Fall Stringing Carnival...My Urban Escape

Welcome to this stop on your Carnival ride!  I'm happy to share a little bit about my piece from this Fall's Stringing Magazine...then you can hop on to the other 23 blog entries from other contributors.  The list of links is down below in this post.  Plus, Michelle Mach, the carnival master, has the rules for the giveaway--you can win stuff just by commenting--on her blog.

A little about my piece...Urban Escape...what does that mean?  ahhhhh...I see a big city all around me but I have a gorgeous, grounded piece of artwork around me neck that allows me to escape when I touch the silky knots or rub the smooth onion skin pendant.  Just makes me happy!  Moreso, I think of the afternoon when my bud, Stella, came over and I waved this necklace in front of her and asked her to name it...off the top of her head.  Copper, silk, clay...so much texture... the result was "Urban Escape."  In the middle of Alabama, we were looking for an escape, that's for sure!  haaaaaaaaaaa

Let me share some of the goods on the components for this piece:

First, there's the silk ribbon.  This is not just any old ribbon, it's a gorgeous hand-dyed and finished piece from Jamn Glass.  A while back, during the first Bead Soup Blog Party, I was lucky enough to be paired up with amazing glass artist Julie Nordine of Credit River Art Glass.  Well, as part of my "soup" she included a pretty ribbon and I immediately went to the JamnGlass Etsy shop and got a bunch for myself. it's the hoarder in me!  haaaaaaaaa Meeting Julie (virtually) and that whole Soup party was so much fun that I have great memories every time I see those ribbons.

Jamn Rustling Leaves Silk Ribbons
available at the JamnGlass Etsy shop

Next is the fired clay rectangle from Artisan Clay.  Kristie Roeder, the artisan of Artisan Clay, has become another "virtual" friend.  I found her work through the Beads of Clay blog while working through a set of creative challenges last fall and now I follow her blog, too.  Some of her signature pieces feature vibrantly colored recycled glass "pooled" in a disk, but this focal has a wonderful smoky finish.  I have a bunch of Artisan Clay in my collection right near the silk ribbons!  haaaaaaaaaaa  Oh, I should mention that Kristie's going to be exhibiting at BeadFest in Philly this weekend...so if you're gonna be there, go say hi!

Smoke Fired Large Square available at the Artisan Clay Etsy Shop

And finally, that red onion pendant came from a little bead shop with big personality in Occoquan, Virginia:  Off the Beading Path.  If you're ever up near DC, in Northern Virginia, stop by and say hi to Denise.  If you need an excuse to figure out where, exactly, Occoquan is, there's a great show there in the fall:  The Occoquan Craft Show is slated for September 25-26, 2010

So, enough about my little creation...this Carnival is full of goodness for fall...go see for yourself!
Click on the links below to go explore the other artists, designers, and contributors to this issue.  Comments are always appreciated and may be rewarded with prizes!!

- Autumn After Dark by Michelle Mach

- Autumn Jewels & The Love Letter by Lorelei Eurto 

           - She also authored a great "Sell & Tell" article!

- Afternoon Social & Cornucopia by Stephanie LaRosa

- The Who & Enchanted Forest by Heather Trudeau - The Peacock Fairy

- Give a Hoot  by Denise Yezbak Moore

- Hoot if you Love Fall  by Lisa Petrillo - Lucid Moon Studio

- Woodsy Owl & California Bungalow by Anne Perry

- Hint of Spice by Jen Zeiger - ZBeadz

- Urban Escape by Jennifer Judd Velasquez (Yeah, you're already here!)

- Clockwork Scarab by Melanie Brooks - Earthenwood Studio - Also in the Bead Beat!

- Kate by Tari Kahrs - Pearl and Pebble

- Mixed Metaphor & Smoke and Cognac by Erin Strother

- Wisdom & Memories of Tucson by Kelly Angeley - Beadologie

- Fertile Ground by Ruby Bayan - Ruby Beads

- Green with Love by Gaea Cannaday

- Incredible Things by Sharon Palac - Sharon's Jewelry Garden

- The Blackbird Sat by Erin Prais-Hintz - Treasures Found

- Fleur-De-Lis by Kristy Abner

- The Bamboo Cutter’s Wife & Dandelion Harvest by Molly Schaller

- This and That by Amy Haftkowycz - Artful Beads Studio

- Bronze Lotus by Kelly Morgan - Silver Parrot Designs

- Queen of the Nile by Marianne Baxter - Simply Seablime Jewelry

- Sunburst Necklace by Carrie Beckwith

- Beth Hemmila of Hint

Many thanks to Michelle for putting this even together and to all my beady friends, enjoy the Carnival!!