The Jewelry Swap -- Update

It's been a busy couple of weeks.  I had my orientation week at school last week, and let me tell you, we had some long days.  I know it's just a taste of what I'm in for this semester, but the days were long.  I finally have some time and wanted to update everyone on the awesome necklace (and bonus earrings -- Thanks Amy!  You rock!) Amy at Spyder Jewels sent me for the jewelry swap. 

In response to the questions I sent, I told her that I'm pretty casual and that I would like a lariat style necklace.  Well, she delivered!  This talented lady created a beautiful necklace and matching earrings for me.

Aren't they gorgeous?!?!?  I can picture them with everything from a pair of jeans and a white T-shirt to a little black dress.  I just love everything about the set.  The colors are perfect.  The style is great... casual, but elegant.  The length is great.  I am just so excited to add the set to my jewelry collection.  It is definitely going to get plenty of wear!

I can't provide too many details about the necklace I created for Davinia until she receives it (it takes a little while to make it around the world).  However, I can share my inspiration for the piece.  Shortly after receiving her answers to my questions, I saw an amazing photo on Beverly Ash Gilbert's blog.  As soon as I saw the photo, I felt compelled to create Davinia's necklace using the colors and style of the picture as my inspiration.  I hope she likes it, and I can't wait to share her answers to my questions and how I converted those answers into a piece of jewelry that I hope she loves!

Here's the inspiration photo from Beverly Ash Gilbert's blog: 

I'll provide more details later... and check back Tuesday for an all new New Tip Tuesday post. If you have trouble with color combinations, I think you'll like this post.

Happy Beading!

Kell

Beachy Keen

My big project this weekend was a beach-themed necklace using some of the sea glass I collected while visiting my family in Maine.  I began by selecting the piece of seaglass I wanted to use from my stash.  I just loved the triangular shape of this piece of sea glass.   

After selecting the piece of sea glass and shells I wanted to include, I had to figure out how to include the seaglass in the necklace.  Since I found the sea glass myself, it didn't have a hole in it and I didn't want to try drilling it myself (I'd rather practice on unimportant pieces of glass before I work on something I'd hate to see break).  I started by trying to create a bezel for the glass, but I ended up making the bezel too small and it looked too heavy.  I really wanted something light and beachy.  I came up with this free-form-weaving net.  I thought it went with the whole beachy theme... like the glass is caught in a fishing net. 

My next challenge was figuring out how to incorporate the shells and really create the feeling of the ocean.  I selected my colors first.  I wanted to work from the dark blue of the deep ocean to the aquas and greens of shallow water and the reef.  I created mixtures of each color and faded them together.  Finally, I sprinkled some shells

throughout the mixture.  I then used a freeform beading technique to create a really substantial necklace to balance the size of the pendant.  I wasn't sure how the necklace would turn out, but in the end, it is my favorite piece I have created to date.  I think it really invokes a feeling of the beach.  It's really organic with all shapes and sizes of beads.  I accomplished what I wanted to even though I didn't know exactly where I was going when I started.  Everything came from the one piece of glass I found.

Happy Beading! 

Kell

Who's Up For a Jewelry Swap?

In April, I posted about a jewelry swap I did with my friend Dawn of Designs By Dawn Marie.  Well, I thought it might be fun to plan a bigger jewelry swap with more people.  Here's what I'm thinking...

I'll take names for the jewelry swap for one week.  If you're interested in participating, leave a comment on this post and I'll include you.  Feel free to send the information to any other jewelry artists you think might be interested.  All they need to do to be included is comment on this post.  You can also blog about this or provide information about it via other social media outlets if you think others would like to hear about it.  The more people who are involved, the better this event will be!

After taking names for a week, each person will be assigned one other person (you will not be paired up, so the person you are creating for will be different than the person who is creating for you).  You should send a series of questions to the person you are assigned (you can ask questions about jewelry -- what color do you like, what style do you like, etc... or you can ask questions to learn about your person's personality -- what do you like to do, what's your favorite book, etc...).  Based on the answers to your questions, you should design a custom piece for the person.  I think it will be really interesting to find out how others see us and what kind of jewelry they create based on questions they ask.

Each designer will have two weeks to create the custom piece and send it to the person he/she is assigned.  To make sure everyone receives an "equal" piece, we should set some limits for how much to spend in materials.  If you're interested in participating, please let me know how much you think is a good amount to spend/invest.

Have fun with this!  Be creative, and try to come up with something new and great for the swap.  Hopefully we'll all leave this event with a few new friends in the business and a whole lot of inspiration.

Under The Sea Bracelet

In my June Post, Pretty Pretty Beads, I gave you a sneak peek at some of the charms and glass beads I received from Artbeads.com.  I left you with the promise that I would show you what I created with the gorgeous beads.  Well, since some of the beads are charms, I knew I was going to make a charm bracelet of some sort... but, I didn't want to make a traditional bracelet with charms hanging from chain.  I wanted to make something really cool and funky. 

Since the charms were sea-themed, I decided to combine them with the amazing glass beads that shimmer and change color just like the ocean.  I created cages for the glass beads and used wire wrapping to suspend them in their cages.  Then, I alternated charms with the glass beads, also attached using wire wrapping.  This charm bracelet came out how I imagined it.  It was inspired by some of my SCUBA diving trips, and everything from the colors to the charms remind me of my trips!

I'm pretty happy with the way the bracelet turned out.  Next time, I will try using a smaller gauge wire so the structure of the bracelet is sturdier.  I'll also make the bracelet slightly shorter since it's a little big for my wrist.  Other than that, it came out the way I imagined it.  I hope you guys enjoy it as much as I enjoyed making it!

FTC Disclosure: The items in this post were provided to me free of charge from Artbeads.com for review or design purposes as part of the Bead Blogger program. I am providing an honest review of the products for which I am receiving no compensation.

Thank you Mr. Postman!!!

I love getting mail... I mean I really, really love getting mail.  It's even better when the mail I receive is large amounts of beads!  Well, this week I received a couple of shipments of beads... I just haven't had time to photograph them and post the pictures.  Enjoy the pictures of my bead loot!

These first two beads are focals I purchased.  I have a project in mind for the red one (I've already started the woven beaded rope for the glass focal and will post pictures when it is finished).  I don't have anything specific in mind for the fish, but I just couldn't help myself when I saw it.  It represents the summer and SCUBA diving to me... both of which I love.  I can't wait for the perfect project to use it in.

These mother of pearl beads are just so cute.  I love the yellow flowers -- they are just sunny and happy.  I plan to make some earrings with them and maybe some charm type bracelets.  The purple triangles are just a cool shape.  I'm not sure what I'll do with them, but I know it will be really cool when I figure it out.  The brown rectangles are such a luscious color that I just had to have them.

These drop beads are really fun!  They are mother of pearl in resin.  I think they will make really cool chunky drop earrings, and maybe a fun bright focal for a necklace.  I can picture the earrings (they include wire wrapping fun), but I'm still working on the design for the necklace.  I'm thinking of something chunky and VERY colorful.  Check back to see my progress on both projects.

All of the beads in this picture are glass crackle beads.  I was introduced to crackle beads for the first time on a trip to China, and I fell in love with them.  I bought a strand of small multi-colored beads while there, but have been keeping my eye out for larger crackle beads.  When these beads went on sale, I bought all the bright spring/summer colors they had in stock.  The beads with spacers in them are drop beads which can be used to make just about anything (fun earrings, multiple strand necklaces, charm type bracelets... and many more ideas).  The other beads are bamboo shaped.  I just thought they were really fun.  I don't know how I will use them, but I don't have many long thin beads, so I indulged myself.

My next indulgence was stones.  I have some small round stone beads, but I don't have anything chunky.  I have a couple of ideas that include wire wrapping that require me to have larger stones, so I picked up a bunch of different types of stones.  I bought some turqoise, just because it's so popular right now, and it's such an awesome color.  I picked up two shapes of redline marble, some jasper, and another type of marble.  I can't wait to work with it.  I don't work with stones too much, so it will be a great divergence from my normal style.

I was definitely in a spring mindset when I was selecting beads.  I found all types of flower spacer beads that will add some fun and whimsy to my work.  I'm thinking of using the lucite flowers in a ring.  I can also picture them being included in a cool multi-strand necklace and maybe even some earrings.  You'll just have to wait and see what I come up with!

These drop beads are blueberry quartz.  In the picture, they had a lot more blue in them.  The specific set I received only has a couple of beads with a significant amount of blue.  I still think they are really cool.  I just wish they had a little more color.  I don't have a specific project in mind, but will know when it's time to use them.

These spacer beads were too pretty to pass up.  They just scream elegance to me.  I'm not sure whether I should work with the elegance and make a really pretty/dressy piece (maybe using pearls and swarovski crystals) or if I should juxtapose them with some thing really industrial and funky.  I guess only time and my mood will tell.  I can see both ideas clearly and am attracted to both.  Hmmm... what to do, what to do?

With so many necklace and bracelet ideas floating around in my head, I had to pick up some findings worthy of the jewelry pieces I have in mind.  I usually work with really simple magnetic clasps, but I wanted to use clasps that could be displayed in the front of the jewelry pieces... and all of these were on sale, so I picked them up!  Again, spring is the main theme.

Last but not least is a bit of bling.  I selected some beautiful Swarovski crystals from Artbeads.com.  They came in early in the week, but I didn't take pictures of them until Friday evening.  I am in love with the red and yellow drop bead.  I can't wait to design something to display it.  The smaller beads are going to be used in earrings.  The round bead will be combined with some other beads and wire wrapping to create a really cool focal.  I think I'm going to need to add more hours to the day in order to work on all the projects I have in mind.

FTC Disclosure: The Swarovski beads in the last picture of this post were provided to me free of charge from Artbeads.com for review or design purposes as part of the Bead Blogger program. I am providing an honest review of the products for which I am receiving no compensation.

Beading Organization Project

I subscribe to a couple of different jewelry making magazines, and I purchase additional magazines when they inspire me.   I also turn to the internet whenever I need to learn a new technique.  The result is a huge pile of loose papers and magazines.  I hate to throw any away because I might want to refer to them at some point.  However, my upcoming move has made me think about how much I need to keep and what I can get rid of.  I decided to go through all the magazines and find the projects I want to keep and organize them into binders.  The added benefit is that it will be easier to find projects when I need them.  It isn't an easy undertaking, but I'm excited to have all my wonderful resources organized in a way that will make them even more useable (not to mention, it will be nice to go through all the projects again to see what I have)!  Right now, the biggest hurdle is that I already shipped my three-hole punch, so I am left to organize all my papers with my manual one-hole punch.  That makes the process a little slower... but it will still happen!

Thanks for reading... and happy beading!

Kell

Pretty Pretty Beads

beadsI just put in a couple of order with Artbeads.com... and I can't wait for the beads to arrive.  Check out the pretty pretty beads I have coming:

These charms are so cute. I can't wait to make a funky charm bracelet with them!!!

I just couldn't help myself when I saw these glass beads.  They remind me of the ocean... maybe some of the sea charms will find their way into a bracelet with these:

What girl doesn't love some sparkle?  I just love the colors in these Swarovski Crystals!

Check back to see my design ideas and how I incorporate these beautiful beads.  I'll post pictures of the finished jewelry pieces as soon as I receive the beads and am able to create the jewelry!

FTC Disclosure:  The items in this post were provided to me free of charge from Artbeads.com for review or design purposes as part of the Bead Blogger program.  I am providing an honest review of the products for which I am receiving no compensation.

New Tip Tuesday

I love working with seed beads, but boy do they end up everywhere (I find them in the carpet, between the couch cushions, in crevices on the table... I could go on).  Recently I've been looking at different types of containers I could use to contain the beads while I am working on a project.  Here are some of my ideas:

• Ramekins:  I thought this would work better... but because of the stiff sides I have trouble getting the beads with my needle.
• Votive holders:  smaller than the ramekins, so great for seed beads... but difficult to get the unused beads back into their tubes.
• Ice cube trays:  good in theory... but they have small deep holes... I've had trouble getting the beads with my needle.  Also, I made a mess trying to put my beads away afterwards. 

And the winner?  It's cheap, it's easy... it's mini muffin papers!  They are small and flexible so I don't have trouble reaching my beads.  They can stack so if I need to put my project away for a little while, but will be coming back to it I can stack them with the beads in them and set them aside.  They are flexible, so I can just fold them in half to pour the beads back into their tubes when I'm ready to clean up!!!  I can't believe I didn't come up with this sooner!  I would definitely suggest that the seed bead lovers out there give mini muffin papers a try!

When I Move to Florida

I have lived in Guam for the last three years and while it has been awesome (great diving, weather, vacation spots, etc...) I am very excited to be moving back to the United States in just a couple of months! My husband and I (and our beautiful "puppy" Bailey) will be moving to Miami in the May/June timeframe. Because we will be moving so soon, I am holding off on selling any of my jewelry until we are settled... needless to say, that is making me even more excited for our move.

We've been diligently searching the Miami housing market via the internet and are heading to Miami at the end of the month for a week of house hunting. I can't wait to find the perfect house with a great craft space, a big yard for the pup, and lots of ammenities close by (what, is that too much to ask?). My husband has a job lined up and I can take my job with me (I telecommute for a company in Charleston, SC). Now all we have to do is hold in our excitement until it's time to move.

On the beading front, I've started this blog that will track my foray into the world of selling my hand-made jewelry. I've also started using twitter to get to know other artists and talk about my work. I've set up my Etsy shop... it's just waiting for me to upload items for sale. And finally, I'm using all my extra time before the move to create jewelry so I will have enough to list when I start my store! I think I'm ready... now, if May would just hurry up and get here!