Coming up for air

Lately, things have been a bit busy at my pesky day job, to the point where the only break I've had since the beginning of July was a few days up at our camp with some of my beady friends in early August. Other than these days I've worked non-stop (nights and weekends) for what seems like an eternity. Now you all know why I've been M.I.A. in the blogosphere lately.

All that said, my handful of days up at the camp were bliss. Christine and Amy joined me for a few days of beading, hiking, drinking some wine, birding, did I say beading? There was lot of that, which was fantastic. There was the usual bead swapping, pattern sharing a bit of tutorials and teaching. It is exactly as a bead retreat should be. It was made better by being able to bead out on the screened porch and bead to the sound of the birds and the water.

Amy brought a book of patterns she had organized for Christine and me, which included a tutorial on a bangle pattern she has designed. We all tried the pattern, then Christine did an extra for good luck. The pattern is gorgeous and the beads Amy chose gave the best sparkle to this bracelet.

There was also some birding going on. Both Christine and Amy are experienced 'birders' which I can't say I understood much of that discussion! But I did enjoy the hike looking for a few of the local birds up at the camp. We caught the Chief Birder (Amy) birding and taking pictures at the end of the lake where many of them nest. She is an experienced photographer who takes the most amazing close ups of birds! No idea how she catches them in her photos but it always takes my breath away when I see them. Seriously look at these of a snowy owl on the beach. How does she get these pics?

Hard to believe that we're heading into Fall, and somehow I seemed to have missed most of my summer. We're talking about getting another retreat set up, which I can't wait to escape again with my beady friends. Soon.

Relaxing the Soul

Sometimes you just need to sit and weave. It relaxes the soul. 

I started this pattern with a pile of blue iridescent seed beads sitting in front of me. My hands just went to work in a methodical RAW pattern. After several rows, I decided to add a band of gold, but then went back to that deep blue. Honestly I had no final piece in mind, and just let my hands work quietly.

Once I had enough for a bracelet, it sat off to the side of my bead table. It was there for several weeks before I realized ... oh this really should sit on top of a worn-in denim cuff. Then it all fell into place. 

Funny how sometimes you can get lost in the moment of life and only after letting things sit for awhile can you see from a broader perspective. From an angle that helps you see what it was meant to be. 

Summer Design Series :: RAW Crystals

RAW. A stitch I don't use very often. but sometimes it can be just the right texture and rhythm for the beads. 

These are a gun metal color of crystals that I got from ZnetShows and I absolutely love them. I used a variation on the stitch to include two smaller beads (size 16) to each crystal and it created a beautiful, simple bracelet band. 

I added a slide clasp and silver charm with the tree of life. Which I think looks quite nice as the focal to the bracelet. This piece was the last one I made. And so it was just a tad late, and isn't shown in the recent Spark Magazine. But I thought you all might like to see just one more design as I finish out my Summer Design Series.

Spring Thaw

Spring is in full swing at this point. My hubby's favorite flowers (iris) are just starting to bloom, and my favorite flowers (peonies) are up and will bloom shortly. 

I've been working on a pattern called Spring Thaw created by Christine of OneKissCreations that I seem to be slightly obsessed with at the moment. I've made three of these back to back for some reason. I sit down and bead it start to finish in an evening. 

They really do feel lovely around the wrist, and so I'm trying to decide if I will 'love it, or list it' (for those of you who enjoy the HGTV show!). While I decide, I think I'll put it on and head out to the garden and snap pictures of the flowers. If you follow me on instagram you'll find them over there.

Hathor :: Goddess of Motherhood

After my post yesterday you all are likely wondering how I could possibly have more to say on the topic of turquoise? There is more, lots more. But I'll try to keep it short today and show you a turquoise cuff edged in leather. I think it has a sort of old world basket weave feel.

Since yesterday was Mother's Day, I decided to highlight Hathor the Egyptian goddess of motherhood including feminine love and the principles of joy. She seems to have covered a lot of topics (like most moms) as she was also the goddess of music, dance and foreign lands. I don't know about you, but my daughter's room seems to classify as a foreign land most days with an abundance of ancient artifacts under the bed, severe 'off roading' to get to her closet and a look of 'lost in translation' when I ask her to pick up. Just call me Hathor, goddess of teenage girls.

So what's Hathor got to do with Turquoise? Well, funny you should ask. She also appears to be the patron goddess of miners. Yep, that's right. She really had a full plate this one. And so she also picked up names like "Lady of Turquoise" and "Mistriss of Turquoise." This goddess was a real multi-tasker, but then I suppose motherhood includes a lot of juggling, some feminine love and occasionally principles of joy ... most days.  

Simple Boho

I like the simplicity of this boho bracelet. A piece for wearing every day with a favorite pair of jeans.

But sometimes the simple ones are the hardest. I struggled with this one at first as the beads were so uncooperative. They kept sliding back to the closure, and as much as I like the little buckle closure it just wasn't what I was going for. Then I realized that I could use a spacer to 'crimp' the beads and contain them to a focal area. Oh and that did it! I sent this piece on its way with my sister for one of her close friends back home. I hope she enjoys it.

It's a Snow Globe World

It is that time of year when we dream of warm weather while staring out the window at a snow globe world.

It's snowing through much of the Eastern US including my little corner of New England. 

As pretty as the world looks covered in a blanket of white, I dread what comes next. Shoveling out.

I'm not sure exactly why but I've been quiet lately. I haven't been blogging, but I've tried to make it over to people's blogs. I think I'm in a reflective mood this year. Looking back to assess and forward to adjust. But sometimes life just happens, and all you can do is try to find the calm in the storm. I have been looking for that dead spot.

I know I haven't posted many new projects lately. That is because there isn't much jewelry making going on at my house except for this set I made for a friend who loves beach glass. She apparently is obsessed with it, and particularly multi-colored. I don't do blaring colors very well and decided to go with a classic soft green with pearl accent. I found some patterned leather that gives it a bit of flare. I hope she enjoys the set.

Life Lately :: My Sister's Visit

I know I've been a bit absent lately, and I'm feeling the need to tell you all What I Did On My Summer Vacation ... if only it was all vacation.

.. well some of it was. You all know that I recently spent a few weeks in central Europe. And then over the Labor Day holiday my sister visited me. I know that sounds like a lot of time out of the office, and it was. But I have been working endless hours this summer, so it was so wonderful to get a break. And to spend some of that with my sister.

She was celebrating one of those milestone birthdays, and she decided to fly in to spend it with me. Pretty nice, huh? I don't get to see her much since she lives in New Zealand, so spending a whole week with her was awesome. Lots of catching up and doing what sisters do. We did a bit of clothes swapping and jewelry swapping. Well a lot of that actually. It was fun for me to pull out a few of my newer pieces and let her pick some things to bring home with her. This simple peyote cuff was one of the ones she decided to take home. It slipped on like a glove and looked so nice on her.

I have lots more to show you all from the Europe trip, and a few recent pieces I've been working on. I'm looking forward to cooler weather and time at the bead table. 

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

CC7A :: Tutti Fruiti

Today's CC7A hop is hosted by Therese Frank. Her challenge to all of us was to use the colors from this mutli-colored, tutti-frutti bloom. I think I might have mentioned this in my last post that I'm Mardi Gras challenged. Using lots of colors is a struggle for me. My mind likes uniformed patterns, so when someone throws in a bunch of colors it goes a bit haywire. 

Throwing caution to the wind I decided to use a pile of beads in a multitude of color. I dumped out what remained of my bicone crystals and used them all. Yes, every last one of them in a random order. 

I knew that I didn't have enough for a full bracelet, but I had something in mind. Originally I was going to finish off each end with a simple peyote band, but it created too much elegance. Strange I know, but it really wasn't what I was going for. I  really wanted something that was everyday wearable with a bit of fun bling. My friend Therese loves a bit of boho, biker bling ... and so I let it inspire this design.

I ripped out what I had, and instead took a strip from an old pair of jeans. I cut out a window box to nestle a sort of stained glass look inside. I stitched the outer edges of the beadwork right into the cut out window box. That first picture is capturing the light coming through the center. 

This cuff slips on like an old pair of jeans. It snaps in the back and feels so comfortable. I asked the Bead Girl to help out by wearing this around for a week or two to fray out the sides. She did a fantastic job with her part, although not exactly what I was expecting. I did see her wearing it for a few days, but when I asked for her to go grab it so I could snap a few pictures she could not find it anywhere. To the point of shouting through the tears, "I put it right here! I don't know what happened?" Fast forward an hour later and her room sifted .... I discovered it in the bottom of her bed. Sigh. 

Please make sure to check out all the other artists this month: Therese (this month's host), Alicia, Christine, Monique, Sally and Emma.

One More for Mother's Day

I've been posting a lot of leather bracelets lately, and I thought I would show you one more. This one is no longer in my stash as I gave this one away as a gift to a friend. A new mom who recently had a sweet baby girl. I asked her to help me design a "Mom Gift" for herself. I know, a bit unorthodox. I brought in a box of options to the office and we played with colors and designs. In the end she went with a simple sort of black and white look with black leather and silver. It looks amazing on her. I love how excited people get when they realize that they are creating a piece of jewelry for themselves.

My girls in Savannah at one of the many squares

Summer in the Adirondacks at age 8 and 4

There is always so much excitement around newborns. Rightfully so, but sometimes we forget about the mother or the sibling. Having had two daughters of mine own, I know it takes a bit of time to feel like yourself again. That's why I usually give gifts to the mother. Something special that's just for her.

It took me a bit of time to feel like myself again after each of my daughters were born. Don't get me wrong. I absolutely love being a mother. It is one of the best things in my life, which is probably why it all seems to have gone by so quickly. I feel like my two daughters went from grade school to high school in no time flat. And now my oldest is just a year away from college. Seems like just yesterday that she was so little. I love the person that she has become, but it will be such an adjustment for me when she's off to college. I guess that is what is on my mind lately.

Bracelets :: The Collection

Lately, I have been mixing and matching all sorts of leather, beads and findings to create bracelets. Over the last year I've been hoarding, well collecting all shapes and sizes of leather along with fun focals and closures.  As you can see, the stack of bracelets is growing.

If you've visited me lately you will have already seen a few of these posted. There was the Game of Thrones hop hosted by Heather of Humblebeads where I created a Daenerys Targaryen dragon head bracelet. There was also a hop to celebrate Alenka's birthday who has a love of butterflies, so I did one in honor of her.Then there was the one from last week where I was trying to solve for keeping a gorgeous lampwork bead (by Lea Avroch) from sliding all over the place. 

But there has been more. Much more as you can see. This stack represents the ones that are finished. There are actually quite a few more in various stages of 'doneness.'  Then there are the bits and pieces mapped out on the bead table waiting their turn to make it to the mat (the bead mat of course).

I really have been loving this braided leather. It is soft and easy to work with, and well looks a bit Medieval which of course is right up my alley. This particular one with blond leather, a copper twist focal and strong copper closure was designed by the Bead Girl. She loves to paint while I bead or glue away. But the last time I had a whole mess (yes I mean mess) of leather and findings spread out across the table she grabbed this combo and ask "what about this Mom?" Yes, yes I believe that will work is the only answer for that.

The vast majority of my materials I've picked up from my friend Melinda Orr. She always brings an enormous, movable stash (on wheels) with her to Bead Fest. And Linda Younkman and I will sit literally for hours oooh-ing and aw-ing through our discoveries. She always sends us off with things to try. Which leads me to my growing love of leather. I'm sure you've all noticed it cropping up in my designs over the last year or so, and I have Melinda to thank for my obsession! I blame her entirely.

Now that the weather is warming up, and the sun is finally here, I've been able to get a few decent pictures. I have most of these listed over on my Etsy, so I can make room for new additions to my growing collection of these babies.

Leather and Lampworks

I've been playing around with this bracelet for awhile now. Originally I had just the leather and the beautiful lampwork bead (made by Lea Avroch) in this bracelet.

Man I love this bead. I bid for it in an auction a while back and was out bid (argh!). But then Rita over at Toltec Jewels surprised me with it as a gift! That sneaky girl. 

I hoarded it for more than a year. (Hanging head). Yes it is true. I just couldn't part with it, and I wanted to find the right way to showcase it. It is a large hole bead and I didn't want it to flop around like a class ring on a string. I love the way this blue leather sets off the center of the pattern.

But it just needed more. Because while the the leather is the right width (with two pieces of cord) it still slides back and forth. I decided I was going to have to break out some seed beads. But I didn't want them to compete with the main attraction. I went very neutral with a pale, silvery grey. I did a quick peyote loop that I made just a tad over sized. I had something in mind. I wanted to lock them in place as a way to 'bumper' the lampwork, and stop it from sliding all over the place. I put in just a few stitches in the center and the whole thing locked just as I thought it might. Oh I love when things work. And bonus! Lea's bead stop shifting about. It actually stays put in the center now. 

Happy Birthday Alenka

Today we are celebrating Alenka's birthday with a butterfly-inspired hop. She loves these beautiful little creatures that she calls METULJI!  

I do love the amazing colors these little guys can come in, along with lots of other small creatures in our world. For a bit of fun eye candy, check out my pinterest board for some inspiration.

Alenka is an amazing polymer artist who creates beautiful beads, cabachons and even something called 'inchies' out of polymer clay. She has such an eye for color, and I simply love her heavy use of vivid spring colors like yellows, oranges and sprout green. If you haven't seen some of her other work then check out the interview I wrote on Alenka a year ago right about this time in our March/ April issue of Bead Chat Magazine (Pages 86-89). Just look at those sweet flower earrings she made! And one of my all-time favorite pieces ever ... the zipper heart. Her creativity knows no limits.

Ok, so on with the hop. I confess that I love looking at butterflies out in the yard, on a hike or up at our cabin in the Adirondacks. We always get a large variety of admirals, and several with vivid reds and oranges. But when it comes to jewelry I don't usually use butterfly shapes. But I knew this hop was coming up, so I purchased a beautiful silver piece that slips on to a licorice leather band. So I created a simple, rustic bracelet for the hop.

Be sure to check out everyone else celebrating Alenka's special day: Alenka (our host), Monique, Beti, Kathy, Kepi, Christine, Amy, Dini, Alicia, Sheila, Therese, Rebecca, Rachel, Liz, Ana, Jasvanti, Carolyn and Nan. That makes 19 of us (including me) ... happy hopping!

Game of Thrones :: Hop with Humblebeads

When I saw that Heather over at Humblebeads was hosting a Game of Thrones hop, I was in. In fact she had me at hello on this one. 

What more can I say? It's a crazy show full of amazing costumes from another era, drama weaving across the kingdoms and plenty of plot twists. I didn't find out about the show until several seasons in. Well it isn't that I hadn't heard about it, I just hadn't watched it. But then my husband had read all the books and said 'you know, you might like this series.'  We watched one show, then two, followed by several more. It turned into a binge watching marathon until we had ran out of episodes. I've been hooked ever since. There are some real bad-ass characters in this show, and of my favorites is Danny, or Daenerys Targaryen. I'll spare you all some of the more gruesome scenes, but this innocent looking girl turns out to be anything but...

I decided to use Danny as my inspiration and went in search of some her costume designs. She wears some dramatic styles. But here's the weird thing ... I was pretty set on making a pair of earrings, and I was pretty sure I'd find some of the characters wearing earrings. But as I scrolled through page, after page in my google search I could not find a one? hmmmm. I decided instead to make a bracelet. And as I looked through Danny's costumes I realized she was a great choice as she does wear quite a lot of arm gear whether it is at the wrist or the upper arm. 

She also happens to be the mother of dragons. I suppose that would sound strange if you're not a fan, but makes for a clear theme when designing with her in mind. I decided to go with a braided, black leather for the band and used a a dragon-scale, hooked closure. I added some rough cut rubies for the eyes because those babies need to glow, for sure.

And for a little bonus. I recently re-worked a dragon pendant for my niece who is very into them. We found a pin that she really liked, but preferred a necklace for her dragon. So I pulled it all apart, added a back and a bail ... then strung it through some black leather cord. It was the perfect redesign for her. And the bonus touch to my dragon post.

Winter Blues Blog Hop

Liz of Bead Contagion decided that one way to fight the winter blues was to throw a blog party. She decided that her extra stash of navy blue goldstone beads would be the perfect thing to chase those blues away.

The deep color of these stones with their bit of sparkle does remind me a lot of van Gogh's Starry Night series. While I of course love the one that is so popular with the swirls in the sky, this quieter one of the bridge over the Rhone is my favorite. It has the balance of deep blue night and a touch of gold. I can almost feel the warm summer air. Almost. Boy am I done with this winter.

I am with Liz on this, this winter has had a continued oppression this year. I saw a great meme a few weeks back that went something like this ... "Is it just me, or does anyone else think we're stuck in a snow globe & some jerk keeps giving it a shake?!"

Yep. That pretty much sums it up for me. It just kept snowing, and snowing and snowing this year. In fact I woke up to snow yet again this morning. 

Liz sent quite a large stash of these deep blue beads. Not only did she send a large doughnut, and several small ones, she also sent some beautiful small rounds. So after finishing the necklace I decided to also make a bracelet, but this time with a touch of silver. Blue goes so well with either metal!

Liz certainly did chase the blues away, and now I can't wait to see what everyone else created. Check out all the other bloggers: Liz (our host), Therese, Bobbie, Christine, Amy, Jasvanti, JoJo