Bead Trends Submissions

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Inexpensive Glamor

I got a mix bag of acrylic beads from Firemountain Gems a while back, and have had so much playing with them.
There is a great source of inspiration in this fun little mix.

This is my latest creation using those acrylic beads, and adding some chain, and black stone.

Simple, inexpensive and oh so glamorous!

Re Purposed Necklace

A while back, you may remember my post about the fun jewelry my sister-in-law sent to me. This has been a great source of inspiration and fun.

I dug thru the bag and found some awesome button covers. Hello 90's! Working with gold is way out of my comfort zone, so I challeneged myself this morning to create. I had a bit of gold wire from a custom order, so I set to work.

This delicious mess of disguarded jewlery proved to be a treasure trove of gold accents to work into this piece.

If you look closely at the top photo you will see the gold beaded strand that I used as the base of the design, and the button covers peaking out. I incoporated gold beads from another necklace, and some fun plastic beads I got as a grab bag. Way too much fun this morning!

Hair Comb Fun

It takes longer to pick out the color/stone combination than it does to make the design. So quick and easy and so cute!!!

Copper, Dyed Agate, Bronzite and Glass Necklace

Take me back to 1972, and the hippies who used to live up the road from us. That live in the moment, take life as it comes, the universe will provide way of thinking, and you will see the inspiration for this necklace.

I love random designs, and how they tell a different story depending on who is looking at it.  You may have to turn your head from one side to the other to 'see' it, but it will speak to you :)

Mothers Day Craft Ideas

I was poking around the interwebs and found a fun site with TONS of craft ideas to use as gifts for Mothers Day.

There are fun craft ideas for everyone listed here, like:

I save all of my husbands jeans and make messenger bags from them!

I love the twist over the top of the bead!


I hope you find a fun craft idea to share with your family

Happy Mothers Day!

Creative Diversion

I don't know one artistic/crafty person that only does just one thing. They all dabble in several creative mediums.

I am no exception.

Lately I have felt the need to paint. I had talked to my brother who explained one of his techniques to me that he teaches in his art class.

Cut a piece of board, or use a canvas board. Schmere a mess of spackle on the board and use different objects to cut designs into the spackle. Let it dry, seal it, and paint!!!! My brother used acrylic paints for his spackle creations, I used the tubes of craft acrylic paint, to see if I liked it, before I invested in some good quality acrylic paint.

Welp - guess what.... I love this!! This is a great form of expression and good therapy too. You can't make a mistake. If you don't like it, paint over it. How cool is that! My brother gifted me with a box full of paint, and I can't wait to start exploring more.

What art do you like to or have you wanted to explore?




p.s. - i'll be posting a how to on this technique next week :)

Fun Copper Earrings

These are some of my biggest sellers.

Make a coil of 20 or 18 ga wire around your round nosed pliers. 10 or 11 wraps.

Lay the coil on your anvil and carefully hammer away from you. Meaning when you strike the coil, dont' strike straight down, but push across and away from you on the coils. This will flatten them.
You may need to reshape the end coils some, then add a bauble and your ear wires.

WAH-LA!

Maidens Promise - Quartz and Jasper

I have watched too many movies, and I romanticize the Medieval era. That is what this necklace reminds me of.  It is the simplicity of the jasper and quartz strands woven together, with a very simple focal. Primitively elegant!

The necklace that has been passed down generation after generation.
The young girl that wants to wear the necklace so bad but she isn't old enuff yet.
The upheaval of the village.
The girl wandering.
The girl finds the necklace.
The girl takes back her village.

Ya know, that kinda thing - I am such a geek :)

Maybe I will write a story, inspired by this piece.

What would you add to the story?