Wednesday, March 1, 2017

Tuesday, February 21, 2017

Wednesday, February 1, 2017

Gregorian - The Sound of Silence

Monday, January 30, 2017

Since I make so many cabochons I wanted to learn how to make bezels around them . Here are some of my first attempts. Each time it gets a little easier to do.

Will probably take this one apart and redo it.

Turning this one into a brooch.

This will be added to an ornament later on.

Making it straight & properly aligned is kind of difficult.

Really pleased with the way this one has turned out.

This was the last one I attempted.

Here she is after antiquing & painting the facial details.

Learning to work with seed beads and patterns. So many beautiful projects out there for beading.

With all the crystal beads as background, this really shimmers when hung in the window.

Sunday, January 22, 2017

Several pieces that I finished up . I enjoy working with a variety of beads and found objects. Love the combinations of materials and the way textures and colors work to make an item POP !

Bracelets are fun and a great way to explore new colorways and use up smaller sets of beads.

It is a rewarding challenge to sculpt face cabs. Some are to be sold. Others I use to place on bottles, boxes, tins, dolls, and anything else that needs a stronger personality.

These are areas I want to expand my skills in.
All require attention to minute details.

Thursday, January 19, 2017

H e l l o A g a i n - Time has flown by

Hello again, Time has flown by it seems.

You were probably wondering where I went and what I was doing.

Life handed me some medical issues that had to be taken care . Surgery and physical therapy have taken up a greater part of the last two years. All was successful and I am ready to pick up where I left off.

Upon returning to the worlds of art, polymer clay and jewelry making, I see many things have changed. Loads of new products and fascinating techniques to work with ! I can hardly wait to immerse myself in new projects.

So I have joined a few bead swap events, enrolled in a year long polymer clay workshop, and reading up on all the news of these medias.

Should be an interesting adventure.

Tuesday, January 17, 2017

Tuesday, January 3, 2017

Sunday, July 31, 2016

Willie Nelson: Veterans Matter 2015

Saturday, April 27, 2013

7th Bead Soup Reveal

Remember the Bead Soup sent to me by Rose Thorn ?

Now you will get to see the creations I made by adding a few goodies from my own collection and using the beads and findings she sent.

The cat clasp was just too precious to not be front and center ! The nice sheer ribbon was sent to me as a Christmas gift From Julie Panusis. It was the perfect accent for the large beads. Here is a closer look.

There was a beautiful glass bead focal in the soup. Paired it up with a shiny silver background and it popped. The colors matched a shell bead that I had created and the union was heavenly. Also used the other clasp that was included in the soup.

I still had beads left to play with. Rose was very generous !

I paired the pretty red glass beads with a set of polymer clay beads I had recently created.

Front

Back

Matching bracelet

And since there were still beads rolling around in the tray .....

I decided to try my hand at adding beads to an applique and creating a choker . And some sassy earrings too !

Believe it or not there are still a few beads rolling around in the tray. It has been a fun month of exploring the options with this bead soup and letting my imagination run free. Thank You Rose for the wonderful bead soup !

Hope you have enjoyed these.

You can see what Rose made with my bead soup at her blog

http://swtrosethorn.blogspot.com/

I hope Rose had as much fun with the soup I sent her.

If you would like to see the other incredible designs you will find all the reveals of the

7th Bead Soup Blog Party at

http://lorianderson-beadsoupblogparty.blogspot.com/

Many thanks to Lori Anderson for hosting this wonderful event. She goes above and beyond as a host.

Sunday, April 21, 2013

5th Do Over Challenge

Jewelry by Jeannie offers a jewelry challenge every so often.

I was lucky enough to participate in the last one and really enjoyed it. Rushed to sign up for this one !

Here's how it works:

Jeannie will send you an old, tried, boring piece of her jewelry for free and you will work your magic and turn it into something beautiful and amazing. There will be a small entry fee to cover shipping and handling.

The jewelry she is sending out for this challenge are designs she made when she was new to jewelry-making and has decided not to sell. This is NOT jewelry currently listed on her website! There will be no art beads of any kind in what you receive.

Can't guarantee what you get or that you will even like it. Just have fun and keep within the spirit of what this challenge is about; DO OVER/CHALLENGE! It will not be in any fancy packaging when you receive it.

My package arrived and I dove in ! Want to take a peek ?

Strand of Lucite and wood

Set created with AB Glass chips & Glass Donuts

These are the pieces I am to do over !

I carefully took each one apart and stored the pieces on my work desk. Would take them out occasionally, waiting for them to speak to me. They were silent at first. So I went on with other projects. One of which was creating some polymer clay focal beads to fill up my supply cabinet for upcoming shows.

I just randomly start making the beads and pop them in to bake ! As I am cleaning and buffing them several jump out and ask to be included in the do over ! Then as I am digging through my stash to find little this and thats to work with an adorned shell begs to be included too ! I end up laying out and redoing bead designs into the wee hours of the next day ... well , actually, Hubby said, at 5 am , that I really needed to go to bed for a bit !

Having not worked with glass chips before I had a learning process to go through. Little devils are slippery !

I know, enough of the chit chat - show us the pretties !

First I divided the AB Glass chips up into two portions.

Using the first portion of the chips and the larger of the two

glass discs I set out to incorporate my first focal bead. I

added a few Swarovski crystals in pink and purple to pick up

the colors in the focal. Filled the strand out with clear Czech

glass beads. A few silverplated findings and this is the result.

The balance of the AB glass chips and the smaller of the two

glass discs joined the polymer clay adorned seashell.

Picked

up a scoop of smaller sea shells and a few wood beads for

accents. A little wire work and pulled them all together.

Then I turned my attention to the strand of Lucite and wood

beads. I knew exactly which focal bead I wanted to pair

them with. Added a few Chalcedny that I had from bead fair

purchase and Here we go .

The glass chips were a real challenge for me. So many little

pieces in so many different shapes and thicknesses. The AB

coating on them makes matching up other beads a daylight

event. I am pleased with the final pieces and hope I found

a new life for these !

Grab a cup of your favorite beverage and browse the other

participants.

Beti Horvath http://stringingfool.blogspot.com/

Charlie Jacka http://clay-space.com/blog

Dagi http://kokopellidesign.blogspot.com/

DiYana Alcaldehttp://agapecreationsjewelry.blogspot.com/
Donetta Farrinton http://simplygorgeous-donetta.blogspot.com/

Ginger Davis Allman http://thebluebottletree.com/

Jeannie K Dukichttp://site.jkdjewelry.com/blog (hostess)

Kathy Lindemer http://bay-moon-design.blogspot.com/

Lynne Bowland http://www.islandgirlsinsights.blogspot.ca/

Molly Alexander http://beautifullybrokenme.blogspot.com/ (you are here!)

Mary Govaars www.mlhjewelrydesigns.com

Mowse Doyle http://mowsemadethis.blogspot.com/

Penny Houghton www.smellynelly.blogspot.com

Renetha Stanziano http://lamplightcrafts.blogspot.com/

Rita Avila http://www.jewelschoolfriends.com/

Susan Delaney www.ladyflowersbysusan.wordpress.com

If you are interested in seeing more of focal beads I create

they are at .

http://www.hocart.com/ or https://www.facebook.com/MowseMadeThis?ref=hl

Saturday, April 20, 2013

Very Merry Unbirthday Party

Hello! Ready to party ?

This was a super fun project for me! And it let me celebrate my birthday which is often overlooked during all the Thanksgiving festivities.

My partner for the Very Merry UnBirthday Party is : Susan Bowie

Susan creates the most wonderful jewelry !

The postal system did it's darndest to irritate the heck out of us. Took forever for them to get her package to me and get it delivered properly. So glad it arrived ! My birthday is November 25th which makes my birthstone Topaz or Citirine.

Bet you want to see what was in it , don't you ?

How about a close up look at that intriguing focal bead ....

Susan tells me the focal is leather with silver, copper, & Citrine embedded in it . Absolutely stunning ! The little transparent chips are Citrine and Carnelian. Also in the strand are Swarovski Golden Topas, vintage Black Onyx, and Czech Glass Crystals. All in all a wonderful, uplifting sparkly ensemble !

I love it ! thank you so much Susan !

When we made first contact Susan told me her birthday had just passed the week before . Very timely event to participate in for both of us. The birth stone for March is Aquamarine.

Meaning and Symbolism of the Aquamarine:
Faithfulness, courage and friendship
Awareness, quick response and easing communication problems.

Sure fits Susan !

When Susian checked out my Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/MowseMadeThis/posts/341870762564392
She spotted a necklace I had collaborated on with Sunrise Designs .
I love to work with objects I find on my strolls through nature. Adding polymer clay to seashells has held a fascination for me for sometime. My stockpile of seashells with adornment was over running the bead area. So I sent some to my friend to work with. This bead was among them ...

Ann took this bead and created a necklace with it using Aquamarine, Amethyst, and Swarovski Crystals. The fabulous result was

Messages flew back and forth between all of us. The necklace and matching components to make earrings were shipped to me quickly. I worked up a pair of earrings, and off the package went to Susan.

Thank you so much Ann / Sunrise Designs

It has been so awesome doing collaborations with you !

*note - I failed to get a closeup picture of the earrings I designed. They can be seen at Susan's blog.

This has been a fantastic celebration !