Dangle Bracelets and Skulls!

I got these awesome dyed magnesite skulls a few years ago from The Rings & Things Road Show that comes thru here every June. I bought them because there were on sale, and they are cute :)

I had no idea what I would do with them, so I tucked them away til the inspiration hit. Good thing there is no expiration date on these little beauties :)

I played with a few earring designs, but they were too heavy. I tried working them into necklaces, but they didn't lay right. Then one day working on a dangle bracelet, I spied one of the skulls.

Hrm

I wrapped one up quick and slid it into the mix.

IT WORKED!!!

What I love about the design is the skulls don't have to be goth, or angry, or militant - they can be cute. And that's where it's at :)

Still playin with vintage lucite from Beadin Path!

I had to get some necklaces done to do an inventory swap with one of the art stores that has my designs.

I like to keep my displays fresh, and I swap out my inventory every six weeks or so. Lately it hasn't been difficult at all to be creative with the generous promotional strands of vintage lucite I received from Beadin Path. Being a design partner with Beadin Path means that Heather picks several promotional strands of beads from the inventory at Beadin Path and sends them to me about once a month or so. I am sent the beads to review and also to help promote through my blog. I don't receive any pay for these beads, and none is needed. The creative challenge that is posed to me each month is more than enough!

Of the necklaces I made this morning, this one I really like. I almost didn't take it in, and kept it for myself. Luckily, I held back enuff of the vintage lucite beads to make one for myself!

I used Antiqued brass 5x3mm chain from Firemountain Gems
Vintage lucite cube beads, 10mm Smoky Quartz from Beadin Path
Facted magnesite nuggets, a gift from a friend of mine
22 ga copper wire from Rings & Things
Hammered copper link from Cherry Tree Beads







It just feels like November to me. It is the perfect length and weight. Would look great over a light sweater peaking out from under a blazer on a casual nite out.

Commissioned pieces

My friend Vanessa went to the bead show in Franklin - it is a G&LW show - a big one.

She came home with several strands of magnesite and lava, several pendants, copper findings, coral and chalcedoy. She wanted me to make necklaces for christmas presents for her to give out.



Well sure I will for her. Vanessa is a dear friend and the person I blame for getting the beading/stringing bug. She is a vendor at the flea market and sells free form stones, pocket stones, strands of stone beads, finished jewelry and several other things. She is a big supporter and a fan of my work, which that in itself is reason enuff not to say no.

Part of the problem with this type of a commission is she sees in her head what she wants, obviously, she bought the stones, but she trusts me to make it for her.

I set out this morning to start on these pieces. She wants a total of six necklaces from this wad of stuffs - which it doable. There is more than enough material to do so. The problem is, I don't see what she sees. I am having a hard time coming up with different designs, or, more so, even wanting to work with these stones. They don't interest me, so I am having a hard time creating with them.

I knocked out the easy first - earrings .






























I added some of my beads and findings to flesh them out more. These would be way too heavy if I hadn't have broke it up some.

This one I am not happy with. I more than likely will de construct it tonite and do it again. Lava, broke up with citrine and carnelian. I think the focal is a fire crab agate. Mebbe. I was very disappointed in the clasp. I am sure it is a fluke but it is such a waste. I had ordered them from Rings & Things. The wire hook broke off of it as I was attaching it to the jump ring.






My cat was so jacked up on cat nip all morning, and was insisting on getting into everyone of my shots.















This one I am more happy with. Combining wire wrapping and stringing. These stones are sooo heavy. I don't know how comfortable it will be to wear for any lenght of time.

Wednesday quickie - R&T June Challenge part 2

Man I am running behind today. Woke up this morning to a destroyed couch, and the carpet and the pad beneath were pulled off of the landing, and my dogs were quietly slumbering outside my bedroom door as if nothing had happened.

*sigh*

James and Kel had cleaned last nite, while I was at work, in anticipation of our daughters arrival, only to have it all destroyed, and I did a do-over this morning.

*sigh*

Leigh is coming home tonite for a long weekend and will be welcomed by a pack of happy dappy dawgs, and a dirty house! Oh the glories of going home.

I am not as prepared as I wanted to be with a piece, so I am just going to show you what I made as my second installment of the Rings & Things June Challenge.

I wanted to use the Mirage bead as a focal. I am really thrilled with these beads. I have one concern, and that is the finish. The gloss is brilliant, and I hope it can withstand being a focal, and not dull or scratch. Time will tell.

I was looking at the pattern on the bead, and in an abstract way, reminded me of a garden fence. Thinking gardens, wisteria was the first thing that popped into my mind. I love wisteria. Love it. So, I went with it.

Wisteria



Wisteria under Summer Sky





And I am taking it for a test drive today. I will be wearing it to pick up my daughter from the airport after work. I am sure by the time we get to the truck she will have taken it off of me and will be wearing it :)

I'll try not to be too MIA over the weekend.

Later Kids!

Rings & Things June Challenge

This month Rings & Things gave us creative reign over our choices.
Hardest challenge to date.

Your mission is, if you choose to accept it, spend $50.00 and make something glorious.

Sounds easy enuff, right? *sigh*

Do you know how many products they have? A Gazillion! I know for a fact, cuz I counted them all.

This task put in front of me, I began to search, and look, and whine, and wish. There was too much too look at, too much to take in. So I had to take a second route in my purchase decision. First in my head, I had to create what I wanted, and then work from there. Which is what I did, and you can see the thought process in my previous post.

Here is a quick referece to what I got

Mirage Daisy Ray Bead

Dyed Coral 4 x 7 Tube Bead (Green and shiney and ooooohhh sooooo purty!!!)

Copper, Double Spiral Bead

Dyed Coral 4mm Round Bead

Magnesite, 15x20mm Nugget Bead

Magnesite, 13x18 Puffed Rectangle Bead

After it was all sed and dun, Here is what I came up with -









I have some left over, we'll see what happens tomorrow -

Same Bat Time! Same Bat Channel!

Look what I got!

I put in my order to Rings & Things on Wed - Bill is awesome!!! - and I got my order yesterday!!! 2 days!!!! That is stoopid fast, I can't believe it!

I am thrilled with the items I received. Just awesome. I am so in love with the Mirage Beads. They are sooo much fun. I have the idea in my head what I am going to do for this piece, lets just hope that my fingers can translate it!

Le me show you what I got! (naturally the tootsie roll is gone, they sent me 2!!!!. I am smacking on one of them rightnow, so if I am hard to understand, I am sorry, I am typing with my mouth full)



Mirage Daisy Ray Bead

Dyed Coral 4 x 7 Tube Bead (Green and shiney and ooooohhh sooooo purty!!!)

Copper, Double Spiral Bead

Dyed Coral 4mm Round Bead

Magnesite, 15x20mm Nugget Bead

Magnesite, 13x18 Puffed Rectangle Bead

Sterling Silver French Hooks

What a haul!!!!


Now the method behind the madness. Why did I choose these beads.

Dyed Magnesite has a turquoise look to it, so for the casual shopper, the turquoise color is what they are looking for, but the underlying purpose to magnesite is the properties it has.

(From "Love is in the earth, a kaleidoscope of crystals" - by Melody)

Magnesite provides for the fruition of unrecognized thoughts and ideas. It can assist in visualization and imagery, and in promoting dynamic, revolutionary ideas.

Coral facilitates intuition, imagination and visualization.

Copper is said to be the bestower of good, bringing benefit to the user.

I am thinking of adding amethyst also.

Amethyst allows flexibility in decision making - so I don't over think the piece.

I am making this piece as part of the blogger challenge therefore, I need it to be a representation of me as a designer. I am using this as a study in bringing my thoughts, my imagination to the surface as a tangible item. We'll see how it goes :)

It's like bubble gum

I am thrilled - THRILLED at the product I just received. I am not a fan of shopping on line for supplies. Let's face it, you can't hand pick all the time. There are very few places I trust to give me the quality I demand. Bottom line, my reputation is on the line as an artist, and I have to have the product that reflects that.

One of the places I do trust is Sedona Stones, where these beads came from.

I am making a piece to be donated to a no kill shelter auction in April. In my mind I am thinking bold, colorful, Tabby :) I did some poking around as I normally do, look for something unique and special.

I found these:

Autumn Medley Multi Color Magnesite Nugget Chips, approx 10-20mm 15-16 inch #R643

The picture does not do them justice. I put the nickle in there to give a size representation. They are so vivid and BIG and shiney and random in size! I can't wait to work with them.

I want to eat them - They remind me of bubble gum.