Showing posts with label Bohemian Jewelry. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bohemian Jewelry. Show all posts

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

I'm Back

I'm Back



Well at least as back as I can be.  Some of you knew that I am now living on a lake and to be more specific Prior Lake.


We had been looking for a lake home for over a year and saving our pennies.  One of my wish lists was to have a dedicated studio with a attached garage and cement floor.  Look out you might get what you ask for.  I have a view of my lake from my studio window and an attached garage and cement floor!!!!  WooooHooo.  

I am still moving in so more photos on that later.  But after being closed for more than 2 months to sell, move and clean my new and old house, along with my recovery from frozen shoulder.  I am now back open with an exciting new line of jewelry!

Between the Lines Collection



Some exciting things will be happening with this line in 2014 but mums the word on that until March!!!!!



In the meantime you can find many of these designs in my shop. 












Inspired by my sisters love of Willie Nelson with some added Whimsey.


I love to use Artisan Made Beads.  

Bubby McGurk, Angel Whisperer, Scorched Earth and some really lovely high quality stones from Dakota Stones in these designs.

More To Come!  So Glad To Be Back In The Saddle!


OK I couldn't resist !!!!









Monday, June 17, 2013

More Buttons Please!

MORE BUTTONS PLEASE

I have a new LOVE.

BUTTONS


These lovely buttons and beads are made by

Lisa Peters Russ 

at 

Lisa Peters Art 




I was at my very first Bead & Button Show in Milwaukee and the first art bead seller on my list was Lisa Peters Art.  She had been teasing us all week with her fabulous work before the show.



I was even going to her website here to see if she had posted any but sniff she was saving them all for the 
Bead & Button Show.  So I was very lucky I got to go.

Here is my first creation I made.


For now this one is MINE!




What drew me to her was her color palate and textural aspect of her work.  I had no idea what I was going to be making with them.  But I started with this one....thinking of a bracelet BUT
it turned into a necklace instead and quite the wonderful necklace it is.  


This one is for sale and can be purchased here.




Then after my first creative splurge came to fruition I made this one with Lapis, Dumortierite, Wood, Chinese Crystals and all tied up with waxed linen.  I called this one Ancient Protector.  This beautiful Lapis that is from Dakota Stones is said to have protection qualities in ancient time.


This last one I kept a little more simple with Czech Glass and some Dumortierite Stones. Added a little bling with some Swarovski Crystals.



I also recently bought this very cool lampwork button from my Bead Soup partner Julie Bowen at The Bead Bash at the Mall of America. 

This is my stash of buttons & beads from Lisa Peters Art that I am very excited to have and am planning on working with in the near future.



So more jewelry with buttons to come!

Looking for my jewelry made with these lovely buttons you can find me on Etsy here.

YaY! Jewelry on Etsy

& 

YaY! Jewelry on Facebook

Saturday, June 1, 2013

Designing Jewelry for Dakota Stones

YaY! Jewelry Designs For Dakota Stones




Jeff Elvin & Tia

Dakota Stones is one of my favorite places to buy my stones.  They have excellent quality, unique shapes, cuts, drills and finishes, They also have some interesting and hard to find stones. So when Jeff Elvin asked if I would design some jewelry with his new circular beads the answer was a no brainer.

A RESOUNDING YES




He is having a product launch with ART BEADS.  He wanted me to design some jewelry with certain beads that they were adding to their online store to give their customers some ideas of what to do with some of his new wavy circular beads.



When I asked him if I could go around and pick out some stones to go along......well lets just say, I had a tray full.  I was a little nervous showing him my tray and he said.  You obviously have something in mind, go for it.  When I got home and looked at the receipt I was a bit mortified, so I emailed him and told him that I would bring back any strands that I didn't cut into.  He simply said not to worry and to have fun.

PHEW!!!!!

Those that design jewelry know that having choices is a blessing.  My journey of jewelry design did not start that way.  I use to peruse the thrift stores for cast off jewelry and or beads.  
SSSSSSHHHHHH 
I still do that.  

ALL OF THE STONES IN THE DESIGNS BELOW ARE FROM 




Simply Stated Necklace

So here is my first design I made with 14 gauge copper wire and some of his Rose Quartz Wavy Circular Beads. I simply wire wrapped 2 disk beads in and hammered and shaped the copper wire.  I added double chains to each side and a toggle clasp. Simple and sweet.


Desert Sunset Bracelet



Jeff asked me to make a clasp with these Picasso Jasper wavy circles.  I decided to make a bracelet with a copper bar that I textured.  I punched holes in the copper so that part of the disks would hang over the side of the copper bar. This is all tied with waxed linen, Yellow Jade, Citrine and Picasso Jasper wavy circles. I like the asymmetry and the off centered beads on the copper, makes the bracelet a bit unexpected.


Bubbling Brook Necklace

Etched and Patina focal made by me with Vintaj Patina's

Copper clasp made with copper and matte Amazonite beads

For the Bubbling Brook Necklace Jeff gave me some matte finished Amazonite rounds and some Black and Gold Amazonite Cubes and a lovely Rocky Butte pendant.  I made a handmade copper clasp for this design with some of his stones.  I etched and patina'd a piece of copper to set of the color of the beads.


My Minds Eye Necklace 

Clasp made with Rose Quartz & Carnelian Wavy Disks

 Stacked Carnelian and Rose Quartz Circular Disks with a lovely Fossil Coral Pendant

I am in love with organic looking jewelry.  This necklace has a lot of great quality beads.  Including Rose Quartz, Carnelian , White Lace Red Jasper, Pink Moonstone, Fossil Coral - the only thing that isn't from Dakota Stones in this design are the metal elements and the chunky coral.  This design is all tied with waxed linen and I made a handmade clasp with the Carnilian & Rose Quartz circular beads.

Handmade copper clasp 

Wink Ring - Picasso Jasper Wavy Circle Bead

My very first ring!  I made to resemble an eye called "Wink".  I took the Picasso Jasper Wavy Circles and organically wire wrapped this simple ring with 20 gauge and 26 gauge copper wire.  The copper is patina's with liver of sulfur.



Sweet Love Bracelet

Rose Quartz Wavy Circles & Pyrite

This is a triple strand randomly place Rose Quartz and Pyrite Bracelet.  I added a sweet love finding for the clasp.  Tied with waxed linen.


Some simple earrings

And last but not least.


Pick Me Some Flowers Bracelet



With this bracelet I patina'd this mesh element with Verdigris & Rust Guilders Paste. I added the Carnelian wavy circle as a flower element.  I attached these using Microfasteners.  Stones are Amazonite, Blue Green Quartz, Red Creek Jasper, Yellow Jade and a few Swarovski Crystals for some sparkle.

All of the stone used in these designs are from Dakota Stones. 
If you are shopping for some great quality beads please check out 
new selection of 























Thursday, March 14, 2013

Brewing for Sometime



You know when you have an idea in your head......but have no education or equipment to do what you want.

Well that is how it is in Jewelry Design!

It is an expensive hobby and honestly it has taken me years to get to the inventory that I need to be highly creative without having to always order something. That being said, I don't have all the tools or the education.

Well my good friend Jeff Plath from NonNecessities of Life Taylors Falls Bead Store helped me out with that.  I was up shopping and he told me we were going drilling!!!!!!  He knew I wanted to learn so he took me to his home studio.  He taught me all his tricks for drilling stone.



Well I may have changed one way I decided to do this.  It is very straining on your wrist to  to drill holes with a flex shaft.  One of my purchases in 2012 was my dremel and a drill press that you can attach it to.


So I have been on a bit of a drilling mania.


So these are some of the pieces of jewelry that I have made with them already.....3 of these bracelet have already sold.



I love the ammonite button on this one.


Lovely Mermaid button by the Green Girl Company.



My holes aren't perfect but I am learning and I think they look great in the designs even with some small imperfections...like in nature.


I do love the Green Girl Buttons in these designs and will definitely be adding more of those in the future.





Thanks Jeff for helping me out with the education!!!!!  Rio Grand helped me with the bits....well I had to buy them of course.  

I am sure there will be more designs that will come out of my newly developing knowledge of drilling stone....hmmmm maybe some metal like this that is etched!!!! Or some pendants!

You can find my designs here.


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