Dreaming of the Ocean

My siblings and I went to Hawaii in 2007. Such a beautiful and life changing trip. And my mind wanders to the beautiful beaches we found there.

The beach jewelry I design is simple.

Mostly pearls and Czech glass.

And waxed Irish linen cord.

And wood. No metal. No tarnish. 

These four pretties are up in the shop.

I think I'll need a beach trip soon. It's still a little cold for a dip but maybe just to sit and watch the ocean. That would be lovely.

 

Printer Tray Tuesday: Golden Blossoms

Compartment #4!-
-2 gold rings
-6 gold flowers
-6 freshwater pearls

Not very much in this compartment. But I think what little it did hold were tiny treasures.

The rings were from a bead store in Tustin that I just HAD TO HAVE. They were chained together with 3 more lovely links. I can't for the life of me remember what I did with the other 3 rings but these beauts have sat in my stash for a few months.

The golden blossoms were bought on one of my first bead store trips maybe 2 years ago. Isn't that insane? I remember because I forced myself to buy them because I don't usually work with gold. I, personally, don't wear gold and I find that copper is an easier color for me to match. Let's not even talk about silver and how much it costs... :P

I have quite a few FWPs in my stash. But these are close to the last of my stock of the peachy color. I love that peachy color. I remember picking them up from JoAnn's and the tag read "lavender." I did a double take. They're clearly peach... to me anyway :P

The glass dangles at the bottom are from my newest haul at my usual bead store in Lake Forest. Czech glass, I believe. With touches of amber and brown. I love them. I see myself making them into a bracelet in the near future.

The earrings have made their way into the Etsy shop. You can find them here.

Side note: If you check out the right side of the blog, you'll see a new badge for NaBloPoMo (National Blog Posting Month). I am going to do my best to post everyday this month. Last year, I struggled but I think I got it done. It was a fun month, if I remember things right. And who couldn't use more fun in their life?

<3

Printer Tray Tuesday: Wood and Glass Pearls

I have a printer's tray at home full of beads from my stash waiting to be turned into wonderful pieces. And thus, I have dubbed Tuesday to be "Printer Tray Tuesday."

Compartment number 3!
-wooden barrel beads
-glass pearls
-brass focal and beads
-brass leaf
-gold tone flower
-2 Czech glass flowers
-seed beads

I worked on this compartment last week on a rainy Wednesday. I've had those glass pearls and wooden beads forever. I made up a sketch a necklace design similar to this one last year using the barrel beads and GREEN glass pearls. So that explains why I have the wooden beads but not why I have the mocha beads instead of green.

I added some wood rounds from my bead box of wood beads. I knew I wanted to do a little layering with the focal (see the gold flower?). And I knew I wanted the necklace to be long and claspless... but I'm not sure how the balance of shapes works. Sometimes, I feel like the beads are too big for the focal I've chosen. Sometimes, I'm perfectly fine with how it looks and think it's just adorable.

I do love the colors though and want to work more with this pallet.

So. It's 10:55pm on my end here. Just barely made it in time to post this. Lol. Hope everyone is having a fantastic week!

<3

Monday Muses: Czech Glass Beads

Turquoise Pressed Wheel from allthingsbeaded

Paisley Coins from OldWorldBeads

Window Ovals from MayaHoney

Orange Green Rose Teardrops from BobbiThisnThat

Herbed Turquoise from BeadBead

African Violet AB 3 Petal Flowers from dreamgirlbeads

This Monday Muses is a bit of window shopping. I have such an unbelievable weakness for Czech glass beads. Their colors and finishes make me giggle with happiness.

Wrap Bracelets

I woke up with an intense headache this morning. Still pounding but at least it's not as bad as this morning. Instead of a horse stomping its hooves on my skull, it's more like a spoon keeping beat on my temples.

Company's been talking about closing my store. Just talks but it's been a rough couple days. But. Made these.

These two are going to be on Etsy in about an hour. Made with waxed Irish linen thread and seed beads. I love seed beads... did you know? There's a pretty pewter leaf charm and Czech glass flower. I love Czech glass beads... did you know? :P Closes with a wooden bead I've turned into a toggle. YAY!

The one below is mine. It was the first bracelet I made with the waxed linen thread. Also with seed beads. Used an om charm. I'm going to make another bracelet like this one to have up in the shop some time next week.

I need some serenity in my life. Will be taking some time off from work the week after next. Just 3 days but I'm looking forward to it. I'll be visiting my brother's family... welcoming his first son (yet to be born) and spending some quality time with my sister-in-law and her son... my nephew no matter what anyone says.

Someone remind me to bring them some macarons. They love macarons.

I'm pratically giving this thing away!

Pantone announced that turquoise was one of this year's spring colors. And they've also announced it being this year's color of the year! I happen to think turquoise is a beautiful color (some say teal, some say sea green). It was one of the school colors at my elementary school (GO PANTHERS!). I also believe it's perfect for spring. Its cool and fun and very pretty!

So, for my giveaway, I made the bracelet posted above (and below)!

Did I mention I'm doing a giveaway? :P

There have been over 2000 views on my blog and I feel that it is high time for a giveaway of sorts. I am also giving away a pair of earrings on my Facebook fan page.

How can you win this bracelet?
1) Just leave a comment here and you'll be entered into the giveaway. Make sure to include your email so I can contact you if you win!
2) Mention this in your blog or link it via Twitter, come back, comment again, and you'll be entered a second time!
3) Up to two comments per person, please!
4) Winner will be chosen May 1st, 2010.

A random person will be chosen and you will receive this lovely bracelet! This bracelet, by the way, was made with fire polished beads, seed beads, Czech flower beads, a pretty (HUGE) glass round, and closes with a button clasp. It fits comfortably on a 7 inch wrist.



Be sure to check out my Facebook Fan Page for the earrings!

Good Luck!!!

Its a Keeper

It's been a while since I made jewelry specifically for me. I noticed that I don't wear a lot of what I've made because I want to try and sell those pieces (and someone told me that worn jewelry is harder to sell... plus I don't want anything to happen to the piece while I'm wearing it). But, for people to see what kind of stuff I make or to be able to say "Oh thanks! I made it, here's a business card," I have to actually be wearing something I made (and also have business cards, but hey, one problem at a time, ok?).

The earrings are made of copper wire, dark copper chain, Cryztazzi crystals, fire polished glass beads, and glass pearls. The bracelet has seed beads, Czech flower and fire polished beads, purple glass beads, and glass pearls. The copper toggle is a gift from my wonderful friend, Liz. Thanks, Liz! I looooove it! :D

Detail of the bracelet!

Spring in Brass

Not a terribly complicated necklace. I found that little brass flower focal at my local bead store, but thought it was too small for the necklace so I added the branch looking thing (that I found at Michaels). The brass chain is also from Michaels. It has little flowers in it.

The peach seed beads match the brass nicely, I think. I also love the color of the Czech flowers near the focal. There are little metal butterflies and flowers throughout the piece as well as peach glass beads and peach fire polished beads.

A close up of the focal. And the chain as well.

Victorian Lace- Black and Purple

I'm not quite sure how I feel about this piece. I wanted to design something around that black filigree-type piece and this is what came out of my head. Its wearable. It's purple and black and pretty and shiny... but... I just don't know. I know sometimes I'm unhappy with how the s-hooks hold it but sometimes I like it. I love how it hangs low on my wrist and the chain dangles and I love the color, but I'm just not confident in the design. Blah.

Alternate views for you lovelies :D

Romance in Brass

My latest piece is an asymmetrical necklace featuring a large brass flower pendant. Dragonflies, flowers, pink glass beads, and peach colored seed beads make it very feminine (so says the designer :P).

Below is a different shot of the whole set. Also, I've taken close-ups of different parts of the necklace.

Leaves and Flowers

This is my third post of the day. Family drama has drawn me away from blogging, but hasn't stopped me from creating (creating was one of the things that kept me sane...). Two more earrings to share.

I bought these hammered copper links a while ago from JoAnn's. It was in their clearance section and I just had to have them. I've been loving copper lately and I just itched to make something with them. But that was in December when I bought those links! Finally, I saw these copper leaves at my bead store and thought of these Czech glass flowers I had at home and how wonderfully they would go together! Hopefully I was right...

Following the nature theme, I saw these golden flower bead caps today at my bead store. I don't usually make gold jewelry. I'm not sure why. But these flowers were so delicate and sweet, I had to buy them and make something out of them. I found some blush pink, frosted glass beads and thought the color went well with the gold. Hanging them off of 18K gold plated earring hooks and voila!

Note: I've been trying a new photographing... technique? Is that the word? Sometimes the color looks great, sometimes not so great (like in the second image of the second pair of earrings). Photoshop doesn't help much. Hopefully I can get it to work better soon... it's driving me nuts!

Valentine's Day Earrings

I don't usually make holiday-specific jewelry. I own some, but I'm afraid what I make would be garish and draw laughter instead of smiles. BUT, I saw these glass hearts and thought I should try making some earrings out of them.



I chose gunmetal as the metal finish of the findings to contrast against the white hearts. Also, Czech glass beads add just a little sparkle and the filigree beads give it a bit more elegance. I wanted to add two bows to the earrings and thought of leather, but didn't think the knot would hold so I went with a cord. But the fibers frayed. Hmm... maybe I should try and re-work them...