Brooches

I like to make jewelry.  Not a surprise since I talk about it constantly.  I love all sorts of jewelry especially when it combines different media into one piece.  Here are some recent brooches I made for our spring shows.

Sweet Spring

This brooch was a quickie, I started with wide polka dot grosgrain ribbon did a running/tacking stitch to gather it as I went and then embellished with a stacked Lucite/Swarovski crystal flower and a large teardrop shaped Mother of Pearl bead.  Looks like it belongs on an Easter bonnet or large floppy brimmed hat!

Wild and Retro

This is the 80s!  I did a covered base and then a twisted rose with polka dot fabric and then embellished with fun resin and acrylic beads and a bit of colored chain mail that I made with bright blue and green rings.  Fun and funky don't you think?  I actually started this last year, but couldn't figure out what was lacking.  I think if finally spoke loudly enough that I heard it!

Grow

I put this piece together after fighting with the base fabric for some time.  I embellished with felted and button flowers stacked together with a Lucite leaf and funky lime green discs.  I also ventured into the realm of metal stamping (since I couldn't find a stamp to say what I wanted).  It says "Grow" and has ladybugs on it.  Fun and bright!

left - Morning Coffee and right- Vintage Lace

The pin on the left features a group of Czech glass coffee bean beads, a lampwork donut bead made by Palm Tree Queen Lampwork, and a miniature coffee cup (courtesy of the miniature dollhouse furniture at Hobby Lobby).  It was awesome!  I made it Thursday night and sold it Saturday!  The brooch on the right is lacy ribbon accented with a group of brass leaves, a gorgeous Kabela design (Small Beautiful) accented with a vintage Swarovski crystal glued into the center of the flower setting.  It is really lovely and looks vintage, but the photo doesn't do it justice.
Hope you enjoyed the new photos!  Check out the real pieces at our shows this weekend!

Autumn Designs

Asymmetrical Autumn - Fall Challenge project

Chris's Shy Witch pendant (the necklace is so CUTE)

Fall Flourish fringe bracelet (Lucite from The Hole Bead Shoppe)

Mish Mash Necklace

New post earrings on display at Exeter

necklaces/bracelets/beads/earrings

above and below: chalcedony hearts made by Chris and wired by me

another photo of the Mish Mash necklace and my favorite earrings, coffee and toffee

burst of bubbles necklace

autumn mish mash bracelet (polymer beads by Fanceethat)

time well spent with a new brass and grape necklace

Heirloom Rose Garden Pendant made to match my bracelet

Heirloom Rose Garden Bracelet (kit, design, and photo from Beads by C on Etsy)

Chris and I have been busy beaders!  These are all very recent designs.  Love the Mish Mash designs.  I took a bunch of neglected beads and dumped them in a BIG pile and started stringing.  On the necklace I used copper colored Soft Flex wire and at varying intervals, added crimps and left room for a few beads in the crimped space to have free movement.  Love the way that it turned out and the bracelet is the same way, but I used the pile of beads to make charms instead.  Gals have been asking for post earrings at shows, so I am trying my hand at them.  Design kinks need to be worked out yet, like what type of epoxy to use and ideas for things to put on the posts, and what size posts to get.  Most of what is on the rack for posts that are non-dangle style will be reworked in the near future.  Chris's chalcedony hearts are GORGEOUS and we had lots of compliments on them, but still have both.  The fall flourish bracelets turned out so well, and thought they would have sold during our two weekend shows, but they didn't.  I can never guess at what customers will buy!  I really love the coffee cup earrings, they are hanging with Czech glass coffee beads, toffee colored crystals and tiny miniature coffee cups from the doll house furniture department!  Fun!  The burst of bubbles necklace is made from double ended Christmas ornaments from Hobby Lobby!  The strands had two bubbles with a wire connecting them, so I cut them in half and used them like fancy head pins.  I believe I used the whole package on the necklace!  Carla's Heirloom Rose bracelet was so fun to put together, I made a pendant and earrings to match!  I love kits because with all the beading I do, it is like a bead vacation when I get to make something pretty, quick, and designed for me!  I did adapt it a bit, adding a few extra dangles.  The pendant also has a brass hummingbird tucked into it!