Focus on Life - 4/52

This week's prompt from Sally Russick's "Focus on Life Challenge" is to Create Art.  While I do consider my self somewhat creative, the mediums in which I dabble are limited.  I do not draw - I do sketch jewelry designs occasionally, but they tend to fall in to the category of doodles.  I do not own paints - though many years ago, I painted bisque ceramics (this art form came from my mother).  I do not own a journal - correction - I own several journals filled with completely blank pages.  I have not picked up a crochet hook in MONTHS ... and I miss it.  But at this point in my life, my jewelry is my way expressing my art.

 

I did not want to bore you with tons of pics, so here is a collage of just a portion of what I have created this week.  

In addition to my newest love - Jasper - there are lots of artbeads above, including lampwork from Kerry Bogert, Outwest, Unicorne, JavaBead, and SueBeads.  Have I mentioned I love lampwork beads???

I am still very much involved in Kerry Bogert's Aspire to Wire e-class - a new wire project every day for 30 days.  I open my emails at 5:30 am and BAM - a new project that I cannot wait to try!

Head on over to The Studio Sublime to follow the links of this week's Challenge participants.

Thanks so much for stopping by - I love to read your comments!

AJE Earring Challenge...and Giveaway Winner!

Today is the first reveal in the Art Jewelry Elements (AJE) Challenge!  We have been challenged to make one pair of earrings per week, and to post these earrings every other Sunday.  The only requirement is to use a handmade art bead....my only problem with this is choosing which art bead to use!

First up is this pair of earrings, featuring handmade lampwork beads by Sue Kennedy of Sue Beads.  If you have read my blog, you already know that I am a HUGE lover of her beads! Not only is she a lampwork artist extraordinaire, but her enameled components are STUNNING.  But the beads I have chosen to illustrate here are so appropriate for this time of year - at least in my neck of the world (Virginia) - because they represent an escape:

Will you look at the detail in these beads!!  Sue calls them Beach Beads - and I am there in my mind right now!  I am not sure which aspect of these beads is my favorite - the sand, the beach ball represented by her murrini or the crystal blue of the water OR sky!  The bit of silver she swirled across the top could represent the stars at night - who does not love the beach at night, where the stars always look brighter than in City lights?!  I kept this design as simple as possible to highlight these gorgeous beads!

 

With Valentine's Day right around the corner, I had to whip up a pair of earrings just for the occasion!  And, Unicorne Beads rose to this challenge!

  

Lovely swirls of blues and greens in these boro beads - and they are not large and heavy, as would be expected!  These beads are so lovely to look at - and wear! I have listed these beauties in my Etsy shop.

It was a busy morning for me today - I had to choose the winner of my 100th blog post Giveaway!  This bracelet - made with gorgeous purple boro beads (also from Unicorne) goes to....

Shirley Moore!!  I will be contacting you via email, Shirley, to get your mailing address!  Congratulations!

 

 

Thank you to EVERYONE who left comments for this giveaway - I was only anticipating a few and was astounded at the response!  This was so much fun that I will be having another giveaway soon!

 

Now...hop on over to the AJE Blog for links to all of the other participants in the AJE Earring Challenge!

 

Thanks so much for stopping by - and your comments are always so much appreciated!  Happy Sunday!