Week #29 - Ode to Bead Caps - Part Duex

As promised, this week's installment is also dealing with bead caps.  As I mentioned in my last post, I haven't really ever been comfortable using bead caps.  A gf asked me why and as I thought about it - I realized that sometimes bead caps tend to make a piece look more...... mature.  If that makes any sense?  So, part of my goal in figuring out this bead cap thing is to make sure that my designs don't look matronly.  Not that there is anything wrong with that - because there is a HUGE market for matronly pieces.....just not mine. =)

These gorgeous earrings feature Swarovski crystals (my fav!), antique silver and bright silver bead caps and GORGEOUS handmade lampwork beads by Matt Jordan of Boise Art Glass.

Interestingly enough - the bright silver bead caps I used in these earrings - are the same as last week's.  =)  *proud*

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Pine Ridge Treasures Beach Blog Hop!

OooO how I LOVE me some beach and sea glass!  When I saw the call for The Pine Ridge Treasures Beach Themed Blog Hop - I was on that like white on rice!  I dunno what it is about sea and sand that just makes my heart SING!

I made this adorable piece with memories of my trip to Puerto Rico, dancing in my head.  If you've followed my blog - then you've no doubt read about this amazing opportunity!  AND you've also read about my LOVE of the bio-luminescence bay tour that we went on.  The "Bio Bay" is one of 5 in the world where plankton turn blue, when they are disturbed.  SO, when you move the water - it's a beautiful blue color.  Just STUNNING!

So, you'd think THAT would be my inspiration for my piece....but it's not.  Instead, I went with the beautiful BLUE cobblestone that is throughout Old San Juan. 

Gorgeous blue and white sea glass with a sweet little sand dollar

Sand dollar up close - the piece needed a little something special

Check out the blogs of my friends who also played!

Your hostess:  Lisa Lodge, A Grateful Artist

Carolyn Lawson, Carolyn's Creations

Candida Elkins Castleberry, Spun Sugar Beadworks

Becky Pancake, Becky Pancake Bead Designs

Kari Asbury, Hippie Chick Design

Susan Anderson, La Main Tresor

Kim Dworak, Cianci Blue

Margaret Pelech, Margaret Pelech's Blog

Lisa Prewitt Knappenberger, LiRaysa Designs

Carol Briody, A Beads Life

Karin Grosset Grange, Ginkgo et Coquelicot

Shaiha Williams, Shaiha’s Ramblings

Gloria Allen, Gloria Allen Designs

Rosee Floss Hanemaayer, Silver Penny Artisans

Saundra Farren, Something by Saundra

Beti Horvath, Stringing Fool Jewelry

MaryAnne Kelly Hobbs-Fernie - TBD

Chris Eisenberg, Wanderware

Alicia Marinache, All the Pretty Things

Veralynne Malone, Designed by Vera

Kelly Fletcher – TBD

Linda Anderson, From the Bead Board (You are here!)

Diana Chavis - TBD

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Week #28 - Ode to Bead Caps

This week has been a little cray-cray for me.  Haven't really felt myself and really haven't felt the urge to make jewelry so this week's installment is a pair that I made a few weeks ago, but made some others I liked more - so these got pushed back a bit.  =)

After intentionally making 28 pairs of earrings, and looking all over for inspiration, something I noticed in other people's work - but not mine - was bead caps.  Those little things that can add a little pizzazz, when used right or can make you go "huh?" when used wrong.  I've been kinda scared of them, mostly because I felt like each time I used them.....it was "huh? that looks awful. remove"  In the interest of the Year project, I know that this is something I need to get comfortable with and stretch myself in to using.  As a friend said "bead caps can make pieces that are "pretty" in to "pretty AMAZING"" So, here's my first - intentional attempt at using bead caps.  (Yes, I used them in the gushers earrings - but that was more of a trial and error) 

Would love to hear your thoughts!  Cute little, hot pink glass rounds with bright silver bead caps on top and bottom - accented with silver daisies and a silver ball at the top.

Catch the next pair of earrings - as they too - will be using bead caps.  Mixed bright and antique silver - oooooooooo!


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Week #27 - Whoop it UP!

 This Year O Earrings project has really been a challenge for me.  I started it because I have known for quiet some time, that my earrings have REALLY needed some help.  IT's been so great to expand my earring line and to try new techniques as well as pushing myself outside of my comfortable box.  I've used silk, crystals, czech beads, copper wire, silver wire, wood beads, painted beads, resin beads, clay beads..... just really a smorgasbord of different things.  This week's new "thing" is using ribbon.

I kinda like the ribbon.  The earrings needed SOMETHING to whoop them up - and I think this ribbon fits the bill. =)   The ribbon has orange, red, purple, teal and yellow in it.  Just the perfect colors to pull out the earthy tones in the flowers AND make them a bit more versatile.   Hope you like them as much as I do!

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Week #26 - HALF WAY THERE!! An ode to the lagoon

 WOOHOOO!  We're half way there!  26 pairs of earrings MADE and 26 left to go!  I CAN do this! =)

This week's installment comes from being inspired by blues of the carribean waters.  My trip has really been at the front of my mind this last week and so I thought I'd see what I had to play with in the blue family.  This photo was taken on our trip to Bioluminescence Lagoon - the only one in the world.  When the water is moved, these special little plankton turn blue.  Isn't that AMAZING!?!  The photo was taken by the captain of the boat we took (if you go - TAKE A BOAT NOT
 a kayak!) is a Nikon trained pro photographer.....he took my camera and took this shot, while I played. =)  BUT it shows the GORGEOUSNESS of the sky and the water.  And that light - is light pollution from San Juan - which is nearly an hour away!

I pulled out some of my FAVORITE (so far) wood components and paired them with some of my ALL TIME FAVORITE czech beads - satin blue rounds.  The gorgeousness of these beads can HARDLY be captured by photo.  But I tried. =)

So, here's this week's installment....ode to the lagoon

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Week #25 - Playing with Wire

Hello Hello!  Week 25 - I can't believe I've stuck with it this long. LOL! =)  I've been REALLY trying to push myself and not making wimpy little designs that I've always made.  I took this challenge on, to really push myself and grow....which I think I am.  

This week's installment is courtesy of me playing with wire, again.  Just some simple circles (hahahaha - simple? hardly!) and some GORGEOUS color-changing Alexandrite Champagne Swarovski crystals on top.  Alexandrite Champagne changes based on the light..... you can see kinda a smokey blue on top and the bottom is more purple....I LOVE these color changers....ESPECIALLY with copper.  The champagne color REALLY looks beautiful with the copper.  SO - here we are....week 25!

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Week #24 - Sweet Simplicity

 A few weeks ago, I learned that a local bead shop was closing.  I'd never been to this bead shop, but figured it was high time I go.  Sadly, it was an INCREDIBLE shop!  One of the best I've seen in the midwest!  They had everything from Semi-Precious stones, to seed beads, to quality tools, to Swarovskis, books, magazines, czech beads - EVERY.THING. you can imagine - they carried. 

This may or may not be the entire stash of things I purchased - ;)

While I was shopping, I picked up some wire (ok - alot of wire) and some new tools - including a hammer, bench block, liver of sulfer (which I haven't used yet), some new pliers....all kinds of goodies.  My first project using these supplies - is this week's pair of earrings. 

Somewhere I came up the idear to wrap wire around seed bead viles - what a cool idea!  So, these earrings came from that experimenting.  They're made of copper and have Swarovski Crystal AB rondelle's on top.  Sweet. Simple. Beautiful.

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Week #23 - Helllllllo Summer!

 I dunno about you - but these last few weeks have seemed like summer may NEVER come!  It's june and we haven't even hit 85 yet, which is kinda strange.  A blessing, but kinda strange.  I guess that's life in the sub-arctic tundra, fer ya! 

So, this week's earrings were inspired both by my trip to Puerto Rico and summer!  I found these ADORABLE little chevrons while at a local 'big box' store.  I had no intentions of buying beads, but was waiting for an inventory check on some storage boxes and these little guys caught my eye.  They're so cute, bright and fun!  Just like moi!  =)

A beautiful building in Old San Juan

Since taking this challenge on, I've been looking at earrings more than I ever dreamed I would....and this trend - using the chain this way - has been pretty hot, so I thought I'd give it a whirl.  

Hope you love them as much as I do!

They can be purchased right here:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/236159522/rainbow-bright-earrings-sra-summer-fun?ref=shop_home_active_1

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To be sure you don’t miss out on any of my crazy adventures, you can sign up to follow my blog by email or news servers using the links in the right column of my page. You can also follow me on Facebook get updates about blog posts, my latest jewelry designs, show schedule, and other happenings!
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Week #22 - Beach theme continued....

What an AMAZING trip!  Puerto Rico was divine!  We had SUCH an amazing time!  I can't wait to write down all the details and share them with you!

In the mean  time, though, I'll just share week 22's earrings.  They feature BEAUTIFUL hand made, glass rounds on top and adorable little star fish charms on the bottom.  Just looks like a beach on a headpin. =)  *sigh*

I miss you, Mr. Ocean!

Saturday's View from the Beach - *swoon*

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Week #21 - Phone It In

So, while YOU are seeing this lovely posting - *I* am on my way back from PUERTO RICO!!  my bff's husband wanted to do something AMAZING for her upcoming birthday - and he decided that *I* would be that something amazing!  SO - we're all heading to PR - we're meeting up in Chicago, since that's where they live - and going together.  He's got a work conference down there - so our hotel is "free" to us - so an ABSOLUTELY AMAZING chance to see my bff AND an INCREDIBLE part of the US! =)

So, this week's pair of earrings are bright and bold - just like Puerto Rico!  They feature handmade glass rounds with a plethora of fun dots.  The bottom charms are pieces I made, handpainted - with resin - on wood - so they are SUPER lightweight!  They're bright, fun and BEAUTIFUL! 
 

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To be sure you don’t miss out on any of my crazy adventures, you can sign up to follow my blog by email or news servers using the links in the right column of my page. You can also follow me on Facebook get updates about blog posts, my latest jewelry designs, show schedule, and other happenings!
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