AJE November Component of the Month

I was happy to get a chance to play with Kristen Steven's darling beaded beads as part of the Art Jewelry Component of the month for November.

When the beads arrived in the mail I was so excited that I forgot to snap a photo of them, but I'll bet you can guess which ones they are.

I wanted to do a bracelet or necklace with them instead of the obvious earrings. I tried several designs, none of which turned out the image I had in my head.

It seems these beads were destined to be earrings after all.

 

'Shenandoah's Daughter'

Kristen's beaded beads, polymer beads from Heather Powers (which I've been hoarding for some time) Vintaj curved tubes and brass earwires.

 

My inspiration came from two places. When I was young we would visit my grandparents on my mother's side every Sunday evening. We chowed down on salty popcorn while watching the Lawrence Welk Show and I remember them singing a lovely song 'Oh Shenandoah'.  And recently I heard it again on TV as they were showing re-runs. I don't think that kind of talent is around anymore.

Wait, I just realized I'm showing my age with that bit of information!

 

The second inspiration was our trip to on the Blue Ridge Parkway this summer. We had intended to get all the way up to the Shenandoah Park but were unable to due to heavy fog.  But the beautiful green trees and rugged trails and lovely waterfalls along the Blue Ridge Parkway were awe inspiring and I wanted to incorporate that beauty in these earrings.

 

Thanks for stopping by! I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving.

 

Please check out the Art Jewelry Elements Blog to see what everyone else made.

 



Goodies in the Mail

Source

 

I love it when I get goodies in the mail, don't you?  Here are a few I recently received.  Please try not to drool all over your keyboard.

 

After participating in the Autumn Design Challenge I fell in love with Caroline Dewson's beads and just had to have more of them.  These wonderful beads arrive today. Aren't they yummy?

 

 

These gorgeous ceramic cuffs are from Cindy Kovar at Captured Moments.  Cindy makes all kinds of wonderful things.  Go check out her shop.

 

 

These gorgeous enameled drops and pendants are from bluhealer. But she also makes gorgeous glass beads.  I've already made a pair of earrings with another set of drops.  You can see them here.

 

 

 

 



Kristi Bowmans Wonky Bead Blog Hop

Kristi made several batches of her wonderful Wonky Polymer beads. And to celebrate she is hosting a blog hop.  We chose the primary color and Kristi chose the rest of the set for us. I chose the red set and below is a photo of the beads I received. Aren't they fabulous?! And for once, I already had a design plan in mind.

My twin sister takes lots of trips to other countries and always brings back beads for me. In return she asks that I make a necklace that represents the country she visited using the beads she brought back.

This time she wanted a necklace representing Africa, and this is the necklace I made.

It includes Kristi's polymer beads, African Green Heart Beads, and tan and brown discs from Africa. I chose a simple brass chain and lobster clasp so as not to detract from the beads.  I am thrilled with how well Kristi's beads worked with the African theme.

Thanks so much for stopping by.  Be sure to check out Kristi's etsy site to see her wonderful polymer beads!

AJE Earring Challenge

It's time once again for the Art Jewelry Elements Earring Challenge. We are  at weeks 35 and 36!

'Rain Forest Mist'

Made with  brass ovals cut from brass sheet, then patinated with a vinegar and salt solution. Lampwork beads from Whitney Street Studio, and Vintaj components

You can see how I made them here.

'Infinity Pool'

Strips of brass sheet formed on a baseball bat, Ranger Verdigris Patina and Vintaj components.

As always I enjoy your comments.  Please stop by the AJE blog  and the AJE Pinterest site to see more wonderful earrings.

Experimenting with Ranger Patinas

I hardly have time to experiment on big projects but I am enjoying my experiments with patinas.

This week I played with Ranger Patinas purchased from Vintaj. They come in a package of three colors but I chose to use only the Verdigris shown here.

'Infinity Pool'

I carefully cut narrow strips of brass sheet and hammered them into shape on a baseball bat. Then I 'painted' them with the Ranger patina and added the Vintaj brass chain and earwires.  I wanted the lovely turquoise color to be seen from all angles while being worn so these earrings sit parallel to and slightly below the jawline. They are swingy (spellcheck indicates that's not a word).

There's only one problem.  I just dug in and painted the metal without reading the instructions. I was supposed to set the patina with a heat tool--something I don't have.  I wonder if the color will wear off...

A Happy Accident

I've been dabbling in patina, though not as much as I would like. It seems there is not enough hours in the day to just sit and experiment. But the other day I decided to cut some ovals out of brass sheet and patina them with the sea salt/vinegar method. I put the ovals on a Chinette plate and squirted the patina on the pieces.  The problem was that I had already domed the brass ovals so the patina solution just ran off. What to do?  Then I realized the plate had a dip around the rim and the solution was pooling there, so I turned the brass ovals face down into the solution. I thought it would take a couple days for the patina to be just right but they were done in just a few hours.

The brass ovals domed.

I love how the solution turned into that wonderful copper color in the center of the ovals. A happy accident!

'Rain Forest Mist'

And the earrings I made with the brass ovals. Also included are lampwork beads by Whitney Street Studio which I've had for a long time.  And Vintaj Brass washers, earwires, and jump rings.

I would love to hear about your experiments in patina as I'm quite fascinated with the idea of making my own components with different patinas.

AJE Earring Challenge

It's week 33 and 34 for the Art Jewelry Elements Blog year long earring challenge.  And what a challenge it was for me this week. These photos show how much I struggled with photographing just one pair of earrings.

These earrings are made with Scorched Earth green/brown dangles and those large 'honey colored' vintage balls. It was the vintage balls that gave me grief. First, they were too large to photograph laying flat so I put them on this pottery shard.  But look how orange they are!

Next I folded a piece of card stock and hung them. This is a bit better, but still doesn't show the wonderful honey color.

So I took them outside and put them on cinder blocks.  A bit better but still very orange.

Getting very frustrated by now

Outside on a black surface. All washed out but getting closer to the honey color.

Outside with the card stock stand. Still  a bit too orange no matter what editing I do!

Any Suggestions?  I have to admit I don't know my way around the camera. I usually shoot without flash and hope for the best.  

For my second pair:

'Double Trouble' 

Also with Scorched Earth beads along with Vintaj components.

Please head over to the AJE blog to see more earrings. And be sure to visit the AJE Pinterest Board to see more.

AJE Earring Challenge

So Sunday is week 29 and 30 of the Art Jewelry Elements year long earring challenge. I'm posting early as I won't be able to show up this weekend and I can't rely on the blogger schedule tool anymore. Today I'm featuring beads from Heather Powers. She makes wonderful polymer pieces but my favorite are the smaller round beads which are so versatile.

'Soon Autumn Comes' made with Heather's brick red polymer beads, Czech beads from ArteBella Surplus, and Vintaj components.

'Persian Tea House' made with patina-ted sticks, and patina-ted metal beads from MissFicklemedia, Heather's gold patterned beads along with Vintaj components. Please visit the Art Jewelry Elements blog to see more goodies. And don't forget to check Art Jewelry Elements Pinterest board for even more goodies!

An Experiment in Patina

I know many of you have experimented with Patina so this might be a 'done that' post to you. But for me it's something new and exciting. I'm using instructions from Denise Yezbak Moore in the February 2011 Issue of Bead Trends.  Yes it takes me that long to put things in to action. 

I'm using Vintaj 25 mm copper circles. The process takes three days or more depending on the level of patina you want. I was so excited  about how well this worked that I forgot to take a photo of the first day results.

Day two, very nice patina. Even the paper plate shines with color and salt crystals.

Day three.  I'm not happy with the results as they are more crusty than I wanted.  It's my own fault as I purchased coarse sea salt rather than fine by mistake.This is the convex side.

Concave side. I finished them with a little buffing and a light coat of Ren Wax.

'St Croix' with Scorched Earth drops.

AJE Earring Challenge

  Sunday is the reveal for weeks 27 and 28 of the Art Jewelry Elements year long Earring Challenge. In keeping with my theme of featuring a bead artist each week for as long as I can, I have made two pairs with beads from Petra of Scorched Earth. Check out her etsy shop, you'll be glad you did!  

'Let Freedom Ring' made with Petra's colorful drops, lampwork beads from Twinstar, and Vintaj components.

 

'Drifter' with Petra's rustic daggers, Vintaj components, and lampwork beads from  Something New4 you (I lost track of her since she sold on ebay and would love to find her again.  If anyone knows how to find her I would be greatful.)

  Just like the days of summer go by so quickly, it seems like we just started this challenge.  Yet here we are just over half way through the year. Thank you for sticking with me as I show off my earrings.  And please visit the AJE blog to see more wonderful earrings.

Black and White Challenge

Today is the reveal of Sally's Black and White Challenge.

The only rules are that we have to use only black and white in our piece, though we can use wire, metal or chain in silver, copper,brass, bronze, white or black. We can also use crystals to accent the piece.

 'World's Fair' is made with a gorgeous pendant from Hopemore, black onyx beads, glass pearls, and sterling chain.

'The Modern Wheel' made with a black and white lampwork ring from BlueHealer, and sterling chain.

I know this has brown in it but I wanted to show it anyway because it does have black and white as well.  I made this for my mom from beads my sister brought back from China a few years ago.  When mom passed away I got it back.

Thanks for stopping by.  Please visit the other participants at the list below.

Sally Russick

Monique Urquhart

Patti Vanderbloemen

Veralynne Malone

Duane Clark

D Lynne Bowland

Michelle Buettner

Pam Sears

Therese Frank

Dawn Doucette

Nicole Rennell

Cynthia Machata

Alice Peterson

Carolyn Lawson

Evelyn Shelby

Ailsa Cordner

Michelle Escano

Mischelle Fanucchi

Jess Green

Adrienne Berry

Lynsey Brooks

Kashmira Patel

Ann Schroeder

Marlene Cupo

Susan F.

Susan Kennedy

Kathy Lindemer

Paula Kramer

Lisa Johnson

Sandi Volpe

Donna Bradley

Karin Slaton

Jasvanti Patel

Stefanie Teufel

Liz Engriser

Christine Altmiller

Sally Russick

Monique Urquhart

Patti Vanderbloemen

Veralynne Malone

Duane Clark

D Lynne Bowland

Michelle Buettner

Pam Sears

Therese Frank

Dawn Doucette

Nicole Rennell

Cynthia Machata

Alice Peterson

Carolyn Lawson

Evelyn Shelby

Ailsa Cordner

Michelle Escano

Mischelle Fanucchi

Jess Green

Adrienne Berry

Lynsey Brooks

Kashmira Patel

Ann Schroeder

Marlene Cupo

Susan F.

Susan Kennedy

Kathy Lindemer

Paula Kramer

Lisa Johnson

Sandi Volpe

Donna Bradley

Karin Slaton

Jasvanti Patel

Stefanie Teufel

Liz Engriser

Christine Altmiller

AJE Earring Challenge

  Sunday is the reveal for weeks 25 and 26 of the Art Jewelry Elements year long earring challenge.   I purchased some wonderful beads from Eclectic Prairie and got to work right away. This first pair was very difficult to photograph because of the shape of the wavy beads, and the shine coming off them. 

'Midsummer's Night' made with Eclectic Prairie's brown wavy ceramic bead. They have a little bit of blue in them which was diffictlt to photograph. Also included are Czech  'calm' beads from Arte Bella Surplus, and Vintaj components.

 

'Happy Go Lucky' made with  Eclectic Prairie's colorful ceramic beads and Vintaj Components

I don't make mismatched earrings often but I thought these were fun.

Thanks for stopping by.  Please check out the AJE Blog to see more earrings.

 

AJE Earring Challenge

  Sunday is the reveal date for weeks 23 and 24 of the Art Jewelry Elements Earring Challenge.  Normally I make two pairs of earrings featuring one artist, but we were gone all week to a family reunion in Missouri and I just didn't get the second pair done.  

'Hippie Chick'

I just love these tiny colorful lampwork beads from Jodie Marshall.  When I sat down to make a pair of earrings the colors made me think of the hippie era of the 60's. I think they are perfect for summer.

Please check out the AJE Blog to see more earrings.

 

AJE Earring Challenge

  It's the reveal date for Art Jewelry Element's Earring Challenge for weeks 19 and 20. In keeping with my goal to feature different bead/component artists, both earring pairs are made with components from Cathy Dailey who makes the most darling rustic charms, pendants and more.  

'Gloria' made with Cathy Dailey's sterling silver cross charms, fasceted ruby 'Berry Bliss' czech beads, and silverish 'Mercury Marbles' Czech beads from Arte Bella Surplus, and a mix of brass and copper components to add a look of graceful aging to the earrings.

'Under the Apple Tree' made with tiny sterling leaf charms from Cathy Dailey, Czech Beads form Arte Bella Surplus, and sterling ear strings from Fusion Beads.

I took a bazillion photos of thes earrings but had a difficult time capturing the sweet charms because the sterling reflected the light so much. Need to practice on that.

I'm enjoying the AJE Earring Challenge so much, especially since I'm featuring some wonderful artists, but I haven't made anything other than earrings since December. Something else I need to work on.....

  Please stop by the AJE Blog to see what everyone else made.