Mad for Monday: Frit Part Deux

Ok, my friends, the once in a blue moon hit last week and I completed something in short order! Last Monday's Mad For was about the luscious color palette I had put together in frit. I went online and ordered a few sample packs from Val Cox Frit in Fairy Dust and Champagne Rain.

And then I spent yesterday at the torch creating variations on the Double Dips and Glass Links...

There's a slight reaction between the Fairy Dust and the Avocado (yeah, don't know why they named it "Avocado" - it's not green, it's taupe.) It creates a slight outline between the frit and the base glass that I like very much.

What do you think, my friends?

Mad for Monday....

This week, I'm mad for smokey quartz

I ordered Smokey Quartz from Rings n Things as part of their May Bloggers program.

After a bit of sketching, I created a 20 inch necklace entitled Smokey Blues.

disclosure of material connection

Turquoise Sky Glass Link Set

Certain glasses are no fuss, beautifully colored glass to work in the flame. This lovely transparent turquoise blue is one of them. It holds the heat well so you have time to shape it and put it in the kiln to anneal. Copper is a natural with it so I've added a couple of 3.5 - 4.0 inch Double Dips to make a set just for fun - the set is called Turquoise Sky.

Photography Phaux Pas

Can we talk photography? Photos can really make or break your work when you sell on line. You need good photos to replace the ability to see a piece in person. I've invested in good quality photo equipment, camera with a great macro, photo booth set up, lighting and backgrounds. Many of the photos I take are very good yet there is one style of jewelry that is eluding the great photograph - long (40"+) necklaces.

I'm going to use my recent experience entering the fabulous Use the Muse II contest. BTW be sure to visit the gallery and see the winning entries - amazing and lovely work!



I participated in Use the Muse II to push myself. I made glass links to complement the lovely selection of beads I received in the kit. I love to create long chain-y style necklaces but the problem I have is how to photograph them. My entry for the Use the Muse II is a great example of the photography phaux pas I commit with long necklaces. Here are a couple of the photos I submitted....




Kind of blah, huh? Honestly, I didn't like the above pictures when I sent them but they were the best photos I seemed to be able to get. You don't get a sense of the scope of the necklace or how it all fits together or hangs on the body. The above pictures were only two of the 100 pictures I took but I just couldn't get a good photo even with the macro and my mini-cube set up and photographers lights.

I tried different backgrounds and ways to display it but just can't seem to hit on the right combination.

Is it better to pool the long necklace onto a flat surface?



The black seemed to wash out the color of the necklace yet the white above was just so so.



So help me out, dear Readers - how do you photograph long necklaces or are you committing a photography phaux pas?

Components, Artbeads, Andrew Thornton, Green Girl and Use The Muse II

I've got lots new components sitting on my design board. I'm starting with my Frosted Links. I love their softness and depth. Now, what to pair them with?

I've just joined the Artbeads blogging partners and have some yummy Swarovski crystal ovals coming my way. The "volcano" crystal is a nice complementary color for the blue-gray Frost Link - or even the Kelp color.





But that's not all I have. I've been talking to the awesome Andrew Thornton about doing a Collaboration Exploration. Andrew is an amazingly talented artist and brother to that superlicious artist, Cynthia Thornton of Green Girl Studios. Andrew sent a handpicked selection of Green Girl components:



How awesome is Andrew? Pretty darned awesome I'd say!

I have one last set of amazing beads on their way to me. I've signed up for Use the Muse II. Can't wait to get the set of beads.

So with all these inspirational components in front of me, I better get to work.

What kind of components inspire you?

Loopy Tuesday

I mentioned earlier that my organic glass links would make an appearance in Earrings, Earrings, Earrings edited by Barb Switzer, Editor of Simply Beads magazine. The book is out and not only are the Ivory Links on the cover, they're on page 82-83 in a set of earrings designed by Barb Switzer called "Loopy Tuesday"- a classic design using pearls, brass findings and chain. Just beautiful!





Earrings, Earrings, Earrings is chock full of inspiring designs for the beginner and intermediate jewelrymaker. Clear step by step directions and photos for the fundamental steps in the projects are given at the start. Chapters entitled "Hoops & Posts," "Short Dangles," "Long Dangles," and "Sets" follow. Each project has a list of materials and written step by step directions. If you've forgotten how to make a wrapped loop, just flip to the beginning of the book to see detailed pictures and directions. I love the Loopy Tuesday, Egyptian Earrings, and Purple Passion projects. There are many artist made beads in the book and I'm happy to see the artist's name and listing in the buyer's guide.

The photo index in the back of the book is particularly helpful as is the exhaustive list or Buyer's Guide. If there's a project you want to make in the book, you'll find the supplies through these internet resources.

Earrings, Earrings, Earrings can be all things to all jewelrymakers - a learning text for the beginner and intermediate jewelrymaker and a resource for inspiration and unique artist made beads and supplies.

(Photo Credit of Earrings, Earrings, Earrings and Loopy Tuesday design courtesy of Annie's Attic.)

Sitting on my workbench....

Last fall, I was on JustBeads.com and saw these Navaho Red Square Beads made by artist Mary Harding. I fell in love with them and bought them the minute I saw them. I knew the "red" matched the "coral" colored glass I have stashed away. Coral isn't an easy color to match it Mary's beads were perfect.

So I made the coral colored glass bling links especially for Mary's beads. They look great together don't they?



I'm working on a design and they're laid out on my workbench. How to connect them - wire? chain? I'm not sure yet.

Any ideas?

Beading on a Budget! Yes, Virginia, it really does only cost $10!!

I created "Meditation" for Art Bead Scene's $10 Tuesday. I must admit to being skeptical. I didn't really think I could make something nice for $10 or under. So I calculated the cost of all of the materials and it really does cost no more than $10 dollars to make! This definitely falls under my Beading On a Budget category.

Materials:

1 handmade glass link

36 inches 2.8mm gunmetal curb chain
1 gunmetal lobster clasp, 7 x 12mm
8 gunmetal jumprings, 4, 5 or 6mm
5 anodized 18 gauge colored jump rings, 7.9mm, in complementary colors
Charms - I used 1 buddha head, 1 flower, 1 "be" charm, use whatever you have left over or you can use colorful beads or crystals.

Tools Needed:

Pliers, chainnose and needlenose
Cutters, to cut the chain


Directions:

1. Cut two 16 inch lengths of the curb chain.
2. Attach one jump ring to each of one end of the curb chain. You'll end up with two pieces of chain with jump rings on one end of each chain.
3. Attach lobster clasp to one of the jump rings.
4. Choose one of the colored jump rings and attach the opposite ends of the chain (the ends without the clasp and jump ring.)
5. Choose another colored jump ring and attach the glass link and chain together.
6. Cut the remaining 4 inches of chain into 3 pieces, 1 piece 2 inches long, the other two pieces, 1 inch long.
7. Attach the gunmetal jump rings to one end of each of the pieces of chain.
8. Attach charms to the gunmetal jump rings.
9. Attach colored anodized jump rings to the charms and the glass link.

Voila! You've taken a few minutes to slow down and create a lovely necklace for you or for someone special - and for $10!

Bling Link: Dragonfly Pond

Green transparent glass is sooooooooo yummy to work with - it melts in the flame perfectly and never ever gives you a hard time like that stinky boro is doing to me right now!

I embedded two crystals and a copper dragonfly into an emerald "pond" of glass on the oval link. It'll make a nice focal in a beautiful necklace.

A Golden Opportunity: Collaboration with Heather and Katie

Last week I blogged about the collaboration with Heather Powers and Katie Hacker. What a golden opportunity it was! Working with two creative people - Heather, a fabulous beadmaker/designer and Katie Hacker, awesome designer of Ask Katie and author of Hip to Bead, was a golden opportunity! I'm so happy they've joined in on today's collaboration.

It begins with three creatives, two beadmakers (myself and Heather) and a designer (Katie). The beadmakers make and send a set of beads to each person. Then we set about creating! We don't share until the day we blog. (Don't forget to check out their blogs to see what they've made with the same set of beads.)

So dear friends, I haven't seen what Heather and Katie have made until today.

Wheeee!!!



Nor have they seen what I have created. I selected the Dandelion Bead in gold, green and white to use with my Ivory Bling Links. Lately,I'm into creating long chains that can be doubled up to wear as a shorter necklace for a dressy look or a long chain to wear with jeans.


In honor of the golden opportunity to work with two talented creatives, I've entitled this piece, "Golden Opportunity." A 38 inch gold plated chain was used to reflect the Dandelion Bead while complementing the ivory and earth tones made by the fine silver melted in the glass links.



For a variation on color, I added anodized aluminum jump rings, rolled glass pony beads and brass yo yo's. I love the jump rings to use as color while reinforcing the necklace in places where I've joined the chain. I don't like things to be too matchy-matchy so I used a brushed metal lobster clasp to complement the shininess of the gold plate and the jumprings.


I'm wearing my Golden Opportunity today around my neck. It will sing against the black sweater I'm wearing today.

Thanks, Katie and Heather for an amazing golden opportunity!

Heather Powers, Katie Hacker and Me

Heather, Katie and I are working on pieces for a Collaboration Exploration. A Collaboration Exploration is when two beadmakers create three sets of beads. One set is for another beadmaker to use, another is for a designer and the last is for herself to use. Each of the three keep their designs secret until an agreed upon date when all is revealed.

I'm thrilled to be working with them on this collaboration. Heather makes fabulous polymer clay beads and is the executive editor and owner of Art Bead Scene. We are both excited to be working with Katie Hacker who is an author, and well known designer.

Here are our beads, I made Silvered Ivory Glass Links and Heather sent an assortment of her beads. Yummy!

Watch for the teaser the day before the big reveal!

Variation on a Theme: Silvered Trio

Variation on the Glass Links theme, a trio of glass links made singularly and then fused together while keeping the organic handmade feel of the links. A bit of silver foil is melted into them creating a golden yellow with silver.

It's Academic - Learning to Chain Maille

Happy Ornament Thursday! With the coming of fall, we all turn our attention to academics. I don't attend school anymore but it's always a good time to learn a new jewelry making technique to show off my flameworked beads.

I'm using my Single Glass Links to make chain maille earrings using the free tutorial called Flowers on the Blue Buddha Boutique website. The tutorial is full of great pictures and so it's easy to learn.

Don't forget to pop on over to the Ornament Thursday Blog and see what the Ornament Thursday Girls are up to!

Have you learned a new technique recently? Doesn't matter which media - leave a comment and tell me about it!

Love Links and the other life....

Seeing how far I can stretch the Glass Links. Three links are melted together link by link to create a short 3 link class chain. I'm calling them Love Links because they'll always be together. Wink! Crystal Love Links with cubic zirconia embedded in two of the three links. Purplicious Love Links are partially iridescent reflecting blues and gold along with the purple. I'll put these up on my website tonight or tomorrow.

I'm off to live my other life today - I'll spend a full 8 hour shift working as a video interpreter, signing telephone calls between Deaf and hearing people all day. I'm like an operator except with a videophone. Hard to get going after a nice couple of days at the torch.

Go create something beautiful today - Enjoy!
(Photo Credit)

Raspberry, blogiversary and before or after?

Raspberry Links with antiqued brass chain. These are the off mandrel glass links I make and hit the jackpot when I found a gorgeous fabric that coordinates with the raspberry links beautifully.



July 16th is my blogiversary - it will be 3 years of blogging bliss! Well, probably not bliss but blogging anyway. I've got to do something special - but I haven't figured out what yet.

Newsletter almost complete. I need to proofread and add some finishing touches and then it'll go out. Should I hold it until after the holiday or go ahead and send it right before? Tell me what you think.

Designer Look Raspberry Glass Link Necklace

Inspired by textiles that matched perfectly to my Raspberry Glass Links - Here's a quick designer, one of a kind, necklace I whipped up using four (4) Raspberry Glass Links, Antiqued "Metal Madness" chain and lobster clasp from Michael's. I used the colored aluminum 1/2 inch jump rings from my stash.

Easy to put together, I cut 6 inch sections of the chain and connected it back together with the jump rings and Raspberry Glass Links. Quick, easy and designer look but better!

Studio Saturday at Art Bead Scene!

I'm over at Art Bead Scene for Studio Saturday talking about my recent exciting textile discovery that I'm using for inspiration.

C'mon over and comment!

Fringey Glass Links?

Dang that Michelle Mach! I read her post on fringe and since then, I've had fringe on the brain! Now I want to make some fringe and use up MY seed bead stash - believe me, I have alot more than Michelle's tiny stash. I need to use it up. Glass links and fringe are made for each other!

So this morning, I'm hunting for online tutorials for fringe. The internet is surprisingly sparse on fringe tutorials. Here are a couple I've come across:

Coral or Branch Fringe

Leafy Vine Fringe

Here's and online book I found with several fringe techniques Guide to Beadwork

Maybe a trip to the bookstore is in order? Do you know of any good books that include techniques on fringe?

Ta-DAH! Glass Chain Links

Here are the beauties I was bouncy about yesterday - ta-DAH! They're linked glass links! A mini chain of glass - not perfectly round or smooth links, but organic glass links in crystal clear glass.


The links are free floating, each link moves independently just like metal chain. Glass Chain Links. I made them in groups of 2 or 3 links. Glass Chain Links can be used as a focal or part of a chain. Since they're crystal, they can go with any color. Lots of design possibilities.

The Glass Chain Links are unique. Not something you can pick up at the local craft store. Leave a comment and tell me what you think - I love to hear from readers!

Bouncy!

Lots of bead blog buzz lately about social networking. On a social networking blog you can put what kind of mood you're in. Blogger has thankfully left that cutesy feature out but I need it just for today so I'm adding it.

This morning I feel bouncy (insert emoticon of happy face annoyingly bouncing up and down here).

Why?

Tomorrow I'll introduce a new variation on the Glass Links - whoo hoo! I can hardly wait!

"Well," you think,"that's silly, just put the #$%@!! things up today!"

"Yes, I could," I say, " but I wanted to update the website with the first variation, the Bling Links before I introduced another variation. AND I wanted to announce it on the blog first."

So, I'm bouncy in anticipation but I'm also bouncy because I updated my site. It's like re-stocking the shelves in a store. Oh and I wrote up and scheduled my May newsletter to go out.

I didn't do the laundry or clean the house - but who cares about that?!