However I went a little nuts with the tying of knots, and it ended up to long. I don't know if you've ever tried take a knot out of waxed linen cording but it's pretty much flipping impossible. SO! luckily I started the whole thing with long enough strands of linen cording so I just changed my tune and a necklace it became! I actually really love how it turned out. I added one of my favorite new things from Green Girl Studios- the owl toggle. Especially after being all inspired after watching Molly and McGee and their new baby owl yesterday. See the live footage here.

Lampwork focal: Sue Beads

Lampwork round (cream with dots): Kelleys Beads

Faceted Aventurine

Coral glass seed beads

wood

czech glass

purple horn beads

cream seeds

Owl toggle- GGS

Hello Friends

I realized I didn't really blog all weekend. I apologize for that. I guess I just didn't have a lot to say. Saturday I picked up Becky from rehab and we did a little shopping and went to Michaels for some supplies. Then enjoyed some down time at my house, enjoyed some coffee and Becky went through a bunch of my beads. She's gotta stop coming over, I keep sending her back with tons of goodies. I gave up a sweet Pinocean bead set that she adored, a new Lynn Davis pendant that she fell in love with,  some ribbon, and a strand of cool horn beads that I just got. :)
It's incredible to share an interest like beading with a family member. I'll have her hooked on art beads in no time.

Sunday I spen doing some jewelry. And then severely suffered from it all night from a hurting shoulder blade. My stool- uncomfortable. Jade Scott is trying to convince me that I need to put a couch with a lower coffee table in my studio- for a more comfy beading seat. I can't imagine getting a loveseat up the stairs to my room though. But I am seriously considering some sort of change, or I'll be crippled. What kind of seating do you have in your studios? Any suggestions?

Bead Blogger Round up

...a red shoes kind of day...

A Bead A Day
After a treasure hunting trip through a bucket of fun spirited plastic beads, Lisa creates a "charm" bracelet to remind her of the experience!

About.com Jewelry Making
Carpel Tunnel Sydrome is not a new issue for jewelry designers, but here are some resources that may help.

Art Bead Scene
Art Bead Scene Editor Heather Powers shows how she organized her studio for $45!

Beading Arts
Cyndi worked out a pattern for a simple but pretty floral seed bead chain!

Carmi's Art/Life World
A few word charms by the cash register are the inspiration for a new brooch.

Cindy Gimbrone aka The Lampwork Diva
A seed catalog keeps Cindy's inspiration alive. The result is a Victorian Garden Bee Skep bead.

Earthenwood Studio Chronicles
Melanie reviews a delighful new multi-media book by Sherri Haab

Lorelei's Blog: Inside the Studio
Take a little virtual shopping trip with Lorelei around the web for inspiration to participate in the Art Bead Scene Almond Blossoms challenge!

Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done!
Spring really arrived here, FINALLY, and Jean was inspired to create some colorful, sparkly CZ jewelry with the beautiful components she found at Artbeads!

The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton
Just back from a whirlwind adventure in Hawaii, Andrew shares his experience in paradise and spotlights some bead-making talents.

Yes!

Yes -Stitched Focal - Jade Scott

Lucite

Patina heart and chain- MissFickleMedia

Handmade copper wire clasp

Random thoughts:

T to the G to the I to the F! woot!

It's like I work just to get to the weekends lately. Seriously. I'd much rather be beading and creating.

Cute Jade Scott focal huh? She's making them for the next update (i think?) and she sent me a few to play around with. Wasn't that nice of her?? I love this one, it's stitched in seafoam green: Yes

I want to be a YES girl.

I am curious, have the ads been popular? are you clicking the ads? finding new favorite shops? and for the vendors: getting any traffic yet? Noticeable traffic? sales??

Going to a brewery tour tonight at Saranac, with my husband. It would totally be like date night, if Joe hadn't made plans after to go to his buddies house to watch march madness basketball.

Tomorrow I'm picking my Aunt up. She's at rehab. We'll probably do some beading or something. She's new at beading. She's always been so creative. You should see her little encaustic wax paintings. They are pretty amazing.

It's almost time for Doughnuts- friday is doughnut day at the museum. I'm craving a glazed.

I bought some more matte stones recently. I hope they come soon. I'm also waiting for a large order from Beads N Pieces. Such a great website for natural seeds,wood, stones, and anything you can think of.

Turquoise Color Challenge

Attention Beaders!!

Did you hear, there's a new Challenge in town,

and you are all invited to enter, over at the Art Bead Scene!

It's pretty simple, just make some jewelry including the following

colors!

These colors are part of a palette from Margie Deeb’s Spring/Summer 2010 Color Report for Bead & Jewelry Artists.

Keep this rule in mind:

An art bead, a bead or component made by an artist or yourself, needs to be included in your design.

Read the guidelines and submission information here.
DEADLINE: April 1st, 2010.

 

Oh! Did I mention, I'm one of the 3 judges?? hee hee!! I AM!

along with Jane Dickerson and Marcia DeCoster.

Okay so you might be stumped at this color combination 

but don't worry!! 

Loooooorelei,

your personal shopping assistant is here to save the day!! 

Check out this fine

selection of goodies all found on the trusty

handmade goods site, ETSY!

1. Teal and Gold Polymer rounds- AslanCrafts

2. Raku Double Moon Pendant- StarSpiritStudio

3.Teal and Purple Lampwork set- NicholeBeads

4. Gold Silk Sari Ribbon- DesignTalentedOne

5.  Saffron Links- MissFickleMedia

6.Violet Fancy Flower Points- RoundRabbitExtra

7. Gold Pendant- Jubilee

8. Mermaid and Violet lampwork set- Loupiac

9. Turquoise Faceted Lucite Coins- ReductionNation

10. Patina Chain- MissFickleMedia

11. Yellow Opal strand- OllieandJo

12. Teal Victorian Knots- RoundRabbitExtra

13. Turquoise and Tangerine Ceramic rounds- MermaidBeads

14. Gold Finch pendant- AmandaDavie

15. Lavender Lampwork focal- LavenderBeads

16. Purple Dragonfly Pendant- EveryHeartCrafts

17. Purple Mum Long Bead- Humblebeads

18. Saffron chain- MissFickleMedia

Happy Shopping, and HAPPY CREATING!

I can't wait to see all of your fabulous entries that I know you will be working on!!

Coming later today

These stones are just sooooo.

awesome.

This one begged to be put into a bracelet design.

Hope tag: Amanda Davie

Vintaj Brass chain, Sun charm, clasp

Ceramic Star bead: Keith O'Connor

Ceramic nuggets: Mary Ann Carroll

By the way, lots of new jewelry landed in my Etsy store this morning.

Still this bracelet, and another necklace coming to the shop, later on today, stay tuned.

Now Go Out There, and Enjoy your St. Patty's Day!!

Yes they are stones

Lori: Honey, look at these amazing beads I got today in the mail.

Joe: Oh wow. Cool. Who made those?

Lori: No one, they're stones!

Joe: No way, those can't be stones. They look ceramic.

Lori: Look at this other strand I got! Aren't they incredible?

Joe: Who made those? Those definitely aren't stones.

Lori: THEY ARE STONES!! Can you believe it!?

Joe: They can't be stones. They look man-made.  That's pretty amazing.

My thoughts exactly. If I could marry a stone, it would be one of those handsome stones from the top photo. Just doesn't get any better than that!! Top stones are Noreena Jasper, the bottom stones are Utah Wonderstone.

Sneekle Peakle

I've been having fun creating creating creating but without any feedback, it's been a tough coupla days. I decided to show you a small sneak peak of what's to come later this week after the big sale is over. (big sale ends TUES evening!)

 Butterfly pendant: Jade Scott

Ceramic focal- Lisa Peters Art

Beaded beads: Marcie Abney

Lucite, glass, prehnite, ribbon

Ceramic focal: Lisa Peters Art

Lampwork glass discs: Ellen Dooley

Ceramic nuggets: Npk Beads

Pewter toggle: Green Girl Studios

Chain, glass rings, buttons

Poppy beads: Ellen Dooley

Lucite

Ceramic ladybug: Earthenwood Studio

Polymer toggle bar: Humblebeads

Copper findings, Glass beads

Ceramic connector: Lisa Peters Art

Ceramic lentil: Elaine Ray

Ceramic nuggets: Mary Ann Carroll

Bronzite, Banana Seed, chain

 Also: While I was blog hopping this morning I found a great post on taking photographs of  jewelry. Brandi is a blogger that I recently started following, and this post is super helpful so I thought I would pass that info on to you!! Especially since I follow a lot of the same techniques. ENJOY!  Read the article here.