Friday, May 4, 2012

One Crayon Color Challenge - Black!

So...Miss Sally from The Studio Sublime decided to play with crayons...and she invited us to play with her. But she had a rule...I could only pick one color and that's all I can create with!



I picked black. This was a tough one! Made this a REAL challenge for me. If you have followed my creative journey, you probably noticed...everything I make is spilling and bursting from the seams with color! And lots of different ones too.

So designing with black, and only black was HARD.
I had just finished the Wrapped, Stacked and Layered Challenge and was really inspired by all the bangles I saw there. I did not have the right kind of wire to make my own bangle. So I decided to use memory wire. But I had already made one (yeah, just one so far :D) bracelet with memory wire, so wanted to make it a bit differently. So, here's what I did:



I strung some "ribbed" black beads, gunmetal seed beads and a "mayan" print focal bead on half a length of memory wire. Then I wanted to make something multi-stranded to add some interest to the other half. So I attached a length of gunmetal chain, and strung together gunmetal and clear seed beads for a second strand. Was thinking of adding a strand of plain black seed beads as well, but I think I like it this way.

It looks pretty, but has a technical problem. It is heavy on one side. I wish Lori Anderson had published her post about stringing a bit sooner. I would have thought of balance then while designing this! So, now I have to figure out how to fix this problem.

When I designed this bracelet, I remembered I actually completed a whole set for the very first time! I now have a complete set of necklace, earrings and bracelet! Here are the other two pieces I had made a few months back.




I don't like this picture. Probably because of the background. The necklace looks amazing when worn :-)

And here are the earrings...


These I like :-)

Thank you, Sally for hosting this challenge :-) I wish I could have made more pieces, but am glad I could finish at least one!

Here's the list of other participants in the challenge. Time for some more eye-candy :-)

Hostess

Red

Bobbie Rafferty   http://beadsong.blogspot.com

Orange

Rebekah Payne   http://treewingsstudio.com

 Yellow

Blue

Charissa Sloper   http://blog.obsidiansoda.com

 Green

Jenny Davies Reazor   http://www.jdaviesreazor.com

Purple

Jennifer Judd Velasquez http://jenjuddrocks.blogspot.com

Brown

Diana Ptaszynski   http://suburbangirlstudio.com

Black

Birgitta Lejonklou  http://lejonklou.blogspot.com/

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Wednesday, May 2, 2012

For a little baby

Well...no actually its for his mom :-)

My friend has a 9 month old baby boy. This is a nursing necklace I made for her...so that the little one has something to play with during dinner time, and doesn't scratch mommy's face!

I had a few questions when she asked me to make it. What material would be safe, what length, should I make it totally baby friendly, or something she would like to wear once the kid is weaned. What colors...etc.
Finally, I decided to go with Mommy's favorite colors, and use no, or as little, metal as possible.

So..I used some satin ribbon, a wooden ring I salvaged from a wind-chime I broke apart to use parts of it for jewelry, and some bright red round beads and a few turquoise wooden beads. I used the ring thinking the baby would find it easier to hold on to. I hope that's the case. He finds the red very attractive :-)

Here it is:



I had wanted to try this technique for tying beads around a ring for a very long time. Explored lots of macrame websites and figured I would use the half-hitch knot. Not completely happy with the first knot, but I guess its a good enough experiment. I also wanted to make a better strap...something thicker out of square knots maybe. But I had no idea how to make it. I did see tutorials for that as well, but wasn't sure how much cord to cut to get the exact length that was needed for this necklace. And of course, I needed to get it done quickly...before the baby grew up ;-) So stuck to what I knew already for the strap.

Here's a close-up of the focal...


My friend likes it, and baby likes to chew on it too :-)
I'd say this was a successful mission! I need not have worried about making it something Mommy could use even later, baby is busy eating it up, haha :)
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Friday, April 27, 2012

Oh, What A Mess!!!!

And now its time for revealing my chaos for the Messy Workshop Blog Hop By Brenda Sue

I am a naturally messy person...or in other words, I have zero organizational skills. Zero! The husband is the opposite, everything, even his trash can is organized and neat and clean. So I bet he cringes every single time he comes home from work in the evening to see this...


Yup! This is my living room. Before I started beading, our home used to be like a model home, everything placed very thoughtfully and not a sign of chaos. But oh well...here we are.

I have tried to contain my work to this little corner though. Actually, am trying to not let things overflow from the yellow sheet. Its a challenge! Notice the pliers...they are taking up the space where my butt is supposed to be!

This is the main area, will share some pics of each little bit one by one...

This little ottoman is my "desk". Here are a few different "works" in progress. Now when I look at the picture, I have no clue what I was trying to make!



Here's a beading tray that I used for current projects before the chaos spread so much. Its by the fireplace, hiding the hubby's careful arrangement of candles. Some beads in prescription bottles, a needlebook, a pair of finished earrings under the tray, and various things that I started, but never got around to finishing.




The other side of the "desk". The white box is my "tool box". Then there is a case for my crochet hooks, a tae measure, box of wires, and the pink Victoria's Secret bag holds my small, but precious inventory!


Another view of the same...hmm...the pliers seem to be marching away under the desk!


The "other" other side of the desk...


I tried so hard to not let my supplies spill out of the yellow sheet. But they escaped!
Some more prescription bead bottles, rubber block for hammering, bust, glue, and an ongoing crochet project in the blue Wet Seal bag.

And finally my "storage" area


The big bag contains beads in ziplock bags sorted by color. The Guess bag as brass components, and the other Guess bag has silver and gold tone components.
*Edited to add: The hubby got my bags organized, not me :-)

Not a whole lot of supplies actually :( Which is good and bad...I can still control the chaos a bit!

My camera died right after this picture. I guess it could not handle any of this anymore!

So there it is in all its glory!

Be sure to check out all the other creative mess other participants have put up!


Brenda Sue LansdowneRobin DelargyKim at Cianci Blue
Jennifer Jazwick-SmithMary Shannon HicksTracy Swartz
Jacqueline MarchantLynnea Perry BennettTerry Matusyk
Laurel StevenDr. Brassy SteamingtonPamela Takeshige
Kris Lanae BinsfeldOutre ArtLinzi Alford
Deb DavisTamara JonesHarry Wood
Gerry NickersonElizabeth Owens-DwyGeorgene Lockwood
Charisa SloperJennifer JustmanBeanzie
Mary DeisCheri ReedSondra Kolner
Sonya Ingersoll-StilleLori AndersonSandra McGriff
Shelly JoyceJoan WilliamsKashmira Patel
Deb BeechyGinger BishopKelli Jacobson
Natalie McKennaAndrew ThorntonMary Govaars
Kate MulliganLisa LodgeTami Luchini
Monique LulaLee KoopmanJayne Capps
Susan LloydCynthia WainscottStephanie Amanti
Alicia MarinacheSam HampLennis Carrier

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Friday, April 20, 2012

Wrapped, Stacked and Layered

If you are looking for the reveal for Bonnie's Spring Creative Color Challenge post, please go here

Bracelets! I have a love-hate relationship with them. Sometimes I totally HAVE to have them (which is usually when I am shopping) and at other times I wonder why anyone even needs them (you guessed it, this is when I am getting dressed to go out). I think this is what created a mental block: I cannot ever create bracelets. The biggest concern has been what size should I make, there really can't be a standard size for it (and yes, you big chain stores, there IS NOT a standard size! Maybe you ought to stock something for the smaller boned people too, so the bangles don't fall off their wrists!)

I made my first bracelet ever for my little niece. She is all of 8 years old and was visiting me over Christmas. I asked her what I should make for her, and she said she wanted an anklet. Gulp! We settled for a bracelet instead and together we made something very cute with red beads and little fish. But see, she was there, I could size is properly. Anyway...enough rambling....

I saw this challenge Tracy announced early this month.



I knew it was now or never for me! Time to overcome the block! I took it up.

And I did make bracelets. 4 of them! And I loved them. The fear is gone. I can't wait to make more. But the challenge that Tracy had set was to stack them. That one I think I failed at :( All four bracelets I made were SO different from each other, no way I could stack them together. So I picked one, and rummaged through my jewelry drawer to find something I could stack it with. I found two bracelets..handmade...by my husband! (He's the brave one! He never had any bracelet-phobia!). I decided to use those.

Time to click pictures...I searched all around the house to find something to use to photograph the stack. Found NOTHING! So I failed again :(( I did take some awful pics in the bad light that was left when I got home this evening.

So ... here goes...my meagre offerings....

This is a pic of the bracelet my husband made. He made two of these...


The bracelet is actually so very pretty, I hate to post this crappy pic here. Hope he doesn't see it, he'll hate me for it!

And here's the bracelet I made following Erin Seigel's tutorial



And here is my sad stack



Here's the list of all the participants:


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Spring Time Color Challenge

As mentioned in a previous post, I am due to reveal my creation for Bonnie's Spring Creative Color Challenge.

Here's the inspiration picture that I instantly fell in love with. It didn't spark off any ideas...but I SO wanted to do something with these colors


I even bought some tiny black millefiori beads with yellow flowers in it. But never got around to actually making anything with it. But as luck would have it, just before Bonnie announced this challenge, I had made an absolutely delightful pair of earrings which were a perfect fit for this!

See?



It has the colors I wanted...yellow and blue, it has the flowers and it is perfect for spring!

Apologies for the hurriedly clicked shabby picture. I did not want to be late again this time for this challenge!

Bonnie will put up pics of other participants creations on her blog Jasper's Gems. Do stop by to check them out!
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Friday, April 13, 2012

Flap Your Wings, Ms. Judy!

This post is about Judy Glende, a beading artist who was much loved and is dearly missed by the entire beading community. I am relatively a newbie in the beading world, and did not know Judy personally.
I used to frequent her etsy stores JudithBDesigns and Flap Your Wings and marvel at all the beauty she created.
I also followed her blog and ead her last few posts. She came across as a super sweet and caring person.


Found out about her passing from friends in the community, and through them, I also felt a sense of loss and wanted to join everyone in paying my tributes to her.


Tania from Moobie Grace Designs arranged for this blog hop where several of us have come up with designs that were in some way inspired by Judy's life and work. Participants will either sell or auction their work and proceeds will be donated to a charity of their choice. I hope you find something you like and help us to celebrate the wonderful person, Judy Glende.


Here is the list of participants:


1. Tania Spivey
2. Lori Anderson
3. Kashmira Patel <- You are here
4. Gail Accinelli
5. Rebecca Anderson
6. Rebekah Payne 
7. Amanda Doyle Tibbetts 
(Amanda regretfully couldn't participant in the reveal but will be making a donation)
8. Kim Ballor 
9. Rochelle Brisson 
10. Sandra McGriff 
11. Lana Kinney 
12. Kym Hunter 
13.  Terri Wlaschin 
14.  Ginger Bishop
15.  Shannon Chomanczuk 
16.  Kelli Jacobson
17.  Patricia Gasparino
18.  Deana Hager
19.  Erin Siegel
20.  Deborah Wenske Brooks
21.  Lynne Bowland
22.  Alicia Marinache
23.  Pam Ferrari
24.  Shirley Jones Moore
25.  Joanne Tinley
26.  Shanti Johnson
27.  Lorelei Eurto
28.  Antiquity Travelers
29.  Shelly Joyce
30.  Marlene Cupo
31.  Dee Torcherer Elgie


I went and looked at Judy's creations to find some inspiration there. She did a lot of "vintage-inspired" work, and so I decided to make something with the antique bronze finish. For some reason, I did not want to add wings to my creation, but at the same time I wanted to make something Judy would like to wear :-) I hope she likes these!

My set is already sold to a dear friend who has been a huge support to my fledgling jewelry making aspirations. I will be donating the proceeds to Judy's family.

And finally...will let the pictures do some talking :-)




I know I have posted this picture before, but these earrings were made for this blog hop.


I also made a necklace to go with this, which I am totally in love with.





I wish I had better pictures of the necklace. But it has been raining non-stop for the last few days, and this is the best I could do.

This set is also my first sale after I officially setup my business. Am glad this is for Judy. They will be sent off to a lucky birthday girl next week. I hope she likes her gift, and I hope Judy does too :)

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Thursday, April 12, 2012

Catching up!

Haven't blogged in soooo long!

I have been thinking about it of course, have so many posts all written out, in my head, that is. Nothing out here :(( This time, I shall blame the weather for it! No sunshine, no pictures, no blog posts. Simple!

But I have been busy...signing up for a lot of swaps and hops and challenges. I feel bad I have not written about them here yet. So here I am trying to catch up!


Flap Your Wings Design Challenge by Tania of Moobie Grace
April 14, 2012


This one is a tribute to a very loving and generous designer who lost her battle to cancer last month. Or as Tania puts it ...she gained her wings.
A group of artists decided to design something in her memory and donate the proceeds to a charity of their choice. In Judy's name. I decided to join them. My design is already sold, so I will only be putting up pictures.



Springtime Creative Colour Challenge by Bonnie
April 21, 2012
Very simple rules on this one. Bonnie had hosted a color challenge last month too, and very graciously agreed to let me enter my earrings after the challenge was closed. I promise not to be so tardy this time!
The rules are simple, use the art work she puts up for inspiration and create something. So very simple :-)
I totally fell in love with this month's artwork. See...such a happy picture!
I bought new beads for this (usually I just use what I have on hand) since I did not have anything in yellow. This challenge is going to help me get over my "yellow block". I LOVE the color, but have a hard time creating with it. So this is good for me :-)



Wrapped, Stacked and Layered Challenge by Tracy Statler of Make Bracelets
April 21, 2012




Stack 'em up, its the trend this Spring! The challenge is to make one or more bracelets that you can match up with some favorites that you already have. And no rules against making an entire stack :-)
I joined this one solely to overcome my fear/block of making bracelets. I have made four very very different bracelets since then. They co-ordinate neither with each other, nor with anything else I have. So...the challenge is still a challenge for me :-)


Messy Workshop Blog Hop By Brenda Sue
April 27, 2012




No designing here....just a tour of how all the prettiness really gets made. Diamonds come out of blackest of black coal, lotus flowers grow in dirty, muddy waters, so I guess my messy beady corner is appropriate for the prettiness that comes out of it. So I say to myself, at least :-)


Sharyl's Bead Packet Design Challenge 
Date: TBD

I got to know Sharyl through Facebook, and was lucky enough to be picked as a participant in this challenge. Sharyl has sent out identical bead sets to all the participants. It is going to be FUN to see what 5 different creative minds will come up with.
Sharyl will decide on the reveal date once everyone gets their beads.


One Crayon Color Challenge By Sally Russick 
May 5, 2012



This one is different. And quite challenging to me. I have to come up with a monochromatic design! If you know me, you know how I love to make everything look like it was a piece of a rainbow :-)
Sally asked participants to come up with a design in one of the 8 basic colors, and design with only hues of the same color. I made it harder for myself, I picked black :-) Black and all its hues, here I come to make you all look pretty together :-)

And then, I have signed up for some swaps:

Vocal Focal Bead Swap by Bonnie 

Will be swapping a nice focal bead with Shirley Moore of Beads and Bread
She is a bead-weaving artist, and I asked her to MAKE me a focal. She was sweet enough to do that, and will be mailing it out for me tomorrow. Sooper excited!

Finally, there is a supplies swap I am participating in...will need to go look if there is a blog link for it.

Thazzit for  now folks! Gotta get busy and work on all these challenges!



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