Thursday, April 29, 2010

Spring Color Inspiration

This is a photo of a new raspberry shoot emerging a few weeks ago.  I love this combination of dark greens and reddish brown.  Certainly a color scheme that will work its way into a beaded bracelet or strung necklace.  This is my first time growing raspberries and I was totally blown away when I saw these new shoots.

Monday, April 26, 2010

Beads-of-Clay Pendant Swap Necklace--Revised


Not too long ago I posted a few pictures of my necklace for the Beads-of-Clay pendant swap.  There is nothing like seeing a photo of one's jewelry on a computer screen.  The more I looked at it the more I felt that the orange beaded tube just looked out of place or not really a part of the necklace.  Today, I tried adding a Vintaj chain to the necklace and I think I like it much better this way.  I certainly think it sets of Lisa Boucher's pendant even better than before.  What do you think?

Sunday, April 25, 2010

Check Out My Newsletter


I have my newsletter scheduled to publish this afternoon.  If you are not already getting a copy you can sign
up for one right here on my blog.  I have sections in the newsletter called Exciting News which is usually some self promotion, I have a Beady News section where I talk about bead events and other bead artists and jewelry designers, a Book review section,  New Work section with lots of pics, a Classes section and the Specials section.  This month I will be talking about the Beads-of-Clay blog, 2 wonderful instructional jewelry making tutorials and Lisa Boucher.  Hope you will take a look.


Saturday, April 24, 2010

New Toggles on My Website


                                                     Naked Raku  fired  No glaze

Regular and raku fired toggle


Regular electric kiln fired toggle


Regular electric kiln fired toggle small  3/4 inch
Regular and raku fired toggle.  The bar is only raku fired with two different glazes.
These are some of the new toggles on my website.  Some of them are raku fired and one of a kind.

Friday, April 23, 2010

Beads Of Clay Pendant Swap -- The jewelry

Recently Lisa Boucher and I became swap partners in the Beads of Clay  pendant swap.
She sent me the lovely pendant above and I made a necklace with it.
Close up of Lisa's pendantt.  I used an orange sherbet Russian Spiral tube which I made and wire wrapped carnelian beads to capture the feel of the pendant.  For me it seemed to need those colors.

I use a Vintaj toggle clasp and Vintaj wire to wrap the beads.



 I also made a bracelet with the four small beads she sent along with quite a few of my own beads.
This bracelet can also be worn as a necklace.  Lorelei Eurto inspired this knotting design.


You can see more of Lisa Boucher's beads and pendants on her website. Thank you Lisa for sending me such lovely ceramic beads and pendant.  It has been fun getting to know you and your work.

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Beads 2010


I am so pleased to be included in this year's Beads 2010.  I have 2 pendants and 3 toggle clasps.  I share this honor with many other ceramic clay artists including:

Gaea
Wintchell Clay Works
Lisa Peters Art
Off Center Productions
Marsha Neal Studio
Summer Studio
Diane Hawkey
Chinook Jewelry Designs
Elaine Ray
The Classic Bead
Marti Conrad
Every Heart Crafts
Jangles
Earthenwood Studio
Artisan Clay
Cindy Dolezel Designs
Jubilee
Lumina Inspirations
Golem Design Studio
Amazing Porcelain by Marsha Hedrick
Joan Miller Porcelain
The Classic Bead

Monday, April 19, 2010

Beads Of Clay Pendant Swap

A few weeks ago Beads of Clay Yahoo Group artists exchanged pendants and beads with one other group member and the challenge was to make a necklace, a bracelet or even a wind chime with what we received.  My partner was Lisa Boucher.  And here is what she made with my heart pendant and 4 blueberry colored ceramic beads.  Didn't she create a beauty.  I love the way she used the green and blue colors in the pendant and the super way she attached the pendant to the necklace.  So original. Thank you so much Lisa.

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Toggle Jewelry

                                                                        Unchain My Heart by Chatty Cat

Here are a couple of pieces made by jewelry designer Chatty Cat using my toggle clasps and a pendant.  I love the way she combines colors and textures.  I think her work enhances the toggles and sets off  their decorative style.  Thanks so much Cat for sharing these pics with me.
  You can see more of Chatty Cat's work on ArtFire here.  You can read her blog here.  And I just read that she is having a sale on her ArtFire site.

Thursday, April 08, 2010

New Toggles and a Toggle Clasp bracelet



These are some of my new toggle clasps and a bracelet that are on my website made to order.  The are hand built so that they do not come out just exactly like the picture.  But they will be the same size and almost the same.
All of these Toggle clasps are made from ceramic clay.  This first one has an  image on the bar and the clasp of Dill seeds in flower.



The next one is from a spruce tree.  I like the way the toggle bar completes the bough.  This one is quite large: about 1 1/2 inches square. 

This is a bracelet with a large toggle clasp.  The bright green beads are also handmade from ceramic clay. The darker glass beads are Sea Glass beads from the Beadin' Path.

Monday, April 05, 2010

Russian Spiral My Style


I love the Russian Spriral bracelet I made in the class I took at Market Beads a few weeks ago, but it just wasn't quite my style.  So I played around with the components and added my own ceramic beads and came up with this design.  I really like it.  Do you think it looks more like me?





I have a few more ideas on how to personalize this kind of bead work which I will post later when they are finished.  Hope you had a sunny Happy Easter weekend.

Raku Bead Video Part III