My Addictions...Handcrafted Jewelry by Patti: Summers Studio

Friday, March 30, 2012

Color of Spring Blog Hop, with Sally Russick - enhanced by Donna Millard and Summers Studio!

Sally Russick, of The Studio Sublime, is an extremely multi-talented artist...she not only creates fabulous jewelry, but is also a mighty fine photographer! She created these fantastic enameled bisque beads, and offered up a blog hop. I purchased some of these beads last year and fell in love with them - they acquire a cool crackle finish during the enameling process. She used the Pantone Colors of the Year for her color inspiration - I chose purple (Bell Flower) because it is my Mom's favorite color! These are the beads I chose:

I recently purchased the most beautiful lamp work beads from Donna Millard - her work is fabulous! I mean, look at the swirls of color in these beads!

So, after much pondering, I retrieved my wire and everything sat on my table for a week. I vacillated between silver and Vintaj....Vintaj won, though the effect is much darker than I wanted....not very spring like in my eyes! I also wanted to use the purple, enameled lentil bead as a focal in a necklace....and finally the design came to me. Without further ado, here is what I created!

I chose some beautiful, bronze star bead caps from Summers Studio to further enhance the focal bead.

Thank you for hosting this blog hop Sally! And, I love my beads!!!

Please visit the other blog hop participants, listed below. Thanks for stopping by!

Host: Sally Russick
Margarita
Therese Frank
Kim Bender
Cabaret
JLynn Jewels
Christine Altmiller
Sweet Lilac
Cherrie Fick
Jenny Vidberg
Driftwood
Sabine Dittrich
Hope Smitherman
Solar Power
Nicole Rennell
Erin Fickert-Rowland
Bell Flower
Patti Vanderbloemen (You are Here!!)
Kristi Bowman
Starfish
Shannon Chomanczuk
Elisabeth Auld
Cockatoo
Alice Peterson
Donna Bradley
Sodalite Blue
Kristi Harrison
Cilla Watkins
Tangerine Tango
Lesley Watt
Maryanne Gross
Susan Kennedy
Courtney White Breul

Saturday, February 25, 2012

7000 Bracelets for Hope Blog Hop

What is The Global Genes Project and what are 7000 Bracelets of Hope for?

The Global Genes Project exists to raise awareness and support for the more than 30 million people affected by rare diseases. There are currently over 7,000 rare diseases identified, and 75% of those affected are children. With the 7000 Bracelets Campaign, the Children's Rare Disease Network gives artists and crafters an opportunity to lovingly share their creative gifts with families who have a child suffering with a rare disease.

Erin from Elysian Studios and Christine of One Kiss Creations Beaded Jewelry are hosting this Blog Hop for the 7000 Bracelets of Hope this year. 7000 Bracelets of Hope is run through the Global Genes Project . The bracelets are donated to the mothers and caretakers of these children, as a way to give them a little support and lift their spirits.

The theme is to make a bracelet with hues of blue, and to try to make the bracelet adjustable. I am a bead whore - it is terrible! Because of this self-imposed illness, I made not one, but four bracelets - all blue, and all adjustable.

The first bracelet above features deep blue freshwater pearls, wire wrapped with tiny white freshwater pearls to a bold silver chain. The clasp was hand formed from heavy gauge, sterling silver wire.

The second bracelet features ceramic rounds, which have been wire wrapped with heavy gauge, silver plated wire. The bracelet can be fastened into any of the large, wire wraps, making it adjustable. I placed a small, "believe" pewter charm in the last ring.

The third bracelet features a focal bead by Unicorne Beads - it has beautiful shades of blue throughout, including little dots of dichroic glass. This has been wire wrapped, with heavy gauge sterling silver wire and sweet, powder blue ceramic rounds, and a hand formed clasp. The bracelet terminates with a lovely headpin made by Kelley's Bead Studio.

The last bracelet features varying shapes of turquoise beads and antique brass beads, wire wrapped to a heavy duty, brass chain. I placed a lovely dragonfly charm by LeAnn of Summers Studio on the last link.

It is my hope that whoever ends up with one of these bracelets (ANY of the bracelets in this blog hop as well) gains comfort and a little bit of hope in knowing there are people "out there" who are praying for a cure for their little ones.

Please be sure to visit all of the blog hop participants, and thank you for stopping by my little world!