Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Sand and Sea Preview

 
I'm really looking forward to being a part of two jewelry-creating blog hops...they are challenging and a great way to see how other people's vision and talents can inspire your own. 
 
This is the first blog hop for me in March (the second will be Lori Anderson's Bead Soup Blog Hop on March 30). 
 
The challenge here is that Lisa Lodge, artist and mastermind, sent us a bead soup that either was based on sand (browns and beige) or sea (blues and greens) and we have to create something using those beads and a few of our own if we wanted. 
 
 
This is my bead soup...lots of pretty blues and greens (and even a few fish thrown in there!)
 
 
I was so excited to see these little triangle beads in my soup!  They change colors from purple to blue to green to light beige, depending on how the light hits them.  You can see the 5 mm silver daisy spacers next to them to give you an idea of how small they are.  I really want to find a way to have these steal the spotlight!
 
 
These beads have a hole drilled near one end so they will add some fun to how the design looks.
 
 
I love these green glass beads...they remind me of the waves on an overcast day. 
 
 
I'm not sure what these beads are made from, and the shapes are really different from what I usually work with so that will be a challenge.
 
 
I love these Pandora-style beads and the colors are just yummy!  I came across an artist who used these type of beads as connector beads instead of just stringing them into the design...another idea that may or may not work.
 
 
I love this clasp that Lisa sent!  I'm hoping to be able to use it as part of the design and not have it hidden away in the back. 
 
I'll be posting as I work on this piece, but you'll have to wait until March 9 to see the final design!
  
 

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

On Fire for Handmade Artist Spotlight

Oaklies Fashions

Oaklie's Fashions Featured Artisan

Today's Featured Artisan is Anne Hopfer - Oaklie's Fashions! You will find truly unique Fashions Accessories in her shop! Scarves, Handbags, Jewelry, Wraps and more!

You can Find Oaklie's Fashion On:

Website   Etsy   Handmade Artists   Facebook   Pinterest


Grab the code for your blog HERE

Are you On Fire for Handmade? http://onfireforhandmade.com

Monday, January 21, 2013

It's January already...

I love winter.  I love digging out my sweaters and finding my favorite ones.  I love the chill in the air.
 
But most of all, I love the snow.
 
Which begs the questions...why is it January and we have no snow? 
 
I know the "science-y" answers but that doesn't help when I look out my window each morning and see the sunlight NOT sparkling off the white stuff.
 
So, I have a friend who said we should do a snow dance.  I've heard of rain dances, but never a snow dance.  Does that mean I have to dress in white and dance around like a snowflake in The Nutcracker?  (Not that I'm opposed to that, you understand.)
 
I have a few ideas and we'll see if they work.  The weather forecaster is saying there is a chance of snow off and on this week...I'll let you know if any of my bright ideas work.

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Share the Love...


Featured Artisan Kimis Jewelry and Gifts
 

Kimmi's Jewelry and Gifts Featured Artisan

This week's Featured Artisan is Kimmi's Jewelry and Gifts.  Kimberly Idalski is the Artist who creates these beautiful treasures! She is an active member of the On Fire for Handmade Team and always takes the extra time to make her blog posts for our Share the Love event unique to each artisan!

You can find Kimmi's Jewelry and Gifts on: Artfire   Etsy   Facebook   Blog

Are you On Fire for Handmade? http://onfireforhandmade.com
Grab the code for your blog HERE

Friday, January 11, 2013

Memories and Thanks Blog Hop

This blog hop came about because of the death of a friend of Lori Anderson and Lori's desire to honor her memory. 
 
 I have to admit...this was a tough challenge for me to undertake.  We've just been through the holidays;  my emotions and memories are scraped raw and now I'm going to try to write about a person who I still miss on a daily basis.
 
And then to narrow down my inspiration to only one aspect of a complex person and then translate that concept into jewelery...I had my work cut out for me.
 
The person who inspired this piece is my father.  He has been in Heaven for almost two years now and while I'm moving on with the grieving process it's been a tough road to walk.  My faith and my family have been crucial in getting me to this point.
 
 
My dad was a complex individual and enjoyed keeping people on their toes.  He didn't let many people see the gentle and sensitive side of himself...probably because he had been hurt so badly so often throughout his life.
 
But as I thought about our relationship, I realized that there is one important thing that I inherited from him and that is the ability to recognize black and white (right and wrong) in a world filled with shades of grey. 
 
 
My dad was a man of uncompromising principles.  He and I worked for the same company for many years and I saw the struggles he endured to stay true to his word even as those around him broke theirs.  But he was always the go-to person when people had problems because they knew he could be trusted.
  
I decided to take that idea of "black and white" and use it as the inspiration for my memory piece. 
 
  
I wanted something dramatic yet simple.  I decided to start with a black and white lucite flower and build from there.  I added dark grey and white pearls with small crystal AB rounds and bright silver daisy spacers to create the flower.  Then I added Tibetan silver bead caps and a matching AB crystal round to finish the look.
 
I chose to use gunmetal for the chain and used the antique silver clasp as a focal piece just above the drop pendant.   
 
 
When I was painting on glassware and Christmas ornaments, Dad was my biggest supporter and the person I would rely on to help me with my new designs.  It seems fitting that my first new design for 2013 would be a necklace to honor him. 
 
Be sure to travel around and see how people have inspired others on this blog hop!  Just click on the blog title (in pink) to visit each blog.
 
Hostess, Lori Anderson       Pretty Things

Adlinah Kamsir     Dream Struck Designs
Alicia Marinache        All the Pretty Things
Andra Marasteanu      Handmade by Indra Marasteanu
Andrea Trank             Heaven Lane Creations
April Grinaway         Brooklyn Bead Goddess
  
Becky Pancake          Becky Pancake Bead Designs
Beth Emery              Stories by Indigo Heart
Bonnie Coursolle     Jasper's Gems
  
Cassi Paslick             Beads: Rolling Downhill
Catherine King           Catherine's Musings
Cece Cormier            The Beading Yogini
Chandra Leitz            Juniper Goods
Charlie Jacka            Clay Space
Christine Stonefield   Sweet Girl Design
Chrizette Bayman     Bead Soup Mix
Cindy Wilson           It's My Sea of Dreams
Crystal Thain           Here Bead Dragons
Cyndi Lavin             Beading Arts
 
Debbie Rasmussen      A little of this, a little of that
Denielle Hagerman     Some Beads... and other things I like
Diane Hawkey           diane hawkey
Donetta Farrington    Simply Gorgeous
Dyanne Everett-Cantrell Deeliteful Jewelry Creations
  
Emma Todd         A Polymer Penchant
Erin Kenny            beadiful therapy
Erin Prais-Hintz    Treasures Found
  
Gina Hockett     Freestyle Elements
Gloria Allen     Innovative Dreams Jewelry
 
Heather Marston     CSW Designs
 
Inge von Roos    Inge's Blog
 
Jacqueline Marchant        Fiddledeedee Jewelry
Jami Shipp    Celebrating Life!
Jennifer Reno       Musings of a Crafty Jenny
Jenny Robledo       Peppa's Dream
Jennifer VanBenschoten   Jewelry, Art and Life
Jessica Klaaren      Cellar Door Jewelry
Jessica Murray       Whimsical Monkey
Joan Williams      lilruby jewelry
Jo-Ann Woolverton        It's a Beadiful Creation
Joanne Browne   josjewels1
Jodie Marshall       Jodie Marshall Lampwork Beads Wearable Art
Johanna Rhodes       Fire Phoenix Creations
John Rasmussen      Rasumussen Gems and Jewelry LLC
JuLee Wolfe      The Polymer Penguin
Julie Bean        Blue Pig Blog
  
Karen Mitchell      Over the Moon Designs
Karin King      The Sparklie Things Blog
Karin Slaton       Backstory Beads
Kat Douglas       Washoe Kat's
Kay Bolton       Toodles and Binks
Kelly Hosford Patterson        The Traveling SideShow
Kim Dworak       CianciBlue
Kim Houston       The Pink Martini
Kym Hunter       Kym Hunter Designs
Laren Dee Barton       Laren Dee Designs
Lea Avroch       LA Jewelry Designs
Leanne Loftus       First Impression Design
Lena Adams (Mari's daughter) --  Lena's Beady Blog
TBALiddy McLaughlin       Liddy McLaughlin Art
Linda Inhelder       Must-Haves Jewelry
Lisa Hamilton       Simply Irresistable Jewelry
Lisa Suver       Fancee That
Lori Bowring Michaud       Artfully Ornamental
LouAnn Elwell       Southpass Beads
Mandi Effron        Craft-o-licious
Marcia DeCoster      MadDesigns
Marcia Dunne     The Alternative Foundry
Marie Covert      Creating Interest
Marjorie Savill Linthwaite     bennubirdrising
Marlene Cupo     Amazing Designs by Marlene
Martha Aleo     Ornamento
Marti Conrad     Marti's Buttons -n- Beads
Mary Ellen Parker     BeeTree by m.e.
Mary Govaars     MLH Jewelry Designs
Mary Lindell     Mary Lindell Artisan Jewelry
Maureen Connolly     Mrs Beadsley's Workshop
Maybeline Tay     The Jewelry Larder
Melissa Elgin     The Addicted Beader
Melissa Mesara     one-eared pig beads
Menka Gupta     Menka's Jewelry
Michaela Pabeschitz     la mar de bonita
Mischelle Fanucchi     Micheladas Musings
Mona Rae Baroody     Who Does She Bead She Is?
Nancy Pedersen     Something Heartfelt by Nancy
Natalie Davidson     NorthShore Days
Nikki Douglas     Bead It and Weep
Pam Farren     re-maker
Pam, the Crazier Sister     The Crazy Creative Corner
Priya Krish     Hellopalz

Rebecca Anderson     Song Beads
Rebecca Sirevaag     Becca's Place
Robin Kae Reed     Artistry HCBD
Rochelle Brisson     a creative chelle
Sabine Dittrich     perlendschungel
Sandi Volpe     Sandi Volpe
Sandra McGriff     Creative Chaos
Sarah Goode     Pookledo
Sarah Singer     String a Song of Sixpence
Serena Trent     All Things Made Jewelry
Shai Williams     Shaiha's Ramblings
Sharon Palac     Sharon's Jewelry Garden
Sharyl McMillian-Nelson    Sharyl's Jewelry & Reflections
Sheila Davis     Stone Designs
Shelley Graham Turner     Fabric of My Life
Sherri Stokey     Knot Just Macrame
Skylar Bre'z     Brising Beads
Stephanie Haussler     Pixybug Designs
Tania Spivey     Moobie Grace Designs
Terri G.     Blooming Ideas
Terry Carter T   apping Flamingo
Terry Matuszyk     Pink Chapeau Vintage Jewelry
Toltec Jewels     Jewel School Friends
Tracy Kruse     Goldkisses Art
Tracy Martin     Nutkitten's Jewelry
Zia Parks     Anzi~Panzi's Work Shoppe
Zoe Marcin     Beads, Tea and Sweets

Tuesday, January 8, 2013

On Fire for Handmade--Featured Artist

Handmade Creations by Shelly

Featured Artisan

Handmade Creations by Shelly

This week's Featured Artisan is Shelly Solomon Attenberg - Handmade Creations by Shelly! You will find stunning accessories in her shop! She has beautiful ponchos to keep you warm and New to her Shop are beautiful Macrame Survival Bracelets! You can see all her Creations in her Etsy Shop!

  You can Find Shelly on:
   Etsy   Facebook   Twitter  Blog   Pinterest  Wanelo

Grab the Code for your Blog HERE