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.

New Bracelet Design

I have been wanting to try a bracelet base stitched on leather for some time now.  Finally got enough time between projects to start one.  It feels different than the stiff base that I am used to working on but is giving me the flexibility that I was looking for.

I got the carved center piece from Caravan beads recently and the smaller vintage stones from a favorite vintage dealer.  I had thought they were too small for earring but are just perfect for this bracelet.  The mirrored backing makes them really pop!  I encrusted the background with vintage gold seed beads using black thread for added dimension.  The lace edging around the center focal beads makes the bead seem to float a little.  I love the tiered base that resembles an urchin.  A mythical one!

Still figuring out which clasp to use.  But so far I am really happy with this prototype bracelet.

Animal Boxes

My newest venture is making beaded topped boxes.  Below are a sample of two.  The hand made boxes are so beautiful!

Lady Bathory Neck Piece

Full of faceted mirror pieces and an art deco frosted rectangle in the middle.  It took thousands of tiny toho purple dusk seed beads and matte black to create the background to this piece.  Strung with crystals and a hand made sterling silver clasp.

Spring in Maine

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The past few months have really flown by.  Since my last posting I have traveled to Florida visiting some great bead shops along the way.  I think my favorite was a small (only from the outside!) shop in Cocoa beach, FL.  From the outside this small bead shop did not look like much but...once inside was I surprised at the sheer volume of beadery!  I could have spent several days perusing the beads, cabochons, books...the list just goes on.  I found a great pale green faceted cabochon and promptly started working on it that night.  Some other great finds included some beautiful swarovski crystals that I incorporated into some fringe on a necklace I will post a picture of later on.  My wish is that they would move closer so I could shop there more in person. 

I have also been busy filling out paperwork for some upcoming shows this summer.  Stay posted for some updates.  As well as a new publish date for the Vanity Fair article.  Originally slated for the April issue it has been re-scheduled for this summer.  Which gives me more time to work on some new designs! 

Spring is fast approaching here in Maine and I have been taking some breaks from beading to ready the yard for summer.  As always being outside inspires me when I am creating.  Hope you like the new pictures and I look forward to hearing from you.

Bracelet Update

I have the blues and golds bracelet all stitched and attached onto its base.  All I need to do is the edge stitching!  In the meantime...I started another one in purple, burgundy and lots of sparkle!  Hee are a few pictures of my progress. 

Off to the Mt. Dora Crafts festival next week so stay tuned for new inspirations from sunny Florida!

Cuff Bracelet

I love this color combination!  Carnelian cabochons, a vintage topaz domed cabochon and two vintage azure blue.  I used lots of tones of blues and brown to complete the palette.  Stay tuned for finished pieces. 

Bib Necklace

Almost completed bib necklace.  Just waiting on some beads I had to order to complete this large piece.  The center cabochon is a frosted vintage piece surrounded by different faceted and plain mirrored piece.  Black seed beads and a tiny delica sparkle around each cabochon. 

Earrings

It seems a recent buying trip has inspired me to make multiple pairs of earrings.  A lot of these are vintage cabochons of lucite and glass.  Here is a peek into what I have been beading...

Some Finished Projects

I decided to try and finish up some stringing and clasps today on some older projects that were almost, but not quite, finished.  I ended up finishing 3 before lunch! 

One is a pink quartz cabochon surrounded by lots of faceted garnets. I continued with more garnets in the stringing.  The second a lovely purple stone that I enhanced with a crystal at the bottom.  Strung with off drilled freshwater pearls, swarovski crystals and more garnets it is perfectly set off by a sterling handmade clasp.  And the third is lovely apple green cabochons that I paired with burgundy, black, gold and more green seed beads with matching faceted glass beads.  I made a pair of earring to match this one and was the more pleased with this out of the bunch.  I tried some new techniques with joining the cabochons together and like the effect I got.  I don't usually do fringe but this one just seemed to call for it.

Now I am off for more organizing and to search for more unfinished projects!

New Inspiration

Sometimes it is the latest "thing" you acquire that inspires you.  This weekend we went on a weekend excursion to Freeport, Maine to visit "The Beadin Path".  They specialize in vintage materials including great little flowers and beads.  And recently I discovered an old tray cabinet full of lots of vintage cabochons.  This is one of my favorite places to visit for materials and inspiration.  I got lots of cool new beads and supplies.  One of the things I got while there was a round piece of hammered metal in varying shades of copper .  I paired it with some different colors and love the result.  The tiny daggers dangling from the bottom  were also bought there.

I also got a shipment of new cabochons that included the rectangular cab I used to make a little fetish necklace.  I just love the tiny green, purple and brown beads I used on this piece.  Each one is coated with a fine film of glitter that sparkles in the light.  Swarovski crystals and freshwater pearls encircle her neck. 

I also have a new monkey necklace almost done that should be posted soon!