Clay and Metal Blog Hop

15 Saturday Nov 2014

Tags

Andrew Thornton, Lisa Lodge, Metapolies, One Piece at a Time, Pine Ridge Treasures, Sharyl McMillian-Nelson, Sharyl's Jewelry

Lisa Lodge, jewelry artist at Pine Ridge Treasures and blog hop/Facebook challenge hostess extraordinaire has struck again! Today is the reveal for the Clay and Metal Blog Hop featuring components from Sharyl McMillian-Nelson‘s shop Metapolies. Some participants got Sharyl’s polymer clay beads; some of us received Sharyl’s metal components. Kits could also include some coordinating beads. Here are some of the coordinating beads I got (the only things left to photograph since I didn’t get a photo before I started working).

I received three of Sharyl’s wonderful metal components: a lovely sun charm and two rectangle charms with beautiful patina and texture. The necklace I made with the sun charm is all about mixed metal.

In addition to Sharyl’s lovely sun, I used some vintage chain I recently got from One Piece at a Time. There is a very slight blue patina on the sun, so I separated it from the beads above it with some bluish sequins left over from one of Andrew Thornton‘s challenge kits. I used some beads as dangles that I thought looked like sunlight; I think they are citrine and are a little more yellow than the picture. I also used some heat-treated carnelian to bring in a little darker color that goes well with the chain. I used spacers that Lisa included in my kit atop each bead. I really like how this necklace turned out!

Sharyl’s rectangles are so gorgeous with their wonderful texture and slightly sparkly patina. I’ll admit that even though they are perfect for earrings, I kind of wanted to make something else with them since I don’t wear earrings. But then I got over my greed. I added some blue crystals (also left from Andrew’s kit) a couple of gold spacers and two salmon colored beads with a really pleasing shape. Those are from a nice batch of cool beads my sister’s girlfriend brought me from a trip to Colorado! I am thrilled with these.

I was thinking about how you could take these components and make so many beautiful pieces of jewelry just by swapping out what else you use with them. That’s the wonderful thing about art beads and components; they are so versatile and always beautiful. Thank you to both Lisa and Sharyl for a great hop! Now let’s check out what all of the other participants made. Have fun clicking on the links below to follow along and thanks for visiting.

Your hostess: Lisa Lodge, A Grateful Artist

Melissa Trudinger, Bead Recipes

Jo-Ann Woolverton, It’s a Beadiful Creation

Carolyn Lawson, Carolyn’s Creations

Shaiha Williams, Shaiha’s Ramblings

Toltec Jewels, Jewel School Friends

Heather Richter, Desert Jewelry Designs

Marybeth Rich, A Few Words from within the Pines

Kim Dworak, Cianci Blue

Karen Grosset Grange, Ginkgo et Coquelicot

Ann Schroeder, Bead Love – You are HERE!

Lisa Prewitt Knappenberger, LiRaysa Designs

Carol Briody, A Beads Life

Miranda Ackerley, MirandAck

Kari Asbury, Hippie Chick Design

Susan Anderson, La Main Tresor

LeAnne Loftus, First Impression Design

Leithleach Seodra, Alainn Jewelry

Beads, Glorious Beads

23 Saturday Aug 2014

Posted by beadlove in Uncategorized

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Eclectic Prairie, Gaea, Jenny Gohlson-Morris, Metapolies, Sharyl's Jewelry

Here is just a quick post with some new beads.

First are some beads from Sharyl McMillian-Nelson‘s (of Sharyl’s Jewelry) new shop Metapolies. Some of the first metal art components I ever bought were from Sharyl’s Artfire shop. Now she has opened a new shop on etsy. She had grand opening festivities for Metapolies as well as sales in both shops. As part of the grand opening, she had a drawing for some goodies, and I was one of the winners. At the same time, I took advantage of the sale to buy some autumn color beads I kept going to look at in her store. (When you keep going back, it’s time to make the purchase.) She also generously included a beautiful purple/wine floral pendant that I am currently in love with.

The packaging was beautiful also, but I got home late last night when it was dark. There was no way I was going to be able to preserve the package to take a picture when it was light. I wanted to see the beads! I wanted to include a piece of the tissue and her card, though. She has a wonderful polkadot branding that I just love. It’s very happy and distinctive. Follow the dots all the way to her stores!

Next up we have Eclectic Prairie. Jenny Gohlson-Morris’ store has a motto that kind of describes my purchasing philosophy. “Life is short. Buy the beads!” I will just admit right now that when people post pretty pictures of their beads on Facebook, I am apt to follow the link to their store and purchase them. Especially during a sale. (It’s even easier to convince myself then.) She also included some very generous extras in my package.

The rustic bead set on the left was posted on Facebook, and I knew I had to have it. I love the different shapes, the browns, the designs. I love that little frame (I’m thinking toggle). And then while I was there I had to get some classic pastels. I mean really. I’m so thrilled with these beads.

Finally we have an old favorite – Gaea – and I’m noticing a theme. I also got some of these on sale. She had some destash sets. Of course while I was there I fell in love with that diamond raspberry button. Isn’t it delicious? And again a few extras. I love extras because it means more beads!

I can’t spend my whole day ogling pretties. I actually have to get going. But I love reading posts seeing new beads other people get (read a couple just this morning) so I wanted to share as well. Have a wonderful day!

Clean-up Follow Up: Recycling Jewelry

10 Monday Mar 2014

Posted by beadlove in Uncategorized

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Clean-Up, Fix-Up Challenge, Fusion Beads, Linda Landig, organizing beads, Sharyl's Jewelry

A little while ago, Sharyl of Sharyl’s Jewelry hosted a wonderful Clean-up, Fix-up Challenge. I participated, and it was a great motivator. I have been able to create more with my cleaner more organized space, and I have kept it clean. I also intend to continue to organize, and want to provide updates as I go.

I had an epiphany that in addition to organizing my beads, I could organize other things messing up my space. One of the participants from the challenge, Linda Landig, wrote about wanting to clean up visual as well as physical clutter. That is part of the problem in my space. Two things causing that sort of clutter were old jewelry I wanted to take apart and things that need to be fixed. I threw them willy-nilly into a couple of baskets, and it looked a total, unappealing mess I did not want to deal with.

I used my box method and put things that need to be taken apart and things that need to be fixed into separate boxes. They are neatly stacked and covered while they are waiting. They are also very portable. This weekend while I wasn’t feeling well, I brought the things that needed taking apart with me to the couch and took them apart while watching old episode of The Mary Tyler Moore Show and drinking tea.

I would not have gotten this done so soon if it hadn’t been pre-organized like this. In addition, I had my little baggies all together and my “dish method” for garbage and beads that need to be put away that I got from Fusion Beads.

I continue to be thrilled to have a nicer working space. Thanks again, Sharyl!

Clean-Up, Fix-Up Challenge Reveal

01 Saturday Mar 2014

Posted by beadlove in Uncategorized

≈ 12 Comments

Tags

Clean-up Fix-up Challenge, Erin Siegel, Fusion Beads, Happy Mango Beads, Little Free Library, Sharyl's Jewelry, UfYH

Sharyl of Sharyl’s Jewelry had the most wonderful idea for a blog hop. We would come together to share the chore of cleaning up and fixing up our work spaces. She was very open – it could be cleaning up your whole area, one organizing project, or decorating if the place is already organized. Anything to make your space nicer and more conducive to creativity.

I have done this many times. Unfortunately, I always regress back to messiness of the most design-blocking kind. I considered doing a blog post about it before, but I thought, “How can I ever show this mess in public?” Then along came Happy Mango Beads‘ Messiest Bead Table contest. I decided to take a picture and enter it, so my secret is out. And you know what I found out? Many, many people have bead tables as messy or messier than mine!

My bead table on January 5, 2014

Horrendous, right? Seeing this photo spurred me to start finding a way to really organize my stuff, not just clean it up, mess it up and repeat the cycle ad nauseam. The root of the problem is that I had long outgrown my bead storage. No wonder I never put things away; they had nowhere to go. In addition, I had been purchasing new tools and new stringing materials. I needed a way to store all this, and I didn’t want it to cost a lot of money. I noticed that my workplace has an abundant supply of smallish, relatively shallow boxes. I’ve informed co-workers to save them for me. A few appear in my office every week. Although some people seem confused about why I need so many for “just beads,” I know you understand.

Separating things into boxes by artist, bead type or material will make it easier to find things when I’m designing. Getting really organized will be a long term project, so I have some larger boxes as an interim mix of beads that I will separate further as I refine my organization and get more boxes. I will eventually make nicer labels or even get nicer boxes. However, I know trying to make things “perfect” can impair the flow of getting things done. Good enough is good enough, and it moves me forward to organized.

I want to give away some of my paper craft supplies I’m not using and donate more books to the Little Free Libraries so I can make space for things I do currently use. After that, I’m going to get some bunting and little lights like in this room to make my space even more cheerful. I’ll have to think of a really fabulous reward for when I do bigger projects such as put up pegboard like in Erin Siegel’s studio. Maybe beads!

I still have a lot more to do, but I feel really good about the progress I’ve made and the fact that I can now create at my bead table. I actually found a real home for everything that had been piled on the table. I took a tip from the Fusion Beads Blog to keep containers on the table for things that need to be put away, so I have the green and silver bowls for that. I have a garbage can under the table to throw away bits I’m not keeping. The pink box has a lift out separated tray; it is for my current work in progress in case I want to take it downstairs or on a trip.

The same table as in the first picture – clean!

I hope you’ve enjoyed seeing the start of my craft room transformation. If you have any good tips for organizing, decorating or staying organized, please share in the comments. Then hop around to see what the other participants, below, have done. And thank you Sharyl for this wonderful idea!

Host: Sharyl McMillian-Nelson … http://sharylsjewelry.blogspot.com

Donna Millard http://fyrebeadz.blogspot.com/

Beda Hendrix … https://www.facebook.com/SasijuhlsThings

Ann Schroeder… http://www.beadlove.wordpress.com – You are here

Pamela Rachelle… http://crazycreativecorner.blogspot.com

Kristin L Oppold… http://www.yayjewelry.blogspot.com

Heidi Kingman … http://heidikingman.blogspot.com

Andi … http://strungoutjewelry.blogspot.com/

Patricia Buchanan Click “Blog” on the menu bar at http://www.braceletstoo.artfire.com

Helen Simon… http://helensharvest.com/

Kashmira … http://sadafulee.blogspot.com/

somethingunique … http://somethinguniquebylana.blogspot.ca/