Artists for Animals Auction Begins Today!

Tags

Anna Pierson, Artisan Clay, Artists for Animals Auction, Gaea Handmade, Kristie Ann Roeder, Madison Cat Project, My Elements, SagaHus Components, Sue-Lin Tarnowski, Yvonne Irvin-Faus

I am part of the Artists for Animals Auction. It is a Facebook group where artists join together to auction our handmade goods in support of our favorite animal charity. The auction runs through Sunday, May 20th. My proceeds will go to Madison Cat Project. They are a no kill shelter/foster program that finds homes for hundreds of cats who come into their care every year. 

This is my sweetie pie, MooKitty.

I’m putting a variety of necklaces and earrings in the auction. Here are pictures.

Tuxedo Kitty Earrings with striped beads by Gaea Handmade and charms by Mary Redman.

Blingy Kitty Earrings for when you want to have a little sparkly fun

Jasper and Pyrite Necklace with Gaea Handmade Accent Bead (This necklace is a favorite from the things I made for this auction!)

Hugs and Kisses Earrings with Charms by Sue-Lin Tarnowski

Queen Kitty Necklace with Gaea Handmade (Come see more pictures at the auction; it’s so cute!)

Skellie Friend Earrings with Bead and Fiber Drops by Anna Pierson of SagaHus Components

Necklace with Pendant by Kristie Ann Roeder of Artisan Clay 

Turquoise and Wire-Wrapped Key Necklace with Disc by Yvonne Irvin-Faus of My Elements on Leather

Royal Kitty Earrings with Kitty Drops by SagaHus Components and Drops by Yvonne Irvin-Faus

Knotted Necklace with Mother-of-Pearl and Repurposed Dangle Pendant

If you want to check out my auction or those of the many other artists, please visit the Artists for Animals Auction page. The other artists and I will be posting things through the day today and throughout the week, so please check back.

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Collaboration with My Mom

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Gaea Handmade, One Piece at a Time, Sondra's Estate Beads Destash Depot, Vintage Bead Vault, Who Knows What, You Are Not the Boss of Me

A while ago I got a face bead from Gaea. I don’t do bead weaving, but my mom does. I gave her the face and asked her to weave around it in any way she wanted. As you can see if you click on the previous link, she gave the face wonderful, colorful Medusa type hair! I love it! She also made some other components to go with it. 

I was looking for something else in my Gaea box, and I saw the face and components and an idea sprang into my head. I used a Gaea rectangular bead above the face and mixed some other Gaea ceramic tubes and beads along with some of my mom’s beaded components to make a necklace.

I knew it wouldn’t be long enough on its own, so I thought I’d add some chain. I had this metal tube chain that really echoed the look of my mom’s beaded components. I wish I could tell you where I got it. I cannot remember! I’ve just spent about 10 minutes trying to figure it out, but I’m sorry to say I don’t know. I haven’t even had it that long! I will just list some places I have gotten fab unique vintage (and non-vintage) chain. I thought it was one of these places, but I could not confirm it. 

Sondra’s Estate Beads Destash Depot

Vintage Bead Vault (where I got some similar chain in a beautiful green)

One Piece At A Time

You Are Not The Boss of Me

Who Knows What

So, probably one of those. Note to self: put purchases away more efficiently. I do label things when I put them away, but this one got separated from the herd. 

I think this necklace turned out great. It was really fun using my mom’s work in my necklace as well.

 

Cherries!

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Gaea Handmade

I love 1940s fabrics. I’m typing this sitting on my couch with a 1940s quilt right now. The main motifs that come to mind are florals and fruit. So, this cherries pendant by Gaea has always reminded me of my beloved ’40s fabrics.

I also love this particular muted color of green in the ruffle frame and the one large bead. I used it when I painted on my basement steps. 

My mind has been working overtime on jewelry design lately, and I have ideas right away for things I buy rather than squirreling them away for a long time. I just got this pendant less than a week ago, and put this necklace together as soon as I got some time. 

I used six of Gaea‘s beautiful beads that came with the pendant. In a random beads box I got from someone, I got several of these little dangles with three red beads. I had thought I’d make a cluster with all of them at one of the transition points, but I could only find one. It’s still cute there at the bottom of this double strand of vintage beaded chain in that lovely muted green. The rest of the necklace is made up of baroque red Japanese glass beads knotted on waxed linen. I finished the piece off with one of Gaea’s hand formed copper clasps.

These colors make me happy. I know just what I’m going to wear this with, and it will look so cute!

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Bird Queen

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Allegory Gallery, Gaea Handmade, SagaHus Components

I saw this bird queen pendant when Gaea showed a preview of some upcoming listings recently.  I really wanted it and was a little amazed when I got it.  Her pendants (not only the birds) fly right out of her shop or Facebook almost as soon as they are listed! 

Soon after, I was doing a little shopping with Allegory Gallery and saw the perfect periwinkle shade of Czech glass beads to go with it. I found some orange/red Czech glass in my stash along with a few bone colored German glass beads that would look great in the design as well.

I was taking my materials on a visit to my parents, and I had some fabric and wire components from Anna Pierson of SagaHus.  As soon as I showed her my choices, my mom picked these out as perfect, and they are.  She gave me a few antique ivory beads she had lying around and ta-da!

I also used a clasp by Gaea.  I really love how it turned out!

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Allegory Gallery Design Challenge – Midsummer Edition

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Allegory Gallery Design Challenge, Andrew Thornton, Gaea Handmade, Green Girl Studios, Midsummer Mystery Challenge, Trinket Foundry, William Jones

Today is the reveal for the Allegory Gallery Design Challenge – Midsummer edition.I love even the picture above of the kit. Such beautiful colors! The theme is lovely – Summer Solstice and Faerie folklore.  Also, just from my own midwestern perspective, midsummer is a time when we can count on it being consistently warm and there is still time before the snow flies. OF COURSE, I forgot to take a picture of the kit, but I will point out what I used, so you can get an idea.

First I used a strand of rock crystal quartz beads, purple seed beads, purple waxed linen, pink and purple crystals and a lucite flower from the kit.  I added a copper and resin art pendant and copper clasp from Gaea Handmade. I hope you agree I’ve achieved the funky and romantic look I was going for.

Next I made a bracelet. I was looking for something else and found this little length of plastic chain. I thought it would be great with some of the larger plastic beads from the kit.  I threw in a tin bead from Trinket Foundry and made dangles with kit beads. Cute and chunky.

I had another design in mind for the necklace with Andrew’s handmade component – multi-strand with smaller beads and some fiber. I was going to put one larger amethyst above the pendant. When I got out this strand of matte amethyst slabs, it was clear they were the necklace. I used a pretty Green Girl Studios clasp.

I branched out a little more than usual, pulling in more things from my stash. I had a great time! Please visit the Allegory Gallery Design Challenge Facebook page to see what others have made.  Thanks to Andrew and William for another beautiful kit and fun challenge!

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Two New Necklaces

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Gaea Handmade

I continue to try to use some of my stash as well as put away and clean up everything in my studio so it’s all organized.  I waver between the two, sometimes starting a project, pausing to put away some beads and supplies, and then going back to work.  I just enjoy being in the studio.  I do want to make more work space so I can try some new things, though.  So here are a few beads out of the way.

I have had this Gaea coffee pendant for a while.  One of the great pleasures in my life is my morning cup of coffee, so I love this pendant.  I wanted to make it into a simple necklace with some pretty beads, and I found the right ones in this strand of faceted tiger’s eye.  The picture doesn’t do them justice; they have so many beautiful colors!

I also had a variety of large hole irregular glass beads I really love. I had this idea to cascade them down the front of a necklace on large jump rings.  I used some old glass cubes and some rondelles that happened to be in the bag with the large holes beads for the strand. Part of my design aesthetic is “try whatever happens to be nearby.”

I also started another necklace I’ve had in mind for a while, but I might have to do a little research to see how to make it work out the way I want.  I’ll spend some time on that and more on putting things away and organizing. I need to do another haul getting rid of stuff.  There’s just not enough room for everything if I want to have space for trying new things.

Gaea Bracelet

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Gaea Handmade

I love Gaea’s beads.  I have amassed quite a collection.  Recently, she has started selling some etched metal as well, which I also love.  I was lucky enough to snag a bracelet bar on her Facebook group which can be fast and furious when she lists.  I know a lot of people don’t, but I’ve come to actually like that competitive shopping mode, although there was a time I didn’t.  But, the great thing about Gaea’s auctions is, she will also do a made to order piece for you if you miss something you want. I’ve noticed several artists I like doing that now, so if you don’t get something you want, ask!

Anyway, back to what I’ve made with some of Gaea’s beads. The bracelet bar says “adore” and the word trails into a heart at the end.  It was hard to get the light just right to show the bar to its best advantage since it is curved.

I’ve also used four of her ceramic beads, a pretty striped glass bead and my last little herkimer “diamond”.  I often feel like I don’t have the right clasp for stuff. The first look through my box of clasps didn’t yield anything I was thrilled about, but then I looked again and found this dotty copper hook that I think is perfect with Gaea’s dot etched bar!

I’ve really been trying to use more of my art beads lately, and it’s a lot of fun. I try not to get panicky about “running out”.  I know many of you reading can identify with that irrational fear.

And now for a public service announcement.  I am temporarily keeping my sister’s cat which is a lot of fun.  I put my main photo background paper on the floor when I was trying a different background.  If you have an animal in the house, don’t do this.

It was already looking a little worse for wear, so I need a new one anyway.  I hope I can find something I like as much.  I like the subtle texture that provides interest but isn’t too distracting.  When I get the new one, I will put this one out for the cat.  She was sleeping on it earlier.  Apparently she likes it too!

Enter to Win Gorgeous Gaea Handmade Art Beads!

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Gaea Handmade, giveaway, Lima Beads

Gaea Cannaday, one of my favorite bead artists, sells beads in various venues, and one of them is Lima Beads.  Gaea Handmade has new spring/summer colors and styles available on the Lima Beads website and to celebrate there is a giveaway of some beautiful pieces!

Want to win these?  I know I do!  To find out more and to enter, please visit the Gaea Handmade blog for details.