Saturday, July 20, 2013

Lori Anderson's Bead Hoarder's Blog Hop

Painted Lucite rose from B'sue Boutique
Lampwork bead from JulsBeads,
off the Love Chain



I had so much to choose from when it came to "raiding" my hoarder box, but the problem was selecting just the right components that would go well together. I know I wanted to start with the beautiful lampwork bead from JulsBeads with all the varied colors in the flower. A natural progression was to this rose from B'sue, which I painted (and repainted).




Wire wrapped leaf from
Heidi Klingman, My Bead Therapy
Brass leaf from B'sue Muse Box


I also hoard metal components, so my next "raid" was for a fantastic wire wrapped leaf I had received from Heidi Klingman, and then something to go with the rose. Now I know oak leaves and roses are not always thought of together, but I made them work after adding gold leafing to the rose and patina to the leaf.

As I mentioned, the rose took several layers of acrylic paint to achieve the look I was going for, but the patina on the oak leaf brightened it up just right. Thank goodness for E6000, which brought them together.






I linked the wire wrapped leaf and lampwork bead onto a single jump ring and then covered it with one of my polymer clay roses, done in a pattern mimicking the Lucite rose I painted. Then a faceted briolette added to the bottom of the lampwork bead and my focal was ready.


I love the look of necklaces with multiple chains, and decided this one would need 3 due to the size of the focal and accent rose. Two were identical, which I weaved fringed ribbon and sari silk into, on opposite sides, and the third much finer and brighter to compliment the wire wrapped leaf. The ribbon is pink and red to connect the rose and the lampwork bead, and the multicolored sari silk was "just 'cause" (blame the muse). You will see why I mention this in a bit.

Anyone who knows my work, is aware that I LOVE flowers, and tend toward them in creating my polymer clay beads. My other love is to mimic the look of lampwork beads, with my clay (since I have no talent in lampworking).

This is what developed at my clay table.
After bending 18g brass into several figure 8 shapes and hammering it flat, it was time to add the flowers and link the focal and rose together. Now, this is where the reference to the multicolored and pink and red ribbons come in. My daughter (the ultimate critic) said it needed more. So more it was.
 
I strung Swarovski crystals in pink and red on one strand, and the closest colors I could find to match the ribbon on another, and wove them into and around the flowers. A few more biolettes at the base of the loops, and my project was finished.


This is by far the most elaborate piece I have ever done, and hope you agree that it does justice to my hoarded beauties.
 
 


Ms Lori Anderson sure knows how to hold a blog hop, so without further ado, please visit all the others listed below, even if it takes you a while. Thanks again to our wonderful Hostess:

Lori Anderson, Pretty Things

Adlinah Kamsir, Dreamstruck Designs
Alicia Marinache, All the Pretty Things
Amber Dawn, Inventive Soul
Ambra Gostoli, Chic and Frog
Amy Bright, LABweorc
Andra Weber, Andra's Joyful Journey
Andrea Glick-Zenith, ZenithJade Creations
Anne Betenson, Crystal River Beads
Annita Wilson, AW Jewelry 
Anzia Parks, Anzi-Panzi's Work Shoppe
Audrey Belanger, Dreams of an Absolution
B. R. Kuhlman, Mixed Mayhem
Becky Pancake, Becky Pancake Bead Designs
Beth Emery, Stories by Indigo Heart
Beti Horvath, Stringing Fool
Birgit Klughardt, Gites Beads
Birgitta Lejonklou, Create With Spirit
Candida Castleberry, Spun Sugar Beadworks
Carolyn Lawson, Carolyn's Creations
Catherine King, Catherine's Musings
Cece Cormier, The Beading Yogini
Cheri Reed, Creative Designs by Cheri
Cheryl McCloud, One Thing Leads to Another
Christa Murphy, Adventures of One Beady Woman
Christie Murrow, Charis Designs
Christina Miles, Wings 'n' Scales
Claire Lockwood, Something to Do With Your Hands
Crystal Thain, Here Bead Dragons
Cynthia Abner, Created Treasures
Dana Hickey, Wind Dancer Studios
Danielle Kelley, Imbue the Muse
D'Arsie Manzella, This Here Now, Mamacita
Debbie Rasmussen, A Little of This, A Little of That
Diane Hawkey, Diane Hawkey
Dini Bruinsma, Angaza by Changes
Dolores Rami, CraftyD's Creations
Donetta Farrington, Simply Gorgeous
Dyanne Cantrell, Dee-Liteful Jewelry Creations
Elena Adams, Lena's Beady Blog
Elizabeth Bunn, Elizabeth Beads
Elsie Deliz-Fonseca, Eliz-Eliz and All That Craft
Emma Todd, A Polymer Penchant
Erin Guest, Renlish
Ev Shelby, Raindrop Creations
Gerda Jurimae, Gerda's Crafts Blog
Ginger Bishop, Lil Mummy Likes
Hannah Rosner, Good River Valley
Hannah Trost, PZ Designs
Heather Davis, Blissful Garden Beads
Heather Otto, The Crafthopper
Heather Powers, Humblebeads
Hope Smitherman, Crafty Hope
Ile Ruzza, Ilenia's Unique Beaded Jewelry
Inge von Roos, Inge's Blog
Ingrid, Lilisgems Handcrafted Jewelry Inspirations
Jackie Marchant, Fiddledeedee Jewelry
Jacquie, Bead Gypsy
Janet McDonald, Singing Woods
Janine Lucas, Travel Stories
Jasvanti Patel, Jewels by Jasvanti
Jayne Capps, Mama's Got to Doodle
Jeanne, Gems by Jeanne Marie
Jeannie Dukic, Jeannie's Blog
Jennifer LaVite, Dry Gulch Bead and Jewelry
Jenny Davie-Reazor, Jenny Davies-Reazor
Jenny Kyrlach, Wonder and Whimsy
Jessica Klaaren, The Truth Space
JJ Jacobs, Coming Abstractions
Joan Williams, lilruby jewelry
Jo-Ann Woolverton, It's a Beadiful Creation
Johanna Nunez, The Lovely One Design
Judy Riggs, Rigglettes
JuLee Wolfe, The Polymer Penguin
Karen Martinez, Fairies Market
Karen Mitchell, Over the Moon Design
Karen, Spokalulu
Kari Asbury, Hippie Chick Design
Karin King, The Sparklie Things Blog
Karin Slaton, Backstory Beads
Karla Morgan, Texas Pepper Jams
Kathy Engstrom, Catherine's Dreams
Kay Thomerson, Kayz Kreations
Kelly Hosford Patterson, The Traveling Side Show
Kim, Cianci Blue
Kris Lanae Binsfield, Cherish Designs
Kym Hunter, Kym Hunter Designs
Laren Dee Barton, Laren Dee Designs
Laurie Vyselaar, Lefthand Jewelry
Leanne Loftus, First Impression Design
Lennis Carter, windbent
LiliKrist, Handmade by LilK
Linda Anderson, From the Bead Board
Linda Inhelder, Must Haves Jewelry
Linda Landig, Linda's Bead Blog and Meanderings
Linda Sadler, Ida Louise Jewelry
Lisa Cone, Inspired Adornments
Lisa Harrison, Daisy Meadow Studio
Lisa Stukel, Carefree Jewelry by Lisa
Lizzie Clarke, The Need to Bead
Lori Bergmann, Lori Bergmann Design
Lori Jean Poppe, Adventures in Creativity
Lori Lochner, Bloghner
Lori Schneider, Bead Addict
Louise Glazier, Lily and Jasmine Treasures
Mallory Hoffman, Rosebud 101 - For the Love of Beads
Marci, That Nothing Be Wasted
Marcia Dunne, 13 Alternatives
Marde Lowe, Fancimar
Marianna Boylan, Pretty Shiny Things
Marie Covert, Creating Interest
Marjorie Savill Linthwaite, Bennu Bird Rising
Marlene Cupo, Amazing Designs < You are here
Mary Govaars, MLH Jewelry Designs
Mary Shannon Hicks, falling into the sky
MaryLou Holvenstot, MaryLou's time2cre8
Megan Milliken, MaeMaeMills
Melissa Trudinger, beadrecipes
Menka Gupta, Menka's Jewelry
Michelle Escano, The Cabby Crafter
Miranda Ackerley, MirandAck Arts
Miri Agassi, Beadwork
Mischelle Fanucchi, Micheladas Musings
Molly Alexander, Beautifully Broken Me
Monique Urquhart, A Half-Baked Notion
Nan Smith, Wired Nan
Nancy Dale, NEDBeads
Nat, Grubbi Ceramics
Natalie Moten, Running Out of Thread
Nelly May, Smelly Nelly
Nichole Byers, Nichole Byers
Niki Sayers, Silver Nik Nats
Pam Traub, Klassy Joolz
Patricia, The Color of Dreams
Patty Miller, Cabari Beads
Paula Hisel, Simply Beadiful
Perri Jackson, Shaktipaj Designs
Perri Jackson, Shaktipaj Designs
Rana Lea, Rana Lea Designs
Rebecca Sirevaag, Becca's Place
Rita Avila, Jewel School Friends
Robin Reed, Artistry HCBD
Robyn, Museiddity
Rochelle Brisson, A Creative Chelle
Roxanne Mendoza, Roxi Designs
Sandi Volpe, Sandi Volpe
Sandy Markley, Gypsy Spirit Designs
Sarah Goode, Pookledo
Sarah Small, By Salla
Shalini Austin, Jewellery by Shalini
Sharon Palac, Sharon's Jewelry Garden
Sharyl McMillian-Nelson, Sharyl's Jewelry & Reflections
Sherri Stokey, Knot Just Macrame
Skylar Bre'z, Brising Beads
Steph, Confessions of a Bead Hoarder
Stephanie Haussler, Pixybug Designs
Stephanie Perry, Mustard Bead
Sue Kennedy, SueBeads
Sue, Mid-Life Great Expectations
Susan Bowie, Susan Nelson Bowie
Susan, Mistheword
Tammie Everly, TTE Designs
Tanty Sri Hartanti, TJewellicious by Tanti
Terry Carter, Tapping Flamingo
Tracie Dean, Dean Designs
Valerie Norton, Hot Art
Wendy Holder, Jewelry by WendyLea
 
 




Wednesday, July 10, 2013

The Studio Sublime Challenge Blog Hop

 
 
Black and white is one of my favorite combinations to work with, especially since polymer clay presents itself with so MANY possibilities. I have a ton of black and white canes, so when Sally of The Studio Sublime came up with this Challenge Hop, I was ready. LOL, I had the set I present to you done within the week, and have been patiently (NOT) waiting until today!
 
My jewelry loving granddaughter was over one day and helped me put every slice from the myriad of canes on these beads. She was soooo proud when she finished, she even asked to take some home with her. I found out later from mom, she gave everyone in the house one as a gift from her.

 


I had the idea to drill the largest oval both lengthwise and through the center so I could use it as a bail for the dangle I had in mind. After wire wrapping the sterling silver to it and then redoing the messy wraps several times so the beads I attached worked right, a final swirl was added to the center.


Then the stringing started and I realized I needed something to complete the necklace for around the neck, and after hunting through all my stash boxes realized it was time to make more plain black and white swirl beads for it. I finished it off with a cute pewter lock and key toggle.

For the earrings that went with this necklace, I used more of the small black candy swirl tube beads, one of which I used above the focal dangle, attached them to three different silver chains, and added white capped black beads to silver twisted connectors (was fun trying to get the head pins though them).


The design was to imitate the abstract feel of the pattern of the beads used in the necklace. The earrings hang almost three inches, so I added them to long tailed sterling silver ear wires to balance them out.




Here is the complete set.
 
Hope you have had as much fun with this Challenge as I did, and thank Sally Russick for hosting it.
Here are the other participants, and a linkup beneath the list if you want to add your blog post.

Sally Russick < Our Hostess
Marlene Cupo <You are here