What Do You Make For A Beautiful Actress!

About a year ago I applied to a group called the Artisan Group.  It is a juried group of many artists that gift their creations to actresses & actors individually and at different award ceremonies like the Golden Globes or CMA Awards plus many others.  It was exciting to be accepted into their talented pool of artists.

I really didn't pursue any of the gifting until recently.  I was fortunate to get in on gifting

 Denise Richards and her children.  So I looked at pictures and thought wow!

1- She is beautiful.

2- She is very minimalistic in her jewelry.

3- She doesn't need jewelry it would detract from her earthy effortless look.

So I searched the internet and read what I could about her.  I did find her in some jewelry.  One picture of her had a very long necklace that hung down to her navel and looked fabulous on her.  She had a bit of a rocker vibe in that picture. So I thought I could do something edgy.  I also found a picture of her wearing a menagerie chain necklace, which gave me a little more hope.  Maybe ...... I can actually design a necklace for her or send her one of my signiture styles.

So I started to design her a faux pearl (she is vegan) Tie Chi necklace....it is a design idea that I have been playing with and I thought with her simplistic style she could wear it with many things and pearls would look lovely on her.  The design was based on this original look.

This was a fairly new look that I have been playing with and not really tested yet so I doubted my decision. Plus I thought the whole pearl thing felt a bit boring.  I went back to some of my original work and put together some choices and decided to elicit the help of my new friends at the CBC / Creative Bead Chat and I also posted it to The Artisan Group.

 

The consensus was the top right at the CBC and the bottom right at The Artisan Group.  I decided to go with my beady friends.  Many of these artists are published and have writen books and I can only emmulate and hope for a mustard seed of their talent someday!

So Denise Richards is getting the upper right necklace with the help of my creative friends.

 I hope she likes it!

 This is my first design getting sent to an actress.  I am not gauranteed a photo of her wearing it or even a note, but if you do see her wearing it

... PLEASE CONTACT ME!!!!!! 

 I will definetly be scouring the interenet for that elusive photo of her wearing it if she does.

An Excercise in Freeform Upcycling

I love to thrift.  For me it is all about the hunt.  It must run in the family because my mother remembered everything she paid for things.  "I got that for only $2.99 ON SALE!!!" "It was on sale for only $9.99!"  I got into thrifting in college, I would scour the Easter Seals in Brookings SD for those button up grandpa sweaters.

The love to thrift has definitely carried into my creativity.  I get major inspiration from other peoples cast offs.  The texture, shape and color play in my mind and I can immediately weave it into something fun, modern and hip.  Like this cuff below.



I actually walked past it and then something clicked in my mind and I made a double take! 

PEOPLE I GOT IT FOR ONLY $2.99!

I picked it up and looked at the shape and THE DRILL HOLES. I thought off all kinds of things to make. Now what I made is just the tip of the iceberg in my head on this but you just have to start. I did this freeform and just let loose no planning.  I think this is a great technique to use when you want out of a creative block.

Not everything in an upcycled necklace has to be from recycled products.  In this necklace I had this flower from an old necklace sitting in my recycled and reuse box FOREVER!  The glass, I bought at Beadniks in the Mall of America but it is recycled glass from Africa.

Remember the Mother of pearl sticks from the bracelet? Those are the only pieces I used from the bracelet in this. 

The leather is cut off ends in my scrap leather cording bag. DON'T THROW THAT AWAY!  It can be reused in so many different ways!

Next time you are looking for inspirations head to your local thrift store or your Grandmas jewelry box that you inherited.  Make someones trash into something fabulous. It makes you feel good and it is really rewarding to see something dated and shabby turned into something modern and fun.

REMEMBER I GOT IT FOR ONLY $2.99 PEOPLE!



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.

Oops! We could not locate your form.

Oops! We could not locate your form.

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