New Necklaces

Just two necklaces to show today.  I have been busy for the past two weeks making jewelry sets for a home show that some friends are doing for me for Mother's Day sales.  I think I am finally done with that batch of stuff, so I took a break and made two things for myself.

This first necklace is what I made with my Bead Table Wednesday beads.  I don't know how I feel about it.  I made it to go with a specific sundress, so I guess I will need to try it on to see.

This one I made with some new wooden beads and carved gemstone flowers I got in the mail today.  I ran out of stringing wire, so I added some chain to the back.  The flower pendant is from Boone Pottery.  Super nice sellers and they ship out very fast.



I was happy to find out that the deadline for Bead Star entries has been moved to April 8 instead of tomorrow.  I think I will try and make a couple more pieces to submit.  Then I am going to have to update my sad little Etsy store.  I haven't put anything new in there since Christmas and the stuff is piling up waiting to be photographed.  I could use a couple more hours in the day to get all the things that I want to accomplish done.  

Give-a-way!

Marcie from La Bella Joya is having a give-a-way on her blog for a beautiful beadwoven bracelet.  I personally own two of her rings, and they are each so beautiful in person and well made.  Head on over for a chance to win!

Studio Tour and Bead Table Wednesday

My husband and I are trying to rent our house.  So I was informed that I needed to clean up the bead warehouse, make it semi-presentable.  I am not only a bead hoarder, I am also very messy.  I come by it naturally though, my father is a total slob.  I will have to take a picture of his workshop one of these days.  It frightens even me, and I don't scare easily. 

If anyone is very tidy and scared of chaos, I would suggest skipping the following pictures.

What I see when I walk into the room.  An antique desk that was my great-grandfather's and an entertainment center that holds my computer, printer and basket of acrylic paints.

My son's old playpen.  Stuffed with scrapbooking supplies and shipping supplies. 

Some wooden boxes and containers from Hobby Lobby and TJ Maxx.  Waiting for me to clear a space to set them up.

Magazines and bead containers.  Each drawer contains a plastic case filled with beads.  None of them are in any particular order, that would be too easy.

Another set on the other side. 

Under my desk.  Also where I hid everything that was on the floor to make the space "presentable".

Each box is filled with pendants or beads.  Or finished jewelry.

Art beads and experiments.

Those are necklaces or strands of beads and chain. 

This is my actual bead desk.  Complete with Buzz Lightyear watercolors.  This scares me and I haven't made anything there in months.  I don't know where to put it all. 

My actual beading surface where I make stuff.  I made those little ribbon circles this morning.  They are super easy - I just used some wood circles, quick drying craft glue and some ribbon.

I will post a picture when it is done.  That is it for my mess.  Off to go post my picture on Flickr.

Mt. Dora, Florida

About a half an hour north of where I live there is a small town called Mt. Dora.  I love Mt. Dora.  They have little shops, places to eat and they are always having some sort of festival.  This weekend there was the Antique, Collectible and Craft Fair.  I went last year and did not bring enough money.  This year I did not have the same problem.  I got lots of vintage brooches to try and turn into necklaces.  I collect vintage costume brooches and clip on earrings.  I don't make things with them too often, usually it requires me breaking out my wire - and I am not very good with wire.  But, when I see pieces, I have to get them, the sparkliness calls to me.  Here's what I bought.

First up - a spoon ring, I love this.  It is from a shop called Recycled Silverware by John Atkinson.  He doesn't have a website, or I would link it.  He was super nice.

And a bracelet from the same shop, I have never found a bracelet like this that actually fits so I was super excited.

Two $5 brooches.

Two more $5 brooches.  The pearl one has a loop at the back for stringing on a necklace.

A set of clip on earrings and a matching pendant.  I think I am going to try to connect them all together.  I also bought this long necklace, I don't know if I am going to try and turn it into something, or just wear it as is.

Lots of sparkliness - this also has a loop at the back for stringing.

I have a really good idea for this one, I think if it comes out good enough I will try and send it in for consideration for the next Jewelry Affaire submission.

And the last piece.  This is my favorite.  It was more expensive then I usually pay, but I kinda needed it.  There is also a loop at the back.  I cannot wait to find beads to match this one.

That's it for me, I hope everyone had a great weekend!

Returning to the Land of the Living

Ugh.  I have spent the past week either taking care of someone sick, fetching food for a sick person or being sick myself.  I was the kind of sick where you cannot get up because when you do your head feels like it is going to fall off your shoulders.  All better now though or at least functioning at about 85%.  I couldn't even make it to the mail and I had this awesomeness waiting for me in my mailbox.  (My very full mailbox, which was probably aggravating my mailman, he began to start shoving things in there haphazardly.)

Golem Design Studio

Meltin Mudd Studio

Beads and Babble

Having emerged from the great sickness of March 2011, I suddenly realized that the month was almost over.  How did that happen?  So many things to get done by April 1st and not a single one of them completed.  I suppose I should get cracking but I am really not feeling it, maybe I will wait until tomorrow.

Winner!

Thanks so much to everyone who participated in my first give away!  I used the random number generator and the winner is comment #6, French Elegant Jewelry.  Congrats!  I will be sending you an email shortly to get your address to send your loot to you.  I am still in the process of cleaning out my bead warehouse, so check back for other chances to win.

Have a great day!!!

Take my beads away giveaway!

Ok, I have far too many beads, and unfortunely Fire Mountain Gems had a $2 strand sale.  I may have bought some.  Alright I did buy some.  So, in order to make room for the new beads I am having my first giveaway to give away some of my beads that have been waiting far too long to be made into something fabulous.  To win, just leave a comment at the end of the post, with your email or have your email turned on your profile so I can contact you.  Here are the goods-

Some Czech glass, gemstone strands, antique brass drops, tiny plastic flowers and some agate connectors.

Some more gemstone strands, freshwater pearls, antique gold pewter bird pendant, chandelier crystals, tiny teardrop beads, some assorted Czech glass seed bead mixes and flower beads.

Cleaning out my stash yesterday, I also added some resin charms and a pendant, fiber wrapped circle wood beads, 10 assorted millefiori pendants and some other stuff I did not get a chance to photograph.  You don't have to be a follower to win - but please feel free to follow if you would like :).  Tell your friends, they can stop by for a chance to win.  Cut off date for entries will be March 12th and I will announce a winner on the 14th.  Thanks for playing along!! 

New stuff

I finished all my chores and was finally able to make something this weekend.  The stars aligned, my son slept and my husband was out of the house playing golf so I got a chance to play with my beads.  I used up all of my dyed jade, which I love in the bright colors. 

Then I used some of my new Michaels finds.  The two pendants are from Floridity and Green Girl Studios.  The castle bead is also from Green Girl Studios and the picture does not do it justice.  It is so detailed - it is just amazing the amount of time put into making this bead.  I don't know if I like the way the bracelet looks, I may redo it.  I really love the bead and want to wear it alot, but this design doesn't wear very well on my wrist.  I do love how the unicorn necklace turned out though.  I carried that design around in my head for about a week before I was able to make it and I am glad it worked out.  I have not stopped wearing it since.  I have some beads ready for my giveaway, I am trying to take pictures of some more.  Please check back tomorrow for a chance to win.

March Art Bead Scene Challenge

It is only the 3rd of March, but I already completed and entered into the Art Bead Scene Challenge.  The prizes this month were just too great to pass up an opportunity to win them.  This is very unlike me - usually I am a major procrastinator.  Plus, I hadn't made anything all week so it was good to get some stuff done.  This is my piece -

The pendant is from Green Girl Studios and the ceramic beads are from Golem Studio.

I also had a chance to make some other stuff with some ceramic art beads that I have been hoarding.

The pendant is by Summers Studio and I attached it to the necklace with some ribbon because I didn't have a extra jumpring handy.

Same thing no jumpring - and the flowers and clasp might look a little familiar, I used them in my challenge piece.  But I was too lazy to get up and go into the bead warehouse (aka my office) to get my bag of clasps and spacers.  So I used what I had on my laptray.  The pendant and beads are Gaea beads.

And again with the flowers.

And just to finish them up - one more time.  Those beads are also Golem Studio.  They are so pretty in person.

That's all for now - I am putting together my first giveaway.  I have got to get some of these beads out of my studio, stay tuned.