Artists for Animals Auction – Coming 10/29/18

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Artists for Animals, Bandana Girl, Green Girl Studios, Joan Miller, Lesley Watt, Majoyoal, Michelle Ann McCarthy, Orrtec

Hello! I wanted to give a preview of some things I’m working on for the Artists for Animals auction that is coming up October 29 – November 4, 2018. Artists make things and donate the proceeds to the animal charity of their choice. My charity is Madison Cat Project. They are dedicated to finding the appropriate home for every cat that comes to them. If my taste isn’t your taste or you aren’t in the market for finished jewelry, no worries! Last time there was stained glass, homemade pet toys, beads for jewelry makers and all sorts of goodies. Join the page to get notifications and updates or visit starting on October 29th to see offerings and bid. It’s a public page, so anyone can comment and bid. Tell your friends!

Unfortunately, it’s very grey today, so my pictures aren’t the greatest. However, they will give you an idea of what I’m working on. My parents have a screened in porch, which is like a natural light box. So before the auction, I’ll take everything I’ve finished over there to get good photos.

I’m making more earrings this time. I love these metal pieces by Bandana Girl. I got them for a specific project I can no longer remember, so they became beautiful earrings for this auction! These are the sort of earrings I would have worn all the time back in the day when I wore earrings. The green bead is vintage Czech. 

By the way, the earring holder that I’m showing my earrings on was made by Michelle Ann McCarthy who, along with Joan Miller, created this auction. You can see another pair of earrings peeking out the back. 

They are for people who like a funky statement. I do! Gingham fabric and wire components by Anna Pierson of SagaHus paired with vintage plastic drops.

I’ve also made some necklaces. Here is one with a lovely ceramic pendant by Lesley Watt in a favorite colorway – turquoise and red. 

This is the picture for which I feel I’m really not capturing the beauty of the necklace, but I’m thrilled with how the necklace turned out. 

I found a gorgeous strand of little grey pearls with some lovely green and purple effect in the light. I paired them with a rough watermelon tourmaline nugget and a Green Girl Studios horse pendant. For the horse people! Or people like me who just love pretty jewelry.

Last but not least, I have what I call the orange necklace. It features of fabulous orange pendant from Majoyoal. I paired it with some orange half AB glass and a juicy mix of seed beads. I asked my mom if it was “too orange” for other people. She pointed out that we love it. I hope other people do too!

I will be making more things, so I hope you come and visit the Artists for Animals auction October 29 – November 4, 2018 to see what I and the other artists have to offer. It’s all for the animals!

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Humblebeads Stacked Fall Necklace

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Allegory Gallery, Andrew Thornton, Gaea, Heather Powers, Helen Backhouse, Helen's Bat Cave, Humblebeads, Karen Totten, Majoyoal, Mari Carmen Rodriguez Martinez, Starry Road Studio, Supply Your Soul, Vintaj

Heather Powers of Humblebeads makes great polymer clay beads. She also makes beautiful jewelry, and recently shared some tips and design ideas on a Work Table Wednesday video on her Humblebeads VIP Party Facebook page. She has made a colorful innovation to her classic bird beads.  In the video, she shows that she has also used the technique to make owls and offers some cute ideas to use each in pretty necklaces. I was inspired to use the bird I have.

I had so many ideas; this shows just a few of the beads I considered using. Heather showed a variety of leaves and birds together.  I thought about using this beautiful black round by Karen Totten of Starry Road Studio because I love the black with the grey bird.  But I couldn’t resist using a leaf. I don’t actually have a lot of leaves in my stash, but this one by Helen Backhouse of Helen’s Bat Cave went so well with the gold in the bird.  I loved the idea of using a Vintaj acorn bead cap. I also loved this mottled brown ceramic bead by Mari Carmen Rodriguez Martinez of Majoyoal. But I decided I wanted a pop of the pink/purple in the bird.  Some choices included dark and light purple ceramic beads by Gaea and a plastic bead. In the end, I used a polymer clay nugget by Andrew Thornton of Allegory Gallery. I used some beautiful patina ball chain in the Steampunk color from Supply Your Soul.

I couldn’t resist also using Heather’s idea to put a flower bead in a bead cap to make a little “crown” on top of the bird. This project was a lot of fun. It’s simple and easily customized to the beads you have available.

Do You Know About Artisan Component Marketplace?

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Artisan Component Marketpace, Kristi Bowman, Majoyoal, Marla James, Marlas Mud, Metapolies, Sasijuhls

There is a Facebook page called Artisan Component Marketplace where artists post about their handmade jewelry components.  If you read my blog, you know that’s my kind of place!  Recently, they opened a website for member stores, also called Artisan Component Marketplace, spearheaded by Marla James of Marla’s Mud.

There is a really nice variety of material types – lampwork and fused glass, wood, ceramic, polymer, copper and more.  I enjoy being able to go to one location and access so many great shops.  It includes artists I have purchased from before in other venues such as Metapolies, Kristi Bowman, and Majoyoal. But I have also been introduced to new-to-me artists, and that’s always something I like.

They had some grand opening festivities, including many giveaways, and I won a gorgeous pendant from Sasijuhls.  This is one of the great stores I “discovered” because of Artisan Component Marketplace.

Isn’t this Sasijuhls pendant beautiful?  The artist even included a wonderful face bead with my prize!

I encourage you to check out Artisan Component Marketplace.  You will probably recognize some old favorites and might find some new ones!