Earring Pairs Giveaway

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bead giveaway, Gillian McMurray, Kylie Parry, Malin de Koning, Scorched Earth on Etsy, Sharyl McMillian-Nelson, Vintaj

I have stopped wearing earrings because of sensitive ears, and I want to start cleaning out my jewelry stash because, well, space.  And messiness.  So I’ve decided to have a giveaway.  Rather than give away the earrings, many of which are old and not styles I would make any more, I’ve decided to give away the bead pairs for your use!  That has the added benefit of leaving me with lots of earwires so I can make earrings when I decide to do art abandonment.

Here is the group:

There are many nice things here including some paper beads by Gillian McMurray, some vintage crystals and glass (which I was too lazy to totally take apart) beaded beads by Malin de Koning, colorful mosaics by Scorched Earth on Etsy, ceramic leaf rounds by Kylie Parry, lovely metal rectangles by Sharyl McMillian-Nelson, flower chandelier drops from Vintaj and some nice non-art beads.  Some of these others could be art beads, but I got them long ago and can’t remember or didn’t even know what art beads were.

Looking through my earring collection, I found some beads that I could envision repurposing in other designs.  But these beads just seem so wonderful for earrings that I thought they should go to someone who might use them for that! Although that’s not a requirement.

This giveaway is open internationally.  You can get two entries:

1. Leave a comment on this post telling me something about you as a beader – favorite bead artist or shop, favorite item to make, style, inspiration, etc.
2. Share this on social media (Facebook, Google +, Instagram, Twitter, whatever you use).  Remember to come back and make a second comment that you’ve shared.

I will choose a random winner from all qualifying entries that have been left by Saturday, October 31, 2015 at 12:00 Noon CDT.  Please have a way for me to contact you (either in your comment(s) or linked to your name) and I will also announce the winner on my blog.

Good luck, and thank you for participating to help find my earring pairs a good home!

New Jewelry

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Art Jewelry Elements, Gillian McMurray, Keirsten Giles, Marie-Noel Voyer-Cramp, More Skye Jewels, namaste, palmbeachkarma, paper beads, roman glass, Skye Jewels, yoga jewelry

A little while ago, I got some great tile pendants from More Skye Jewels.  The artist, Marie-Noel Voyer-Cramp also creates beautiful jewelry.  Check out her store.  I started a necklace with one of the tiles almost right away, but then the project stalled.  I often have qualms about how to connect parts of a piece of jewelry.  The connections never satisfy me, and I also agree with Keirsten Giles‘ blog post confession over at Art Jewelry Elements that I enjoy thinking about making jewelry more than I actually enjoy making it.

Nevertheless, I finally finished the necklace.  In addition to the namaste pendant by More Skye Jewels, I added a paper bead by Gillian McMurray with a chakra symbol on it.  Hanging with the pendant is a handmade silver heart chakra symbol I got long ago from palmbeachkarma on ebay.  I put the whole thing together with wire wrapped glass pearls and voilà.  I’m pretty happy with it.

In addition, I bought some roman glass a while ago, but I’ve been nervous to use it.  It seems so fragile.  However, I’ve seen a variety of earrings made with it, and I thought that would be easier on it than a necklace or bracelet.  I made these earrings. I’m not sure about them.  They might benefit from a greater variety of bead sizes, like making the one bead above the roman glass a slightly smaller size so they don’t look so clumpy.  What do you think?

Beads, Lovely Beads

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Gillian McMurray, Margit Bohmer, Marie-Noel Voyer-Cramp, Rebekah Payne, Skye Jewels, Tree Wings Studio

I don’t have anything new made, but I do have new beads to show.  So let’s get started!

I was super lucky to win some Rebekah Payne beads from Tree Wings Studio. I say “super lucky” because just recently I also received one of her speckle beads as part of the December Art Jewelry Elements Component of the Month blog hop.  Look at these gorgeous colors!  You should definitely check out her blog and her store.

Next up we have a lovely wooden pendant from Marie-Noel Voyer-Cramp of More Skye Jewels.  She also makes beautiful jewelry for her store Skye Jewels.  Visit her Facebook page because lately you can get good deals and first offers there.  That’s how I snagged this pendant.  I got several others, but this is the one you will probably see in a finished creation first.  Soon, I hope!  The pendants and charms are un-drlled, and she will leave them that way or custom drill them for you.

I bought these great paper beads from Gillian McMurray.  I love her style. She also sells nature watercolors and glass tile pendants.

These next beads have stolen my heart.  They are polymer clay beads by Margit Böhmer.  She tints them with chalks and gets amazing colors.

I hope you enjoyed seeing my recent beads.  I always enjoy those posts from other people.  Not only do I love seeing beads people choose, but it sometimes introduces me to new artists.

Although it remains very cold and snowy here, the sun is out today.  That is always cheerful.  I hope it is cheerful where you are.

It’s an Earring Kind of Day

Tags

Earthenwood Studio, Gillian McMurray, paper beads, ScorchedEarthOnEtsy

I am in an earring-making mood lately.  My ears have turned quite sensitive, and it has taken the fun out of wearing some of them.  I’m trying to see how niobium wires work, or just using sterling silver or gold-filled thin wires even though those wouldn’t be my design preference. 

The first pair of earrings I can barely say I made. I simply added ear wires to some gorgeous drops by Petra Carpreau of Scorched Earth On Etsy. 

Aren’t they beautiful?  The colors, crackle, shape, and mosaic look – I love it all.  I’ve had these a little while and finally got the black ear wires I wanted to go with them. 

Next are some earrings made with paper beads by Gillian McMurray.  I’m used to seeing layered paper wrapped into a bicone shape and was taken by her very different gold-tipped paper beads the first time I saw them. 

The third pair uses some patterned yellow discs by Earthenwood Studio.  I think the red coral with the yellow looks very summery. 

Have a great day!