Learning to love turquoise

I was not a fan, I'll admit it. The only reason I started working with turquoise is my husband. We were at the Tucson Gem show, I was completly in sensory overload, wanting to buy everything at the first table I saw. If it wasn't for my husband I dont' think I would have made it. He dragged me by the hand keeping me on a steady cruisng pace to see all there was to see, then let me go. By then I had calmed down and was at a mere froth as opposed to a frenzy, somewhat in control. As we shopped, he kept taking me back to the turquoise. I didn't want any, I didn't like it - he said, "it isnt what you want dear, it is what your customers want."

I hate when he is right.......

In my mind I see the squash blossoms set in heavy silver designs from the 70's. I can't do that. I am a stringer. On the flip side of that, when I would see turquoise, it was a single strand of nothing but turquoise. Elegant, yes, boring, could be. Stop making excuses, Tish. I had to get over what I thought turquoise was for and find out what it was about. Turquoise is a great stone, beautiful in color, a beautiful focus, and a wonderful accent. It really does have it all. I have had a lot of fun with turquoise since then and I have to give my husband all the credit.

This is a fun chunky necklace that came about from the focal. About a 18 months ago, I was playing with this chunk of turquoise, trying to figgure out how to wrap it. It is so round I was having a hard time coming up with a design that would hold it securly. It is a drilled bead so I went with the obvious. I didn't care for it and set it aside. I came across it again, that little lonely piece of turquoise needing to be placed in a design. So I sat down to work.

Turquoise has an earthy feel to me. A real connection with the earth and all the things around me, so pairing it with wood was a no brainer.

I used a triple strand design. First strand of solid tiger eye. The second of red toho 3/0 beads accented with turquoise. The third strand, the 'focus strand', a symmetrical pattern of turquoise, red beads, quartz and wood beads. I added the wrapped pendant stone to the third strand. Then loosely weave them all together for a fun and jumbled look. It hangs about 20" so it is great with about any style shirt.








That lonely pendant that started it all.



What projects have you started and then set aside? Try picking it back up and see what creativity comes your way!

Finding a Surprise - Beadin Path Design Partner

Still organizing my work room, little by little. I don't get to far, when I find something awesome I had forgot about and have to sit down and play with it.

This day was no different. I was going thru my show kit, and on a whim, hit the zippered pockets. Much to my surprise, I found a ziplock full of these little guys -



Oh wow, I remember buying them off Ebay several years ago. What am I gonna do with all these pendants? My eyes drifted toward the bag of goodies I just received from Heather at Beadin Path and those big lovely jonquil lucite beads caught my eye.

The wheels began to turn.

I picked up the tiger eye pendant, grabbed some tiger eye chips I had, and snatched up the 8mm and the 16mm jonquil lucite beads. (I'll organzie later, this is much to important!) I sat at my work table and began to push some ideas around. This just wasn't enuff. There was something missing. What can I add to it to give it a splash of color?

*think* *think*

African Opal!! Beautiful blues, like the Caribean, with brown inclusions that accent the color of the tiger eye. Topped it off with swarovski crystals and a few sterling barrels. Brilliant!!

I love this piece. I wanted it to look like the wearer was bold enough to put two necklaces together, when in all actuality, it is a double strand necklace. I may redo it, so it can be worn together or as separates.


Sand & Sea










Thanks Heather for sending out such great beads!!!

Introducing - Basking Tabby

This is the piece I am donating to the auction for a local no kill shelter - Safe Haven.

This is a no kill shelter for cats, so I wanted the piece to have a 'theme' of sorts w/o being kitschy.

*think* *think*

I am attracted to the warmth of orange, so I decided to go with carnelian, tiger eye, some fun glass to stay with orange -

Hey - Tabby's are orange....I have an orange tabby.

I based a lot of this design on my tabby - Zeus. General consensus has it that orange tabbies are the most affectionate and loving of all cats. Blame it on the color. If you have or have had an orange tabby you know what I am talking about. They have to be near you all the time, be in your face, touch you, follow you, talk to you, rub on you, lay in your clothes, follow you, panick when they can't see you - needy is a good word.

In this design I used that 'personality' of my Zeus to create a draped and lazy front design. He has to drape across me or my work at all times.

Here it is -



Basking Tabby - carnelian, tiger eye, white jade, magnesite, and millefiori glass from Sedona Stones.



Close up of the sterling cat clasp from Artbeads.com



Close up of the sterling cat charms that are tucked in the design, also from Artbeads.



And as always - Zeus walking thru at least one of my shots.............

Basking Tabby

I have assembled the mess of beads that will become the piece I am donating to an auction for a local no kill shelter. Safe Haven

Blurb from their site -

This year more than ever SAFE Haven For Cats (SHFC) is depending on support for their Fifth Annual Tuxedo Cat Ball. A dual celebration of our biggest fundraiser event of the year and our 15th Anniversary. Funds raised at this special event will be used in 2009 to rescue and adopt more than 500 cats and kittens and to assist our community by providing feline spay and neuter services to more than 3,000 cats in connection with SAFE Care Feline Spay Neuter Clinic.

Out of this tangled mess will come a big and bold necklace, and a compliment piece of either earrings or bracelet..I cant' decide. Staying true to the theme, I have already named the set - Basking Tabby - for the cat, and to reflect the warm colors in the stones.

All of these came from Sedona Stones