Monday, October 29, 2012

Hooters are showing at Artisan Whimsy - Voting has begun!


Welcome to Artisan Whimsy's Owl Challenge



The gals at Artisan Whimsy are showing their hooters.  Head on over, take a look, and vote for mine if you don't mind.


Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Southwest Casual


The Southwest look is one of my favorites and teal and red say it just right.  This is my first attempt at making a page on Polyvore using my own jewelry as inspiration.  The kinks have not yet all been worked out but I don't think it's turned out too terribly bad.  




Southwest Casual


Madewell denim blouse
madewell.com



MABEL suede fringe handbag
$125 - witchery.com.au

Monday, October 22, 2012

Kalmbach Bead Soup Party Reveal


To celebrate the release of Lori Anderson's book, Bead Soup, Kalmbach Books is having a Bead Soup Party.  I was lucky enough to be chosen as one of the party goers.  From Safire Rose Beads and Things in my home state of Ohio, I received this great soup below .  

The soup ingredients included beads in several shades of blue with some silver accent beads, some silver tone findings, some clear seed beads, and a gorgeous, fused-glass focal bead. 


 
At first I struggled with the recipe for my soup - the blue in the focal was just a little bit different from the accent beads and I really wanted to use the focal bead in my necklace.  While pulling out some black beads from my pantry, I just happened upon some crackle glass beads in the same shade of blue as the focal.  Once I found these crackle beads I was ready to go.  I used the gorgeous silver accent beads from my soup and also some of the pearlized seed beads.  

There were many design attempts of this necklace before I was pleased with the results.  After much stirring, here is what I finally came up with from my soup.  



A special thanks to Kalmbach Books and Safire Rose Beads and Things for allowing me to attend the party.  

Saturday, October 20, 2012

Show me your Hooters Owl Challenge!


Welcome to Artisan Whimsy's Owl Challenge



Artisan Whimsy is sponsoring an Owl Challenge for jewelry designers to show off their original designs using an owl. Although I like owls, I don't have an arsenal of owl components in my stash.   A while back I participated in the Pantone Bead Swap sponsored by Lori Anderson and one of the pieces that I received from my partner Cindy Wimmer Muse was an owl.  This little owl was perfect for the challenge.  



Taking my cue from the owl focal, I focused on fall colors for this necklace.  I added some amber and Czech glass beads from my stash along with some glass beads that Cindy sent me in the swap.  I completed the piece with some chain and a component that I put together with Sari Silk and wire.  

This is a voting challenge so if you like my little owl necklace, I would love it if you would please head on over to Artisan Whimsy in 8 days to vote for my entry.  While there why don't you join Artisan Whimsy if you're not already a member.  It's a great site. 

The winner will be announced October 31.