Blogger design challenge, with a great supporting cast!

I had a pile of the 'Electric' purple beads from Rings and Things blogger challenge. I wanted to make something that made them the focal, but not the focal - does that make sense? Something like a great supporting cast - something that the design would just not be complete without it.

I began to rummage thru my supplies and found a fun random color pattern of purples and thought to celebrate the last day of Feb - the month of amethyst - this would be a fun design.

This necklace has components from each of my blog partner sponsors, Rings & Things, Art Beads and Beadin Path, whether thru the program or purchased on my own, and more items I have collected over time.

It was fun to bring them all together, into one design.

Electric Circus (it is a fun balancing act between symmetry and random )


From Rings & Things
29-555-10-901 Bead, Shell Pearl, Round, 10mm (Brown Mix) *
29-555-16-901 Bead, Shell Pearl, Round, 16mm (Brown Mix) *
28-000-007-273 Bead, Glass, Faceted Round, 10mm (Electric Purple)*
40-099-24-7 - Chain, Footage, Oval Curb, 10.5mm (Antiqued Copper Plated) *
47-406-SP 22 ga copper wire
24-101-7 10mm copper filigree bead

From Beadin Path
LUC4274BR Matte Dark Bark Tube beads, 6 x 26 mm*

From ArtBeads
TBRD6-615 TOHO™ Bead Round 6/0 Matte Raku Blue/Purple Iris 8g Bag

And the rest! (sung in my head like Gilligans Island theme)
copper chain - lululalland
copper rings - sedonastones
purple turquoise - dakotastones

*FTC compliance disclosure: the '*' items mentioned in this post credited to Rings & Things were provided as a promotional gift as part of the Blog Partner Program. These items are for review or design purposes. Find out more about the Rings & Things Blog Partner Program . More items marked with '*' mentioned in this post credited to Beadin Path were provided as a promotional gift as part of the Beadin Path Design Partners. These items are for review or design purposes.

Blue Note - Shell pearl pendant - Rings & Things Blogger Challenge

More blogger fun with my shell pearl mix from Rings & Things.

I need to just embrace the fact that I like to create necklaces and pendants and stop trying to carry a full line. It would be fun to partner up with a couple of others who love to make just earrings or bracelets. Could start a fun little co op of sorts :)

I really didn't know where I was going with this design. I just let it happen. It reminds me of a treble cleff on sheet music. Maybe I was directed this way because I was listening to Big Twist and the Mellow Fellows while I was working....




Here are some of the components I used:
29-555-10-905 Bead, Shell Pearl, Round, 10mm (Blue Mix) *
29-555-16-905 Bead, Shell Pearl, Round, 16mm (Blue Mix) *
28-000-007-443 Bead, Glass, Faceted Round, 10mm (Electric Blue) *
47-402-SP 14 ga copper wire
47-406-SP 22 ga copper wire
swarovski crystals
garnet
opalite
coral

What do you listen to when you work?

*FTC compliance disclosure: the '*' items mentioned in this post credited to Rings & Things were provided as a promotional gift as part of the Blog Partner Program. These items are for review or design purposes. Find out more about the Rings & Things Blog Partner Program

Bracelet idea with earring components!

I had some free time this morning, waiting on my buddy to call me, and got to work on this idea that has been rolling around in my head. A few days ago I wrote a post showing the great mix of fun and random components from Lisa of A Bead A Day. She had sent me this great goodie package in trade for a bracelet I had made.

I immediately fell in love with the wooden earring blanks. The color is so rich I couldn't wait to make some thing with it. I couldn't make earrings tho - I needed to do something else.

I chose one of the fun freshwater pearls for the focal and accented it with garnet. I LOVE garnet and bronze/copper together.





I loved the idea of the multi chain on the bracelet and left the chain long for some fun dangles.



The more I worked with this - the more I think I want to make a necklace out of it instead :)



This was so much fun to do, and an opportunity I would not have had if I hadn't of traded with Lisa. Stop by my blog entry about Share your Wares, it could be just the item you have been looking for!

Shell pearl pendant design - Rings & Things blogger challenge

It came about more or less like a flash in my brain. I was curled up in my recliner watching a terrible movie, rolled over and thought I would take a nap before work (having a hard time getting going this morning) As SOON as I closed my eyes this image flashed. My eyes shot open, I leapt from my chair and dashed to my work table.

I bent the 14 ga wire around the shell pearl just to get a rough 'fit' and then hammered the copper wire to strengthen it and to texture it so the 22 ga wire when wrapped would 'bite'.

I started at the top and made a few wraps and added a pearl. These little fresh water pearls are not perfect. I embraced that in the design and didn't make the wraps perfect either.

Now, there is the dilemma of the long pearl. It is not drilled. What am I going to do with it? There was a slight divot in the middle of the pearl, perfect to hold the wire for a wrap and not allow the pearl to slide thru. I went with it :)





Here is what I used:
29-555-10-901 Bead, Shell Pearl, Round, 10mm (Brown Mix) *
29-555-16-901 Bead, Shell Pearl, Round, 16mm (Brown Mix)*
Random freshwater pearls *
47-402-SP 14 ga copper wire
47-406-SP 22 ga copper wire
swarovski crystals


Slid it on a long piece of leather, threw it on with a black sweater and out the door I went. I had some fun this morning (so much fun I was late for work) making this pendant. Thanks Dave and Thanks Rings & Things!!!

What did you create today?!?!

*FTC compliance disclosure: the '*' items mentioned in this post credited to Rings & Things were provided as a promotional gift as part of the Blog Partner Program. These items are for review or design purposes. Find out more about the Rings & Things Blog Partner Program

Let's Trade!! a,k.a. Share Your Wares!!!!

Ok, here it is, the first trade post. I have been kicking this idea around for a bit and even more so since Lisa from A Bead A Day and I traded jewelry for beads last week. It was so much fun!

This is still in the beginning stages, so I am just gonna bring you along with me for the ride.

This is going to be the 'trade central' post for all items people want to trade. I will post items I am willing to trade here, and you can too. You can either contact me, or put a link in your comment for an item that you want to trade.

Or....

Contact me with an image of something you want to trade, and I can put it in this blog post along with information about the item(s) and how to contact you. Then direct people to this post! If you do send me information to post for you, please let me know if you have traded that item so I can pull the image down from the list.

There is a link in the left menu of my blog titled "Let's Trade!" that will link back to this post.
I will use this until I can get a page set up on my site.

What do you think!???!

Would you like to Share Your Wares?





I have some vintage buttons, (circa 60's-70's) vintage crystals and a piece of a rhinestone necklace. Fun re purposing items. I have a box FULL of buttons that my mom had that belonged to her, my Nanny and some were from my uncle, a fashion designer. Nanny belonged to the ILGWU as a seamstress for years. Remember these commercials? I remember playing with the buttons when I was little. They were my treasures, or my currency. I would stack and sort, and mix and match, hours and hours I would play.




2 ceramic pendants, 2 top drilled feldspar pendant beads, 2 jasper cabs - 18mm and 25 mm (there abouts)


These items are from Davinia - you can contact her thru her blog

6 black tube beads about 1" long. Not sure what they are made of.
1 glass globe bead
1 wooden scrolled focal with a Carmen Miranda type lady on it.
1 x 1" square bronze coloured Tim Holtz memory frame filled with melted Opals embossing powder in a pearly cream colour
1 x 3" long antique silver Tim Holtz Memory frame filled with melted Opals embossing powder in shades of black, green and a touch of bronze.

What do you have to trade?!!?!?

Not Nanny's Necklace - Rings & Things Shell pearls

Yesterdays post was about the great blogger package I received from Rings & Things.

When I saw these beads it made me go back in time 40 years. Sitting at my Grandmothers (Nanny's) vanity, brushing my hair and putting on her jewelry.

Remember these?



I had so much fun playing with her jewelry. She would dab lipstick on my lips and tell me to 'pinch my cheeks for color'. I thought I was a movie star.

I wanted to play with these beads and do something that reminded me of Nanny and was trendy at the same time. I re purposed a vintage necklace and gold tone rings from a pair of old earrings to go with the 'theme'.


It is a fun and random representation of old and new, classic and abstract.


Not your Nanny's Necklace




More to come!

*FTC compliance disclosure: the '*' items mentioned in this post credited to Rings & Things were provided as a promotional gift as part of the Blog Partner Program. These items are for review or design purposes. Find out more about the Rings & Things Blog Partner Program

Rings & Things Blogger Fun!

Over the weekend I received my blogger package from Rings & Things.
Did you hear me squeal?

When I opened the package there were these huge, bold, colorful glass pearls and complimenting faceted glass roundells.

In the letter, there was no mention of the stock numbers for these new beads so off to the site I went. It didn't take me long to find what I was looking for. Listed under the New Products! in the left hand menu is the link to the Shell Pearl Color Mixes. They weren't glass pearls after all.
These beads are heavy, they have a nice 'click' to them when they connect with another bead, and the shine on them - makes my heart happy!






29-555-10-901 Bead, Shell Pearl, Round, 10mm (Brown Mix) - 36-44 beads per 16" strand. 8.25 *
29-555-16-901 Bead, Shell Pearl, Round, 16mm (Brown Mix) - 23-27 beads per 16" strand. 18.00*
28-000-007-273 Bead, Glass, Faceted Round, 10mm (Electric Purple) - 45-55 beads per 16" strand. 8.00*





29-555-10-905 Bead, Shell Pearl, Round, 10mm (Blue Mix) 36-44 beads per 16" strand. 8.25*
29-555-16-905 Bead, Shell Pearl, Round, 16mm (Blue Mix) 23-27 beads per 16" strand. 18.00*
28-000-007-443 Bead, Glass, Faceted Round, 10mm (Electric Blue) - 45-55 beads per 16" strand. 8.00*

The coating on some of the faceted glass beads does not go all the way around and you can see thru them. It makes me think of the mystic topaz. These also have a nice heft to them - I thought they were crystals instead of glass. Beautiful!


Loose in the bottom of the package were these great (what I am guessing as) fresh water pearl beads. All sizes, shapes and colors. What a great surprise!



On some of the beads, the nacre layer had chipped off exposing the shell implant to create the fresh water pearl bead. This wasn't a problem. I just finished chipping off the rest of the nacre and had a nice shell bead to work with!



You can learn more about the pearl bead creation here!

I am thrilled with this packed, THRILLED!!!

I have already made one necklace, but I will show that to you tomorrow!!

Thank you Rings & Things!!

*FTC compliance disclosure: the '*' items mentioned in this post credited to Rings & Things were provided as a promotional gift as part of the Blog Partner Program. These items are for review or design purposes. Find out more about the Rings & Things Blog Partner Program

This for That - trading is fun!!

Back in January I posted a Rings & Things challenge using coral chips. My friend Lisa from A Bead A Day loved the piece and just had to have it :) She wanted to know if I would sell it or possibly trade for it ......*screeching tires*

You had me at trade - I LOVE to barter. It is so much fun. Lisa offered me any of the beads she had blogged about in trade for the bracelet. That is exciting! I am a fan of her blog and follow it daily, drooling over the wonderful finds she posts. I immediately ran to her blog and began to 'cruise'. Back in December she had posted about bead mixes. I love bead mixes, and mentioned that to Lisa - the more random the better.

Yesterday in the mail I received this -





This was SO generous! Look at all this great, fun stuff! Fresh water pearls, mother of pearl links, wooden blanks, glass tear drops, multi strand connector and a beautiful, heart felt 'thanks' charm. I am touched.

I wanted to do something like this last year, a trade between artists to support artists. Running with the idea of, if you are a jewelry artist and you need note cards, you trade your jewelry for the note cards. It never got off the ground, and I was a bit disappointed. Maybe it is time to try it again this year!

Keep an eye out for upcoming posts where I will have a picture of items I am willing to trade. Would love to see what you have!!!

Answer to the challenge - Necklace of re purposed beads, vintage lucite and feldspar

Yesterday I posted about the items I challenged myself to work with. Last nite I set out on the task of creating something from those beads. I pushed the beads around on my table for quite a while trying to find something that held my interest. I was having a hard time incorporating all the pieces I had challenged myself to use. I decided to work from the focal up.




I wrapped the focal in copper and added garnets and toho beads and made dangles from the fire polished mix. I used the copper wire to make wire wrapped links for the first strand of felspar and MOP beads, and then wove hemp cord thru the links and made a second layer of hemp and vintage lucite beads.

It made a real summery, hippie exquisite necklace




These were the beads I used -
I have a MOP necklace and a garnet bracelet that was given to me to 're purpose' by my friends Harry and Vanessa
feldtv13x18 13x18mm Feldspar beads from Cherry Tree Beads
LUC2185BR Cube Beads 10mm Smoky Quartz * from Beadin Path
LUC2485OR Dark Rust Moonglow Heishi Rondells 4 x 8mm* from Beadin Path
TOHO™ Bead Round 6/0 Opaque-Lustered Cream 8g Bag from Art Beads
4mm Fire Polish Mix Red Tones (50 Pack) from Art Beads

Thank was a fun challenge - I may have to do it again!



*FTC compliance disclosure: the '*' items mentioned in this post credited to Beadin Path were provided as a promotional gift as part of the Beadin Path Design Partners. These items are for review or design purposes. Other items were purchased by me, the artist, for my inventory.

Today's challenge - Create!

My creativity comes in waves as of late. There have been several days I didn't even step into my work room. Seems to be too many other things that have sparked my interest and my jewelry is taking a back seat. Maybe I am experiencing a bit of a burn out. *gasp* *hand flies to mouth* Say it ain't so!!!!!

*blink* *blink*

There is nothing wrong in stepping back, re grouping and then diving back in. right........

This morning I was finishing a bracelet that I have promised, and when the bracelet was done, I just sat there. I did not want to start a new project. I got up turned off the light and schluffed off into the yard with the dogs. My coffee was steaming, my cold toes were screaming and I stood there, shoulders slumped in defeat with that 1000 yard stare, motionless, watching the dogs. Then the idea hit me. Why do I have to wait for the creativity to come to me, why can't I go looking for it?

Once a month or so, I don't have any problem getting motivated to create when I receive one of my blog design partner packages. I will get a random selection from Rings & Things of findings, or beads, Beadin Path sends a great selection of vintage lucite beads in a fantastic color pallet and Art Beads has a 'theme' and gives me a choice from one of their categories as a piece to create from. It all starts the ball rolling, the creative juices flowing, and I can't wait to get to work.

That is what I did this morning. I gathered a random selection of items from my inventory and challenged myself to make something.





I have a MOP necklace and a garnet bracelet that was given to me to 're purpose' by my friends Harry and Vanessa
feldtv13x18 13x18mm Feldspar beads from Cherry Tree Beads
LUC2185BR Cube Beads 10mm Smoky Quartz * from Beadin Path
LUC2485OR Dark Rust Moonglow Heishi Rondells 4 x 8mm* from Beadin Path
LUC4869OR Transparent Hyacinth Barrel Bead 12 x 14 mm* from Beadin Path
TOHO™ Bead Round 6/0 Opaque-Lustered Cream 8g Bag from Art Beads
4mm Fire Polish Mix Red Tones (50 Pack) from Art Beads

Would add anything to this challenge or work with just what was given you?
I'll show you pictures tomorrow!


*FTC compliance disclosure: the '*' items mentioned in this post credited to Beadin Path were provided as a promotional gift as part of the Beadin Path Design Partners. These items are for review or design purposes. Other items were purchased by me, the artist, for my inventory.

Queen of Hearts Furnace Glass earrings - ArtBeads Blogging Group

Still playing with the Queen of Hearts furnace beads* from Art Beads.

This was all done free form. I made the curl at the bottom then hammered the curl for texture and strength. Then I slid on the furnace bead, a sterling spacer and a crystal, and made my wire wrapped loop at the top. The left over tail, I bent around my finger brought it down the side, pinched it on the bottom and brought it back up the other side, bent around my finger and then used the end to wrap around the top.

I did more shaping with my fingers and tools to make it look like a heart. I wasn't going for perfection here. I wanted it to have a free flow look. Once I had it shaped the way I wanted, I hammered it to give it more strength and then added the ear wires. I was amazed at how light they were.





Then I noticed. I forgot to add the crystal to the second earring!!!! They don't match!

Now wouldn't you know it, that the ONLY time my husband has complimented me on my earrings, it is a pair that don't match!! You heard me - I wore them out anyways! I wore them out to dinner. I laft when he told me he really liked them and explained to him they don't match. He sed, That's ok, I can only see one side of your head at a time anyways!!!



These beads and more can be found at ArtBeads.com, and while you are browsing, Don't forget -

Artbeads' 10th Anniversary Sweeps

Sweepstakes Starts January 06, 2010 @ 09:00 am (PST)

Sweepstakes Ends March 04, 2010 @ 11:59 pm (PST)

Good luck and happy shopping!!


*FTC compliance disclosure: the '*' items mentioned in this post credited to Art Beads were provided as a promotional gift as part of the Blogging for Beaders Program. These items are for review or design purposes. Posted by JustATish at 6:25 AM

Queen of Hearts Furnace Glass - Art Beads challenge

While working on the necklace from yesterday's post, (which I wore out last nite and got a lot of compliments!! ) I noticed the Queen of Hearts furnace beads* holes were not consistent. The holes varied, small to large, from bead to bead. I used the TOHO™ Bead Round 6/0 Opaque-Lustered Pearl White * as 'bumpers' to keep the beads from sliding down the seed beads (which gives me an idea for another necklace)

That got me to thinking - I wonder if they will fit on leather....

So I tried it, and yup sure enuff - they fit.

I cut three pieces of leather and knotted before and after each bead. Then folded the ends thru a jump ring and wrapped them in place with some silver plated wire I had. Next I braided the leather to jumble it up some.

Added the Antique Silver Heart Scroll Bead as a dangle by wire wrapping them to the bracelet with silver plated head pins.



Even tho it has hearts, and red - I don't feel it screams Valentines day. To me , it is more of a style that says you got a bit of heart under there, and if people would just give you a chance you could show just how big that heart is.

These beads and more can be found at ArtBeads.com, and while you are browsing, Don't forget -

Artbeads' 10th Anniversary Sweeps

Sweepstakes Starts January 06, 2010 @ 09:00 am (PST)

Sweepstakes Ends March 04, 2010 @ 11:59 pm (PST)

Good luck and happy shopping!!


*FTC compliance disclosure: the '*' items mentioned in this post credited to Art Beads were provided as a promotional gift as part of the Blogging for Beaders Program. These items are for review or design purposes.

Valentines day - The Art Beads Way!

I showed you the fun beads I received from ArtBeads in this previous post and this morning I found the time I have been looking for all week to sit down and create. I fell in love with the Queen of Hearts Fire Design Furnace Glass* as soon as I laid eyes on their shiney cylindrical goodness and used them for the bulk of this design.

I combined two strands by double stringing random beads with the beading wire. What this means is, I strung the first strand randomly, then as I strung the second strand, I would run the wire thru a few of the beads of the first strand and then continue to string it randomly as well. The third strand I weaved (wove?) thru the 'loops' made from the double stringing. These three strands were a random mix of the Queen of Hearts furnace glass* , along with beads I had purchased from ArtBeads 4mm Fire Polish Mix Red Tones (50 Pack), TOHO™ Bead Round 6/0 Opaque-Lustered Pearl White 8g Bag, and added some great accent beads from my inventory - red Czech glass, sterling daisies, Czech black glass, and a black designer seed bead mix.

I added two separate red strands of seed beads, one I weaved thru the gaps again, and the second I made a bit shorter to show off the Sterling/Resin 16mm Pendant - Red XOXO Flowers*
The pendant is attached to the necklace with a jump ring making it easy to detach if I want something less 'valentiney' and more basic. I love the versatility of it.

With the tangle and the firey reds and the smokey grays - it reminds me of a firey love affair. So I have named it - Torrid Tangle - which seems to be fitting.




I am working on earrings and a bracelet using the Queen of Hearts collection from the selection of Fire Designs collection of furnace beads at ArtBeads. I'll show you those tomorrow!


These beads and more can be found at ArtBeads.com, and while you are browsing, Don't forget -

Artbeads' 10th Anniversary Sweeps

Sweepstakes Starts January 06, 2010 @ 09:00 am (PST)

Sweepstakes Ends March 04, 2010 @ 11:59 pm (PST)

Good luck and happy shopping!!


*FTC compliance disclosure: the '*' items mentioned in this post credited to Art Beads were provided as a promotional gift as part of the Blogging for Beaders Program. These items are for review or design purposes.

What is in a necklace

This was a custom order I made for a friend of mine for his special lady. I thought alot about what she is and brought this stone combination together.

It is asymmetrical because she is so wonderfully unpredictable.

Kyanite brings loyalty, honesty and tranquility, and diminishes anger and confusion. Kyanite does not retain negative energy and never needs energetic cleansing. - She is a mother of two, who doesn't need a little kyanite :)

Citrine enhances mental clarity, confidence, happiness and will power. Citrine is purported to bring good fortune, sometimes in very unexpected ways. - She has brought a joy to my friends heart, when I didn't know if anyone could. That is good fortune.

Turquoise can help promote honest and clear communication from the heart. - I tied the turquoise with the citrine for obvious reasons

Amethyst brings energies in mystical realms of stability, peace, calm, balance, courage and inner strength. - This he wanted to add as the focal. Bringing his balance and courage into the relationship

Labradorite is a stone of transformation.It is purported to help provide clarity and insight into your destiny, as well as attract success. - The love these two have has transformed them both, from wary and suspicious to wildly passionate and giddy

Moonstone can help calm responses and avoid overreaction; enhances feminine energies, sensitivity and intuition. This is for her, so she knows that it is real and not a passing fancy. She can be grounded in her love and faith in her mate.

February's Giveaway!

Just in time for Valentines day I will be giving away a pair of hammered sterling earrings, shaped like a heart with a Czech crystal dangle.





To enter, just leave a comment on what is your ideal valentines gift! I will draw a winner randomly on Monday!!
Good Luck!!

Free form free for all - wire wrap bracelet

I am so excited about this, I nearly wet my pants!

Heather at Beadin Path posted a link on twitter a while back about some fun classes they are going to be doing. One of them was for this awesome wire wrapped cuff. I wanted to go sooooo bad....ROAD TRIP!


I covet this bracelet and the mad skills to be able to create it and the wondrous vision that inspired this piece.

I had previously purchased some wire from Rings & Things, and didn't know exactly what I was going to make with it. Some great 14 ga red brass wire, and several spools of copper wire, varying in gauge. Now I knew :) I wasn't for sure how to begin this project. I don't have a bracelet mandrel, wasn't sure how to shape it, but I dove in anyway. I dug thru my beads and picked a color scheme and laid out a pattern on the table. I wanted to work with the blues but I wanted to add a bit of something, something that would 'pop'. I still had one of the criss cross lampwork hearts* from Rings & Things' blogger challenge and it fit perfectly!

Made a simple curl on the ends of the wire and wrapped the two pieces together with 22 ga copper wire. Ran the wrap up the wire and began to incorporate beads. The brass wire is easy to coax around beads to give it a more free form, oh lets say "organic" look.


Wrapping the copper wire around brass wire gives stability to the cuff, a contrast in color, and allows you to weave several different shapes and sizes of beads into the design. The copper wire almost had a mind of it's own while I was wrapping it. I let the wire go where it wanted to, and added beads accordingly.



I am really happy with this wire. It is stout enuff to hold a design, and malleable enuff where it doesn't hurt my hands to work with it. I eye balled the lengths of wire to make the cuff, based on my own wrist size. Not good in hind sight, there has to be a way to measure it better. Will work on it.



It's not perfect yet, it is a bit short and doesn't sit on my wrist like I want it to, but it was so much fun to make, I can't wait to start another one!


*FTC compliance disclosure: the '*' items mentioned in this post credited to Rings & Things were provided as a promotional gift as part of the Blog Partner Program. These items are for review or design purposes. Find out more about the Rings & Things Blog Partner Program

Now for something completely different - Snickerdoodles

I am surprised that not that many people have heard of this cookie. The more I hear about it, and the more I read about it, it was a midwest version of an age old treat. I grew up in the midwest, so it stands to reason that not everyone knows of the little gem. Snickerdoodles have been a family favorite for as long as I can remember. I use a recipe that came from an FHA cook book sold thru the school back in the 70's.

I made these this morning before work for a friends birthday, so I thought I would share them with you. This recipie makes about 5 dozen if I can keep my husband and room mate out of the dough :)



1 C. shortening
1 1/2 C sugar
2 eggs
2 3/4 C. flour
2 t. cream tartar
1 t. baking soda
1/2 t. salt

1. Mix dry ingredients in a bowl - set aside
2. Cream shortening, sugar & eggs.
3. Add dry ingredients to the creamed mixture, mix well.
4. Chill for an hour (optional - it makes the dough easier to work with if it is chilled)
5. Roll into balls, about and inch or so ball.
6. Roll balls in sugar, cinnamon mixture (2:1 sugar to cinnamon mix)
Place on ungreased cookie sheet Bake 400 F oven - 8 minutes
Be careful to not over bake

I leave them sit on the cookie sheet for a minute after I take them out of the oven to deflate a bit, and present that signature crinkled look.

Enjoy!!!!

Fun with Cubic Zirconia beads from Art Beads

Had time to myself this morning before work and played more with the CZ crystals I got from Art Beads. I got in touch with my conservative side a bit, which I admit rarely happens. It is there for a reason. It keeps me from wearing combat boots and flame tights to weddings or a suit coat with my pajama bottoms to work.

Although I love to express myself, and know that my idea of fashion sense is really fashion nonsense, I will take a more conservative approach to some designs. That is what I did with this do-oh. These crystals are fun enough to go with any design, and they are elegant enough to be combined in a piece that is stunning in it's simplicity. I loved these little faceted beauties. The way they catch the light, and flash they are perfect for earrings. Saying that I made some earrings!!


Hand wound on silver plated wire, I used these beads for the earrings.
CZ-BOR-REC10 - 8x10mm Burnt Orange CZ Rectangle *
CZ-CRY-CN6 - 6mm Crystal CZ Coin *
You can make this set for under $7.00

Adding sterling daisy spacers and glass pearls does so much. I really feel you can let the CZ crystal do all the talking. They set off the design so well.



Graduating the sizes of the glass pearls gives a fun flow to this bracelet. Adding the daisy spacers lets you focus on each bead in the design. I used these crystals for this bracelet.

CZ-BOR-OV9 - 7x9mm Burnt Orange CZ Oval *
CZ-CRY-CN6 - 6mm Crystal CZ Coin *
CZ-BOR-REC10 - 8x10mm Burnt Orange CZ Rectangle *
You can make this bracelet for under $ 14.00

So affordable for the product you are getting. Make yourself a timeless piece, or a funky design either way, you can't go wrong with these Cubic Zirconia crystals!

*FTC compliance disclosure: the '*' items mentioned in this post credited to Art Beads were provided as a promotional gift as part of the Blogging for Beaders Program. These items are for review or design purposes.

Fun with Art Beads - Cubic Zirconia

Back in November I posted about the beautiful Cubic Zirconia's I received as part of the blogging for beaders group from Art Beads.

















CZ-BOR-OV9 - 7x9mm Burnt Orange CZ Oval *
CZ-BOR-REC10 - 8x10mm Burnt Orange CZ Rectangle *
CZ-CRY-CN6 - 6mm Crystal CZ Coin *
CZ-YEL6 - 6mm Yellow CZ Round Bead *

Over the weekend I got some time for myself and played around with an idea I have had in my head.

I made a loop out of 14 ga sterling and hammered the loop to give it texture and strength. Then I used a 28 ga. silver plated wire to wrap the portion of the loop where the ends meet to hide ends and to give it a focus. In the wrap I added one of the CZ beads to draw you eye to it.

I made wire coils and put them on the ends of a piece of leather to use as the connecting point for the design. I made wire wrapped loops and attached the hammered piece to the coil connectors and added the yellow CZ's. Next I added a bit of chain using jump rings to the wire wrapped loop and then created charms from the other CZ's and here you have it!







*FTC compliance disclosure: the '*' items mentioned in this post credited to Art Beads were provided as a promotional gift as part of the Blogging for Beaders Program. These items are for review or design purposes.