My dear friend Sharyl from Sharyl's Jewelry and Reflections sent me (and 10 others) these gorgeous beads to play with.
The ones in the front are ceramic beads handmade by Natalie Pappas of NKP Designs
The others are ones Sharyl used to match up Natalie's beads:
The challenge was to use at least two types of beads, at least one of which is Natalie's artbead.
I loved the colors, yeah, as usual, color is what draws me to anything!
What I made for this challenge is quite a departure from my usual style. Everything in here is very simple. No major designing done here, but it works! I already sold one of the two pairs of earrings I made!
This second pair is also simple, but has an interesting twist. You see the silver connector in here? Any guesses what it is? No? They are part of a hook-eye clasp. I still need to figure out what I can do with the two orphan hooks. This is the pair that my friend liked and bought.
And this is the last piece. Its a work-in-progress though. I made a focal out of Natalie's peach swirl bead, the white fossil bead and deep red faceted glass bead. Strung it on a white cotton cord.
I have not finished the necklace yet, but this is one idea I am toying with. Make a looooong necklace with a silver chain. I might scatter peach and/or red seed beads on the chain. Or I might not use chain at all, but make a braid out of white cord with peach/red seed beads sprinkled in. We'll see.
The ones in the front are ceramic beads handmade by Natalie Pappas of NKP Designs
The others are ones Sharyl used to match up Natalie's beads:
The challenge was to use at least two types of beads, at least one of which is Natalie's artbead.
I loved the colors, yeah, as usual, color is what draws me to anything!
What I made for this challenge is quite a departure from my usual style. Everything in here is very simple. No major designing done here, but it works! I already sold one of the two pairs of earrings I made!
I have had these bead caps for the longest time. I love them but was unable to find the right beads to use with them. They are kind of big and flat. The green beads by Natalie seemed to ask for the bead caps and I complied and made this simple pair :)
And this is the last piece. Its a work-in-progress though. I made a focal out of Natalie's peach swirl bead, the white fossil bead and deep red faceted glass bead. Strung it on a white cotton cord.
I have not finished the necklace yet, but this is one idea I am toying with. Make a looooong necklace with a silver chain. I might scatter peach and/or red seed beads on the chain. Or I might not use chain at all, but make a braid out of white cord with peach/red seed beads sprinkled in. We'll see.
So while I am not quite done with my designing, I think I still meet the challenge requirements with the earrings.
Can't wait to see what the others have made!
--1. Kashmira Patel (Sadafulee... Always in Bloom)
--2. Sonia Smith (posting on Sharyl's blog)
--3. Alicia (All the Pretty Things)
--4. Cheri (Creative Designs by Cheri)
--5. Laren Dee Barton (Laren Dee Designs)
--6. Shirley Moore (Beads and Bread)
--7 Alice Craddick (Alice's Beads and Baubles)
--8. Cilla (Tell Your Girlfriends)
--9. Whimsical Monkey (Whimsical Monkey)
--10. KayzKreationz (KayzKreationz)
--11. Jean A. Wells (Jean A. Wells Handcrafted Artisan Jewelry)
--2. Sonia Smith (posting on Sharyl's blog)
--3. Alicia (All the Pretty Things)
--4. Cheri (Creative Designs by Cheri)
--5. Laren Dee Barton (Laren Dee Designs)
--6. Shirley Moore (Beads and Bread)
--7 Alice Craddick (Alice's Beads and Baubles)
--8. Cilla (Tell Your Girlfriends)
--9. Whimsical Monkey (Whimsical Monkey)
--10. KayzKreationz (KayzKreationz)
--11. Jean A. Wells (Jean A. Wells Handcrafted Artisan Jewelry)
Yup, simple and elegant - major hit :) The beads were just splendid by themselves - you did a great job of focusing the eye on the art beads; love it!
ReplyDeleteThanks Alicia!
DeleteLove BOTH pairs of your earrings, Kashmira! Those bead caps, and the silver accents on the 2nd pair, really make them look exotic and unique!
ReplyDeleteThe necklace is looking interesting too! I'm anxious to see how you finish it off. Thanks for giving us a sneak-peak!
I know you are very busy, and I appreciate you making sure your page went up and visiting the other pages too! Hope you have a great weekend! --Sharyl
I LOVE beadcaps, but I always forget to use them! Silly, huh?
DeleteKashmira, those earrings are wonderful! What a great idea on the white ones. I like the way the chain looks with the pendant. You could make a couple of the ideas, and have it interchangeable. :)
ReplyDeleteNow THAT's an idea, Shirley! Make it bohemian with a cotton cord, or not, with a chain!
DeleteI like your designs, sometimes we have to let the beads shine! I did simple too and am happy with my design. I love your green earrings. Great bead caps.
ReplyDeleteThanks Cilla! Yeah, I loved your design too!
DeleteThe earrings are so cute. Congrats on selling a pair already. And I really like the focal you've made with the large bead and your start on the necklace.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Kay! Am loving the focal too, now lets see where I take this! I have no idea right now, lol!
DeleteLovely, just lovely. When you have beautiful beads, it doesn't take much to make beautiful jewelry. You did a great job. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteThanks Jean!
DeleteKashmira - love both earrings!! And, the necklace pendant is super sweet - simple is always nice,...it's often over looked, but they're always the ones people turn to for their go-to pieces. I love the first pair of earrings so much! Are those available? Let me know - shel@asicj.com!! ;-)
ReplyDeleteOh thank you, Shel! Yes, you can have them :)
DeleteThose are all lovely. My favorite is the pendant and I can't wait to see how you decide to string it. All of the options you mentioned sound beautiful.
ReplyDeleteTanya, lol, yeah, that's the problem, they all sound nice :) But knowing me, I will probably end up doing something entirely different!
DeleteVery pretty! LOVE that second pair and great idea to use the hook and eye connector! I took a set I had from a sweater to use on a bracelet ... my odds and ends from my sewing seems to work great with jewelry :) I like the long necklace ... the focal is so pretty on its own!
ReplyDeleteOh! I need to look at old clothes too now!
DeleteI think I will go with a long necklace too.
Hi Kashmira, I like your earrings and your pendant you made. I made a pair of earrings that I got posted on my facebook, my battery died in my camera and I lost my charger :( thankfully I did get my necklace posted. It is interesting how 10 people make something totally different with the same beads.
ReplyDeleteThanks Cheri! Oh, I will go check out your FB to see the pics then..
DeleteSimple but beautiful!!! My customers seem to gravitate to the more simple designs unless they have a special occasion. I love both earring pairs, though my favorite is the first pair. And How clever to use part of a hook & eye for the second pair! I'm loving what you have going for the necklace and can't wait to see what you end up with.
ReplyDeleteThanks Alice! I am also thinking I should "cut down" a bit on the designing and do simple things for a while. We'll see how that goes :)
DeleteThose all turned out so great. Isn't it awesome how something like bead caps can brighten up a piece? And I love your use of an element in an unusual manner. Cool beans!
ReplyDeleteThanks! Yeah, bead caps rock!
Delete