Artisans Create Together August 2019

With how busy this summer has been I haven't been as consistent with some of the monthly challenges that I normally enjoy.  Or if I have made something, it hasn't always translated into a blog post.  I just couldn't pass up the August color palette over on the Artisans Create Together Facebook Group!  So much yummy bright color to play with!  While I didn't sneak this blog post in before the end of August, I did share my creations over in the Facebook group.

As much as I love brights, I felt like I didn't have tons in the super bright tones of the inspiration palette.  I did the best I could with what I currently had on had art-bead wise.

I decided it was finally time to play with some super bright enameled charms by Marie Demicco of Spurwink River Arts that I've been hoarding for awhile.  I ended up making dangles for the charms with some green Czech glass flowers with pink centers and some fuchsia Swarovski crystals.  These are definitely the brightest design I came up with!

Next up, a multi-strand bracelet with a ceramic lentil bead from Golem Design Studio that focuses mostly on the turquoise end of the color palette with some touches of green and yellow.

Lastly, I got my lucet out to brush up on my leather braiding skills.  The tension is a bit tighter than I really wanted, but after many tries it seemed that this particular leather just wanted to be that way.  I'm really happy with the finished design that was based on one of Heather Powers Bead Table Wednesday videos over on her Humblebeads Facebook page.  The faux tin bracelet bar and polymer clay bead are both from Humblebeads.  All the colors from the palette are here just in slightly more subdued tones.

Thanks for stopping by to see what I've been up to.  I'm so not ready to let go of summer color, flowers, etc. for thoughts of fall.  I suppose I'll have to be switching gears shortly, but today isn't that day!  I hope you've all had a wonderful Labor Day Weekend!

Artisans Create Together: July 2018

This month's inspiration challenge over on the Artisans Create Together Facebook group is a theme challenge... Sun, Moon, & Stars.  I love this heavenly challenge!  Summer days are full of sunshine that lasts long into the nighttime hours and summer nights are all about star gazing and watching the moon cross the sky making this the perfect mid-summer challenge for us.

First up, a pair of earrings featuring some absolutely adorable star-studded earring charms by Andrew Thornton of Allegory Gallery!  I paired them with some Czech glass rounds in navy with gold stripes and plated hematite.  Because the charms are wood, these are super lightweight despite their length.

Keeping with the theme of earrings, I made a second new pair with some fun ceramic rounds from Golem Design Studio.  For some reason these actually make me think of the kind of balls you'd see in illustrations of the circus... like something a sea lion might balance on his nose!  The cheerful red stars just make me happy!  I added some copper findings and some red Czech glass and hung the little dangles from arched ear wires that I decorated with copper wire and seed beads. 

Last but not least of the new creations for this month... one more star-studded pair of earrings!  I had some fun with a set of enameled charms from Blue Hare Art Wear that I picked up a while back.  I love the bold black and white design on these.  I paired some fun black and white striped Czech glass rounds with rhinestone rondelles and some silvery glass rondelles.  I'm a little bit in love with these cuties!

Apparently the only appropriate items in my stash were star-themed earring components!  While I didn't make the following designs for this particular challenge, I thought I'd go ahead and share a couple of older pieces that fit the sun and moon parts of month's theme!

Etched copper "new moon" charms by me; Moon & Star ceramic charms by Michelle McCarthy of Firefly Design Studio. 

Golem Design Studio ceramic sun lentils; Jade Scott resin and copper sun pendant.

Thanks for stopping by to see what I was inspired to make for this month's celestial challenge!

Artisans Create Together June 2018

I'm just loving this sweet color palette for the Artisans Create Together June Color Inspiration Challenge!  Due to some travel plans to end the month of June, I didn't have a ton of time to play with this month's color inspiration, but I just couldn't pass up the chance to create something!

First up, a necklace featuring a sweet message pendant by Swoondimples.  I strung a pattern with tons of Czech glass beads in various shades of pale blues and purples.  To coordinate with the pendant's message I chose a little heart and key toggle clasp to finish the design.

I also decided it was high time I made some earrings with the sweet pale blue mushroom charms I've been hoarding from Gardanne.  I kept them super simple and just make little links with some Czech glass flowers and rondelles on sterling silver. 

I wish that I had more time to create a few more things for this challenge, but something is better than nothing!  Now to finish all my other projects, do some laundry and get packed for Portland!

Artisans Create Together Inspiration Challenge: May 2018

The monthly inspiration challenge over on the Artisans Create Together Facebook group is "Happy Dance."  How appropriate for the month that brings us Cinco de Mayo, Mothers Day, and lots of blooming things in our gardens to have the focus be on colorful patterns and textiles!  After a winter that was WAY too long for this girl, I'm loving these happy brights and the riotous mix of colors and patterns!

The first thing my mind went to for this challenge were some fun new enameled components that I got from a de-stash event.  The charms themselves have tons of colors and textures... perfect!  First up, a pair of long skinny charms by Tina Piraino that I paired with some cute little drops by my friend Anna Pierson of Saga Hus Components.  I love the tiny touch of fiber on the drops!

Next up, an even wilder pair of charms by Marie Demico that are so crazy vibrant.  I'm so in love with the lime-y greens and pops of other bright colors.  Yummy!  I wire wrapped some coordinating Czech glass with copper wire to finish the look.  I've had these rondelles in a fun mix of greens for a while, but I finally found the perfect use for some of them.

Moving on from enameled charms, I picked a bright pair of charms from Happy Fish Things for this big, bold design.  I used some orange wire to hide the loops on the charms while bringing out the darker orange of the charms.  In a go big or go home moment, I added some turquoise wooden beads that are large but lightweight and some yellowy Czech glass.

Lastly, not a new design, but some new colors and new versions of old colors for my up-cycled beer can flower earrings.  Each of these pairs has a mix of different colors as well as the texture in the embossed copper blanks.  As soon as I can card these cuties, they'll be heading into Unearthed Arts.

I hope my post brings a much needed, happy dose of color into your day.  After a fairly quiet design month, I feel like I'm back on track and ready to make more fun jewelry!

Artisans Create Together April 2018 Inspiration Challenge ~ Showers & Flowers

I know that the saying is "April showers bring May flowers," but so far in Minnesota we've only had snow showers.  Actually, more than just showers... we got a good 6-8 inches at my house April 2nd and 3rd followed by super cold temps.  Brrrrr!  Things are looking much better this week but it's still going to be a while before things are in full bloom.  For now, I'll have to content myself with some blooming jewelry designs for this month's Artisans Create Together inspiration challenge.

First up, a pair that features some raindrop blue flowers!  I paired some adorable blue and white floral rounds from Golem Design Studio with coordinating Czech glass flowers.  I'm really digging these glass flowers that are a bit bigger than the "normal" size you tend to see... that or the super tiny ones that I used in the next pair.     

Next up, I played with some adorable leaf and flower charms from my friends at Green Girl Studios.  I had a hard time deciding between some bolder red and black Czech glass flowers and the pale blue and bronzed wisteria beads that ended up winning.  These are pretty long, but fairly lightweight. 

This next pair features a pair of earring charms that I started last October at Heather Powers' Inspired by Nature Fall Retreat and finally put the finishing touches on last month.  Once again, I chose some coordinating Czech glass beads to go with the little charms.

And last, but not least, I managed to pull together one last pair!  Finally a little bright color for you, right??  I snatched these fun flower charms up from Heather Powers of Humblebeads on the Bead Cruise a couple of weeks ago (along with a lot of other fun things!). 

I hope you're seeing more flowers than showers where ever you are!!

Artisans Create Together Color Inspiration Challenge: March 2018

This month's Artisans Create Together Color Inspiration Challenge is perfect for the month we celebrate St. Patrick's Day... it's all green all the time!  I'm definitely a girl who loves green (especially lime-y shades) so this is right up my alley.

I'm not sure if this first design plays strictly by the rules... the challenge says "your choice of accents... Black, Grey, Cream, Gold?"  So I'm interpreting the question mark to mean that I can choose a less neutral accent color!  When I first grabbed this adorable butterfly with flower charm pendant by Lesley Watt out of my art bead storage, I really had intended to keep it pretty monochromatic.  Honestly, that's normally how my brain wants to work!

As I pulled bead possibilities out onto the bead board, the sea of green just wasn't doing it for me.  Now with the variations in the glaze, I really could have gone with a more brown or rust color... but clearly I didn't go that route!  I knew that I wanted to use some Czech glass flowers in my design to play off the whimsy of the butterfly's swirls... some cobalt blue ones just cried out to play.  Who am I to argue with the beads? 

Next up I made a multi-strand bracelet based on Lorelie Eurto with a lentil bead from Golem Design Studio in several shades of green. I used a dark green waxed Irish linen, a variety of Czech glass beads and seed beads in a variety of greens.  I also found a China Chrysoprase large hole round bead and some recycled glass to anchor the design. 

Not quite done playing with green, I made a second bracelet featuring a polymer clay link by Summer Wind Art that my sweet husband gave me ages ago.  Seriously, sometimes it takes me a LONG time to decide what to do with something... or to stumble across the right challenge to make me want to use it!  This time I grabbed some matte jade rounds as well as some ivory colored Czech glass melons to start making beaded links for part of the bracelet.  I never think to do more than one strand when I'm doing links, so I wanted to try adding chain into the mix this time to shake things up!  I used a Czech glass maple leaf with copper accents and a smaller matte jade bead to dangle off one side.  I'm pretty happy with the movement in this piece.  I'll have to remember to try this sort of look on future bracelets!



Thanks for stopping by to see my sea of green for this month!  Now I'm off to raise a glass of (not green) beer!  Cheers!

Artisans Create Together Color Inspiration Challenge: February 2018

It's been a little while since I designed specifically for the Artisans Create Together Color Inspiration Challenge.  And with the crazy February I had, I didn't quite make the deadline.  Since I had already pulled together the beads to make something it only made sense to finish and share.  Better late than never, right?

I remembered that I had a pink and cream colored pendant from one of my insane Bead & Button Shopping sprees with Golem Design Studio.  I sometimes overlook this collection of pendants, but now was the perfect time to work with one!  I gathered a collection of Czech glass in pinks, cream, and silvery grey (I'm such a sucker for that Mercury Glass finish!) and some peach moonstone star cut beads that were a nice match to the peachy-pinks of the pendant.  I had originally thought I'd use some of my rose quartz stash but it was too pink of a pink... if that makes sense!  Anyways, here is what I came up with and finally pulled together last night.

I didn't make this next one specifically for this challenge but wanted to share it anyway.  It was published in the Summer 2016 issue of Stringing Magazine and remains a design that I'm super proud of making.  It features a lovely polymer clay poppy pendant from Humblebeads, faceted sapphire and sunstone beads, and a luscious length of salmon sari silk.

Now I'd better get started on the March palette before another month slips away from me!! 

Have a Heart!! Heart Fest Mini Challenge

I'm really not a hearts type of girl... it's just not necessarily a shape that appeals to me and I'm not all mushy gushy into love when it comes to my jewelry designs.  So, I was surprised when I saw the Heart Fest Mini Challenge over on the Artisans Create Together Facebook page and went digging in my stash, that I had a few hearts hiding out in there!  And I didn't even use all I had for this little challenge.

First up, a pair of earrings featuring some enameled connectors by Blue Hare Art Wear.  I love the black and white speckled look of these and the red and red-orange murrini hearts blooming in the centers.  The two holes at the bottom posed a bit of a design challenge for me but I solved it with some jump rings and fun textured pewter rings.  I like the mix of silver and black tones in the findings.

Next up, a pair of earrings featuring heart shaped bronze clay charms by Lesley Watt.  I paired these with Czech glass in shades of blue and brass findings.  

To break out of my earring run (seriously, I made 9 pairs of earrings in a row!) I did make an necklace.  I used a wonderful polymer clay charm by Andrew Thornton of Allegory Gallery strung with tons of Swarovski pearls in copper and bordeaux.  I was so happy to discover that Andrew's pendant was the perfect color match for these pearls.  It's a simple stringing project, but I think it has great visual impact!

And not to ignore the bracelet lovers out there, I did whip up a batch of bracelets with (mostly) heart shaped button clasps in shades of red, pink, and purple. 

All of these heart themed designs are currently available at Unearthed Arts in downtown Waconia, Minnesota. 

Artisans Create Together: November 2017 Color Inspiration Challenge

While I don't always get around to playing along with this monthly challenge, I love the Color Inspiration challenges over on the Artisans Create Together Facebook group.  This month is no exception with this muted fall palette and we've been given so many luscious inspiration photos to get us motivated!

As you know by now, I'm not always the greatest at making seasonal jewelry ahead of time... but this challenge got me going!  Not long ago I got some lovely, rustic fall leaf ceramic pieces from Artisticaos and I've been itching to design with them... this is the perfect excuse!

I ended up making a necklace and earrings set that make me so very happy!  I had just gotten several strands of new beads that felt perfect for this set including some plated hematite saucers in "mocha" and a strand of medium sized English cut Czech glass beads in really soft and lovely muted shades . (Lima Beads calls them "Glowing Amber Picasso" for what that's worth!)

I decided to stretch my brain and go asymmetrical for the necklace.  I strung a pattern of Czech glass beads with the mocha hematite as spacers on one side.  Some Czech glass rondelles in pale orange bring in some of the warmer tones from the pendant and keep it from being too neutral.  (This girl loves color after all!).  For the opposite side I went with links on blackened metal connected with textured brass jump rings.  I used a combination of Wild Horse Jasper puff coins and some funky grey-green Czech glass rounds flanked by the hematite saucers.  It's hard to see it in my photos, but the jasper has a glorious mix of earthy colors!  I finished it off with a brass plated leaf clasp to keep with the leafy, autumnal theme.

The closeup of the pendant lets you see some of the beads a little better as well as the wire-wrapped details that I added to the pendant's connector wires.  I grabbed a couple of beads from the body of the necklace as well as some Czech glass leaves for the dangles.

I'm so lucky to have snagged a pendant and earring charms that matched in color so well from the Facebook sales event.  For the earrings, I used more of the English cut Czech glass and mocha plated hematite and continued the mix of blackened and brass components.  I topped off the earrings with some orangey glass beads to bring more color into the mix.

Now pardon me while I turn on the fire place and snuggle up in a sweater with a kitty in my lap.  If I can't keep winter from coming, I can enjoy the finer aspects of cooler temperatures.

Artisans Create Together Color Palette Challenge: July 2017

I always enjoy a good color challenge and this month's Artisans Create Together Color Inspiration challenge is no exception!  These color inspirations are just one of the creative challenges that this Facebook group organized each month.  

Usually there are two different choices, but this time it's almost like having three since Challenge #1 is all about using either blue and white or red and white.  (Is it wrong that I was relieved that this was an either/or thing and not the full on red, white, and blue thing?)  Anyway, so many good choices just in this first challenge!  

My first two designs are variations on a theme... and that theme is super cute red and white enameled mushroom charms by Gardanne Beads.  I snatched up two pairs of these little mushrooms the first time she offered them up at an online trunk show and was thrilled to get them.  I kept one pair (fairly) simple with little links of Czech glass flowers and rondelles in red and red with brass.  I went a tiny bit "bigger' with the second set using adorable red and white polka dotted lampwork beads by Grace Lampwork that I got from Lima Beads with the mushrooms in mind.  I wish I had snagged more!

I had big plans of making a necklace with this amazing pendant that I also got from Gardanne, but I ran out of time and other things were screaming louder.  Eventually I'll get back around to this little beauty!  

For the Orange & Lime challenge, I went for more earrings.  I knew that I had some perfect charms in my stash for this one!  I started with some fun ceramic charms by Jana of Happy Fish Things.  I love the bright colors she uses... in this case green, orange, and turquoise!  I'm not always crazy about how the metal loops on ceramic components look and often hide them in some way.  This time I decided to leave them alone as I kind of liked the black and silver rustic look these have.  I picked some vibrant Czech glass beads to dangle from the bottom loops.  These are a little "louder" than what I often design but I think they're super fun!      

I also revisited a design I first made early in the year using enameled bead caps from C-Koop Beads.  This time I used some lime green flower bead caps and added some brass foliage bead caps that I painted bright orange.  The tendrils turned a bit looser than my previous attempts.  In Eric's words... "natural product, results may vary."

Thanks for stopping by and checking out my latest creations!  I'm off to pack for the Adornments Retreat in Galena, Illinois.  I can't wait to immerse myself in creativity for my birthday weekend!  I'll tell y'all all about it when I return!

Artisans Create Together Color Palette Challenge: June 2017

Each month there are two great color palettes put together to inspire members of the Facebook group Artisans Create Together.  I don't always get around to creating something new for this design challenge, but this month I manage (although barely!) to make two designs for one of the color palettes.  Here's the deliciously soft and beachy color palette:

These aqua tones are some of my favorites so I had no trouble at all finding some gorgeous beads and focals to work with... pairing it down to something manageable was more of the problem!  There's a decent amount of soft neutrals in the inspiration collage to work with too.

My first design is in line with the beach theme of many of the inspiration photos.  I started with a cute seahorse focal by Michelle McCarthy of Firefly Design Studio.  For some reason, as soon as I picked the bracelet bar up I knew I wanted to try something with a length of 7 ply waxed Irish Linen that I had cut too short for a different project.  I had already tied a loop (that would have been for a button clasp) but I decided it could just as easily be the "ring" for a lobster clasp.  I added a couple of wire wrapped links on the clasp side to round things out.    

Next up I decided to play with an oversized ceramic pendant by Tracee Dock of The Classic Bead that I got in one of her destash bundles a while back.  I love the funky repeating floral pattern she used.  I had fun stringing an asymmetrical pattern of Czech glass beads... many of them a fortunate Bead and Button purchase!  I wanted my design to have pops of the cream from the pendant so I used the creamy flowers and a mix of rondelles that had some lighter neutral tones included.

I love participating in these challenges (I know, I know, you haven't noticed before!) because they give me some focus for my creative process and often force me to think about things in different and new ways.  If it weren't for this color palette challenge, who knows how long it would take me to get around to using these lovely art bead focals.  Thanks for stopping by and checking out what I've been working on today!

Artisans Create Together Inspiration Challenge: May 2017

This month, the Facebook group Artisans Create Together has pulled together two gorgeous inspiration color challenges.  I couldn't pass up the opportunity to play along with both of them!  As luck would have it, I had some lovely earring components for each color palette.

First up, this amazing and vibrant color collage featuring bright blues, yellows, and greens!  I recently placed my first order with the talented Jana Bliznakova of Happy Fish Things and she sent some cute earring charms as a thank you gift that were just perfect for this challenge.  They are predominately turquoise and bright yellow, but the mixing of those two glazes gave some tiny bits of green along the leafy pattern in the charms.  I had two orphan glass beads that were a craft store purchases a million years ago that paired nicely and I added some yellow Czech glass beads and brass findings to complete the look.  

This second color palette was the one that initially drew my eye.  I love the mix of copper and turquoise... yummy!!  This time I went for a new pair of enameled charms by Gardanne as my starting point.  I did some fancy (for me at least!) wire wrapping with copper wire that I had patinated with liver of sulphur and coordinating Czech glass and added some orangey seed beads to jump rings for a fun touch.  I couldn't be happier with how these turned out!  

I didn't make this second pair specifically for this challenge (they were actually published in Stringing Magazine's Earring Gallery... created to go with a Southwest theme) but I thought that they were worth sharing since I never put them up on my blog.  These bold earrings feature lampwork glass by Firelily Glass and brass feathers that I painted with Vintaj paint patinas.  These still haven't found the right person go home with!

Thanks for checking out my latest earring creations!  I'm heading back to the bead board to see what else I can dream up!