Saturday, August 11, 2012

Bead Soup!


I did this thing that jewelry makers and beaders do called Bead Soup.  The creation of Lori Anderson, the idea behind it is to spark creativity and take people outside of their comfort zone.  A bunch of artisans sign up, she assigns partners, and we send each other a focal (pendant), clasp, and other stuff.  You must use the pendant and the clasp and the other stuff is optional.  My partner is Dita Basu.

I've been remiss in posting about this and advertising this because I've been OMG busy!  So I really should have posted what Dita sent me about a month ago.  But I didn't. So here it is now:



As soon as I saw that pretty blue focal, I knew I wanted to wrap it in copper and do so in a fun way to match the whimsy of the dots. So I started doing that and then remembered I hadn't taken a picture of the package.  And I wished I'd taken a pic of the packaging too because she really did a very nice job with that and I have learned so much from her before even opening the package.  How's that for inspirational?!

I had never before wrapped a bead.  I've been meaning to.  I've wrapped chains, but not yet a bead.  Anyway let me show you the finish product before I meander too much.





As you can see, I kept on with the curly copper theme.  I didn't use much of her beads (I'll use them in something else) but they were definitely the inspiration behind my using so many pearls.  The turquoise matches the blue pendant much better than what shows in the picture.  

Without further ado, let me post the list of other participants.  Hopefully you'll have time to stop by and don't forget to leave a comment and tell them you did!  I know I enjoy reading people's comments and I'm sure the other artisans do too.  Also don't be afraid to hop around on the list below.  So often people begin at the top and by the time they hit the 'm's' they are tired of looking and hopping.  I try to skip around and show some love to the people in the middle and on the bottom of the list.



Hostess, Lori Anderson, Pretty Things

Adlinah Kamsir, Dream Struck Designs
Adrienn Lukacs, Raszputyin Designs
Agata Grygiel, Cytherea Bijoux 
Alenka Obid, Pepita Handmade 
Amy Dickerson, Damyjo Designs 
Amy Schmidt, Amy's Treasure 
Amy Severino, Amy Beads 

Andrea Trank, Heaven Lane Creations
Anke Humpert, Anart Island Studios
Ann Rishell, My Critical Eye
April Grinaway, Brooklyn Bead Goddess 
Ashley Bunting, Miss Ashely Kate 
Astrid Boyce, Astrid Boyce Beads 
B.R. Kuhlman, Mixed Mayhem Studios 
Barbe Saint John, Saints and Sinners

Beata Benkone Meggyesi, Beahobbi
Brandy McNair, Bella Vita Handmade Jewelry 
 Bryna Lumb, Bryna's Bead Box
Carmen Lau, Little Maketto
Cate van Alphen, Fulgorine
Cathie Carroll, Cathie Carroll's Studio
Cathy Khoury, Touch Jewelry 
Christina Stofmeel, Feng Beads 

 Collette Collins, Fire Fly Myst Artisan Jewelry
Courtney Breul, Beads by Breul 
Crystal Thain, Here Bead Dragons
Cynthia Abner, Created Treasures
Deana Hager, Just Deez'Art & Life
Debbie Phenes, Deb Joy Sing
Dhea Powers, Java Bead


Diana Welte, Lilyweeds
Dita Basu, alankarshilpa
Dorota Zeranska, gdymamczas 
Dot Lewallwn, Speedie Beadie
Elisabeth Auld, Beads For Busy Gals
Ema Kilroy, Ema K Designs
Emma Todd, A Polymer Penchant
Eva Sherman, Eva Sherman Designs
Evie and Beth McCord, EB Bead and Metal Works
Francy Inman, Francy's Studio


Ginger Bishop, lilmummy likes...
Giorgia Rossini, Jo in Wonderland
Ine Vande Cappelle, Jewels by Ine 
Iveth Caruso, Creative Atelier 
JJ Jacobs, Coming Abstractions
Jackie Ryan, Kydo Jewellery
Jeannie Dukic, Jeannie's Blog
Jelveh Jaferian, Jelveh Designs
Jenna Tomalka, Twin Birch Studio
Jenni Connolly, Jenni's Beads


Jennifer Van Horn, Jennifers Jewels and Junk
Jo-Ann Woolverton, It's a Beadiful Creation
Johanna Rhodes-Nash, Fire Phoenix Creations 
 Joyce Blair, Bent Wire West Coast
JuLee Wolfe, The Polymer Penguin
Karen Vincent, Swallow Tail Jewellery
Karin Slaton, Backstory Beads
Kayla Potega, The Eclectic Element 
Kim Dworak, CianciBlue
Kris Lanae Binsfeld, Cherish Designs by Kris Lanae


Kristen Latimer, MJM Jewelry Designs
Kumi Fisher, Malie Kai Designs
Kym Hunter, Kym Hunter Designs
Lennis Carrier, Windbent
Leslie Wayment, AA Beads & More
Linda Murphy, Bonita Bead
Lisa Johnson, Whimsey Wonders


Lisa Sittniewski, Love, Yesterdays
Lois Moon, Que Onda, Q'Town?
Lola Surwillo, Bead Lola Bead
Lorelei Eurto, Lorelei's Blog
Lori Bowring Michaud, Artfully Ornamental
Lori Finney, Using My Beads
Margareta Saari, Mags-koruja
Maria Horvath, Horimarika Beads
Marian Hertzog, M's Place


 Mary Ellen Parker, BeeTree by m.e.
Mary K McGraw, MK's Creative Musings
MaryLou Holvenstot, time2cre8 
Martha Aleo, Ornamento
 Maybeline Tay, The Jewelry Larder
Megan Collins, Churchy & Her Sailor
Melissa Meman, Art. Life. Love.
Melissa Mesara, One-Eared Pig Beads
Paige Maxim, Paige Maxim Designs


Pam Farren, re-maker
Pam Hurst, Pam Hurst Designs
Patricia Handschuh, The Color of Dreams
Patty Miller, CabariBeads
Penney Klapoth, Faerie Acres
Regina Santerre, Regina's Writings
Rhea Freitag, starrgazer creates
Rochelle Brisson, A Creative Chelle


Sabine Dittrich, PerlenDschungel
Sandra McGriff, Creative Chaos
Sandra Neights, Petalo Azul
Sandra Young, It's a Bead Life!
Sara Oehler, SoftFlex Girl
Saturday Sequins, Saturday Sequins
Shanti Johnson, Sunshine Bliss
Shari Replogle, Plays With Paper
Sonya Stille, Dreamin' of Beads


Stefanie Teufel, Stefanies Sammelsurium
Tammie Everly, TTE Designs
Tania Spivey, Moobie Grace Designs
Therese Frank, Therese's Treasures
Tina Holden, Polymer Clay Bytes!
Toltec Jewels, Jewel School Friends 


Tracey Nanstad, A Beadiful Mess
Tracy Choy, BumbleBeads Designs
Valerie Norton, Hot Art



Sunday, June 10, 2012

Graduation present

I made this for a friend's graduation.  I wanted it to symbolize him breaking away from one thing and emerging into another.  Made from a natural malachite cabochon from Magpie Gemstones (the most appropriately named store EVAR), 22 gauge copper plate (for the bottom piece), 30 gauge copper plate (for the top piece), and the rivets and pin back piece could have come from anywhere.

I'm thinking of making some similar pieces for sale.  What do you think?

The front

The back

Thursday, April 26, 2012

The messy workshop

We've been discussing messy workshops over at B'Sue's Blog. Someone decided it would be a good idea to share photos of our messy workshops and do a blog hop about it.  In a momentary fit of insanity, I signed up.  Rutroh.

I wish I could afford studio space but rents around here are just too high and a studio would effectively double both my monthly rent and my utilities.  Hence, I make do with TV trays near the sofa and stashing supplies anywhere I can find a likely space.  My entire apartment has become my workshop.

So with that in mind, I share with you some of the more prominent spots.  They aren't particularly good pics but I guess they will do the trick.  Click on them to make them bigger.  You'll like them more better when they are bigger.  Trust me on this one :)

The messy TV tray
The messy TV tray part the deux.  And my carpet. 

First up is the messy TV tray.  I kind of move things around and to a side in order to have working space.  I took the second shot so you could see some of the focals I'm working on right now.  You'll notice a lot of B'Sue's stuff in there!  I seem to be going through a Steampunk phase.  When am I NOT going through a Steampunk phase?

The messy cart

The messy cart part the deux

Next is the messy cart.  The cart is where I keep the bulk of my supplies -- the ones I use every day.  I'm always mostly organized because the apartment is very small and therefore organization is key.  You'll see my gaggle of tools on top of the cart there as well as a bin of wire.

Close up of the plier conglomerate

The messy bin of chemistry -- Rennaissance wax, patinas, glue, etc.  All in one place.

The messy basket of everyday components and the messy tool bag
I thought I should get a shot of my messy tool bag.  You can see a few hammers sticking up out of there and not a day goes by where I'm not using hammers.  My indispensable Sunshine cloth for polishing. Also the messy basket of findings and every day components -- in those cases are the things I use the absolute most.


The not so messy dapping block!  And ModgePodge!  And Pronoia!  Origami! Stamps!  This table has it all.

A side table with my dapping tools, my stamps, some Modge Podge and other assorted odds and ends.

A messy table of supplies.

A messy bookcase with supplies
You know those drawers B'Sue showed in her video that had a bunch of stuff.  In my house, those drawers are tupperware containers.

So now you know my deepest darkest secret -- I don't have a studio and create everything on TV trays.  One of these days someone is going to find out I'm pretending to be a real artist with a studio and everything -- but until then, my secret is safe with you, right?  After all, anything on the internet is sekret!

Here's the other participants of the blog hop!  Please visit their sites and see their messy workshops.  I bet they have real studios.

MESSY WORKSHOP BLOG HOP PARTICIPANTS
Brenda Sue Lansdowne
Robin Delargy
Kim at Cianci Blue
Jennifer Jazwick-Smith
Mary Shannon Hicks
Tracy Swartz
Jacqueline Marchant
Lynnea Perry Bennett
Terry Matusyk
Laurel Steven
Dr. Brassy Steamington
Pamela Takeshige
Kris Lanae Binsfeld
Outre Art
Linzi Alford
Deb Davis <<<YOU ARE HERE>>>
Tamara Jones
Harry Wood
Gerry Nickerson
Elizabeth Owens-Dwy
Georgene Lockwood
Charisa Sloper
Jennifer Justman
Beanzie
Mary Deis
Cheri Reed
Sondra Kolner
Sonya Ingersoll-Stille
Lori Anderson
Sandra McGriff
Shelly Joyce
Joan Williams
Kashmira Patel
Deb Beechy
Ginger Bishop
Kelli Jacobson
Natalie McKenna
Andrew Thornton
Mary Govaars
Kate Mulligan
Lisa Lodge
Tami Luchini
Monique Lula
Lee Koopman
Jayne Capps
Susan Lloyd
Cynthia Wainscott
Stephanie Amanti
Alicia Marinache
Sam Hamp
Lennis Carrier

Friday, February 24, 2012

Stone identification project

Do you like this necklace?



I do too.  And I really wish I knew what those stones near the pendant were.  I know they are some kind of jasper. I'm tempted to call them speckled jasper even though there is no such thing but people make up names for stones all the time so why can't I be one of them?  Anyway It will be for sale as soon as I figure out what kind of stone that is.