Saturday, May 29, 2010

New Toggle Bars


Heather Powers of HumbleBeads put me on to these cool toggle bars  by Patera carried by Bello Modo
They come in a variety of finishes-- copper, silver, gold...


And I have been experimenting with making some of my own  toggle bars out of thick wire.

I would love to hear which ones you like.

Thursday, May 27, 2010

And the Winner is...

STEUFEL is the winner of my Clover Pendant and beads.  Yeah!!  Thank you one and all for the lovely supportive comments.  Please send me your email address and they will be on their way to you.

Sunday, May 23, 2010

Industrial Chic Susan Lenart Kazmer


I've long been a fan of Susan Lenart Kazmer and am excited that her wonderful components are now available, yes, at Michael's.  I found these and some others last week a few days after they arrived in the store.  These are all made in China but are surprisingly well made.  Susan is given credit for each and every piece.  They even have a small project booklet which she has written with about 15 completed necklaces/bracelets to make.

Now the challenge will be for me to find a way to use them.  I can admit to just keeping beads and never using them.  But I do have some vague ideas for these.  I think they will go well with some of my rustic fused glass pieces and perhaps those unglazed stoneware beads.  At least I am going to give it a try.

We are having full summer weather here.  I am loving it.  I hope you are having a wonderful Sunday too.

Thursday, May 20, 2010

My BeadStar Entry got in


I am excited to tell that my BeadStar entry got into the hearts category.  I made all of these little hearts out of ceramic clay and the big one too.   Such fun.  I see many other wonderful designs from my friends in all of the categories including Hearts.  I have been through and voted.  I hope you will vote too. You can vote here. Follow your heart in your choices since there are so many wonderful ones.  Without knowing who made what, I see now that I voted for many of my friends.  Their work is just so good, I didn't need to know that they made it.  They just stood out from the crowd.

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Giveaway 100th Blog Follower Celebration


I am having a giveaway to celebrate my 100th blog follower.  I thank one and all for following my blog and giving me such wonderful support and feedback.  All you need to do to participate in this giveaway is leave a comment on my blog. The winner of the giveaway will win this Clover Pendant and 6 of my new stoneware dug up from the earth look beads.  The winner will be announced on  the morning of Thursday, May 28. I look forward to hearing from you.

Monday, May 17, 2010

Another Color Inspiration


I found this color combo by chance.  Since I am not exactly Type A, I have a lot on my bead table at once.  Luckily I found these lying near each other.   I think they look great together.   They may soon be hanging around my neck .  Have a great Day.  Look for my 100th Follower Giveaway coming on Wednesday.
Yes I finally made it to 100 Followers!!!! Thank you one and all.


Saturday, May 15, 2010

Stoneware experiments


I have been experimenting with a new clay for me.  Stoneware.  I usually use earthenware which is a low fire clay.  This stoneware has been fired to Cone 5.  I stained it with a teal color stain and fired it.  No glaze.  Then I thumbled the beads and the pendant for about 2 hours.  I put a little beeswax on the tree part of the pendant.  Hard for me to give up that shiny glaze LOL.

These beads have also been fired to Cone5 but have not yet been tumbled.  I tumble them so that there is no chance that the stain will rub off on clothing.  Unlike earthenware, most of the stain has been fired into the clay and does not come off .

I like the old archeological look to these beads.  I will keep experimenting with stains and see what else I can come up with.
I'd love to hear what you think.
 
WATCH FOR MY 100TH FOLLOWER GIVEAWAY EARLY NEXT WEEK.

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Cool Triangle Treasury

                           


Check out this cool Treasury
It includes my Wild Leaf Pendant in the picture above.
Have a Great Day.

Monday, May 10, 2010

Spring Color Inspiration


Isn't this color combination stunning.  Pink, green, brown.  These are grape vine leaves beginning to open.

Friday, May 07, 2010

More Adornment for my Bead Work


Small naked raku fired buttons for clasps on necklaces.


Colorful and black raku fired beads for highlights.


Ceramic Bead caps for extra emphasis or to be used alone for attaching a cluster of fringe



Colorful buttons linked together for an unusual bridge  (linking idea compliments of Lorelei)



And a butterfly connector.  I have more of these in the making.  Some I may put a hole just in the middle so I can sew them on with a seed bead.

Sunday, May 02, 2010

Bead Flowers


I have been making some ceramic components for my peyote stitch and other off  loom beaded jewlery.  These are some ceramic flower beads I have been making.  I am also making some ceramic bead caps which I will post about later.


This is a pair of bead flowers that I might use on the surface of a peyote stitch necklace I am making.  It was started during the ArtBeadScene challenge to make a piece inspired by VanGogh's Almond Blossoms painting.  Although I didn't finish in time for the challenge, I am pleased it got me started on this necklace. 
I used a Kemper flower cutter and let the push piece mark the hole.  I will string a turquoise seed bead over the hole which will give the flower some more color.  I wanted to use just this teal color since if goes well with the color scheme of the necklace which is blues and greens and of course a bit of almond white.


Here is a photo of me trying on some beaded flowers on the necklace.  They are not sewn on yet.  I like to try things out and take a pic and then if I knock them off or try something else I can always go back to the pic to reconstruct what I liked.  I learned this tip some time ago from Beads-of-Clay member  Elaine Ray and have found it to be very helpful.
It was one of my New Year's resolutions to make some beads for my own work this year.  So here I am trying them out.

Raku Bead Video Part III