This bracelet, along with a few other goodies will land in a shop later this afternoon. I finally was able to get back into the studio to make a few things. It took me awhile to get warmed up.
Not much news today, I am afraid. It's been super crazy busy at work. Gotta run.
Whew!
What a whirlwind weekend! I am sorry I am just coming back to the blog today. I had to take a bit of a rest. As you may know, I went down to Raleigh NC this past Friday to teach Designing without Limits at Ornamentea. What a fun time! Seriously- it was a total blast.
I loved my students. They were the BEST students I've ever taught!! ;) And they showered me with the nicest compliments, even though my chest turned bright red and my cousin was wondering where the EpiPen was!
A big Thank you to everyone that attended, and to Cynthia for hosting the class at her super awesome shop.
Once I figure out how to edit movies in iMovie, I will be able to post some video from the class. Gonna have to read some instructions though. It's not as easy as it may look.
I had a nice time staying with my cousin and her family. They are wonderful hosts and made me feel at home. We ate A LOT of great food, and had MANY good laughs- one thing I love most about her!
Enjoy this little slide show of pics- Included are photos of the class, photos of me with students, and photos of the beads I brought home.
I am psyched. Today is my Friday because tomorrow I hop on a plane to Raleigh to teach my class tomorrow night. I am psyched for that too. I have an outline, and a HANDOUT! I made my own hand out with some great websites and some diagrams I created. Feeling pretty good about my class.
I am excited to see Carey (my super awesome cousin) and her family. I can't wait to see Elaine Ray and Cynthia Deis again. To be surrounded with people that share my passion for making jewelry. It's gonna be good times. I will try to document all I can with the Flip. Elaine is having a trunk show at Ornamentea this weekend too. Excited for that, there is so much she brings that isn't on the Ornamentea's website so I am looking forward to getting stuff that no one has used before.
I am psyched because last night I finally got back my jewelry from Stringing magazine. These are a few necklaces that I didn't show anyone before I sent them in to the publication.
This first one wasn't picked for the Spring issue. I've listed it on Etsy. It's one of my favorites, and incorporates some of my favorite bead artisans ever. Erin made the clasp. Nan made the pendant. Anne made those dripping honey lampwork beads. Heather made that long tube focal. And Shannon patinaed that metal flower that I turned into the clasp.
This next one is another favorite. Matte blue farfalle beads.... a Jade Scott umbrella pendant- can't beat that for Spring!! and some "raindrops" or resined paddles from Mary Jane Dodd. LOVE those. Must get more. Pulled it all together with my favorite Green Girl Studios Bird toggle. This one is on it's way to a lucky girl in Kentucky.
And this hand-knotted necklace with a wonderful transparent Lampwork hollow form Genea Beads. Please be aware that Stringing mis-credited this piece as being from Galena beads. Genea created fantastic lampwork. I paired her hollow with some turquoise rounds, picasso Czech glass, a metal flower bead, and a Green Girl Shibuichi Flower hook clasp. Also listed atetsy.
I just love being part of this design team because Melanie always sends such a variety of goodies. This month she sent the team one of her new resined keys from her new shop, EarthenOxide
It is so pretty in person, the resin has a shimmering blue glow- the image is of a tree, and there is a small leaf resined in on the shaft of the key.
I knew right away that I wanted to do something really feminine- the color is gorgeous. So, luckily I had just ordered and received a few of these large Swarovski crystal rounds from Fusion Beads. and I found some faceted opal pink rondelles that Andrew Thornton sent me long ago, along with a SUPER COOL Mokume Gane round from Pam Wynn, Heather Wynn Millican's Momma.
Dug out some chain and a Arte Metal butterfly from Vintaj Brass. The clasp, just above the Pam Wynn round, is a Tierra Cast button and I created a button toggle by beading a silver seed beaded loop.
It all came to gether quite fast, and I love the outcome. It's funky, asymmetrical and modernly feminine.
Be sure to Follow the other members of the Design Team:
What a crazy Monday. Good news from the weekend was- I finished all of my things for my book and publication deadlines. You weren't worried, but I WAS!
What a huge relief!
Next up on my plate, in 2 weeks I am going to Raleigh to teach a beading class at Ornamentea. Yup. I'm teaching my very first class. And am SCARED to Death! My strongest reaction to this is, what on earth could I teach someone else. I usually feel like I'm still learning too.
So a lesson plan (being that I am married to a teacher) is on my agenda this week. I hope it's not too hard to compile some thoughts on paper. A plan will be good, or there may be some really ticked off students who want their money back. I'm just not willing to let that happen. So I shall teach something. Even if it's really basic.
You can read more about the class here. And if you are in the Raleigh area, maybe I'll see ya there?!
Another exciting thing happening is, I am getting my own office at work! They painted the walls today- I picked out a pretty pale green. Tomorrow they will shampoo the rug and then rearrange the office furniture and I'll be able to move in after the computer stuff gets hooked up. Looking forward to having my own space. We have been going through a bit of a transformation at work these days. So a positive change like this can bring nothing but good vibes! I would like to get some prints from Etsy to hang on my walls. If you have any great artists in mind, shoot me a comment. 2 of my favorites that I most definitely will have to obtain some new things from art Cori Dantini and Swallowfield. And I've already asked my Momma if she will make me a cute Pennants garland to hang on one wall. I just have to buy some fabric.
anyhoo, enough of me blabbing.
I finally got around to listing some new pieces in my Etsy shop this evening. I hope you enjoy them.
I can't stop fondling the bee earrings, and the Keyhole bracelet has the pretty pop of yellow that makes my heart sing, out of tune of course.... :)
I am playing around with tin today, making some new Harbinger earrings in a few new styles. Let me know what you think of these. I think they are kinda fun, and different.
It can come in the form jetting off to do some antiquing with the Mister, and then immensely enjoying a lunch of patty melt and hand cut french fries, and a Coke, surrounded by Coca-Cola memorabilia. Sorry no pics. But I did crack myself up when I asked the waitress for a Pepsi.
It can come in the form of sitting at my dining room table sorting out the best buttons from the 2 jars I bought from the sweet little man at one of my favorite antique shops.
It can come in the form of a shop called Swank that I fell in love with in Hamilton NY, where the decor, and items made me squeal in delight- also heard were the whines and cries to the Mister, to please please please buy me that sweet little bird in cage shaped lamp for my studio.
It can also come in the form of a pit-stop into White's Pottery shop where I fell in love with the prettiest blue and cream glazed soup bowls- which in turn - instigated research and then a grocery store run to buy all the ingredients needed for homemade French Onion Soup.
It can also come in the form of a Lemon Tart, which I have been dreaming about since I saw Paula Deen whip one up on Best Dishes.
Okay.
Enough is enough.
Must get back to work- I have 10 more instructions to type up for Jewelry Accord, plus 3 more sets of instructions for another publication deadline. THEN, I can eat soup, enjoy lemon tart, and make lots of jewelry using buttons.
I have a crush on Dave Matthews. This necklace has a bit of "rock and roll", and a bit of "love song".
Here's one of my favorites... (sorry for the short ad before the video starts.)
Unpack your bags
Something small
Take what you need and we disappear
Without a trace we be gone, gone
The moon and the stars follow the car
And then when we get to the ocean
Gonna take a boat to the end of the world
All the way to the end of the world
Oh, And when the kids are old enough
Were gonna teach them to fly
You and me together, could do anything baby
You and me together yes yes
You and me toether, could do anything baby
You and me together, yes yes
You and I are
Were not tied to the ground
Not falling but rising like rolling around
Eyes closed above the rooftops
Eyes closed we gonna spin through the stars
Our arms wide as the sky
Were gonna ride blue all the way to the end of the world
To the end of the world
Oh and when the kids are old enough were gonna teach them to fly
You and me together, could do anything baby
You and me together yes yes
You and me together, could do anything baby
You and me together, yes yes
We can always look back at what we did
Only memory of you and me baby
Right now its you and me forever girl
And you know we could do better than anything that we did
You know that you and me we could do anything
You and me together, could do anything baby
You and me together yeah yeah
The two of us together, we could do anything baby
You and me together, yeah yeah
The two of us together, yeah yeah
The two of us together, we could do anything baby
The sun is falling till it leaves the end of the world
Wanted to introduce you to an Etsy artist I discovered this past week. Anna Lea Duhame creates unique and whimsical ceramic treasures for her Etsy store, ALD Designs. I fell head over heels for the Owl and Hedgehog and put them to use this morning!
Love how the owl has almost a carved wood appearance with the matte glaze finish she used.
Anna creates watercolors, ceramic figures and other crafty things, be sure to check out her shop!
Erin and I thought it would be exciting to share the news that we recently received word that our editor for our upcoming Jewelry Accord book, is Michelle Mach!
Read an engaging interview with Michelle and see some of her designs that feature ribbon and cording...
It is so pretty, I could almost take this ring of Sage and dried flowers, throw it on my wrist and call it a day. I was immediately inspired by this image and sat down last night to put my idea to work. Triple stranded bracelet with sticks of green Kyanite form the bracelet. I give a lot of those patient people credit, like Andrew Thornton- who probably would have wire wrapped each little stick on a headpin - attached them to chain like charms- and that would have been a bit more of the look of the original photo.
But you all know me by now- and wire wrapping 300 kyanite sticks just isn't my style. So I just strung them on wire with little metallic gray seed beads in between each. THREE STRANDS! It probably wouldn't have taken me all night like it did, if I didn't get one strand beaded and then something happened, the end of the wire flicked and I had kyanite sticks everywhere including one or two down by brasiere. no joke.
The focal bead on the bracelet is a hand-painted Kazuri bead in the most perfect colors that match the photo. I just wire wrapped it and added the brass lobster clasp. I thought about a ribbon embellishment but it kind of took a more modern piece and turned it into a "i'm trying really too hard to make this matchy-matchy" bracelet. Of course, matching earrings were created- the purple lampwork beads are from Kelly.
This set is listed at big cartel. Thanks for stopping in!
Congratulations Jenni! Please send me your mailing address and I will ship your necklace asap!
Thank you everyone for wonderful comments regarding your favorite things about Lori Anderson's Bead Soup Party! I enjoy it very much too, for every one of the reasons you posted!
It's a great way to try something new, have a theme and focus to get out of a beading rut, and to meet so many wonderful bloggers in this ever-growing online community!
Keep an eye on Lori's blog to find out about the next Bead Soup this August!
Apparently I have this instilled knowledge of macrame knotting in the back of my brain and it came out in the studio last night with this owl bracelet. I received this owl connector from Nan of Spirited Earth in the mail yesterday and for some reason this knotted wood bracelet was all I could think of for it. What's funny is, I really have no idea where I learned how to do this- I must have learned the knotting from a friend or something. At any rate, this thin waxed cotton cording works perfectly for this type of piece. I added another of Nan's larger beads at one side for a bit of whimsical asymmetricality. That's my word- feel free to use it ;)
The charm is a sweet antiqued silver heart charm from Objects & Elements. Speaking of which, I ordered and received Jen Cushman's new book Explore, Create, Resinate- Mixed Media Techniques using ICE Resin. It also arrived yesterday and I flipped through it and already learned a few important things! DOH!! Next time, Note to Self: read book BEFORE diving into new jewelry technique!
A Bead A Day
Expressing her love for daisies, Lisa uses scrapbooking embellishments to make a quick and cheerful bracelet! About.com Jewelry Making Winter white can mean bitter cold or a beautiful double strand pearl and matte glass bracelet. Art Bead Scene Art Bead Scene gets your creative juices flowing with a treasury inspired by the monthly challenge painting. Beading Arts Cyndi is wrapping up a month-long emphasis on education for jewelry and bead artists. Beading & Books Do you use buttons in your jewelry? Michelle is hosting a Button Swap. Sign up to get a partner, trade buttons, and create something! Cindy Gimbrone aka Lampwork Diva Do you use any sewing techniques in your jewelry? Come see what Cindy's sewn up! Earthenwood Studio Chronicles A fun find at an antique store uncovers new inspiration with some women's medicinal history and a crazy folk song Lorelei's Blog: Inside the Studio After a very busy couple of weeks, Lorelei finally has time to share some pictures from a recent trip to Spain! Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done! Come and see what the amazing Kim Miles has been up to as Winter turns to Spring--You will love it! The Bead Dreamer Inspired by the poet Rumi and a gorgeous pendant from Green Girl Studios, Charlene creates a necklace using beads, fiber, a button - and of course - the pendant. The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton
Want to win some FREE ImpressArt metal stamps from PJ Tool & Supply? Andrew hosts another Thursday Giveaway with a prize valued over $70!
