One of a Kind Jewelry for One of a Kind You: bronze

Showing posts with label bronze. Show all posts

Monday, March 4, 2013

Berks Bead Bazaar: Friends, Beads and Good Times

Well- Berks was great. Though there seemed to be less foot traffic then last year, all in all, it was great time, of course. I mean, I got to hang out with soooo many beady friends, friends I get to chat with online, but rarely get to see in person. They make the show wonderful.

I was between Lisa Peters Art, and Dona Jones of Kindred Designs. Both are very creative women I adore, and love to spend time with. I was close to Joan Miller Porcelain, and Greg Graup as well. I didn't get lots of pics of everyone, but I will link to a post that will have all those pics when its up.

Julia and I got to the hotel friday night and had a snack at the bar.

Then we got to the hotel room and she got all her friends tucked in.

and we had some fun taking funny pics of ourselves while watching funny movies

Saturday monring we set up and then got some breakfast. Julia liked that she got to drink out of a fancy glass. You know, we don't get out too often.

The booth turned out good, and since my neighbor missed the first day, Julia got her own little spot to sell her beads. She even made her own sign.

I really cannot express in words how proud I am of this little gal. Not only did she design her own beads, she made them, painted them and sealed them. I only drilled holes for her. This was her first time selling anything. She picked it up so quickly!!! By the end of the day, she was writing her own receipts, talking with her customers, and making change (still a little rocky on that one, she was nervous). Everyone was soooo kind to her, and loved encouraging her in her art. She even had a chance to show off some of her little sculptures and pictures she draws. She is a natural. She is also VERY confident, and had us all laughing all day long.

Saturday towards the end of the show, Marsha Neal came by with her daughter Chloe. Julia had been looking forward to them coming ALL day long.

They were instant friends.

photo by marsha neal

Julia was even showing Chloe the ropes of selling, she will be ready to be helping Marsha by late spring.

So they stayed for dinner and some gab time too. While all us chatted beads and business (Marsha, Joan Miller, Louise Mehaffey, and Patti Cahill), the girls played some pool.

Then we put pink smash in the girls hair that Lisa brought for them to try out. Oh my gosh, were they thrilled.

Later that night I got to hang out with Lisa a bit. We stayed up way to late chatting. I really look forward to the time I can spend with my online beady friends. They are very dear to me and I always come away refreshed and encouraged by them.

On Sunday, Dona, my neighbor, made it in, and she promised Julia she would share her table with her. Dona and Julia hit it off, and they just hung out together all day long. Dona brought her a box full of super girly craft supplies that kept them both busy. Seriously, my friends totally spoiled her, but its fine with me, she's a great kid.

I got to meet Bobbi Horst (a friend from facebook) in person on Sunday, as well as some other of my blog readers who made a long trip to come and visit Berks!!!! Thanks so much guys! It was really great to see you all.

I know, I know, what about the beads? Sorry, I really had a great girls weekend with my Julia and friends. But yes, there were beads, lots and lots of beads.

Here is the stash I came home with.

Of course, I shopped Lisa's booth all weekend, adding things up to the last minute. I am VERY happy with my newest stash from her. Here is a little close up of them.

This last bead is a rustic tube bead from Lisa Peters Art. It is sooo not a shape I've ever used, but I love the look of it, and the challenge.

I also got some cabs from Greg Graup. He had some new freeform cabs this year, and of course, I love the organic rustic look of them. I also got some really great rutilated quartz cabs that I would like to use in some chunky rings.

I got these from Dona Jones. I love her sawed metal charms, and this crab was screaming to be paired with sea glass.

I hit Joans stash of crackle bone beads, her daggers, and got a newer highly textured one I couldn't refuse as well.

And then there were gemstones.

green garnet

muscovite

large whole pearls

and my favorite find of the entire show.....rough cut rubies

Oh, and remember that awesome trilobite necklace I made, well, it went home with the awesome Joan Miller. Doesn't it look like it was made for her???

It was a great show, but now I am home, and wow, did that feel good.

After a good nap this after noon and some homemade soup today, I think I am ready to catch up tomorrow. I hope to be listing beads in my shop friday (we have our tax meeting on wednesday, so we have prep to do). I will keep you posted. Thanks to all for your support, and for bearing with a million "getting ready for Berks" pictures. You guys rock.

Friday, February 22, 2013

New Ancient Things

Just a quick post about a couple of new necklaces I made. I need to make some samples of jewlery with my new beads so I can wear and display them at the Berks Bead Bazaar.

So I couldn't wait another minute to make some jewelry with these trilobite pendants. I will only have a few at the show, and each one is totally unique.

First I made this one for a display piece.....it will be for sale. I LOVED how deep and orange the bronze piece got!!!

It features a trilobite, a spiral connector and a rolled bronze center drilled stick bead- all will be for sale at Berks. It also has stick pearls, an antique brass bell, a genuine ammonite fossil, a connector by Starry Road Studio in a great rusty colo, amber and turquoise.

So, I usually make myself something to wear at the show, and I loved how this first piece turned out so. So I made one for myself- but a bit chunkier, since that is how I roll.

I will probably never take it off. It has a large trilobite, rolled beads, turquoise donuts, labradorite chunk, ammonite fossil, brass bell, more tuquoise, rutilated quartz, a raku bead, agate, and recycled sari silk mixed with a great strand from Marsha Neal Studio.

See, it's totally my style! I love how ancient everything is on them, even though they are new, they feel like they have thousands of years built into them.

Now I am off to finish an article and sand and seal some more beads.

Happy Friday Everyone!!!

Thursday, February 7, 2013

Inspired by Winter Blog Hop

It's been a little while since I joined in a challenge, and Sally's Inspired by Winter Challenge sparked my curiosity. I don't often use wintry colors or symbols in my jewelry, so I thought I'd take a shot at it.

I started thinking about what it is I love about winter. I kept coming back to the nights. Snow, of course, and the nights. Then I immediately though of some very fond memories of cold winter nights. So this piece was born from a memory, or story of sorts.

I kinda wrote it out short story style, something I used to do often, and miss dearly. I hope you enjoy.

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It was a dark, crystal clear night, and the air in the woods I knew as home had a cleansing crispness to it. I put on my gloves, and tightened my coat. It was cold enough for snow, but there was none. There was only the darkest, clearest sky I'd seen in ages. Every star of every constellation I'd studied was perfectly clear. What wasn't clear, was my vision, as the tears flowed down.

I plopped myself down on the icy ground, and a shot of cold ran through me, sending shivers. I wiped my tears and looked up at the stars, wondering who else may be watching them. Wondering if she, my best friend, halfway around the world, was watching them too. We had spent so many ice cold nights star gazing. We had to learn the constellations for school, but really, we just loved doing it. We knew all the constellations, stars, and spent hours on our backs, looking up, and talking about boys, clothes, life.....the things girls talk about at 14 years old.

I thought of her now, and how unfair life was, that she was so far away. I let the tears flow, and breathed in the crisp, cleansing air. Each frozen breath seemed to revive my soul, and with each one, I felt a little better.

I wonder if she knows how special those times were to me, how much she touched my life. How just the crisp clean winter air makes me think of the times we spent laughing and laughing, making memories. I wonder if she knew how much I missed her when she left.

So now, to this day, I go out on cold nights, to breath the cleansing crispness of the crystal clear air. I think on things I love, on people I care for. I stare at the wonderful moon, against the backdrop of bare trees. There are hints of frost, sparkles, tiny specs of beauty in the barrenness of winter. I find the stars I know, make wishes, send prayers, and love it....every minute of it. Until I am frozen, and ready to thaw.

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I hadn't planned to write anything for this, but the memory, and why I love this about winter, was just very powerful. My piece came together so easily, as it often does when you are so truly inspired.

I used crystal quartz, for the frozen shimmers and the crystal clear air that I love to breathe. I chose one of my full moon clasps for the focal and a star connect in bronze too. I added a silver swirl to represent the galaxies, and a little Buddha at the bottom for the thoughts and prayers I think of at these times. I went with browns and crystal, since growing up in the woods, winter was dark, bare, and earth toned, unless there was snow.

I love this piece, and I am so thankful I got to revisit a time when life was simpler care-free, as well as a time of sadness, that these cold winter nights helped me through.