Fossil Pendant

While away I finsihed this little fossil piece. It has 3 freshwater pearls and lots of tiny delica seed beads in a lovely green/bronze tone. It just sort of took on a shape of it's own while i was stitching it. I love when that happens. I also love Freeport, which is where I got this lovely piece. Approx. 2 1/2" high by 2" wide. Comes with a simple black leather cord. Retail $65. SOLD

Southwest Harbor Show

Just brought everything home from the show. Sad to see it over! But grateful for the sales generated from it. Thanks to everyone!

More Finished Pieces

Stuff For The Show!

Here are some finished pieces all together for an upcoming show!

A Vintage glass fire opal. I found a few of these left at The Beadin Path in Freeport years ago. They are quite fiery and flashy inside. Edged in purples and pinks with purple crystal fringe. Approx. 1 1/4" across the stone. Vintage 1940's era. Strung on a simple black leather cord. This piece really glows with fire inside. Retails for $45.

Amethyst Pendant

This nice chunk of amethyst has been edged in black and purple seed beads and a green delica. 126 pink delica beads decorate the edge in a ruffle. Approx. 1 1/4" in diameter. Retail $65

Fun Comic Domino's

These are fun little comic dominos that I got into. Retail $15 with a curb chain or simple leather cord with sliding knots for sizing.

Todays Finished Project

I have had this cabochon for a while and just love it. It reminds me of petrified wood. I used matte black seed beads and delicas with a gold seed bead edge. A tiny brass finish key hangs across the front of the stone. Backed with burgundy ultrasuede. $95. SOLD

Mermaid Bracelets

Freeform Netted Mermaid bracelets. These retail for $175. Clasps are formed from freshwater

pearls. Seedbeads, crystals, beads, pearls...

Freeform Sea Glass Pendants

These have been very popular this year so far. Each one is designed around a piece of authentic beach glass I have personally collected. Then I freeform seed ebads and crystals around each one. Clasp is a hand drilled piece of sea glass or pottery. This lilac one is one of my favorites so far. These retail for $45 and up depending upon rarity of color of sea glass. Aqua necklace-SOLD

Other Things

Here are a few of the felted things that I also do. Little change purses with fun buttons and heart ornaments with sequins, beads and crystals! Retail $15 each. Each one is unique and individual.

Finished!

The Tiger is finally done! I can't tell you how many hours went into this piece but let's say a lot!

New Clasp Design

New Clasps are finished (in sterling silver and copper! I love how they look on the necklace. Nothing like a handmade clasp to show off your work. I also included a pic of a smaller cab I finished off. The tiny flowers that decorate the edge are vintage and so cute.

Bounty!

Successful day in Bangor. I went everywhere...even stopping at Gallery Grand on the way home. This is their last week and I will miss stopping in for a little bauble when I am in ellsworth. Thanks Christina for the bright spot you provided in ellsworth these last few months and see you at the Bead Show!

I found more zebra's at AC Moore, gold, green, black seed bead and a new nylon beading thread at The Beaded Moose...Cabochons, a brass horse, tiny key charms, a carved buddah, more green and brass seed beads (you can never have enough colors of seed beads!). And a couple of carved goldfish in orange and green.

The best for last....Gallery Grand! I got tiny little green flowers that will really come in handy. Two vintage cabs, a turquoise cab and two matched pieces of cherry creek. I have never seen stones like these. I would like to use them seperate but they scream earrings...

Almost done with the tiger surface. Getting ready to cut and edge and then strand. The show is next weekend and I am really looking forward to it! Hope to see everyone there.

Saturday Bead Excursion

The Tiger continues to become! I made a netted collar around his neck that turned out pretty neat. Still deciding on what to embellish him with at the end. I added a pearl and a black crystal so far. I think that it lends itself to more dark and plain versus the zebra. I laid a bunch of ideas out on the beading board and as I go along I decide. I have some coral that brings out the color of the mouth that might tie it all together quite nicely.

Today I am going to the bead shops mentoined previously to scope out some new stuff. Three bead stores in one day = heaven! I'll post a pic of the stuff I discover. One can never have too many beads. I also got a notice that my new business cards are on their way! I ordered boxes as well and am in the process of getting personalized stickers to tie it all together. I just have to come up with a catchy logo for them.

Update On Tiger Piece

Here is an updated pic of the newest in the wildlife animal series I am currently doing. I spent the better part of the morning beading and got the head secured to bead around. Now it is off to the gallery!

Art Day With Amy

My friend Amy and I have been trying to get together to do some art. After several cancellations we finally had the opportunity (with a last minute change) to spend some time immersed in projects. Amy brought a box of "rocks" she had made last fall. They had a roku glaze on them and were formed with her hands. If you picked one up and moved it around it fit perfectly in your hand in the space that it was formed. I included a pic to show the vast variety of shapes and sizes they came in.

I showed her how to do a peyote stitch around so that some of them could be encased in a strip of beads and worn as a pendant. I think the seed bead color really reflects the natural look of the stone enhancing it rather than detracting from the simple beauty of the "rock". We had a really fun day!

I started the Tiger piece while we were sitting around and in 4 hours got two cab's enclosed and a start to the whole piece. It is shaping up nicely and I am rather happy with the direction it is taking. Stay tuned for more update pictures as it takes shape.

Todays Projects!

Well I finished embellishing zebra safari and got a cool jungle print ultrasuede for the back. I hope to finish the edge tonight and be able to wear it soon! Really wanting to keep this one as I love zebra's!

I also started (almost done) a smaller mystery stone with a metallic pale blue galvanized seed bead edge. This is one of the first times I have ever seen (and worked) with these metallic finished seed beads. I found them a few months ago at "Sticks and Stones. A bead shop located in brewer, Maine. They have a great selection of supplies and on this particular day I got several tubes of these mettallic in pinks (there we go with pink again!) and blues. They are fast becoming one of my favorites. I thought I should make some less exspensive pendants for the Bead show. It is fast approaching...

I also laid out the saber tooth tiger piece. I had some lovely accompanying stones in my stash. A black onyx, some dalmation like jasper and a pretty pale aqua stone (mystery). Can't wait to see how it evolves.

Today I will be going to Bangor and hope to make time to stop into The Beaded Moose, Sticks and Stones and also the Gallery Grand in ellsworth. Stay tuned for some treasures I may find there to inspire me...

Progress On Zebra Safari

I am really enjoying immersing myself in this project as it evolves..one seed bead at a time! It is always good to take pics as you go along to see the progress. I hope you like it as much as I do! I am already planning the next one...a tiger theme...stay tuned.

Zebra Safari

Here is the zebra pendant started. I incorporated some pink into it. What is it with pink and me lately? Black is usually my color of choice but lately I am drawn to pink.

Upcoming Project.

Found these cute plastic animals that my jeweler was kind enough to cut up for me. I have incorporated the heads with beads for a very unique pendant. Pics of the project soon!

Tequila With Lime & Pretty in Pink

Finished these two as well! Unknown stones at the moment. The lime is really bright. the pink has black shadows that remind me of bonsai tree outlines. Very nice! I put the pink one on a plain leather cord. The green one has a lovely black picot edging and I am thinking I might strand it later. Pretty In Pink $65. Tequila With Lime (inquire).

This Morning...

Remember that piece of turquoise I mentioned picking up at Gallery Grand earlier? Well, I just couldn't wait to start on it. So feeling inspired I started with some iridescent green to pick up the flecks in the stone. After a lot of thought I chose earthy brown delicas (It is the first day of spring after all! Even if a few inches of snow are predicted for later...). I could not figure out a trim and really wanted to do something different. Then I remembered some amber chips that I had. Perfect! I finished it off with a tangle of the green seed beads for a hanger and a small amber drop at the top. I love it enough to want to keep it! I hope the pictures really reflect how gorgeous the stone is. Especially with my enhancements! Hanging from a simple black leather cord. Perfection! $75

Jade and Agate Pendant

Differing colors of jade and agate are hand sewn onto ultrasuede with black matte and plum mettalic seed beads. Tiny gold delicas edge the stones. Priced at $125. Loved trying this new shape.

Carnelian, Amethyst & Turquoise pendant

This pendant just kept growing....first with a carnelian, amethyst and turquoise stone. Then hundreds of little seed beands and delicas were hand sewn in undulating circles around it. I strung a strand of amethyst chips for the necklace. A double layer of ultrasuede edged with seed beads to hold the layers together. Sterling Silver clasp. Priced at $250 this is truly a unique piece.

Goldstone with green

Goldstone surrounded by green seed beads and silver delicas with a cluster of freshwater pearls in the color of jade. backed with ultrasuede. Stranded with 3 colors of freshwater pearls and seed beads. Sterling silver clasp. Super sparkly stone catches the light and really glows. At Flying Mountain Artisans ($150).

Handmade Cabachon Pendant

Handmade cabachon face pendant aged with paints. Handsewn onto leather with a black onyx body. Beaded jey black crystal fringe and woven gold delica seed bead hais make her unique. She started out as a fetish doll and evolved into this pendant. Retails for $75. SOLD

Favorite Piece

I think this is my favorite piece! I love brown mixed with blue. This piece resides at Flying Mountain Artisans ($250) until it goes to it's new home. I used tiny blue seed beads and tan delicas. Embellished with swarovski pink and blue crystals and pale pink and blue freshwater pearls. I finished it off with a leaf sterling silver clasp.

Assorted Pieces

I found these bags of junk at a tag sale yesterday. After sorting I found I had three usable piles of things from shoes, old dolls and animals and a misc pile that looked intresting. You never know when you might need that certain piece to create with!

I can certainly use a lot of the dished in my upcoming "Fairy House"!

Finished...

S

The framed altered art piece is simply titled "FEET".

The vintage cabachon was bought from a dealer on etsy. I loved the way it flowed. Finished and off to the gallery!

*Cabachon sold March 21, 2011

Unfinished projects...just a few!

J

I have lots of things in the cupboard waiting for finishing. If I only had more time! I have included a few things here to motivate me to finish them...before next week perhaps? I have two lovely bracelets just waiting for some glue on the knots, 3 nice pieces of agate that I am embellishing around the edges with purple beads and a vintage plastic cabachon with metallic purple and terra cotta seed beads.

Made a trip to the Craft Barn in search of bails to no avail. Instead I got some lovley lampworked blue heart beads, some fairy themed charms, pale blue seed beads and some white leaf drops. More things for the drawer of inspiration!

Saturday March 19th, 2011

I have been busy over the last week making earrings for the upcoming Bead Fair. So far I have made over 100 pairs...whew! At Goodwill I found these cute solid mesh basket like purses. They make great portable earring holders. I just love it when I can recycle something into something useful! You never know when you are going to need that little something so never throw anything away. Displaying has always been ever evolving for me. Always different as I try to tweak it into just how I want it to look.

I also started another "dream" list of beads that I need. My goal of using up some of the older stuff is working and I find I am running low...ack, how is that possible?? I might stop into The Gifted Hand in ellsworth to see what is new downstairs in the bead section. Last week I got a gorgeous piece of turquoise that I can't wait to start designing. I am donating a piece to the Abbe museum auction this year. Since turquoise is appropriate I am thinking of a design to implement and colors. Also last night while I could not sleep I designed the bracelet that I have an order for. It is nice to have creative freedom to do what I want with it. Thanks Suzanne for trusting the "artist" in me! The boulder opal is gorgeous! I will include a picture as I go along to see the progress.

Queen Frostine

I was inspired by the character "Queen Frostine" from candyland for this necklace. i was sitting in the window gazing out at sparking snow and thus this design was inspired. It is done is all shades of white with the exception of tiny lilac delicas that edge the opaline stone. The strand is comprised of three strands of vintage irredescent teardrop crystals, fresh water pearls and glass beads. It is one of my favorites so far! Super sparkly!

Contest Entry

I recently entered "Pieces Of You" in the Fire Mountain Seed Bead Contest. This is a bead embroidered piece. Each seed bead was sewn on by hand. This piece took approximately 100 hours of labor to complete. It is a cuff bracelet. I love how it turned out!

Welcome: First Posting!

Greeting fellow crafters and fans to my blog! In this coming year my goal is to track my creative process and put myself more out there. I love creating and feel it is such an important piece of who I am and how "i" express myself. Some of the things I have summoned the courage to do are...currently for the month of March I have a display at the Southwest Harbor Library for Womens History Month. So far I have sold one bracelet and got an order for a custom piece! The display looks great and the paper is going to do a piece on me as an artist! The paper put a picture of me in with the library story.

I applied to be in Sam Shaws Art Show in Northeast Harbor this coming May and was accepted. "Dancing With Jane" is my chosen piece. A self exploration of altered art it is a deeply personal piece of my creative journey.

Applied to be in the Gifted Hand Bead And Bauble show. in ellsworth at the Ramada Inn April 8th (12-7) and 9th (9-4). Hope to see you there. I will have some of my new bead embroidery pieces there. These are a new thing for me and I am loving each individual piece of art as it evolves.

Busy composing letters and sending emails/pics to several upscale gallerys and stores around the state.

Today was the opening day for Flying Mountain Artisans! It was a gorgeous day for an opening. I am proud to be a part owner of this fine gallery and crafts store.