tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63616631313990808632024-03-13T11:28:31.216-04:00Creative JourneysA blog about my jewelry design world.Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03955415293077995861noreply@blogger.comBlogger42125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6361663131399080863.post-13754161195693376342014-05-27T16:09:00.000-04:002014-05-27T16:21:48.167-04:00Copper Clay, You Kill Me.<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I have have always been fond of copper and bronze. I love the rich, dark colors and organic designs. Having purchased many handmade focals and components over the years, I of course wanted to learn how to make my own beautiful components. I acquired a kiln 6 months ago, which then sat on my porch for 5 months untouched before I finally worked up the courage to even turn it on. It came to me used, and is a top loading Firebox 8 Ceramic Kiln. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-T2-l0HT35aw/U4TjAbAr2pI/AAAAAAAAAlI/TqPd3RxvLxk/s1600/IMG_2470.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-T2-l0HT35aw/U4TjAbAr2pI/AAAAAAAAAlI/TqPd3RxvLxk/s1600/IMG_2470.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">As you see in my photo, I had it sitting on an 18" tile, which was on top of a wooden, painted table I had on my porch. I had read many posts online, and several said as long as it was on a ceramic tile, it would be fine.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">For my first attempt, I started with PMC3 clay, which is a low fire fine silver clay. I fashioned a few little teardrop shaped charms and used a stamp to put a texture on it, added holes for connecting, and fired it at 1600 for about an hour. They came out properly sintered and everything went fine. That was a few weeks ago. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Last night, I decided to try the copper clay and see how it fared. Things weren't quite as smooth this time around.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">My husband and I made 7 pendants and charms with the copper clay. We let them dry a few hours, and they were leather hard, as the instructions said they'd be. I decided to be safe and do the 2 step firing, even though I didn't have intentions of enameling. The first mistake I made was misreading the firing temperature, and I only took it to 500 for the first fire, when it said to go to 560. I don't know if that caused any issues or not, but after the first fire, which was directly on a raised ceramic shelf, the pieces were intact and fine and felt hard. I removed them and embedded them in activated coconut carbon in a stainless steel firing pan. The instructions said to put the pan on stands, but the stands plus the pan combined were too tall for my kiln to close, so I had to put the pan directly on the bottom. I had about 1-1.5 inches of carbon on the bottom, the placed the 7 pieces in the pan, with space between them, and filled up the container the rest of the way with the carbon. It seemed pretty packed full when I put the lid on. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The firing instructions for the 2nd fire say to take it full ramp to between 1700-1800 degrees and hold for 3-3.5 hours. I ramped the dial to a 6 to get the temp up. Keep in mind there are no digital settings like an oven, just a dial that goes from low to high with 6 numbers between. The max temp is supposedly 2000 degrees, so I figured that was a good place to start. I got the temp in the range it should be, cut it back to 5, and walked inside to work on something else. I checked on it periodically, every 10-20 minutes, but at some point I must have waited a good 20 minutes, and when I went to check on it, the temp was at 1860. I immediately cut the kiln down to low to try and cool it back down. At this point I get distracted again, because while standing there watching my thermometer, it adjusts very slowly. It isn't like it immediately cools or heats, it takes considerable time. It took an hour or so to even reach the 1700 degree temp. During this second distraction, the kiln gets below 1700, so I freaked out again and ramped it back up, deciding that this time I would stay with the kiln for the remaining duration of the fire time. I got the temp back between 1700-1800 and was keeping it there fine...then I started smelling smoke.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Initially I thought it was my thermocouple, which really isn't made for such high temperatures, but seemed to be functioning fine even though the wire was glowing red hot when I would take it out. The protective sheathing had burned away completely, but the wire was still working. The smoke was not from the wire though, it was from the wood table that was under the tile and kiln. I felt the table and it was quite hot, and obviously burning since I could smell the burning wood. After closer inspection, I notice that the tile under the kiln has cracked and separated. At this point, I begin to panic. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The kiln is heavy. It is large, ceramic, and was running at 1750 degrees. I do have fire retardant gloves, but even with those on, I could not pick up the kiln without it hitting some part of my body or arm. There was just no way to move it while it was hot like that without severely burning myself. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I raced into the house and grabbed a 12x12 ceramic tile we use as a work surface for polymer clay and brought it out. Using my gloves, I lifted the kiln enough to push the broken tile together where it had broken apart, lessening the opening where it was cracked, like fitting a puzzle piece together. I then wedged the new, small tile underneath the kiln to add another barrier and lift it higher, and grabbed my fire extinguisher just in case the table went up in flames. I also turned the kiln off for a few minutes during this whole process, just because it was my initial reaction to turn off the heat source, though it takes hours to actually cool down, so it was kind of pointless. I took a sponge to the bottom of the table, ran water into the cracks of the tile, and basically tried to wet any area that was exposed and hot that I could reach around the kiln. I then turned it back on. The temp was measuring above 1600 when I turned it back on, so I knew I hadn't lost that much heat, and I continued the last hour of firing with a hope and a prayer that my house wouldn't burn down, and managed to keep it right around 1750 for the last hour. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Once it had been going for 3.5 hours total, I turned it off and waited until it cooled off before going to bed. After waiting well over an hour, it was still only down to 800, so I used a screwdriver and propped it open barely - less than a quarter of an inch, to slightly speed up the process. When it was down to 500 and the table was clearly much cooler, I went to bed. At this point it was 6:30 in the morning.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I woke up around noon and inspected things closer, and unfortunately, only 2 of the little charms I made survived. The larger pendants had broken up into pieces and turned to dust when I tried picking them up, but my small ones sintered fine. They are extremely small. There is a shrinkage that occurs because the clay part of the compound dissipates and leaves only the pure alloy, which then sinters into solid metal. I believe this is usually around 20%...but mine look like they are at least 50% smaller, or even more. I tried breaking the little pieces and they are sturdy. Here are the 2 pieces, and part of another, that survived and weren't dust. Its blurry, but you get the idea. Basically they turned into small tiny scraps, except for maybe the middle one, which I suppose I can use as a tiny charm in some earthy design.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-De92NJErXvM/U4Ts7ubp7JI/AAAAAAAAAlY/MjmM9QCbf7k/s1600/IMG_3462.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-De92NJErXvM/U4Ts7ubp7JI/AAAAAAAAAlY/MjmM9QCbf7k/s1600/IMG_3462.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Now for the really fun part...here is what the tile that cracked looks like now.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PrHj6APUQfo/U4Ts94KVDNI/AAAAAAAAAl0/PZzWe4dm5wE/s1600/IMG_3461.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PrHj6APUQfo/U4Ts94KVDNI/AAAAAAAAAl0/PZzWe4dm5wE/s1600/IMG_3461.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And here is what the stainless steel pan looked when I took it out of the kiln. It was brand new and shiny when it went in. The top is all rusted and weird and left metal shavings and dust everywhere - I have no idea if this is normal or not.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5PgmhRnDhjA/U4Ts-K35iBI/AAAAAAAAAlw/ab1FgRBYDXk/s1600/IMG_3464.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5PgmhRnDhjA/U4Ts-K35iBI/AAAAAAAAAlw/ab1FgRBYDXk/s1600/IMG_3464.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And here is what my table looks like when I finally moved the broken tile and kiln out of the way. Whoa. It split the table completely and totally cooked it. I'm lucky I didn't burn down my house or myself. Clearly the large tile I was using wasn't enough, or maybe it wasn't ceramic. I honestly am not sure. My apologies to my sister, whose table this actually was, and who took the time to paint it...oops. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wPOdJPWWni4/U4Ts99lY_TI/AAAAAAAAAls/9zjRBDf5kms/s1600/IMG_3460.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wPOdJPWWni4/U4Ts99lY_TI/AAAAAAAAAls/9zjRBDf5kms/s1600/IMG_3460.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So obviously my first attempt was a total failure and a comedy of errors that I hope to avoid next time. There are a few things that could have led to the demise of my pieces, and I'm not sure if it is one or all of them. I hope someone who knows what they are doing will be kind enough to share some tips or insight, so I don't waste all that clay making the same mistakes again. In the meantime, I believe I will just work with polymer clay today. : )</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03955415293077995861noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6361663131399080863.post-23438715304262714982014-05-26T01:52:00.004-04:002014-05-26T13:21:54.612-04:00My 1st Month of Farmer's Markets - Breaking Down the Numbers<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It's been awhile since my last post, and there is a good reason, I've been very busy! I recently quit my day job to focus on jewelry full time, had a piece of jewelry worn on the show "Parenthood," gifted 25 celebrities and 5 members of the press necklaces for an Earth Day gifting, and have just wrapped up my first month of doing Farmer's Markets for the first time.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Here was my booth set up on my first day, when I was outside at the Chattanooga Market. As you see, I have 2 tables full of stuff, plus a ladder shelf unit and an easel with a handmade earring board, full of the earring cards that I also make myself.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZIavrZZS_u8/U4N2W-b5TmI/AAAAAAAAAk8/oLIQ523bFxk/s1600/IMG_2793.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZIavrZZS_u8/U4N2W-b5TmI/AAAAAAAAAk8/oLIQ523bFxk/s1600/IMG_2793.JPG" height="288" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Here is my biggest table that I set up, which I have old barnwood board makeshift shelves, satin covered shelving for height building, and 32 different necklace busts on, plus more. I actually lost one of my fancy tall busts this day due to wind knocking it over and breaking the bust off the stand bottom.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TBKUrNm88Zo/U4N2VpdMnQI/AAAAAAAAAkw/3pm7rQDrk-g/s1600/IMG_2794.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TBKUrNm88Zo/U4N2VpdMnQI/AAAAAAAAAkw/3pm7rQDrk-g/s1600/IMG_2794.JPG" height="297" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I've been thinking a lot about pricing lately, and the cost of being in this business. Obviously, I had to give that a lot of thought when deciding to quit my other job, and I needed to have a clear financial plan and goals in order to survive. That was hard to do without knowing what I would make any given day, and wow, that varied a lot. One day I made $990, the next, $118. You just never know. I did the math this evening and decided I would share it, for anyone who thinks we jewelers charge too much, or for anyone considering getting into this business. You might find it to be a real eye opener. Lets look at my figures this month for the 3 markets I attended. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">My total sales for the 3 days of markets were $1847 before taxes, and that is including 2 sales that did not transpire at the market, but did stem from connections made there. Now lets look at the costs I incurred over those days: </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Gas: $45 for 3 days of travel an hour to and from the shows in a fully loaded down suv</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Parking: $10 </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Booth Fees and Commissions Paid: $180.70 (NOT including a $25 application fee and a $30 yearly fee)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Food for 3 days of eating and drinking for 2 people at farmer's market cost: $85</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Babysitter for 1 of the 3 days: $40</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Ok so my monthly farmer's market costs come to $360.70, really $415.70 if you include the once a year fees, but since those are only 1 time a year, I'm not including them in the typical month costs.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">That brings my total down to $1486.30</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Now lets consider the cost I have in the jewelry itself. Every piece of jewelry I make has components and materials I pay for out of pocket to create. After looking up the numbers, the material cost in the jewelry I sold is roughly around $500. So we have to subtract that from my "profit" as well. This brings it down to 986.30 </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Finally I have to consider the hours I worked. All of the 3 markets were 5 hours long, with approximately a 1-1.5 hour set up and 45 minute breakdown, plus 2 hours total of travel each day. It basically amounts to at least a 9 hour day for a 5 hour show in either Knoxville or Chattanooga, which I happen to be located right between. That's a total of 27 hours. $986.30 for 27 hours is still just over $36 an hour...which would be fantastic...except it doesn't factor in the time it took me to make all of that jewelry I sold. I do not make $1800 worth of custom jewelry in a day. In fact, I don't think I could even do that in one week. It would take me at least 2, but just for fun we will pretend that I'm superwoman and can make that much in one 40 hour work week (on top of those show days) and that ends up being 67 hours of work. Now I'm making $14 an hour. (If we want to keep it real, its closer to 2 weeks worth of work, which is around $9 an hour, but back to the fantasy.) I'd actually be pretty happy about making $14 an hour if that was the end of it...except it isn't. I also have to purchase organza bags and gift boxes, labels, business cards, jewelry displays, cloths, tables, laminating sheets, cardstock, printer ink for making my cards, tools, inks, patinas, misc supplies that aren't included in the cost...the list does indeed go on and on. By the time everything is said and done, I might be making $8 an hour, and that is if I'm lucky enough to be blessed with customers (who want to buy) and nice weather. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Is that too much money for a self employed artist to expect to make? Should the fact that I have been honing my craft for 8 years factor into my value? How about the many different skills I use, or the creativity I have? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Some people think that I have it easy making jewelry. Yes that part can be fun at times, when I'm in the zone and have my music going, but there's a whole lot more involved than just making jewelry. I also make my earring cards (photoshop creations, printing, cutting, laminating, and cutting again) have written my own bios and several press releases about my accomplishments, market my business on social media, set up & break down my booths (physical labor), pack and ship items, communicate with customers, photograph and list all my jewelry, price and inventory, hunt for unique components and beads, and keep up with paperwork on all of my figures from shows, online, etsy, shops, and private transactions. All of that extra stuff takes a considerable amount of time, and it isn't included when I'm doing numbers or figuring out my price. I also have to pay income taxes out of whatever I make, too.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So, having seen what the numbers really mean, I hope the next time you need a gift for a loved one or feel like treating yourself, you will stop before buying that "mass manufactured for cents and marked up 1000 times" item and find a local person in business you can shop with. If you are the type who generally doesn't buy handmade due to the price, consider those costs the artist is incurring, and find value in their unique skills as well as the personal connection you are making with the artist. Know that you are helping someone pay their rent/mortgage, feed & support their families, and survive. You will be buying something unique and special that is a reflection of the artist's soul, quality made to last much longer, and be much nicer than anything mass produced. You can rest assured that you will be in good and grateful hands. : )</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03955415293077995861noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6361663131399080863.post-70167436998917389092013-09-25T02:23:00.000-04:002013-09-25T02:24:42.727-04:00Echo Creative Club September Reveal<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">In my last post, I shared the beads I am using in this month's Echo Creative Club Challenge. They are gorgeous Caribbean Blue peeled paint beads from Jeannie. Here's the photo of the beads again: </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QRYIc-R8gO4/UkJ-GPFDQ0I/AAAAAAAAAhE/V8elbbrx8pg/s1600/IMG_8164.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="297" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QRYIc-R8gO4/UkJ-GPFDQ0I/AAAAAAAAAhE/V8elbbrx8pg/s400/IMG_8164.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I created 2 pieces with these beads (and still have a few leftover to work into other projects!) The first piece is a necklace that is a long, beaded chain with a filigree focal that I used to drop one of these larger beads. I used turquoise and gold Swarovski crystal pearls to keep the colors uniform.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wb1A4ThhOls/UkJ-GmsQOMI/AAAAAAAAAhY/s-DhDzZgIg0/s1600/IMG_8169.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wb1A4ThhOls/UkJ-GmsQOMI/AAAAAAAAAhY/s-DhDzZgIg0/s400/IMG_8169.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bi-7FYyzD4M/UkJ-G9kGJRI/AAAAAAAAAhc/B5pSnbdtuQM/s1600/IMG_8171.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bi-7FYyzD4M/UkJ-G9kGJRI/AAAAAAAAAhc/B5pSnbdtuQM/s640/IMG_8171.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The next piece is a pair of earrings. I plan on doing a pair just like these with bronze findings to match the necklace, but originally I did them with 14K gold filled findings as shown here. They have Czech gold glass metallic pearls and crystal golden shadow Swarovski crystals.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jaKP4eaEzbE/UkJ-HpsdRfI/AAAAAAAAAhg/zC2puIYWCdg/s1600/IMG_8260.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jaKP4eaEzbE/UkJ-HpsdRfI/AAAAAAAAAhg/zC2puIYWCdg/s400/IMG_8260.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Pardon my crappy lighting - hard to get decent pics inside my house and I haven't been able to get any recently outside due to a hectic day schedule. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I hope you enjoy the beads and the jewelry. If you want to check out Jeannie's amazing jewelry, visit her store by clicking <a href="http://www.jkdjewelry.com/" target="_blank">HERE</a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Be sure to check out Kristin's and Jeannie's blog post reveals as well by clicking on their names below.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://kristen-beadjourney.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">KRISTIN</a> </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><a href="http://site.jkdjewelry.com/blog" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">JEANNIE</span></a></div>
<br />Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03955415293077995861noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6361663131399080863.post-91746166077179100102013-09-24T00:47:00.000-04:002013-09-24T00:48:13.693-04:00Echo Creative Club September Beads<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I am honored to participate for the last time in the Echo Creative Club. It has been a blast getting to use Jeannie's fabulous beads in my projects and share with you all. This month, I had some beautiful round peeled paint beads in a Caribbean blue and gold/copper color. You can purchase some of her beads for yourself <a href="http://jkdjewelry.com/pepaartbebl.html" target="_blank">HERE</a>. Make sure to check out her other beads, pendants, and jewelry!</span><div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-scD6jE0oDw0/UkEYvnFQmsI/AAAAAAAAAg0/gqaRRj4_7rM/s1600/IMG_8164.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-scD6jE0oDw0/UkEYvnFQmsI/AAAAAAAAAg0/gqaRRj4_7rM/s400/IMG_8164.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Stay tuned for my reveal tomorrow, Wednesday the 25th of September to see what I created with her beads!</span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03955415293077995861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6361663131399080863.post-7646219642517383242013-06-25T00:43:00.002-04:002013-06-25T01:24:37.782-04:00ECHO Creative Club Reveal <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">I was so excited to once again participate in the Echo Creative club. Thank You to Jeannie who organizes it all and mails us her fabulous beads and pendants to work with on her own dime. How lucky are we?! My last post was a preview of the bead that Jeannie K Dukic sent me for this month's ECHO Creative Club Design Challenge. If you missed that post, here is the bead she sent me.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aKrYl0kkt8k/Uckdgldz77I/AAAAAAAAAfw/GbYlg3-Wuvk/s1600/IMG_6074.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aKrYl0kkt8k/Uckdgldz77I/AAAAAAAAAfw/GbYlg3-Wuvk/s400/IMG_6074.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">It is a pretty green gin blossom pendant. She has a ton of other ones in all sorts of colors, but my favorite of her new ones are the patina'd versions. Check them out by looking at her <a href="http://www.jkdjewelry.com/pepafu.html" target="_blank">SHOP</a>.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">So I decided on using Leather Cord with this one. I'm kind of on a leather kick right now, and it felt more organic than chain, which I just wasn't feeling with this one. I boldly opted for a dark emerald green color, and green beads...yeah I went there. Consider me Irish. Here is what I ended up with:</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5owSCosm7iQ/Ucke5U-xw9I/AAAAAAAAAgE/tdWpuoGKn_0/s1600/IMG_6567.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5owSCosm7iQ/Ucke5U-xw9I/AAAAAAAAAgE/tdWpuoGKn_0/s400/IMG_6567.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RWGANEoqEY8/UckeyJdL8kI/AAAAAAAAAgA/bRmmpRK_OfY/s1600/IMG_6562.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RWGANEoqEY8/UckeyJdL8kI/AAAAAAAAAgA/bRmmpRK_OfY/s400/IMG_6562.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">I know its really green...if I redid it I'd probably try a bronze shade leather instead, but that's ok, its a perfect necklace for St. Patrick's day and any day for someone like my sister, who is a true redhead and wears green a lot. Maybe this will end up being a future gift for her. : ) </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Thanks for checking out my piece and be sure to visit the other participants:</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span></div>
<div id="yiv2450857383yui_3_7_2_1_1358942334103_2838" style="background-color: white; color: black;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span id="yiv2450857383yui_3_7_2_1_1367494537938_4128"><span class="yiv2450857383mark" id="yiv2450857383yui_3_7_2_20_1365071640383_61">Dagi <a href="http://www.kokopellidesign.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow" style="color: #2862c5; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">http://www.kokopellidesign.blogspot.com/</a></span></span></span></div>
<div class="yiv2450857383ms__id5313 yiv2450857383ms__id1083 yiv2450857383ms__id5856 yiv2450857383ms__id7904 yiv2450857383ms__id4046" id="yiv2450857383yui_3_7_2_20_1362148700436_56" style="background-color: white; color: black;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span id="yiv2450857383yui_3_7_2_1_1367494537938_4130"><span class="yiv2450857383mark" id="yiv2450857383yui_3_7_2_20_1362148700436_48">Jeannie K Dukic <span style="color: #2862c5; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://site.jkdjewelry.com/blog" rel="nofollow" style="color: #2862c5; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">http://site.jkdjewelry.com/blog</a></span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="yiv2450857383ms__id5857 yiv2450857383ms__id5939 yiv2450857383ms__id7906 yiv2450857383ms__id4048" style="background-color: white; color: black;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="yiv2450857383mark" id="yiv2450857383yui_3_7_2_28_1369505409934_52">Lisa Lodge <a href="http://www.gratefulartist.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow" style="color: #2862c5; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">http://www.gratefulartist.blogspot.com/</a><var id="yiv2450857383yui-ie-cursor"></var></span></span></div>
<div class="yiv2450857383ms__id7907 yiv2450857383ms__id4049" id="yui_3_7_2_1_1372026689954_6754" style="background-color: white; color: black;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1372026689954_6756"><span class="yiv2450857383mark" id="yiv2450857383yui_3_7_2_18_1367494537938_64">Lori Anderson <a href="http://www.prettythingsblog.com/" id="yui_3_7_2_1_1372026689954_6755" rel="nofollow" style="color: #2862c5; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">http://www.prettythingsblog.com/</a></span></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03955415293077995861noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6361663131399080863.post-76276813719770621712013-06-21T18:58:00.004-04:002013-06-21T18:59:33.542-04:00Echo Creative Club Design in Process<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Once again I am a lucky participant in the Echo Creative Club, where I get to take a handmade set of beads or pendant made by the awesome <a href="http://www.jkdjewelry.com/" target="_blank">Jeannie K Dukic</a> and create something with it. This month I am using this cool green Gin Blossom pendant. You can get one for yourself <a href="http://www.jkdjewelry.com/ginbl.html" target="_blank">HERE</a>.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8CKU1VTYSt4/UcTaE9zZFeI/AAAAAAAAAfg/j1-Cc9ZsVOo/s1600/IMG_6074.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8CKU1VTYSt4/UcTaE9zZFeI/AAAAAAAAAfg/j1-Cc9ZsVOo/s400/IMG_6074.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">I think I'm going to use some of the new leather cord I just got with this piece. The reveal is on June 25th, so check back to see what I design with it!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">- Jessica</span></div>
<br />Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03955415293077995861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6361663131399080863.post-58354772980773156042013-04-29T00:08:00.002-04:002013-04-29T11:42:16.564-04:00Mmm That's Some Tasty Soup!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">So it may have taken a little longer than expected to get ready for my big 3 day show, and as a result I completely forgot to schedule the Bead Soup reveal in advance and am a day and a half late. My apologies to everyone! So my awesome partner, <a href="http://cassiedonlen.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Cassie Donlen</a> sent me her awesome handmade beads, bead headpins, and enameled pendant (not to mention all the other beads, findings, and cool chain) I was over the moon excited! Here is what she sent me again:</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9FbZjEZGcKw/UX2v8dASQ3I/AAAAAAAAAd8/ymnO_oT3MV4/s1600/IMG_2751.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9FbZjEZGcKw/UX2v8dASQ3I/AAAAAAAAAd8/ymnO_oT3MV4/s640/IMG_2751.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XW-kJ32ilSU/UX2v8bUF8DI/AAAAAAAAAeE/2hSMMw1IenY/s1600/IMG_2753.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XW-kJ32ilSU/UX2v8bUF8DI/AAAAAAAAAeE/2hSMMw1IenY/s640/IMG_2753.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7nlYNXdiEGI/UX2v8F_R-5I/AAAAAAAAAeA/m1QOgVWtJR8/s1600/IMG_2754.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="482" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7nlYNXdiEGI/UX2v8F_R-5I/AAAAAAAAAeA/m1QOgVWtJR8/s640/IMG_2754.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I ended up making a few different things using what she sent combined with a few of my beads, and I still have lots of beads left over!</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I immediately knew I wanted to make a bracelet with the larger beads and the focal b/c I love a good toggle clasp on a bracelet! I used the large beads, the small spacer beads she made, and a few of my own beads.</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-O0Xr066Le9Q/UX2vi8a_7GI/AAAAAAAAAdk/OHIsoyj_1Fs/s1600/IMG_3736.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-O0Xr066Le9Q/UX2vi8a_7GI/AAAAAAAAAdk/OHIsoyj_1Fs/s640/IMG_3736.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"></span></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Next I used the long silk in a moon face necklace of mine. The colors of the bermuda blue crystals went great with the deep turquoise color of the silk, and it was just what this long necklace needed to complete its dreamy feel.</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oZjEhOS8N3E/UX2vjRaSfTI/AAAAAAAAAdw/5uPlafsVb5c/s1600/IMG_3747.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oZjEhOS8N3E/UX2vjRaSfTI/AAAAAAAAAdw/5uPlafsVb5c/s640/IMG_3747.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Lastly, I used the funky, large silver chain in a fun charm bracelet. I used a different, multi-color blue/turquoise silk, along with a few of her beaded headpins. I added random beads and fun sea charms. I'm calling this one "Sea Spray." There are a few copper pins thrown in the mix...fitting since Sea Spray could cause certain metals to rust, as I learned the last time I was at the beach! </span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ufD44kwWZq8/UX3wI47kRaI/AAAAAAAAAec/XjO28YRncSE/s1600/IMG_3941.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ufD44kwWZq8/UX3wI47kRaI/AAAAAAAAAec/XjO28YRncSE/s640/IMG_3941.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">I hope you've enjoyed my soup, I had a lot of fun cooking it up. Please visit the other participants by going to the main list page <a href="http://lorianderson-beadsoupblogparty.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">HERE</a> Definitely visit Cassie by the link at the top if you haven't already, the necklace she made is awesome!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03955415293077995861noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6361663131399080863.post-70750796618172832792013-04-25T12:51:00.000-04:002013-04-25T12:51:47.506-04:00April ECHO Creative Club Reveal<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">It's reveal time for the Echo Creative Club!! If you missed my preview post, I have one of <a href="http://www.jkdjewelry.com/" target="_blank">Jeannie's</a> <a href="http://www.jkdjewelry.com/lonelyhearts.html" target="_blank">Lonely Heart Pendants.</a> </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EbcUpIdLZSI/UXldYH_DgoI/AAAAAAAAAdU/ceWnxBbHlW0/s1600/IMG_3581.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EbcUpIdLZSI/UXldYH_DgoI/AAAAAAAAAdU/ceWnxBbHlW0/s640/IMG_3581.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Last year I had another style of heart from her, and I created this awesome necklace that I decided was too over the top for it to be wearable. Now I'm not saying I wasn't proud of the design, I did put a lot of thought and time into it, but at the end of the day, it was too much for my personal style to really wear it. And I do love funky hearts, so I wanted to make something this time that I could and would enjoy wearing. I already knew I wanted to make it longer this time so it would fall below my bust line. Everything that falls above it looks funky on my thanks to my body type. dI ended up using this fine rolo antiqued silver chain and some fun steampunk gears and links. I made a connector by glueing a Tim Holtz tiny gear onto a slightly larger copper gear, then used a hole punch to make it a link. It is 2 sided, so if it flips around, it looks the same. I knew I was going to keep it simple but asymmetrical, so I balanced the other side with 2 smaller links, and used a section of double chain between to give it more weight. Something told me to stop there. I know it is simple, but that's how I like my jewelry most of the time b/c I am usually running around in yoga pants, such is the life of a mother. That being said, I wasn't trying to take the easy road necessarily, but rather wanted to highlight the pendant itself, which is really the star, and compliment it with a similar asymmetrical, whimsical feel in the chain without totally overdoing it. I used a larger gear to link the pendant to the necklace and voila! What do you think?</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GkWJSUarPuM/UXldMQoZCcI/AAAAAAAAAdM/T9DboEN0FEY/s1600/IMG_3739.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GkWJSUarPuM/UXldMQoZCcI/AAAAAAAAAdM/T9DboEN0FEY/s640/IMG_3739.jpg" width="482" /></a></div>
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I hope you like it, I have been fretting over whether it was too simple, but at the end of the day, I like it and will definitely be wearing it - today in fact! Thanks for taking the time to read my blog, please visit the other participants listed below!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Dagi <a href="http://www.kokopellidesign.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">http://www.kokopellidesign.blogspot.com/</a></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Jeannie K Dukic <a href="http://site.jkdjewelry.com/blog">http://site.jkdjewelry.com/blog</a></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Lola Surwillo <a href="http://www.beadlolabead.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">http://www.beadlolabead.blogspot.com/</a></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03955415293077995861noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6361663131399080863.post-17691238855689129942013-04-17T23:08:00.000-04:002013-04-17T23:09:22.459-04:00Creativity in the Works<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Hello all,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">March came and went quickly thanks to our wonderful 9 day vacation to Orlando. April has been a month of catching up, custom orders, and preparing for a 3 day show I'm doing at the end of the month. It is also a month of creativity, as I have 2 different design challenges in the works. The first is the Polymer Clay Bead Challenge with the Echo Creative Club. We take a bead that is gifted to us by the ever creative <a href="http://www.jkdjewelry.com/" target="_blank">Jeannie K Dukic</a> and design something with it. This month, I had one of her fabulous <a href="http://www.jkdjewelry.com/lonelyhearts.html" target="_blank">Lonely Hearts Pendants</a>. </span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7VgLlOhA7pI/UW9c97WGzFI/AAAAAAAAAcc/jJ-BTRRIyIA/s1600/IMG_3581.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7VgLlOhA7pI/UW9c97WGzFI/AAAAAAAAAcc/jJ-BTRRIyIA/s640/IMG_3581.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Isn't is cute?! I think so. I will post the final piece I made on the 25th of April.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Next up is the one and only Bead Soup Blog Hop! My partner for this event is the oh so talented <a href="http://www.glassbeadle.com/" target="_blank">Cassie Donlen</a>. Click her name for her website, or click <a href="http://cassiedonlen.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">HERE</a> for her blog. She is an incredible designer and glass bead maker, among other mediums. She sent me a gorgeous bead soup including one of her focal enameled flower clasps found <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/87182393/enamel-flower-toggle-in-a-yummy-sky-blue?ref=shop_home_active" target="_blank">HERE</a> as well as 3 of her candy pop beads, found <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/108730709/four-candy-pops-lentil-lampwork-glass?ref=shop_home_active" target="_blank">HERE</a>. There were also an array of other glass beads, some of her handmade glass bead headpins, fantastic funky chain, and a beautiful dyed silk. It was like a bead filled birthday! I am so lucky to have been paired with a bead maker as talented as she, so please check out her stuff and show her your love and support if you are in the market for some unique components! Also her finished jewelry is fantastic! I especially love her cool, funky bangle bracelet sets! </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Here are photos of the soup she sent. First, the attractive packaging was so cute!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_G6CxotGcn4/UW9iKXOkzzI/AAAAAAAAAck/o3vwYhVRnmo/s1600/IMG_2751.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_G6CxotGcn4/UW9iKXOkzzI/AAAAAAAAAck/o3vwYhVRnmo/s640/IMG_2751.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Then you open the boxes and bag, and here is what was inside!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gyWu6MYYxPY/UW9iUsp7jxI/AAAAAAAAAcs/_cND8MCupdM/s1600/IMG_2753.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gyWu6MYYxPY/UW9iUsp7jxI/AAAAAAAAAcs/_cND8MCupdM/s640/IMG_2753.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Here is a close up of the beads, spacers and headpins, and focal clasp, I just love everything about all of them!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3uMR2SavNSE/UW9ix_Z3l7I/AAAAAAAAAc0/wN2tLWizLGs/s1600/IMG_2754.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="482" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3uMR2SavNSE/UW9ix_Z3l7I/AAAAAAAAAc0/wN2tLWizLGs/s640/IMG_2754.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I've had so much fun working with these colorful and whimsical components. I can't wait to show you all what I made. The reveal date is April 27th, so look for my reveal on that day!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Thanks for checking out my creative challenge components and reading!</span></div>
Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03955415293077995861noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6361663131399080863.post-41947723624372717352013-02-25T00:30:00.000-05:002013-02-24T21:46:31.676-05:00REVEAL for Echo Creative Club<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I received 4 pendants from Jeannie for the months I'm participating in the challenge, and it was pretty hard to decide which one to go with. After way too much time pondering and daydreaming, I ended up going with the Purple Anemone. Here is is:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-km5Hjqz9t1o/USqkGT6XO2I/AAAAAAAAAbs/eh121RAlxHE/s1600/IMG_2414.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-km5Hjqz9t1o/USqkGT6XO2I/AAAAAAAAAbs/eh121RAlxHE/s640/IMG_2414.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I combined so many different beads trying to brainstorm a design, but I ultimately decided to keep it simple and sweet, much like the pendant itself. I chose Swarovski crystals in Lilac and Golden Shadow shades, which happened to match nearly perfectly with the shades in the pendant. Tanzanite was pretty close as well, but it was quite a bit darker than the lilac, and I found the lilac to be sweeter. I combined the crystals with lovely figaro chain from vintaj natural brass, which also has a feminine, sweet look to it. For a little extra bling, I took a 12mm rivoli and made a setting with a vintaj filigree to enhance the pendant. Here is the final necklace:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IOdv31Q3nMU/USrN1nJ_LlI/AAAAAAAAAcA/xt_qmm1j4gI/s1600/IMG_2786.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IOdv31Q3nMU/USrN1nJ_LlI/AAAAAAAAAcA/xt_qmm1j4gI/s640/IMG_2786.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fnNjjETW6O8/USrN2IxUYtI/AAAAAAAAAcI/EOD97EbKo6c/s1600/IMG_2782.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fnNjjETW6O8/USrN2IxUYtI/AAAAAAAAAcI/EOD97EbKo6c/s640/IMG_2782.jpg" width="474" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">You can purchase a pendant of your own from Jeannie <a href="http://www.jkdjewelry.com/pepaseabr.html" target="_blank">HERE</a> They come in 3 different colors. Check out her other awesome pendants and beads as well.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Please visit the other blog participants shown below. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Dagi <a href="http://www.kokopellidesign.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">http://www.kokopellidesign.blogspot.com/</a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Jeannie K Dukic <a href="http://site.jkdjewelry.com/blog" target="_blank">http://site.jkdjewelry.com/blog</a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Jessica Klaaren (you are here) <a href="http://cellardoorjewelry.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">http://cellardoorjewelry.blogs</a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Thanks for reading!</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03955415293077995861noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6361663131399080863.post-4214453497604380162013-02-24T21:30:00.000-05:002013-02-24T21:46:48.856-05:00Echo Club Preview<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The month of February turned out to be a lot busier than I expected! I ended up having to move my booth space at a store I sell in that is over an hour away to a new glass case they made, then I had a new store open here in town that I had to quickly inventory and price jewelry for (not to mention make a few new pieces) I had to have numerous doctor and dentist appointments and had an opportunity to send jewelry to the Wendy Williams show, and had to quickly make, package, and ship out all of that. In the meantime I've been working overtime at the day job in order to save up some money for our Disney Vacation AND I did my own taxes, and with 2 schedule c businesses, that definitely took a lot of time. Oh not to mention the interview for the paper and the fact that I had to create a studio in 2 days because a news crew is going to be at my house TOMORROW to interview me for a segment. Needless to say, my 1st Echo blog post where I reveal the pendant is very very late. The truth is, I didn't even decide on which pendant I was using until last night, and I finished the necklace up at about 3 am this morning in order to have it ready to photograph today. So forgive me for not having a preview earlier, I just hadn't decided on what I was doing yet. Since I have some more time until my next month in the club, I should be well above schedule for the rest. : ) So here is the pendant I ended up deciding on. Forgive the photo as it was about midnight when I picked the pendant and had to take the photo indoors where my lighting is terrible. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-km5Hjqz9t1o/USqkGT6XO2I/AAAAAAAAAbs/eh121RAlxHE/s1600/IMG_2414.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-km5Hjqz9t1o/USqkGT6XO2I/AAAAAAAAAbs/eh121RAlxHE/s640/IMG_2414.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This is the Purple Anemone Poppy Pendant. You can purchase one for yourself <a href="http://www.jkdjewelry.com/pepaseabr.html" target="_blank">HERE</a></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Thanks for reading and check out my reveal blog tomorrow!</span></div>
Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03955415293077995861noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6361663131399080863.post-80071092964257711782013-01-12T13:14:00.001-05:002013-01-12T13:29:46.641-05:00Memories & Thanks Blog Hop<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I signed up for this memories and thanks blog hop with good intentions of creating something new, but as it often does, life got in the way and I really haven't had time, so I opted to show something I had already made. Some of you may recognize this necklace as it is also the first piece of jewelry I ever had published, last Feb in Bead Trends magazine. It features a walnut slice that came from my grandfather's workshop after he passed away. While he was alive, no one ever even knew he had been slicing all these walnuts in his shop, and it wasn't until after he passed that we found them in coffee cans. We aren't sure what he had intended to do with them, but I certainly didn't want to let such an interesting piece of nature's beauty go to waste (not to mention his work involved in slicing all these walnuts) so I decided to put them to use in my jewelry. I made the first necklace for my sister and called it Molly's necklace and submitted it to Bead Trends. I was over the moon excited when I found out it had been selected for publication. Since then I've had 11 pieces published, including landing the cover in December. Here is the magazine shot:</span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-erTuNV5ehvU/UPGlEHEoskI/AAAAAAAAAaM/z64v0Gfe6DQ/s1600/Bead+Trends+Feb+Official+Cropped+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="451" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-erTuNV5ehvU/UPGlEHEoskI/AAAAAAAAAaM/z64v0Gfe6DQ/s640/Bead+Trends+Feb+Official+Cropped+.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As if that wasn't enough to be thankful for, I also recently had the opportunity to be a part of a celebrity earth day gifting event. I racked my brain and thought about doing something upcycled and steampunk, but then I thought, what is more appropriate for earth day than these walnuts? So ultimately I decided to send the celebrities one of my walnut slice necklaces too. I hope my grandfather would have been proud of what I'm doing with his walnuts. I'm glad to know they aren't going to waste. I sure hope that after I pass away, my family doesn't throw away the things I was working on. Even if they don't know what my intentions are, there are so many artists out there that could take my ideas to completely new places and keep my memory alive. That is my intention for him and I am so thankful that he made them and that I was able to find them, because they led me to places and opportunities I never thought possible. Here is a photo of the style that is headed to the celebrity gifting.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MJ1GjTxOpqw/UPGmW8_fn_I/AAAAAAAAAaY/PEwFa38b_-c/s1600/IMG_1752.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MJ1GjTxOpqw/UPGmW8_fn_I/AAAAAAAAAaY/PEwFa38b_-c/s640/IMG_1752.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Thanks for taking the time to read my blog and checking out my memories and thanks necklace. Please visit <a href="http://www.prettythingsblog.com/2012/11/participants-for-memories-and-thanks.html" target="_blank">Pretty Things Blog</a> to get to the list of participants and continue the hop. </span></div>
Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03955415293077995861noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6361663131399080863.post-26393103468878890132012-12-25T00:01:00.000-05:002012-12-25T00:01:01.547-05:00ECHO Creative Club December Reveal<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> Merry Christmas everyone!! I was honored to be gifted some of Jeannie's beautiful peeled paint polymer clay beads to create something with for the Echo creative club December group. The beads are just beautiful - smooth and round with a peeled paint effect of copper with gold flashes on black. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Here are what the beads looked like when I received them. There were more than 4, but I'd already used some in the design when I remembered I needed to get a before photo of the beads! (my bad, promise it won't happen again!)</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7o_lm4O7deo/UNj5uq35z2I/AAAAAAAAAYc/r-rNVcyUfpA/s1600/IMG_1311.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7o_lm4O7deo/UNj5uq35z2I/AAAAAAAAAYc/r-rNVcyUfpA/s640/IMG_1311.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I first decided to do a bracelet with them, and I paired them with a copper toggle clasp, a couple of lampwork glass beads in black, ivory, & amber, black obsidian, and Swarovski crystals in topaz and crystal golden shadow. I wire wrapped the beads together in a continuous beaded chain with 22 gauge wire. I then made a pair of earrings since I had a few beads leftover. I paired the beads in the earrings with crystal copper Swarovski crystals and an arte metal butterfly that is lightly dusted with a coppery shimmer. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Here is the Bracelet</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iS0r0iM48kQ/UNj5wkdWspI/AAAAAAAAAYk/FpjFpPKCfY0/s1600/IMG_1391.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iS0r0iM48kQ/UNj5wkdWspI/AAAAAAAAAYk/FpjFpPKCfY0/s640/IMG_1391.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">It looks great on the wrist, the copper and neutral color scheme works with many colors and outfits. It is boho enough to be casual while still being nice enough to be dressed up. I'm very happy with it and keeping it all for myself...Merry Christmas to me, thanks Jeannie!!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Here are the Earrings</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lAm3mvnZgSc/UNkNe8bWWlI/AAAAAAAAAY8/AmRIRpOLWxg/s1600/IMG_1392.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lAm3mvnZgSc/UNkNe8bWWlI/AAAAAAAAAY8/AmRIRpOLWxg/s640/IMG_1392.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">I think they are fun and the butterflies make them different from the norm, and I like the shape and length it gives the earrings.</span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">You can visit Jeannie's store and get some awesome PMC beads for yourself <a href="http://jkdjewelry.com/index.html" target="_blank">HERE</a> </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Please visit the other participants' blogs using the links below!! </span><br />
<br />
<div id="paneshell" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #454545; display: table; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; height: 859px; table-layout: fixed; width: 1413px;">
<div class="" id="shellcontent" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; display: table-cell; margin-left: 180px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; vertical-align: top; z-index: 1;">
<div class="reselectable" id="yui_3_7_2_1_1356380185235_9683" style="display: block; visibility: visible;">
<div class="messagepane " id="yui_3_7_2_1_1356380185235_11176" role="document" style="display: block; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px;" tabindex="0">
<div class="message content" id="yui_3_7_2_1_1356380185235_9755" style="position: relative;">
<div aria-label="Message body" class="msg-body inner undoreset" id="yui_3_7_2_1_1356380185235_11247" role="main" style="margin-bottom: 22px; margin-left: 23px; margin-right: 24px; margin-top: 25px; overflow-x: auto; overflow-y: hidden; word-wrap: break-word;">
<div id="yiv431551863">
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1356380185235_11246">
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1356380185235_11245" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;">
<div id="yiv431551863">
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1356380185235_11244">
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1356380185235_11243" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;">
<div id="yiv431551863">
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1356380185235_11242">
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1356380185235_11241" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;">
<div id="yiv431551863">
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1356380185235_11240">
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1356380185235_11239" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;">
<div id="yiv431551863">
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1356380185235_11238">
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1356380185235_11237" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;">
<div id="yiv431551863yui_3_7_2_19_1353832633247_45">
<div id="yiv431551863yui_3_7_2_19_1353832633247_593" style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;">
<span id="yiv431551863yui_3_7_2_19_1353832633247_592"><span class="yiv431551863mark" id="yiv431551863yui_3_7_2_19_1353832633247_591"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Cindy Cima Edwards <a href="http://www.cindycima.com/" id="yui_3_7_2_1_1356380185235_11476" rel="nofollow" style="color: #2862c5; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1356380185235_11475" style="color: #0066cc;"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1356392031_1">http://www.cindycima.com/</span></span></a></span></span></span></div>
<div id="yiv431551863yui_3_7_2_18_1351176060766_866" style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;">
<span id="yiv431551863yui_3_7_2_18_1351176060766_900"><span class="yiv431551863mark" id="yiv431551863yui_3_7_2_18_1351176060766_899"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Donna Martin Bradley <a href="http://strandedbeads.blogspot.com/" id="yui_3_7_2_1_1356380185235_11478" rel="nofollow" style="color: #2862c5; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1356380185235_11477" style="color: #0066cc;"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1356392031_2">http://strandedbeads.blogspot.com/</span></span></a></span></span></span></div>
<div id="yiv431551863yui_3_7_2_1_1353832633247_11141" style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;">
<span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1356380185235_11481"><span class="yiv431551863mark" id="yiv431551863yui_3_7_2_19_1353832633247_787"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Jeannie K Dukic <a href="http://site.jkdjewelry.com/blog" id="yui_3_7_2_1_1356380185235_11480" rel="nofollow" style="color: #2862c5; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1356380185235_11479" style="color: #0066cc;"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1356392031_3">http://site.jkdjewelry.com/blog</span></span></a><var id="yiv431551863yui-ie-cursor"></var></span></span></span></div>
<div id="yiv431551863yui_3_7_2_18_1351176060766_1034" style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;">
<span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1356380185235_11484"><span class="yiv431551863mark" id="yiv431551863yui_3_7_2_19_1353832633247_780"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">You are Here: Jessica Klaaren <a href="http://www.cellardoorjewelry.blogspot.com/" id="yui_3_7_2_1_1356380185235_11483" rel="nofollow" style="color: #2862c5; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1356380185235_11482" style="color: #0066cc;"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1356392031_4">http://www.cellardoorjewelry.blogspot.com/</span></span></a></span></span></span></div>
<div id="yiv431551863yui_3_7_2_18_1351176060766_1121" style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;">
<span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1356380185235_11530"><span class="yiv431551863mark" id="yiv431551863yui_3_7_2_19_1353832633247_771"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Karen Williams <a href="http://baublicious.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow" style="color: #2862c5; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0066cc;"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1356392031_5">http://baublicious.blogspot.com/</span></span></a></span></span></span></div>
<div id="yiv431551863yui_3_7_2_18_1351176060766_1202" style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;">
<span id="yiv431551863yui_3_7_2_18_1351176060766_1201"><span class="yiv431551863mark" id="yiv431551863yui_3_7_2_18_1351176060766_1200"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Kashmira Patel <a href="http://sadafulee.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow" style="color: #2862c5; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0066cc;"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1356392031_6">http://sadafulee.blogspot.com/</span></span></a><var id="yiv431551863yui-ie-cursor"></var></span></span></span></div>
<div id="yiv431551863yui_3_7_2_19_1353832633247_594" style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Kristen Stevens <a href="http://kristen-beadjourney.blogspot.com/" id="yui_3_7_2_1_1356380185235_11486" rel="nofollow" style="color: #2862c5; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1356380185235_11485" style="color: #0066cc;"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1356392031_7">http://kristen-beadjourney.blogspot.com/</span></span></a></span></div>
<div id="yiv431551863yui_3_7_2_19_1353832633247_595" style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Lisa Lodge <a href="http://pineridgetreasures.blogspot.com/" id="yui_3_7_2_1_1356380185235_11529" rel="nofollow" style="color: #2862c5; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1356392031_8">http://pineridgetreasures.blogspot.com/</span></a></span></div>
<div id="yiv431551863yui_3_7_2_19_1353832633247_679" style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Lola Surwillo <a href="http://www.beadlolabead.blogspot.com/" id="yui_3_7_2_1_1356380185235_11528" rel="nofollow" style="color: #2862c5; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1356392031_9">http://www.beadlolabead.blogspot.com/</span></a></span></div>
<div id="yiv431551863yui_3_7_2_19_1353832633247_956" style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Shannon Chomanczuk <span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1356380185235_11526" style="color: #0066cc; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; text-decoration: underline;"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1356392031_10"><a href="http://www.formysweetdaughter.blogspot.com/" id="yui_3_7_2_1_1356380185235_11527" rel="nofollow" style="color: #2862c5; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">http://www.formysweetdaughter.blogspot.com/</a></span></span></span></div>
<div id="yiv431551863yui_3_7_2_19_1353832633247_956" style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 12pt;">
<span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1356380185235_11526" style="color: #0066cc; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span></div>
<div id="yiv431551863yui_3_7_2_19_1353832633247_956" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 12pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2862c5;"><u><br /></u></span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03955415293077995861noreply@blogger.com14Athens, TN, USA35.4428512 -84.592989835.3393787 -84.7543513 35.5463237 -84.4316283tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6361663131399080863.post-46336324806294950382012-11-25T01:47:00.000-05:002012-12-24T18:34:26.395-05:00November Echo Creative Club Reveal<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span"></span><br /></span>
<br />
<div id="yiv1819339690yui_3_7_2_18_1351176060766_620" style="background-color: white; color: black;">
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span id="yui_3_7_2_5_1353799563228_474"><span class="yiv1819339690mark" id="yiv1819339690yui_3_7_2_18_1351176060766_587" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">I was delighted to see the handmade pendant by <a href="http://site.jkdjewelry.com/blog" target="_blank">Jeannie K Dukic</a> for the November Echo Creative Club. It was this adorable heart with wire in gold and black. I made a necklace that I really loved and photographed nicely, but when I put it on, the thickness of the pendant is so much larger than the rest of the necklace that it causes it to lie funny. I only discovered this a few days ago, so in all honesty, I'm probably going to fashion it into a longer necklace design and replace it with another pendant on this one, but I'll update my blog with the results after I edit. In the meantime, here is the original pendant:</span></span></span></div>
<div id="yiv1819339690yui_3_7_2_18_1351176060766_620" style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 12pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;"><span id="yui_3_7_2_5_1353799563228_474"><span class="yiv1819339690mark" id="yiv1819339690yui_3_7_2_18_1351176060766_587"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xmTjqF1iPgQ/ULG9vnxIYII/AAAAAAAAAX8/UHtYsonAgEg/s1600/IMG_8877.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="481" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xmTjqF1iPgQ/ULG9vnxIYII/AAAAAAAAAX8/UHtYsonAgEg/s640/IMG_8877.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"> And Here is the necklace design:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QjtEpDAPMsk/ULG91Lvy-qI/AAAAAAAAAYE/mgmjzmFsE4c/s1600/IMG_8874.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QjtEpDAPMsk/ULG91Lvy-qI/AAAAAAAAAYE/mgmjzmFsE4c/s640/IMG_8874.jpg" width="480" /></a></span></div>
<div id="yiv1819339690yui_3_7_2_18_1351176060766_620" style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 12pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif;"><span class="yiv1819339690mark"><br /></span></span></div>
<div id="yiv1819339690yui_3_7_2_18_1351176060766_620" style="background-color: white; color: black;">
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="yiv1819339690mark" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">I first patina'd the small arte metal leaves to a gold color on both sides and glazed. I used black obsidian beads with pretty patina'd gold bead caps and Swarovski crystals. I patina'd a keyhole and added it to a arte metal connector blank. I used an arte metal filigree as well as 2 types of chain and jump rings. </span></span></div>
<div id="yiv1819339690yui_3_7_2_18_1351176060766_620" style="background-color: white; color: black;">
<span class="yiv1819339690mark" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div id="yiv1819339690yui_3_7_2_18_1351176060766_620" style="background-color: white; color: black;">
<span class="yiv1819339690mark" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Thanks for checking out my design! Please visit the other participants as well. </span></div>
<div id="yiv1819339690yui_3_7_2_18_1351176060766_620" style="background-color: white; color: black;">
<span class="yiv1819339690mark" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div id="yiv1819339690yui_3_7_2_18_1351176060766_620" style="background-color: white; color: black;">
<span class="yiv1819339690mark" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Alicia Marinache <a href="http://www.allprettythings.ca/" id="yui_3_7_2_5_1353799563228_409" rel="nofollow" style="color: #234786; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span class="" id="lw_1353799769_2">http://www.allprettythings.ca/</span></a></span></div>
<div id="yiv1819339690yui_3_7_2_18_1351176060766_674" style="background-color: white; color: black;">
<span id="yiv1819339690yui_3_7_2_18_1351176060766_673"><span class="yiv1819339690mark" id="yiv1819339690yui_3_7_2_18_1351176060766_672" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Charlie Jacka <a href="http://clay-space.com/" id="yui_3_7_2_5_1353799563228_410" rel="nofollow" style="color: #234786; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span class="" id="lw_1353799769_3">http://clay-space.com/</span></a></span></span></div>
<div id="yiv1819339690yui_3_7_2_18_1351176060766_761" style="background-color: white; color: black;">
<span id="yiv1819339690yui_3_7_2_18_1351176060766_760"><span class="yiv1819339690mark" id="yiv1819339690yui_3_7_2_18_1351176060766_759" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Cindy Cima Edwards <a href="http://www.cindycima.com/" id="yui_3_7_2_5_1353799563228_411" rel="nofollow" style="color: #234786; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span class="" id="lw_1353799769_4">http://www.cindycima.com/</span></a></span></span></div>
<div id="yiv1819339690yui_3_7_2_18_1351176060766_866" style="background-color: white; color: black;">
<span id="yiv1819339690yui_3_7_2_18_1351176060766_865"><span class="yiv1819339690mark" id="yiv1819339690yui_3_7_2_18_1351176060766_864" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Dagi <a href="http://kokopellidesign.blogspot.com/" id="yui_3_7_2_5_1353799563228_412" rel="nofollow" style="color: #234786; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span class="" id="lw_1353799769_5">http://kokopellidesign.blogspot.com/</span></a></span></span></div>
<div id="yiv1819339690yui_3_7_2_18_1351176060766_901" style="background-color: white; color: black;">
<span id="yiv1819339690yui_3_7_2_18_1351176060766_900"><span class="yiv1819339690mark" id="yiv1819339690yui_3_7_2_18_1351176060766_899" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Donna Martin Bradley <a href="http://strandedbeads.blogspot.com/" id="yui_3_7_2_5_1353799563228_413" rel="nofollow" style="color: #234786; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span class="" id="lw_1353799769_6">http://strandedbeads.blogspot.com/</span></a></span></span></div>
<div id="yui_3_7_2_5_1353799563228_458" style="background-color: white; color: black;">
<span id="yui_3_7_2_5_1353799563228_459"><span class="yiv1819339690mark" id="yiv1819339690yui_3_7_2_19_1351176060766_49" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Jeannie K Dukic <a href="http://site.jkdjewelry.com/blog" id="yui_3_7_2_5_1353799563228_414" rel="nofollow" style="color: #234786; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span class="" id="lw_1353799769_7">http://site.jkdjewelry.com/blog</span></a><var id="yiv1819339690yui-ie-cursor"></var></span></span></div>
<div id="yiv1819339690yui_3_7_2_18_1351176060766_1034" style="background-color: white; color: black;">
<span id="yiv1819339690yui_3_7_2_18_1351176060766_1033"><span class="yiv1819339690mark" id="yiv1819339690yui_3_7_2_18_1351176060766_1032" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Jessica Klaaren <a href="http://www.cellardoorjewelry.blogspot.com/" id="yui_3_7_2_5_1353799563228_415" rel="nofollow" style="color: #234786; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span class="" id="lw_1353799769_8">http://www.cellardoorjewelry.blogspot.com/</span></a></span></span></div>
<div id="yiv1819339690yui_3_7_2_18_1351176060766_1121" style="background-color: white; color: black;">
<span id="yiv1819339690yui_3_7_2_18_1351176060766_1120"><span class="yiv1819339690mark" id="yiv1819339690yui_3_7_2_18_1351176060766_1119" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Karen Williams <a href="http://baublicious.blogspot.com/" id="yui_3_7_2_5_1353799563228_416" rel="nofollow" style="color: #234786; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span class="" id="lw_1353799769_9">http://baublicious.blogspot.com/</span></a></span></span></div>
<div id="yiv1819339690yui_3_7_2_18_1351176060766_1202" style="background-color: white; color: black;">
<span id="yiv1819339690yui_3_7_2_18_1351176060766_1201"><span class="yiv1819339690mark" id="yiv1819339690yui_3_7_2_18_1351176060766_1200" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Kashmira Patel <a href="http://sadafulee.blogspot.com/" id="yui_3_7_2_5_1353799563228_417" rel="nofollow" style="color: #234786; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span class="" id="lw_1353799769_10">http://sadafulee.blogspot.com/</span></a><var id="yiv1819339690yui-ie-cursor"></var></span></span></div>
<div id="yui_3_7_2_5_1353799563228_472" style="background-color: white; color: black;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Kristen Stevens <a href="http://kristen-beadjourney.blogspot.com/" id="yui_3_7_2_5_1353799563228_418" rel="nofollow" style="color: #234786; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span class="" id="lw_1353799769_11">http://kristen-beadjourney.blogspot.com/</span></a></span></div>
<div id="yui_3_7_2_5_1353799563228_471" style="background-color: white; color: black;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Michelle Buettner <a href="http://www.misheldesigns.blogspot.com/" id="yui_3_7_2_5_1353799563228_419" rel="nofollow" style="color: #234786; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span class="" id="lw_1353799769_12">http://www.misheldesigns.blogspot.com/</span></a></span></div>
<div id="yui_3_7_2_5_1353799563228_470" style="background-color: white; color: black;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Shannon Chomanczuk <a href="http://www.formysweetdaughter.blogspot.com/" id="yui_3_7_2_5_1353799563228_420" rel="nofollow" style="color: #234786; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span class="" id="lw_1353799769_13">http://www.formysweetdaughter.blogspot.com/</span></a></span></div>
<div id="yiv1819339690yui_3_7_2_26_1351181865644_102" style="background-color: white; color: black;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Sonya Ingersoll-Stille <a href="http://dreaminofbeads.blogspot.com/" id="yui_3_7_2_5_1353799563228_421" rel="nofollow" style="color: #234786; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span class="" id="lw_1353799769_14">http://dreaminofbeads.blogspot.com/</span></a></span></div>
Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03955415293077995861noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6361663131399080863.post-71072701319689768462012-08-15T20:33:00.002-04:002012-08-15T20:33:26.240-04:00Change is Good<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">When I first opened my etsy store and decided to make a go of my business, I couldn't decide on a name for the business that wasn't already used by a thousand designers already that wasn't completely generic, but after 2 years I finally came up with a name that suits me. Its Cellar Door Jewelry. If you think this is a strange name and don't understand it, Cellar Door is thought by many Lit and English scholars and important folks to be the most beautiful combination of words in the English language. You can read about it on wikipedia. It is also mentioned in the movie, Donnie Darko, which is one of my personal favorites, and since I do love steampunk and play with space and time travel inspired designs from time to time, I found that to also be very compatible. What do you think of it? I am developing a new facebook page, website, business cards, and have changed the name of my etsy store to <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/cellardoorjewels.com" target="_blank">CellarDoorJewels</a>. Stay tuned for more updates and links to the new and improved pages! Also - coming up soon will by my first giveaway contest called Three for Free, where I'm giving away 3 different prizes to 3 different winners!! </span>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03955415293077995861noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6361663131399080863.post-27814663986204968602012-07-28T04:20:00.001-04:002012-07-28T04:38:13.384-04:00Time to Reveal...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kS2LFcssZt0/UBOiX2k_loI/AAAAAAAAAWo/ulF-4ojXdqE/s1600/BSBH+Welcome+Reveal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="236" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kS2LFcssZt0/UBOiX2k_loI/AAAAAAAAAWo/ulF-4ojXdqE/s640/BSBH+Welcome+Reveal.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The 1st reveal date for the 6th Bead Soup Blog Hop has finally arrived!! Before I show you what I created, let me remind you of the soup I received from my awesome partner, <a href="http://exoticperujewelry.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Cynthia Wainscott</a>. She made that center focal herself with polymer clay, isn't it amazing?</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0k1jt1OBdcE/UBNpv9V414I/AAAAAAAAAVM/Wqk4saJahfw/s1600/IMG_5981.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="476" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0k1jt1OBdcE/UBNpv9V414I/AAAAAAAAAVM/Wqk4saJahfw/s640/IMG_5981.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">On the first day of playing with beads, I broke one of the connectors off of the awesome copper piece seen on the left. It was completely my fault for testing the limits of bending the link too far, and now it will have to become a pendant instead of a bracelet connector as I had initially hoped, and I haven't gotten around to using it quite yet. </span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The first piece that I ended up making features the polymer clay focal, brass branch, and 1 of the pretty turquoise like disc beads. I didn't want to overcomplicate it because the focal alone was so detailed and beautiful, but I loved all of the colors in it and really wanted to draw those out, so I chose a few beads from my own stash to do a sort of boho, mixed up beaded chain. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EED9ZeNGFxY/UBOaYz6qmCI/AAAAAAAAAVo/_b0KkcepKFI/s1600/IMG_7356.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EED9ZeNGFxY/UBOaYz6qmCI/AAAAAAAAAVo/_b0KkcepKFI/s640/IMG_7356.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The next piece used only the clasp and a look alike bird I had in my stash. I used it because it was already beat up and also didn't have the third hole connector, and I wanted to use the brass bird from the soup as a centerpiece of a different necklace...another thing I didn't get finished in time. I might just have to post an additional reveal on another day in a few more weeks, but I digress. I made a crazy fun necklace using a lot of brass blanks I had embossed and patina'd, mostly birds, owls, dragonflies, nature etc. so the fly away clasp was the perfect combo. I changed the toggle bar because the other one kept wanting to slide out, so this one was a little longer and more secure since the necklace isn't the lightest. Now this might seem like an easy design, but I actually had a hard time with this one. The color combination, choosing the pieces and colors ended up being quite the challenge for me. I ended up riveting the largest bird to a ring and having all of that together in order to get that center section to fall just right, and luckily the rest seems to fall into place. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0BzQc9G3e6U/UBObO43IgRI/AAAAAAAAAWA/xFNEPLF2hB8/s1600/IMG_6446.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0BzQc9G3e6U/UBObO43IgRI/AAAAAAAAAWA/xFNEPLF2hB8/s640/IMG_6446.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Here is an another look at the full necklace:</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aN-w3VSjp34/UBObJQR7SjI/AAAAAAAAAVw/IouIUqbmBSc/s1600/IMG_6438.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="492" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aN-w3VSjp34/UBObJQR7SjI/AAAAAAAAAVw/IouIUqbmBSc/s640/IMG_6438.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Lastly, I used one of the Genova beads in one of my dragonfly focal bracelets. I just loved the greens and had to pair it with more of the stone flower carved beads I had, and also used one of the adorable flower bead caps from my soup in this one as well just as a little charm. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yqyEtMkwzHU/UBOb4BgSuDI/AAAAAAAAAWM/tCASmgmRG1k/s1600/IMG_7359.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yqyEtMkwzHU/UBOb4BgSuDI/AAAAAAAAAWM/tCASmgmRG1k/s640/IMG_7359.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Ultimately I still have quite a few beads and pieces left from the soup I got, and if it weren't for unexpected events (tree falling on house and taking out power line to name one) causing additional time restraints, I probably would have more to show...oh well, that's life for you. ; ) Now, please go check out <a href="http://exoticperujewelry.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Cynthia's Blog</a> if you haven't already, and you can find the list of the rest of the participants by clicking here: <a href="http://lorianderson-beadsoupblogparty.blogspot.com/2012/06/participants-of-6th-bead-soup-blog.html" target="_blank">6th BSBH Participants</a>. Thanks for reading and if you feel like commenting, go right ahead, no captcha required. I will be very busy this next week visiting others and can't wait to see what you have made! : ) </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<br />Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03955415293077995861noreply@blogger.com59tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6361663131399080863.post-23218964819168333672012-07-09T19:39:00.000-04:002012-07-12T16:27:30.514-04:00Fabulous Giveaway<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">So one of my favorite bloggers, Ms. Lori Anderson, is having a fantastic giveaway over on her blog. You can read all about the giveaway, which has 5 different prizes and chances to win, here: <a href="http://www.prettythingsblog.com/2012/07/finally-five-bead-and-button-bead.html" target="_blank">LORI ANDERSON'S ALL THE PRETTY THINGS BLOG</a></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Here is the first giveaway in the group:</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nDE36svsQZ4/T_trFaBGiAI/AAAAAAAAAU8/rDn3e_SmoEE/s1600/LORI+ANDERSON.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nDE36svsQZ4/T_trFaBGiAI/AAAAAAAAAU8/rDn3e_SmoEE/s640/LORI+ANDERSON.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Isn't that silk cord so cool? And those car links - must have those!! Also, I've been wanting both a golem studio pendant as well as a green girls studio pendant for awhile, and this price has both, so hello, you were meant for me!! I really hope I can win this. The odds really aren't in my favor, but hey, a girl can dream, right? : ) Check out her blog, follow it, and do what you must to enter this fantastic giveaway! </span>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03955415293077995861noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6361663131399080863.post-71887354000748222012012-07-09T16:24:00.003-04:002012-07-12T16:27:10.059-04:00Soup's On - Meet Cynthia Wainscott<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">So I told you in my last blog post that I was gearing up for the Bead Soup Blog Hop, and last week I received my bead soup from my partner, <a href="http://exoticperujewelry.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Cynthia Wainscott</a>. Isn't she gorgeous?! I know that isn't a requirement for beautiful jewelry, but exotic Peru seems to describe her as well as her jewelry. I just love her booth set ups too...but anyway, I digress.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NsdbG9DhFEo/T_s9SVXxeDI/AAAAAAAAAUw/I5ZFYsur08Y/s1600/Cynthia+herself.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="444" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NsdbG9DhFEo/T_s9SVXxeDI/AAAAAAAAAUw/I5ZFYsur08Y/s640/Cynthia+herself.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> I was thrilled to learn all about Cynthia through our emails to each other and truly felt like I'd won the Bead Soup lottery in a way, as the partnership seemed like it was just perfection. Not only is she very similar to me in our personal aesthetic and style, but we are close in age, both design from home, are self taught jewelry designers, love brass and vintage, eclectic, and creative designs, and are moms of little boys. We definitely get each other. And while it may have its perks to being teamed with someone completely different, it is definitely nice to be paired with someone you feel like you understand. Here are a few of her designs that caught my eye:</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LaBR6KWSVHU/T_s304QNOtI/AAAAAAAAATg/MoO6efN8rJY/s1600/Cynthia+Wainscott+Lucille.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="491" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LaBR6KWSVHU/T_s304QNOtI/AAAAAAAAATg/MoO6efN8rJY/s640/Cynthia+Wainscott+Lucille.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N0fLgF_kDxE/T_s34-TuFVI/AAAAAAAAATo/OKmXN735vOE/s1600/Cynthia+Wainscott+01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="451" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N0fLgF_kDxE/T_s34-TuFVI/AAAAAAAAATo/OKmXN735vOE/s640/Cynthia+Wainscott+01.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Zz-BKgNBijA/T_s36vLbBxI/AAAAAAAAAT4/v15aVt2orMo/s1600/Cynthia+Wainscott+04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="481" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Zz-BKgNBijA/T_s36vLbBxI/AAAAAAAAAT4/v15aVt2orMo/s640/Cynthia+Wainscott+04.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
I just love that Lucille Ball bracelet. My little sister used to collect I love Lucy items, so I can appreciate the fondness for the infamous Lucille Ball. The middle necklace is so delicate and romantic but still creative and unique, and the last one is just AHH-MAH-ZING. I would love to make jewelry this fabulous, but I don't think I'm quite at this level yet! What a talented designer, and how lucky am I to have her as my partner?!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> I was utterly over the moon when I saw the soup she had sent me. Not only had she included some gorgeous beads she hand picked from her native country, Peru, but she had also made me a polymer clay focal that is simply beautiful, and I believe she will also be offering a variety of these for sale in a new shop soon: </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-L9qR0ghJwbc/T_s5AB5GKcI/AAAAAAAAAUQ/cJUV8ecEuN0/s1600/IMG_5983.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-L9qR0ghJwbc/T_s5AB5GKcI/AAAAAAAAAUQ/cJUV8ecEuN0/s640/IMG_5983.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">In addition to the focal, she sent me some beautiful brass components (some of my favorites) from <a href="http://www.bsueboutiques.com/" target="_blank">B'Sue Boutiques</a>, as well as a variety of lovely quartz beads, Genova stones, Brazilian turquoise, Czech glass flowers, and pink glass beads, WOW. As if that weren't enough, she also sent me an adorable toggle clasp that she stamped the words fly away into. How perfect!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RyQpRX_L8-g/T_s5Cq_ihcI/AAAAAAAAAUY/v7GzzAPxTbw/s1600/IMG_5986.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="475" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RyQpRX_L8-g/T_s5Cq_ihcI/AAAAAAAAAUY/v7GzzAPxTbw/s640/IMG_5986.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jnMhTvMFbxA/T_s49m6-IHI/AAAAAAAAAUI/xIw-_obssyE/s1600/IMG_5981.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="475" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jnMhTvMFbxA/T_s49m6-IHI/AAAAAAAAAUI/xIw-_obssyE/s640/IMG_5981.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KXABulGuzNg/T_s5IJZ_3YI/AAAAAAAAAUk/iuOy1p3o8bc/s1600/IMG_5988.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KXABulGuzNg/T_s5IJZ_3YI/AAAAAAAAAUk/iuOy1p3o8bc/s640/IMG_5988.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Needless to say I was super worried about what to send her, as her jewelry absolutely blew my mind, and it took me a few days of going through everything to figure it out. She had mentioned she really loved pearls, so I knew I wanted to include some, and since pearls remind me of the ocean, I chose a lovely beach themed pendant from <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/Clayworksnh" target="_blank">Clayworks</a> that I had purchased last year, along with a variety of beads including 3 different colors of pearls in 2 different styles, jasper, and 2 handmade glass beads from <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/artbylisi" target="_blank">Lisa Anderson</a>. The clasp was a vintaj toggle clasp, and I also included a little silk cord and some handmade "porthole" components. Here is a photo of the soup I sent her:</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6QV5-52RLds/T_s44qFT-FI/AAAAAAAAAUA/lHtFHLw7YeU/s1600/IMG_5796.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="508" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6QV5-52RLds/T_s44qFT-FI/AAAAAAAAAUA/lHtFHLw7YeU/s640/IMG_5796.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Are you excited to see what she makes with it? I know I am! Wish me luck that I can do her fabulous components justice! In the meantime you can also help me out (warning, shameless plug following) and vote for my bracelet design in this month's vintaj challenge, road trip is the theme! </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Click this link to vote: <a href="http://vintaj.com/wpblog/?p=16054" target="_blank">Vintaj Challenge</a> My bracelet is entry # 4. Thanks for reading all about Cynthia and stay tuned for our design reveals on July 28th! </span></div>
<br />Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03955415293077995861noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6361663131399080863.post-89230194640409120822012-06-21T22:54:00.000-04:002012-07-12T16:27:49.275-04:00Save Money; Adorn Your EarsWell long time no read...or write...I have been a major slacker when it comes to blogging. I have a blogger friend that insists I should feel more confident in my work and ability to write a blog, although I am severely in need of some classes when it comes to both if you ask me...but I'm going to give it a shot, and I figured the best way to start was to just show everyone what I've been working on, offer a sale to move some of my jewelry, and involve myself in some things that will force me to blog, like Lori Anderson's bead soup blog hop. I am signed up for the current bsbh again, but as of yet don't know who I've been paired with, so stay tuned for more details on who my partner is, what I'm sending her, and what I get and create with the soup she sends me.<br />
<br />
In the meantime...here are some new earrings I've been working on:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EKY4moayYyM/T-Pb3vTxFXI/AAAAAAAAASg/FNY70_STroY/s1600/IMG_5524.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EKY4moayYyM/T-Pb3vTxFXI/AAAAAAAAASg/FNY70_STroY/s320/IMG_5524.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IUzFNErqVTc/T-Pb4xNmgGI/AAAAAAAAASo/lBmNTcqOBC0/s1600/IMG_5546.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IUzFNErqVTc/T-Pb4xNmgGI/AAAAAAAAASo/lBmNTcqOBC0/s320/IMG_5546.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ieqdw_0TECM/T-Pb6NVjU1I/AAAAAAAAASw/L3d9636Sn8s/s1600/IMG_5568.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ieqdw_0TECM/T-Pb6NVjU1I/AAAAAAAAASw/L3d9636Sn8s/s320/IMG_5568.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-K8RblGuq2U0/T-Pb7HKuTXI/AAAAAAAAAS4/YhkKnqJZ1kg/s1600/IMG_5576.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-K8RblGuq2U0/T-Pb7HKuTXI/AAAAAAAAAS4/YhkKnqJZ1kg/s320/IMG_5576.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-c2Pvgjh2V2g/T-Pb8zA_heI/AAAAAAAAATA/H2HdbFQwvJM/s1600/IMG_5617.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="242" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-c2Pvgjh2V2g/T-Pb8zA_heI/AAAAAAAAATA/H2HdbFQwvJM/s320/IMG_5617.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BUnwUy1YW2o/T-Pb-eBscSI/AAAAAAAAATI/Upk6dBfWJHw/s1600/IMG_5629.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BUnwUy1YW2o/T-Pb-eBscSI/AAAAAAAAATI/Upk6dBfWJHw/s320/IMG_5629.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ow3fkqYO0ww/T-Pb_xh8VLI/AAAAAAAAATQ/ulykymIMBm4/s1600/IMG_5639.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ow3fkqYO0ww/T-Pb_xh8VLI/AAAAAAAAATQ/ulykymIMBm4/s320/IMG_5639.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I used embossed blanks on the 1st, 3rd, and 4th pairs, and then added color with patinas and used relief to make the embossed patterns pop. The last 2 pairs feature vintaj large tags which I first hammered, then dapped and worked into horseshoe shapes. I used fine ornate vintaj chain to attach them to the earring lever backs. They all feature gorgeous Swarovski crystal faceted briolette drops and other Swarovski crystal beads as well. The green and crystal copper pair also have handmade spacer beads from Lisa Anderson.</div>
<br />
If you have made it this far in my blog post, well thanks for reading!!! I am having a big sale on my etsy shop - 20% off anything in the store. Sale ends July 6th at 11:59 est. Use code SALE20 to redeem your discount. As always my shipping is very low, only 2$ for domestic US addresses. I have a massive amount of inventory and am not going to be doing many shows this summer, so in order to get rid of the old to make way for the new, I have to unload some jewelry! <br />
<br />
www.etsy.com/shop/beadfulthingsjewelry<br />
Or just click this link: <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/beadfulthingsjewelry" target="_blank">MY ETSY SHOP</a><br />
<br />Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03955415293077995861noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6361663131399080863.post-47117549475323672762012-04-11T13:38:00.002-04:002012-04-11T13:38:51.254-04:00A Great Giveaway<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">I was excited to see this post on Lori Anderson's blog today. She is giving away a fantastic prize for jewelry designers - a set of impress art letter stamps and a new, specialty hammer made just for stamping letters. I entered and you can as well by clicking this link and following the directions on her blog post. </span><br />
<a href="http://www.prettythingsblog.com/2012/04/win-set-of-impress-art-letter-stamps.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">http://www.prettythingsblog.com/2012/04/win-set-of-impress-art-letter-stamps.html</span></a><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Just a quick update while I'm on my blog - I have been busy with sending out some goody bags for a bead swap as well as trying to get my house cleaned over the last few weeks. I have a new post coming up about my most recent bead swap, as well as a giveaway of my own, my first ever, actually! I also am happy to say that in the first week of my diet I lost 9 lbs and am well on my way to reaching my big goal! Gotta love that dance central. : ) Stay tuned next week for all the fun stuff mentioned above. Until then, I have to keep getting my house under control before summer arrives, and I'm also gearing up for a paranormal investigation with my ghost hunting team at the historic Hales Bar Dam on Friday night. (Friday the 13th to be exact!) Should be an exciting and eventful weekend!</span><br />
<br />Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03955415293077995861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6361663131399080863.post-87687110489575768602012-04-05T18:19:00.000-04:002012-04-05T18:19:15.123-04:00Making Changes<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Anyone who knows me personally, knows that I tend to wear the same thing every day. I have a wardrobe that consists of black yoga pants and various solid t-shirts, mostly v-neck t shirts. Its really pretty sad and pathetic, honestly. I used to dress up on occasion and at the very least mixed it up with jeans and fun shoes, but something has happened to me...I turned 30 last May. I think the change probably came about around 29 honestly, but it was probably only because I knew what was coming around the corner. I have also been churning out jewelry like crazy, which means a lot of sitting in my house. Not a lot of calorie burning. That is why I've gained about 40 pounds in the last 1.5 years or so. I also quit smoking about 1.5 years ago...go figure. Anyway, I am officially the heaviest I've ever been sans being 9 months preggo, so I've reached the point where I absolutely cannot allow this to continue. So the last 3 days in a row, I have tried to maintain a reasonable diet, nothing strict or really that different, I just didn't gorge out on sweets...I did still have dessert. But I also worked out with the Dance Central 2 game on the kinect for over an hour each day, and I was delighted to see this morning that I had lost 5 pounds! That gave me a boost of motivation, since summer arrived in February, I definitely need to get a move on in being in control of my weight and my body and my eating habits. No more allowing jewelry to overtake every aspect of my life. I still have to make time for me. I will keep you posted on my progress, but consider this my official pledge to make it happen! </span>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03955415293077995861noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6361663131399080863.post-59058556108961290232012-03-05T19:20:00.000-05:002012-03-05T19:20:39.080-05:00The Huge Difference of Small DetailsI think I have made it pretty well known that I've been on a bracelet kick lately. I have also been experimenting with using silver, a territory I wasn't that comfortable with since my creative roots lie with brass products, but that didn't stop me from trying it out. My first attempt was with lapis lazuli beads and crystal dangles using silver findings and wire. After my last purple butterfly bracelet that I posted on a recent blog, I wanted to do a similar bracelet only with beads alone and no focal butterfly, just to make the design more generalized to appeal to more people who were looking for basic or classic jewelry and not necessarily hand painted butterflies. I loved the design so much that I did the EXACT same bracelet, only I used silver wire, jump rings, and bead caps. Here are photos of both bracelets to show the difference that the findings make in the design. Which do you prefer or are drawn to? I am almost always drawn to the brass as it feels less complicated, more laid back, more down to earth, if you will. But here lately, I feel the silver pulling me ever so closer in...will there be a change in my designing future? Perhaps...it would be easier to go there if the cost of silver went down! Until then, the artistic wire will have to do.<br />
Here is the brass version:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WvfcivepSI0/T1VR3FLVDOI/AAAAAAAAARQ/kEiioiy5ZW4/s1600/IMG_2308.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WvfcivepSI0/T1VR3FLVDOI/AAAAAAAAARQ/kEiioiy5ZW4/s320/IMG_2308.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XtKNgg9yke4/T1VR6nqY2zI/AAAAAAAAARY/fZ9_fsPM_uI/s1600/IMG_2311.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XtKNgg9yke4/T1VR6nqY2zI/AAAAAAAAARY/fZ9_fsPM_uI/s320/IMG_2311.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>And here is the silver version:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WTECsedgf0E/T1VSbzhmsKI/AAAAAAAAARg/EcTzFCd1hbI/s1600/IMG_2301.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="244" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WTECsedgf0E/T1VSbzhmsKI/AAAAAAAAARg/EcTzFCd1hbI/s320/IMG_2301.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LzjCszKOTxs/T1VSfoGg13I/AAAAAAAAARo/SgxDbNT-LMQ/s1600/IMG_2300.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LzjCszKOTxs/T1VSfoGg13I/AAAAAAAAARo/SgxDbNT-LMQ/s320/IMG_2300.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My last post was about the blog hop, and I made 2 pairs of earrings that also used some of the beads she sent. One pair included only beads she sent as well as chain, and the others just had one little glass bead left over from my bead soup. Here they are!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aM9zvSSjt4g/T1VYCPhw3sI/AAAAAAAAARw/vHno6Y80vb4/s1600/IMG_2271.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aM9zvSSjt4g/T1VYCPhw3sI/AAAAAAAAARw/vHno6Y80vb4/s320/IMG_2271.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AxsjMDCYq28/T1VYD5T4ipI/AAAAAAAAAR4/f_A_SyNIu0U/s1600/IMG_2276.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="237" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AxsjMDCYq28/T1VYD5T4ipI/AAAAAAAAAR4/f_A_SyNIu0U/s320/IMG_2276.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03955415293077995861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6361663131399080863.post-51486929351772975372012-03-03T02:08:00.000-05:002012-03-03T02:08:01.811-05:00My First Bead Soup Revealed!I first learned of this event called the bead soup blog hop day last fall, and I had a wonderful time looking at many different artists creations, yet was eager to participate in such an event myself. I was a bit too late to join in the main 200 person group that started its pairings this January, but I was very fortunate to find a partner on my own and we quickly mailed each other our mystery bead soups. A bead soup, if you have never heard of the term, is an assortment of beads with a focal and clasp, typically in a color palette or theme. My partner is the wonderful <a href="http://reinventedobjects.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Denise Peterson</a>, and you can visit her blog by clicking the link. She has also posted her soup from me and her finished creation. I was so lucky that my partner sent me such beautiful items and beads to work with. She sent me so much to choose from! I ended up using these beautiful glass blue metallic beads that she sent me a strand of, and I combined them with the antiqued silver chain she sent as well as her butterfly focal. I added my own Petrol colored Swarovski crystal pearls to complete the look and finish it off with a real sense of romance. I am completely in love with the necklace. It is extremely long and the glass metallic beaded fringe catches the light and has lovely movement. I made a simple bracelet and pair of earrings to match it I loved it so much, and I almost never do that! There were some other beads she sent, and I did make some more earrings with them, but due to the stormy weather I haven't been able to photograph them yet. I will show them off on my next blog though. Here is my finished set!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ldjN49MdBcs/T1HCLJK_dlI/AAAAAAAAAQ4/ojtBQ0VOiMk/s1600/IMG_1814.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ldjN49MdBcs/T1HCLJK_dlI/AAAAAAAAAQ4/ojtBQ0VOiMk/s320/IMG_1814.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wJtb7AuV4X0/T1HCQjQjnhI/AAAAAAAAARA/uzNVKJU0zgM/s1600/IMG_1817.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wJtb7AuV4X0/T1HCQjQjnhI/AAAAAAAAARA/uzNVKJU0zgM/s320/IMG_1817.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_9cAZhkOuWs/T1HCUmMfhDI/AAAAAAAAARI/SrGtDoBMETg/s1600/IMG_1822.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_9cAZhkOuWs/T1HCUmMfhDI/AAAAAAAAARI/SrGtDoBMETg/s320/IMG_1822.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
View all of the blog hop participants' creations!! Visit the main page to see all of the entries!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkytools.com%2Fthumbnail_linky_include.aspx%3Fid%3D132965&h=XAQGS4UUv" target="_blank">BLOG HOP!</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03955415293077995861noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6361663131399080863.post-25086741857534300282012-02-27T21:10:00.001-05:002012-02-27T21:10:19.695-05:00The Makings of the MomentLately I've been making a lot of free jewelry for donations to charities. I have made earrings for a local fundraiser for a girl who has cerebral palsy and is need of surgery. I have given 2 necklaces, including a replica of my first published design and a pair of earrings, to my local Arts council for their annual gala fundraiser silent auction, and I have made a lovely bracelet for the 7000 Bracelets for Hope Campaign. I enjoy helping others, and although I have little to offer financially, at least I can make a few things and donate my time, which amounts to a lot more than the money I have invested in the pieces. I just hope they appreciate the work and love that I put into every piece of jewelry I create. People tend to undervalue anything handmade. My father, a custom wood worker, knows this all too well! Here is my 7000 bracelets for hope design.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_5egERFc2l8/T0w2Ui84-tI/AAAAAAAAAQw/eJlJxnHZ6QQ/s1600/IMG_2191.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="275" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_5egERFc2l8/T0w2Ui84-tI/AAAAAAAAAQw/eJlJxnHZ6QQ/s320/IMG_2191.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
I've also been toying with some new designs incorporating layers and multi-strands. This is a new venture for me as I've really never worked with cloth textiles before in jewelry, nor have I really done many multi strand pieces, other than my first Vintaj design challenge win with the starry night necklace. I think that's actually one of the reasons I haven't gone there, because it was such a pain to get all the strands at the perfect length. <br />
Meanwhile in the midst of all these charity designs, I also have made a necklace for the bead soup swap that I am just sooo proud of. Its actually not a complex necklace, very simple design, but its still just so perfectly fabulous that I can't stop wearing it! The reveal day is March 3rd, so stay tuned for photos of the finished piece!! I still have quite a few beads left though that I haven't used, nor have I figured out what to do with the silk, so I'm a bit at a loss for the rest...here's hoping I can figure it out by the 3rd! Until then, here is my bead soup that I received from my partner, <a href="http://reinventedobjects.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Denise Peterson</a>.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EGG1t_P_Dik/T0wz8NjQVlI/AAAAAAAAAQg/XugfOsCRm7s/s1600/IMG_1761.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EGG1t_P_Dik/T0wz8NjQVlI/AAAAAAAAAQg/XugfOsCRm7s/s320/IMG_1761.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Unfortunately, as much as I'd love to spend my days beading and designing, I do have a day job as a Realtor, and it has come to that oh so fun 2 year mark when I have to renew my license. Since I've been so distracted my turning my hobby into a business the last few years, I haven't completed the first hour of continuing education, so the next week I have to complete over 16 hours of CE classes in order to meet the requirements for renewing my license, and I'm totally dreading it!! I always say I am not going to procrastinate my CE and get it done in advance, and it NEVER happens!! Oh well, I work better under pressure anyway! ; ) </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03955415293077995861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6361663131399080863.post-30027114324695055562012-01-29T18:32:00.000-05:002012-01-29T18:32:39.586-05:00Something Pretty On My Wrist I wanted to do a quick blog on my latest design and what I was thinking during the design of it. I often dream of writing blogs that break down the design concept in an interesting way, but the truth is, it's really more of an organic, unplanned process most of the time for me. This bracelet was a bit different though, because I did have a bit of a broad concept and picture in my mind when I set out to make it. It's a shame my arms are so hairy, because I'd love to be able to get photos of it as well as others on my wrist, because they just look so amazing. Unfortunately all I see is my arm hair when I try to get a picture, so I won't be sharing any of those photos with you today. I'll try to search for a hairless model in the future, but in the meantime, the normal laid out photo will have to do.<br />
<div>
This bracelet is a fun one that is basically inspired by my young teen years, back when I was obsessed with Drew Barrymore and similar movie stars of her up and coming time. She did that one movie where she played a rebellious and spirited yet troubled girl who was obsessed with butterflies...in a way, her character was kind of my muse when designing this bracelet. It is all about purples and has a vibrant purple altered arte metal butterfly as a unique focal point, although its got enough curvature you could wear it on the side or even back/bottom of wrist if you prefer another side showing more or need comfort. For example, I'm typing so I've swished the bracelet around so the butterfly is on the bottom side, because it is more comfortable to have my wrist rest on it than the larger beads. Making the focal is actually fairly simple. First paint the arte metal white to provide a base. If you use the ink just over the metal, it doesn't really show up very bright. After paint dries, use the ranger ink tools to apply your choice of ink colors to the piece. Try to dab as little as possible, because it will wipe the paint away, even after it dries if you are rubbing on it too much. Let ink dry and add a few more layers, mix up the colors if you like. After it all dries spray with acrylic sealant, then curve the tabs to make connectors or remove them and punch holes. The beads are g-g-gorgeous with lots of sparkle. My grandmother had made this incredibly huge cocktail ring that I dismantled and used some of the very gorgeous, retro, ab crystals in the dangles, as well as assorted crystal and glass beads in multiple shades of purple. I used 24mm wire to make fun little wire wrapped links to hang the sparkly beads from because these always remind me of either a spiraling flight or swim, so I often incorporate wire links and drops into nautical and or nature/bug/butterfly/dragonfly themed jewelry. Since I had this spiral idea in mind, I used a spiral clasp to complete the design. I'm pretty happy with this one, so much so that I may have to do a few more in different colors. I pretty much stick to green, blue, and purple in most of my designs, so I just might get crazy and go with a different color...at least one of these days!<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QahuVeb2tjY/TyXUPc8ksBI/AAAAAAAAAP8/B4Ch7aJvl3M/s1600/IMG_2551.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QahuVeb2tjY/TyXUPc8ksBI/AAAAAAAAAP8/B4Ch7aJvl3M/s320/IMG_2551.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lcwW9tpg_3I/TyXURUirhXI/AAAAAAAAAQE/h7TXKQDlp4Q/s1600/IMG_2556.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lcwW9tpg_3I/TyXURUirhXI/AAAAAAAAAQE/h7TXKQDlp4Q/s320/IMG_2556.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qFrly6dWhG8/TyXUUs9lrQI/AAAAAAAAAQU/9wiyzrZoJ8Q/s1600/IMG_2567.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qFrly6dWhG8/TyXUUs9lrQI/AAAAAAAAAQU/9wiyzrZoJ8Q/s320/IMG_2567.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03955415293077995861noreply@blogger.com2