My Addictions...Handcrafted Jewelry by Patti

Thursday, August 23, 2012

75 Donated Bracelets - Check!

If you have read any of my past blog posts, you'll remember that I committed to creating 75 bracelets to be donated at the annual Rare Project Organizations Gala, to be held on September 27th. (If you would like to read my original post, click here).

I made each bracelet adjustable by attaching a length of chain to one end of the bracelet. Each bracelet also contains an inspirational charm, ("hope", "faith", or "believe"). It is my hope that the wearer of the bracelet is prompted to remember that they are not alone, and someone out there (me!) is sending prayers to help them get through their roughest days.

Picture taking, well, actually, it's the editing, is not my favorite thing to do. So, I will use this space to show you a few bracelets at a time.

(Click on the images for a larger view)

Lampwork Beads by Susan Kennedy and Bronze Bracelet Connector by Lesley Watt

Lampwork nuggets by Maryse Fritzsch-Thillens - the colors of these beads are amazing

Lampwork beads by Susan Kennedy I love the veining she created in the beads!

Two sets of lampwork beads (LOVE!) by Susan Kennedy

Turquoise rounds and Inspirational Bronze Bracelet Connector - by Lesley Watt

Gold filled findings, chain, etc. and Peeled Paint Polymer beads by Jeannie Dukic

One of just a few bracelets with Swarovski Crystals

Lampwork Beads by Susan Kennedy (these are gorgeous in person!)

The majority of the artisan beads were made by Sue - 50 sets of lampwork beads! I HAD A BLAST each time I went to my mail box to find more beads!! At first I thought I would be limited by the design (adjustable, which meant no toggle clasps or other cool clasps), but I made many of the clasps myself, or used a lobster clasp. BUT THE BEADS...the gorgeous beads....they kept me going and I was NEVER BORED! Every time I would finish a bracelet, it would become my new favorite!

Donations to the 7000 Bracelets for Hope Campaign are ALWAYS appreciated and welcomed. If you would like to learn more about the organization, or donate a bracelet of your own, please clink on the link below.

I will be posting more pictures in the weeks to follow. Thank you so much for stopping by!

Monday, August 20, 2012

Where Have I Been??????

I really have not posted much lately - I have been incredibly busy! I finally finished creating my 75 Bracelets for the Rare Organization! Most of the bracelets feature lampwork beads from the extremely talented Sue Kennedy of Sue Beads, though I have used a multitude of artisan beads and components that I have hoarded over the years! I have only photographed 45 of the 75 bracelets today (my camera battery went low, so must continue photographing in the day or so!)

I took my Mom (who has lived with me since November 2010) to Florida this past week for a quick, 5 day visit with one of my brother's and his wife, who live in Clearwater/St. Petersburg, and to visit with her old friends whom she has not seen in a long, long time. No disrespect to my brother, sister-in-law, or my Mom's friends, but the highlight of my trip was meeting this little guy:

This is Elliot - OMG the cutest, sweetest, most adorable little fella I have ever laid my eyes on!!! My brother and his wife lost their Jack Russel Terrier - named Biggie Smalls (I did not name him!) to cancer this past June. They adopted Elliot - an approximately 2 year old rescue about a month later. This little guy had an unhappy first 2 years - fostered, the pound, etc. The tide has certainly turned for him...for the better!!! I miss him so very much!

It was nice catching up with family and friends - and to put faces to names of my mother's friends- most of which she has been talking about for years!

In between, I have managed to make a few pieces of jewelry:

click on any of the images for a larger view

Raku Beads - Elements Pottery - these beads are gorgeous!

Bracelet made using Lesley Watt's Tutorial - I felt it was befitting to use her gorgeous bronze button, too!

Clay! - Marla's Mud, Marsha Neal, Lesley Watt Toggle

Another bracelet using Lesley Watt's tutorial - and her button, of course!

Okay...I am addicted to this bracelet design! This time, I used a handmade lampwork button by Unicorne, which perfectly matched these Czech Glass beads.

Gorgeous lampwork beads by Donna Millard, Bead Caps by Metal Me This, and Bronze Headpin by....you guessed it...Lesley Watt!

I banged on some heavy gauge copper and attached these absolutely gorgeous lampwork beads by Radiant Mind. The texture on these beads (nuggets) is amazing!

I also banged on some silver, too!

Had these silver disks FOR.EVER....I like them with the tiny lampwork beads by Radiant Mind.

I would like to thank all of the artisans for creating these beautiful handmade components - without their creativity....where would I be now? I shudder to even think about that!

I have actually made TONS more jewelry...but that will have to wait for another post!

Thank you so much for stopping by my little world! Have a great day!

Friday, August 10, 2012

The Bead Soup Blog Party - 2nd Reveal!!

Tomorrow (August 11th) is the 2nd Reveal for Lori Anderson's Bead Soup Blog Party!!! I can't wait to see all of the gorgeous creations!

Just click on the picture, and you will be taken to Lori's blog to view a list with links of all of the participants!

Have fun hopping!

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Bead Porn

I wrote in a previous post that I am donating 75 bracelets to the Rare Project Organization, as part of the 7000 Bracelets of Hope Campaign. You can read about my post here. I commissioned the very talented Sue Kennedy (Sue Beads) to make me 50 sets of lampwork beads in shades of blues and greens. Here are some of her lovely, drool-worthy bead sets that I am working with:

The lentils in the front of my photo are drop dead gorgeous!

Each of the bracelets are adjustable, which kind of limits my ability to use some of the gorgeous toggles that I have in my stash. I am using a length of chain and either a handmade hook or S-type clasp, or a lobster clasp. It was also requested that I include a charm on each bracelet - some say "hope", some say "faith", and others say "believe".

I am about 3/4 of the way complete. I would say that about 70% of the bracelets made are in sterling silver, and the others are in antique bronze. I only have one copper bracelet! I have had a terrible time finding copper charms, and my O.C.D. will not allow me to put a silver or pewter charm on a copper bracelet! I must get past this dilemma.

When I need a break from the blue, I buy beads in other colors, too! Such as these beauties:

These are definitely NOT blue....LOVE THESE!

The black and white beauties above are from Pebbledreams on Etsy. The lovely and extremely talented Lesley Watt posts her jewelry on Facebook and always share her wonderful sources. I have been buying more and more beads from Great Britain lately! Thank you, Lesley!

The next three pictures are of beads I purchased from GlassBeadArt on etsy. Maryse lives in Luxembourg. I found her through the 5th Bead Soup Blog Party (thank you Lori Anderson!)

Gorgeous southwestern colors!

These are stunners! Love the earth tones here!

I call these Cotton Candy - such a soft pink --- with icing!

I saved the best bead picture for last - these are truly a work of art! They are also from GlassBeadArt.

I cannot describe how beautiful the blue glass shines through on these beads! I bought a pair a while ago, made a simple pair of earrings (I wanted the beads to shine!), and they sold on Etsy in 2 days! They are that beautiful! I like the beads so much that I bought some more!

Well, back to my bracelets! Have you bought any beautiful beads lately? I love to find new sources!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Saturday, July 28, 2012

The 6th Bead Soup Blog Party - Reveal!

Yay! It's gonna be a busy weekend! Today is the first reveal date for Lori Anderson's wonderful Bead Soup Blog Party! I had so much fun at the last party! But this time, I had Lori herself as my partner! For this, I am truly grateful! I would like to thank random.org (or whatever method of choice she used) for this blessing! Lori gifted me with this wonderful, abundant assortment of beady goodness:

I will tell you - I do not use fiber (except, recently, I have made many, many bracelets using fiber and seed beads, thanks to the tutorial posted by the lovely and talented Lesley Watt--find the easy-peasy tut here)! That is not to say that I don't have tons of fiber in my stash..... I tried SO HARD to use the red faux suede, the natural colored waxed cotton, and the gorgeous purple cording, but I failed! I am sorry Lori! BUT, I did have some turquoise colored waxed cotton cording that I did use in one of my final pieces.

Since there are so many other blogs to visit, here goes:

Click on the pictures for a larger view:

I made a handmade, balled-silver head pin, which I wired through 3 of the small, pewter clasps that Lori gifted me (this focal is stunning!) I attached the 3-pewter rings to a sterling silver curved tube - it made a nice bail, I think.

Lori's handmade (yes...she made them-I am so honored to receive them) turquoise lampwork beads, along with the focal by Juls Cannon match PERFECTLY to lampwork beads I happen to have on hand, made by the uber-talented Maryse Fritzsch-Thillens (GlassBeadArt on Etsy). It was a match made in heaven, I tell you! I was also able to use two of the pewter connectors that Lori sent - I punched one hole in them to attach the strand of beads, and the focal.

Lori also made this awesome, clasp - with her bead! I wanted to "match" the wire work, so I fashioned a clasp - AND, here is where I used the waxed linen cord! I hurt my head figuring out how to do this, but I think it works! Here is the entire necklace:

I had two of Lori's lampwork beads left, so I played around with some very heavy gauge silver, some solder, a little wire work, and made these matching earrings (I LOVE this look!):

Next, I used the Czech glass beads, the natural wooden beads, more pewter connectors, and the pewter clasp (love the size of this clasp, by the way) to make a bracelet:

I really love the dangles! The purple leaves really pull out the purple in the Czech glass:

Finally, I made fun and funky pair of earrings, which I know my niece Rachel will scarf up!

These are quite long, and Rachel looks so good in this style of earring!

So this is everything I made! I almost used everything...and I learned that I MUST WORK ON MY FIBER TECHNIQUES!

A HUGE thank you to Lori for hosting this event! I cannot even begin to imagine the administrative nightmare that must come with her hosting duties!

Thank you so much for stopping by, and your comments are truly appreciated! Here is a list of the other participants for this leg of the hop!

Hostess, Lori Anderson, PrettyThingsBlog.com

Alice Craddick, Alice's Beads and Baubles

Alicia Marinache, All The Pretty Things

Amanda Tibbetts, Amanda Made

Amber Dawn Goldish, Inventive Soul

Annita Wilson, AW Jewelry

Beti Horvath, Stringing Fool

Birgitta Lejonklou, Create With Spirit

Candida Castleberry, Spinning Spun Sugar

Carolyn Lawson, Carolyn's Creations

Cassie Donlen, Glass Beadle

Cheri Reed, Creative Designs by Cheri