December Sale

I am celebrating 2000+ sales in my Etsy store!

I have discounted all ceramics excluding close outs, and all leather gift items by 10%.  I am also offering FREE shipping through Dec!

Check out the new beads and birds.

Discounts already applied.

Happy Holidays everyone and thanks to all my wonderful customers!

Black Friday - Cyber Monday Sale

Hi!  I can't believe it almost Thanksgiving again.  Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday!  I will lump them all together and have a sale in my shop starting Friday.  I am offering 25% off my store, excluding close outs, the whole weekend!  No coupon code necessary, I will set the sale items to be automatically discounted.
I have many new beads that I should have added to my store by then.

And it is not too late to use my components to make something wonderful and unique for Christmas gifts; or just take advantage of the sale to get a head start for next year.

I also have a new line of leather items all ready for gift giving

Stop by my blog during the weekend, if you leave a facebook post, tweet or pin about the sale and the link to it, you will be entered in a drawing to win a $50 gift certificate to my store.
  
www.shaterra.etsy.com. 

Hooter Challenge: THE OWL

The Owl

 Moon raker
prey taker
hunter of the night.
In his nest
he takes his rest
hidden from the light.

Moon glider
star rider
stalker of my dreams.
He is wise
and in his eyes
cosmic magic gleams.

-Sharleen Newland   

Go here to vote:  http://artisanwhimsy.ning.com/page/hooters

My fellow bead maker Marla has started a new blog/facebook page called Artisan Whimsy. There is currently a contest going on over at the blog for "best owl". Well what the heck, I thought I would enter it. This design was hand carved into a lino sheet, then I roll the clay over the texture and cut out the pendant. The pendant was inspired by this poem I wrote.

Beads of Clay Challenge - Pier Color Palette

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.

New Beads in Etsy Store

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.

Art Bead Earring Swap

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:

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!

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.

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!

Free Shipping

Memorial Day Special
Use discount code freeship1 in my Etsy store to receive free shipping on today's order
http://www.shaterra.etsy.com/

Wild Pony Shell Pendant

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:

This is a fossilized shell,  2 1/4 x 2 1/2", square 22G wire

1 3/4 wide x 3" long

Art Bead Earring Swap 2012

Here is something fun for jewelry designers to participate in.  Details here:




http://vintagebluestudio.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54fe7e9ce8833016304fcc1d7970d-pi

Tax RElief Sale

Store Sale!  Now through Sunday, April 22
Earth Day!
use coupon code bought12
20% off entire store
http://www.shaterra.etsy.com/

April 6-8 2012 First Friday Art Walk

It's that time again!  And lots of NEW items in my store...First Friday Art Walk

Use discount code BOCFFAW for 10% discount

Shop for Bargains

I am listing many close out items in my store, priced 50% off, $3.75 to $7.50.

Close out price $6.00

Close Out Price $5.00

Close out price $3.75

Shop now for best selection!  Going, going, gone!

March First Friday Art Walk

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

Little Bird Beads

I created these bird beads last week and have been gradually firing them.  They are selling well in my Etsy store.  Such fun!

Etsy First Friday Art Walk Feb 3rd



 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!

Little Bird Dangle Pendant

Here is another project idea.
Use a 1" textured ceramic leaf bead
as a focal point to wire wrap a
dangling bird pendant.
Connect diverse elements with
wire to make a whole.
Supplies: 22g antique brass Para wire
Small leaf charm & fluted metal bead: Hobby Lobby
Bird charm: Share Living on Etsy
Reversible Ceramic Leaf Bead: Shaterra Clay
Leaf Charm Dangle: Rings N' Things

These ceramic leaf beads are reversible.

Use the Multi leaf side or the single leaf side.

Wire Wrapped Dragonfly Ceramic Donuts

Ceramic donuts are fun to wire wrap!
I love the glaze combo on this brown, green, gold and
black donut.  The brass looks great with it.
It also looks great with wood. I wire
wrapped with 22g square antique brass
Para wire.

On this one I used 2 wires together, one round and
one square. I made the bail first,
then started wrapping.  Grab the wire
with needle nose pliers and turn the
pliers to make the notches in the wire
This also tightens and secures the wire.

This donut has a large opening. Just add a hammered wire pin
 to make a great shawl pin.  Then it can be worn
as either a pin or a pendant, with the bail at the top.
I got the wonderful brass dragonflies on Etsy.

Project Idea - Wire Wrapped Leaf Earrings

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



Cut 2 12" pieces of wire and add a leaf charm, bend wire in half.

Twist the wire to secure the leaf.









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.



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.









Free Tutorial/Change It Up



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