Earrings, earrings and more earrings!

While at BeadFest, I bought a lot of great artisan made beads--especially clay beads! Since I've gotten back, the only thing I've felt compelled to make have been earrings...but who can blame me when I have such pretty beads to work with? Here are snapshots of my most recent creations, all of which are available in my Etsy shop!

Blue Butterfly Wing

Blue Bell

Daisy

Purple Cogs

Thanks for looking!

Bead of Courage Bead Challenge

I am taking part in the Beads of Courage Bead Challenge, this Saturday, Sept. 15, 2012. I will be melting glass at Expressive Glass studio outside of Buffalo, NY.

Children who participate in the Beads of Courage program are undergoing treatment for various cancers and other chronic illnesses. When they show courage during their treatment, they are allowed to select an artist-made bead to add to their strand, so they have a visible, meaningful reminder of their own strength. You can read the specifics about Beads of Courage on their website.

I figured a lot of bead lovers, and some bead makers check out my blog...so I would love to spread the word about Beads of Courage by encouraging you to check out their mission and the many ways you can help this great organization! Even though this one is a "glass" event, Beads of Courage accepts donations of other beads, as long as they are safe for use by the children they serve. So if you work in clay or glass, or have some extra beads of those type that are looking for a new home, consider donating them to Beads of Courage!

Enameling Fun!

I wanted to post the results of my second class taken at Bead Fest, and enameling class with Gail Crosman Moore.

I have to say that Gail was a phenomenal teacher--her enthusiasm is infectious! She made me feel like I could actually have fun and experiment, rather than being worried if I was going to be able to make anything worth bragging about!

I have never played with enamels before, even with my lampwork. I own a small bottle of Orchid from Thomson Enamels, which I have never opened. So I was really walking in with no experience, but we were going to be able to play with a torch, and that is right up my alley!

Like any new technique, there was a learning curve...I figured out pretty quick that some of the components wouldn't work as good as the others...and I realized I needed to be more generous with my heat. You can see some of the pieces that didn't turn out so well below.

It's a learning curve, right?

Now a few, I really loved. While they aren't at the point where I would use them in a piece of jewelry I plan on selling, I can see the definite improvement from the first few pieces I wrestled with.

Now, for the ugly. I mean, really ugly.

Non-intentional fiber art?

That, my friends, is what you get when you drop a hot brass component on a piece of carpeting. Or maybe it's a new type of component: the polyester-glazed bead. What the above was supposed to look like was more like this:

That's a little bit prettier. And a lot less furry.

Pay It Forward Handmade

A number of Handmade artists are participating in a handmade Pay It Forward event. In it, we promise to gift three pieces to three lucky commenters...and in exchange, they must pay it forward by doing the same on their own blogs!

I am joining by way of Terra Beadworks. Please check out her lovely beadwork and jewelry!

Here are the rules if you would like to join my Pay It Forward:

I will send a surprise gift to the first three people to comment on this post. The gift will be a handmade surprise by me and I will send it to you sometime in the next 365 days. All you need to do is the following: 

1) Leave me a comment and include your email address (if your profile doesn’t link back) so I can get in touch with you about your mailing address and some other information about yourself. I want to make sure I send you something you will like and cherish!

2) To complete signing up, you MUST blog a similar post and pledge to make a surprise for the first 3 people who comment on it. I would appreciate you posting within the next three days, so I know for certain who I will be creating for!

Bead Soup Blog Hop Giveaway!

I can't believe it's September 1st! I assigned numbers to those that commented on my Bead Soup Blog Hop Reveal post, and then used the random number generator at random.org to choose the lucky winners!

The earrings go to Jo of Jojo Beads!

Our new home will be across the pond!

And the bracelet goes to Terri of Blooming Ideas!

 

If the winners could please email me (address is in my profile), and let me know their mailing address, I will send these pieces on to their new homes! Thank you to everyone who took the time to comment and look at my work!

Bead Enemy No. 1

Last night, I was working on the computer when I heard caterwauling...which is not unusual, because whenever my cat, Gordon, re-kills the fake mouse I bought for him, he lets *everyone* know about it. Then I heard thumping...again not too unusual, but my cat's 15, has thyroid cancer, and has made me believe he is within an inch of death on numerous occasions (can you say drama king?).

Then I heard tumbling down the stairs. So either he got so excited by killing a fake mouse that he took a tumble while celebrating, or something else was going on.

Something else was going on.

I go up the first flight of stairs and spied his treasure...one of my brand new artisan-made polymer clay beads! The nerve of him! By then, he was no where to be found, so I hiked up the second flight to my work area...where I found the little imp coveting a stash of beads he had spilled off my bead table...all over the carpet. As I picked up *my* beads, he had to nerve to start screaming at me...no bead is safe.

I wish I had thought to grab my camera when he was in the midst of his bead-induced frenzy...he was like a furry little Gollum...my precioussssss....

So I found a picture that most suits his criminal nature. This is Bead Enemy No.1!

oooh, my precioussssss

Bead Soup Blog Hop Reveal!!

The day is finally here for my reveal in the Bead Soup Blog Hop, hosted by the lovely Lori Anderson! The rules were we had to use the clasp and focal sent to us, though not necessarily in the same piece. We had the option of using the coordinating beads.

 I was matched up with fellow designer, Menka Gupta, from sunny California! As a reminder, here is what Menka sent to me:

Faceted agate & some faceted gemstones

Dyed agate focal and silver & copper clasp

Silver links and bicones

I love green, but I find that I don't work with it very as a main color, so I was thrilled to see Menka sent me a "green" soup! I wanted to use the blog hop as a way to help stretch my skills, and part of that is being forced to break out of the colors you are most comfortable using!

Ironically, the first piece I made, was not "green" but pink! I fell in love with the silver links, and was holding them in my hands when I imagined they would make a good frame for a dangle. I had just picked up some pink acrylic beads that were the juiciest color of pink.
 

Next, I found myself looking at the larger faceted agate beads, and envisioned them on simple copper wire-wrapped links.

However, I wanted a little more color, so I added some green seed beads to the silver jump rings that connect the links. It's subtle, but enough to make the bracelet a bit more interesting. In this piece, I used the silver and copper clasp. The drape of this bracelet on your wrist is so elegant!

 

 
I struggled a bit with the focal...because of my own limitations in skill. I had tons of ideas, and wished that I could magically do beadweaving, or some funky stitches...I then had a design pop into my head as I was falling asleep last week! I tried wrapping the focal to some gunmetal chain, with more seed beads and some of the small faceted gemstones as well. It looked beautiful in my head...but not so pretty in person. So I pulled it all apart, using a few choice words.

I then went back to what I know and strung some seed beads on two different lengths of wire...I wanted an unique drape to showcase the focal. I was going to add a third strand, but when I held it up to my neck to test it, just two strands looked a lot more striking and allowed the focal to be the, well, focal.

I apologize that the photo isn't as good as the other two pieces--I pulled out my necklace display, and I must have dragged it along something, because it looks like someone took an axe to it! (Note to self: buy new display). So I had to hold the necklace up, so it would drape properly, with one hand, while I took the photo with the other. And while it drapes perfectly while on, I didn't want to make you all have to stare at an up close shot of my neck ;) I finished the necklace with the gunmetal chain I had cursed at earlier, and it just goes over your head--no clasp.

To thank everyone who visits, I am hosting a giveaway of the earrings and the bracelet (two separate giveaways). I am going to hold onto the necklace, because, in my heart, I have a feeling I am going to still work a bit more with it! To enter, just leave a comment waaaay down at the bottom of this post, and make sure you say if you prefer one over the other. I will assign everyone a number, and then use a random number generator to pick the winner on September 1st!

 Now, please visit the rest of the 3rd reveal participants to see some lovely creations!

Hostess, Lori Anderson, Pretty Things

Agi Kiss, Moonsafari Beads 
Alice Peterson, Alice Dreaming

Alison Sachs, Beads by Earthtones

Amanda Dittloff, Passion Smashin'

Andra Marasteanu, Bijoux de Monanage

Angie Szlovak, SweetBeads

Anitra Gordy, Leelu Creations

Ann Sherwood, Ann's Blog

Arlene Dean, A Glass Bash

Audrey Belanger, Dreams of an Absolution

Barb Solem, Vivi Magoo Presents

Barbara Blaszczyk, laboratorim Flory

Becky Pancake, Becky Pancake Bead Designs

Bianca Odenthal, Zydies Glasperlen

Birgit Klughardt, GitesBeads
Bobbie Rafferty, Beadsong Jewelry
Bonnie Coursolle,  Jasper Gems
Cece Cormier, The Beading Yogini
Charlene Jacka, Clay Space
Cherrie Fick, EnLa Lumie're
Cheryl Foiles, Get Your Bead On
Christie Murrow, Charis Designs Jewelry

Christina Miles, Wings n Scales
Christina Stofmeel, Feng Beads
Christine Stonefield, Sweet Girl Design
Cindy Cima Edwards, Live to Design
CJ Bauschka, 4 His Glory Creations
Claire Smith, Embergrass Jewelry
Cynthia Riggs, Cynth's Blog
Dana Fowler, Trunk Full of Treasure
Dawn Pierro, Turtle Moon Designs
Dee Elgie, Cherry Obsidia
Donetta Farrington, Simply Gorgeous


Dot Lewallwn, Speedie Beadie
Elizabeth Bunn, Elizabeth Beads
Eva Kovacs, Ewa gyongyos vilaga!
Evelyn Duberry, Sheba Makeda
Fay Wolfenden, Torch Fairy
Fen Li, Bead Flora Jewels
Gail Zwang, Angel Moose Enterprises
Geneva Collins, Torque Story
Grace Dorsey, Fan of the Flame
Gretchen Nation,  Art Food Lodging

Hannah Annear, Squintessential
Hajer Waheed, My Beaded World
Heather Goldsmith, As I Bead It
Heather Otto, The Craft Hopper
Heidi Kingman, My Bead Therapy
Hope Smitherman, Crafty Hope
Isolina Perez, Isolina Perez
Jacqueline Keller, CreARTelier
Jane Haag, Did You Make Something Today?
Janeen Sorensen, Wild Vanilla Designs
Jean Peter, Jean P. Designs


Jennifer Judd, Jen Judd Rocks
Jennifer L Justman, Soul's Fire Designs
Joanna Matuszczyk, Bizuteria z filcu
Joanne Brown, Jo's Jewels
Joanne Lockwood, Jo Bunkum
Joyce Becker, Joyce's Joyful Gems
Judy Riley, Three Red Beads
Karen Mitchell, Over the Moon Design
Karen Williams, Baublicious
Karin von Hoeren, Creative Ideen

Karla Morgan, Texas Pepper Jams
Kashmira Patel, Sadafule .. always in bloom!
Kate Richbourg, We Can Make That at Home

Katrin Lembke, AllesPerle
Kathy Combs, Torched in Texas
Kathy Lindemer, Bay Moon Design
Kay Thomerson, Kayz Kreationz
Kelley Fogle, My Life, One Bead at at Time
Kelly Hosford Patterson, Traveling Side Show

Klaudette Koon, Only Road
Lara Lutrick, Lampwork Beads by Lara
Laura Guenther, Blue Antiquities

Laurie Lalonde, Simply Mod Jewelry
Lilik Kristiani, Soul of My Embodiment
Linda Younkman, Lindy's Designs
Lisa Chapman, Beach Cat Beads
Lisa Lodge, Pine Ridge Treasures
Loretta Carstensen, Designs by Loretta
Lori Bergmann, Lori Bergmann Design
Lori Dorrington, Lori's Adventures in Etsy Land
Lupe Meter, Gem's PC Corner
Lynn Davis, LLYYNN

Malin de Koning, Beading by Malin
Mandi Effron, Craft-o-licious
Mandy Williamson, Mimi's Beading
Margot Potter, The Impatient Crafter
Maria Rosa Sharrow, Willow Street Shops
Marianne Baxter, Simply Seablime Jewelry
Marina Dobrynina, Savon Feutre
Marjolein Trewavas, Room for Change
Marelene Cupo, Amazing Designs
Marsha Neal, Marsha Neal Studio

Marta Kaczerowska, uhuhu
Mary Govaars, MLH Jewelry Designs
Melissa Trudinger, Bead Recipes
This is my partner! ---> Menka Gupta, Menka's Jewelry Blog
Michelle Burnett, Reverie and Revival
Michelle Escano-Caballero, The Cabby Crafter
Miko Wiropati, Uniquely Yunikua
Milla Hope,  LB Creative Arts and Crafts
Mimi Gardner, Other Curiosities
Miranda Ackerley, MirandackArts
Natalie McKenna, grubbi

Noemi Baena, fuego, metal, y color
Pam Ferrari, Ferrari Originals
Pam Sears, Crazy Creative Corner
Penny Neville, Copper Penny
Rachel Baron, R. Baron Designs
Rachel Myers, Rockabead Jewelry
Rana Wilson, Definitive Designs by R. Wilson
Rebecca Anderson, Song Beads
Rebecca Sirevaag, Becca's Place
Riki Schumacher, Riki Jewelry

Rose Binoya, Ahtee's Blog
Rossana De Gaspari, Rdegas Blog
Sally Anderson, Wild Sally Road
Sandi James, Do Be Do Bead Do
Sandi Volpe, Sandi Volpe
Sandra Wollberg, City of Brass Stories
Sarah Goode, Pookledo

Sarah Small, blog by salla
Shai Williams, Shaiha's Ramblings
Shawn Mills, Shawn Marie Designs with Bent Wire
Sheila Davis, Stone Designs by Sheila

Sheryl Stephens, Babble Bead
Shiraz Biggie, Secret Song Designs
Solange Collin,  Ahowin Handcrafted Jewelry
Sonya Stille, Dreamin' of Beads
Stephanie Dixon, The Dixon Chick
Susan Kennedy, Sue Beads
Susan Sheehan, Strands of Thought
Suzann Sladcik Wilson, Beadphoria
Sweet Freedom, Sweet Freedom Designs
Tabatha Dinger, Modernly Created
Tania Hagen, Pelima Jewellery Design

Tanya Boden, Fusion Muse
Terri Gauthier, Blooming Ideas
Terry Carter, Tapping Flamingo
Tracy Stillman, Tracy Stillman Designs