Bead Trends and a Giveaway

 

The March issue of Bead Trends is out and as usual the pictures are just wonderful! I am fortunate to have two pieces in this issue. One piece is called Cerulean, I created it with antique glass beads, (they look like turquoise but are not) and a handmade pendant.

The other piece is a bracelet called Bayberry, I created this piece with a pendant focal from LeAnn of SummerStudios as well as smoky quartz and  fancy jasper rounds.

...and now on to the giveaway portion of our program.
To all my very wonderful readers and new bead soup friends I would like to offer you a chance to win the March issue of Bead Trends magazine. All you have to do is stop by my facebook page,say hi and become a friend. I will pick a random winner on Tuesday morning. 

 Ok, dokey... see you in FB land.

This bed is just right!

 Since we have been having some cold weather with temps. in the teens, the kitties do not want to go outside. You can find them through out the house lounging in the sunbeams. Samuel Adams has found one better, a sunny confined spot....my photo box, and there was no getting him out of it either!

 In this picture he dared me to move him...can you believe it?

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 The mailman delivered me the sweetest package yesterday, the giveaway I won from LeAnn. Check out her wonderful packaging. I just love it! Very clever, the colored paper is actually a little note card with a hand written note. The heart inside is just beautiful, thanks so much!

Stay warm today! I am off to get a haircut (my hair grows sooooo fast!) then I am picking up my son Nick from school. I miss him terribly, he has not been home since he went back after Christmas break.  

Don't forget to ENTER my blog giveaway. Tomorrow I will be drawing the lucky winner for the $35 CSN stores gift certificate. 

Stone Moss

Stone Moss

A long necklace full of textures created from one of the fabulous beads I blogged about a 10 days ago. This gorgeous bead is from Pottery Girl on etsy and I am sure you will recognize the lovely bronze floral pendant from Summers Studio. 

 I made another copper leaf and I am in love with it. I had lots of fun creating the patina and textures.

Happy Monday everyone!

Sedona

This piece originally started out as a bracelet, instead a very earthy pendant was formed. I have been trying to create with other colors...that are not blues and turquoises. I always seem to gravitate towards those colors, but when you scroll down you will see I was not too successful. 

 Gorgeous fire agate, red river jasper, copper and some brass, originally I thought a copper ball chain would work well, but I felt it had to much copper going on, so I substituted a mellow antique brass chain. I am calling this piece Sedona. You can find this later today in my Etsy shop.

Sedona is on my bucket list of places I would like to visit...someday. 

The lovely LeAnn of Summers Studio  created this great porcelain pendant that I used as a toggle for the focal for this bracelet. I paired it with sterling, smoky quartz and fancy jasper. The glaze on this toggle is wonderful, blues and greens, my favorite combination.

 

  

Bird in Flight

A symbolic necklace full of Hope, growth and the rhythm of life.

I created a one of a kind resin pendant for this piece I call "Bird in Flight".

The pendant was made using resin, vintage papers, an old watch face and a bird charm. A thin piece of mica sits under the resin and gives the pendant an iridescent glow.

Handmade sheet music beads, rulitated quartz and mother of pearl beads are wire wrapped in steel and accent the whimsical pendant. You can find this piece on my website.

Spring Moss

Bone beads and handmade copper bead caps compliment the porcelain floral pendant and porcelain beads created by LeAnn of Summers Studio Pottery. Oxidized copper and vintage metal links unite all of these great components.
You can find Spring Moss in my Etsy shop.

Oh Hunny...

Here is another one of my resin pieces I call "hunny". It has a little edgy steam-punk thing going on but you know... put the word "hunny" on something and it softens it right up.

I like adding texture to metal, it absorbs all of your pent up frustrations really well. We have aggregate side walks and driveway (all little pebbles in cement) So I use a texture hammer all over the metal and flip the metal as I go. I then take it inside and with a mallet flatten it out. I then oxidize the metal with liver of sulfur and it really gives it an aged look getting all the nooks and crannys.

I have been asked if I made the bezel, well kinda sorta.....does telling someone what to do count? My hubby cut copper tubing for me and viola you've got yourself a bezel. I have not mastered the soldering part yet so I have improvised with resin and epoxy. An old watch gear and bee charm fill the bezel along with the resin. I have also fallen in love with eyelets...it does not take much to thrill me, I know. Renate of "Put a little magic in your life" was so kind to share with me where she got the eyelets, they are so cool and add another great element to designing.


Now, I am off to play with all of my goodies that came in the mail today. Oh, yes you should be jealous because they are wonderful!!

Studio Art Bead

Summers Studio

Have a great evening!

Feathered Joy

So luminous with living wings,
So musical with feathered joy . . .

Told y'all I would finish this last night! This little yellow birdie makes me smile...

Little birdies can be found on Etsy at Summer's Studio Pottery.

Bird Sanctuary

Between the cliff-rise and the beach
A slip of emerald I own;
With fig and olive, almond, peach,
cherry and plum-tree overgrown;
Glad-watered by a crystal spring
That carols through the silver night,
And populous with birds who sing
Gay madrigals for my delight.

Some merchants fain would buy my land
To build a stately pleasure dome.
Poor fools! they cannot understand
how pricelessly it is my home!
So luminous with living wings,
So musical with feathered joy . . .
Not for all pleasure fortune brings,
Would I such ecstasy destroy.

A thousand birds are in my grove,
Melodious from morn to night;
My fruit trees are their treasure trove,
Their happiness is my delight.
And through the sweet and shining days
They know their lover and their friend;
So I will shield in peace and praise
My innocents unto the end.

By Robert Service

Look for this piece on my website...but you have to wait until the new site is opened, just a little tease. I will keep you posted!

Thank you Ms. Mail Lady

Two little packages arrived in the mail today...I had been waiting so patiently for them and I could not wait to rip them open. The first one was a FABULOUS pair of earrings from Sharon of Livewire Jewelry. I was the winner of her One World One Heart giveaway. I still can't believe I won out of 290 entrants. I am a big fan of Sharon and am so honored to have one of her creations, I just love these earrings!





The other package was from LeAnn of Summers Studio. I have been dying to get my hands on one of her precious little birdies and today was my day. I just love it and can't stop touching it. The color is exactly what I had hoped. I am going to use the birdie in a long necklace and hope to start that tonight. The other two pieces are gorgeous and generous in size. Inspiration comes in may forms and from many things, today it is LeAnn and her wonderful porcelain creations.

Tuesday's before & after

I want to share with you some more of my before and after photos. I ordered some porcelain pieces from Summers Studio Pottery and I can not tell you how pleased I am with Leeann's work.Her stunning rich glazes and designs speak to me with their antique and vintage styles.


An unexpected combination of colors, shapes and textures are used to create this one of a kind couture necklace...a juxtapose if you will. I used a porcelain handcrafted pendant by Summers Studio Pottery for the focal piece. This pendant was handformed in porcelain using vintage filigree to add an elegant swirling pattern with a tiny shell motif. The pendant is glazed front and back in an ocean blue green,I added a vintage rhinestone for a dangle and some bling. Wire wrapped in sterling are stick pearls, lapis, smoky quartz,rhinestone spacers, pearls and sterling beads. A hand forged clasp is used in the front. All sterling has been oxidized for an aged look and buffed to bring out some shine. Measures 17 1/2". This piece is truly one of a kind!

And lastly is this darling bronze dragonfly charm. I used the 22mm charm for a pendant and wire wrapped it in oxidized brass and added a colorful polymer clay bead. A black greek leather cord with handforged clasp finishes this piece off nicely.