What To Wear Wednesday

Ever wonder how to dress your outfit with jewelry?  

Every Wednesday I will be doing a feature on my blog on just that.  Featuring my jewelry and a friends jewelry along with some great fashion that you can buy off of the internet.

This lovely soft and earthy dress from Garnet Hill would look great with a slightly longer necklace in a brighter shade.  You don't always have to match your colors exactly. You can keep your look on the same monochromatic scale as this would be or even do a complimentary color.

This Garnet Hill Dress can be purchased here.

The Necklace Here and the Earrings Here.

I love the pop of color that Donna Bradley's Bracelet and Earrings give this very monochromatic outfit. The bracelets ribbon softens the slate gray tones of the shirt and will be very noticeable in this lovely well tailored shirt by Garnet Hill.  Earrings offer a bit a whimsey also by Donna Bradley.

You can buy the Bracelet Here and the Earrings Here.

Don't be afraid to dress up your lovely clothing with different and exciting jewelry items.  

Go off the beaten path and give it a try!

Artisan Whimsy Magazine July 2013

So happy to have a couple of my designs included in the 

Artisan Whimsy Magazine 

this month.

My Crazee Heart Necklace made it in.  An experiment in tying that I have been playing with.  This one is made with a raw Turquoise Heart that has been tied and macrame'd.  It is fun and whimsical with the carefree waxed linen that is loose and wild on the side.  Set with artisan lampwork, Blue Sponge Coral, Russian Amazonite from Dakota Stones and a handmade clasp by Melinda Orr on Etsy.

This necklace is for sale and can be purchased on Etsy.

This simple butterfly necklace also made magazine. Bottom left corner.

Made with a lovely pendant from Angel Whisperer on Etsy, Czech Glass, Blue Quartz and facetted Amethyst.

Their was a lovely interview done on Sharyl McMillian Nelson a friend of mine and a very talented jewelry artist.  Go check out her interview and many other talented artists and art bead makers works.  You can also pick up some coupons on your visit.

If you are interested in joining the Artisan Whimsey Group it is open to all jewelry artists go here to sign up.

Dakota Stones Wavy Coin Add

Had to do just a quick share of the lovely add for Dakota Stones new Wavy Coin Launch using my jewelry.

I think it turned out quite nice.  

I am so appreciative of the opportunity to work with their top of the line stones!

To find Dakota Stones high quality and top of the line stones for you jewelry making projects click here.

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

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.