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.  

Into Etching I Go

Etching Metal

Hand Drawn Bubbles With a Black Sharpie

It is always nice to cross something off that has been on your bucket list for awhile.  I think I had these etching materials for 6 months before I pulled them out.

You can see some of my ingredients above.  

*Ferric Chloride  - from Radio Shack: Etchant, will work on copper brass and nickel silver NOT on aluminum, fine silver or sterling. (fyi nickel silver takes longer to etch)

*Baking Soda -  as a neutralizing agent

*Metal cleaner -   Sculpt Nouveau : Metal Cleaner Degreaser, Barkeepers Friends or Penny Brite. Barkeepers Friend is great and you can find it at your local Target.

*Baking Soda - Neutralizer

*Green Scrubbies - Metal Cleaning you can get at Target

*Plasic or Glass containers - 1 for the Ferric Chloride & 1 for the Baking Soda and Water.

* StazOn Stamp Ink pad,  Sharpie Black Marker or Toner Transfer - There are other resists you can use also.

*Gloves

*Packing Tape, Duct Tape or Painters Tape - There are others tapes you can use to. 

Etched with a StazOn Ink and a Stamp.  Vintaj Patinas.

1.  First thing clean your copper using Barkeepers Friend or  what I have here is Metal Cleaner Degreaser from Sculpt Nouveau.  Use your green scrubby pads.  They are fabulous. Skin oils can act as a resist.  You don't want your finger prints to etch the metal.

2.  Draw your design using a black sharpie or a stamp using StazOn black stamping ink.  Try to prevent to much handling of the metal, make sure your hands are washed and degreased at least. Above I used this stamp with StazOn Ink for my resist.

3.  Pour the Ferric Chloride in a plastic tub or glass as you can see 3/4 - 1 inch.  You will tape the back sides of the metal with the facing side you want etched down in the solution. I have also seen people use foam as a float and your metal taped to that.  I actually think this would be a less sloppy way to do it.  Tape or use your sharpie for any areas you do not want the etching process. You can see the tape on either side of the plastic.  I etched this for 1 hour & 15 minutes.  I think you can etch it in less time but I wanted a good etch for this. You can accelerate the etching time by adding Citric Acid from the grocery, but this is not necessary.

This one was done Etched using StazOn Ink as a resist.

4. You can check your etching just pull up the tape back.  If you make the floats as stated above that would make the checking really easy.  I wear gloves when I do this.  When done, do use and scrub in the Baking Soda Solution to neutralize and stop the Etching.  

When you are done clean your metal with your metal cleaner.  You can now use your designs as is or patina them as you wish.  Here are a few of the ones I have etched and added patinas below.

Abstract Koi Fish - Hand Drawn with Black Sharpie

Modern Victorian Chic Bracelet 

Made this on for the Bead Soup Block Party 7

Traveler Bracelet

  

Now just make some fabulous jewelry and cross etching off your bucket list.  

It is easy and addicting.

Bead Trends Designer Highlight April 2013

Bead Trends Designer Highlight April 2013

Marie - Noel Voyer - Cramp - On Cover Early Night Sky

It has been a whirlwind of a year.  Those that know me and have followed my blogs know that 2012 was a bitter & sweet year.  I am still grieving the loss of my mother and miss her dearly.  One of the reasons this has taken me so long to give this honor its proper attention. 

Last year was my first publication and 6 months later Tatia from Bead Trends asked me if I would be willing to hold the honor of being featured for their designer highlight for April 2013.  The answer to that one was pretty easy. 

YES

I sent her pictures and she nicely responded and said to me “Kristin you don’t need to send us pictures we like your work”  I love creative freedom in all things so I ran with that.

The first piece I made was called Beach Urchin, I love to comb beaches.  I could dig for hours on the beach.  This necklace was made with a pendant shell, Kyanite Sticks, Natural Bamboo, Fossil Shell, Swarovski and Howlite.  I thought the spikey Kyanite sticks looked like a Sea Urchin and the little Howlite beads looked like fish eggs.  This is one of my favorite of the necklaces that I made.  I buy many of my stone beads at Dakota Stones, love their high quality and interesting cuts.

I also made these earrings to match Beach Urchin.

The second necklace I made I called Oceans Oracle.  I like to play with weights in necklaces, unexpected.  I did question this one as the weightiness of one side is a little stronger than the other.  This was made with a Madagascar Ammonite.  It is lovely with it’s pinks and mossy greens.  I paired it with some chunky Czech Glass, Rhodochrosonite,  Canadian Jade, Rose Quartz, Lampwork and Seed Beads.  This one was all tied with waxed linen.  Stones were once again from Dakota Stones.  I also made earrings to match.  I am a bit simplistic in my earring designs and that is mostly because I love - love  - love to make necklaces.

The third necklace I made I called Beatnik Baby.  I like to think of these necklaces as my Earthy Urban Chic line.  I love assymetry and again playing with the chunky weightiness of the beads.  I love the Faux Beach Glass from my friend Jeff Plath from TF Bead Store.  I am in love with Greek Mykonos, everything.  I use these donuts in many of my designs.  Also paired with some Fire Agate and wood beads.

Dream Weaver was really fun to make.  I bought the patina’d link from Stacy Klinginger Smith.  I really just started to play with it and started to randomly wrap the Waxed linen and went from their.  This bracelet is reminiscent of a dream catcher.  It is double strand with 2 lobster claws to attach to the ring on either side.  I paired this with ceramic, Chrysoprase, Yellow Jasper, Swarovski, Fossil Shell, Lampwork and Honey Flourite.

Loves Entwine was born out of frustration really.  I wanted to do this prong challenge that the Artisan Whimsey Group was having and I didn’t have the supplies.  The question in my mind was how could I cage a bead with out knowing how to solder etc.  I just happened to grab this mesh and a Basalt heart and started to play.  When I realized this would work I ripped it apart and started with a plan.  The tying and macrame is what is holding the heart to the mesh.  I have since used this technique to do this with other beads.

The last necklace called Mindspring was made with a lovely pendant from Angel Whisperer on Etsy.  I bought this long skeleton key at the Junk Bonanza, I randomly wrapped it with Swarovski crystals to attatch it to the pendant.  Tied it with some of my favorite beads and colors.  I think you are beginning to see a theme in my color choices.  I do love watery colors.  
The patina’d clasp was made by Melinda Orr.

Some of my other favorite designs were from - See Below

Cherrie Fick -  Rushing Spring River

Jean Wells -  Little Bird In A Big Pond

Suzette Bentley - Chocolate

I have a ton of personal friends in this issue that I met on Facebook and to many to credit here.  

I feel privilege to be amongst such talent!

Thank you Bead Trends!

2012 In Review

2012 A Year In Review

I am not sure why such and an amazing  year is also so riddled with such pain.  2012 has been one of my most difficult years and one of my most amazing years. It has been both bitter and sweet.

In 2012 my mother was diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer and it was also the year I received word that my jewelry would be published for the first time.  It was also the year my mother died and the year Bead Trends asked me to be their artist spotlight for April 2013.

Here I am with my sisters.  I am the middle girl.  One of our favorite pictures of us girls and our mother.  She handmade all of these lovely flowered dresses.  So you can see where some of my creativity came from.

My mother is wearing a necklace I made her in my early jewelry making days.  She was always so proud to wear it even though I kind of cringe looking at it today.  She loved it  and wore it with love. I am wearing the necklace that was to be my first publication.  I didn’t know it at the time.

This picture was taken during my mothers 

“Celebration of Life”  

party that me and my husband Tom threw for her and her siblings.

You see we knew that my mom wouldn’t survive the cancer.  She was full of tumors from the onset.  We also knew at this point that we only had about 6 months left with her.  I was grateful that I had these publications to look forward to during this most difficult time of my life.  Even though it was hard to fully appreciate them.

You see my first 2 necklaces that have been published in the above photo. My mother did not get to see these but I showed them to her and talked to her like she was sitting next to me and I can see her proud face on my mind.

We kept our mother at home as she was dying.  Me and my sisters took turns helping my dad care for her.  I am grateful to have had the time that I had with her to say our slow goodbyes.

I truly believe today that my mother is my biggest cheerleader even if it is from heaven.  

I made this necklace with thoughts of her and by far it is my favorite.  It was published in November Bead Trends 2012 and was called 

“Love is Seasonless”

As written in Bead Trends.

“Love is Seasonless is a reflection of my mother’s love, and I designed it with her in mind as she was dying of cancer.  She loved me at my worst; I was a difficult and troubled teenager and she fought for me when I didn’t know how to myself.  She loved me at my best when I decided to change my life, and she was my biggest cheerleader.  The heart is made out of basalt from the shores of Lake Superior which was one of our vacations spots as children.  Basalt is derived from the Latin word basaltes which means “very hard stone.”  I picked it to represent the strength of my mothers love that supported me during difficult times in my life.  My mother’s favorite color was green and it always reminds me of new beginnings in my life; her love was seasonless and constant.....Kristin

Today I like to think of my mom as happy, loved by her family and unburdened by the stress of this world.  Light and carefree as a butterfly.  I know she is smiling down at me from heaven and that gives me comfort.