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!

Pantones Spring 2015 Colors - Love them!

The Pantone Colors for 2015 are very exciting to me. So cool and light. Very inviting. The official color names are:

14-4313 Aquamarine

16-4725 Scuba Blue

14-5714 Lucite® Green

19-4052 Classic Blue

14-1213 Toasted Almond

16-1720 Strawberry Ice

15-1247 Tangerine

13-0720 Custard

18-1438 Marsala

14-4102 Glacier Gray

What I see is Lapis, Rhodonite, Carnelian, Turquoise, Jade and some fun Jaspers. From these stones come a very common theme - love, self love, self confidence - I can't wait to play around with my stones and make some fun jewelry for this Spring.

It's gonna be a great year!

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 :)

Glass and Copper Heart Necklace

I am thinking ahead to warmer weather. Projecting myself into the end of March, the first of April, with the green grass, and budding trees. The colors in this necklace take me there. Bright and springy.

Fun bracelet with spring dangles!

Remember the chain bracelets I got last week? I got to play around with them and have come up with a couple designs.

This is the Springtime Anytime bracelet






These are fun vintage pearl buttons around the bracelet and I have added Czech cubes, swarovski crystals, daisy glass beads and a fresh water pearl.

I have worked up an autumn one, and I have two more bracelets left. I think I will do one for each season!

Bead Trends deadline for submission is tomorrow, with categories of bracelets and dangles...I am gonna submit!

Stay tuned!

Just in time for your Easter basket - fun with Art Beads Furnace glass.

Back on the 10th, I posted the beginnings of a necklace made from furnance glass from Art Beads. I finally got around to finishing it this weekend, it is fun, colorful and just in time for Spring. How perfect would this be in your sweeties Easter basket, and it won't make your butt look big in them jeans! *shakes fist at the chocolate Easter bunny*

This has these components from ArtBeads -

FD-SPRING SPRING MIX Fire Designs Hand Blown Furnace Glass Approx 1oz *
CR-RL207 5x4mm Emerald/Wasabi Mix Roundelle Strand *
TBRD6-121TOHO™ Bead Round 6/0 Opaque-Lustered Pearl White 8g Bag

From Rings & Things
47-408-SP 20 ga copper wire

From my inventory
Seed beads
Faceted pink glass drops


*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.

Furnace glass and copper earrings - ArtBeads blogger challenge

I feel like I am evolving, changing directions and I like the path I am on. I feel I have more freedom to express myself than I have had in a long time.

Oh yes, I am hooked on this new design :) I don't know what the style is called, I am sure it has a name, I need to research it and give it justice.



Started with a 5 inch piece of 20 ga copper wire, made a loop on the end. Hammered a small section to flatten the copper so the beads would not slide down. Added the bead design and made right and left hand curves on top of them. Wrapped the end around my ring mandrel to created the ear wire and then hammered the wire to strengthen it. Added the pink drops to the bottom and there you have it.

From ArtBeads, I used -
FD-SPRING SPRING MIX Fire Designs Hand Blown Furnace Glass Approx 1oz *
CR-RL207 5x4mm Emerald/Wasabi Mix Roundelle Strand *
VIN-0041 Pink Glass Teardrop Vintage Patina Copper Head Pin *

From Rings & Things, I used -
47-408-SP 20 ga copper wire

The one thing I did notice about wearing these. Because they do not give, it is hard to cradle the phone between your shoulder and cheek, and if you have on something that has a stiffer collar (jean jacket) the earrings will be pushed out of your ears. So these could be seasonal earrings. Good for summer and light jackets. (that or i have to stop making them so long)


This one is still in the works. I am not sure what to do just yet, I am thinking multiple strand. I could work it onto a chain or leather, still thinking. I love this furnace glass and took the picture with candy. It looks like something you would find in your Easter basket - Yum Yum!!! (and it won't make your butt look big :) )


This has these components from ArtBeads -

FD-SPRING SPRING MIX Fire Designs Hand Blown Furnace Glass Approx 1oz *
CR-RL207 5x4mm Emerald/Wasabi Mix Roundelle Strand *
TBRD6-121TOHO™ Bead Round 6/0 Opaque-Lustered Pearl White 8g Bag

And from Rings & Things
47-408-SP 20 ga copper wire

Will show you more tomorrow!!

*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.

Spring furnace glass fun with Art Beads!

Gumdrops and Easter, jonquils and daffodils, this is a celebration of spring from Art Beads!!
I kept the design simple wanting the cluster of furnace glass to get all of the attention. And you know how I am about that furnace glass!!!


Here are the components from ArtBeads.com that went into this necklace -
PBA-LX003 Antique Vintage Brass-Plated Pewter Clover Shape Heart Link *
PBA-LX021 Antique Vintage Brass-Plated Pewter Abstract Oval Link *
BBACH08 Antique Brass-Plated Figaro Chain *
CR-RL207 5x4mm Emerald/Wasabi Mix Roundelle Strand *
FD-SPRING SPRING MIX Fire Designs Hand Blown Furnace Glass Approx 1oz *
VIN-0041 Pink Glass Teardrop Vintage Patina Copper Head Pin *
BBA-HP15 1.5-inch Antique Brass-Plated 23 Gauge Head Pin 24 *


The holes in the furnace glass beads are large, so I used the green glass and seed beads as 'stoppers' and it was also a nice addition to the dangles. Gave it a bit more depth.

Bam! In your face colors of Spring!!


It explodes from your neck with bright springtime colors



Am starting to put away my sweaters and break out my short sleeve shirts. Can't wait to wear this!

*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.

Celebrating sping - Beadin Path Design Partner

*blink* *blink* Celebrating spring? whaa???

I can't help myself.

Here in NC it isn't so bad in the fall. It is pretty temperate all year actually. The problem lies in my mind - there I said it.

In my mind November is cold, frost on the pumpkin, crops comin in out of the fields, sweaters, blazing fire places, dark mornings, and gaining 15 lbs.

I am already projecting myself into April's cool moist mornings, fragrant with freshly tilled earth and early blooming flowers. That is the inspiration or mebbe even the desperation that channeled this bracelet.

Close your eyes and think of spring and the grass that is trying to grow. Clumps, spotty through the yard, with tiny violas, jonquils and crocus' pushing their way up. I am there, barefoot, wiggling my toes in the cool morning grass.




I used the LUC4525OR Vintage Lucite Tangerine Moonglow - 7mm rounds from Beadin Path as one of the strands.

Pink fresh water pearls or the second strand.
Lampwork, crackle quartz and opalite for the third strand

Give them a good mingle.




Three strands for a bulky sunshiney spring time celebration bracelet.
I'm ready.

Gettin round to it - Rings & Things Challenge - Silver tone necklace

Here is it June and I am still mulling over Rings & Things May blogger challenge. The satin cord and the gold and silver tone chain are giving me a run for my money. I didn't want to just hang a pendant from the chain. I was determined to try and incorporate the chain into the design.

This type of chain (Chain, 18", Serpentine (Silver Plated)) doesn't co operate easily. The mechanics of the chain offer a firm, less flexible design, that is perfect for pendants. Why did I not take this into consideration when I set out to tackle this project.

I am stubborn sometimes.


I took some random spring colors (I have noticed I have been on an orange kick lately - but it stands to reason, orange is the color of creativity!) of 10/1 seed beads and threaded them onto my beading wire. I attached the beading wire to the chain by looping it around the chain and pulling it up real close and crimping it. Then I wrapped it around the chain using several different 'tighnesses' of the loops to give it a more cascading look. I attached it the same way at the other end. I created simple charms and wire wrapped them to some of the bigger loops, and then finally added a millefiori bead as a focal.

Wha-LA!

This is the toughest challenge to date! Thanks Dave and Rings and Things for pushing me this month!

Planning your accessories

Fashion Tribes site lists the colors for spring 2009

PANTONE 18-4043 Palace Blue
PANTONE 15-3817 Lavender
PANTONE 14-0754 Super Lemon
PANTONE 15-1626 Salmon Rose
PANTONE 18-2328 Fuchsia Red
PANTONE 14-1307 Rose Dust
PANTONE 16-5804 Slate Gray
PANTONE 16-6339 Vibrant Green
PANTONE 16-0435 Dark Citron
PANTONE 14-5714 Lucite Green

What thrills me bout these colors are the greens. It seems that most ppl will associate the brighter colors with spring, and save the greens for late summer or the muted greens for fall. As you can see, this spring has it all. I love to see the bold and muted colors used together. I was doing my wish list from my supplier list and found these great items - Maybe they will work for you too.

From Sedona Stones

South jade roundells would be a great addition to any supply set and it falls in so nicely with the Dark Citron category of springs colors. These and the brass or copper filigree - Glorious!

From Rings & Things

The Palace Blue color is captured so well in the BerryFizz web only mix - the ideas are endless with this mixed lot.


From Art Beads
In the red fuchsia category are these fuchsia head drilled keshi pearls. They make me squeal they are so hawt! Want! Want!