Using Up the Stash #6 Black Diamond Glass Beads with Sterling Leaf

I've had this beautiful, large sterling silver leaf in my stash for nearly two years now and just couldn't see the design it belonged with. Finally while stringing a mix of "black diamond" glass beads, I realized they'd look great with the leaf. And, because nothing in the necklace is made from materials I've purchased recently, it was a great piece for the UUtS series, too.

There was only one problem, I didn't want to add another strand of beads but the two strands alone were too skimpy for the bold pendant. That's when I remembered I had a length of silver colored wire mesh tubing from Rings & Things. I incorporated the ribbon with the strands, finished the ends with sterling cones and there you go!

I have one month to go before I display my pieces at Norwescon in Seattle - so much to do to get ready! I'm not sure what kind of a display area I will have so I need to be ready to adapt to whatever I get. I'm considering doing something a bit different than I did in L.A. but I'll need to experiment with the idea to see if it works. I'll let you in on it when I do.

Final Artbeads CZ Design & Enter Today to Win a $25 Artbeads Gift Certificate

The final set of CZ coins I from Artbeads were the yellow ones shown below. I paired them with sterling lever back earrings and Beadalon silver square knots. I used two Beadalon ball end headpins and made wrapped loops to connect them to the knots.

I received one other CZ item - a sterling silver toggle with 3mm Cognac CZs, which I haven't used yet, but hope to soon.

I hope you've enjoyed this week of Arbeads Cubic Zirconia Beads . Now it's time to comment on your favorite CZ piece from this week as your entry in a random drawing for a $25.00 Artbeads gift certificate. The winner will be drawn and announced on Saturday (tomorrow) and will get their certificate directly from Artbeads, so I'll be asking you to email me your full name and email address, if you're chosen.

For a chance at a $100 Artbeads "Holiday Cheer" prize go to their Facebook page to read how and enter.

Come back tomorrow when I announce the winner!

FTC compliance notice of material connection: some of the CZ elements, as noted above, were provided to me for free in exchange for design purposes and/or promotional consideration by Artbeads.

Tuesday Tidbit - Artbeads CZ Design #2

Yesterday I shared the diamond look-alike Cubic Zirconia earrings I made. Today I'll share a bracelet and earrings I've made (well, just one of the earrings so far) using CZ ovals and other Artbeads products previously purchased, plus a pair of olive CZ round beads from my Artbeads Blogging for Beads package.

I think this design gives an asymmetrical appearance at first glance, but there is a repeating pattern to it, just a relatively long one.

Materials for bracelet:

2 - 7x9mm Olivine CZ Ovals

4 - Pearlized Glass Baroque 12mm - Light Olivine "pearls" - (now 50% off)

8 - CRYSTALLIZED™ Swarovski Elements 5301 5mm Faceted Bicones Khaki

3 - Pale olive freshwater cultured "rice" pearls. The ones I used were a free gift with purchase from another supplier. Artbeads has a large selection of pearls to choose from to select a substitute.

6 - Silver/Bali silver 8 or 9 mm filigree cones. Although I used a different small cone for my bracelet (that I'm unable to reference a link for right now), I think this Bali Silver Open Cone with Swirling Filigree Pattern would be a good substitute, or you could use any bead cap style you prefer.

8 - 4.5mm Shiny Saucer Bead - these are 10% off, plus there's a coupon good through December 10th for 10% off select Sterling Silver beads (see * at bottom of post)

Two round silver plate "Scrimps™", two wire guardians, and the clasp of your choice (I used a swivel lobster claw) finish off the bracelet.

Earrings:

1 - 7mm Olivine CZ Coin

1 - 7x9mm Olivine CZ Oval

1 - Sterling Lever Back Earrings (Plain) - (now 10% off)

1 - Pearlized Glass Baroque 12mm - Light Olivine "pearls" - (now 50% off)

1 - CRYSTALLIZED™ Swarovski Elements 5301 5mm Faceted Bicones Khaki

3 - pale olive freshwater cultured "rice" pearl (see above)

For the earrings I made two wrapped loop links on either side of a CRYSTALLIZED™ Swarovski Elements Khaki bicone and added the pearlized glass baroque "pearl" with a wrapped loop to one side. Then I made a simple loop at the top of the baroque pearl and attached it to the lever back earring finding.

On the other wrapped loop, below the khaki Swarovski, I hung a tiny sterling oval jump ring and then using ball-end headpins on the two CZ shapes and the freshwater cultured pearl, I finished them with wrapped loops, hung them on the jumpring and closed it to create the final dangle.

I think this would go really well with a necklace I made a while back, if I'd used silver instead of gold spacers...good thing I have enough beads to make another one in silver.

On Friday I'll be asking you to comment on your favorite CZ piece from this week as your entry in a random drawing for a $25.00 Artbeads gift certificate. The winner will be drawn on Saturday and will get their certificate directly from Artbeads, so I'll be asking you to email me your full name and email address, if you're chosen.

For a chance at a $100 Artbeads "Holiday Cheer" prize go to their Facebook page to read how and enter.

Hope to see you tomorrow when I share another Artbeads CZ design!

FTC compliance notice of material connection: some of the CZ elements, as noted above, were provided to me for free in exchange for design purposes and/or promotional consideration by Artbeads.

*Artbeads Coupon: "For one week only, save 10% on select sterling silver items. From beads and chain to findings and charms, sterling silver is a versatile and popular beading material. This sale excludes Bali silver and Hill Tribe silver. To take advantage of these savings simply enter coupon code SCW10P-SSK during checkout. Coupon expires at 9am (PST) on Thursday, December 10, 2009. Only one coupon may be used per order."

Monday Miscellany - Artbeads CZ Earrings

Artbeads.com has graciously provided some Cubic Zirconia Beads selections as part of their Blogging for Beads program.

My selections will be featured in upcoming posts as I design pieces with them. The first of these is a pair of earrings using two 6mm Crystal CZ Rounded Bezel Flat Drops, two 4mm Cubic Zirconia Post Earrings (they're 10% off right now) and two 6mm Sterling Silver CZ Bezel Links. Total cost before any discount coupons or sales and shipping is $13.90. I'm thinking these would make wonderful Christmas gifts.

Hope you'll forgive the poor photography, my "studio" still isn't quite set up after my daughter's visit. The earrings were very easy to make, and didn't take much time, using the CZ elements and six tiny (2mm?) sterling oval jump rings. As a glittery alternative to diamonds, these are also very affordable. Artbeads also offers discounts at quantities of 6 to 11 and another break at 12+ .

The CZs have pointed backs, so I'm not sure they'd be really comfortable in a bracelet, but as earrings that isn't an issue. The CZ collection comes in a great selection of colors, too.

On Friday I'll be asking you to comment on your favorite CZ piece as your entry in a random drawing for a $25.00 Artbeads gift certificate. The winner will be drawn on Saturday and will get their certificate directly from Artbeads, so I'll be asking you to email me your full name and email address, if you're chosen.

For a chance at a $100 Artbeads "Holiday Cheer" prize go to their Facebook page to read how and enter.

It snowed in the hills above where I lived last night, so it's really looking like winter here. I hope that wherever you are, you're snug and warm! See you tomorrow with another Artbeads CZ design!

FTC compliance notice of material connection: the CZ elements discussed above were provided to me free in exchange for promotional consideration by Artbeads.

Tuesday Tidbits - Put on Your Sunglasses!

This is probably the most "glam" piece I've ever attempted. I was dazzled by some chessboard Swarovski rhinestones i saw on Artbeads and decided to grab them back when they were having a great sale. I'd also previously acquired oval sterling jump rings, amazonite cubes (not in stock) and some non-tarnish silver Artistic wire from them. I bought the aqua Swarovski to go with those amazonite cubes as I had a design idea in mind.

Late last week as I was linking together the amazonite bits to the Swarovski's, I realized I needed sterling chain, so I got that as well, this time using one of their coupons to get a bit of savings - be sure you either sign up for their newsletter or check the coupon specials (there's a link on their hone page) before finalizing your order!

Wave the magic wand (well, really work for days on it) and create version 1.

Not exactly there, though, but I took a picture so you could see the changes. A couple hours later, version 2:

Liking version 2 better, so far. Will put aside for a while before deciding if it's done.

Update!

I just couldn't stop fiddling - made it a 3 layer necklace by adding satin ribbon tie-back. Added advantage that length becomes more adjustable. Pondering embellishment to ribbon...

Speaking of Artbeads - if you're on Twitter, don't forget to do the "Tweet Your Prize" contests! Today's ends at 9 a.m. Pacific but perhaps there will be another one up later this week, so check that link daily!

Not Going to Be a Lazy Saturday Around Here

I didn't accomplish all that much yesterday - got my workspace tidied up a bit - there were little gears everywhere and bags and piles of beads, but they're mostly corralled now. I want to get as much done this weekend as possible for the show which is now less than a week off.

Even though I spent a lot of time doing clean up work yesterday, I did make something - this is the necklace I worked on for most of last evening. I used gold vermeil spacers, Czech glass spheres with really intricate faceting, some ornate Czech glass I found ages ago at Global beads and hadn't, until last night, figured out what I was going to use them in.

I'm not sure what the larger beads are called (if you know, please leave a comment and enlighten me!) but I'm very fond of the lilac tinting and hints of gold on the ends and the lovely way they're faceted (click on the picture for better detail), tiny lilac glass spacer beads, and gold filled wire eye and head pins for the connections in the draped center section. I'm thinking it needs a name, but I'm terrible at coming up with good ones.

I need to do new tags, set up new display stuff that optimizes the very small space (my table last year was about five feet long, I think) and organize some containers of pre-sorted stuff to work on, because in Artist's Alley, where I'll be, the requirement is that you focus on working on your art, not selling.

Well, as I may have mentioned here or there, I took the plunge and entered a couple pieces in the BeadStar 2009 contest, didn't make the cut, but I really didn't expect to either this early in my learning curve. I'm sure I have a long way to go, but if I hadn't at least tried, I wouldn't have learned anything.

The entries that did get selected are fabulous. Please visit the site and vote for your favorites. I'd be very interested in a conversation about the finalist selections and what sets the finalists apart from the crowd.

Moving on - here's a fun necklace I made just the other day to go with one of my favorite tropical flower patterned camp shirts, that I wore to the bead tour on Thursday. I used the brightly colored shell heishi's from The Beadin' Path May bead club goodies and some other bits I had in my stash.

(click to enlarge)

Here's one of the pieces I entered in the contest and put off sharing until I heard what made the finalist round. I'm almost embarrassed to post that it was an entry, after seeing the amazing and intricate pieces that were selected in the crystals category. I used my best quality supplies - all sterling silver and Swarovskis. The wire wrapped loops are made with very fine gauge headpins and wire - tedious, but ultimately rewarding work. I really love the balance plus the bit of asymmetry in the center, and simplicity of it, personally.

Please come by tomorrow - I've got a wonderful Wandering Around the Beadosphere post prepared!

Saturday's Output and a Bead-loving Cat

I sure let this day slip away - did finish a necklace, but also took a very long nap in the middle of the day, watched a couple hours of TiVo'd shows and basically was very lazy.

I'm having another mental debate about whether this piece is really finished, but here's what it looks like now. It's made from amazonite cubes from Artbeads, sterling wire and sterling roundel spacers, also from Artbeads, and hand-crafted sterling silver hammered links from Prolifique's Etsy shop. (the focus on this pic isn't very good, so if you enlarge for detail, it will be a bit blurry).

Our eldest cat, Yogurt, has taken to jumping up on my worktable when he comes into the room - he's in and out all day because this room faces the back yard and has a large sliding glass door I keep open - there's a screen door that keeps him inside. One of these times I'll be quick enough with the camera to get a picture.

He likes to sniff everything, but I'm afraid he might also try to eat a bead or some of the beading wire. He almost started knawing at my beeswax block, but I managed to shut it in a drawer before he could. That cat will eat almost anything.

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

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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