Sky Images and Simplicity

Watching Cosmos episodes back to back over the last few evenings has definitely put me in a cosmic state of mind. I dug out my blue lace agate in response to all the sky imagery. Now the picture below is a work in progress - strung but not finished...because...I'm wondering if I should stop or consider either more embellishment or multi-strands. I am particularly fond of rather delicate, simple necklaces. That's fine if I'm just making things for myself, but I wonder, would I have better luck selling my pieces if I made more elaborate ones?

I'd be interested in your comments.

Edited to add (on 3/29) Finished it as a simple necklace and listed it on Art Fire:

Dawno

Buy Handmade

New Piece Finished Tonight

I finished a piece this evening that I worked on during breaks in my reorganization efforts this weekend. It's just under 18" long, made from blue-gray coin pearls, "liquid silver" sterling silver tubes and seamless sterling silver (3mm) beads, all from Rings & Things.

The clasp has been in my stash for quite some time and I didn't save the packaging (something I do now) so I have to trust my memory - I'm sure it's sterling (has a 925 stamp) but I don't recall the supplier. It's a hook and eye type clasp with a little bit of decorative etching.

I secured the clasp on the Beadalon 49 strand silver tone bright .38mm beading wire with silver plated wire guardians (Rings & Things, again) and silver plated smooth oval Scrimps from Michael's.

I love the baroque look of the pearls, the texture provides some interesting reflections on the pearls. By using three smaller tubes the choker is more flexible than if one long tube had been used, although, to be very honest about it, that's just because I didn't look carefully at the length of the tubes I was purchasing, rather than a deliberate choice. Nevertheless, serendipity worked for this piece I believe.

I'm watching Cosmos on Hulu (see my other blog for details and a clip of the first episode if you'd like to check it out) as I putter around in the workroom. Some of the beautiful natural photography and imaginative animations of outer space may just provide some inspiration! In fact, the blue-gray pearls are rather celestial looking - like little moons floating in a silvery ring...

Well, lookie here - you can buy this right off the page if you like it!

Dawno

Buy Handmade

Finished the Snow Inspired Necklace

Between working late and moderating a chat while the VP Debates were on, I didn't get to any beading until rather late tonight. But I did finish the necklace I started yesterday. I had just enough of the rondells to do 20 1/2 inches and have a couple left over for another set of earrings that I think I'll make with smaller beads. Cut off the clasp in my picture, it's a simple lobster claw and link.

I had first thought I'd add some kind of pendant or dangles of some sort, but I like it a lot as it is - simple, but still interesting. It'll be a great winter accessory.

(click image for larger view)

Time to get some sleep, now.

Inspired by Snow on Mars

Read today that NASA's Phoenix Mars lander detected snow in the atmosphere. I have a number of opaque white faceted glass beads in the bead mix I recently received, and I just felt inspired to make something snowy.

The chain is pretty short right now, about 7 1/2". I don't have nearly enough of the gold roundells to go all the way around in a full necklace length (18 - 20" is what I think will look best), so I'll probably finish up the chain with just the white druk and gold tone bead links.