It's The Bead Soup Block Party 8 Reveal!

Thanks to Lori Anderson the organizer and founder of the Bead Soup Block Party. She tirelessly matches people around the world to trade beads and they make fabulous jewelry with what their assigned partner. Then we have a big reveal date and we get to hop all the blogs to see who made what and with what.

One of the things that I was the most excited about in getting my Bead Soup Partner 

Patricia Johnson from PLJGlassArt

was her love of recycling!!!! 

What Patricia sent me.

 I absolutely adore that about her.  Looking at my soup she has all these components that she pulled out of an old printer and even used some of the enamel in the printing ink to use in the lovely fused glass bowl that I now have on my jewelry desk to hold beads.

What I added to the mix. Plus a little more that I didn't get photo'd.  Just not that organized.

In the spirit of recycling and following Patricia's lead I dug in to my recycling drawer.  Looking for older beads, necklaces etc.....that I can add to the mix of what she sent.  So here is a photo of most of what I added to the mix.  Unfortunately sometimes I don't know what I am going to add until I put it together, so not all beads that I added to my Soup are shown.

I used Patricias lovely large lampwork bead as my color palate for the first set of jewelry I made.  The lampwork had a celestial feel to it, note the galaxy looking swirl in the large lampwork bead.  I took my lead from that.  I just so happen to have a old necklace in my junk drawer with a celestial feel to it.  So I dismantled that and pulled some moon and star shapes out of it.  I added some holes to some of the moon pieces so I could sandwich the large bead in between.  The Chain, Faux Cinnabar, Blue and Red Sponge Coral, Clay beads and Red Coconut Chips are all from old jewelry.  I added some Dumertierite, Kyanite and a Quartz dagger from Dakota Stones.

This necklace hangs asymmetrically and I added multiple dangles at the bottom of the lower moon to assist in its balance.

The bracelet I used her handmade clasp I believe made with aluminum from a printer her lovely lampwork and natural Coral.  I added the Red Sponge Coral, Faux Cinnabar, Metal Beads all from recycled jewelry pieces. The Kyanite I added was from Dakota Stones.

I made the following earrings with Paticia's Lampwork and some Dumortierite and Kyanite from Dakota Stones.

Now the soup got really interesting!!!!!!!  What to do with the gears and those very stiff aluminum sheets.  I just happen to be so lucky to coordinate the look of the following pieces with Stinky Dog Beads.  She happened to email me around the time as I was contemplating my next Bead Soup Pieces and I asked her what she thought of adding to my mix.  I told her what I had left to work with. So she sent me those vanilla Czech Glass Beads and some lovely Greek Mykonos Charms that I used in this piece.

I made a coordinating bracelet with Patricia's gears and at the base for the focal and her lovely lampwork at the center.  The large bead caps were from Michaels and some more of the vanilla Czech Glass from Stinky Dog Beads along with the Greek Mykonos dragonfly.

I had all these really lovely Red Coral and Natural Coral pieces and originally I thought I would use the gears.  I decided to go back to some of my roots as a jewelry designer and make a earthy chunky statement necklace with a messy layering of these beads on chain.  I added the quartz daggers from Dakota Stones and the Red Czech Glass, chunky chain were from Stinky Dog Beads.

I made a coordinating bracelet with bead caps, Coral Chain, Greek Mykonos from Stinky Dog Beads and added one of Patricias Natural Coral beads.  I added the chain and lobster claw to the mix.

I am pleased with the outcome of what I made. Not sure which are my favorites.  I suppose the biggest challenge for me was working with the recycled metal pieces but 

THAT WAS THE MOST FUN TO!

TO SEE WHAT PATRICIA MADE WITH WHAT I SENT CLICK HERE!

If you are interested in some of Patricia Johnsons Glasswork and Recycled Bits you can find her on Etsy. Just click the below link.

PLJ Glass Art

To find my jewelry for sale go to the following link on Etsy.

YaY! Jewelry

Want to Hop All The Beads Soup Blogs and see what creative genius is spread across the country.  Got to the following link below.

CLICK TO BLOG HOP HERE!!!!!

And More Bracelets.

The bracelet binge continues!!!!!  

I guess when on a role you just have to run with it.  

More lovelies with  Angel Whisperer focals and one fun one with Scorched Earth Components.

Harvest Moon is set with an Angel Whisperer focal....love you Birgitta!  Woven with peanut beads, Czech Glass, AA Sunstone, Lampwork from Bokamo and sweet little Ginko leaf charm.

Purchase Harvest Moon Bracelet Here.

I do love peachy blush pink.  It is one of the soft pastel colors that I like to make jewelry with.  Another lovely Tree Of Life focal by Angel Whisperer.  Drop is by Scorched Earth, gorgeous lampwork by Studio Juls, Czech Glass and by the way......swoon over those blush pink rondelles.  I do love stone so I had to add this peachy pink quartz.

Purchase Tree of Life Bracelet Here.

Mother Earth Bracelet with another great focal from Birgitta!  Lampwork by Jeff Plath from tfbeadstore on Etsy, Scorched Earth as part of the clasp, Turquoise, Chrysoprase and Swarovski Crystals for a little bling.

Purchase Mother Earth Bracelet Here.

Swooning over this Art Nouveau Cuff by Angel Whisperer.  Set with Czech Glass, Lampwork by Jeff Plath, Jade and Swarovski Crystals.  This one sold immediately.

Grassy Green Bracelet with some fun primitive components from Scorched Earth on Etsy.  Set with Lampwork by Juli Cannon of StudioJuls, Green Garnet, Czech Glass and a sweet little Trinity Brass Bird in Flight.

Purchase Grassy Green Bracelet Here.

I am hoping to get to some necklaces shortly but a few bracelets might slip into the mix!!!

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 

DAKOTA STONES.

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 

Art Beads 

new selection of 

Dakota Stones Beads.  

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.

http://www.YaYJewelry.etsy.com

I also love new friends on Facebook so come join me.

http://www.facebook.com/YaYJewelry