The Necklace

Tags

Bead & Button Show, Creating Unkamen, Nancy Adams, Now That's a Jig!, Round Rabbit, The Whole Bead Show

I have been thinking about this necklace for years. I didn’t have the right materials until now. Let me tell you a story.

I learned about art beads late in my bead journey. When I learned about Nancy Adams of Round Rabbit, I was thrilled to see her work. I fell in love with her ceramic beads. Please note, she does not make beads any more, but she does create handmade items, so check out her shop. Anyway, I saw her beads, and fell down the rabbit hole (so to speak) of her blog. And I saw the pod. I remember thinking, “I just missed it, and maybe she’ll never make this design again.” Then, a few years later, she did!

If you are someone who bought from her, you’ll know that her work just disappeared in seconds. So when I saw the photo of the pods on her blog, I picked out the one I loved, a matte glaze. But I just wanted to make sure I got one, and they are all beautiful. So I bought a shiny glaze when I had the chance. Later the one I love came up, and I got it too! Wow. I was in bead heaven.

So they went in my Round Rabbit hoard, and there they sat. I’ll be honest, every once in a while I get the hoard out and enjoy the beads. Once while I was doing that, I thought how beautiful a pod would look on some large link chain. Simple lines with beautiful materials. I tried matching them with a variety of chain (and I have a lot of chain) but it was never quite right.

Then within the last few years at the Bead & Button Show, there was a competition with multiple designers, and one of the things they were using was the Now That’s a Jig! One of the designers made chain, and I was absolutely in love with it. I wish I could remember who it was or find the video (I watched online; I wasn’t at the show.) I knew that chain would be great for the pod. That’s when I decided to get a Now That’s a Jig! And just about the time I was set to buy one, they went on sabbatical.

So, the pods went back in the box. And then I found the chain. The Whole Bead Show has been having online sales due to the pandemic. I have tried to take advantage of online bead shows and such as much as possible. It’s a great way to support small businesses and a great way to access materials I otherwise couldn’t.

The chain is plated brass but looks like steel, a look I love. I used steel wire to make the pod into a pendant. I tried to make it look organic to match the chain. When I was ready to clasp it, I thought I had a black iron clasp from Creating Unkamen, but I didn’t. So I decided to make a clasp from steel wire. I had a tutorial from that shop, but haven’t practiced. I might remake one later, but it turned out okay. I’m glad I decided to do that than use an artisan sterling clasp I considered. While beautiful, it was not the look I had in mind.

So here is the necklace. I just love it. Waiting for the right materials allowed my vision to come to life.

Vintage Beads

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.

 

The Bars

Tags

Clayworks by Lisa Boucher, Nancy Adams, Round Rabbit

I have had three gorgeous multi-holed bars by Nancy Adams of Round Rabbit for some years. (In fact, Nancy still makes handmade, but not beads. Great stuff; check out her shop.) I’ve tried to use them multiple times but have not been satisfied with my efforts. Until now.

I think the reason it worked this time is I unfussed the necklace. In the past I had tried to complicate it more. Being this boho, it’s already got enough going on. The two round ceramic beads above the bars are from Clayworks by Lisa Boucher. I also found this necklace to be the perfect use for a couple of heavily textured tube beads in my stash. I love it when something finds its perfect project. 

I used three strands of linen because I originally thought I would have braided sections. I left them longish at the back in case I wanted to bead them like the front dangles. 

I think I’ve finally found the right project for these bars. I have two boxes of Nancy Adams’ work. I went through them while looking for the bars, and oh my goodness, there is a boatload of gorgeous work in there. Some of the things literally made me gasp. It’s really difficult to use things like that because I’m afraid I won’t do them justice. However, the beauty is I can always take something apart and re-make it if I decide it doesn’t please me. I’m happy this one does. Bring on the spring tunics that this will complement very well!

 

WIP Finished and Sweet Pink

Tags

Erin Prais-Hintz, Green Girl Studios, Nancy Adams, Round Rabbit, Tesori Trovati

I finally finished a long time work-in-progress that I talked about in this post. That was almost a year ago, and it had been around a while then! It features a pendant by Nancy Adams of Round Rabbit. Her focus has shifted from beads, but her shop still features her handmade items, so check it out. I love being surrounded by handmade. 

I used amethyst cubes and green Czech glass to compliment the pendant. I hadn’t really noticed the hole at the bottom until I worked with it. I wanted to add a new design element instead of just an item from the strand, so I chose this Swarovski crystal square. I really like how it looks!

Latish at night, I was working on another necklace which was about 75% finished when for some reason I suddenly decided the finish the above WIP. I wasn’t about to stand in the way of that! But early this morning I finished the other simple necklace. 

I’d had these vintage Czech glass beads on my table for a little while. I love pink, and I thought these sweet little rounds would be perfect with a simple, small pendant. I had considered my Green Girl Studios stash as well as a variety of other items, and then came upon this little charm that says “grace” by Erin Prais-Hintz of Tesori Trovati. This charm was included as a gift in an order. Sometimes I think it means so much to me to use those gifts because of the feeling behind them. Handmade already includes a lot of love and passion; a thank you gift has even more good feeling. Since it was also just the perfect complement to these beads I’d been wanting to use, it all came together. It will be lovely on its own as well as a great layering piece.

WIPs

Tags

Andrew Thornton, Cynthia Thornton, Dot Winchell, Joan Miller Porcelain, Nancy Adams, Nikki Thornburg, Round Rabbit, Winchell Clayworks

I’m very pleased with how occupational therapy is going for my thumb, but I’m still not to the point of being able to bead. I got a new exercise yesterday, and in doing it this morning I could only hack one set instead of two. But I can feel that I’m getting better all the time.

So, in the absence of new makes, I will show some old works in progress (WIPs).  These are materials I’ve had gathered for a project for quite a while but have never actually put the piece together. These things may or may not work out in the end. It will be interesting to see whether they come together or I end up releasing the beads back into the wilds of my stash.

The first grouping started with beads by Joan Miller Porcelain.

This heart, and steampunk elements are by Joan Miller. I’m pretty sure I got the chain with these beads in mind. I know I bought the red and gray/silver pair by Nikki Thornburg with this project in mind.

Next up is an idea for a necklace with a hand painted pendant by Dot Winchell of Winchell Clayworks. 

I think these pink melon Czech glass beads will be wonderful with it. I have a Swarovski shank button I got at Mood that could be a good closure. I love this little floral/filigree button. I took a picture of the wrong side; the other side looks like mother-of-pearl. I’m not sure how I’d use it, but it’s worth trying in the design. 

This pendant is by Nancy Adams of Round Rabbit. She doesn’t make beads any more (that’s how long I’ve been hoarding this) but she does still make beautiful handmade items, so still check out her shop. Czech glass and amethyst are perfect for the pendant; the actual design of how the beads will fit together remains to be seen.

Here is a bronze coin by handcrafted by Andrew Thornton (and designed by Cynthia Thornton) with some lovely carnelian calla lillies.

One last project is actually going to be a remake of a vintage necklace my mom bought and then gave to me. 

Look at those gorgeous beads and clasp! I really like it just the way it is, but it needs to be restrung and is just a little short for me. I’ll try separating the beads with some seed beads my mom also gave me to match or add a chain extender in back.

Thanks for reading, and I hope to show you some of these in finished form in the future.

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The Beginning and the End

Tags

Keith O'Connor, Malin de Koning, Nancy Adams, Round Rabbit

Sometimes when I want to make something, I just scroll through my Pinterest boards and see if something inspires me.  Tonight it was this pin.  I thought of some beads I have that wouldn’t have really looked anything like the inspiration, but that the inspiration made me think about.

I thought the flowery bead had more color in it and would have green, so the carved bead would work with it.  After I decided they didn’t work together, I thought about these white beads I saw when looking for the green beads.  What happened is what often happens – in looking for beads based on some inspiration, I find something else and put that together.  So inspiration that just gets me looking through my beads is usually enough to help me make a piece when I don’t have a specific idea in mind.

I was thinking about different pendants, and then I saw the beaded bead sitting on my work table.  I thought that would be a good accent.  I also had an idea to use a blue and white clasp and thought of a Round Rabbit piece that is blue and white.  The whites didn’t quite go, but I found this green pendant and thought back to the beaded bead.  There are a million ideas and combinations!

In the end, I used the white beads, a Keith O’Connor tab, a beaded bead by Malin de Koning and a pendant by Nancy Adams.  She has stopped making beads, but makes a lot of other cool stuff, so check out her shop, Round Rabbit.

 

Art Bead Scene Challenge – November

Tags

Art Bead Scene challenge, Autumn Flowers, Marguerite Zorach, Nancy Adams, Round Rabbit

I was very inspired by the colors in the November Art Bead Scene Challenge piece.

This piece is a 1940 silkscreen called “Autumn Flowers” by Marguerite Zorach. Right away, the light Aqua-ish flower in front reminded me of a pendant I have by Nancy Adams of Round Rabbit.  The yellow leaves to the left made me think of a strand of glass beads I got at a flea market.  I loved their perfect, soft yellow, and now here it is again.  I decided to start there and see what other colors I wanted to add.

There were some burnt orange English cut Czech glass beads laid out on my bead table in another necklace design that was waiting to be put together.  Sorry other necklace; they were too perfect for this!  I added spacers that have several colors from the inspiration.  In back, I put vintage turquoise beaded chain.  I used grey-blue waxed linen with a color similar to the curtains. Not much of it shows, but I like knowing it’s there.

I really love how this piece came together.  I find the color combination as pleasing in my necklace as I do in the artwork.  I will enjoy wearing this. Thanks for another great inspiration challenge, Art Bead Scene!

You can see what other people have made on the ABS Pinterest pages for jewelry and for beads.

 

Foldio Portable Photo Studio

Tags

Fanciful Devices, Foldio, Halcraft USA, Heather Millican, Heather Powers, Humblebeads, Janel Goolsby, Jera Luna Designs, Karen Totten, Marina Rios, Nancy Adams, Round Rabbit, Starry Road Studio, Swoondimples

Many of my photos are dreadful.  Sometimes I don’t even want to share my work because I can’t get a decent photo of it.  I live in Wisconsin, and we are not known for our good light.  I’m using my iPhone for a camera and don’t anticipate changing that. I’ve been thinking of getting or making a light box for a while, but which one?

Recently I saw a Facebook post by Heather Powers of Humblebeads praising the Foldio.  I figure she has taken plenty of good jewelry photos!  Plus, in checking it out, it was affordable, ultra easy to set up and use (I’m extremely impatient) and very portable.

All of the photos in this post were taken shortly after I opened the foldio and set it up without even really reading the few sentences of instructions.  It was extremely easy to use, and already these pictures, such as the one of the bean beads above by Heather Millican of swoondimples, are better than most of the photos I’ve ever taken.  And these were taken at night.  I just had to post right away because I’m so excited to have this tool!

I’ll still need to practice to get good at avoiding shadows and keeping my hand steady. Above is a gorgeous pendant by Marina Rios of Fanciful Devices.  The photo could use some improvement, but I think I wouldn’t have gotten one this good without the Foldio  because the image is covered with mica and difficult to photograph.

I’ll also need to experiment with the different background colors.  These beads by Janel Goolsby of Jera Luna Designs look great on this white background (although it looks a little grey).  All but the heart were totally washed out when I tried them on black.

This is a bead kit I won from Halcraft USA. When I got it yesterday, I posted a photo of it on Facebook.  I took it at night in my kitchen (the best light in the house until the Foldio came along) and it didn’t show true to color at all.  It came out very green.  Here I took a picture at around the same time at night in the Foldio, and it is a much better representation of what the beads really look like.

Here are a few tests on the black background.

Black and white pendant by Nancy Adams of Round Rabbit.

Connector by Karen Totten of Starry Road Studio.

Coin someone anonymously put on my desk at work. I don’t know if they intended for me to use it in jewelry, but that’s where it’s probably headed.

I think the black background will be the hardest to use.  I also seem to end up taking pictures that are closer and I’m not used to adjusting them yet.  But I’m excited about how I will be able to improve my pictures and take photos when I have time rather than always trying to find light and take pictures only when I happen to be home during the day.

 

 

 

 

Welcome Home

Tags

Linda Landig, Nancy Adams, Round Rabbit

When I get new beads, particularly art beads, it’s like having an anticipated guest come to stay.  Welcome to my home I think when I open the package. Because I know they are going to be staying a while.  Once they are made into a piece of jewelry, they are part of something larger.  But when they first arrive, just their beautiful selves with no other distractions, I feel like welcoming them. I got two such pendants recently.

This first one is by Linda Landig.  She has been making polymer clay pieces, and I fell in love with this pendant.  Don’t you just love the burst of color? I’m going to try to convince myself to make this into a necklace soonish because I think it will be a great go-to necklace for summer.

Another pendant I got is by Nancy Adams of Round Rabbit.  I love the modern look of this earthy piece.  

I’m very glad these two pendants have come to live with me.  I’m generous that way.  New beads are always welcomed here.  

I Love Beads

Tags

bead destash, D'Arsie Manzella, Gaea, Lisa Lodge, Mamacita Beadworks, Nancy Adams, Pine Ridge Treasures, Rebekah Payne, Round Rabbit, Tree Wings Studio

The title of this post is a bit redundant.  That statement is obvious from the name of my blog!  But that is why I like posting photos of new beads I get.  I like the beads themselves more than any piece of jewelry I’ve ever made. So, here we go!

These are my latest acquisitions from Nancy Adams at Round Rabbit.  I love her beads and pendants so much.  Gorgeous little works of art.  They are just amazing.

Then I got some yummy eye candy from Lisa Lodge of Pine Ridge Treasures. She started a destash page on Facebook.  If you love beads and a good destash event, you should join.  I love destash because it is a good way to get a nice variety of beads from someone else’s stash.  They’ve done all the collecting work.  I got a nice selection of green beads.  Never met a green bead I didn’t like.  These actually do look like candy.  Green licorice allsorts or something!

I also got a lovely garnet mix.  Garnet is one of my favorite stones.

These next beads are the first I was drawn to in the destash sale because I’ve been looking for some purple spacers.  (Unfortunately, I don’t know the artist of these beads.)  I saw this gorgeous necklace by D’Arsie Manzella of Mamacita Beadworks.  I have saved a few jewelry treasures from my youth and have a heart similar to this green one in her necklace, except mine is purple.  I love how she’s used these little spacers, so this purple group will come in handy.

I also scored some art beads.  A square stone lantern by Gaea and three aster wheels by Rebekah Payne of Tree Wings Studio.

That’s my bead love tour for today.  Now back to regularly scheduled weekend activities.  Have a good one!