CC7A :: Soft Summer Hues

This month's CC7A challenge is hosted by Sally Russick and is inspired by these beautiful soft summer hues.

I confess that I had originally designed my cabochon #3 as my piece for this month, but I ended up posted it early. Truth be told, I posted it and then remembered several days later that I meant to reveal it for this hop. It was too late to switch it around! That is exactly how distracted I've been lately. 

Ah well, I did have a plan B. I had also made a sweet pair of earrings in the color pallet using a beautiful pair of headpins by Genea that I could not resist buying. I love the celery green color mixed with earthy colors. It just feels like summer to me. I really love her headpins, and all those silvery additions to the beads were perfect for me to add just a touch silver fringe to bring it out.

Be sure to check out everyone else's creations this month: Alicia, Christine, Therese, Sally, and Monique.

Stone Cabochon Series :: #4

Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park

Years ago, before we had our kids, my husband and I took a road trip through the Southwestern US. What a gorgeous corner of the world, and something that continues to influence me when I sit down to create jewelry. 

The red rocks and painted desert of the area are breathtaking and remain carved into my memory along with our hike down into the grand canyon as we watched a thunder storm erupt along the opposite rim. Mother Nature's light show was spectacular.

I will absolutely never tire of the bold, but simple colors and geometric shapes from local artisans. I am inspired by the Southwestern Native American tribes of the region with Navajo, Zuni and Hopi being personal favorites. If you have time to browse, check out my Pinterest board for some of the regions beautiful inspiration.

This set of red stone cabochons gifted to me from Melinda Orr were two of the first I paired together for this series. While they are not of the same stone, they seem to depict the shifts and changes of the rock layers throughout the region. It is one of the memorable things about visiting the Southwest. I love how you can see the the layers of sediment exposed to the elements over the millennium; a rich history you can study as you hike these magnificent natural wonders. You can see more inspiration on my South by Southwest Pinterest board.

Each one of these paired cabochons has taken on its own personality, and this one seemed to need a brass chain to draw out the flecks in the sandstone. As I think about it, the first time I ever saw sandstone was in the small market as you enter Monument Valley. The cluster of vendor stalls were full of local craftsmen selling items in the traditional native Southwestern styles, including pottery, blankets, clothing, bags or jewelry. I've been in love with the stone ever since and it continues to reminds me of our trek through this region each time I pull it out to create.

Stone Cabochon Series :: #3

Haystack Rock Cannon Beach, OR

For as long as I can remember there has been one place, that when I close my eyes it is what I see. I can instantly feel the cool mist on my face, the whipping wind twisting my hair and the roar of the surf. It is the one place that can bring me peace from the moment I crest the hill, and round the corner to head down the long drive to Cannon Beach. The rock will come in and out of view as I wind my way there. 

When I looked into the pattern of the stone that Melinda Orr gifted me, all I could see was the silhouette of haystack rock that dominates the view from Cannon Beach. I see a "moody" winter sky surrounding the rock. Just as I remember it being most days. 

My childhood was spent along this coast line at the various beaches in the area, but nothing captivated me as much as this mammoth rock jutting out of the surf. I always wanted to climb it, and I would shift around to a side, dig in and begin to climb a few foot-holds up. But my mother would notice and yell to "get DOWN off that rock!" Once upon a time I was 7 and would wait until I thought my mother wasn't looking so I could sneak in a little excitement, something I was definitely not supposed to do. Yes people climbed it, and yes it was wet, slippery and dangerous. But there was a time in my life where I just wanted to see the view from up top. 

I no longer have this piece as a friend bought this one from me 2 weeks ago. She tried on almost every one of my stone cab necklaces in this series, and nearly bought the one I showed last weekend. But in the end she took this one. I knew from the beginning that this was the one for her, but it took her most of the weekend before she knew it too. She also took the cuff I posted last weekend. When she told me she wanted it, I was a bit taken aback because she exclaimed "oh, this will be perfect for the wedding I'm going to!" Totally didn't see that coming. But once she told me it was a wedding on a beach and she had a cute cotton jacket it would match, it all made sense to me. Absolutely nothing makes me happier than to think of her wearing these pieces.

ATTS 7: Bead Embroidery

I just love this hop hosted by Christine and Therese. Each one has been a challenge for me to try something new. To practice a stitch or technique. This installment had us trying our hand at bead embroidery. 

While I have been doing quite a few bead bezeling pieces lately, I wanted to try some stitching into fabric. So that is where I wanted to start this challenge. With a piece of fabric, some beads and a simple design. 

The last time that Christine and I got together for a beady weekend, I decided to get started on a piece for this hop. Christine happened to have a bit of grey cloth that matched a bead bezel focal I had just finished. She gifted me the cloth and I got started. I attached the focal and continued the design on the fabric with the same beads. I was going to fill in more beadwork, but both Christine and I agreed simple was better.

But it did just need a bit more, and so I decided to do some bead crochet for an edge. I stitched that in place and then added a suede backing to the fabric. I love the way this one feels on ... that suede backing is so comfortable! And the cuff has that bit of boho elegance that I love. So a win, win for me!

I thought I'd show you all another piece I recently finished. I've been in a bezeling mood lately and I've created a number of pieces with some small polished stones that Melinda Orr gifted me. There is a wide variety and I've had so much fun mixing and matching them. I'll come back and show you more later, but here is one of my favorites. 

I've discovered a nifty trick. If I glue a jump ring to the back of my focal, and then add the suede, I can stitch the whole piece together with a small loop for me to connect the focal. So instead of a large embroidered piece, I get a few individual pieces that connect and have a bit of swing to them. I have a growing collection to show you all that I'be been working on for months. Yes, I am just a tiny bit obsessed with this style.

Be sure to check out the rest of the hoppers today: our hosts Therese and Christine, Amy, Liz E, Kim, Janet, Bobbie, Maryanne, Karen, Becky, Shirley, Lola, Lori, Karin G, Debbie, Paula, Wendy, Jasvanti, Ginger, Alicia, Sarah, Lizzie, Samantha, Sally, and Niky