Sunday, October 23, 2011

I Heart Macro: Stones

I'm on Day Two of big agenda-free weekend and ready to rock my Sunday!  I can't wait to share more about my adventures yesterday.  I spent a few hours Skyping with my new bud, Bette, working on her new blog:  Art Pages Etc.  Her paper and journals are completely awesome so I can't wait to see more!   I have lots more to say about learning new blogger "stuff" and figuring out how to make things look just like I want but that's for a whole other post.  Today is just for pretty shots...like this one of some special tourmaline that I splurged on for my birthday back in July.  (If you really believe it's just masquerading flourite and garnet, please don't burst my bubble!  haaaaaaaaaaaaa)
I've had them out on my table for months just waiting for the perfect project.  My goal today is to use them--at least a few of them--in something awesome.  Now that I laid them all out in those gradient rows I think I may actually try to stitch something!  Hmmmmm.  Ooooh, or maybe work them onto a thick brass cuff...oooh, or maybe sew them on a leather cuff!  Uh oh, I need another cup of coffee before I delve into that one.
Here's a little bit of a start on a memory wire bangle using some of them.  Since it's getting close to Christmas I end up with people asking if they can buy things who are then shocked by what I want them to pay for them.  Alas, it's the crisis of handmade artisan goods.  Instead of devaluing my work overall, I'm trying to mix the pricier pieces like artisan beads or super-pretty semi-precious stones with less expensive construction methods that are still high quality and in my own creative style--hence, the memory wire.  
Dozens of other creative souls are out there today "sharing the love - up close" thanks to Studio Waterstone's inspiration.  Click on the button below to see others.  :)
studio waterstone

14 comments:

  1. Oh my.... what gorgeous beads! Such fabulous shots of them! I can't wait to see what you do with them!

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  2. OH GOOD GOD those are delicious chippy yummy gemmyness......yes I've been sticking to lower end stuff - under 50.00 seems to do best. I miss sterling but such is life - it does make us even more creative.

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  3. I love the beads and your shot of them is amazing. Cant wait to see the finished product. Delicious!!

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  4. oh how pretty, what wonderful colours.....

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  5. Gorgeous shots of the tourmaline - they're gorgeous!! And they're gonna be tons of fun to play with too, I'm sure!!

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  6. Oh, look at those pretties!! I love the gems and can't wait to see the finished bangle!

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  7. Wonderful shots and I love the gradient rows! They look so yummy to play with! Have fun!!!!

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  8. Jen I am drooling over those tourmaline nuggets! I would be hoarding them too, cause that's just what i do! I agree about the lower priced things, I say, "know your market" you can make the higher end stuff, really artsy and then you have to have things that cater to the average buyer who doesn't always "get it".

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  9. Gorgeous!!! I was wondering what the beautiful color was. I remember buying stones that I, literally, had trouble parting with because they were so beautiful.

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  10. Beautiful stones. I can't wait to see how you use them.

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  11. Okay, so those gemmies are ultimately hoardable, I couldn't agree more! But they will also makes something stunning :) I'm right there with you on the handmade artisan pricing issues...it's such a tough thing to deal with! I do try to have things within all price points, and am never sure what is going to sell at a given show. I'm usually pretty surprised too ;)

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  12. Those tourmaline are so lovely..I would be hoarding for ever, too.! Such pretty colours.Will look to see what you come up with.
    Jenni

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  13. Beautiful - I love them all in gradient rows 1 would make a stunning statement :-)

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Bedford, PA, United States
I'm a retiree/artist/student who makes things. It's a nice kind of lifestyle!

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