My professional bead makers group, Beads of Clay, is sponsoring a color challenge once a month.
Brandi Girl Blog is posting a color palette for us bead makers to use when glazing new pieces. We are to use the color palette for inspiration for new ways of using color. We can choose one or two colors, or use them all.
Here is this months color palette:
Here is the link to Brandi's blog:
http://www.brandigirlblog.com/2012/05/color-palette-108-pier-palette.html
and, VIOLA: here are the beads and pendants I created using this color scheme
My professional ceramic bead makers group, Beads of Clay (www.beads-of-clay.blogspot.com) recently sponsored a challenge. 5 bead makers were asked to donate components with a sky blue and sand color theme to 5 jewelry designers that like to use art beads. The designers were asked to make 2 pieces using the componenents provided.
I was randomly chosen to make the pendant.
Today the results of the challenge were revealed.
Go to the above link to take a tour of the great results! It is interesting to see how each designer uses the same components in their own individual ways.
I love making beads as well as pendants. My creative inspiration the past few weeks has been leading me into beads. These little works of art make great earrings, and I can see a necklace with many of just these beads and glass accents or silver in between.
It's easy to make an earring by just stringing them on a head pin with accent beads and making a wire loop at the top for the ear wire.
They are decorated on both sides of the bead.
Sold individually, order 1 or many.
Diana who hosts the blog, http://www.thegossipinggoddess.blogspot.com/; has hosted an earring swap that I accepted the invite to participate in. I had two swap partners, Fay Wolfenden and Sue Kennedy of Sue Beads.
The only requirements for the earring designs were that the ear wires be sterling, and the designer must use hand made art beads.
Here are the wonderful earrings that I received from my partners:
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These were made by Fay Wolfenden, glass and metal artist. Here is her materials list:
sterling silver
lampwork beads
swarovski crystals
Chunky and sparkly, and the neutral color scheme makes them so wearable! |
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This lovely pair came from my partner Sue Kennedy. Sue makes lampwork and enamel beads.
I especially love her choice of ear wires for this flowery pair.
The long curved shape goes perfectly with the blossoms and brings to mind
a stem or leaf. |
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Here is a better shot of the wires.
This was fun! Visit the Gossiping Goddess
for a full tour of the swap.
Thank you Sue and Fay for my wonderful earrings! |
I just took a vacation in Atlantic Beach, NC. This lovely area features 3 barrier islands that are federally protected and completely undeveloped. All 3 islands are populated with wild horses that are descended from Spanish bloodlines. It is believed that the original horses were shipwreck survivors that managed to swim to shore, and were able to find fresh water by pawing the sand. The horses have been on the islands for over two hundred years.
The islands are also premier shelling destinations. This was seventh heaven for me, being a jewelry designer and wire wrapper: the beach provided me with 3 bags full of beautiful shell fragments to wire wrap into pendants. Here are my first two:
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This is a fossilized shell, 2 1/4 x 2 1/2", square 22G wire |
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1 3/4 wide x 3" long |
It's that time again! And lots of NEW items in my store...First Friday Art Walk
Use discount code BOCFFAW for 10% discount
Visit my Etsy store for new spring items...
birds, bunnies and
butterflies!
Use coupon code
BOCFFAW
for 10% discount
on entire order
March 2, 3 & 4 2012
I created these bird beads last week and have been gradually firing them. They are selling well in my Etsy store. Such fun!
First Friday Art Walk..it's that time again! Use discount code BOCFFAW to get 10% off my store:
visit beads-of-clay.blogspot.com for more links to the tour
Check out my new style of leather cuff bracelet with a watch-type metal closure
Custom lengths and colors available
Great for embellishing!
Here is another project idea with free instructions.
You will need
2 ceramic leaf texture beads
2 antique brass leaf charms
22g antique brass wire
4 fluted metal beads (Hobby Lobby)
2 ear wires
2 hammered ant brass loop connectors (Hobby Lobby)
needle nose pliers
wire cutters
plastic jaw pliers
round nose pliers
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Cut 2 12" pieces of wire and add a leaf charm, bend wire in half.
Twist the wire to secure the leaf.
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Twist one wire around the side of the connector, up through top loop; add ear wire and make a wrapped loop using round nose pliers
Use the extra wire to make a spiral at the top with the plastic jaw pliers.
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Thread a metal bead, ceramic bead, and metal bead on the other wire. Wrap it aroung the top of the connector, and then down around the side, ending at the bottom. Make another spiral at the bottom with the extra wire. Repeat for second earring.
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Here is the same design, but I have changed the wire to copper, the beads to butterflies, the ceramic beads to textured emerald green, and the leaf dangles to antique copper |