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Friday, March 8, 2013

The Art of Design, Beads in the Shop and A Giveaway!!!

I am finally listing beads in the shop!  I will be listing all day today, and most likely a little bit on Monday as well.  There are no reserves, and no custom orders.  I am sorry.  If you want to purchase more then one item, just use coupon code freeshipbb on any purchase AFTER YOUR INITIAL PURCHASE (you must pay shipping on your first purchase) so that you don't rack up shipping charges that need to be refunded.  I will ship Monday after I am done listing.
 
 
 
I know in my production of all these beads, I showed a lot of process shots, but I never really got a chance to talk about the art of designing them.  I am inspired by many things, and ideas come from everywhere, often evolving along the way.
 
My newest additions this year were my bird skulls, trilobites and skeleton hearts. 
 
My entire theme of beads this year is "fossils, bones, ancient".  I wanted things to look like specimens from a museum.
 
 
The skeleton hearts were quite an evolution.
 
I first fell in love with these hearts from Odd Designs on etsy.  I thought I could use them as toggles, since they had a larger hole.  so I bought two of them.  I will most likely try to find a stick pearl to use for a toggle with them. 
 


 
Anyhow, I wanted to make some clasp focals this year, and thought hearts may work, so I tried to make some in polymer and bronze- in the shape of a heart, but organic, and rustic.  Well, that fell right by the wayside, because as soon as I started to form them, they began to look like bone, skeletons.  The holes became large and exaggerated, to make them look hollow, symbolic.  I added organic textures with sea urchin and other earthy stamps.  So they quickly evovled to skeleton hearts.
 
Skeleton- like bone, hollow, and stripped of all flesh.  I didn't try to be morbid, but - I think hearts are resiliant.  I think  the symbol has been "pretty" for too long.  I really believe more of us can relate to the bare bones, tough, surviving interior of the heart.  (yeah, don't go all bio on my, I am quite aware there is no bone in an actual heart...lol)
 
So they were born, and they evovled and they evolve still.  Each and every one is completely handformed.  I use NO heart stamps, for it loses its organic nature if you do.  So no two will ever be alike.
 


 

 and then they even evolved into my Broken Hearts.  You get a little peek into the madness that is my designing brain today.  I take these shapes and designs I love, and keep growing them, changing them, until my brain says they are done.
 
 
Another new item this year, was my trilobite.  Last year I made ammonites, and I wanted to add more fossils to the collection.  So when Diana of Suburban Girl Studio did Trilobites in ceramic, I asked if she would mind if I did them in metal clay.  I wanted to make sure I wasn't stepping on her toes.  (since we all work in the same social circles, I think its important to show each other respect.)
 
Here are Diana's (adorable, right?)
 
She said go for it.  So I bought some fossils, and made some molds and went to town.  I have made both simple trilobite designs, and more complex designs, most of which, went right into jewlery.
 
Copper Clay Pendant
sold
 
Polymer Steampunk Trilobite with Metal Balls
 sold

 
Trilobite Fossil Heart with Metal Ball Pin Wings
 

 sold
 
My favorite, trilobites with rivets and layers!!!
 

necklace is not for sale, sorry
 
will be listed later today
 
My brain is nuts sometimes, I always take a design that would be simple, and much much easier to produce and over complicate it!  These are very time consuming, with the metal work of the backing, and all the process of the metal clay, and then rivets, or ball pins as connection as well.  However, I can't do it any other way.  I need some of both, simple and complex.  My brain just keeps working a design until I am done with it, and then I move on.
 
I know you saw my bird skulls earlier in the year. I made some matching bones and such to create sets.  These just make me happy.  I love how much they remind me of finding little animal skulls when playing in the woods growing up (we had owls, so we'd find this kind of stuff often).  Each skull and bone bead is totally handsculpted, again, for that natural organic effect.
 
 
 
Anyway, I just wanted to share some of the thought, love and design that goes into my pieces.  I don't think of them as just beads, I make little pieces of art.  I spent most of my life drawing and painting.  Making my own molds has allowed me to "draw" some really original designs this year, like these eyes
 
 
 
and my sugar skulls
 
will be listed later today
 
and painting each polymer bead by hand, allows me to play with and create in a medium I have always loved- paint!  I love finding endless combonations and layered effects to create new undertones, and effects on my beads.  Each one is painted in layers and layers to create depth, the same as I would do in a painting.
 
I do hope you will stop by the shop and check out my new stuff, there is so much more then what I shared today, but those are the ones that really spoke to me this year.  Thanks for letting me share some of my design process with you.  Design is what I love about creating.....its what drives me, its what makes me love what I do.....and it can be what endlessly torments me, but I wouldn't change it for the world!
 
Now- for the part you have been waiting for, a GIVEAWAY!
 
It has been way too long.  You guys deserve one, but I am gonna make you work for it. 
 
To enter, you need to:
 
1.   follow my blog and like me on facebook (if you facebook)
 
2.  share this blog link somehow, either on facebook or twitter, your blog or pinterest. 
 
3.  Leave a separate comment for each way you share- you must share at least once
 
 So follow and share and then leave a comment below for each.  That is easy.  Winner will be picked next Friday March 15th. 
 
This is open worldwide, however, international folks, if you want to enter, you will be paying for shipping.  (depending on your country it can range from $7-12)  I really wanted to give you the option of entering. I will subtract out what the US shipping would have been from your total shipping though.
 
What do you win?  Oh my gosh, I am giving away one of my Faux Stone Large Skeleton Hearts and a strand of my polymer, sea glass, and gemstone beads!!!!!  This is a $41 value.
 

 
Good Luck guys!  Thanks so much for following me on my creative journey.  It would be pointless if I had no one to share it with!

60 comments:

  1. I follow on Facebook and your blog. Thank you for the chance. Your pieces are lovely and I would love to have one. :)

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  2. I follow your blog

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  3. WANT!!
    I shared on my FB Page and will probably share elsewhere later (to spread the love out a little)
    https://www.facebook.com/CraftyHopeJewelry

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  4. I already follow your blog and now follow you on Facebook and have shared it on my facebook.
    I love your style.

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  5. Hey Staci,
    I love getting a peek into the "madness" of your designing brain. It's so fun to see how you come up with your designs and evolve them. I like your sharing because it's also a great reflection of how I work too! I see myself in you. Kinda comforting for a girl who spends more time with stones and metal than other humans. Ha ha!
    I love your organic hearts and the crackle layer you've got going on. It really looks so old. You accomplished the museum look you were going for with pizazz.
    I love your necklace with the Saffron sari ribbons. I looked at how you put every component together. Each piece you chose just looks like it naturally belongs together. If I had made it, it wouldn't leave my neck!

    I'm commenting just to comment. Don't get me wrong, I love your beads, I'm not going to compete with newcomers to the blog. They are the ones who should have your very special beads!

    Love to see your work. I'm so glad you posted and it came to my email. What a Fun Friday treat.
    Emily

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  6. I love that you have a theme for the year, and what a great theme it is!!! When I was a kid my father got me started in all things bone, fossil and ancient (you would go wild in his basement). To this day I can't seem to get enough of them. Thanks for sharing the love you put into these beads.

    I am already a follower of your blog.

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  7. I posted this on my own facebook page.
    Thanks for the chance to win these goodies!!!

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  8. This is wonderful! Love the peek into how you evolve your art. In your inspiration from Diana's trilobite meme, you took it to the next step - not simply mimicking, but transforming it into an entirely "staci" take. There is a sort of magical spiraling / branching feedback loop that happens when creating within an "art tribe" - we inspire each other evolve and transform common memes, each member manifesting their unique interpretation, which in turn inspires the tribe to continue to birth new variations on a theme. Its like a tree. We share a common seed that becomes the trunk or heart of the tree, but each of us is a uniquely formed (forming) branch - no two alike - that grows from that central "tree heart". Each branch can sprout other branchlets, and on and on it goes. :)

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  9. Well, I can't believe I'm not already a follower, but that is fixed now! And a fb fan! Thanks for the insight into your designing process,and the awesome giveaway!

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  10. and tweeted!
    https://twitter.com/ShirleyMoore235/status/310069147012841472

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  11. All ready a facebook and blog follower

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  12. Have shared on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/silverniknats/111047662270076

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  13. Yeh of course I want!!!!! I follow you on facebook and blog. I will share for sure!!!!!

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  14. I just became a follower of your blog.

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  15. I just liked your facebook page

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  16. Fllow your blog, I do and adore it!

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  17. Sharing on my fb jewelry page. None of my "likes" better win! Only kidding! (only kidding.)

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  18. I love your work and have followed it for a while. It was fun getting a peek at your thought process for what you do. A lot of work that is why they are indeed little works of art. I follow your blog and have liked you on FB long ago. Thanks for the chance.

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  19. I absolutely LOVE both gifts!! I am sharing on my FB page, too! Thanks so much for your generousity!

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  20. Following your blog and a FB fan. I just shared on my FB page. Love the glimpse into your design process.

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  21. I love your design process. And I especially love your hearts. I follow yourblogand like you on Facebook as KayzKreationz or Kay Thomerson.

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  22. Just tweeted about your design process & giveaway. https://mobile.twitter.com/kayzkreationz/status/310162525180289024

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  23. Just pinned your post and giveaway. http://pinterest.com/pin/68820700528131836/

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  24. Those are all stunning. Thanks so much for a chance to win some of your new componenets. I am a follower on your blog and on facebook

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  25. I also blogged about your giveaway: http://pixiloo.blogspot.com/2013/03/giveaway-from-staci-louise.html

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  26. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  27. Shared on my blog http://northwoodscreativestudio.blogspot.com/2013/03/giveaway-at-staci-louise-originals.html . Thanks for the fantastic opportunity!

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  28. ik just dicovered your blog and follow you now because I like it...

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  29. and I put a link of this in my give away list...
    Can I win now please ;) ?

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  30. You know your creativity and look just blow me away. I am so excited that I am able to see your work and admire all that went into it. You just Rock Sista!!!!!!!!!

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  31. I just liked you on facebook and I have been following you for awhile. I love the organic look of your beads and I would love to win them. Thank you for offering a giveaway.

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  32. I just signed up as a blog subscriber! Love your beads, they are so creative!

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  33. And I liked you on FB!

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  34. And I pinned this post!

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  35. I am a blog follower! Pretty please count me in for this amazing giveaway! Thanks!

    Angi Mullis dj2isme@aol.com

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  36. I also liked you on FB!

    Angi Mullis djisme@aol.com

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  37. Signed up, following and shared on my FB page :) I would so love to win some of your beautiful beads!!!
    caroline@blueberribeads.co.uk

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  38. Your work is amazing! I have liked your page on FB (Vanessa Hearn) and shared your link on my FB page.

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  39. I have also shared on my business page Bead Up A Storm on Facebook.

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  40. And I am following your blog :) Looking forward to spending some quality time reading - I have just found you!

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  41. Just tweeted again. I love those hearts. https://twitter.com/kayzkreationz/status/312185452826357760

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  42. I "followed" your blog.

    Thank you
    Cristi
    2ifbysea1067@bellsouth.net

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  43. I "shared" on my FB page! Thanks again!

    Cristi
    2ifbysea1067@bellsouth.net

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  44. I am a new follower and I just shared this on my blog, http://dillmansdallies.blogspot.com/.

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  45. I am following and shared on Pintrest.

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  46. I really love the way you discuss this kind of topic. Three Musicians

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  47. i shared your link on my FB, and "liked" your FB page.
    Judith W

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