Design Using Greek Beads

Joanne Feissle of Designer Linx Jewelry sent me these pictures and I am in love with the simplicity and elegance of these designs. If you love silver and lapis blue you will love this necklace and matching earings. I always wonder what is going to happen with the beads my buyers purchase and as usual I am so impressed! In this design she used the Mykonos Silver Washers as a striking contrast to the Blue Lapis Rondelles. Gorgeous combination! Now I am looking at my chunky disks and thinking, hmmmm, I should do a necklace with this same idea of interspersing the silver disks to pop out the color of each bead. Months back I had made for myself some silver disks out of PMC, my first attempt at trying to figure out how that clay worked. And, then I got busy and didn't make anything more until just recently. That will be another post.

Earthy

Mary Jane of mairedodd asked me to do a special project. She wanted me to make up some smaller beads that are similar to my Granite focals. I wasn't sure I would be able to get the whole effect on such a small canvas, but in the end it did work out. If was interesting, though, because I was trying to get this veining effect and it didn't want to cooperate, totally, at first. But, in the end it did. So now you have to guess which is one of my beads! hehe

Just In Time For The 4th!

I got a message from Traci of BerylBlue that she had made a necklace that was in a treasury. I was super excited for her, it is so much fun being chosen for a treasury, and she added that she had used my beads. I wasn't sure who I should be more excited for, her for getting her gorgeous finished design in a treasury, or me for having my beads in it! And, to boot it was a great design for the 4th of July. So here it is in all its glory!

What in the heck have I been doing?

Boy, is that the question of the day, week, year! Mary Jane of mairedodd gave me a challenge which I had to try out. I'm still working on it when I get a chance, (that brings up what in the heck have I been doing), but it involved trying out making large holed rings. What an interesting proposition! I so far have made them on the 1/4 inch mandrels which I usually use for the silver cored large holed beads. I need the larger hole so that the silver core size I like will fit in perfectly. What is different about the beads Mary Jane was looking for was a thinner band and thicker in depth if that makes sense. I got a few that I liked and now I want to make some on the 1/2 inch mandrel. Unfortunately, I only have one of those so I can only do one at a time.

At the same time I decided to go ahead an stock up my Artfire store. I have been torching like a crazy person getting my stock pile of goods available for each store. And, to add more excitement to the pot I got in my order of Mykonos Greek Ceramic beads. I have drooled over these beads forever! I love the colors and the silver beads are amazing! Do you know how long it takes to add that many beads to two venues? Forever....

So that is what I have been up to, and trying to get ready for the 4th. So, I better run for now!

Great Use of Color!

One of my favorite things to do is to see what the talented jewelry designers do with my beads and the many other wonderful lampworkers work that I see on Etsy, Artfire, etc. I usually have some kind of vision about how I would use the beads, that's if I ever got the time! And, then when I see the finished product I am blown away by the variety of styles that showcase the beads. Denise and Katie of livilubaby took some of my chunky disks from a variety of sets and put together this wonderful bracelet. I love the bright colors and the silver components that are included in this bracelet. It really does remind me of a fiesta!

We're Having a YART Sale!

What in heaven's name is a Yart Sale! Well it is an artistic slant to a traditional Yard Sale: Yard + Art = YART. Etsy is having a Yart Sale starting on June 10 and running through the 14th. Great idea! It is a great idea to bring the whole community of Etsy together in a common goal.

So all you wonderful people come visit my store Linden Avenue Designs on the 10th thru the 14th and see what all the excitement is about! It should be fun!

More Buyers Creations

Mary Jane of mairedodd is one of my wonderful collaborative buyers. She has given me some interesting projects to work on and I never know quite how it is going to end. She takes what I and many other lampwork artists make and turns them into her own wonderful designs. I love how each designer takes these components and makes them her own!