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

Black Hole Sun~ Artisan Clay Design Team Reveal!!!!

Whew!  I love Kristies beads, she know's I am a big fan.  The only part where we differ is she LOVES primary colors, and I, well, I just don't know what to do with them.  So I think she was really stretching my creativity when I got a little charm set in YELLOW and black.  But, stretching is good, usually.

(I got that black set second from the left)
(If you are not familiar with Artisan Clay work, I encourage you to check it out.  Her style varies to fit so many people, and I LOVE that she uses recycled glass in her bright and fancy charms and donuts).

So- I had these charms sitting here and sitting here and sitting here.  I also, don't do many pendant or charm sort of focals.  Whew.  More head scratching.  So, I knew this had to involve metal.  Ok, now some ideas were forming.  I thought of pie crusting some sort of leaf or eye like form around it, since it makes me think of a cats eye or something.  Problem being, I haven't tried pie crusting yet, and it looks pretty hard to get just that right result.

Then it hit me.  Black Hole Sun, you know that song, right, by Soundgarden?  It had to be a sun.  While all these ideas were playing around my head, Izzy Winterhart won the monthly Love My Art Jewelry Challenge with her amazing cuff bracelet.  She bezels in some amazing way using rivets????  And I remembered seeing some sort of tutorial long ago on something like that.  So, I did what any artist would do, and I winged it.  I am not really happy with it.  Its bigger then I had wanted it to be.  I wish I would have used brass for the background ILO copper on both layers.  Oh well.  The best part is is the charm, and I guess thats what counts.  I didn't get to make the other one into something, but I will.  When I do, I will post it.  I promise.
So here it is, Black Hole Sun.

So- thanks to Izzy, for the inspiration.  If you haven't checked her work out, please do.  She has some really amazing designs, and makes copper classy!!!









Have a great weekend!  I hope you all have lots of sunshine and smiles!





Thanks to Kristie for allowing me to be a part of her design team!  I love it, and I loved the challenge that this month presented for me.  It pushed to try something new.

Also- I am listing in my Artisan Accents Shop.  Please use coupon code SLO10 to receive 10% off your order.  Good until June 4th!

Here are some pictures of my new items!!!!