Cone Challenge - Sponsored by Lorelei Eurto

Thanks Lorelei Eurto!!!! For sponsoring this challenge and giving me the opportunity to work with Keirsten Giles handmade bead cones. 

Keirsten is one of my favorite designers, I drool at her store. I think her jewlery is meticulously designed and beautiful.

So here are the cones that were sent out to 5 designers including me.  The goal was to come up with a unique design using them and attempt to use them in a new way.

I started my design with 2 of the above cones. 

I knew that if I altered the cones in someway that I would have to stick with a plan so I punched 4 holes into the base of each cone.

I added these uniquely drilled Kyanite Beads that I bought from Dakota Stones and some coral lampwork beads. 

I remembered I had done a design with these Kyanite beads that Keirsten really liked and I thought they would compliment the warm tones in her copper bead caps.

I hope you like what I did with the bead cones.  It was great fun!!!  

 Want to see the other jewelry artists creations with these lovely bead cones check the following listings by clicking the names.

The Crazier Sister

BeadBug

Lori Michaud

Jen Judd

YaY! Jewelry is Dakota Stones Featured Designer

How exciting to be shopping in and have one of my favorite stone suppliers so close to me.  Dakota Stones is only about 15 minutes from my house and surprising enough my first time shopping in their actual store was this spring.  I have always just shopped with them at their local shows like the Twin Cities Bead Bazaar and the G & LW Gem and Lapidary Show.

This time shopping I got to talking with Jeff the owner about stones and publications and was sharing with him about my excitement about being published in the upcoming issues of Bead Trends Magazine.  He shared with me that they were going to have a new website launch and were interested in featuring some local designers and asked if I was interested.  OF COURSE!

One of the things I find the most interesting about Dakota Stones is the unique shapes and drills they offer in their stones.  You look for Canadian Jade and you find, rounds, ovals, nuggets, squares, simple cuts, tubes...you name it.  See those uniquely cut Kyanite...guess where I bought that.....I had to make a second trip back to get those.  Their show room is fabulous and they are open to the public if you have a tax ID and if they are in you can shop. So if you are in Minneapolis area make sure to visit them. They have 2 actual sales in their shop a year with 50 - 60% off or more, one is in the fall and one in the spring so get on their mailing list!!!!

One of the new features to their website is their Knowledge Center.  I know that I will be visiting this to help me identify stones.  I often by stone in a show and forget to ask what it is or forget or as stones go especially Jasper goes there are so many sub- catagories that they look alike or have more than one name for a stone.  I think this section will be very helpful to the jewelry artist.

http://www.dakotastones.com/Stone-Types_ep_47.html

If you want to read my interview by Dakota Stones and visit their new website check out the following links.

http://www.dakotastones.com/featured-designer-Kristin-Oppold_b_1.html

http://www.dakotastones.com/

Get To Know Me on Fabric of My Life by Shelly Graham Turner

I made a new friend in the beading world lets just say its a good thing we don't live near each other....because it would be Trouble with a capital T.  She is earthy, sarcastic and whitty and I love people like that.  She is always making me laugh on my new favorite beading group, Creative Bead Chat on Facebook.

Well she was so kind to feature me on her BFF Beading Friend Friday and I am so honored. So if you want to check out my interview by her check out the following link!!!!

http://www.shelleygrahamturner.blogspot.com/2012/07/bff-beading-friend-friday-kristin-oppold.html

Her shop is also on etsy, so please check her out.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/torisophia

7000 Bracelets for Hope™

I thought this was such a great program worthy of my attention!  The below information has been copy and pasted from the actual site.  For more information click the link at the bottom of the page.

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About the Program

Cause bracelets have been available for breast cancer and heart disease but there has never been a unifying symbol, color or bracelet that represents the rare and genetic disease community. That’s why we started the 7,000 Bracelets for Hope™ campaign.
Since launching the campaign in 2010, Global Genes has received thousands of unique blue themed bracelet designs made from everything from cut strips of recycled denim to vintage blue glass to turquoise stones. The creativity from our volunteers is truly inspiring!

Why 7000?

The number 7,000 represents the 7,000 different rare diseases that impact 1 in 10 people, 30 million Americans and 350 million globally. Each individual blue bracelet design we receive represents the uniqueness of one of the 7,000 rare diseases and many of our volunteers send in multiple copies of a single design.
Our goal is to continue to collect unique bracelets made by jewelry designers, artists, crafters, church groups, girl scout troops and other volunteers and distribute them to our families fighting rare and genetic diseases. Adults receive handcrafted bracelets made by our jewelry designers while children receive love friendship bracelets filled with hope.

How to Contribute Bracelets

It’s easy to show your support and make a difference for people suffering from rare and genetic diseases by participating in this rewarding charitable program. Meet some of our contributors and sign up to donate bracelets.

Follow below link to sign up!!!!!

http://globalgenes.org/7000-bracelets-for-hope/

Creative Bead Chat - Sun & Sea Challenge Reveal

It is amazing to me how many hats artists have to wear today!!!!  Here is my technology hat...the blog!  Not perfect but it is perfectly imperfect as I am.  Thanks Marla for helping me get this up and running for the CBC Sun & Sea Challenge & Reveal.

Marla and I exchanged messages during this challenge....she was probably wondering who this ditsy jewelry artist was and why did we pick her.

You see when I first started this challenge I was trying to get all the beads into one piece!!!!

3 HOURS later I was frustrated and ready to throw into the towel....so of course the last case scenario when all else fails ASK!

So I messaged Marla and she says no rules!  I post to CBC and Melinda Orr says no rules!  What is a natural born rule follower suppose to do.  No Guidelines, No Rules.  YIPPEE! Okay I have to be honest I really am not a rule follower but I do my best to conform as much as I can.  Yeh right!

If I cheated at all and didn't follow the rules it was on this last set. Oh yeh there were no rules!  I tried with all my heart to make those oval Mother of Pearl beads fit into the above necklace but alas I just couldn't make it happen.

The one thing I have learned about jewelry design is to trust my vision and instincts. This last jewelry set has only Melinda Orr's Artisan pieces and beads in it.  I really love how it turned out.  I love the octopi legs creeping around on the Green Girl ring.  Thought it paired nicely with Melinda Orr's ring...love the sun and moon feel it gave while adding a little sea with the beach pebbles and mother of pearl beads.

This was a memorable challenge for me and it couldn't of come at a better time.  My mother was dying of Pancreatic Cancer at the time.  It gave me something to focus on other than my mom dying and gave me permission to be happy. She has since passed on June 3rd in the arms of her family. I wasn't really able to tell her about what I was doing towards the end as her mind was on the task of dying.  I know she is at peace in her heavenly body and in my heart I hear her saying how proud she is of me. Love you mom!!!!!

To see the other Jewelry Artists designs in this challenge go to the following blogs.
http://www.cswdesignsbyhehe.blogspot.com/
http://www.alice-dreaming.blogspot.com
http://www.blog.aimeesjewelrytreasures.com/
http://www.higginsdesignstudio.blogspot.com

You ladies ROCK!!!!!

Thanks to the following for their donation of supplies for this challenge and the priviledge to work with them.

Marla's James - http://www.etsy.com/shop/marlasmud
Melinda Orr - http://www.etsy.com/shop/ORRTEC
J-Lynn Jewels - http://www.etsy.com/shop/JLynnJewels
Karen Totten - http://www.etsy.com/shop/ktotten
Kathleen Robinson - Young - http://www.etsy.com/shop/UglyDucklingBeads
Karyn Lewis Bonfiglio - http://www.etsy.com/shop/plussizebangles