Friday, October 26, 2012

Designing with Nina Designs...................

I was fortunate to get a goody bag from Nina Designs to do some designing with as a part of their Blog Partner Program.  I was able to use these to make some pretty amazing things, I do so love Nina Designs and have been a customer of theirs for years.  Here is what I made:

In honor of the fall season and Halloween, I used some of the hammered marquis components, purple deer hide, and skull charms to create this bracelet and necklace.  I wove the deer hide in some chain I had to make a heavier chain, and added an amethyst and herkimer diamond for some bling!


This piece I used the snake component to make this wonderful pendant with a lepidocrosite briolette, 
 ruby and a herkimer diamond.  I added the chain and finished it with a bronze s clasp.  This piece is on it's way to the stylist for The Vampire Diaries show to be considered for their show.



This wonderful brass chain went really well with a mixed metal charm I crafted and I decorated it with a petrified wood bead.


Just love these earring components, the hammered goldtone is great, I used some more of the hammered marquis components to hang a wonderful bronze lotus petal charm, a pearl and a blue topaz from each.
 And here is a photo of all of it, the photo did not come out as well as I would have liked but you can get the full view of all the pieces.


Thank you Nina Designs for allowing me to partner with you and for these wonderful pieces!


The materials above were provided as part of the Nina Designs blogging program. The author of this blog has not received any payment from above-mentioned company. The post above represents only personal opinion of the blog author.

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

I Promise!

The I am promise, to buy one thing handcrafted once a month!

How easy is that? and with that little promise the influence we all could have in local economies, supporting local small business and artists!  I love to buy from individuals who create out of love, so I make my promise to buy one thing handcrafted per month from an individual, do you?


Saturday, August 11, 2012

The Big Reveal, well, maybe little......

This is my second Bead Soup Blog Hop Party, hosted by Lori Anderson and it has been so enjoyable.  I had a huge bead soup from my partner so I had some left over and will continue to add to my soup! Thank you Kris!

I received all these wonderful beads, chains, and clasps from my partner, Kris Binsfield, from Cherish Designs.  You can see the bead soup in my prior post.  Her handcrafted pendant was so wonderful and the clasps she sent, oh my, bling and more bling, I just couldn't decide what to do.

So, I just had to use the sparkly clasp in a bracelet to show it off.  Here is what I created with the some of the chain, beads, and clasp.


and the pendant, I just though it deserved to be the focal, I tried add beads and I just didn't like it, so I kept it simple with the chains and I just love it, but that is more my style, simple and blingy!

well, that leads me to the fact, I have plans for the rest of the soup, so there will be more to come, I have more to do and hope to have it done by the next reveal date, so please come back and check!  A little view of the rest of the soup that needs to be done! 

and a few more photos just because..................

The rest of the party, go check them out!

Hostess, Lori Anderson, Pretty Things
Adlinah Kamsir, Dream Struck Designs
Adrienn Lukacs, Raszputyin Designs
Agata Grygiel, Cytherea Bijoux
Alenka Obid, Pepita Handmade
Amy Dickerson, Damyjo Designs
Amy Schmidt, Amy’s Treasure
Amy Severino, Amy Beads
Andrea Trank, Heaven Lane Creations
Anke Humpert, Anart Island Studios
Ann Rishell, My Critical Eye
April Grinaway, Brooklyn Bead Goddess
Ashley Bunting, Miss Ashely Kate
Astrid Boyce, Astrid Boyce Beads
B.R. Kuhlman, Mixed Mayhem Studios
Barbe Saint John, Saints and Sinners
Beata Benkone Meggyesi, Beahobbi
 Bryna Lumb, Bryna’s Bead Box
Carmen Lau, Little Maketto
Cate van Alphen, Fulgorine
Cathie Carroll, Cathie Carroll’s Studio
Cathy Khoury, Touch Jewelry
Christina Stofmeel, Feng Beads
 Collette Collins, Fire Fly Myst Artisan Jewelry
Courtney Breul, Beads by Breul
Crystal Thain, Here Bead Dragons
Cynthia Abner, Created Treasures
Deana Hager, Just Deez’Art & Life
Debbie Davis, Natural Treasures by Deb
Debbie Phenes, Deb Joy Sing
Dhea Powers, Java Bead
Diana Welte, Lilyweeds
Dita Basu, alankarshilpa
Dorota Zeranska, gdymamczas
Dot Lewallwn, Speedie Beadie
Elisabeth Auld, Beads For Busy Gals
Ema Kilroy, Ema K Designs
Emma Todd, A Polymer Penchant
Eva Sherman, Eva Sherman Designs
Evie and Beth McCord, EB Bead and Metal Works
Francy Inman, Francy’s Studio
Ginger Bishop, lilmummy likes…
Giorgia Rossini, Jo in Wonderland
Ine Vande Cappelle, Jewels by Ine
Iveth Caruso, Creative Atelier
JJ Jacobs, Coming Abstractions
Jackie Ryan, Kydo Jewellery
Jeannie Dukic, Jeannie’s Blog
Jelveh Jaferian, Jelveh Designs
Jenna Tomalka, Twin Birch Studio
Jenni Connolly, Jenni’s Beads
Jennifer Van Horn, Jennifers Jewels and Junk
Jo-Ann Woolverton, It’s a Beadiful Creation
Johanna Rhodes-Nash, Fire Phoenix Creations
 Joyce Blair, Bent Wire West Coast
JuLee Wolfe, The Polymer Penguin
Karen Vincent, Swallow Tail Jewellery
Karin Slaton, Backstory Beads
Kayla Potega, The Eclectic Element
Kim Dworak, CianciBlue
Krafty Max, Krafty Max Originals
Kris Lanae Binsfeld, Cherish Designs by Kris Lanae
Kristen Latimer, MJM Jewelry Designs
Kumi Fisher, Malie Kai Designs
Kym Hunter, Kym Hunter Designs
Lennis Carrier, Windbent
Leslie Wayment, AA Beads & More
Linda Murphy, Bonita Bead
Lisa Johnson, Whimsey Wonders
Lisa Lodge, Pine Ridge Treasures
Lisa Sittniewski, Love, Yesterdays
Lois Moon, Que Onda, Q’Town?
Lola Surwillo, Bead Lola Bead
Lorelei Eurto, Lorelei’s Blog
Lori Bowring Michaud, Artfully Ornamental
Lori Finney, Using My Beads
Marcia Dunne, The Alternative Foundry
Margareta Saari, Mags-koruja
Maria Horvath, Horimarika Beads
Marian Hertzog, M’s Place
 Mary Ellen Parker, BeeTree by m.e.
Mary K McGraw, MK’s Creative Musings
MaryLou Holvenstot, time2cre8
Martha Aleo, Ornamento
 Maybeline Tay, The Jewelry Larder
Megan Collins, Churchy & Her Sailor
Melissa Meman, Art. Life. Love.
Melissa Mesara, One-Eared Pig Beads
Paige Maxim, Paige Maxim Designs
Pam Farren, re-maker
Pam Hurst, Pam Hurst Designs
Patricia Handschuh, The Color of Dreams
Patty Miller, CabariBeads
Penney Klapoth, Faerie Acres
Regina Santerre, Regina’s Writings
Rhea Freitag, starrgazer creates
Rochelle Brisson, A Creative Chelle
Sabine Dittrich, PerlenDschungel
Sandra McGriff, Creative Chaos
Sandra Neights, Petalo Azul
Sandra Young, It’s a Bead Life!
Sara Oehler, SoftFlex Girl
Saturday Sequins, Saturday Sequins
Shanti Johnson, Sunshine Bliss
Shari Replogle, Plays With Paper
Sonya Stille, Dreamin’ of Beads
Stefanie Teufel, Stefanies Sammelsurium
Tammie Everly, TTE Designs
Tania Spivey, Moobie Grace Designs
Therese Frank, Therese’s Treasures
Tina Holden, Polymer Clay Bytes!
Toltec Jewels, Jewel School Friends
Tracey Nanstad, A Beadiful Mess
Tracy Choy, BumbleBeads Designs
Valerie Norton, Hot Art


Friday, July 20, 2012

New Bead Soup arrived............

I am participating in another bead soup blog party and I just got my "bead" soup from my partner, Kris Binsfield from Cherish Designs.  After the excitement tearing open the outer package I found these, yeah.....

and so I opened them to find this..


In box 1, the long box was this wonderful group of beads and chain..


In box 2, was this awesome group of beads, chain, etc...


with this amazing focal pendant made by Kris.....


so I am off to stir up my soup and see what I can create!

If you are interested, here is a sneak peak of the soup I sent my partner, but she needs to reveal the rest, until later.......


Thursday, May 24, 2012

Life Inspired, what exactly does that mean???

I had a real hard time coming up with a tag line for my jewelry.  Still not sure it describes my jewelry, but it does describe my business.


A few weeks ago, I got an email from a soldier oversees that his wife's birthday and their anniversary was coming up and could I make something for her.  So, I had my mission, I asked a few questions and was off planning, creating and more.  The more was I wrapped the gift and hand delivered it to her at her job.  I got to shed a few happy tears with her. This experience and hoping that I have made a small difference in someone's day, is priceless.

And this, is what I mean by life inspired, getting to be a part of these special moments in peoples lives, getting to be just a small piece of joy in a gift for a special day, event, time, etc..  If my jewelry or I can make someone's day a bit brighter, happier, or even more tolerable (in the case of sad life events), that is what it is all about for me.




Recently, I made lots of fingerprint charms for Mother's Day gifts, I am currently working on some wedding jewelry and a gift for a new mother, so this is where the line, life inspired jewelry comes from.

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

A new gift on it's way to Rachael Ray

I was lucky enough to be included in a special gifting to Rachael Ray.  She loves handmade and loves jewelry, a great fit for me.  I will be sending this necklace on to her next week!
I am really loving working with the bronze metal clay, the warm color for spring and summer is just delightful and the colored beads and pearls just look so pretty with it!

Have a great week and Happy Spring!

Saturday, March 3, 2012

BEAD SOUP BLOG PARTY REVEAL

It is finally here, the Bead Soup Blog Party, 200 people were paired up and exchanged a bead soup.  Thank you Lori Anderson for hosting this wonderful event.  Each of us mixed our soup to cook up some unique items to show off today!  My partner was Rebekah Payne, Tree Wing Studio,  and she sent me some of her incredible polymer clay beads and some others.

These beads are so far out of my comfort zone.  I work mostly with silver and gemstones, so I really had to get a feel for the beads.  I can say, after a few minutes, I was totally in love.  They are so fun and colorful and playful, I was having a blast!  I started with this wonderful focal, and designed around it. Little did she know that a daisy reminds me of my mom, so this focal was speaking to me the minute I got it!


Rebekah was very generous with the beads so I was able to make a long necklace, bracelet and earrings. I still have a few beads left, but I have this incredible set now!
 


I hope you enjoy the pictures, please make sure to leave a comment, as I will be doing a giveaway of a special piece of jewelry on March 15th, the drawing will be from all comments left on this post!

Now I am off to see everyone else's bead soup!  If you would like to join the Bead Soup Blog Party, just follow this list, click on the names, enjoy the party!  

Hostess, Lori Anderson


Special Book Sneak Peeks, Cindy Wimmer
1.  Adlinah Kamsir (Singapore) and Hajer Waheed (Kingdom of Bahrain)
2. Adrienn Lukacs (Hungary) and Agata Grygiel (Poland)
3.  Agi Kiss (Hungary) and Carolien Muller-Genger (the Netherlands)
4.  Agnes Asztalos (Hungary) and B.R. Kuhlman
7.  Alicia Marinache (Canada) and Dita Basu
15.  Bonnie Coursolle (Canada) and Fay Wolfenden (Canada)
16.  Carmel McGinley (Australia) and Tracy Stillman (Australia)
21.  Cheryl Brown (Canada) and Diana Ptaszynski
22.  Christina Stofmeel (the Netherlands) and Eva Kovacs (Hungary)
24.  Cilla Watkins (Canada) and Elaine Robitaille (Canada)
25.  Sabrina Straub (Switzerland) and Kathy Combs
32.  Dee Elgie (UK) and Joanne Lockwood (UK)
33.  Dian Hierschel (Germany) and Eniko Fabian (Austria)
37.  Doris Stumpf (Germany) and Eszter Czibulyas (Hungary)
39.  Elke Leonhardt-Rath (Germany) and Marjolein Trewavas (UK)
41.  Erika Nooteboom (the Netherlands) and Giorgia Rossini (Italy)
43.  Evelyn Duberry (Canada) and Gaea Cannaday
45.  Ginger Bishop (military, Okinawa) and Martina Nagele (Germany)
48.  Helene Goldberg (Australia) and Karen Vincent
54.  Joanna Matuszczyk (Poland) and Julianna Kis (Hungary)
55.  Joanne Tinley (UK) and Michaela Pabeschitz (Austria)
65.  Kristina Johansson (Sweden) and Penny Neville (Canada)
66.  Krisztina Erlaki-Toth (Hungary) and Nicole Keller (Germany)
76.  Lori Finney (Canada) and Marie-Noel Voyer-Cramp (Canada)
78.  Marta Kaczerowska (Poland) and Milla Starchik (Canada)
83.  Michelle Jensen and Sandra Young (Canada)
92.  Rosa Maria Cuevas (Mexico) and Tejae Floyde
93.  Sabine Dittrich (Germany) and Sally Russick
95.  Shanti Johnson and Tracy Mok (Canada)
97.  Sonya Stille and Traci Zeller (Canada)
98.  Stefanie Teufel (Germany) and Tania Hagen (New Zealand)