A Few Creations

Tags

Allegory Gallery, Artists for Animals Auction, Candie Cooper, Dane County Humane Society, Green Girl Studios, Madison Cat Project, Soft Flex, Spurwink River Arts

I haven’t been making as much lately. I think it’s a variety of factors. I’m very busy at work, and so I do a different kind of relaxing when I am home. I’m still working on cleaning my messy studio. And the largest factor I think is that I’m working on some other things during the times I would normally be creating. Yesterday I put together a bed. FYI – don’t put together a bed alone. But it’s done now, and I’m glad. But here are a few things I’ve made in the bits of time I’ve found.

Here is a bracelet I made with a kit (and a few beads from my stash) from Green Girl Studios. It will stack nicely with other bracelets. I’ve also been trying some photo props and tricks. This isn’t the most successful, but you can’t learn if you don’t try.

After watching a video of what people made with their Soft Flex #loveislove kit, I was hankering for a rainbow necklace. I had missed the kit, but I ordered a rainbow array of crystals from Candie Cooper. I think the necklace turned out great.

I have ordered several inspiration kits from Allegory Gallery recently. I used some of the beads from one to make a necklace.

The pinch beads and sparkly rondelles are from the inspiration kit. They are perfect for this fun cat charm from Spurwink River Arts. I will be putting this in the Artists for Animals Auction coming up November 7 – 13, 2022. My sales will support Madison Cat Project (MCP).

I got my own cat, Daniel Tiger, from the Dane County Humane Society (DCHS). Madison Cat Project partners with organizations like DCHS for cats deemed unadoptable. MCP uses an extensive network of fosters to get these cats ready for adoption or find other situations (such as an appropriate barn cat location for cats who don’t want to live indoors around people.) I’ve always really loved the mission of MCP. When I looked through the adoption paperwork for Daniel Tiger, there was a notation near the beginning that said “possible candidate for MCP.” They thought he was feral and was not responsive to people early on. I want to support an organization that would have had the time to help my baby become the wonderful kitty he is today. He just needed time and attention that DCHS doesn’t have. (I also support them. They do a great job!)

It has been raining all day here, and will continue on Monday. We’re under a flood watch. I look forward to sunny days again after that. I hope you have a wonderful week.

Back To It

Tags

Allegory Gallery, Nikki Thornburg-Lanigan, Swellegant

I haven’t been feeling as creative as usual lately. I suspected it was due to my uber messy studio. I really have to get in the habit of leaving time at the end of creating to put things away and clean up. Otherwise it just layers up on other layers and becomes unworkable. Like this.

This is my bead table which I have not used in quite a while. I just moved on to another surface.

My desk, and this wasn’t even how messy it was at the beginning of this session. I had already started to clean it, but it certainly wasn’t lending itself to open creativity or even space to work.

Then there is the photo area. How do I even function?!? The point is, I’m starting not to. So, something had to be done.

This is by no means clean, but at least it’s better. It took less than an hour. During that time I also cleaned a couple areas of the floors that were frankly becoming tripping hazards. I’m currently working on framing the artwork I’ve amassed, and a lot of it will go in my studio on what I plan as an art wall. I need to get it clean enough so more than one person can move around in there. I plan to have my mom help me, so I have extra motivation to make it safe so there is no tripping! Speaking of framing, here is one piece that turned out extra good. I’m not doing any professional framing this time, and just really easy stuff. I actually bought this frame just because it was one of the few square frames that fit a square pieces I had (if I removed the mat). Then I happened to notice it would look cute with this Nikki Thornburg-Lanigan print. It hadn’t occurred to me to put it in a smaller frame that just showed the print and not more of the paper, but I love how this highlights it.

I temporarily have it in the protector corners until I can get it on the wall.

Anyway, today with the newly cleaned space, I was able to make a necklace I had planned.

The pendant is a vintage hollow brass bead that I used Swellegant patina on. I added vintage bead caps and hung it from a double ring that I grunged up with some Swellegant as well. I believe all the beads on the strand are from Allegory Gallery. The stripey ones are vintage and were part of a kit. The brown ones are mermaid glass; you can see how they glow. I used little faceted pyrite (I think?) spacers. I added a little chain at back to make it adjustable. I think my ridged patina pendant and the stripey glass beads go well together. I’m glad they found each other.

Exploring the Creative Process

Tags

Allegory Gallery, Andrew Thornton, Apoxie Clay, Candie Cooper, Cynthia Thornton, Humblebeads, Inviciti, Sally Sutherland Designs, Stephen Westfall, The Great Bead Extravaganza, Vintaj

Recently, Andrew Thornton made a video about his use of idea books over the years. I haven’t been making a lot lately, so I thought I would talk about my own use of idea books. I often make sketches on loose pieces of paper, but I also have multiple books (Andrew’s use of the term “idea books” was new to me when he used it leading up to one of The Great Bead Extravaganza events.)

I have two main idea books: one for upstairs and one for downstairs. However, I couldn’t find the downstairs one a few weeks ago, so I brought the upstairs one down. I’m sure I’ll find the other one eventually. I like to buy books made by folks who take old kids books and fill them with blank pages. The spiral binding makes them easy to lay open when I’m trying to write/draw in them, especially when I have a lot going on.

One thing I like to do, especially if I am watching a video or tutorial, is write down supplies or tools and where to get them. It’s handy to be able to refer to this later when placing an order or trying to remember what that great thing was that someone mentioned.

Pendant by Cynthia Thornton. Vintage turquoise nuggets from Allegory Gallery.

Of course I sketch design ideas. It’s helpful to capture those and also fun to go back and see how much of the idea goes into the final design (if it even gets made). The earrings at the top of the page have not been made (and these sketches are from 2019). I can’t specifically say the sketch at the bottom of the page got made. The pendant got used, but nothing else from the sketch was incorporated.

Faux tin mitten and sari silk from Humblebeads. Large clear glass and manik-manik beads from Allegory Gallery.

Here’s a case where I ended up adjusting the design as I went along and made a much better piece in the end.

Here I took down the names of some interesting books Candie Cooper referred to in a video, noted where in the video there was a design idea I wanted to go back to and did a quick sketch of some tips she gave about using memory wire.

When I was participating in the Art Journeys for Art Bead Scene, I would often look at the inspiration and sketch out ideas based on art beads I thought of. I love this one. I used both the Sally Sutherland tab beads and the Czech glass flowers from the original sketch.

Inviciti charm inside Vintaj frame.

Pendant by Andrew Thornton

Idea books are also great to use when thinking of designs for kits. This one is from one of Allegory Gallery‘s 2015 design kits, Amethyst Aether. I loved that kit! The necklace used a lot of ideas from the top sketch. The bottom sketch also turned into a necklace similar to described.

The book always comes in handy for writing things down. It’s so much better than all of my scraps of paper which then I can never find. This is from when Andrew Thornton was doing a tutorial (I think with Apoxie Clay) and he mentioned some mosaic artists. I went to check them out and made a list of the ones I wanted to follow for inspiration. The other day in another video he mentioned one of his teachers from college, Stephen Westfall, and I love what I’ve seen. Those pieces from Persephone!

There is so much more you can do with these books. Andrew had a lot more things in there if you watch his video. I often use them for lists when I’m deciding what to buy just because I’ve got a cat on my lap and I can reach the idea book and my scrap paper is further away. I don’t want to disrupt the cat! It’s nice to have a place to (sort of) organize the creative mind.

More Earrings and Online Projects

Tags

Allegory Gallery, Artists for Animals Auction, Candie Cooper, The Great Bead Extravaganza, Vintaj

I’ve been watching presentations from The Great Bead Extravaganza this weekend. Andrew Thornton of Allegory Gallery showed how to decoupage on metal to make customized pendants. I think that will be fun to try so I can use some of my own paper crafts. I bought a great kit from Candie Cooper, and she showed how she used it for earrings and a bracelet. Kay from Star’s Beads showed how to make a variety of tassels. I love tassels!

So I was busy and did not make much, but I did make two pair of earrings. I’m going to have a lot made by the time the Artists for Animals Auction gets here! I feel so relaxed knowing I won’t be rushing to get ready at the end.

Pair one features some wonderful filigree dangles from Vintaj.

The second pair has Czech glass beads showing a cat playing with a ball of yarn. I’m in love with everything about these beads – the motif, the shape, the colors. I got those from Allegory Gallery.

If you are in the current US heatwave, stay cool! If you aren’t, I hope you are having good weather where you are.

Glowing and Sparkling

Tags

Allegory Gallery, Apoxie Sculpt, Artists for Animals Auction, Christi Friesen, Famous Vintage Bead Hoard Liquidation Destash, My Elements, Yvonne Irvin-Faus

I didn’t make nearly as many things this weekend as last weekend, but it’s just a regular weekend and not a long one. I switched from earrings and made a necklace and a pendant.

This dot pendant is from Yvonne Irvin-Faus. I love dots, so this dots within dots is really my kind of thing. I also got the black flower connector and tiny turquoise O rings from her shop My Elements. I wanted to play up the colors in the pendant, so I added the tiny peach tassel and used a similar color waxed linen so the peach peeks out in addition to the turquoise rings. I used a few different purple beads, primarily mermaid beads from Allegory Gallery. Their glow includes other pendant colors like blue and pinkish. This will be in the Artists for Animals Auction.

I got some mixed new old stock Swarovski crystals from Famous Bead Hoard Liquidation Destash and thought it would be cool to fill a bezel with them randomly using Apoxie Sculpt. This was inspired by Christi Friesen’s Bling Ghoulie (I have one).

I used a Nunn Design bezel (that coincidentally I got from Christi’s shop) and had fun stuffing it as full as possible with the crystals. I kept taking pictures and video and finding more space! Here is a little video of it when I called it done. Now it’s just curing.

Here is a photo, but I think the video captures it better – the sparkle!

I cleaned the inside edge up a little more after I saw this photo as well.

More Earrings

Tags

Allegory Gallery, Artists for Animals Auction, Ava Motherwell, Inviciti, Sasha Crow Designs, Shipwreck Dandy Supply, Supply Your Soul, Vintaj

I made a few more earring pairs. I wanted to stay on the creative streak as long as it lasted. I’ve been off work for five days in a row! Very exciting. I go back tomorrow. So, on to the pictures.

These feature heart charms from Inviciti, cool metal beads of unknown origin and gem cut rondelles from Allegory Gallery‘s pewter line. Plus a pop of color with a turquoise seed bead.

I had used Vintaj patina in a couple of colors on these cute cat charms to get an aged look. I added some patina metal beads from Supply Your Soul (the artist always gets the perfect aged look I love) and added crystals with aged bead caps from Shipwreck Dandy Supply. I really like the aged and elegant combination.

These colorful earrings are just my style. They feature African glass (they’ve been washed but still retain a hint of grunge), and Allegory Gallery pewter line faceted drops in copper finish. They are heavier than average, but worth every ounce.

I was looking through some Czech glass beads and saw these little skulls. They just needed to be earrings, swinging through the air on some chain.

I picked up a set of these phrase charms in a flower shop years ago. I added the headpin dangles from Sasha Crow. Definitely check out her jewelry; it is amazing.

I’m thrilled with this little pair. Two colors of vintage crystals from Ava Motherwell with a hobnail vermeil spacer and some fun ear wires.

I’m pleased with my makes so far for the Artists for Animals Auction. It’s still months away, so I’m sure I will make more. I like making along the way so it doesn’t sneak up on me. I’ll have to stock up on padded envelopes and decorate some boxes for mailing.

Earrings Galore

Tags

Allegory Gallery, Artists for Animals Auction, Candie Cooper, Famous Vintage Bead Hoard Liquidation Destash, Jeni Houser Alasad, My Elements, Vintaj, Yvonne Irvin-Faus

I am trying to up my earrings game because those are what seem popular for sale. I make necklaces for myself, but if I want to raise money for a charity, I think earrings are the way to go. (Although I will always throw in a few necklaces because they are the most fun to make!) Here is what I’ve made recently.

Here are Jeni Houser Alasad connectors with vintage glass. I had been trying to find something for above the connectors. I finally found that some tiny silver spacers fit perfectly.

Slightly asymmetrical (by color) earrings with metal butterflies from Candie Cooper, galaxy beads from Allegory Gallery, and My Elements connector flowers by Yvonne Irvin-Faus.

The hammered brass components and glitter acrylic barrels (love) are from a Vintaj VIP Inspiration Box. I added vintage dangles from Famous Vintage Bead Hoard Liquidation Destash and some small textured silver spacers.

Brass filigree, also from a Vintaj box, with polymer face headpins by Mary Redman.

Mod earrings with red hoops from Famous Vintage Bead Hoard Liquidation Destash and striped beads from My Elements. Lots of great movement in these.

Colorful metal cats from Candie Cooper with polymer spacers and metal pewties from Allegory Gallery and mismatched components from My Elements.

I forgot to add these earrings when I first posted. Vintage glass with filigree bead caps, Vintaj keyhole connectors and little metal key dangles.

I had a good earring day! These will all be available at an upcoming Artists for Animals Auction.

Upgrades and Earrings

Tags

Allegory Gallery, Bronwen Heilman, End-of-Day-Beads, Inviciti, Kimberly Rogers, Numinosity, Supply Your Soul, Yucca Bloom Jewelry

I’ve been trying to find the right way to wear a fabulous glass hand bead by Kimberly Rogers of numinosity. I put it on some vintage pink chain and lived with it a little while to see how I felt, but at the same time I ordered chain I thought would be better. I got the Supply Your Soul Cimarron Rose patina chain, and it’s perfect.

The left picture shows the hand a bit better (shiny is hard to photograph) and the right picture shows the chain colors better. The combination of grey, cinnamon, and rose gold applied in this grungy way (my favorite) is just what the hand needed.

I also made a couple pair of earrings for the next Artists for Animals Auction.

I got wonderful metal fish charms from End-of-Day-Beads, a supply sales shop from the creator of Yucca Bloom jewelry. I used a couple of Bronwen Heilman glass headpins as drops, more old metal, galaxy glass beads from Allegory Gallery, and tiny sodalite beads on top. I really like these.

Next I made some earrings with cat charms from Inviciti, paper beads from Jimena’s Treasures, vintage metal, Cookies n Cream painta beads from Supply Your Soul and colorful polymer discs from Allegory Gallery.

Now I have to go do other stuff, but I had fun being in the studio today.

Conversation Hearts

Tags

Allegory Gallery, Gaea Handmade

Do you remember candy necklaces and bracelets? I loved them when I was growing up. They weren’t the best tasting candy (Chick-O-Stick might have that honor, or some kind of chocolate) but they had fun colors, and I loved wearing them, even if they did leave a color streak on my arm if I wasn’t neat enough when I ate some of the “beads.” Conversation hearts were another sales job. I never thought they were delicious, but they came in a cute package, and it was fun seeing the different messages.

Allegory Gallery recently featured strands of polymer clay beads on one of their Live at Five videos. They are similar to the African vinyl record beads, but the mixed colorful strands really reminded me of the candy necklaces I loved as a kid. (I also got the black, grey, and white. Love that color combo!)

I thought they would look cool just in a long strand, but then I got to thinking how I’d like to intersperse them with conversation heart beads. I looked for beads based on conversation hearts, but I didn’t want the traditional messages. I wanted something a bit more progressive. Times have changed, and I want to keep moving toward a world that is more inclusive and just, even down to candy necklaces. I didn’t find any beads like that, and someone suggested contacting Gaea. I really loved this design idea, and I am a big fan of Gaea’s work. I admit to having a hoard of her beads. She went above and beyond working with me about what would be possible for some of the words I was thinking about, and we decided on pendants. Perfect.

Gaea got the exact chalky look and red lettering of the heart. I can almost taste them right out of the little cardboard box. I finished the necklace with one of Gaea’s handmade copper clasps, which I find so perfect for many of my creations. The color here fits right in.

This is one of two hearts I got from Gaea. I couldn’t wait to use one in this design, but I think I’ll hoard the other one for a while. Maybe when I’m putting it away I’ll see some of my other Gaea treasures and make more creations.

Weekend Makes

Tags

Allegory Gallery, Artists for Animals Auction, Bronwen Heilman, CB&Co, Gaea Handmade, Handmade by JGL, Kimberly Rogers, My Elements, Numinosity Beads, pipe chain, Silver Silk, Supply Your Soul, Vintaj

My muse has returned! It feels so good. I had some ceramic cat beads from Allegory Gallery and connectors from My Elements on my bead table for quite a while. I thought they looked great together for earrings, but I wasn’t sure about the design. It suddenly came together. I love these.

I made those for the next Artists for Animals Auction coming up in the fall.

Next, I was also very happy with this remake. If you read this blog, you know I hate to do a remake and have many lovely items I can’t wear because they need a remake. I’m determined to do remakes, take apart things to repurpose materials or give them away so I don’t have so many things just sitting around. So, first, a remake. Very simple, but perfect.

Semi-recently I put a fabulous Bronwen Heilman pendant on some equally fabulous vintage chain. I liked the look, but when wearing it, the way the pendant flippity-flopped was not good. Heilman shows the pendants on black rubber tubing. Then SilverSilk debuted a new product called pipe chain. It’s perfect for this necklace, and a little fancier than the rubber tubing.

It’s now absolutely stable and perfect!

Next is a very simple make; I just put this pendant on chain and added a clasp, but it was years in the making because I bought the CB&CO pendant at, I think, my first Bead & Button show, so that was some years ago for sure! I happened to see the pendant in a box this morning when I was looking for something, and I had the perfect chain on my table that hadn’t worked with something else.

The pendant has mixed metals and all of the different discs move. I love the stamped phrase “I can only imagine.” It could mean anything from “I can only imagine the BS that goes on in your mind” about an annoying person to “I can only imagine the great things in store” about the future. I have long been a fan of Gaea‘s beads, and I usually buy one or more of her copper clasps when I place an order because I love those as well. She had offered them in different finishes at one point, and I’m glad I got some in the dark finish. It is perfect for this necklace.

I’m still working on some other things. I got a lampwork hand bead from Kimberly Rogers of numinosity. I am so in love with it. I really think I just want it on chain or maybe leather. It is heavy enough to flippy-flop, so I think it is best to have a design that has two connection points. I tried to create a form that would accommodate the hand with a couple of other loved items, but it wasn’t right. I might end up trying again. Then I took part of a repurposed earring (that I think I also got from Kimberly in a destash). I was trying to focus on grungy to look right with the top of the hand. But it didn’t quite work.

Then I thought what if I go in my other favorite direction from grunge, kitsch. The hand has a pink cast to it, and I was so in love with this bubblegum pink vintage chain when I saw it. I do like it, but I’ve also ordered some ball chain in a patina called Cimarron Rose (grey, cinnamon and rose gold) from Supply Your Soul. I love the patina items from this shop. The color combinations are so great and the application makes things look perfectly grungy. I went looking for chain with the Urban Decay patina, but there was none. This one might be even better with some tones from the pink family. If I like it, I’ll have to think the best way to connect the pendant to avoid flippy-flop. I might go with leather.

The other necklace in this picture shows the earring part I was working with. It is meant to go vertically, and I had it that way with the hand at the bottom and the bead on that middle loop. It is a nice brass, and I used hematite and marble Vintaj patina to make it look old and worn. I didn’t like it with the hand, so I decided to turn it horizontally and just leave the bead dangle on there. I used a handmade headpin from Handmade by JGL. We’ll see if I leave either of these. The length of them makes them layer well together.

I got pretty long-winded on this post, so thanks for sticking with me if you are still reading!