Acrylic Earrings? Yes Please!

I love acrylic pouring, I can't get enough of it!

With acrylic pouring comes waste. There is a lot of paint that runs off the edge  of the canvas and pools on the table. 

If you have followed me at all, you know I have issues with waste, and I keep everything, because I can make something from anything!

While cleaning, I noticed all of these awesome spills, that had dried on the table, and the table covering, they looked like miniature acrylic pours (because they were). I peeled one off the table, and looked at it, I know I can make something from this. It was suggested I make earrings. Challenge accepted!

These are some of the peelings. I love their design and texture! 

A little playing around with different ideas, and these earrings were born!!

So much fun and so many more new ideas to come!

And remember

Be Peaceful and be kind - it's important!!!

Dendritic Agate - What Are the Properties of this Stone!

Let's talk about dendritic agate!

Dendritic agate is a stone in the chalcedony family, "agate" , with manganese inclusions, called dendrites - thus the name :)

The color of the agate can be from clear to white with the manganese inclusions, you may even see a white agate with green inclusions, called Tree Agate. 

Dendritic agate is the stone of plenty and abundance. It has been known to be buried in soil of garden beds and farm lands to promote healthy and large yields from crops. 

This stone resembles the branches of a tree or plant and in turn is known for healing the skeletal, nervous and vascular system, which also 'branch' out in us. 

It is a great stone of protection and inner peace.  It promotes a peaceful environment. Great fo those with a green thumb. 

I love looking at the patterns of this agate. This stone and I have had several long moments together. Each time I pick it up to work with it, I find myself getting lost in its patterns and beauty, that I never get anything done! Because of the patterns and how I get lost in it, it is also a great stone for digging deep inwardly.  Use with meditation or self exploration and discovery and in turn healing of the past. 

I will wrap this into a pendant, I really will :)

Until then, I will continue to marvel at nature and her creations with wonderment and amazement. 

All of my jewelry creations are based on the metaphysical properties of the stones or the colors that are incorporated. Jewelry should be a window to our soul, a protector of our emotions and a companion to our spirit. All of my other creations come directly from my heart in hopes they touch yours as well. Celebrate yourself with healing jewelry, and other gift ideas made with love!

First Friday At The Green Monkey In Raleigh!

First Friday is happening all over downtown Raleigh tonight! And I am gonna be there!!

I will be at The Green Monkey, 1217 Hillsbourough St in Raleigh, NC tonight from 7 - 10 PM. I am launching my new designs, Transcend which will be exclusive to The Green Monkey!!!!

Transcend is a line of earrings, (and soon to be pendants!) made of simple copper or sterling wire designs and a single stone accent to represent the property of the stone. For example, amethyst for peace, agate for harmony and so forth.

Fun simple wire designs, even hearts for Valentines Day!

Also exclusively for The Green Monkey are these upcycled pride bracelets made from denim jeans. 

Check out The Green Monkey on Facebook to see what else is going on tonight!!!

And as always, Be peaceful, Be kind. 

Remember to explore, create, dream, imagine and discover!

All of my jewelry creations are based on the metaphysical properties of the stones or the colors that are incorporated. Jewelry should be a window to our soul, a protector of our emotions and a companion to our spirit. All of my other creations come directly from my heart in hopes they touch yours as well. Celebrate yourself with healing jewelry, and other gift ideas made with love!

I Am In Love With These Earrings!

I got these ceramic beads from FireMountain Gems a while back. While shopping I had to have them, and then when I got them, I wasn't sure what to do with them. They were big, 13 mm. If I would have left them all together, they would have made a great bracelet, but that wasn't really allowing myself to create.

So I pushed them off to the side and I waited. Months went by, and I would see them, I would move them around, putting other beads between them, trying to make something, and it still wasn't talking to me.

Months went by again!

Then one day, as I was shuffling around thru my beads, I noticed that there was a smaller bead sitting in the hole of the ceramic bead, and that was all it took! The ideas began to flow, and the earrings started to take shape. I am in Love with them!!! I need to keep a couple pair for myself. 

They are so bright! The colors are amazing, and make me happy to see them. They are surprisingly light, and fun to wear. Here in the middle of winter, they make me smile and think of summer, and music festivals and dancing.

Do they make you think of anything?

And as always, Be peaceful, Be kind. 

Remember to explore, create, dream, imagine and discover!

Changing As I Grow

Time to give my blog a facelift of sorts.

Since I started this blog a million years ago, I have changed, my work has changed, my interests have changed, and all of these while changing have grown as well.

Change is good. It keeps you current and fresh.

While I still am jewelry for your soul, creating wearable art using the metaphysical properties of stones, I am also an artist in acrylics and mixed media. Exploring new mediums to display my work with and on. I am on a spiritual journey to become the greatest version of myself. All of these things and more will be shared on my blog.

Will you go on this journey with me?

I would love to see you there!

And as always, Be peaceful, Be kind. 

Remember to explore, create, dream, imagine and discover!

Art Abandonment - Flood the Streets with Art III

It is happening again!!!!

I am so excited to be part of the flood this year. I had fun hiding packages in plain sight last year for people to pick up.

What is Flood the Streets with Art??? Glad you asked :)

Here is a blurb from their Facebook page : The goal is simple: On BLACK FRIDAY (Nov. 27th, 2015) I want every artist, human being, man, woman & child on our planet to drop one piece art they've created on the streets of their community for a random stranger to find, pick up, take home & love. Yes, for FREE. 

Want to be part of the flood?? Check out Scott Wongs Facebook event 

It is gonna be fun!!!

I am making jewelry and branching out into painting and crocheting this year :)

What will you be flooding the streets with?!!

Rhyolite and Jasper Necklace

Here is the first of my designs using this years Spring palette that I wrote about in my last entry.

Rhyolite focal stone with jasper, swarovski crystal and light blue glass beads.  I pulled the colors for the beads from the focal stone.

Jasper is a tender stone allowing itself to bestow gentleness on the wearer.

I am always in awe at the color combinations that are found in nature that just work!

Fun New Dangle Necklaces!!!

I am all about the dangle, the charm look. I keep going back to this type of design.

When I first started making jewelry it was just a natural progression to hand wrap beads and hang them on chain. Just the next step in learning jewelry design, so to speak.

I re visited that old design and have come up with these :)

I call these "Anything Goes"

This is a fun idea to use up the one offs that you have laying around from other designs. It makes a great collection of color, textures and sizes.  Even as you re purpose your older jewelry, set a couple beads behind, and you can make a memory necklace for yourself!!!!!


Right now these are only available locally at The Green Monkey, but I promise you will be seeing them soon in my Etsy store!!!

Hot off the Work Bench - Earrings!

Had a little bit of time this evening and worked up a few new pairs of earrings. I am trying to add to my Etsy store and also flesh out my display at The Green Monkey downtown.


These are cute little hippie earrings. I call them "Peace, Love and Sunshine"  Resin peace symbols, millefiori glass hearts, and seed beads.

Paired up these cute lampwork sugar skulls and added a crazy Czech crystal cluster on top. Looks like a crazy blue wig :)

Sweet little porcelain puffed beads topped with agate and accented with a cute little copper spiral.

Just having a bit of fun on a Thursday night :)

Flooding the Streets with Art!!!! Friday, Nov 28, 2014 - The Entire World!

I have been getting my pieces together to drop this Friday, as I participate in,

Flood the Streets with Art.  

Flood the Streets with Art. 
Brain child of Scott Wong, that artists everywhere are helping to nurturer into a living, loving beautiful entity. It is a peaceful, giving movement to promote artists everywhere.



I have been working on my pieces to have them ready.

Acrylic - 18x24 stretched canvas

Heat treated agate, wrapped in copper with American Beauty turquoise accent - to promote harmony in communication

Fresh water pears wrapped in copper and accented with Swarovski crystals.  To promote charity and integrity

 Agate wrapped in copper and accented with moonstones. This pendant is to promote balance, harmony and bring hope.

Look in your streets on Friday,. there may be an artist dropping beautiful pieces for you to find :)

Sizzling Hot Summer Sale!!!!

I am having a hot summer sale!!!

Save 30% on your order of $25 or more from my Etsy Store.

80 items and more on the way this weekend!

All items are one of a kind, no duplicates. Don't miss out!

Use check out code SIZZLE to take advantage of the great savings. Earrings, necklaces, pendants, bracelets and more. Free shipping on jewelry.

Sale ends 6/27/14

Local Artist Spotlight - Meg Smither

This blog entry about local artist, Meg Smither. Local to Raleigh, and owner and inspiration behind 'Out There Studio.'

How Did Your Create Your Business Name?

 Well funny you would ask that first question:

1. Out There Studio came about - because when we were building our house 6 years ago and we were building my Studio in the back yard (pictured with Meg Smither above)
 I would always refer to it as "out there" and my friend said that I needed to call my Studio "OUT THERE STUDIO". So that is how that came about.

2. What do you create/make?
Wow that's an interesting question. Well I make a lot of scarves (Textiles) and I build the frames and then I just start thinking of different techniques of applying dyes and using resists and just different chemicals and I create the scarves. I read a lot to understand the different types of techniques as well. So I am always learning new and better ways to make the scarves more beautiful. Then on top of all of that I also do Batiks whether it be on Fabric or on Paper.

3. What is your favorite item you've created thus far?
Well I just created the above BATIK called "Harbor Trio"  and I love it.

As well as the next BATIK and it is call "Maid in the Shade"

4. Why is buying locally important to you?
 Because it keeps it in the "neighborhood" if you will. It's like buying local produce in your markets. It is
supporting our local artists and that is so important. Yea you can go to New York and other places and buy pieces (and don't get me wrong I'd love for my work to be in New York :0) - but it's just so important to keep it here at home and know that we have some amazing talent just right in our own backyard. Pardon the pun... didn't mean to... truly.

 

5. What are your business goals for 2014?
 ... are just to get more visibility so that folks know I'm here and are interested in what I'm doing.
It has been a long road to get to just this point --- but slowly it is happening and I couldn't be more thankful
and more blessed. It comes from above I know that for sure....

 You can visit Meg Smither's Studio Online at :website: www.megsmither.com
or her newest site:square market: https://squareup.com/market/meg-smither

Let's Shop Local Event, Raleigh, NC - March 23, 2014

Let's Shop Local is having there second shopping event 3/23/14 at the Raleigh, NC Fairgrounds in the Holshouser Building, and I am excited to be there!

I will be setting up with over 30 more locals artist, all there to have fun, and show off our most recent creations. But it isn't just a shopping event, no, it is way more!

Let's Shop Local, is more than just a shopping event, it is an awareness event. One of the great things about the event is showcasing local artists, giving you a chance to meet the artist, and browse their work, and get the story behind the creation, giving it more meaning and more value to you as a consumer. You can't find that in a mall. Several of the artist only offer one of a kind items, meaning, when you purchase it, it is yours and yours alone. You will not run into anyone wearing that same piece, it is your own personal work of art :)

Awesome right?! 

How else is Let's Shop Local events better than any other? They offer you live entertainment!!

Raleigh Little Theater will be there and performing as well! This is the schedule.
 11:00-12:10 : Andrew Kasab, Harp Guitar
  12:30 - 1:00 : Raleigh Little Theatre, Songs
  2:00 - 5:00 : Kristi Dixon, Guitar & Songs




 Put us on your list tomorrow while you are out an about enjoying the beautiful weather in Raleigh. 

 When: Sunday, March 23rd. 
  Where: Holshouser Building at the N.C. State Fairgrounds. 
  Time : 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. 
  Admission: $3 adults, children 12 and under free . 


Your admission ticket purchase will also support our local
theatre, as $1 of every admission ticket will be donated to the
Raleigh Little Theatre's Youth Scholarship Program. 

Stop by and see me!!!!!

 
 

Sterling, Sapphire, September!

YAY for alliterations!

I love them :)

Still on my sapphire kick, this morning I made this little pendant.

Sapphires are a stone of hope where all else is hopeless. It is a stone of creative expression. Pulling on this creative expression, I did a very simple free form design from 12 ga sterling wire. The piece has some heft to it, so pendant hangs really nice on a cord.

I love this little nugget of sapphire. It has so much character. The blue is just screaming to get out!

September is Sapphires!

I have held onto this strand of raw sapphires for a couple of years now, just waiting on a bit of inspiration. I was at the annual Rings and Things Bead Tour as it came thru my area, and completely, as always, lost my mind at the selection and the prices.

September is the month to celebrate sapphires. Did you know sapphire is a stone of creative expression? Sapphires come in all colors, and if you have a red sapphire, it is a ruby :) What I love about sapphires is they are the stone of hope - they bring hope where there is hopelessness. Isn't that awesome.
This week I am celebrating sapphires and this is the first of a few designs I want to show you.

These tumbled and raw sapphire beads do not diminish in elegance. The swarovski crystals between the beads allow for more flow of the stones due to their irregular shape, and the copper bead caps just finish off the design.

How are you celebrating sapphires this month?

Faceted Fancy Jasper in a New Autumn Necklace

The weather has been glorious the past few days. Really putting me in the mood for fall.

I grabbed that fall muse by the hand and ran down the path of creativity giggling all the way. I have been very happy with myself the past few days, being able  to find time to create more jewelry and get it posted online.

This one is really a favorite of what I have been doing. These stones together have a beautiful offering of peace and gentleness. TTiny faceted fancy jasper beads are the accent to the piece, with a rose colored ceramic pendant. I added the tree agate, because summer is not yet over, and there is still plenty of green to be had. It is a nice splash of color, just like what is in my yard, and the fancy jasper is the leaves that have just started to fall, and are scattered around.

Notice how there are three seed beads between each of the stones, expect for in one spot. I do this intentionally. It is a signature so to speak. Yes there is a pattern, but everyonceinawhile, I like to mess it up, to remind myself, I am not perfect. I still have so much to learn and so much to do - if I was perfect, what else would there be?

Do you have a signature or message that you put into your designs, something that is a little bit of you?

Earrings! Earrings! Earrings!

I had about 15 minutes to myself this weekend and took advantage of the moment and made a few pairs of earrings!



Classic glass pearl dangle

Cluster of light blue beads left over from the re purpose project for my Mom

Cute blackstone earrings - perfect for everyday, and needed in any accessory collection just like that little black dress!

Did you get to create this weekend? What did you do?

Free Summer Door Wreath Pattern

I love FaveCrafts.com. I get daily emails from them with great crafting ideas. Like I need anymore distractions.  :)

I try to keep a wreath up all year on my door, and have had a creative block since Easter, and my poor door is bare - until now!!!


I got the instructions for this fun little wreath, which will be in the works by this afternoon!

The directions for this wreath are here

What are some of your favorite crafts? Post links below and share with me!!!

NCMC Day 5 - Use up left over beads - Mirage Beads

A couple of years ago I did a blog partnership with Rings and Things. One of the fun beads I chose was the Mirage Beads.They have even more to choose from now!

Remember mood rings? These are mood beads. They change color with the heat of your body. How fun!
Simply knotted on cord, easy peasy, takes 2 minutes to make. It actually took longer to find the beads than it did to make the bracelet!

They changed colors to purple just from me handling them. I put this bead in the middle to show you what they look like when they are at room temp.

What did you create today?

March is National Craft Month- March Challenge

March is National Craft Month, and Fushion Beads has offered up a daily challenge for the month of March to help keep your creativity flowing.

Go to their blog for the challenge list and get your Create on!!!!!

The first is organizing your work area....I am embarrassed to show mine, but I will accept the challenge, will you?

**********

“Accept responsibility for your life. Know that it is you who will get you where you want to go, no one else.” – Les Brown