Monday, March 3, 2014

This is my piece for the monthly challenge over at B'sue Boutique Creative Group. for your viewing enjoyment. :)

The challenge this month consists of taking this little tie here, or a bowtie, and make something funky with it.


I've gotten one of these in a muse box a long time ago, but had never really done anything to it. Well, late is better than ever, right ? I owned a bezel that I thought looked like a funky little flower, and a cab that fit right into it... One thing followed the other, and well...


This might have gone a bit out of hand << I do a lot of assenblage type work, but this was more involved than my usual, and honestly kind of fun ! The leaves and the tie itself were coated in ice enamels, the bezel was painted in lumiere paints. I thought the focal was involved enough that some plain ribbon would do the trick to finish :)

Sunday, March 2, 2014

Bead Soup Blog Party 8 :: Meet My Partner

Indeed, it is bead soup time again, and thanks to Lori's hard work, I now have my partner, who happens to be the very lovely Sandra McGriff of Creative Chaos. I've known Sandra for a few years now so getting to do this with her is an honor :) We have some different tastes and styles, so this is going to be a whole lot of fun ! Here is some of the jewelry she made for last year's bead soup.





And... gasp.... For the first year in the three years I've been doing this... I actually remembered to take a picture of my soup. GASP, I know. So, here we go...


;) More soon, darlings !

Saturday, March 1, 2014

Counting Stars

Lately I been, I been losing sleep
Dreaming about the things that we could be
But baby, I been, I been prayin' hard
Said no more counting dollars
We'll be counting stars
Yeah, we'll be counting stars

I often take things apart. Most of the times, I put them back together in the exact same way that I've first made them, just with better wire / jump rings (I've used some junky things when I started, as we all do, first mistakes and all that.) I don't usually post these since they are simply... well, structure work, so to speak.

Sometimes you make a piece that you love, a piece that you are rather proud of. But you realize, in time, that the piece is, well, a little flawed.

 

I do adore this piece, I really do, but there were many things wrong with it for many reasons. There was just too much... stuff. The focal was very heavy, the wrap around part kept coming up to choke me from the weight of the focal... So while i did adore this piece, I rarely did wear it.

So I decided to see how I could tweak and improve it. For one, my wire wrapping skillls have evolved a lot ever since I have made this piece, and a lot of things needed to do. By the time I had unwired everything that was on it, plus the bracelet I had made at the same time that I never wore for similar reasons, this was what I had.


o.o;;; I like my things big and loaded, but... yes. Overkill. This is what I wanted to accomplish -

1. Resolve the weight issue, most of all. Neck pains while wearing necklaces is bad juju.
2. Resolve the focal pulling up, while still allowing it to be seen

So, I got to work.... And this is what I came up with :

 

There's a lot less things wired up on there, for one. I used Iced Enamels on the star tag, I used less of the titanium quartz spikes but bigger ones, and I wire wrapped them up a little more elaborately. Instead of wiring everything up. I used spare bits of chain to create volume and movement. The bookchain was a chance stroke of genius, and I am rather pleased with it.

Monday, February 10, 2014

The Secret-Seeker

This is my first cuff, inspired by the lovely cuff that Cathy Trummer Buckley made in the B'Sue Creative group. :)



The Secret-Seeker, for Febuary's challenge - such as it can be a called a challenge for me << Someone should tell me NOT to use Vintaj patinas or Lumiere paints, now that would be a challenge ! 

All components are B'Sue's beside the key, the bead caps, and the mood beads. I actually made the focal part of this last year (see second picture) but couldn't really make up my mind on how to use it - it seemed cumbersome for a necklace focal, even by my standards. Seeing Cathy's owl on that cuff was kind of the AHA moment.

The actual owl started life as brass ox, I believe, which I painted first with the nouveau silver vintaj patina, then with a layer of glazed down black to tone down the bright shiny silver a bit and have it match the silverplated wings. The very first attempt at this owl had eyes in mixed beads resin, which... in retrospect, was not the best idea ! So I filed and cracked all the beads out and made him crystal clay eyes instead.

When I picked the focal up yesterday, I knew I wanted a different feel, so I went over it with pearl white lumière paint. I thought blueish would be best for the eyes so I repainted over the crystal clay. The cuff itself was, I believe, rusty black - I went over it with emerald green lumière paint, just one layer so that some peeks of the plating underneath still showed up, then sealed it. The filigree was painted purple similarly, but split in two so that the owl would not cover it completely and I could move and overlap the two halves as needed. The flowers are simply spectra beads inside bead caps, I do believe this is a B'Sue technique that is in one of the older videos. Punched an hole in the key, strung it up with chain, glued the bead in, glued the whole thing to the cuff, and VOILA ! You have a birthday gift for your friend ! Who will probably see this and know who she is ! Ah well, can't win them all. ;)

Saturday, February 8, 2014

I do live... somewhat

/feebly attempts to knocks off some dust from blog

Hi. Yes, I am still alive. I've been better, but I am still alive. A lot of things happened in the last... eight months, I do believe ? Needless to say, those things weren't jewelry. It feels like so much has changed since I was gone, but I am hoping to be able to start making more things (be it more jewelry, or other art endeavors) if only to distract myself a little. It would do me some good, I think.

The assistant definitively missed being an assistant, I think.

I do not have much to offer for this post, only just a bit of word to say that yes, I am alive, no, I am not completely alright, but hopefully things will change for the better soon. I need to remember that hopefully this, too, shall pass.

I actually made my first jewelry piece in those eight months a week or so ago. I believe I shared it on facebook, but I wanted everyone who follows my blog (hopefully there are still some of you lurking about) as well. It came out a lot nicer than I expected it to, given how long I have been out of the loop.


On another note, I will be entering the Bead Soup Blog Party again this year. I am hoping some new components will be able to kickstart my brain once again, and I am hoping to reconnect with others as well. Working on my soups has been a blast, and hopefully choosing which one to send won't be too complicated. The signups start at midnight and go for all day tomorrow - February 9. This will be the only day for signups, so make sure to drop by tomorrow if you are interested.

Saturday, August 24, 2013

Color Challenge Blog Hop - REVEAL !

The last two months have been... Well. Kind of heretic, as I scramble with balancing work while my dad is trying to find out what is wrong with him, so I've been quite a bit out of it.

Which is exactly why, when Lisa posted her reminder on Facebook, The first word that came to mind was 'well'.

The second word was 'SHIT !'

Needless to say, I had nothing done and about six hours to do something. For someone who is usually done a week in advance, this was a little terrifying. I also got red beads, and red is not a color I use often.

Well.

I think I managed to do justice to Shelley's adorable little owl.


I seem to be in a tassel mood lately...


Enjoy, and please visit everyone else, too !

Your Hostess: Lisa Lodge, A Grateful Artist

Chris Eisenberg, Wander Ware
Audrey Belanger, Dreams of an Absolution
Mary Govaars, MLH Jewelry Designs
Melissa Trudinger, Bead Recipes
Monique Urquhart, A Half-Baked Notion
Beti Horvath, Stringing Fool
Charlene Bausinger Jacka, Clay Space
Renetha Williams Stanziano, Lamplight Crafts
Leah Mifflin Tees, My Beady Little Eyes
Kathy Zeigler Lindemer, Bay Moon Design
Molly Alexander, Beautifully Broken Me
Alicia Marinache, All the Pretty Things
Laurie Vyselaar, Lefthand Jewelry
Eleanor Burian-Mohr, The Charmed Life
Julie Lockhart, Copar Aingeal
Dolores Rami, CraftyD's Creations
Elizabeth Bunn, Elizabeth Beads
Mowse Doyle, Mowse Made This
Veralynne Malone, Designed by Vera
Candida Elkins Castleberry, Spun Sugar Beadworks
Shaiha Williams, Shaiha's Ramblings
Christie Searle Murrow, Charis Designs Jewelry
Andrea Glick-Zenith, ZenithJade Creations

Saturday, July 20, 2013

Bead Hoarders Blog Hop - REVEAL !

Me ? A bead hoarding problem ? What would you be talking about ? *cough*

Yeah, yeah... This hop was meant for me. I hoard things, all sort of things. It was high time I finally hoarded them in a way other people could see them !

But I decided to go big or go home. I decided to use one of my most precious treasures. What is that treasure, you ask ?


Why, it would be this amazing lampwork bead by Jennifer Cameron ! This bead also has a bit of history, see... Last yeah, Jennifer held a sale / party over on her blog in which there was much chatting, many shinies, and a good time to be had by all. I brought two beads from said sale, so when this one came out my heart broke. I didn't have the money to snag this beauty ! So I counted my losses and moved on, certain that someone would snag this beauty.

Jenn said the beads who didn't sell in the blog party would end up on etsy... And what do I spy on etsy a few weeks later ? This very beauty, waiting for me. It was as if it was simply meant to be mine and that was that. I didn't let it slip away twice ! But I could never convince myself that I could make this lovely bead any justice. So I hoarded it, as a dragon hoards treasure.

What stuck me was how differently two artists can perceive something. This is what Jenn said in her etsy description...

Bridal Jewelry. That's how I picture this focal with the something blue (and sparkly). Or maybe just a beautiful, elegant, and sparkly focal bead for a special piece of jewelry for yourself just because you are special and deserve it.
 I saw water. Clear, pristine, beautiful water sparkling under the sun. Raindrops glimmering as they streak down a window.

With that in mind, I got to work.


I used blue dragon's vein agate, and a lot of opalite. Predictable ? Perhaps. But the opalite's glow work so well with the focal bead's sparkle. The bead caps were painted with a mix of lumiere paint then sealed. It gives them just that extra little something. The clasp is a pretty little heart and key that I felt counterbalanced the focal well.


The necklace itself was quite easy to so, but this part in particular was a pain in the ass ! I wanted the feel of rain, so I wrapped these tiny tiny little opalite rounds... Carefully cut the chain... Wire-wrapped briolettes ?! (Wat). This has been the bane of my existence since... Well, since I started making jewelry. I could never wire-wrap a briolette and not make it into a complete disaster. Im not even gonna get into how many of them I broke (too many). But I finished got to this end result. 

Well, I hope you've enjoyed this post ! Please give everyone else a visit, too !


1.  Lori Anderson, Pretty Things
2. Nancy Dale, NEDBeads
3. Roxanne Mendoza, Roxi Designs
4.  Melissa Trudinger, beadrecipes
5.  Rana Lea, Rana Lea Designs
6.  Perri Jackson, Shaktipaj Designs
7.  Rita Avila, Jewel School Friends
8.  Linda Anderson, From the Bead Board
9.  Sharon Palac, Sharon's Jewelry Garden
10.  Erin Guest, Renlish

11.  Joan Williams, lilruby jewelry
12. Diane Hawkey, Diane Hawkey
13.  Jo-Ann Woolverton, It's a Beadiful Creation
14.  Sue Kennedy, SueBeads
15.  Lisa Cone, Inspired Adornments
16.  Kari Asbury, Hippie Chick Design
17.  Nichole Byers, Nichole Byers
18.  Lori Jean Poppe, Adventures in Creativity
19.  Linda Landig, Linda's Bead Blog and Meanderings
20.  Lori Schneider, Bead Addict

21.  Molly Alexander, Beautifully Broken Me
22. Cece Cormier, The Beading Yogini
23.  Niki Sayers, Silver Nik Nats
24.  Elsie Deliz-Fonseca, Eliz-Eliz and All That Craft
25.  Amber Dawn, Inventive Soul
26.  Heather Powers, Humblebeads
27.  Sarah Goode, Pookledo
28.  Monique Urquhart, A Half-Baked Notion
29.  JJ Jacobs, Coming Abstractions
30.  Cheri Reed, Creative Designs by Cheri

31.  Robyn, Museiddity
32.  Catherine King, Catherine's Musings
33.  Jacquie, Bead Gypsy
34.  Janet McDonald, Singing Woods
35. Kay Thomerson, Kayz Kreations
36.  Tanty Sri Hartanti, TJewellicious by Tanti
37.  Hannah Rosner, Good River Valley
38.  Rochelle Brisson, A Creative Chelle
39.  Nelly May, Smelly Nelly
40.  Skylar Bre'z, Brising Beads

41.  Beti Horvath, Stringing Fool
42.  Christie Murrow, Charis Designs
43.  Leanne Loftus, First Impression Design
44.  Valerie Norton, Hot Art
45.  Judy Riggs, Rigglettes
46.  Crystal Thain, Here Bead Dragons
47.  Terry Carter,  Tapping Flamingo
48.  Sue, Mid-Life Great Expectations
49.  Nan Smith, Wired Nan
50.  Miranda Ackerley, MirandAck Arts

51.  Marie Covert, Creating Interest
52.  D'Arsie Manzella, This Here Now, Mamacita
53.  Stephanie Haussler, Pixybug Designs
54.  Lori Bergmann, Lori Bergmann Design
55.  Johanna Nunez, The Lovely One Design
56.  Mary Govaars, MLH Jewelry Designs
57.  Becky Pancake, Becky Pancake Bead Designs
58.  Alicia Marinache, All the Pretty Things
59.  Debbie Rasmussen, A Little of This, A Little of That
60.  Nat, Grubbi Ceramics

61.  Marjorie Savill Linthwaite, Bennu Bird Rising
62.  Cheryl McCloud, One Thing Leads to Another
63.  Heather Otto, The Crafthopper
64.  Candida Castleberry, Spun Sugar Beadworks
65.  Tracie Dean, Dean Designs
66.  JuLee Wolfe, The Polymer Penguin
67.  Ginger Bishop, Lil Mummy Likes
68.  Karen Mitchell, Over the Moon Design
69.  Jeannie Dukic, Jeannie's Blog
70.  Dini Bruinsma, Angaza by Changes

71.  Birgitta Lejonklou, Create With Spirit
72.  Shalini Austin, Jewellery by Shalini
73.  Jayne Capps, Mama's Got to Doodle
74.  Ile Ruzza, Ilenia's Unique Beaded Jewelry
75.  Jackie Marchant, Fiddledeedee Jewelry
76.  Annita Wilson, AW Jewelry 
77.  Sherri Stokey, Knot Just Macrame
78.  Hannah Trost, PZ Designs
79.  Linda Inhelder, Must Haves Jewelry
80.  Miri Agassi, Beadwork

81.  Hope Smitherman, Crafty Hope
82.  Dyanne Cantrell, Dee-Liteful Jewelry Creations
83.  Susan Bowie, Susan Nelson Bowie
84.  Megan Milliken, MaeMaeMills
85.  Menka Gupta, Menka's Jewelry
86.  Ambra Gostoli, Chic and Frog
87.  Lori Lochner, Bloghner
88.  Gerda Jurimae, Gerda's Crafts Blog
89.  Susan, Mistheword
90.  MaryLou Holvenstot, MaryLou's time2cre8

91.  Mary Shannon Hicks, falling into the sky
92.  Karin King, The Sparklie Things Blog
93.  Christa Murphy, Adventures of One Beady Woman
94.  Jenny Davie-Reazor, Jenny Davies-Reazor
95.  Donetta Farrington, Simply Gorgeous
96.  Mallory Hoffman, Rosebud 101 - For the Love of Beads
97.  Danielle Kelley, Imbue the Muse
98.  Kym Hunter, Kym Hunter Designs
99.  Dolores Rami, CraftyD's Creations
100.  Marcia Dunne, 13 Alternatives

101.  Marlene Cupo, Amazing Designs
102.  Emma Todd, A Polymer Penchant
103.  Wendy Holder, Jewelry by WendyLea
104.  Michelle Escano, The Cabby Crafter
105.  Louise Glazier, Lily and Jasmine Treasures
106.  Dana Hickey, Wind Dancer Studios
107.  Lennis Carter, windbent
108.  Anne Betenson, Crystal River Beads
109.  Audrey Belanger,  Dreams of an Absolution
110.  Lisa Stukel, Carefree Jewelry by Lisa

111.  Janine Lucas, Travel Stories
112.  Claire Lockwood, Something to Do With Your Hands
113.  Kathy Engstrom, Catherine's Dreams
114.  Paula Hisel, Simply Beadiful
115.  Karla Morgan, Texas Pepper Jams
116.  Mischelle Fanucchi, Micheladas Musings
117.  Kim, Cianci Blue
118.  Linda Sadler, Ida Louise Jewelry
119.  Karen, Spokalulu
120.  Jennifer LaVite, Dry Gulch Bead and Jewelry

121.  Andrea Glick-Zenith, ZenithJade Creations
122.  Karen Martinez, Fairies Market
123.  Robin Reed, Artistry HCBD
124.  Amy Bright, LABweorc
125.  Jasvanti Patel, Jewels by Jasvanti
126.  Tammie Everly, TTE Designs
127.  Karin Slaton, Backstory Beads
128.  Natalie Moten, Running Out of Thread
129.  Sharyl McMillian-Nelson, Sharyl's Jewelry & Reflections
130.  Jenny Kyrlach, Wonder and Whimsy

131.  LiliKrist, Handmade by LilK
132.  Jessica Klaaren, The Truth Space
133.  Cynthia Abner, Created Treasures
134.  Beth Emery, Stories by Indigo Heart
135.  Heather Davis, Blissful Garden Beads
136.  Jeanne, Gems by Jeanne Marie
137.  Sandi Volpe, Sandi Volpe
138.  Laren Dee Barton, Laren Dee Designs
139.  Steph, Confessions of a Bead Hoarder
140.  Carolyn Lawson, Carolyn's Creations

141.  B. R. Kuhlman, Mixed Mayhem
142.  Patty Miller, Cabari Beads
143.  Elizabeth Bunn, Elizabeth Beads
144.  Marianna Boylan, Pretty Shiny Things
145.  Lizzie Clarke, The Need to Bead
146.  Christina Miles, Wings 'n' Scales
147.  Patricia, The Color of Dreams
148.  Marde Lowe, Fancimar
149.  Ev Shelby, Raindrop Creations
150.  Sarah Small, By Salla

151.  Perri Jackson, Shaktipaj Designs
152.  Laurie Vyselaar, Lefthand Jewelry
153.  Pam Traub, Klassy Joolz
154.  Lisa Harrison, Daisy Meadow Studio
155.  Anzia Parks, Anzi-Panzi's Work Shoppe
156.  Ingrid, Lilisgems Handcrafted Jewelry Inspirations
157.  Andra Weber, Andra's Joyful Journey
158.  Kelly Hosford Patterson, The Traveling Side Show
159.  Adlinah Kamsir, Dreamstruck Designs
160.  Marci, That Nothing Be Wasted

161.  Kris Lanae Binsfield,  Cherish Designs
162.  Stephanie Perry, Mustard Bead
163.  Birgit Klughardt, Gites Beads
164.  Inge von Roos, Inge's Blog
165.  Rebecca Sirevaag, Becca's Place
166.  Sandy Markley, Gypsy Spirit Designs
167.  Elena Adams, Lena's Beady Blog