Allegory Gallery Design Challenge Reveal: Autumn Fire

Tags

Allegory Gallery, Andrew Thornton, Art Bead Scene, Artisan Clay, Autumn Fire Design Challenge, Erin Siegel, Lorelei Eurto, My Elements, Passion for Paper Beads, Yvonne Irvin-Faus

Today is the reveal for the Allegory Gallery Design Challenge – Autumn Fire edition. Challenge kits are put together by artist Andrew Thornton and consist of a variety of fun beads along with one or more Mystery Components hand made by Andrew.  Here is a picture of the kit.

Look at it!  Such delicious colors, a double strand of chip beads in case I decide to make something long and luxurious, browns, umbers, oranges, yellows!  I love it. And then there is the Mystery Component.

I’ve managed to capture a little bit of the sparkly vibrance of these blowing leaves. It really represents my favorite kind of autumn day.

First up, I made a necklace with some of the strand of chip beads and some of the tubes from the kit. This reveal, I thought I’d try showing one of my sketches with the piece it became.

I didn’t know where to find (or maybe I don’t even have) the multicolor fall toned spacers I was thinking of, but I had these apple green seed beads on my table, so I used those. The seed beads that came with the kit were slightly bigger, plus, I’ll be honest, I love the color, so I’m sort of hoarding them.

I added some great paper beads I got from Passion for Paper Beads on etsy a couple years ago. I like that beads wait around until they find a project that is right for them. Then I added three cool beads from the kit at the back of the necklace just for fun. I’m very pleased with this.

Then I made a couple pairs of earrings.  First with these tabs I loved from the kit and immediately decided to make into earrings. The shape reminds me of Elaine Ray’s beads for some reason.  (She’s retired from bead making now.)

Then I decided to make some earrings with more of the chips and two of the faceted yellow beads which I love! When I was sketching, I had noted wanting to use some pop, like sparkle or color, between the chips. So I used some of the sequins from the kit!

I really think these turned out pretty and fun. I moved on to another necklace. I was inspired by this fiber necklace on Pinterest.  I had a variety of ideas, but decided to use the Mystery Component with a variety of beads from the kit and three vintage plastic discs, a bi-colored old wooden round and a textured yellow ceramic bead by Kristie of Artisan Clay.

Next I decided to make a bracelet with some of the chunky plastic beads.  I am very inspired by Lorelei Eurto’s jewelry, and I was looking at this bracelet in particular. If you visit the blog post it is from, you can see she used a premium mix from Allegory Gallery, similar to the Luxury Blends that are included in challenge kits!

I used three of the juicy orange marbled plastic beads from the kit along with an orange, turquoise and olive bead by Yvonne Irvin-Faus of My Elements on one side.  On the other side, I used beads from the kit, my stash and more goodies from the My Elements shop.

Then I wanted to make something completely different – a bookmark!  I’ve wanted to make one since I saw them on Erin Siegel’s blog. She did a tutorial of the bookmark using art beads on Art Bead Scene.  This was a really fun one.

This was a very, very fun kit and challenge! Thank you William, Andrew and Allegory Gallery! If you’d like to see more creations from this kit, please visit the Allegory Gallery Design Challenge Facebook page to see what other participants made.

Slight Makeover, Big Improvement

Tags

Art Fair on the Square, Bead & Button, Bohemian-Inspired Jewelry, Erin Siegel, Lorelei Eurto, WoolyWire

I usually buy jewelry books for inspiration and techniques and don’t necessarily make the exact projects that are featured.  However, the book Bohemian-Inspired Jewelry by Lorelei Eurto and Erin Siegel has so many wonderful projects in it and such a wide variety, that I have made a few.  I know I will make more.  One I made is based on a sweet design by Lorelei Eurto appropriately called Sweet Nectar.  

Let me make a few apologies before I go on.  I took this photo before I had any idea how to take a decent picture.  (My pictures are still far from perfect, but I have improved.  At least when there is decent light.)  Also, I have no idea who made the art beads.  The long, colorful bead was a gift from Bead & Button some years ago.  I purchased the ginkgo leaf at the Art Fair on the Square. Both purchases happened before I knew the term “art bead” and knew to save the name of the artist so I could give credit.

After I made this necklace, I really liked it.  However, when I wore it, the leaf would move around and always be crooked.  I couldn’t be comfortable wearing a necklace with a constantly crooked pendant.  When I thought about potential fixes, I figured a couple of twists of WoolyWire on either side of the leaf would cure the problem.  WoolyWire is a favorite product of mine.  In fact, I had used it for this necklace in place of some of the leather because my leather wouldn’t go through the long bead twice.  This morning I decided I wanted to wear the necklace, so I quickly put my fix into action.

It’s possible the wraps would have been a little neater if I hadn’t been in a hurry, had worn my glasses or had turned on my task lights.  However, I’m trying to get over my need for things to be super neat and “perfect” since I really like the messy and rough look of other artists when I see it.  Also, these pieces of WoolyWire were from a place in the coil that were a bit more fuzzy. Fuzzy WoolyWire needs love too!  I didn’t wrap it too tightly against the pendant so it still has movement.  The book speaks of that as a feature of the necklace. I am very pleased with the fix. I’m happy to be able to start wearing this necklace because I really like the design.  Thanks, Bohemian-Inspired Jewelry!

Clean-Up, Fix-Up Challenge Reveal

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Clean-up Fix-up Challenge, Erin Siegel, Fusion Beads, Happy Mango Beads, Little Free Library, Sharyl's Jewelry, UfYH

Sharyl of Sharyl’s Jewelry had the most wonderful idea for a blog hop.  We would come together to share the chore of cleaning up and fixing up our work spaces.  She was very open – it could be cleaning up your whole area, one organizing project, or decorating if the place is already organized.  Anything to make your space nicer and more conducive to creativity.

I have done this many times.  Unfortunately,  I always regress back to messiness of the most design-blocking kind.  I considered doing a blog post about it before, but I thought, “How can I ever show this mess in public?” Then along came Happy Mango Beads‘ Messiest Bead Table contest.  I decided to take a picture and enter it, so my secret is out.  And you know what I found out?  Many, many people have bead tables as messy or messier than mine!

My bead table on January 5, 2014

Horrendous, right?  Seeing this photo spurred me to start finding a way to really organize my stuff, not just clean it up, mess it up and repeat the cycle ad nauseam.  The root of the problem is that I had long outgrown my bead storage.  No wonder I never put things away; they had nowhere to go.  In addition, I had been purchasing new tools and new stringing materials.  I needed a way to store all this, and I didn’t want it to cost a lot of money.  I noticed that my workplace has an abundant supply of smallish, relatively shallow boxes.  I’ve informed co-workers to save them for me.  A few appear in my office every week. Although some people seem confused about why I need so many for “just beads,” I know you understand.

Separating things into boxes by artist, bead type or material will make it easier to find things when I’m designing.  Getting really organized will be a long term project, so I have some larger boxes as an interim mix of beads that I will separate further as I refine my organization and get more boxes.  I will eventually make nicer labels or even get nicer boxes.  However, I know trying to make things “perfect” can impair the flow of getting things done. Good enough is good enough, and it moves me forward to organized.

I want to give away some of my paper craft supplies I’m not using and donate more books to the Little Free Libraries so I can make space for things I do currently use.  After that, I’m going to get some bunting and little lights like in this room to make my space even more cheerful.  I’ll have to think of a really fabulous reward for when I do bigger projects such as put up pegboard like in Erin Siegel’s studio.  Maybe beads!

I still have a lot more to do, but I feel really good about the progress I’ve made and the fact that I can now create at my bead table.  I actually found a real home for everything that had been piled on the table.  I took a tip from the Fusion Beads Blog to keep containers on the table for things that need to be put away, so I have the green and silver bowls for that.  I have a garbage can under the table to throw away bits I’m not keeping.  The pink box has a lift out separated tray; it is for my current work in progress in case I want to take it downstairs or on a trip.

The same table as in the first picture – clean!

I hope you’ve enjoyed seeing the start of my craft room transformation.  If you have any good tips for organizing, decorating or staying organized, please share in the comments.  Then hop around to see what the other participants, below, have done.  And thank you Sharyl for this wonderful idea!

Host: Sharyl McMillian-Nelson … http://sharylsjewelry.blogspot.com

Donna Millard http://fyrebeadz.blogspot.com/

Beda Hendrix … https://www.facebook.com/SasijuhlsThings

Ann Schroeder… http://www.beadlove.wordpress.com – You are here

Pamela Rachelle… http://crazycreativecorner.blogspot.com

Kristin L Oppold… http://www.yayjewelry.blogspot.com

Heidi Kingman … http://heidikingman.blogspot.com

Andi … http://strungoutjewelry.blogspot.com/

Patricia Buchanan Click “Blog” on the menu bar at http://www.braceletstoo.artfire.com

Helen Simon… http://helensharvest.com/

Kashmira … http://sadafulee.blogspot.com/

somethingunique … http://somethinguniquebylana.blogspot.ca/

Renetha … http://lamplightcrafts.blogspot.com

Kathy Lindemer … http://bay-moon-design.blogspot.com

Swapna Dinesh … http://www.swardaa.com

Linda Landig … http://lindalandig.wordpress.com/

Beti Horvath … http://stringingfool.blogspot.com/

Sam S … http://samsbeadshopandjewelry.blogspot.com/

Christina Miles … http://wingsnscales.blogspot.com/

Islandgirl … http://islandgirlsinsights.blogspot.ca/

macmillanmarie … http://www.macmillanmarie.blogspot.com

Emma Todd … http://www.apolymerpenchant.com

Neena Shilvock …  http://www.capriliciousjewellery.com/the-caprilicious-jewellery-blog.html

Dee Clark… http://biz-e-bead.blogspot.com/

motidana … http://kalaabhushan.blogspot.com/

Here Bead Dragons … http://beaddragons.blogspot.com/

Carol D. … http://dillmansdallies.blogspot.com/

Pam Sears … http://crazycreativecorner.blogspot.com/

Nan Smith … http://wirednan.blogspot.ca

AliMc … http://northwoodscreativestudio.blogspot.com

Kari Asbury … http://hippiechickdesign.blogspot.com

Shirley Moore … http://www.beadsandbread.blogspot.com

PyxeeStyx … http://travelingsideshow.blogspot.com/

Jayne Capps … https://mamasgottodoodle.blogspot.com

Louann Elwell… https://plus.google.com/117746558861718110652/posts

Rain … http://honeyandollie.com/

Lori Bergmann … http://www.LoriBergmann.blogspot.com

Helen Simon… http://helensharvest.blogspot.com/

Arlene Dean … http://aglassbash.blogspot.com

Sandra… http://city-of-brass-stories.blogspot.de/

Alicia … http://www.allprettythings.ca

Natalie Pappas …  http://blog.nkpdesigns.com/

Inspired Earrings

Tags

Erin Siegel, Free Art Friday

I made these earrings today.

They were inspired by this earring project from Erin Siegel.  I have a couple of other projects in the works, but I’m frustrated by some construction issues. When that happens, I always fall back on earrings.  I made this pair for me.

Here is a pair I made for Free Art Friday.

Recently I find myself rejecting drop spots I otherwise thought would be good because I worry how people will react to an unexpected package – like the airport.  I’d like to drop these someplace young people congregate because I think they look like something a young person would enjoy.  I’ll contemplate my choices during the week.

Winter Is Coming

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Erin Siegel, Fiber Findings & Finishing Techniques, Kylie Parry

As I’m writing this, a winter storm is on the way.  The week ahead promises to be very cold in my area with wind chills reaching double digits below zero. But right this minute, it looks pretty from my vantage point of safety and warmth inside my home.

That is what this little pendant by Kylie Parry reminds me of – the beauty of winter and being safe and warm with the occasional crisp wind on my cheeks. I knew I was going to do something simple with it.  I wasn’t sure I would keep it with the bead it came bundled with, but they looked so right together I decided to leave them.  I even incorporated the cord they came tied with.

Funnily enough, the suede cord I put it on reminds me of spring.  I thought about using brown, but I like the idea of a necklace that melds the two seasons.  Enjoying the beauty of winter and knowing there is a spring to come.

I am very excited about the clasp of this necklace, though on first glance you might not understand why.

After viewing Erin Siegel’s webinar Fiber Findings & Finishing Techniques, I had purchased some of the things I knew I wanted to try, such as fold-over cord ends.  I am slow as molasses in trying anything new, so this is the first time I have tried them.  They were just as simple to use as Erin said in the webinar! This opens up a whole new world to me.  I have several other types of cord and ribbon ends waiting for me to try them now.  Every success spurs me on.

I love living in an area where all four seasons make an appearance.  I would miss any of them if I didn’t see them at least once a year.  Being able to see the beauty of each season makes it worth putting on my boots, taking my umbrella or slathering myself in sunscreen.  I hope you are able to enjoy the weather whatever it is where you are.

Beautiful Butterflies

Tags

Erin Siegel, handmade, Jade Scott, MissFickleMedia, PicMonkey, Shannon German

I love Jade Scott‘s work.  I had been coveting what she calls her “a lot to say” pendants when I managed to get this butterfly version.  I love it!  It’s so colorful.

One thing I have been working on in my jewelry is doing connections and endings in a way that feel more finished.  I love working with waxed linen, and I’ve noticed that Erin Siegel, one of my favorite jewelry artists, incorporates endings as part of the design.  For example, she will often leave a length of linen when she creates a knot and separate the strands for a nice bohemian look.  I used that idea in this necklace.  I connected the pendant, some beads and the chain with red waxed linen.  It brings out the red butterfly and I think those sprigs of linen really help add to the pop of color.

I also really love all the special patina treated chain available in Shannon German‘s shop MissFickleMedia.  I used two sections of oval brass ocean blue chain.  It’s such a pleasure to use high quality, handmade components like these.

The above picture was edited in PicMonkey.  It was my first try.  I want to make my pictures better.  My main problem is bad lighting.  Whole days go by without decent natural light outside where I live.  So I’m reading up on how to improve lighting and which programs best do (easy) editing so all my photos don’t look flat and the same.

Do you have a favorite photo editing software?

Working with Fibers

Tags

Bohemian-Inspired Jewelry, Erin Siegel, Fiber Findings & Finishing Techniques, jewelry webinar, Ornamentea

A couple of posts ago, I wrote about signing up for Erin Siegel‘s webinar Fiber Findings & Finishing Techniques.  Now that I’ve had a chance to watch it, I wanted to say a little bit more about it.

I found the webinar very informative.  Although I’ve worked a little bit with fibers, I’m always limited by my dearth of experience.  I liked that the webinar, which runs about 40 minutes, gets right down to the nitty gritty. Siegel lists the tools needed (all of this is with pictures) and describes why you would use one over another.

Findings are described with details about how to use each one.  I have long wanted to use more leather and cord in my jewelry making, but stand looking at the findings in the store not being sure I’ll be able to use them once I get them home.  So I spend my money on things I’m more sure of, which doesn’t allow me any growth in my work!

Siegel’s very simple, clear explanations make me feel confident that as I go forward, I can make the things I want to make because I know how these materials work.  I also know which findings to buy based on what I’d rather use and which ones she gave good reasons for favoring.

I used one of my favorite instructions in the bracelet pictured above.  In the past when I used a loop and button closure, my loop was just loose fibers which always looked a little weak and unfinished to me.  I would see more finished looking loops on other people’s work, but I couldn’t quite figure out how it was done.  After the webinar, it took me exactly one half of a loop to feel like I had the technique down.  I’m so glad I finally know this “secret”.

Sometimes it’s easy to get higher level instruction for jewelry making than the foundation you need in order to build up to those more difficult techniques.  If you haven’t worked at all with fibers or have worked a bit but still aren’t sure about it, I bet this webinar will answer your lingering questions.

Erin Siegel is the co-author of Bohemian-Inspired Jewelry: 50 Designs Using Leather, Ribbon, and Cords and a contributing designer to the Ornamentea website.  I have pinned so many of her designs on my Pinterest jewelry board; now I feel confident I have the knowledge I need to try more of them.

Some Things You Should Know About

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Bohemian-Inspired Jewelry, Cindy Wimmer, Erin Siegel, Fiber Findings and Finishing Techniques for Jewelry, Interweave, jewelry webinar, Lorelei Eurto, Rebekah Payne, The Missing Link, Tree Wings Studio

It seems there are so many exciting things going on in the bead world lately. I would like to alert you to a few that you might want to know about.  First, a cool giveaway in progress.

Rebekah Payne of Tree Wings Studio makes beautiful beads.  Some of her most popular are her sleepy woodland critters.  I recently bought her newest design – the jackalope!  The the word “jackalope” keeps me in stitches, so I can’t wait to get it in the mail along with a beautiful floral pendant.  She is having a giveaway on her blog.  Guess how many critters she is holding in the picture above (additional pictures on the blog post) and you could win one! Check it out here.  Don’t wait – the winner will be announced on August 16th.

As much as I enjoy jewelry and beads, the techniques I want to use do not come naturally to me.  I am not a patient person, and while I am working on that, I could use some help.  Well, help is on the way.  I have signed up for Erin Siegel‘s webinar Fiber Findings & Finishing Techniques for Jewelry that is coming up on August 15, 2013 at 12:30 EST.  It is live so you can ask questions, but fear not if you will be at work or otherwise engaged at the time like I will be.  You can still sign up and get a download of the webinar that you can watch any time you want.  Bohemain-Inspired Jewelry, which Erin co-authored with Lorelei Eurto, is my current jewelry-making bible.  I also purchased a wonderful e-toturial from Erin for a Macrame Flower Bracelet.  My very first attempt (at the tutorial and macrame) turned out pretty decent, so I know her teaching techniques are great!

The third thing I am super excited about is Cindy Wimmer‘s new book The Missing Link.

I need to work on my wire skills.  It really is the missing link in my jewelry making.  I am so excited to find that I didn’t have to wait until October when the book will be released.  If you order the e-book and book bundle, you can get the e-book right now and the print book when it is released.  I am usually an e-book girl; I love my nook!  But when it comes to jewelry, I want paper. Now I can have it both ways!  I ordered the bundle and have already seen the wonderful pictures, clear instructions and fabulous designs that populate the book!  I can dream and plan while looking at it on my computer and then later take the print book with me to my bead table.  This gives me time to collect a few more tools I’d like to have for some of the techniques. [Note: The bundle is no longer available, but the link above will direct you to where you can get both the e-book and the paper book.]

The techniques are separated into three categories: easy, moderate and more challenging.  There is something for everyone.

Whether you are just looking for a fun giveaway, an interactive class to start or improve your leather, cord, and ribbon techniques or a great book on working with wire (that includes information on patina as well as full projects from a variety of designers using the links), there are some great things afoot.  Check them out!