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Tag Archives: Gaea Handmade

Delicate Turquoise

07 Monday Jun 2021

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Famous Vintage Bead Hoard Liquidation Destash, Gaea Handmade, Humblebeads, Suzanne Branca

When I think of turquoise, I often think of nuggets, particularly chunkier nuggets. However, I got some beautiful small turquoise heishi beads from Suzanne Branca. I decided to use these with a lovely polymer disc from Humblebeads.

Necklace with colorful botanical disk pendant and two moonstone beads on a copper hoop. The rest of the necklace is turquoise and vintage brass chain.

I hung it from a copper hoop by Gaea and knotted between each bead with waxed linen. I wanted the necklace to be long enough to slip over my head, so I added vintage chain at the back. The color in this necklace packs a punch, but it is light, so it will be comfortable in hotter weather. It has been in the 90s a few days lately, so I have comfort in mind.

Allegory Gallery – Bead in the New Year 2020 – #3

19 Sunday Jan 2020

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Allegory Gallery, Allegory Gallery Design Challenges, Bead in the New Year, Classic Blue, Gaea, Gaea Handmade, Jewels of Sayuri, Mary Redman, Miss Fickle Media, Pantone, Starry Road Studio

I’m having a great time again this year with Allegory Gallery‘s prompts to Bead in the New Year. Here are my makes for week three.

Day #13 – Let’s see something you made with ceramic beads

I’m a huge Gaea fan and have a lot of her work to choose from. I happened to use something I got more recently. 

This is her heart pendant and several ceramic beads. I strung these on waxed linen with matte amazonite rounds and faceted garnets. I finished it off with a copper clasp, also by Gaea.

Day #14 – Break out the polymer clay and make something

I’m going to have to catch up with this one later. I always have to work myself up to breaking out the clay. But I’ve got ideas percolating.

Day #15 – Organize at least one part of your craft area

I didn’t have a lot of time to work on things this past week, so I decided to clean a critical yet quick part of the studio. Here is a before picture.

I get out boxes of beads and supplies and as I work, they pile up around my chair. It’s a tripping hazard and just bad all the way around. Even though I tend to want to clean up my work surface first (and it needs it!) this was really the best use of my limited time.

Now I won’t trip and get injured. I’ll live to make another day. I am going to devote some time to my work surface this weekend. But it’s so difficult to focus on that when there are so many ideas to bring to life!

Day #16 – Use the 2020 Pantone Color of the Year: Classic Blue

I’m surprised how excited I’ve been about this color since I’ve long considered blue my least favorite color. Also, when considering ideas for this project, it was nice to see how many things near the color of Classic Blue I have. I had two other ideas, but ended up with this sweet, fun necklace. The peachy ceramic bead is by Gaea, but I got the bird pendant in a destash and don’t know the artist. The larger blue beads are vintage lucite, so it’s all nice and light.

Day #17 – Focus on metal as the main element in a new creation

I used a chain from Miss Fickle Media I have had for over five years. It is hammered brass with verdigris patina. So beautiful. I considered pairing it with leather in the back, but I decided to go a different way with this batik ribbon I got on a package from Starry Road Studio a while ago. Simple, and let’s the chain be the star. 

Day #18 – Utilize natural materials to make something

I had decided when I saw this prompt to make something with cowrie shells. Divya of Jewels of Sayuri often uses cowrie shells in her jewelry to beautiful effect. She wrote a post about cowrie jewelry that talked about some of the positive symbolism and myths regarding cowrie shells such as feminine power and warding off the evil eye. I also saw something about shells being in fashion in the coming season, and I had the opportunity to get a nice bag of cowrie shells last year. This was the perfect opportunity to use a few of them!

Mary Redman gifted me with her beautiful polymer clay shell pendant. I nestled it between some shell heishi beads, fun gold shell sequins and the cowrie shells. I just love how it turned out. It makes me want to walk on the beach (unlikely with all the snow we’ve gotten this week!)

Day #19 – Construct a non-jewelry piece using beads

My cat, MooKitty, isn’t much for toys. But I did notice that when I happen to lean over her and my necklace or bracelet dangles, she bats at it. So I thought I should make her a toy that I could pretend was a necklace. I used cotton cord and crocheted beads. 

At first I put it around my neck and leaned over her, and she wasn’t interested. But it was a really fake way of hovering over her which she probably didn’t like. So later I just held it up. Her hunting instincts ignited and she had fun batting at it for a little while. After she “caught” it, she didn’t want me to take it back. That’s a success! And a good use for some of these crocheted beads I have never found a good project for.

To see what others are making or join in, visit the Allegory Gallery Design Challenges Facebook page.

Vintage Beads

21 Sunday Jul 2019

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Tags

Gaea Handmade, Nancy Adams, Round Rabbit, vintage beads

I was rooting around in my Round Rabbit stash for something I didn’t even end up using. It was so fun, though, to see so many old friends that I ended up using two of them.

First an orange and green pendant struck my eye. I had just gotten some vintage bright orange beads in the same color. This is something I love about Round Rabbit beads; Nancy Adams’ vibrant colors and fresh combinations. Nancy no longer makes beads but still offers handmade goods, so check out her shop. 

I mistakenly thought the outer line was army green on first look, but it is really a dark purple. I decided that army green would work well anyway, and mixed some vintage green lucite with the  orange glass. After I had knotted a bit, I decided the orange was becoming too overwhelming, so I decided to make the rest of the necklace with just the green beads. I didn’t make sure I had knotted the same number of orange on each side, but when I noticed I was one off, it reminded me of a decorating and art technique I’ve seen that I like where paint isn’t even and just stops at different places. It doesn’t sound good the way I’m describing it, but it always looks good when I see it. So I decided to leave it. 

I was looking for something purple to dangle off the bottom of the pendant. After checking gemstones, glass and vintage plastic, I decided on these ceramic beads by Gaea in purple and green. I finished it off with a green vintage lucite box clasp. I just love the color combination!

I had some vintage glass beads from a broken necklace I got in a destash sitting on my table. When I saw a little blueish-purple Round Rabbit connector I thought would go well with them, I tried it out and liked the effect. 

I thought these delicate beads called for a shorter necklace and made it adjustable to sit at or just below my throat. Vintage glass has such a wonderful look to it.

 

Bead in the New Year with Allegory Gallery – Week 3 Wrap Up

20 Sunday Jan 2019

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#beadinthenewyear, Alison Adorns, Allegory Gallery, Erin Smith, Gaea Handmade

Can you believe we’re already wrapping up week 3 of this Allegory Gallery challenge, which means we are 3/4 through the first month of 2019? I am learning so much and having a great time. Let’s get to the prompts!

Day 14 – Break out the polymer clay and create something.

#bitny ag day 14 - polymer clay

I have wanted to create with polymer clay for some time. I bought a few tools, tutorials and even some polymer clay years ago. As discussed previously on this blog, I am a chicken and a staller. So this prompt was gold for me! I found that clay, made a few preliminary things and baked them. Whoo-hoo! The beauty part of this is that I allowed myself to just focus on the bake. I didn’t have any expectations of making something even usable. The flat shapes I made too thin, and they were not stable. The bead shapes baked well. I’m ready to tackle my next bake.

Day 15 – Organize your crafting area.

#bitnyday15 organize

Makers of all sorts know how difficult it can be to keep the creating area organized. You get in the zone, pull out this material and that, and at the end you move on to something else, leaving behind what is commonly called the craftermath. My two problem areas are the floor around my chair where I set boxes of beads I’ve looked through (and then trip over) and most importantly my beading surface. It’s so covered that I’m working on an inch strip at the front where things are constantly falling onto the floor. Silly. I didn’t get everything perfectly clean, but both of those areas are improved between the first and second photo. I even took time to clean up a bit after subsequent sessions.

Day 16 – WILD CARD! Ask a friend for a creative challenge.

#bitny day 16 ask a friend - food

I was beading and talking on FaceTime with my sister. I was looking ahead to what prompts were coming up and saw this one. So I asked her to give me a prompt, and she said make something food-related. Maybe she was just hungry! But it was a great prompt for me. I love food related beads and also beads that look like candy. I had a carrot pendant I had been planning to pair with some glass peppers (mostly because I thought it was a pepper until my sister pointed out the truth. So, what the heck, a stir fry veggie necklace!) I had thought I’d cluster some of the charms near the top of the pendant. It wasn’t working. The charms kept going behind the pendant, etc. So I finally re-designed it with peppers dotting this red chain. I love it even better than what I had in mind! This challenge is so good for moving me off of a design idea that isn’t working, but still making a piece.

Day 17 – Use the 2019 Pantone Color of the Year – Living Coral

bitny ag - living coral

On first look, this isn’t my color. However,  Allegory Gallery had a design kit last year using this color, and I had a ball. I was so inspired. So I had a good attitude and knew just what beads to use. At a bead show, I had seen someone walking around with a strand of coral in their basket, and it just looked so pretty I bought one too. Totally not my usual sort of bead but here is the perfect use. I wanted to make it “me” so I separated each coral bead with a Christmas bead. I love the mix of colors, shapes and sizes of African Christmas beads.

Day 18 – Focus on metal as the main element in a new piece

bitny ag day 18 - metal

This just got my mind swirling. So many possibilities! I had wanted to explore metal in a more in-depth way, but at this point I wasn’t working ahead, so I decided to save actually making my own metal components for another time. I was re-working design ideas with this gorgeous colored copper focal by Gaea. Everything I tried was too cloying. Finally I hit on the idea of these vintage crystals; they have the pastel colors I needed in the AB coating, blingy, but subtle in a way. I added a few green crystals and a sterling clasp by Miss Fickle Media.

I did read up about stamping on metal and tried that, to make me feel a little more like I tried something new. This was a prompt suggestion for Day 16 by Alison Adorns for anyone who needed it.

stamped tiny tag

Day 19 – Be inspired by a piece of art to create a new design

bitny ag day 19 - art inspiration

My sister gifted me with a painting by Erin Smith. I love the colors, texture and imagery. This prompt was in my head as I saw this painting every day, and I thought I’d make something inspired by it with this Gaea pendant. I just need to add a clasp to the pink feldspar and Czech glass strands.

Day 20 – Utilize natural materials to create a new piece

I saw these abalone shell rectangles, and they were so pretty I wanted to somehow use them for this prompt. I ended up making a wrap bracelet with a vintage crystals, peanut beads and a few square beads of unknown materials for a pop of color.

It’s harder to keep up when I haven’t worked ahead. I was busy this weekend and just had time to keep up with each day’s prompt. Since it’s a holiday on Monday, I should be able to get a little ahead once again.

 

“Earring Pairs” Is Just a Suggestion

04 Sunday Nov 2018

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A Grateful Artist, Blue Hare Art Wear, Cathleen Zaring, Gaea Handmade, Madison Cat Project, Nicole St. Laurent, Raven's Meadow, Sondra's Estate Beads Destash Depot

I often see beautiful beads that are termed “earring pairs” and present themselves as perfect for this purpose. I sometimes use them as earrings. But I if I want to keep them for myself to wear, I use them otherwise because I don’t wear earrings.

That was the case with some beautiful polymer clay dangles I got from Nicole St. Laurent of Raven’s Meadow. They have a sort of Fordite look that I love. 

They would have made beautiful earrings, but I wanted to keep them. I decided to go minimal so as not to distract from their beauty. They are on a copper ring by Gaea and have a vintage glass peal drop. I order a lot of wonderful vintage things from Sondra’s Estate Beads Destash Depot. Whenever she sends an order, she sends freebies. I love using freebies people send. It’s fun to see them find their place.

I finished the necklace with a handmade copper clasp by Gaea. They are perfect for my look. When I buy beads from her, I like to add a clasp or two to each order to keep them in stock. 

A simple necklace that highlights the beautiful materials. Another example is this adorable enamel frog by Cathleen Zaring of Blue Hare Art Wear. Again, they would have made wonderful earrings, but I bought a pair knowing I wanted to use one as a necklace for myself. So, I used the other as a necklace for the Artists for Animals Auction to raise money for Madison Cat Project. 

Today, 11/4/18, is the last day of the auction. If you are reading this before 8:00 PM Central Time, there is still a chance to peruse the wonderful handmade items (not just jewelry!) from a variety of artists, each supporting their chosen animal charity. Click this link to view the auctions or even join the page to get updates for future auctions.

Artists for Animals Auction Begins Today!

14 Monday May 2018

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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

25 Sunday Mar 2018

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Tags

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!

10 Saturday Mar 2018

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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

30 Wednesday Aug 2017

Posted by beadlove in Uncategorized

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Tags

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

22 Thursday Jun 2017

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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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