Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Beady goodness!

I was so on top of things this week!  I received lots of packages filled with gorgeous beads the other day and went right to work to take pictures to share.  Then today, I went to takes pictures of some completed jewelry, saw that my memory card had pictures on it that I THOUGHT (that would be the key word here) I had already edited...and deleted them.  Story of my life lately!  So, only completed jewelry pics today!

I really wanted to make some sterling silver bangles - I made a bunch for "the family" last year and wanted to make some more...so I did:


I made 6 of this style using 14 gauge sterling.  I then took the same wire and hand twisted it (after annealing it of course) and made a twisted silver bracelet.  This bracelet really tested my abilities - let me tell you!  I am really pleased with how it turned out, though!  I took really nice pictures the other day - but see paragraph one above where I deleted them!  The pic below is from my I-Pad...not the best!

The bracelet below is made with handmade lampwork by Sue Kennedy - she calls these Cameo Beads and I just love them!  So feminine!



Sue also does some amazing enamel work - the filigrees she made below perfectly match these EXQUISITE lampwork beads by Pinocean:

More beads by Pinocean - her stringer work is just amazing - she also made the tiny little matte gray spacers that top the earrings:

Look at the beautiful greens in the earrings below - green is not normally a color that I am immediately drawn to - but these beads (also by Pinocean) are so pretty!

This next bracelet - my favorite neutrals - are artisan beads, but the package where I store my beads was missing the artist's information (I am so sorry!  I am usually very good at identifying all the artists)!

Edited May 23 - These beads are made by Rachel Bishop of Puffafish fame - Thanks to Lesley Watt, who has an amazing eye!


The next few pictures all feature beads by Julie of Outwest.  She is a master-maker of disc beads I tell you!  I know that I should be more creative when I wrap these - but I just love this style for this bead!  It dangles "just right" and provides the perfect pop of color in just the right spot, you know what I mean?


I love the rustic look of these....and the colors are amazing, too!


Tomorrow - May 23, would be my father's 84th birthday.  He has been gone for over 8 years now.  On one hand, it feels like just yesterday that he left us, and on another, it feels like decades.  To celebrate his life, Mom and I are going to her favorite carb-filled restaurant for lunch - Panera!  Have you tried their cinnamon crunch bagels???  I buy them for Mom by the half-dozen and freeze them...that way, she can have her carb-fix at any given moment!  Happy Birthday Daddy!



Enjoy the rest of the week - thanks so much for stopping by!

Monday, May 20, 2013

And the winner is....

Thank you all for the comments last week!  Lily - the filly born to Bradylynn at Miracle Horse on May 14, 2013 - is doing wonderfully!!  She is adorable! (see pictures of Lily by following this link: Miracle Horse Facebook page.


The winner of this bracelet made with gorgeous Donna Millard Beads is.... 




Julie!   

Julie left a comment for number 17 - I actually used Random Generator to get my number but it was impossible for me to copy the Random Generator Image into my blog post (see my last post on how I AM NOT computer literate).

For those of you who live under a rock, Julie is another magnificent lamp work artist of OUTWEST fame (I LOVE her beads!!)  Aren't these gorgeous!
Picture from Outwest's Etsy site
Anyway, Julie - please send me an email at pattivan@comcast.net and I will get this lovely bracelet in the mail to you!

Thanks for stopping by!  I promise to blog again soon! :)