Mom's Outer Banks Necklace

My mom came back from the Outer Banks, North Carolina last year with a hand full of shells and one request - for me to make a necklace for her. I really agonized over it for a while: Do I try to drill through the shells? Do I back & embroider them? Do I use bails and make some funky charm necklace type piece? In the end, I decided to make right angle weave bezels for them... all 18 of them. There are 16 shells on the necklace and two that I used for a pair of earrings.

The center shell posed a different problem with its shape. Mom had originally requested that I try to drill it, but I was terrified that I'd break the shell. Instead, I used a minimal amount of silver wire to wrap it.

The shells are an off-white and lilac to medium purple mix and I used gray Czech seed beads for the bezels. The shells are interspersed with stick mother of pearl beads. I'm really happy with the results, as is she!

In other news, I submitted my project to Bead & Button. I should know by September if they've accepted the project. First time for submitting a project!

I'm still waiting on news from the Use the Muse project and the FMG results.

B.E.S.T. Treasury

WhimsyBeading created a treasury based on Bluegrass Etsy Street Team members and included my Green with Envy bracelet. The treasury, "It ain't easy being green (BEST)" is a plethora of shades of green.

http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=73626

I'm still waiting to hear about the FMG and Use the Muse results. I submitted some pieces to "Creative Jewelry" for publication but didn't get in. There's always next year, so I'll work on something for that. In the meantime, I'm working on a custom order for my mom with some shells that she picked up along the beach on the Outer Banks last year. I also need to order some Lapis for a custom necklace for a friend.

The last week hasn't been a fun one for me and I've made some decisions that I'm not quite ready to go public with yet. Let's just say one door closes and another opens.

Treasury

Creativesque created a treasury based on FAM Team members and included my Redbud Earrings. The treasury is a beautiful riot of color.

http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=71562

I finished my Use the Muse entry and my friend Stephen helped me photograph it. I can't reveal it yet (per the rules) but I'm pretty happy with it.

I also made a piece on Friday that I'm really happy with. I'm going to plot this one out & submit it to B&B, I think. I can't remember seeing anything like it. I made it up as I went along, but it's not freeform, and it's not so elaborate that I wouldn't mind recreating it in order to write the instructions.

Treasury Time

DaisiesAreOurSilver put together a Kentucky-themed treasury ("Kentucky loveliness") and was nice enough to feature one of my hats! Thanks so much!

http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=67218

I started my entry for the EBW July challenge and am still working on my entry for the Use the Muse contest. My wrists have been giving me grief, but I'm happy with both pieces thus far!

Oh what to write...

I've GOT to get better at blogging. My life has been a bit crazy lately, but I need to take some time to visit this place more often.

I got my beads in for the Use the Muse project. I've pulled some of my beads out to incorporate into the piece, but haven't really sat down & thought about where it'll go yet. Most of my pieces end up telling me where they want to go, anyway! I've drawn out a few pieces and they usually end up veering off from my original intent. They know where they want to go & they're not about to let me force them in any direction other than that one!

I started working on the July EBW challenge - Here Comes the Bride. I missed the June challenge of humor, but that's ok. I think I needed a month off! This piece is definitely leading me in a direction that I didn't think it was going to go!

I was in a treasury last week, but totally missed blogging about it. Boourns!

I got an email from Jessica King at Fire Mountain Gems last night with the copy for my Success Story. OMG! I'm so flattered. My jaw hit the floor and I grinned like an idiot after reading it. What a compliment! Once the story is up & posted, I'll link to it.

The earrings in the post are a pair that I did for my friend Jenn as a custom order. Very happy with the way they turned out!