Hi, Little One...in a new eBook!

Okay, there's not really a little one here with me, other than the three cats who are wandering around.  The Little One I'm speaking of here is a sweet, tiny pewter fairy pendant from Green Girl Studios.  She's featured in a leather bracelet that I designed and which was released in a brand new eBook this week!!

See...she's right there on the cover...lower left-hand side.  :)

This is a new eBook available from Interweave press:

10 Handmade Leather Bracelet Projects 

Click the link to order yourself a copy!

I perused my copy of it and there are a ton of great ideas jammed in here!  

I love the way leather can go casual or fancy or funky or fun.  

I've been having a less-than-fulfilling experience at my regular day job, so it's really nice to see some of my creative energy rewarded in print.  :)  Yeah!  

Thanks for letting me share!

Pineapple, Lemon...Sweet, Tangy

It's the last Friday of July!  That means it's time to show off some Artisan Clay!

This month's piece was a challenge for me.  When Kristie gave the team options to pick from I immediately wanted the yellow donut...it made me think of summer:  sweet, tangy citrus lemonade yellow.  I can picture a frosty glass with that pale tart and sugary goodness right now and it just makes me feel happy and refreshed.  Well, I got my wish and had a lovely big donut with pretty, crackling yellow glass "floating" within its ridges.  I immediately went to my yellow bead drawers and pulled out the lemon quartz and pineapple chalcedony...it seemed like the natural flow.  I actually have a lot of different shapes and sizes and tones of yellow stones so it became harder and harder to choose as all the options came out.  I kept laying out more and more choices in the monochromatic yellow theme.  Then, suddenly, I saw a pink and yellow art bead on the table and started moving down that path with two-color ideas and ended up with pink leather, sari ribbon and all a whole new set of beads added to the mix.  I have to admit that I got a little bit overwhelmed and had trouble keeping the focus on the Artisan Clay piece that's supposed to be the star.  My editor had apparently gone to lunch so I just had to walk away from the table.

I eventually made it back to work (along with my editor) and decided to put away the pink and go with my initial instinct and keep it simply yellow.  I pulled out some thin brass chain and went to work making a longer necklace design so the donut would be a focal pendant hanging a little lower.  Why long this time?  I shop at Chico's and am a fan of their styling in the store so I'm loving the look of a long necklace combined with a scarf.  It seems like a kind of modern twist on the scarf & brooch combination so that's the direction I took.  It's hard to take a good picture of the length but you can see all that chain...

Of note, you'll see that the original chain bail idea that I had earlier in the week was replaced by a piece of sari ribbon.  I did a little wear test on the long chain and the swinging around of the chain on more chain on earthen clay was not a really pleasant sensation.  I had to remove some of the movement so there wasn't any grating between rough surfaces.  To go back to the lemonade analogy, it's like when you're drinking the fresh carnival kind of lemonade through a straw and you suck in a big mouthful of sugar from the bottom of the cup.  :)   I like the addition of the ribbon, though, both for softness and for the better wear-feel.  

I used some more of my lemon and pineapple stones to put together some dramatic earrings with big faceted pieces and then twisted up a quick bangle.  That's actually a plain brass Chico's bangle that I got on a super clearance sale that I wrapped with some wire, ribbon, and chain to add a simple accent that highlights the summer yellow stones perfectly.

And that's the end of my story!  I got up bright and early this morning to post this because, of course, I waited until the last minute.  I actually had to take the photos with my iPhone because my "real" camera is at the office.  I'm kind of impressed with how they came out!  

Thanks, Kristie!

eMag: Summer Bracelets

There's a cool new format for finding great projects!  It's called an "eMag" which I've heard of before, but haven't experienced.  I'm taking the plunge and trying this new digital delivery of Everyday Bracelets because I know there are super-cool designs in here...I created one of them!!    

I was honored when Stringing editor Danielle Fox contacted me months and months ago and asked if I could work a bracelet design for a section in a new publication.  She specified the "Beachy Keen" section and a palette and let me go with that!  Oh, the other requirement is that they be relatively easy projects with supplies that are fairly widely available.  It was February, so on a cold and windy night I was happy to think blue skies and even brighter blue oceans to come up with something fun.  Look for the Beach Shanty Bangle!

It's only coming out in this special format--not printed--but that makes it cool because it has interactive features and videos and slide shows and direct links to other websites.  Once I get it downloaded, we'll have to experiment some more, but I wanted to share this link so you can get your own copy...click here.  It's just under $10 but compared to a normal printed book with projects like this, it seems like a deal to me.  I'm too tired from my workout this evening to write much more, so I'll get it downloaded and check it out later this week.

Tackled Stash in Blues

Met another June goal!  Whoo hooo!

I wanted to do a project inspired by Operation Tackle that Bead Stash and those luscious blues.  Well, the project expanded when I saw all those blue beads on my table and realized that I could also make a few blue bracelets in support of The Global Genes Project's 7000 Bracelets campaign.  All my blog worlds collided because this month's Art Bead Scene challenge also featured blues for inspiration to generate some bracelet support, too.   Anyway, here are my tackled bead stash creations:

Pieces and parts:

~ The necklace features a glass disk from Bronwen Heilman of Ghostcow Glassworks that I picked up probably two years ago and have had it stashed since then.  I used memory wire, clear rubber tubing, deep blue suede and steel wire to highlight the big blue in a circle-y design.

~ The coordinating bracelet is tubing-covered memory wire with some little steel wire twisty beads that I made.  Then I pulled these matte blue stones out to create dangles for the ends--don't know how long they've been in my stash!

~ The matte blue beads let to another bracelet and I wanted to carry the "clear" theme and found these rough quartz nuggets in the stash and made a little focal grouping.  Those beads I've probably had for five years.  Nice.

~ Speaking of five years or more, the big quartz oval piece in the last bracelet has been in my collection for a realllyyyyyy looooong time (and I still have lots more!) so I matched it up with some of that deep blue suede and a handmade steel hook clasp.  I can see more bracelets similar to this in my future.

Here's a shot of the OTTBS palette:

BTW: Starting with Earrings

I've had some random pairs of earrings hanging around on my bead table for a long time now so on this Bead Table Wednesday, I'm sharing progress!  I think I made them back when I lived in Alabama so it must be at least a year since that's how long I've been in Hampton.  My goal has always been to make up a necklace and bracelet to go with each and create a full-up set.  They sit over in a little bowl waiting for me to get inspired.  I know we all have different selling experiences, but I've found that I frequently get asked for something to go with whatever piece I create...so I've gotten better about making things that coordinate.  I try not to get too matchity matchy so that each piece can stand on its own.  Long story short is that I finally got some of these sets done. 


The first pair of earrings that I decided to tackle feature lampwork by Kathy Perras (I just went back to make sure I cited this artist right and figured out I bought these in April of 2010, nice.)  They have a great periwinkle purple and grassy green that I paired with silver and aquamarine.  (I just noticed that both earrings have the nugget on the same side instead of being opposite as I would put them now...will have to go back and switch one around.)

I stayed with the periwinkle color and added some Donna Millard lampwork and a couple of her new vintage tin bead caps then finished it off with a summery green suede cord and my new fave steel wire. 

 I went for a different look with the bracelet and used lots of the aquamarine nuggets to highlight a focal group with more of Donna's glass, a little wood and more vintage periwinkle glass.

 Here's the whole set together...it's listed in my shop now.

The second pair of earrings I decided to work with have a different feeling to them...more earthy with the turquoise and forest green Barbara Lewis enameled rounds.

 This necklace took me off the artisan bead path and over into my semi-precious stones where I picked out this big green garnet nugget for the centerpiece.  It's highlighted with some rolled paper beads, turquoise heishi, a little brass and then steel wire to finish and connect to the smooth brown leather.

 I went with memory wire for a simple bangle with little danglies at the end.

 And here's the whole thing all together which is also listed as a set in my Etsy shop!

Hope everyone's having a great, productive week clearing off the bead tables on this Bead Table Wednesday!

Purple Pieces for a Thursday Morning

I just got back from the track and while I cool down/sit here and wish I didn't have to get dressed for work I just wanted to post a few pics of the summertime pieces I've been working on.  These are two of the purple sets.

Kick-ass purpley-pink faceted magnesite rounds are the standouts here, but there is still some fantastic glass goodness from SueBeads, some vintage glass and some pearls...all finished off with my new leather luv and a steel wire.  I'm psyched about how cool the clasps look 'cause I made them myself!

And, of course, the matching bracelet. 

A four-artist masterpiece:  a Barbara Lewis enameled bead, a Cherie Ranfranz lampwork focal and then a Gardanne enameled pendant...who's the fourth artist?  I'm taking that credit because I'm so proud of my little twisted wire clasp. :0

Another matching bracelet with a Barbara bead and a pretty little glass round from SueBeads all arranged with some leather, brass and steel.  Love this one!

Sh*t...now I'm going to be late...haaaaaaaaaaaaa

More Custom Work

I can't believe I just got distracted by The Bachelorette.  Reality TV is just so wrong sometimes.  This show in particular makes me appreciate my sweetie so much...thank goodness the big Air Force got small enough for us to find each other.  :) 

Anyway, now that I just watched some dumbass sing her a song about himself and another one do a flip off the top of the limousine it's time for me to get down to posting business.  The other day I posted about a custom piece of work for a lime-green dress for my friend, Patty.  Well, she loved it.  But, as an extra bonus, I had the box of goodness on my desk at work and one of the instructors was wandering by to chat with some other students in my seminar.  I was laughing about how much I've progressed through the year...not so much in air power expertise, but more in blogging numbers.  :)  He didn't understand, so I showed him the goods.  He immediately wanted "a set" for his wife...the only specification was to use the olive green blister pearls in it somewhere.  So, here's the necklace...

I was inspired for the whole color scheme with the Cindy Craig lampwork glass focal that I picked up in Philly at BeadFest Wire.  The amethyst and olive are soooo pretty!  Here's the whole set:

I am now in "set" mode...made three of them tonight!  (It's dark now, so no pics 'til the morning.)  We had a three hour panel discussion at school on the military and the media.  Well, it gave me plenty of time to work on my creativity to-do list.  There are only a few days left in the month which means challenge deadlines, submission deadlines, and just plain old finishing up projects before I have to pack everything up for the big trip.  June 10th is right around the corner and that's when the movers take off with everything I own!  Except the beads...I pack those myself so they'll be jammed in the car with me and the kitty boys.  I can't wait.  haaaaaaaaaaaaa.

"I need a 'wow' piece for a lime-green dress."

First, off, many thanks to my friend, Stella, who hosted a little show for me the other day out by her pool.  I probably ate most of the cheese and drank most of the wine, but I also had a great time feeling the love of my friends for my jewels.  And, yes, Stella is one of those girls in the picture that I posted the other day so we've known each other a loooooong time.  haaaaaaa  Somehow, though, we haven't aged a bit...isn't that perfect?  haaaaaaaaaa

Okay, then, onto the business of this post.  One of the girls at the party the other night is specifically in the market for a special piece to go with a simple, summery lime green dress.  So, I told her I'd take the challenge.  She's going to her hometown in week for big family graduation parties and wants to have something that everyone will ogle.  That's some pressure, but I love working with green so I sat down last night right away to work it.  I opened up my "special glass" drawer and right away saw this kick-ass focal from Donna Millard.  (By the way, she is killin' me with the new beads...they have to be my latest faves.)

And the rest of the piece worked itself out from there...

- Funky blue jasper faceted nuggets
- Vintage turquoise lucite rounds
- Smooth onyx nuggets
- Lime green pearls & South American beans

And since everything was there on the table, there's a bracelet and little earrings to complete the set...

Cross your fingers for me...I hope this is "wow" enough for her!!!

***Post update from a week later...she LOVED the whole set!!!  :)

When Does Collecting Turn Into Hoarding?

Someone in my house has been hoarding handmade lampwork art beads.  Can you even imagine?  haaaaaaaaaaaaaa

I guess my collecting all started when I was in middle school and had to have all the latest cool stickers.  Remember Lisa Frank?  How about Mrs. Grossman's? I still have that sticker book...yes, it has moved with me eight times!  haaaaaaaaaaaa  But, of course I have actually expanded the sticker collection into a whole nightmare (okay, it's actually a daydream) of crafty paper, adornments, glue, more paper and, yes, even more stickers.  I can't even tell you how many plastic containers (with lovely printed labels) I have filled with my artsy-crafty life supplies.

When I fell in love with making jewelry a few years back, my joy of hoarding spread to beautiful beads.  I should probably feel guilty that these pretties are only my treats to look at, sorted out in color-specific drawers with lovely printed labels.  Since I don't feel guilty at all about my collection I figure it's a safe time for me to start actually using them.  If you're a bead afficionado, then you know that handmade beads aren't inexpensive, so these bracelets aren't either. But, since they're a little gallery all on their own, I think it's totally worth using them all up!!

That Bracelet is Singing the Blues Like an Art Bead Dream

Lampwork glass discs from HMB Studios

Lampwork rondelles from Lisa New

Plus...beans from South America, a bit of Javanese
glass (which is so appropriate because we studied

Indonesia today in class), and a few ceramic pieces.

Fresh Mowed Grass and Sunshine Art Bead Bangle

Lampwork disks from HMB Studios

Lampwork rondelles from Lisa New

A lampwork rondelle from Cindy Craig

Plus...beans from South America, some Javanese

 glass, and a few ceramic pieces.

So what sort of collection do you have?  Are you keeping it just for yourself?  What are you saving all those beads for?  haaaaaaaaaa

La Bella Joya - Un Artista Dulce de Cuenta

Did someone order a pink lemonade?  haaaaaaaaaa

Thanks to Marcie at LaBellaJoya for these awesome yellow and pink beaded beads!  They look like tiny disco balls--perfect for a Barbie dream house!  :)  About a week ago, I saw her post about them and thought to myself, "Self, didn't you ask her to make pink and yellow beaded beads?"  Then, I answered, "Why, yes!  I must have these!"  As it turns out, she made them with me in mind but didn't want me to feel pressured to buy after my overwhelming haul at Beadfest...how awesomely thoughtful is that?!  But, of course, I got them.  And, when I showed her these pieces, I think I made her proud.  Let me quote her..."Wow! Jen! You made my beads look like rock stars! EXCELENTE!"  haaaaaaaaaaaa  For the record, she says she loved working with colors outside of her norm, so if you likey, you should go see her shop!!

I initially thought they'd all go into one project, but when I started mixing and matching around on my worktable.  Plus, I just got my Beads 2010 issue and have flipped through it so many times the corners are worn.  I highlighted (yes, with an actual yellow highlighter--I have at least three of them) some of the bead artists I already know and love and some of those who I don't yet know and love.  I'm going to try to incorporate some of my blog-world superstar friends' work.  So, the pretties ended up in two projects...

Here are what I call "Disco in the Garden" earrings...

The sparklies from LaBellaJoya are matched up with an earthy, glittery bit of bronzite and a fun plexiglass flower cutout from MyELEMENTS (which you can see in Beads 2010...including a project from Yvonne!)

Not to be left out, the pink Beadity McBeadersons decided on a bangle with a super-eclectic mix of beads.  This is where the sweet elixir comes in...it's called the Pink Lemonade bangle.

Not to be satisfied with just one artist represented in this bracelet, I included some lampwork glass rondelles in a golden-yellow with a purplish-pink band by GardanneBeads.  Then there are beans, recycled glass, resin, lemon quartz, pink wire coils, and Czech glass.  You can't even imagine what a mess my table was after picking out all these components.  :)

You can buy either of these for your very own in my etsy shop.

So, cheers to Marcie!!  If I translated my title right, it means she a "sweet bead artist!"  :)

Boom, Baklava, Beer...

Boom - This morning while getting dressed, I heard a loud noise.  I figured it was the cat knocking over his carpet-covered-bowl/perch while trying to jump through the door to catch a bird.  But, when I looked out at him, he just looked at me, sitting all comfy in his favorite spot there by the screen door, with that "what are you looking at me for? are you going to give me treats?" look.  So, then, my next thought was that the furnace or something blew up.  But, I didn't smell smoke so I left for work as usual.  Lo' and behold, according to the radio, I was aural witness to the space shuttle flight towards Florida and it was the sonic boom that I heard.  I laughed so hard I almost wrecked my car.  I can now be certified as the crazy cat lady:  I thought a space travel miracle was wacky cat action.

Baklava - I don't think any dessert item with 2.5 sticks of real butter can be wrong.  It's in the oven and smells fantastic!  My class is studying Turkey tomorrow and in lieu of doing the required reading and preparation for our group project (everyone loves group projects, right?) I'm baking (and blogging) a traditional Turkish food.  haaaaaaaa  Is there irony in being the fat girl who brings snacks?  haaaaaaa  Is there even more irony that I've spent more time composing this post than I will the two powerpoint slides that I'm going to deliver tomorrow?  haaaaaaaaaaaaa

Beer - I found some Miller Lite cans in the back of my cupboard the other day.   It's like a little extra treasure for the evening.  It goes perfectly with the leftover pistachios. 

Beads - It was a good mail day yesterday.  I got some beaded beads from my La Bella Joya connection. Sweetie Marcie listed some pink and yellow beads and I just knew they were for me because I hinted to her back in the Bead Soup Party that I needed some strawberry lemonade beads.  I'll have pics to show later this week.  Another cool package that I got was from an old high school friend and recent customer who happened to be at a Bead Fest with some friends and didn't know what to make of it.  She thought of me and sent me some Sonoran glass and a couple of My Elements bits.  It's like she could read my bead mind and we haven't seen each other in over 20 years!!  haaaaaaaaaaa

Bangles - My current mission is to use as many fantastic art beads in eclectic bracelets as humanly possible.  Here's one with the following ingredients:  a pair of purple and silver lampwork rondelles from Suebeads, an organic purple and brown lampwork focal from Bronwen Heilman, an etched Tibetan agate bead from Happy Mango, a bone flower accent that I picked up in Hawaii in 2008 (has it been that long?!) at The Bead Gallery.  Oh, and there are some South American beans that my friend, Stella, brought me from Brazil.  :)  There's wood on there, too...I think that's from Michael's.

Bright - I got an A on my air campaign planning test!

Boring - The lecture we had this morning was nearly interminable.  Monotone is not a good briefing style when discussing the law of war.  Yes, in one day I can learn about how we strive to avoid civilian casualties in conflict, make three pairs of earrings, and chef up a baklava.

Brave - I got all my hair cut off.  Pics will follow, but for those who've known me for years, I'm back to my roots.  Pun intended.

Baby Boy - My little one-eyed sweetie fattie cat is doing great!  The other day he was resting outside in the sun with me and the next thing I know he's jetting across the yard after a baby bunny.  Since I don't like walking in grass without shoes (I have a weird bug creepy feeling if I do) I ran in the house to get some flip-flops before going to find out if he had a bloody bunnilet (my new word for baby bunny) in his grasp.  Lucky for the bunny (and for me), one-eyed fattie didn't catch him.  haaaaaaaaaaaaaa I'm glad I can look at him as my sweet half-blind angel and not as a killer.  :)

Blessed - I love my blog friends and my family and my near friends and my far friends and my sweetie husband and my sunshine life that seems sad sometimes, but seems to get better every gorgeous morning!!  Thank you!!!

A Sunny Sunday...

Some of my most awesomest fave lampwork disks by HMB Studios and Linden Avenue Designs are the sunshine behind this sweet bangle.  Celebrate some sunny art beads with some shopping at JenJuddRocks on Etsy.

p.s. don't you love my photo trick of putting the focus on the back instead of the front?  haaaaaaaaaaaaaa  I will have to learn how to take pictures someday.  :)

Art Bead Scene Challenge for April - Klee

The ABS Challenge for this month is based on Klee's Insula Dulcamara

Insula Dulcamara by Paul Klee, 1938

31 1/2 x 69 in

Oil on newsprint, mounted on burlap

Klee Foundation, Bern, Switzerland

 

So, as an inspiration, we've got...

Exotic associations

Sweet & Bitter...Bittersweet

Calypso

Scarlet fruits & brown leaves

Serpents

Dynamic versus Static

Line and Color

 

Here's the result:

We've got a plethora of art beads in this sweet little bangle bracelet.  There are some rondelles from Humblebeads that add a really organic feeling when combined with some wooden bicones.  Then, there are some lampwork rounds but I honestly don't know where they came from other than Ebay two years ago.  :)  But, there's even more lampwork with disks from HMB Studios and Linden Avenue Designs.  It's finished out with Greek ceramic disks (also from Linden Avenue) and some "totally twisted" pieces in gunmetal grey.

You can see the other entries for the challenge at the Flickr group here.  There are some gorgeous, unique pieces created from this single inspiration painting.

Bangles! Mini Art Bead Collections!

My latest projects...

Inspiration?  Can you see the Totally Twisted in these?  haaaaaaa  My take on Kerry's projects from the book...It’s not just a bangle, it’s a mini art bead collection!

I used tons of great art beads from lots of different sources (all listed below with their Etsy seller IDs)...

For this one...

- Big enameled metal by Barbara Lewis at PaintingwithFire

- Lampwork glass by Cherie Ranfranz at Happyskull

- Polymer by Heather Powers at Humblebeads

- Lampwork glass by Karen Richards at LibelulaDesigns

- Lampwork disk by Heather Boardman at HMBStudios

For this bracelet, I used:

- Polymer clay from Doreen at Doreensbackyardbeads

- Lampwork disks from Heather at HMBstudios

And, then I couldn't resist mixing up the metals along with some more of those great round beads and some faceted lemony quartz.

And, some of my Air Force Blue beads from HMB studios for this pretty blue and silver number.

All of these are available for your shopping pleasure in my Etsy shop!

Spring Diggity!

This necklace and bracelet are Spring Diggity!  And they're available in my Etsy shop.  :) The bracelet is actually in the Spring issue of Stringing...that's the issue with the gorgeous cover and tons of my beading friends in it!

In addition to my sweet little bracelet on page 59 some of my fave things in this issue are:

~ Michelle Mach's feature called "Take Two" about reworking designs that weren't all the great starting out...it's nice to know that every designer comes up with some bum projects sometimes.

~ Tracee Dock's necklace called "Circle Around" that features some rings that she makes that are available at The Classic Bead.  I have one of her pendants that I'm hoarding for the perfect project.  :)

~ "May Day" by editor Danielle Fox rounds out my faves.  I love the big enameled floral pieces (from a newly discovered shop:  Sleeping Dog Studio) combined with some always-awesome Humblebeads.  :)