A Year in Review! Not Nanny's Necklace - Rings & Things Shell Pearls

The rest of the week, I am going to re post some of my favorite posts, and also link back to some of yours!!

A little stroll down memory lane to finish out the year!


Tuesday, February 23, 2010 Yesterdays post was about the great blogger package I received from Rings & Things.

When I saw these beads it made me go back in time 40 years. Sitting at my Grandmothers (Nanny's) vanity, brushing my hair and putting on her jewelry.

Remember these?



I had so much fun playing with her jewelry. She would dab lipstick on my lips and tell me to 'pinch my cheeks for color'. I thought I was a movie star.

I wanted to play with these beads and do something that reminded me of Nanny and was trendy at the same time. I re purposed a vintage necklace and gold tone rings from a pair of old earrings to go with the 'theme'.


It is a fun and random representation of old and new, classic and abstract.


Not your Nanny's Necklace




More to come!

*FTC compliance disclosure: the '*' items mentioned in this post credited to Rings & Things were provided as a promotional gift as part of the Blog Partner Program. These items are for review or design purposes. Find out more about the Rings & Things Blog Partner Program

ArtBeads Colors of Fall Design Partner Challenge!

ArtBeads did a great design partner challenge this go around using the 2010 Fall color pallet as the guide. Choose components that co ordinate with the color pallet as your challenge. Great colors for fall this year:




Fall is a beautiful time of year, especially in the south. Coming out of those long hot dog days of summer into the clear crisp fall days is such a treat. Fall lasts longer here, mixing with the final hues of summer, the colors are amazing. As the summer fades, you still see scants of green hanging from tree branches heading into their winter slumber.

You ever smell grapes in the fall - right after a frost?? OMG - the best smell in the world. The leaves turn brown and the little vine "curly Q's" come peaking out, and there are just a couple little green grapes left. That was the inspiration for these earrings. Using the Fire-Polished Bead 8mm Opaque Turqoise Picasso beads (FPS-PI-OTU8) to represent the grapes, and hung them from copper curls - they look like little grapes don't they?? :)



Then you have all of those wonderful fall colors, warm and bright. Picasso glass from Art Beads, (white and turquoise) along with mookite make fun clusters at the bottom of this necklace.


This is a fun, almost beachy style necklace. Leather thong with copper coils to hold it together in a faux bolo style. The grouping of beads hanging from the ends look like groups of leaves hanging low on branches. There is a hint of sparkle from the Swarovski crystals, like that sparkle of dew in the mornings.


It has a fun and off center style.



Have you seen the colors on fire during the autumn sunset? Love the horizon during the fall. The sun is most spectacular during the fall.


There are more great designs to come using great supplies from Art Beads!!

Stay tuned!

*FTC compliance disclosure: the '*' items mentioned in this post credited to Art Beads were provided as a promotional gift as part of the Blogging for Beaders Program. These items are for review or design purposes.

Enuff with the copper already!!!!

I am hooked on copper, orange and blue right now - I can't get enuff!! Most of my designs seem to be taking that turn as well :)

I did these this morning before work. The glass is side drilled and they are a good size. I bought them because of the color and then became intimidated by their size. I ran across them while rummaging thru my pack and thought it was time to try and work them into a design.

One of the ways I get the free form ideas (altho i guess they wouldn't be free form at that point) is I lay the bead on a piece of paper and doodle around it. It allows me to find a 'flow' around the bead, and it also helps to give me a visual - or a reference while I am working.

I love this one - that blue is so bright - it looks like it is lit up! Is like a little blue lantern



All shades of blue!!!! Funky, chic, clunky design. I may have to keep this one.....



You know me and random :)

Have a great weekend kids - am gonna be a the market all weekend wish me luck!!!

More Summer fun with Art Beads!

I found a little time to myself this morning and wanted to get this bracelet made. I wanted the focal to be the lampwork beads (I am in love) and I 'wrangled the random' a bit to gave it some order.



LOOK AT THOSE LAMP WORK BEADS!!!!



From Art Beads
LMP-0168 - Purple, White and Orange Flowers with Purple Center Mix Bicone Beads (5 Pcs) *
CR-RL066 - 9x6mm Opalescent Pink and Light Emerald Roundelle *
CR-RL099 - Opaque Green w/ Half Picasso Roundelle *
FP-AMYLT6 - Czech Fire Polished Bead - Light Amethyst - 6mm *

From my inventory:
Sterling daisy spacers
Sterling spacers
10 mm jade bead
14 mm ocean jasper bead
1 dyed quartz nugget
1 sterling toggle


It reminds me of a meadow, with tiny purple johnny jump ups peeping up thru the grass around a group of daylillies. I want to kick my shoes off and go for a walk thru there.


*FTC compliance disclosure: the '*' items mentioned in this post credited to Art Beads were provided as a promotional gift as part of the Blogging for Beaders Program. These items are for review or design purposes.

Fun earring designs

My daughter came into town for a whirlwind weekend trip. We had the best time while she was here - it was way to short, and I was grateful for every moment.

When she left on Sunday, fighting the urge to cry all day, I sat down and got busy with some projects. I had fun with a couple pairs of earrings and I'll show these to you today!




From Rings & Things -
29-555-10-905 Bead, Shell Pearl, Round, 10mm (Blue Mix) *
28-000-007-443 Bead, Glass, Faceted Round, 10mm (Electric Blue) *

From Beadin Path
WRE-111 22 ga sterling wire

From Sedona Stones (not listed on their site)
Silver links
daisy spacers







These were fun to make and surprisingly light. I used the lamp work beads that were in a little 'barter' package from Lisa at A Bead A Day along with some 47-402-SP 14 ga copper wire and 47-406-SP 22 ga wire I have from Rings & Things.

I cut a piece of the 14 ga wire about 3 1/2" long. Hammered one end flat to stop the bead. Slid on the bead and them shaped the tail of the wire. Then using 47-406-SP 22 ga wire, I wrapped the top of the copper wire. I stopped half way thru the wrap, made a wire wrapped loop to hang the ear wires from and then continued on with the wrap.

I have a lot of ideas I want to get to this week - hopefully I can show them all to you!

*FTC compliance disclosure: the '*' items mentioned in this post credited to Rings & Things were provided as a promotional gift as part of the Blog Partner Program. These items are for review or design purposes. Find out more about the Rings & Things Blog Partner Program

Spring Fling bracelet - Art Beads Blog Partner

This is one idea that came to my mind and I immediately set down to work.
At first I wanted to group all the pink drops on the center brass link, but the wire wasn't long enuff, and I didn't feel they would be secure. I haven't quite figured out how to work with the pink drops, they remind me of something that would be used in a floral design.

I purposely turned the brass ovals opposite of each other so you can see both sides of the link, and not have to worry if the bracelet is put on upside down or turns on your wrist and shows the underside of the link. I didn't have any brass wire, so I used the brass as part of the focal and used the copper wire to bring it all together. I love mix and match :)

It is fun with a nice drape and the dangles make me happy.


These items I got from Art Beads -
PBA-LX021 Antique Vintage Brass-Plated Pewter Abstract Oval Link *
CR-RL207 5x4mm Emerald/Wasabi Mix Roundelle Strand *
VIN-0041 Pink Glass Teardrop Vintage Patina Copper Head Pin *

From my inventory -
Copper131 Copper rings - Sedona Stones
47-408-SP 20 ga copper wire - Rings & Things
47-402-SP 14 ga copper wire - Rings & Things

Soon I am going to learn how to work my camera and have the whole picture in focus - but that is another day and another cup of coffee.

*FTC compliance disclosure: the '*' items mentioned in this post credited to Art Beads were provided as a promotional gift as part of the Blogging for Beaders Program. These items are for review or design purposes.

More shell pearl earrings - Rings & Things blogger challenge

Made these earrings to go with the pendant from a previous post
47-408-SP 20 ga copper wire
29-555-10-905 Bead, Shell Pearl, Round, 10mm (Blue Mix) *
28-000-007-443 Bead, Glass, Faceted Round, 10mm (Electric Blue) *

This is one continuous piece of wire for each earring. Cut about 6 in of wire. Hammer one end of the wire to create a head pin. Slide on the faceted glass bead. Bend curves into the wire with your round nosed pliers. Hammer to strengthen and flatten the wire. Add the shell pearl. At the top of the pearl, make a 45 degree angle bend in the wire. Create a coil around the end of your round nosed pliers at the bend. Carefully push the bent wire back up straight. Using a form (ink pen will work) bend the remainder of the wire around the form and snip off the excess. Hammer the ear wire to strengthen.

Wa-la!!! You made and earring out of one piece of wire!




Made these to compliment the necklace from this previous post
28-000-007-273 Bead, Glass, Faceted Round, 10mm (Electric Purple)*
gold tone chain
re purposed links


Quick and easy peasy - two pair of earrings in under 15 minutes!


*FTC compliance disclosure: the '*' items mentioned in this post credited to Rings & Things were provided as a promotional gift as part of the Blog Partner Program. These items are for review or design purposes. Find out more about the Rings & Things Blog Partner Program

Blue Baubles - Rings and Things blogger challenge

I am so hooked on these free form wire wrap bracelet designs. I want to make them all the time. I have several ideas in my head, and I need practice, so this morning, I wanted to work with the blue set of shell pearls from Rings & Things.

I used:

29-555-10-905 Bead, Shell Pearl, Round, 10mm (Blue Mix) *
29-555-16-905 Bead, Shell Pearl, Round, 16mm (Blue Mix) *
28-000-007-443 Bead, Glass, Faceted Round, 10mm (Electric Blue) *
Black - Designer Assorted Beads*
47-406-SP 22 ga copper wire
47-408-SP 20 ga copper wire
47-202-SP 14 ga red brass wire
Seed beads

I had some artistic wire from a bucket of goodies from my mother in laws things. I used it as a color accent. The fun thing about this artistic wire, it is coated copper. So as the coating wears off, it will match the rest of the bracelet. Will be a cool look too.





I made these earrings to compliment the bracelet - they are a bit heavier than I normally wear, but for sitting around the office they are ok.



And I couldn't help it!! I had to wear it today!!!!



*FTC compliance disclosure: the '*' items mentioned in this post credited to Rings & Things were provided as a promotional gift as part of the Blog Partner Program. These items are for review or design purposes. Find out more about the Rings & Things Blog Partner Program

Blogger design challenge, with a great supporting cast!

I had a pile of the 'Electric' purple beads from Rings and Things blogger challenge. I wanted to make something that made them the focal, but not the focal - does that make sense? Something like a great supporting cast - something that the design would just not be complete without it.

I began to rummage thru my supplies and found a fun random color pattern of purples and thought to celebrate the last day of Feb - the month of amethyst - this would be a fun design.

This necklace has components from each of my blog partner sponsors, Rings & Things, Art Beads and Beadin Path, whether thru the program or purchased on my own, and more items I have collected over time.

It was fun to bring them all together, into one design.

Electric Circus (it is a fun balancing act between symmetry and random )


From Rings & Things
29-555-10-901 Bead, Shell Pearl, Round, 10mm (Brown Mix) *
29-555-16-901 Bead, Shell Pearl, Round, 16mm (Brown Mix) *
28-000-007-273 Bead, Glass, Faceted Round, 10mm (Electric Purple)*
40-099-24-7 - Chain, Footage, Oval Curb, 10.5mm (Antiqued Copper Plated) *
47-406-SP 22 ga copper wire
24-101-7 10mm copper filigree bead

From Beadin Path
LUC4274BR Matte Dark Bark Tube beads, 6 x 26 mm*

From ArtBeads
TBRD6-615 TOHO™ Bead Round 6/0 Matte Raku Blue/Purple Iris 8g Bag

And the rest! (sung in my head like Gilligans Island theme)
copper chain - lululalland
copper rings - sedonastones
purple turquoise - dakotastones

*FTC compliance disclosure: the '*' items mentioned in this post credited to Rings & Things were provided as a promotional gift as part of the Blog Partner Program. These items are for review or design purposes. Find out more about the Rings & Things Blog Partner Program . More items marked with '*' mentioned in this post credited to Beadin Path were provided as a promotional gift as part of the Beadin Path Design Partners. These items are for review or design purposes.

Not Nanny's Necklace - Rings & Things Shell pearls

Yesterdays post was about the great blogger package I received from Rings & Things.

When I saw these beads it made me go back in time 40 years. Sitting at my Grandmothers (Nanny's) vanity, brushing my hair and putting on her jewelry.

Remember these?



I had so much fun playing with her jewelry. She would dab lipstick on my lips and tell me to 'pinch my cheeks for color'. I thought I was a movie star.

I wanted to play with these beads and do something that reminded me of Nanny and was trendy at the same time. I re purposed a vintage necklace and gold tone rings from a pair of old earrings to go with the 'theme'.


It is a fun and random representation of old and new, classic and abstract.


Not your Nanny's Necklace




More to come!

*FTC compliance disclosure: the '*' items mentioned in this post credited to Rings & Things were provided as a promotional gift as part of the Blog Partner Program. These items are for review or design purposes. Find out more about the Rings & Things Blog Partner Program