Snow day work

Under more than a foot of snow, I've been at home, playing with beads. 

New Listings!

I went nuts (like usual) the other day and glazed a bunch of glass tiles for jewelry. Today, I finally got around to adding 5 of the bracelets to my etsy store, along with a beadwoven necklace and bracelet.

Things have been a bit hectic with my schedule and I feel like I haven't gotten much done in the way of beading. I know it's not true because I've increased my stock in the gallery, but I just haven't gotten photos taken of everything for etsy. Sometimes, I just feel like my business gets in the way of my business! Of course, I'd sit and bead all day if given the chance, but I have to say, I've enjoyed hanging out with friends lately and working on my committee assignments. Yes, I am crazy, why do you ask?

Glass Bracelets:
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=23714548
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=23717249
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=23718635
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=23719178
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=23719608

Dutch Spiral Bracelet:
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=23722427

Bird's Nest Necklace:
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=23720308

New Treasury

Binkaminka has included my Copper and Silver SteamPunk Pendant 1 in her treasury, Wild Solitudes.

http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=48895

I've also listed two new bracelets:

Oooooh, Shiny Object!
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=22903302

The Spring Spiral
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=22902740

February Challenge Entry

I finally finished & listed my Etsy-Beadweavers Challenge entry for February!

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=20223811

This freeform bracelet was created for the Etsy-Beadweavers February Challenge - Tropical Holiday. In thinking about the challenge, I went back in my memory to Waikiki - the crystal blue water that you could see through, that changed color under the magnificent sunsets. The entire island of Oahu seemed to stop every night to watch the sunset.

This cuff is made from 11/0 Japanese cylinder beads utilizing peyote, herringbone, brick and right angle weave stitches. Galvanized denim blue, sea foam green and iridescent purple undulate around the wrist, topped off with dyed freshwater pearls, etched glass reminiscent of sea glass, agate and a tiny glass fish. A large mother of pearl focal houses a peyote toggle clasp.

The bracelet measures 8" long and 2" wide at the widest point.

Visit the EBW blog to see other artists beautiful beadwork; or search EBWC to see more tropical holiday challenge pieces. Please visit the team blog between February 9th and 15th, when you'll be able to vote for your favorite entry.

Kiss my Glass!

My foray into the world of glass decoupage began Sunday night. I'd bought some wonky rounds and squares with holes, along with some Diamond Glaze a few months ago from the fab Annie Howes. I hadn't had time to play with it, but decided to make time Sunday night. I sat down with my glass, glaze and a stack of decorative paper. I'm really happy with how they came out! The rounds are going to be bracelets and the squares pendants, but I'm doing them with sterling or copper handmade swirls instead of affixing bails. Partially because I wanted to do something different and partially because I'm too impatient to wait to order bails & have them come in!

Wrapped in Blue: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=18737344
Funky Punk Glass Bracelet: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=18736704

Ancestral Expressions

I finished my piece for the Etsy Beadweavers November Challenge yesterday and I'm really happy with it. It's bright, free and is very much an expression of who I am.

The November theme is "Ancestral Expressions." When I first started thinking about projects for this challenge, everything that came to mind was very literal about my background. I've always embraced the Celtic/Pagan part of me, as I'm part Scottish, Irish & Welsh. I was sketching Celtic knots, the Celtic family tree, thinking of researching my family's different tartans, but it all seemed a bit trite and contrived. I knew I was leaving out more. I'm also English, Swedish, Cherokee & Sioux. So I thought about doing seven panels - each representing my different heritages. But then I knew I was probably leaving out some nationality that I don't know about.

The thought that came to me then is always my response to when people ask me what I am. I always say "Trail Mix." My mom has started researching our family tree, so I know certain ethnicities and a little about my family's past, but it's garbled and missing information here and there. So, trail mix seems to fit. When I thought about that, I decided to design something that represented the different pasts, their varied histories and holes in the information that I do have. What I came up with is my bracelet, lovingly titled "Trail Mix" - full of color, peyote, right angle weave, herringbone, ladder, picot fringe and some backstitch with the embellishment. The holes represent the holes in my history.

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=16808573

Please visit the EBW blog at http://etsy-beadweavers.blogspot.com between November 9th and 15th, to see all of the entries in our November challenge and vote for your favorite. Search EBW TEAM for more beautiful beadwoven creations and EBWC for monthly challenge entries.

Feature & St. James!!!!

The lovely and talented Zoya Gutina featured me in her September newsletter. Thank you SO much, Zoya.

St. James Court is this weekend and I've started to freak out even more. I told my friend Anne that I'm afraid they're going to tell me it was all a mistake when I get there & I actually didn't get juried in! There are around 750 juried artists & craftsmen from across the US at this show & it's repeatedly ranked in the top 10 shows for the US. It's scary & exciting!

I've also listed my challenge entry for the Etsy Beadweavers October Challenge "Animal Instincts." I actually finished this piece a few weeks ago for the challenge, but wasn't sure that I'd enter it and planned on doing another piece. With all of the festivals, etc. going on here, I didn't get a chance to finish my scarab piece, so the "Zebra of a Different Color" is my entry. Im pretty happy with it's funky dye job. Gives me ideas for my own head!

Please visit http://etsy-beadweavers.blogspot.com/ to vote on the October challenge from October 9th until the 15th and see the beadweaver team members amazing works of art!

Bracelets!

Added three new pieces to my Etsy store yesterday. The first is "All that glitters..." which is an even-count peyote bracelet featuring twisted dark gold bugles and gold Delicas. The clasp is a gold button closure with a loop.

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=15034651

The next piece is a sort of study in tubular herringbone, featuring a rainbow of colors. It's rather large and could actually be worn as an anklet by smaller boned people. It also has a a button and loop closure.

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=15035184

The last piece is probably my favorite. The October Challenge for the Etsy-Beadweavers is "Animal Instincts." I thought I'd try a zebra print, but in different colors than black & white. I'm pretty happy with how it turned out, but I think I'm going to do another piece for the Challenge :)

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=15034207

Speaking of challenges - go vote for the September Challenge! http://etsy-beadweavers.blogspot.com

September EBW Challenge

Voting begins on Tuesday, September 9th and ends midnight September 15th. Please show your appreciation for the efforts of these amazing artists by taking on the difficult task of voting for your favorite. (The ballot will appear on the side bar at right on the Etsy-Beadweavers Blog on September 9.) The individual pieces are listed below the mosaic on the blog where you can visit each entry for more information by following the link. Thank you, enjoy and be sure to visit http://etsy-beadweavers.blogspot.com/ and vote between September 9th and 15th!

(I'm #10!)