Resin, Bowties, and Paw Prints

Tags

Allegory Gallery, Andrew Thornton: Project Destash, Artists for Animals Auction, Famous Vintage Bead Hoard Liquidation Destash, Madison Cat Project, Marlas Mud, Prayers for Paulo

I was sort of at loose ends about creating this weekend. I think just because I had kind of a tiring week, and I needed to rest. That always puts me in a quandry since I do most of my creating on the weekend, and I hate to miss that time. I usually go up to my studio in the morning because that’s when I have energy. I didn’t go up until the afternoon, but I did make some stuff, plus, I ended up getting my income taxes done, so that was good.

I’m not 100% sure I will keep this first necklace the way it is. I love the colors together.

I got these beautiful, large, green resin rectangles from Andrew Thornton: Project Destash. I love colored resin; I can use really big beads, and they aren’t too heavy. I paired them here with vintage yellow bowtie beads that I got from Famous Vintage Bead Hoard Liquidation Destash. I think what I don’t 100% like about it is the small beads in the back. That’s not what I would use for design balance, but I often like to use smaller beads at the back so it lays better on my neck. I’ll wear it and see how I like it. Here is a close up of the beads.

I also made a necklace for the next Artists for Animals Auction coming up sometime this spring. I like to get a head start. 

I added a little lightweight metal heart and glass bead to the pendant. The strand is (probably) moonstone and jasper. I’ve become bad at keeping information about beads.

One thing I love about this necklace is the wood pendant is from Allegory Gallery. Besides just liking the pendant (I got two; one for this, one for myself) I like that the pendant was made as a fundraiser itself. It is is called Prayers for Paulo, and was made to raise funds for Allegory’s owners’ cat Paulo when he got ill and required multiple vet visits, medication and special food. Pet owners know how expensive those sorts of bills can be, and small business owners also know how an unexpected expense can throw you for a loop. So I was happy to buy those to help out, and then I made this necklace that will (I hope) be sold to raise funds for my chosen charity, Madison Cat Project. So I feel like this is a twofer fundraising pendant!

I also made a necklace for an upcoming challenge. And then when I was falling asleep, I designed another necklace that I hope turns out like it looks in my head because it is beautiful in there! Have a wonderful week.

Do You Know About Artisan Component Marketplace?

Tags

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!

 

 

Dwindling New Beads Post

Tags

Erin Prais-Hintz, Kylie Parry, Lisa Peters Art, Malin de Koning, Marla James, Marlas Mud, Nature Scavenger, Something To Do Beads, Tesori Trovati

I call this the dwindling new beads post because I have done quite a few of these and want to focus more on making things, practicing techniques and more than just buying beads.  I have certainly proven I can do that!  Also, I need to cut down.  Not just say I’m going to cut down.

So let’s get on with the show!

I saw these beautiful earrings by Malin de Koning and I fell in love with the polymer drops by Marla James.  So I had to get some of my own.  And while I was there…well, you know how it is.

I saw the autumnal bead sets with pods by Something To Do Beads in a blog post on Art Bead Scene and had to go get one because I knew they would fly out of the shop.  I was right; there were only two left when I got there.  I just love pod-type things.

You might notice that my downfall in bead buying is seeing the gorgeous creations on the internet.  (Note to self: stop spending so much time on the internet.)  Often I’ll see some beads in a blog post, on Facebook or just decide to go visit the shop of one of my favorite artists.  Once I see a creation that I know is one of a kind, it can be hard to resist. That’s what happened with these shank buttons by Lisa Peters Art.  The strawberry is so charming, and the circles are just amazing.  I love circles, whether in the form of polka dots, this bull’s eye effect, spirals, etc.

This blue leaf by Lisa Peters Art is so beautiful.  I feel like my purchase of it was a little different, even though I bought it at the same time as the buttons.  I fell in love with this style of leaf at Lisa’s booth at Bead & Button 2013.  I didn’t get one there because I had other things I wanted from her booth, which was one of the last I came to and my bead money was dwindling.  But I knew someday I would have one.  When I saw it, I knew this blue leaf was the one for me.

When Kylie Parry announced an update that included this keyhole pendant, I knew I wanted this and a raven pendant that was a new style for her.   I was online at the exact moment the update went live.  Well, maybe a few minutes before – refresh, refresh – and you don’t see a raven because I still didn’t get one!  But I’m so happy I got this lovely pendant because I do have an idea for it.

Now here is a real coup.  Sometimes in reading blogs I see beads that are just no longer available.  I was reading a blog post by Erin Prais-Hintz of Tesori Trovati.  She used one of her sari snapshot pendants, and I was blown away.  I really love her creations and hope one day to join her Simple Truths Sampler Club.  But as I read this post and saw the sari snapshot pendant in 2014, it was from 2012 and there was no way I was going to get one.  Guess again!  I got this lovely version from a destash.  I LOVE destash.  Please offer treasures you aren’t going to use to the rest of us.  We’ll give them a great home.

I also got these agate beads in a destash.  Another great thing about destash is being able to get smaller quantities of beads.  I’m guessing these were sold in a larger strand, but these few were very affordable for me and the perfect amount for my use.

I have ordered from Nature Scavenger before – beautiful painted driftwood beads.  When I saw these natural wood beads with bark still on, I knew I wanted them.  They are lovely nuggets in person.

I’m not saying you will never see a “new beads” post from me again.  I don’t have that much willpower!  Plus, there are some beads I’ve never shown (as well as a few more on the way as I type.) But I’m going to strive to be a more active maker rather than just a buyer.  Here’s looking forward to new adventures!

 

Tins, Photo Props, Beads

Tags

Artisan Component Marketplace, Earthenwood Studio, Genea beads, Joan Miller Porcelain, Lesley Watt, Marla James, Marlas Mud, Metapolies, Nancy Schindler Adams, Round Rabbit, Sharyl McMillian-Nelson, Staci Louise Originals, Staci Smith, Summer Wind Art, The Rabbit Muse, THEA Elements

I thought I would take you on a tour of some new things I’ve gotten in the last couple of months.  I wasn’t having a lot of luck getting really good pictures when I took these, but one of the things I got was some new (old) books for photo props.  I was  at our main public library which fairly recently experienced a major overhaul.  It is a beautiful space.  They have a small Friends of the Library store, and I bought three art books ($3!) for photo props.

Here are some Summer Wind Art beads on the page of a book about art nouveau.  I had been eyeing things in this shop for a while.  The hand painted wood pendants finally encouraged a purchase.

This is a beautiful bead from Genea that I got in a destash sale by Marla James of Marlas Mud.  Not only did I get some fantastic deals, but the sale was a lot of fun.

This beautiful skull pendant is from Earthenwood Studio that I got in the same destash.  I love the ghost-like figures in the background.  Perfect setting for a skull.Isn’t this a great bunch of metal I got in the destash?  The bronze sugar skull, metal hoops and textured donut are by Staci Smith of Staci Louise Originals. The turtle and shell charms are by Lesley Watt of THEA Elements.  The circle charms and bail are by Sharyl McMillian-Nelson who has opened a new shop for her components Metapolies on etsy as well as being one of the shops at Artisan Component Marketplace.

I got both of these tins at a thrift shop for less than $1.50.  Love it!  By the time I ever get a disc cutter, I will have an impressive collection of tins waiting for me.

Here are some beauties by Nancy Schindler Adams of Round Rabbit.  I had forgotten I ordered them when I saw a post with them.  I was regretting being so frugal when these arrived in the mail!  I was very pleased.  I think this background from one of the books works very well.

These fun beads are by Joan Miller Porcelain, also from the destash.  I was having a lot of trouble getting a half-way decent shot of these.  Super shiny beads are always difficult for me.  This plain box lid from the Round Rabbit beads was the best background of the bunch.  Anything in a pinch.

I hope you enjoyed this tour.