Pine Ridge Treasures – Bead Treasure Blog Hop

Tags

Diane Hawkey, Jeni Houser Alasad, Lisa Lodge, Pine Ridge Treasures, Stitch Whimsy Market, Supply Your Soul

Today is the reveal for another blog hop hosted by the lovely Lisa Lodge of Pine Ridge Treasures. We had color choices for the kits, and I chose green.

As usual, the kit was very generous! There were lots of possibilities here. Interestingly, although I’m really a green person, I was drawn to the more neutral beads.

I used the grey crystal rondelles and brown bicones from the kit with my own grey pearls and gold spacers. For a pendant, I used a Jeni Houser Alasad connector and added a gold dangle from a vintage chain extender. I finished the piece with the toggle clasp from Lisa’s kit.

After I made that, I had a bit of a creative block. I had the beads on my table, but I just wasn’t coming up with an idea that suited me. Then, a breakthrough! I started considering using one of the large crystals. After contemplating how to use it for a while, I remembered how much I enjoy using different fibers for tassels and thought it would look great with a mostly white tassel using the white pearls from the kit as well!

The idea did not disappoint. I love how it turned out. It has a great balance of rustic and elegant. I searched for the best bead cap to use for the top of the tassel. I had been thinking about using a floral one that I would paint with white patina, but when I saw this more rustic black and white one (from this shop) I decided it was the way to go. I used a variety of fibers from Stitch Whimsy Market for the tassel and included a white beaded chain you can just see peeking out.

I used patina metal spacers between the kit’s white pearls. They are from Supply Your Soul with the Ancient Relic patina. I thought the rustic nature went well with the tassel cap. At the back to make it the correct length, I added a piece of pearl rosary chain. I finished it off a vintage pearl box clasp.

I was putting away some beads, and I came across this cute Diane Hawkey beastie. I was looking for some chain to put it on, thinking perhaps that’s all I’d want. I found this great vintage chain with various blue glass beads, but I only had a short section. Then I thought the blue-green stripes on the beastie also would go well with the green aventurine beads. From the kit, I used 4 green aventurine pillows and 6 Czech glass beads. I think the one on their head looks like a little chapeau. I added a few cacoxenite star cut beads to bring out the purple in the beastie’s face. I added various green, blue, beaded and metal chain for a tassel because I love a chain tassel! I think this turned out so cute.

Thank you to Lisa Lodge for hosting another fun blog hop and providing such a generous kit! Please visit Lisa and the other blogs below to see what other people made with their kits.

Your hostess: Lisa Lodge, A Grateful Artist

Kim Dworak, Cianci Blue

Heather Canepa, Desert Jewelry Designs

Beti Horvath, Stringing Fool Jewelry

Ann Schroeder, Bead Love (You are here)

Marde Lowe, FanciMar Designs

Gloria Allen, Wings and Beads

Renee Edbrooke – Cianci Blue (sharing a post with Kim Dworak)

Three Necklaces

Tags

Anne Gardanne, Diane Hawkey, Famous Vintage Bead Hoard Liquidation Destash, Jenny Davies-Reazor, Supply Your Soul, The Lost Apothecary

I love these word pendants Jenny Davies-Reazor makes. I recently read The Lost Apothecary and really enjoyed it, so this “apothecary” pendant resonated with me. (I also now follow some mudlarkers on Instagram!) I had gotten a mixed lot of Czech glass beads from Famous Vintage Bead Hoard Liquidation Destash in the colors of the pendant. I thought they would make a good match.

I used a blue enamel floral piece by Anne Gardanne on one side and an irregular ceramic bead by Diane Hawkey on the other with a little green-blue ceramic floral bead cap. I find the colors soothing and invigorating at the same time.

I got some cool large enamel rings, also from Famous Vintage Bead Hoard Liquidation Destash. I looked through my Diane Hawkey stash because she often uses such nice bright colors. I made a chain out of the enamel rings and some large oval black jump rings.

I used two fun buttons where the pendant ring attaches to the necklace chain. The green and red one on the left in this photo came from a trip my sister and her girlfriend took to the Netherlands. I used a small section of lightweight black chain at the back because I knew it would be more comfortable.

I had some beautiful grey rosary chain (also from the Famous Vintage Bead Hoard) out for a project it didn’t end up going with, but I thought it would be good for another project I had in mind. I had some grungy silver metal hearts from Shipwreck Dandy Supply. I love grunge! I sealed them with Renaissance Wax. I needed a chain in the front I could attach them to, and I found the absolute perfect leftover section of chain from Supply Your Soul with ancient relic patina. I used one vintage Swarovski crystal to heighten the glam factor of the glam-grunge look.

It has been fun to have some creative time this weekend. I have more projects, but I have to get some other things done around the house, so they will have to wait. I hope your upcoming week goes well!

Creativity Returned

Tags

Allegory Gallery, Andrew Thornton: Project Destash, Ceramic Art Bead Market, Diane Hawkey, Famous Vintage Bead Hoard Liquidation Destash, Gaea, Saki Silver

I haven’t felt especially creative in a while, though I’ve done some things. Today I felt like coming up to my studio. I didn’t make the things I initially had in mind, but I am back to my old way of having materials I see inspire the pieces I make.

First, I was getting out some seed beads for a necklace I will still make in the future, and I saw a textured bronze frame pendant from Saki Silver. I thought of a couple different beads that would go well with the frame. I have another one, so maybe I will make one of the other ideas eventually. This time I decided to go with larimar, star cut amazonite and labradorite.

I alternated the larimar and amazonite with tiny labradorite chips in between. I hung a labradorite coin in the middle of the frame. I got a deal on the larimar from Famous Vintage Bead Hoard Liquidation Destash. I got the amazonite and labradorite from Allegory Gallery and/or Andrew Thornton: Project Destash.

Then I started to put away some beads that have been sitting out for quite a while – cherry red vintage lucite rounds. I love read beads, and I have been thinking lately that I need to use some of the art beads I’ve been hoarding. I knew if I looked through my Diane Hawkey stash, I would find a nice pendant with a red accent, and I did! (If you are looking for Diane Hawkey beads, she sells on the Ceramic Art Bead Market.) I used a Gaea off white bead above it, some large red/metallic seed beads, and gold colored pewties from Allegory Gallery. I hung some sparkly pyrite from the bottom of the pendant.

It felt good to be creative today. I feel like making another necklace too, but I think I really need to clean up my space a little bit. But first, lunch!

Stay safe and creative.

Quick and Easy – Holiday Edition

Tags

A Grain of Sand, Andrew Thornton, Cathy Collison, Diane Hawkey, Famous Vintage Bead Hoard Liquidation Destash, Gina Chalfant, Kelly Luttrell, Mary Redman, My Elements, Soul Relica, Suzanne Branca, Wendy Wallin Malinow, Yvonne Irvin-Faus

Nothing that I will show in this post took much effort on my part, but it doesn’t mean I’m not pleased with it or that I don’t love it. I do like some things that take more effort so that I can express my creativity, but some easy things are fun. And when I am using really beautiful materials, sometimes it doesn’t take much else.

First, I’ve been having so much fun going through some mixed boxes of vintage things I’ve gotten from Suzanne Branca of A Grain of Sand. As she sells off her vintage stock, she has included some monthly subscription boxes she had back in the day. It is so wonderful to go through them and see all the treasures. She is posting things on her Famous Vintage Bead Hoard Liquidation Destash page as she finds them, and I’m hoping that she will come up with a few more boxes since they have been such fun. One of the things I’ve gotten is color-coated metal (aluminum?) corrugated beads. They are so cheerful. 

These don’t have to be holiday depending on how one uses them, but they certainly read that way to me this month. I was in the studio cleaning and organizing, and I decided to go ahead and just quick make a necklace and an ornament. 

I have an ornament tree in my studio all year long to display lovely things that make me smile. You can see the simple red ornament I made with one of the beads between a Diane Hawkey creature and a Wendy Wallin Malinow sundae deer. You can also see a couple of ornaments by Andrew Thornton, Mary Redman, Gina Chalfant, and part of one by Cathy Collison.

Then I made a very simple necklace. I wanted just one of the big beads hanging from chain to wear around when I am feeling festive. I had the perfect chain, available from Yvonne Irvin-Faus‘ shop My Elements. 

Fun, right? Then as I was unpacking more of the vintage Suzanne Branca goodies, I came upon some beautiful chain. I have recently bought a couple of gorgeous pendants by Kelly Luttrell of Soul Relica. Here is one.

I decided they do not need anything except a way to hang around my neck. I was planning to go through my chain stash when this chain presented itself to me, so I cut it to size and slid one of the pendants on it. 

It’s really beautiful chain, so perfect for this piece. I’m thrilled to have found it.

With not much work on my part, I was able to feel creative and have two new necklaces and an ornament! It was part of a really good day.

 

Creative Weekend

Tags

Bead Table Wednesday, Beads to Blooms, Diane Hawkey, Heather Powers, Loralee Kolton, Miss Fickle Media, Sarah Moran, Yvonne Irvin-Faus, Z-Beads

I did more creating this weekend. Some I’ll show here; others are still in process and/or in preparation for my next resin pour. I’m really loving resin.

First is also an in progress piece. I got this large vintage cuff from Beads to Blooms Destash. The owner also has an etsy store, but I’m always looking for the one off pieces. I used some Vintaj marble patina on the design part. I need to clean it up and relief it back some more. I might also paint some colors on the design and then relief those back. I love the ’70s look it has so far with the size and the bright metal. 

I also made a couple more simple bead-on-chain necklaces. The first uses one of my precious Sarah Moran beads from z-beads. I own exactly one strand of her beads, and this was a little mini-me bead that was included, so I felt ok using it. There is a little ring of tiny green dots, and I used that color chartreuse enamel chain that I got from Yvonne Irvin-Faus for a simple necklace. I love how the pink and blue look with the green. I’m such a fan of unusual color combinations. 

A second simple chain necklace uses a Diane Hawkey word bead. 

It is a somewhat rustic bead, and what could be considered a harsh word, so I liked the idea of putting it on this elegant chain. The textured chain is black without color on the higher parts. That makes the metal sparkle. I finished it with a Miss Fickle Media clasp. I feel like this word is ripe for reclamation. It’s used against women any time someone wants to let us know we aren’t “acceptable” in some way. I sometimes hear women use it to empower themselves, giving themselves permission to be assertive, to have an opinion, to speak up, to not back down. I often say I can be perceived as rude to someone else or I can be rude to myself. I have no desire to be rude to myself. If that makes someone think I am or call me a bitch, I’ll take that as a compliment. So I have this necklace to reclaim that word for myself.

Last, I finally finished something that has been languishing on my bead table since my first resin experiments at the end of last year. I made a wonderful pendant I really loved. However, it was already kind of heavy, and no matter what beads I put with it, it seemed even heavier, both in visual and physical weight. A necklace the fabulous Loralee Kolton showed today on Facebook had a kind of fancy way to knot it on leather cord from a Bead Table Wednesday tutorial by Heather Powers. I realized that would be the perfect way to finish my resin pendant. 

The connection is called the cat’s paw knot, and it’s just a little nicer and fancier than my regular lark’s head knot, so I will be using this again. I really love how this pendant looks on simple leather cord, nothing to distract from the pendant, which has enough going on.

I’ll be showing the other things I was working on in the weeks to come as they are finished. I am happy to be doing more things that are multiple steps. It feels like the next step in creativity to make or alter some of the components I’m using in my jewelry.

 

Welcome to My Studio

Tags

3crows, Allegory Gallery, Andrew Thornton, Cynthia Thornton, Diane Hawkey, Erin Prais-Hintz, Gaea, Gina Chalfant, Heather Powers, Holly Strope, Jules Sontag, Mary Harding, Peter Max, Sara Pulver, Signe Baumane, Staci Louise Originals, Stephanie Schroeder, The Polymer Arts Blog, The Polymer Studio, Wendy Wallin Malinow, White Swan Studio

I’ve been wanting to do a studio tour and finally have. I love studio tours and getting ideas from other artists. I mention this blog post from The Polymer Arts Blog (which I call The Polymer Studio because that’s the name of their magazine I get.) It talks about studios in a really helpful way and links to some fun studio tours.

I tried to do a nice intro, but then I couldn’t figure out how to turn the camera around. It did give me a funny post for Facebook!

I am by no means a videographer or a smooth talker, um, but here is a link to the tour. I can’t figure out how to embed it, even though I’ve done it once before. I hope you find it interesting and maybe get an idea for your own space!

Here are links to the artists that I mention in the video.

Cat lady picture is by Sara Pulver of 3crows

Holly Strope

Erin Prais-Hintz

Gaea

Peter Max

Signe Baumane

Heather Powers

Cynthia Thornton

Also find Cynthia here at Green Girl Studios

Find Andrew Thornton’s work (and other fabulous things) at Allegory Gallery 

Find Gina Chalfant (I’m sorry I pronounced her last name wrong!) at White Swan Studio

I should have re-listened to the Allegory Gallery podcast with Gina to get that name correct. But this gives me the chance to tell you that Allegory Gallery has a podcast featuring interesting interviews with artists. Check them out here.

Wendy Wallin Malinow

Diane Hawkey

I’ll give you a tip. Diane doesn’t post a lot on her site, but you can find some things in shops, at shows or sometimes when she does trunk shows on Facebook. I know as of this writing, Allegory Gallery has a really nice selection of her beads and pendants.

Jules Sontag

Staci Louise Smith

Stephanie Schroeder

Mary Harding

 

The Beads Speak

Tags

Allegory Gallery, Andrew Thornton: Project Destash, Diane Hawkey, Lori Anderson, My Elements, Patricia Healey, Yvonne Irvin-Faus

The beads do speak, and not just the beads, but the other components too. The two necklaces I’m featuring in this post had components that whispered the design to me, and they came together in minutes.

First is a necklace featuring a pendant by Yvonne Irvin-Faus. I love her work, and she constantly invents something new. Recently, she had a show with a new line called Toonz that had a distinct graffiti/cartoon style. I really wanted a large black and white donut, and I managed to get it! Yvonne is very generous and sends well-chosen prizes with each order. With this particular order, she sent me a generous length of her Funky Skunky black and white enameled aluminum chain. Perfect! The chain called out to be used with the pendant, and I was game. I only needed one other element for it to feel finished for me. I half-heartedly tried a couple of things, but I knew something would present itself. When I got an order from Lori Anderson’s destash page, she included the perfect thing, a silver (possibly aluminum?) faceted bead.

Each side of the pendant is different.

The second necklace I’m showing today started with a strand of faceted matte quartz rock crystal nuggets. I was putting away the order they came with, and they were so beautiful I just wanted to use them right away. They told me they needed a bold pendant, and I knew that meant one of the Diane Hawkey lentils I hoard. This bird pendant is large and so special I knew it could hold its own with these beautiful, chunky nuggets. I found some frosted glass rounds in a color to complement the pendant and used those as spacers. This is finished with a Patricia Healey pendant.

This pendant is also different on each side. 

These necklaces were so satisfying to make. I will enjoy them.

Maker Blogs 9.15.18

Tags

Allegory Gallery, Andrew Thornton, Blythe doll clothing, Blythe dolls, Diane Hawkey, Tammy Powley, Tapping Flamingo, Tapping Flamingo Bling, The Crafty Princess Diaries

Welcome to this week’s maker blog post. Let’s get started.

On Tapping Flamingo, Terry talks about her mother’s experience with blood clots and how we have to be proactive with our health when doctors don’t necessarily listen. I’m so glad her mother’s story had a good outcome, thanks to a little daughterly nagging! The autism awareness bracelets that Terry makes can also be for PE/DVT awareness. Check them out in her shop. 

On the Allegory Gallery blog, their second podcast is up! This time, they interview ceramic artist Diane Hawkey. I love Diane’s colorful, whimsical work. Once again, it was fun to hear how an artist got started and how her work evolved. As part of their podcast series, Allegory Gallery features some work by each artist they interview in their shop. 

On The Crafty Princess Diaries, Tammy has been sewing Halloween dresses for Blythe dolls! Halloween is a favorite holiday for many people, including Tammy. It shows in these very cute dresses. I love the one with a candy corn motif. The candy may be too sweet for you, but the dress is just sweet enough! She’s trying to make more in time for Halloween, so keep checking back in her shop.

I’m linking to a slightly older post from Andrew Thornton’s blog. Earlier this summer, he started making these beautiful copper and sterling pendants in a variety of designs. They are all infused with meaning. Andrew talks about how things can have different interpretations, and we shouldn’t let one interpretation hold us back as makers. I would say the same thing is true of art lovers. I have pieces of art that were created with one thought by the artist, but has a different meaning filtered through my own experiences. Both of those things can hold true in the piece. That is the magic of art. 

You can find Andrew’s copper and silver work in the Allegory Gallery shop.

What’s New?

Tags

Allegory Gallery, Andrew Thornton, Diane Hawkey, Earthenwood Studio, Tinkersphere, Tracey Ann Finley Art

I was recently on vacation in New York City to visit my sister and her girlfriend. It’s always fun to go, and I had such a wonderful time. I’ve always loved everywhere my sister has lived in NY, and she’s always had great apartments. But recently she and her girlfriend, Lisa, won the housing lottery and got this fab affordable housing in Manhattan with my favorite view evah! I’m a city girl and could just sit in this living room with all the blinds up day and night. (In fact, I slept in the living room with the blinds up.  That couch folds down into a comfy bed.) 

Lisa is crafty herself and thoughtful as well. She’s often given me ideas for things to use in jewelry making. This visit she presented me with a gift to go to a place called Tinkersphere, complete with handmade card and tag! Look at that sweet little blue eyelet!

So one morning after having a delicious breakfast at The Organic Grill, which thrilled my little vegetarian heart, we ambled over to Tinkersphere in search of jewelry-making supplies and other cool things.

Just as an aside, I love all the wonderful public art available in NY.  We passed this on the way, part of a mural on the side of a building.

One of the fun things I got that I don’t have a picture of is a metal model of a Dalek (from Dr. Who) for my sister and brother-in-law to put together. They have a collection of Daleks, and I was thrilled that this one was new to them. Anywho, on with the rest of the show!

Cute robot necklace! This will probably find itself on a fancier beaded necklace in future. 

I really want to learn to solder, but until I do, I know there are some projects with copper tape that can be made to look soldered without the scary heat factor.

Various useful components.  The perfboard on the left reminded me of this Lori Anderson project. I love the pieces by Curio Jewelry using an assemblage of pieces, and I see this red bit in a piece like that. The last piece is, of course, a charm holder!

These striped blue “beads” come ready to wire wrap as connectors! And I’m so glad Lisa pointed out this magnetic bowl they are in. I am constantly searching for my ends – I don’t know what they are called, but they are metal things you put on the ends of your stringing material when working on a necklace so the beads don’t fall off. Now I can corral them in this magnetic bowl!

This shop was really fun. Thank you, Lisa!

I also wanted to show a few new beads because, well, beads. I love a rabbit motif, and the hare and moon is a favorite of this genre. Here is one from Earthenwood that I got from Allegory Gallery.  That cool background is by my brother-in-law. It’s a card he drew for my birthday. I was going to frame it. I might have to put it in something I can take it out of frequently because it’s a really great photo background!

Here are couple of beads by a favorite artist, Diane Hawkey. This Mad Cat bead reminds me of my Junkyard Dog from Tracey Ann Finley Art.

And last but not least, two “ancient” eye beads by Andrew Thornton. I’m going to admit I already have one or two of these, but when a couple more became available, I had to have them. I love them so much that I want to have some to just keep as beads and that will allow me to use the others in jewelry. I know it’s weird, but I also know some of you reading understand because you have the same weirdness!

Thanks for visiting with me. It’s always fun to talk beads and making.

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Koi Necklace

Tags

Bead and Button Show, Diane Hawkey

I bought a koi pendant by Diane Hawkey at Bead & Button in June. I was sure I would be hoarding the pendant a long time. But I saw this strand of citrine and thought it would be beautiful with the pendant. 

I like how the citrine beads aren’t perfectly clear. They look like maybe they’ve been battered by water sloshing them against rocks over time that also smoothed the shapes. I auditioned a number of things to dangle from the pendant’s three bottom loops. I decided on these pieces of dyed coral.  That is a testament to the idea that everything will eventually come in handy if you are patient. The last time I tried to use these coral beads was for an Art Bead Scene challenge three years ago.

You can’t really see the lovely metallic accents that frame the pedant and dot and wave inside. The coral is also dyed with a subtle gold shine. I really love how those blingy elements look together.

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