Princess of Thorns

SOlD

Usually my pieces reflect my life...let's say things have been very busy lately...!  Special orders, studio clean out sale, more gallery adventures...the list is long.  I have spent countless hours in the studio lately creating.  Today, I took a little time out to work on a vision I had for this little square, off kilter face.  I started it, went out...and when I returned it took a completely different turn.  I can envision her hiding, peeking out of a thorny busy...her little crown of thorns adorned with icy crystals glittering in the sun...Next I need to create an eclectic strand of multi colored, textured, beads from which to suspend her.

Vintage Glass sequins, glass drops, bugle beads, glass pearls, freshwater pearls, opals, black coral sticks...the list goes on and on...!

Opal, Garnet & Laboradite Earrings

Pink Opal Cabochons

Tiny Pink Faceted Garnets

Labradite & Garnet Faceted Drop

Pure Yumminess...

Statement Piece Earrings

Teardrop shaped turquoise cabochons are joined to aqua vintage glass pyramids by a faceted silver czech bead.  Tiny metallic brown, gold and iridescent blue glass beads surround each piece.  These larger earrings will be statement pieces for some upcoming shows.  I love the large dramatic feel of them.  This one evokes cleopatra for me.  Large, dangly, sure to be noticed!

Working with vintage pieces always inspires me.  The aqua glass in these tiny pyramids really glows due to the gold foil backing.  All of the colors reflect one another and really all pull together for a really unique look.  

Branch Fringed Earrings

A pair of perfectly matched Frog Eye Jasper cabochons edged with varying hues brown seed beads and crazy branched fringe. Backed with the softest of suede leather. Swarovski faceted crystals in varying shades of brown dangle from the end of each one.  Sterling silver handmade ear wires.  These earrings are large and spectacular.  Sure to be noticed and to make a statement with!

Vintage Brass Stamping

Things have been crazy in the studio these last few days before Christmas!  I have been busy filling orders and churning out new ideas.  They are constantly in my head floating around until I can put them into bead form.  I have not been taking many photographs but have a lot of finished projects waiting for you all to see.

In the meantime here is a little teaser....delicate floral design winds it way around this vintage brass stamping. I filled in the piercings with pearls, garnets and crystals.  Edged in tiny #15 glittery brown toho beads.  I stranded this with cut rondelles of citrine interspersed with more toho beads.

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After the show I am currently in I will have lots more time to post and update all of the new things.  Especially the fossil, branch fringed, earrings i am working on right now!

Yellow and Gold

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Buttery yellow pearls, sparkly swarovski crystals, one lone glass shell.  Pure glam in one subtle color palette. Pure class...

7 Blue Opals...

I have loved these since I first saw them.  Sitting on the studio table they have inspired me every day.  Finally they have been created...7 hand cut blue opal cabochons with crystals, apatite and pearls...Need I say more?

Lapis Necklace

Vintage Faceted Glass Cabochon edged in cobalt blue and bronze seed beads.  Stranded with lapis beads.  Gold plated clasp.

Victorian Pearl Necklace

Two Vintage Cabochons, one a pale etched blue/the other a floral gold, green and purple, paired with lush swarovski glittery crystals and pearls.  The stranding really sets this one apart with sugar crusted freshwater pearls.  A gold plated clasp.  The bronze beads with the blue is perfect!  I am loving the direction that I am going in at the moment.  As always life dictates the mood and presence of each individual piece.  So as I pack up for this weekends show I place with great reluctance a few of the newer pieces...

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Amber Glass Earrings

I am having a lot of creative fun with faceted drops and a more lush look for earrings.  These are brown faceted vintage glass paired with blues.  Backed with the softest of leather and sterling silver hand made earring wires.

Sparkle Necklaces

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Love the sparkle!  Of any kind...must be the crow in me!  These large Swarovski Rivoli's are encases in tiny #15 metallic seed beads in a netting and then strung with various crystals, more swarovski's and pearls.  For those who love sparkle these are sure to please!

Romantic Edwardian Earrings

Every once in a while I make something I covet.  These fit the bill perfectly!

Pure romance...Swoon!

Vintage faceted cranberry glass edged in chocolate covered cherry seed beads.  Gold lined delicas gently fold inwards to encase the glass. A clear swarovski sits in the middle.  Fringed with an amber colored swarovski crystal and garnets.  Handmade sterling silver ear wires.

These measure approx 1" without ear wires (add another 3/4" for ear wires).  Romantic, dainty and perfect for dress up or jeans.  These would be perfect for Valentines Day.

Swirled Green Earring

Vintage swirled green cabochons edged in orange lined seed beads.  A green swarovski crystal and faceted briolette dangle from the bottom.  Sterling silver handmade earring wires.

Orange and Blue

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This necklace is perfect with the buttery orange freshwater pearls that it is stranded with.  Blue stone cabochon edged in tiny orange and blue seed beads.  Etched Czech beads dangle from the fringe.  Gold plated clasp finishes it all off

Wedding Cake Earrings

Here are a few more in lots of flower colors!  I can just imagine a cake with lots of these flowers on it.  But don't eat these...just wear them!

Creativity In Other Forms

I am constantly inspired by other artists, walks in the woods, cooking, gazing at the stars....One never knows when the creative fairy will take over and dream of new things!  I recently wanted to take a small break from my beading and explore other forms of art.  Clay has always been a source of fascination for me.  And when you couple that with baking how can you go wrong??  These little earring designs were inspired by the flowers you pipe onto cakes and cookies.  I love the little icing appeal of these.  They really do look good enough to eat!

I mixed lots of colors and as I make them they just keep getting better and better!  Stay tuned for more pics of this fascination!

Vintage Victorian

This vintage piece is frosted glass with black inlay.  Coupled (and joined) to a carved ebony black floral piece with tiny iridescent black beads.  Finished off with a 14kt gold clasp.

Rings

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I finslly found some good quality ring blanks to try out.  Each is different from the next.  The first one had a rutilated quartz cabochon stitched with black and vintage red velvet beads.  The next is 2 tiny cabochons in amethyst and quartz embellished with tiny purple seed beads and swarovski crystals.  The last one is pure swarovski.  Total sparkle and bling!

Lizard Box

This little lizard sits atop a hand made wooden box.  Embellished with vintage flowers and stone cabochons.

Hand Painted Cabochon Earrings

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Hand painted gold, green and black cabochons embellished with black and 14kt gold seed beads.  Fringe is swarovski drops in red and green.

Contest Entry "Beetle Design"

I have been working on a large piece for over a year now for a contest.  It is finally finished complete with matching earrings.  At first this was a challenge among a few of us beaders to create something using real beetle wings.  I love the iridescent quality of them and was drawn to the bright colors.  Then it became a larger project and I begin to think of entering it into a contest using seed beads.

The piece started with a rock that resembled a fossil, a beetle stamping, assorted seed beads, the coveted beetle wings, a vintage cabochon, stick coral and other various beads in matching hues.  It grew and grew until I ended up with this piece pictured below.

I had quite a time figuring out the fringe for this piece.  I needed something that would encapsulate the entire piece but in a more organic way than symmetrical fringe would.  It needed to lend itself to the whole piece rather than detract.  And everything I tried was just wrong until I finally found the stick coral quite by accident.  Than I had to actually find enough to edge the whole piece.  It sat for months until finally...then voila!

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Fall Morning In The Studio

The light in the new studio is perfect this morning!  I am grateful to have the day to finish up some projects that have been lingering around.  In anticipation of the Christmas season I have tried to bulk up my earrings.  I recently ordered a bunch of incredible stones from my favorite source.  The colors of the African Turquoise are incredible to work with.  More green than the typical blue.  I posted a few pics of the latest creations.  The swarovski bicone drop perfectly matches that elusive green color of the turquoise.  The other pair is made from vintage opal colored glass.  I bought the dealer out on these beautiful vintage cabochons.  They have small piercing thru out and are quite outstanding.

I have gotten quite a few orders for Christmas.  Remember to order early if you want to get your finished creation for a gift!

Elephant Earrings

These tiny elephant earrings were fun to make!  Approx 1" long on sterling silver (handmade) ear hooks.

Animal Boxes

This year has been quite a busy one (and full of changes big and small).  After a busy summer of galleries and shows we are now in our new shop!  When the opportunity came up for us to have a pop up store for a few months my friend Jenny King and I jumped at the chance.  We are currently located at 169 Main Street in Ellsworth, Maine.  Directly in the middle of a busy street with lots of traffic.  So far this opportunity has been a great learning experience and we are currently scouting around for a permanent location for "Magenta Magpie.  You can find us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/MagentaMagpie

I have been currently working on a series of boxes that have been quite popular this summer.  they are beautifully crafted by a photographer friend who also dabbles in woodworking on the side.  We carry his photography here at the gallery and love his work.  His website can be viewed at http://wissingerphotographic.com  His work is truly breathtaking.

Below are a few samples of the boxes.  I have only posted the one's that are currently available.  They sell almost as fast as I make them.  Not complaining!  I especially love the cat box and have plans (if it doesn't sell) on keeping it).  Maybe...

I moved the studio location to a new location.  It has great light and eventually I will have everything put away and be organized.  Although my work space looks a little like the top of these boxes....covered with beads, crystals, wire and all sorts of inspiration for future pieces.  I am resolving to be better about posting so check back every once in a while to see the new designs.  I have updated my show list and am looking forward to The Penobscot Festival of Lights in November.  It will be a larger show than I have been doing so I am busily preparing and creating!

Vintage Black Carved Flower Earrings

These vintage paisley shape cabochons date back to the early 40's.  Simply framed with matte black seed beads and irridescent dark green delicas they are the perfect shape to dangle for earrings from your ears!  Backed with leather and sterling silver hooks.  Ready to wear.

Vintage Lapis Earrings

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I found these tiny triangle shapes recently.  I love working with vintage pieces and right away thought these would make great earrings!  They are carved vintage lapis triangles that I beaded with opaque cobalt blue seed and toho beads.  Then I embellished the edges with a small picot edging.  Then I suspended a tiny garnet bead at the bottom of each.  They are so cute!  Backed with leather and hung with sterling hand made wires.  I don't think these will be available for long!

Antique Doll Head Pendant

I still need to string this creation but am pretty pleased at how it has turned out!  I had these made by a dealer on etsy "Oscarcrow".  Stitched on a black background with antique watch gears and a faceted glass cabochon.  It is eclectic and fun.  Tiny little toho beads sparkle in the background.

Beaded Boxes

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I love how these turned out.  Especially the zebra box!

Exploring Fringe

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A Plethora of Earrings

I have been on an earring kick lately!  Recently I found a great dealer and bought a couple dozen matched pairs of cabochons in various gemstone varieties.  They have really inspired me to create lots of them.  Small and portable i can take them with me and do a few stitches while I am waiting etc.  It always inspires a conversation when I am beading in public.  These two are some I just finished in a pink opal and vintage pink reflector cabochons.  I have also posted a picture of a variety of different pairs I have finished.  The little face one's were handmade by me!

Finished Bracelet

After two days of beading it is finally done!  I am pretty happy with the end results on this piece.  here are some pics of the finished piece.