Dragonflies

 I love dragonflies. Sure, they're bugs and if one landed on me, I'd probably freak out (FLASHBACK ALERT!: Did something of the sort with a white butterfly when I was a kid) but they are rather beautiful.

Above is a bracelet I made for a friend's mother who recently commissioned me to do some work for her. She had recommended a wonderful book on stones and I really really do love a good book recommendation. She had said that she, too, loves dragonflies AND amethyst and thus, this bracelet was born. I used little silver lined lavender colored seed beads as spacers. I think they add some sparkle.

I found these lovely etched bone beads at Michaels and just knew I had to have them. Two fire-polished beads and a purple glass crystal bead hang at the bottom of each earring. LOVE these. Not sure what kind of bone it is, but I'm assuming cow bone. Dunno why.

Dragonflies can represent change. They can represent dreams and good luck. The new year is approaching and I know that I try to come up with resolutions each year and just fail. This year, I want to try really hard to keep them. They're all things that I've been meaning to do and January 1st will just be the day I decide to really get serious. I will start a new blog just for my resolutions because it seems to help me stay focused on my jewelry so why not my personal goals?

Do you do the resolution thing? I know lots of people do. Heck, at work, the health section is PACKED with books because even the industry knows that people are going to give the diet resolution another go. Share your thoughts. I'm very interested :)

Hope you all had a lovely holiday!

Wired Dragonflies

I couldn't find my headpins (how does someone just LOSE a thing of headpins!?) and ended up making something of my own for the fire polished beads dangling with the dragonflies. I could always change them if I find my headpins (still unbelievable) but I rather like the little swirly I made.

My wire sculptures are a bit messy, no? I like them like that. I wonder if others do too?

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!

Budget Bride- Earrings

I was looking at wedding magazines (shh! Don't tell my boyfriend) when I saw a pair of earrings that I just adored! But I know I wouldn't be able to afford them if I were getting married. I don't even know if I'd want to spend that kind of money on earrings I might only wear once! I wonder if I'm the only girl who thinks that.

ANYHOO. I made these. These are for the girl who wants the look but can't (and just refuses) to pay the price of the real thing. Glass pearls, fire polished glass, filigree beads, sterling silver hooks... just as pretty as the ones in the magazine and affordable!

Will post on Etsy soon. Alternate views! I love alternate views :D

Copper and Pearls

I started this necklace earlier this week. I finished the filigree embellished piece (embellished with fire polished glass beads in two pretty purples) on Sunday with hopes to work on it my next day off... Having been laid off yesterday, I suppose yesterday was my next day off. Hahaha. But, I was pre-occupied.

I saw a necklace similar to this in a catalog but instead of the filigree piece embellished with fire polished glass beads, it was a silver flower with (what I assumed were) diamonds. I think the copper gives it an older feel. Also, I'm assuming the pearls in the catalog were real. These are just glass Crystazzi pearls. But they sure are pretty.

I also made some earrings. But the copper is shiny. What's your opinion... does shiny mix with dark? I happen to like it, but will others?

Below is an alternate view of the necklace (without the flower) and a close up of the filigree piece. Hopefully, I will take some time and do some art before I jump back into "reality." I was always complaining how I didn't have enough time to do what I love... sooo... I'm going to try it for a while. Yay!

Rainy Day Beading

It has been STORMING here in southern California. I'm sure other parts of the United States are used to this kind of weather, but a "tornado warning" for Orange County? Really?

Personally, I love the rain. It's calming. And I felt ready to tackle a project that had been growing in my head for a little while. Not a complicated one, but a project nonetheless.

I can't reveal what is going to happen to this bracelet/earring pair just yet... because I have no idea who is going to be reading my blog. And I'd like to keep it as a little bit of a surprise, but I did want to share this design with whoever does happen to read my blog.

This bracelet was made using memory wire and five-holed spacers. The seed beads are from a bead soup I mixed up with purples, blues, white with a slight gold finish, and a touch of hot pink and brown. Four little metal dragonflies are worked into this bracelet. The dark blue beads are glass and look like stone. The purple beads are glass crackle beads. There are also lavender glass pearls and lavender fire polished glass beads. Its really very spring-like in my opinion.

I finished the ends with more spacers and chain on two of the three pieces of memory wire. Without the chain, the bracelet felt un-secure when I tried it on (is that a word? Un-secure?). On the middle piece of memory wire, purple Crystazzi crystal beads dangle and add just a touch more sparkle. Not really in a noticeable place but something that is waiting to be found.

Not one to waste, I used some of the scrap wire from the Crystazzi dangle beads to start a pair of earrings to match the bracelet. More seed beads and metal dragonflies. A touch of lavender fire polished beads. And a bit more Crystazzi sparkle.

Purples and silver really are my favorite colors to bead with right now. Hopefully, I can branch off and do something a bit different for next time.

Happy beading, all!

Note: I feel compelled to tell you that I watch the Lord of the Rings trilogy while I make things... drawing, painting, bookbinding, beading... all things made by me are made with Lord of the Rings playing in the background. Movie, movie with commentary, or special features. While making these, I was listening to the cast commentary of "The Return of the King." And Billy Boyd, who plays Pippin, has a fantastic Scottish accent. Well, while writing this, and even while I'm writing this little note, the words are being said in my head in his voice. Isn't that odd? It makes me giggle.