New Beads

Posted on July 28, 2013 by Claire

Finally, finally, I got some new beads made - and finished. I’ll be updating the bead shop at 6-7pm this evening. There are a range of new designs. Several weeks ago I received this tempting looking box.

What’s inside?

Lots of them:

It’s a lovely collection of vintage bird stamps, used by French kids in the 1940s. I haven’t tried them all out but here’s some of the range. There are owls (of course…):

Kingfishers:

Penguins:

And woodpeckers, swallows, and… not sure what the wee ghost bird is:

I’ve also made some more past favourites - here’s a selection of what will be available:

And also more pod pins:

There’s a new style of word bead:

Along with a handful of the old standards:

Finally, there’s a selection of the coloured chain, including this rich emerald - just right for a bit of pantone-ing!

I had hoped to get more of the patinated metal pieces made, but with the delay the heatwave caused, I thought I’d best just get these listed, and off my desk, where they’ve been sat around for some time now. I’m not sure when I’ll get chance to stock the shop up again in the coming weeks. I’m happy to take reserves, especially as it’s the end of the month, so get in touch if you fancy anything. You can see the rest of the new designs at 6 - 7pm at Something to do Beads on Etsy.

New jewellery, including hoarding hop

Posted on July 20, 2013 by Claire

It’s been a bit of a bitty week here - a certain amount of life noise and a number of disrupted plans. I started out planning to make new beads and I did actually make a batch, but I’ve had to put them to one side for now because the heat was causing problems with the metal paints and patinas. Still, I managed to get some new jewellery made. A while ago I signed up for Lori Anderson’s Bead Hoarder’s Blog Hop. I’d been wondering if I’d find time to get it done, but I managed to get something made today. The idea is that participants will make themselves make something with beads they’ve been hoarding. I’ve already looked at some of the other participants’ blogs and they’ve been far firmer with themselves than I have. I took the opportunity to make - finally! -something I’d been mentally planning for an age. Last Christmas I took part in a secret santa swap in a facebook bead group. I was paired with the lovely Bo Hulley, and besides getting some of her fab ceramic beads, I got a selection of other beauties, including some pyrite chunks, some sodalite tumbles and a dinky black agate bird. I started imagining this bracelet I’d make and in the following months I’ve been accumulating things to go in it, including a very nice clasp from Amanda Davie. Today I finally stopped gathering and got making.

(blackbird clasp - Amanda Davie, ceramic drop - Scorched Earth, polymer heart - Something to do Beads)

Here’s a better shot of the clasp.

I’ve just remembered that I have a set of fibre beads that I’d planned to include. I knew there was something else! Ah, well… I’ll include a list of the other participants at the end of the post so you can have a look at what they’ve come up with. But, before you go, here’s some more new pieces.

(ceramic bird - Jo Lucksted, lampwork beads - Helen Chalmers)

(ceramic drops - Scorched Earth, lampwork beads - Glass Bead Art)

(ceramic spikes - Scorched Earth)

Heck, that’s a lot of Scorched Earth! Here’s the hop list - Thanks, Lori!:

1. Lori Anderson, Pretty Things
2. Nancy Dale, NEDBeads
3. Roxanne Mendoza, Roxi Designs
4. Melissa Trudinger, beadrecipes
5. Rana Lea, Rana Lea Designs
6. Perri Jackson, Shaktipaj Designs
7. Rita Avila, Jewel School Friends
8. Linda Anderson, From the Bead Board
10. Erin Guest, Renlish11. Joan Williams, lilruby jewelry
12. Diane Hawkey, Diane Hawkey
13. Jo-Ann Woolverton, It’s a Beadiful Creation
14. Sue Kennedy, SueBeads
15. Lisa Cone, Inspired Adornments
16. Kari Asbury, Hippie Chick Design
17. Nichole Byers, Nichole Byers
18. Lori Jean Poppe, Adventures in Creativity
19. Linda Landig, Linda’s Bead Blog and Meanderings
20. Lori Schneider, Bead Addict21. Molly Alexander, Beautifully Broken Me
22. Cece Cormier, The Beading Yogini
23. Niki Sayers, Silver Nik Nats
24. Elsie Deliz-Fonseca, Eliz-Eliz and All That Craft
25. Amber Dawn, Inventive Soul
26. Heather Powers, Humblebeads
27. Sarah Goode, Pookledo
28. Monique Urquhart, A Half-Baked Notion
29. JJ Jacobs, Coming Abstractions
30. Cheri Reed, Creative Designs by Cheri31. Robyn, Museiddity
32. Catherine King, Catherine’s Musings
33. Jacquie, Bead Gypsy
34. Janet McDonald, Singing Woods
35. Kay Thomerson, Kayz Kreations
36. Tanty Sri Hartanti, TJewellicious by Tanti
37. Hannah Rosner, Good River Valley
38. Rochelle Brisson, A Creative Chelle
39. Nelly May, Smelly Nelly
40. Skylar Bre’z, Brising Beads41. Beti Horvath, Stringing Fool
42. Christie Murrow, Charis Designs
43. Leanne Loftus, First Impression Design
44. Valerie Norton, Hot Art
45. Judy Riggs, Rigglettes
46. Crystal Thain, Here Bead Dragons
47. Terry Carter, Tapping Flamingo
48. Sue, Mid-Life Great Expectations
49. Nan Smith, Wired Nan
50. Miranda Ackerley, MirandAck Arts51. Marie Covert, Creating Interest
52. D’Arsie Manzella, This Here Now, Mamacita
53. Stephanie Haussler, Pixybug Designs
54. Lori Bergmann, Lori Bergmann Design
55. Johanna Nunez, The Lovely One Design
56. Mary Govaars, MLH Jewelry Designs
57. Becky Pancake, Becky Pancake Bead Designs
58. Alicia Marinache, All the Pretty Things
59. Debbie Rasmussen, A Little of This, A Little of That
60. Nat, Grubbi Ceramics61. Marjorie Savill Linthwaite, Bennu Bird Rising
62. Cheryl McCloud, One Thing Leads to Another
63. Heather Otto, The Crafthopper
64. Candida Castleberry, Spun Sugar Beadworks
66. JuLee Wolfe, The Polymer Penguin
67. Ginger Bishop, Lil Mummy Likes
68. Karen Mitchell, Over the Moon Design
69. Jeannie Dukic, Jeannie’s Blog
70. Dini Bruinsma, Angaza by Changes71. Birgitta Lejonklou, Create With Spirit
72. Shalini Austin, Jewellery by Shalini
73. Jayne Capps, Mama’s Got to Doodle
74. Ile Ruzza, Ilenia’s Unique Beaded Jewelry
76. Annita Wilson, AW Jewelry
77. Sherri Stokey, Knot Just Macrame
78. Hannah Trost, PZ Designs
79. Linda Inhelder, Must Haves Jewelry
80. Miri Agassi, Beadwork81. Hope Smitherman, Crafty Hope
82. Dyanne Cantrell, Dee-Liteful Jewelry Creations
83. Susan Bowie, Susan Nelson Bowie
84. Megan Milliken, MaeMaeMills
85. Menka Gupta, Menka’s Jewelry
86. Ambra Gostoli, Chic and Frog
87. Lori Lochner, Bloghner
88. Gerda Jurimae, Gerda’s Crafts Blog
89. Susan, Mistheword
90. MaryLou Holvenstot, MaryLou’s time2cre891. Mary Shannon Hicks, falling into the sky
92. Karin King, The Sparklie Things Blog
93. Christa Murphy, Adventures of One Beady Woman
94. Jenny Davie-Reazor, Jenny Davies-Reazor
95. Donetta Farrington, Simply Gorgeous
96. Mallory Hoffman, Rosebud 101 - For the Love of Beads
97. Danielle Kelley, Imbue the Muse
98. Kym Hunter, Kym Hunter Designs
99. Dolores Rami, CraftyD’s Creations
100. Marcia Dunne, 13 Alternatives101. Marlene Cupo, Amazing Designs
102. Emma Todd, A Polymer Penchant
103. Wendy Holder, Jewelry by WendyLea
104. Michelle Escano, The Cabby Crafter
105. Louise Glazier, Lily and Jasmine Treasures
106. Dana Hickey, Wind Dancer Studios
107. Lennis Carter, windbent
108. Anne Betenson, Crystal River Beads
109. Audrey Belanger, Dreams of an Absolution
110. Lisa Stukel, Carefree Jewelry by Lisa111. Janine Lucas, Travel Stories
112. Claire Lockwood, Something to Do With Your Hands
113. Kathy Engstrom, Catherine’s Dreams
114. Paula Hisel, Simply Beadiful
115. Karla Morgan, Texas Pepper Jams
116. Mischelle Fanucchi, Micheladas Musings
117. Kim, Cianci Blue
118. Linda Sadler, Ida Louise Jewelry
119. Karen, Spokalulu
120. Jennifer LaVite, Dry Gulch Bead and Jewelry121. Andrea Glick-Zenith, ZenithJade Creations
122. Karen Martinez, Fairies Market
123. Robin Reed, Artistry HCBD
124. Amy Bright, LABweorc
125. Jasvanti Patel, Jewels by Jasvanti
126. Tammie Everly, TTE Designs
127. Karin Slaton, Backstory Beads
128. Natalie Moten, Running Out of Thread
129. Sharyl McMillian-Nelson, Sharyl’s Jewelry & Reflections
130. Jenny Kyrlach, Wonder and Whimsy

131. LiliKrist, Handmade by LilK
132. Jessica Klaaren, The Truth Space
133. Cynthia Abner, Created Treasures
134. Beth Emery, Stories by Indigo Heart
135. Heather Davis, Blissful Garden Beads
136. Jeanne, Gems by Jeanne Marie
137. Sandi Volpe, Sandi Volpe
138. Laren Dee Barton, Laren Dee Designs
139. Steph, Confessions of a Bead Hoarder
140. Carolyn Lawson, Carolyn’s Creations

141. B. R. Kuhlman, Mixed Mayhem
142. Patty Miller, Cabari Beads
143. Elizabeth Bunn, Elizabeth Beads
144. Marianna Boylan, Pretty Shiny Things
145. Lizzie Clarke, The Need to Bead
146. Christina Miles, Wings ‘n’ Scales
147. Patricia, The Color of Dreams
148. Marde Lowe, Fancimar
149. Ev Shelby, Raindrop Creations
150. Sarah Small, By Salla

151. Perri Jackson, Shaktipaj Designs
152. Laurie Vyselaar, Lefthand Jewelry
153. Pam Traub, Klassy Joolz
154. Lisa Harrison, Daisy Meadow Studio
155. Anzia Parks, Anzi-Panzi’s Work Shoppe
156. Ingrid, Lilisgems Handcrafted Jewelry Inspirations
157. Andra Weber, Andra’s Joyful Journey
158. Kelly Hosford Patterson, The Traveling Side Show
159. Adlinah Kamsir, Dreamstruck Designs
160. Marci, That Nothing Be Wasted

161. Kris Lanae Binsfield, Cherish Designs
162. Stephanie Perry, Mustard Bead
163. Birgit Klughardt, Gites Beads
164. Inge von Roos, Inge’s Blog
165. Rebecca Sirevaag, Becca’s Place
166. Sandy Markley, Gypsy Spirit Designs
167. Elena Adams, Lena’s Beady Blog

Sun, market, new jewellery and stuff

Posted on July 9, 2013 by Claire

God, I love the sun. I mean, really, really love the sun. On Friday, I sat out in it and wilfully got myself burnt - just because, for the first time in so long, I actually could. I did this while I was doing my stall plan for last Sunday’s market. I had a few new props this time so I wanted to try them out and see what worked best. I used to have these thin wooden veneer sheets (purchased yonks ago for heaven knows what project) that I laid things on, but they were getting a pretty shabby so I decided to try some slate tiles. It hadn’t occurred to my thoroughly impractical brain that slate - this stuff that gets hacked out from the earth - might be somewhat grubby. Fortunately, this possibility did strike me before I stuck them on my nice clean white table cover. So, there I was on Friday morning, sponging the damn things clean. At least they dried quickly in the sun.

Dexy didn’t stay out with me long whilst I scorched. He took himself inside, muttering ‘mad women and Englishmen’.

Here’s the plan I arrived at, sans cheaper earrings.

I like the slate, although it did get very hot on the day. Still, I can’t imagine that will be a terribly regular problem.

With this sorted, I had the opportunity to get a few last minute pieces made on Saturday. I love these colours together and they seem perfect for the current run of heat.

(lampwork beads - Helen Chalmers)

One problem with the sun (but this is not a complaint!), is that photos have to be taken before the sun hits the terrace, which means you can (if you don’t know what you’re doing, like me) end up with this strange blue cast on them, especially with brights. I made another bracelet, with a bit of a ‘decor of my youth’ feel.

(button charm - Suburban Girl Studio)

And also these earrings with my peacock-y patina vintage feathers and peacock pearls.

(dip-dye feathers - Something to do Beads)

It’s widely said - very unfortunately - that you really ought to wear your own jewellery when manning your stall, so I had to rustle up these for me…

(ceramic tips - Scorched Earth, lampwork beads - Glass Bead Art)

The market went okay; not as busy as last month, but it was such a nice day, there was a sunny atmosphere, and it was good to see some familiar faces. I have another this Sunday - the Art Car Boot at The Black Swan Arts in Frome - so it will all have to be done again. Thank heavens I made a small mountain of tags.

I’ll leave you with the small crop of earrings I came up with yesterday.

(ceramic flower headpins - Bo Hulley Beads, from The Curious Bead Shop)

More things I made…

Posted on July 4, 2013 by Claire

So, I’ve shaken off my making slump, and have been cracking on with making pieces for this Sunday’s market. I gained a good bit of impetus when I received a wonderful Scorched Earth parcel on Tuesday.

(ceramic connector - Scorched Earth, ceramic lentil - Golem Studios, patina leaf - Something to do Beads)

(ceramic arch connectors - Scorched Earth, patina beads - Something to do Beads)

(ceramic tips - Scorched Earth)

These are fairly simple and not unlike pairs I’ve made before, but with the bronze and pearl lustre on the tips, it just had to be done.

(ceramic house bead - Slate Studio, driftwood shard - Scorched Earth)

I haven’t made many necklaces recently that are beaded all round the neck. So, this was a bit of an effort to make up for that. As was this one.

(polymer heart - Happy Fish, ceramic beads - Bo Hulley Beads, Blueberribeads)

I’m fairly pleased with how it turned out, considering I wasn’t at all convinced when I was making it. Besides these pieces, I’ve made several more bracelets and a few more pairs of earrings. Here’s the rest of the output.