Artisan Clay Design Team

I can't believe its been a year (or almost?) since Kristie decided to do a design team.  Its been so much fun to work with her components each month. She is a talented artist, passionate about her designs and quality, and I feel blessed to have been a part of this ride.  I am not sure if she is going to continue the design team into a new year or not, but it has been very fun.  Thanks Kristie!

This month I got a set of her charms that I had favorited in her etsy shop long ago.  They are really not colors I work with, but they are beautiful, and I can't help but drool each time I see them. I am so happy she chose them for me. I decided to just go with earrings, because these should be the star of the show, the colors are amazing.

I used recycled sari silk to add a pop of that yellow that makes those blues stand out.
I love them.  I almost want to keep them just for inspiration.....hanging by my desk.

Check out Artisan Clays blog to hop along and see what everyone else made.
Or follow the links here:
Jen Judd Rocks
For my Sweet Daughter
Sand Fibers
La Bella Joya
Sue Beads

Artisan Clay Fall Fashion Show

ILO having the traditional Artisan Clay design team this month, Krisite is having a fashion show.  Everyone can show off their designs created with Artisan Clay beads, new and old!  Invite friends, shout it to everyone, all they have to do is blog their works on Friday October 28th and link up on the Artisan Clay blog that morning, and start hopping!  Lets show Kristie how much we love her work and appreciate being a part of her design team.

Boho Balance~ My Artisan Clay Design Team Piece

Wow!  These months seem to fly by.  Its that time again, to reveal what I made with my Artisan Clay component of the month.  I forgot to take a picture of it before I made it into something, but here is a similar component Kristie has for sale on etsy.  (click on the photo to check it out on etsy)

Except mine was a single connector on top- thinner crescent with no loop for a dangle, and mine was greenish colored.  (see below)

So I thought I'd try to do something asymmetrical with it.  But the design kept getting crazy and elaborate, and it really just cried to be symmetrical.  So, symmetrical it is.
Here it is folks..........I hope you like it!

Its for sale here on etsy

I used a cool patina piece of copper to make a bail for a dangle, found stones to match it, and then linked some chain with matching stones. 

I can't wait to see what everyone else made! 

Happy hopping~~~~ click here to go to Artisan Clay's blog and see what everyone else made.

"Purple Haze All Around............

Don't know, if I'm coming up or down............" jimi hendrix

This piece is named Purple Haze, since I think I used every shade of purple in it!  But really, the song fits, because I used a lot of contrast in this piece, and the song also has a lot of contrast, and right now, my life is all about contrast.  I am a mom, but I feel like a kid sometimes, I can be reserved and conserative, and wild and fun, happy about some things, and sad about others at the same time.  No wonder my poor sweet husband says he will never figure me out.  I don't know if I could.  I tend to go with the flow, and roll along, so it works for me.  But I guess it makes me complicated to those around me!

I also feel like I've been in a haze this week.  A post show slump.  I have a TON of things to do, and yet, just can't get motivated.  (Its also why this post got up late this morning!  I took the opportunity to sleep in, and forgot I had to get it up this morning...SORRY!) 
The piece has my Artisan Clay Design Team bead in the center, a glass filled donut by Kristie!  I surrounded it with a nice matte purple-ish beach slate, a shiny purple pearl stick, a matte, purple-y swirl bead by me, Artisan Accents, and some silver.  Then for the real contrast, I glued a Swarovski Rivioli in the center for some real bling.  There is a lot of shiny and matte going on in this piece!  I figure, if contrast can make this necklace interesting, then it must make my life interesting as well!  I'll take it.  Its finished with a silk cord from Marsha Neal....love her cords.

I tried something new this time.  To encase the donut, I used nickel silver ILO regular silver (the sterling for the donut alone would have cost about $30).  I cut a fun shape, and then curled the edges up around the donut.  I have seen this done before, but wasn't sure how it would hold.  Well, it holds great!  I sealed the nickel silver heavily with permalac, which makes a coat between your skin and the silver in case of nickel allergies.  The wire is all sterling though.

I have this great purple dress, and I may not be able to part with this necklace, because I think they will be fabulous together!!!!  Please note: that is not me in the picture!  LOL!  I wish!

In case you just have an itchin' to see jimi hendrix performing Purple Haze now, here he is live at Woodstock, opening with the Star Spangled Banner.  So good.  I didn't watch the whole thing, I listened to it mostly...so if there are any naked hippies, I apologize!!!!  They were just part of life back then.


See what the rest of the team made at Artisan Clay's Blog!  (I cannot figure out how to get the cool links on the bottom like the other gals!)

Post Show Weekend: Things to be Thankful For ~And Lots of Pictures

I am thankful for........................
1.  You guys.  I am so thankful for all your compliments, support and encouragment.  I don't know why I doubt myself so much.  I love my work.  You love my work.  Yet I still worry no one else will.  I am working on my confidence, and you guys have been great!  So thanks, from the bottom of my heart.

2.  A good show.  Whew!  It was a lot of work to get ready for it, since I have really slacked off in the sea glass department this year.  But the festival was good.  Lots of nice people (I really enjoyed DE VERY MUCH!) and I sold some of my favorite items.  I hope they love and enjoy them.  (here are some DE bay and canal pics)

DE Bay Beach

View from dinner at Gilligans

3.  Great weather.  I could not have wished for a more perfect weekend.  Mid 80's, a nice breeze, AND my tent was under a tree in the shade (and on the corner- prime spot). 

4.  I came home to find that I was picked for the Art Bead Scene designer of the week.  So I am thankful for that honor.  I really liked my piece I made for that challenge, and I am glad they did too.

5.  I got asked to join Love my Art Jewelry.  I am so excited to be a part of that!  I love their blog, and the fabulous ladies who make it so personable, and informative. 

6.  For my husband, who helped me all weekend, starting with driving me to and from DE, AND thanks to his quick reflexes, kept up from getting hit by a tractor trailer!!!!  (he was great company too!)

7.  I am thankful for the Vesuvio Motel.  It was a great price, and the owner was so nice!  I love a little family owned business.  We talked taxes and owning our own business's, and we left feeling like we made a friend there.  PLUS- we could walk to everything.  The bay, all the restauraunts, and the festival itself.  Nice place.  I highly reccomend it.  No frills, but clean, close, free parking, and a nice little business.

8.  For a walk on the beach.  On monday, before traveling home, Justin and I visited Henlopen Cape and hit the beach for a hike.  We walked about 3 miles round trip (during said walk, I thought I was dying~ yes~ I need to walk a little more, boy am I outta shape), taking pics of the historic ruins of the old Army base that used to be there, and the GIANT dunes.  We also got to see dolphins swimming a long the coast on our walk back.

Can you see the tiny people in this pic for size comparison?  The dune was a mountain!

9.  For being home.  I got the greeting of a queen.  First from my youngest, who couldn't seem to hug me enough, then the older two.  And I cannot forget the dogs.  My Jackson must have jumped and danced and licked me for an hour!  He is such a sweetie!

10.  And last but not least- for the grandparents who cared for our kids while we were away.  They did so much fun stuff with them, and I could relax knowing they were in safe and loving hands while we were gone.  They played in the pool with their cousins, went to a movie, went to great grandmoms for ice cream and snacks, rode bikes (which their pop adjusted seats, took off training wheels and oiled them for us)....just to name a few.  They had a blast and so did we.

All in all, we met lots of fun people~ many from PA who now reside in DE.  We found a favorite place for wings and beers, with fun people there each day.

Jerry's Seafood~ best wings in town

It has a great old ceiling~ lots of original architecture in this town.  Loved it!

I met some local folks (local as in here in pa) who may want to carry my jewelry in their shop, and a fun old guy who sold beach glass and antiques~~

 I could not get enough of his southern twang, and sincere love for what he does, which is sell stuff to folks like us.  He made me laugh and I just loved his character.  I love doing shows.  All the work is hard, but I love to meet new people, and DE was a great experience all around.  I will surely do that show again.  Here are some more pics of the show, and some of the work I made for it.  Enjoy!

I had a corner booth~ such a sweet spot

this was my view out the front / side

these were my neighbors to my back

They had a little picnic area and there were more vendors up front- beyond those trees

Here is a close up of the sea glass guys table- there were treasures to be found in there, and I bought some of them.

Now- for the jewelry.  Some of it sold, and some will move on to Tinicum with me.

Love this one~ it sold.

These are rare colors on silver circles

Below: I have one similar to this, that may not leave my neck for a long time.  This one will be at Tinicum.

I think I still have this one too.

sold

sold

sold

still available (I think)

still have this one- great colors!!!

below: still have this, but forgot to take pics of the two butterfly necklaces I did sell.

The color is so rich on this one- still have it too

below: still have this one too~kinda like my keeper as well.

may have sold that one

sold

sold

I am so glad that I took pictures before the show.  I forget all the time, and it seems like those are the ones that sell.  Then I never have a picture record of them. 

I did get a picture of this one below~ I had to make it at the show after I sold a butterfly necklace I took along, then made another (that one had a full moon baby on it) and sold it just as I put it out.  Then I made sure to make this and get a picture.  I guess I better make some wings for Tinicum!

I still have the one above.  I really like the wings with the sea glass. 

One more thing, something I am not thankful for, but I am trying to find the good of it, and will be sharing about it later. I had my first item stolen from me, and it was a special and expensive piece.  I am composing a blog about the experience, to be shared soon. 

Thanks again.  You guys rock.  Now I can go and spend some time with those kids and dogs who I missed so much!

"Breaking Through" My Artisan Clay Design Team Piece

So, its another reveal day, already!!!  When Kristie asked what we would like to use this month, I jumped on smoke fire beads.  I love that no two are alike, that when she makes them, she has no idea how they will look.  And no matter how they end up, they are all amazing in their own way.

She let us pick our beads too, and this one just called my name (bottom left).  I immediately thought it looked like storm clouds clearing, with rays shining through, and was so happy to snag it. 

The entire necklace is designed around my Artisan Clay focal.  I just wanted to mimic that pattern, color and or shape through the whole piece.  I am sooo happy with this necklace!  I haven't taken it off (except to sleep in) since I made it.

The process:
Cut out copper base free form and hammered texture
Soldered bezel onto base
Bezeled donut in
found the perfect turquoise donut, with the same shape of color changes as the AC donut (needed a pop of color)
used three of my handmade organic shaped circle connectors in copper with dark patina
and finished with a Mykonos bead in bronze (ceramic with a metal finish- love their organic shape)
Instead of chain, I matched one of Marsha Neals silk cords to the turquoise and used one of my newly made hook clasps

TaDa!  Thats it.  I love it.  Its me.  Kristie rocks.  Can't wait to see what the other team members made.
Check it out here.

If you are not doing anything this weekend, please stop by the Lewes DE Sea glass and coastal arts festival!!!!!  I will be there will bells on (and lots and lots of coffee in me;=)