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!

More Old Going New

This is my second post to show a little bit of Artbeads.com goodness with a project of turning oldness into newness.  

What's old here?  Tin.  I've been enamored with all the tin bead caps going on around here in blog world (Donna & Lorelei are just two who are using them lots lately) so while on a recent road trip I convinced Curt to stop at a couple of antique shops so I could look for some interesting tins to repurpose.  Then I was on the hunt for a disk cutter and as luck would have it, Jeanette's shop, Fundametals, had the primo Swanstrom cutter on sale.  It was still expensive but I'm taking credit for it as a birthday contribution (albeit a month or so early.)  So, that little yellow circle there in the middle was cut by my own two hands (and a few cool tools and a big hammer).  It came from a little Rich's Canton Ginger tin.

The Artbeads.com piece comes in with the silver-plated charm.  It has a nice smooth finish and was easy to punch a whole into so I could add my little yellow bit. I used a little tiny screw and nut to connect the disk to the pendant and included a little flower...just because.  Then I went with my new fave design and made up a memory wire loop to create a little frame that's highlighted with some Swarovski crystals, pearls, and some metal beads.

This piece is now listed for sale in my Etsy shop. 

Another thing I worked on this project is the clasp that I made especially for this piece.  The other day I was wandering around Lori's newly organized Pretty Things blog and came across a DIY project from Cindy Wimmer about creating spiral clasps.  Cindy's wirework is phenomenal so I was excited to try this special little bit for this piece.  It only took a couple of tries to get it to work...thank goodness for cheap steel wire!  I know it looks like the wire is too thin for a clasp, but it's steel and hardened up nicely.  You can see more of Cindy's work at her Sweet Bead Studio blog.

Disclosure:  I received the following product free of charge from Artbeads and I am honestly reviewing them:  Nunn silver-plated charm pendant.  I have not been paid for my endorsement as it pertains to the products received.   The post above represents only my personal opinion.

Vintage Ladybugs

I was working at Bead Haven last night with Joanne and we had a fantastic night rearranging displays so she could put out a huge selection of vintage beads.  I was absolutely drooling as she pulled out bag of vintage glass strands...seriously, I realized I was basically standing at her elbow for five minutes just staring and coveting until she finally looked and me with that "there are things you could be doing" look.  haaaaaaaaaaa 

My favorites are these big ceramic tubes with crazy, funky ladybugs!! They're huge, but I want them all!! (I settled for buying six of them when we closed up shop.) I've never seen anything like these before, and I've seen a lot of beads. If any of you are coveting and need one or a dozen, let me know and I'll go shop for you. haaaaaaaaaaa

Lovely winter cuticles help demonstrate the size of these cuties.

Don't they make you want to go macrame?

Corsage Cuffs...My Version

Thanks for all the lovely comments on my jewelry swap post!  I'm glad you liked the cuff with the big flower...I absolutely loved it, so that became my motivation to grow a bit of a garden on my beading table.  I found a good source for the brass cuffs and bought more than I really need, so I got my vintage metal flower action on!

The simple golden tone of the brass works so well with the mixed metal and vintage enameled flower petals!  I dug around and found all sorts of bead caps and other scrapbooking flower thingies to use.  Some thin copper wire wraps the flower onto the bracelet and keeps it in place.  I did a quick coat of spray lacquer to, hopefully, keep the brass shiny and reduce oxidation.

And here's the rest of the bouquet...so far.  Yes, it probably could be a Spring thing, but I am loving these no matter how cold it gets outside!

I'm going to experiment with some paint markers on the brass...there were some inspirations in the last issue of Handcrafted Jewelry.  I went through to rip out project to save and ended up with more than half of the magazine.  Now my kitchen counter is a mess of painted towels, paint pens, spray bottles, and little bits of things to paint.  I'll be lucky if I don't jack up the garbage disposal with some little bead or bead cap.  I'll keep you posted on my experiments.  :)

Vintage Treasures from Murphy's Basement

When I visit my hometown, Bedford, Pennsylvania, one of my principle activities is browsing antiques.  When I was little, there was a store downtown called G.C. Murphy's.  When we were old enough to walk across streets, it was a huge deal for my friend, Brandee, and I to walk to Murphy's and do some shopping.  I don't know what we were shopping for, since we didn't have any money, but it was a big adventure for us. 

Now, long after Murphy's was closed, the storefront has taken on a new life as Founder's Crossing.  A treasure trove of handcrafted goods, art, antiques and all sorts of interesting goodness.  One of the featured artists there, that I just have to mention, is Kevin Kutz.  His work captures the local spirit just perfectly.  

But, my fave part of the old Murphy's is the basement--which houses the antique selection.  It stretches about a half a block under the building and it's chock full of all sorts of interesting bits from Bedford's history along the Lincoln highway to my favorite, the jewelry cases.  My mom can hang with me for about an hour, but then she heads home to bake something up for when I come home all excited about some random old things I've found.  Cool-stuff-hunting and mom's cooking...makes for a perfect day, if you ask me.

Here are some finds from my recent visit home.  Check out these pinks!!!  I'm in love!!!

And, vintage lucite in oranges...I'm in heaven...and look at that clasp!!!

What am I gonna do with these?  I don't know!!!  haaaaaaaaaaaaaa  But, of course, they had to be mine!!!!

Elementally Vintage

I just ran up from the basement wildly laughing because I LOVE these pieces!!!! The cats are now hiding, so I have plenty of time to share...

A couple of weeks ago, I finally finished a project for my lovely friend, Lauren; she picked out some vintage Swarovski crystals and silver chain so I could string up an absolutely gorgeous rhinestone pin that she had inherited from a relative. (I'm an idiot and didn't take a picture, so maybe she'll send one.) In the meantime, however, I'm can't stop thinking Vintage, with a capital V! I spent a long while in the basement antique mall of Founder's Crossing, back in my hometown of Bedford, Pennsylvania, while my mom followed me dutifully looking at every piece of jewelry. I was focused on picking up fun brooches to use as focal pieces. I struck some nice $3.99 gold! haaaaaaaaa

You can see this awesome pinkie flower just screamed out for some of my new flower bits. While at the Expo in Philly, my friend, Sarah, called these babies "groovy" and I have to agree. Yvonne's MyElements line was one of my absolute faves. One of Yvonne's designs was featured on the cover of the July/August issue of Step by Step Beads magazine and I coveted right away. So, when I finally met her and saw the mass of cool flowers and funky shapes, I didn't hold back and brought home a bunch. I was thinking of these all day and couldn't wait to get home to pull them together!

But, what goes even better with Yvonne's Elements? A big glittery bug, of course!! I couldn't resist this flyish-looking beetleybug. I was able to use some vintage chain, some sterling chain, and plenty of flower bits!!

How hilarious is this pin!?! I actually saw a dead cicada in the hallway at the Pentagon today. It must have been a forecast of my creative energy for the evening!!

I absolutely love it!!

Don't these glasses make me look smarter?? Or is it the workaday t-shirt with a Weight Watchers meal spilled on the front??? haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa