Showing posts with label lampwork beads. Show all posts
Showing posts with label lampwork beads. Show all posts

Pink and Black Necklace Re-Do

by Kim

 I made this necklace many years ago. The construction is embarrassingly simple. The   base is some twisted black cords held together by endcaps.  The beads and charms are attached by tieing them on with black embroidery floss. Simple. No tools required (well, scissors), and it has held up for years.

 But when I wear it, it bugs me. It never looks right to me on any neckline.  The beads don't flow up the necklace far enough to suite me.

So, I made some more beads and tied them on. I like it so much better looking fuller!

 This is a good technique to spruce up an old necklace or one you purchased that you are tired of. Just add a few more beads.

 Use your Vitamin C!

Posted by Kim at 9:38 PM 1 creative thoughts
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Pink Necklace Re-Design

by Kim

This necklace was destined to be re-made. It is something I do. I highly recommend it. Sometimes I don't like what I did. Sometimes I get tired of a piece. Sometimes I don't really like some of the beads in the piece as much as I thought I would. This necklace won the trifecta.  All of the above.

 I remember making it, it has been quite a few years. I was sitting in my friend Joann's kitchen. The necklace got worn once and it has been hanging on a hook since then. Look how tarnished the silver is. 

 So, it got a re-do today. I cut it all apart and put away the beads I didn't like anymore.
The bali silver needed a clean up, and I could not find s sunshine cloth. So, I took them to the bathroom sink and rubbed them down with toothpaste. There is just enough abrasive in toothpaste to remove the tarnish. Just put some in your hand and rub. And they smell minty fresh!
 Here is the re-design. It is a little longer, a length that I wear better than a choker length.  I kept the asymmetry without the busyness.  

All of the discs give it a slight Jetson-ish feel.  I think I will wear the re-designed version. And if not, I will take it apart and try it again.

 Just takes a little Vitamin C.

Posted by Kim at 3:22 PM 3 creative thoughts
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Layering Glass on Beads

by Kim

 New beads for my next column...
Made a bracelet using them. You can see them in the December issue of Bead Design Studio. With instructions!

 Had to brush off my Vitamin C a little....

Posted by Kim at 6:00 PM 0 creative thoughts
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Funky Chunky and a Cute Clasp

by Kim

 Tonight, I made a bunch of chunky bead bracelets. I make them a couple times a year, they sell pretty well for me. I like making them because I can mix everything together. I impose no design rules on myself. Before I begin, I collect chunky beads of all kinds: lampwork, metals, wood, plastic, stone, shell...whatever is in the stash. Then I string. 

 The only suggestion I have for you, if you make similar chunky bracelets, is to use two crimp tubes on each end. Usually the weight of the beads is a little more than usual, so doubling up on the crimps gives an extra measure of security.
 Because it adds one more material, I usually make button clasps for my chunky bracelets. With big buttons, I can make the clasp balance out the beads. But the thought of stringing seed beads for the loops was making me whine tonight. So, I thought how I could make a fitting clasp of different materials instead.
I had some huge lobsters....love those, and some peace sign charms. And together, they make an unusual clasp. I like it!  I could have also used a toggle bar instead of the lobster. I just thought of that right now!

 Use your Vitamin C!

Posted by Kim at 11:51 PM 0 creative thoughts
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Bead Soup Blog Party!

by Kim

 It's Bead Soup Blog Hop time! This is my third time to play. It is always a treat to get beads in the mail, open up the package and look to see what I received with which to work. THis time, my partner is Laurie Hanna of Laurie's Jewelbox. She has a nice, organic, earthy style. Check her out and see what I sent her.


This is what she sent me. She made the lampwork focal. I never know what I am going to get when the package comes in the mail. I always hope it is something out of my normal color palette. Purples are not a palette I ever choose for myself, and I have received this palette more than once. Are my partners discussing this??


 So, I took one look at these purples and knew I had to use them all. It really is a nice palette, and one I don't normally work in. So, that adds to the challenge and the fun.

 I put Laurie's focal in the center and worked outward using all of the purples.


 The round purples are stone, so the bracelet has some weight. I love that!

 I kept the purple pearls to do a second a bracelet. The clasp Laurie sent is pretty and delicate. It didn't really fit with my first design. Which is OK. It allowed me to make two pieces. 


My normal style is usually bolder than this, so it was fun to make something quiet...more subtle...but with a little sparkle. The clasp is perfect.


Grab a cup of tea, curl up on the porch swing, and visit the rest of the participants! I know I can't wait......


Soak up a little Vitamin C!



 Hostess, Lori Anderson, PrettyThingsBlog.com


Alice Craddick,  Alice's Beads and Baubles
Alicia Marinache,  All The Pretty Things
Amanda Tibbetts,  Amanda Made
Amber Dawn Goldish, Inventive Soul
Annita Wilson,  AW Jewelry
Beti Horvath, Stringing Fool
Birgitta Lejonklou,  Create With Spirit   
Candida Castleberry,    Spinning Spun Sugar
Carolyn Lawson, Carolyn's Creations

Cassie Donlen, Glass Beadle
Cheryl McCloud,  One Thing Leads to Another
Cheryl Roe, BeadRoe
Christina Hickman, Vintage Treasures Jewelry
Christine Hendrickson,  Clamworks
Cilla Watkins, Tell Your Girlfriends
Cindy Wilson, Mommy's Dream
Cindy Wimmer, Sweet Bead Studio
Cory Celaya, Art With Moxie

Cory Tompkins, Tealwater Designs
Cris Peacock, Cris' Page
Cynthia Deis, Shiny Little Things
Cynthia Machata, Antiquity Travelers
Cynthia Wainscott, Exotic Peru
Dana Hickey, Magpie Approved
Denielle Hagerman, Some Beads and Other Things

Diane Valasek, Dragonfly Close
Doris Stumpf, Glaszwerg
Dyanne Everett-Cantrell, Dee-Liteful Jewelry Creations
Elaine Robitaille, Too Aquarius
Eleanor Burian-Mohr, The Charmed Life
Enikö Fabian, Perl-eni
Erin Prais-Hintz, Treasures Found
Heather Davis, Blissful Garden Beads
Heidi Post, Ex Post Facto Jewelry

Hilary Frye, FryeStyle
Inge von Roos, Inge's Blog
Jami Shipp, Celebrating Life
Jayne Capps, Mama's Got to Doodle
Jennifer Cameron, Glass Addictions
Jennifer Pottner, Rock Candy Beads
Jennifer VanBenschoten,  Jewelry, Art and Life

Jenny Davies-Reazor, Jenny Davies-Reazor
Jenny Vidberg, Shyme Design
Jessica Dickens, My Jewelry, My Life, Me
Jessica Klaaren, Beadful-Things by Jessica
JJ Jacobs, Coming Abstractions
Joan Williams, Lilruby Jewelry
Judith Johnston, Judith Johnston
Judy Riggs, Rigglettes
Judy Turner, Silver Rains

Julie Anne Leggett, The Peaceful Bead
K Hutchinson, Jumbled Hutch
Karen Meador, Dreamcatcher Ranch
Karyn Bonfiglio, Plus Size Bangles
Katherine Gale, Terra Beadworks
Kathleen Lange Klik, Modern Nature Studio
Katja Benevol Gabrijelcic, Slovonske Technobe
Kelli Jacobson, Creative Moon
Kelly Ramstack, Adventures with Kelly
Keri Lee Sereika, Pink Lemonade

Kim Bender-Hora, KimmyKat
Kirsi Luostarinen, Kirsi Luo Korut
Kitty Bozzini, Kitty Lampwork
Laura Demoya, The Bead Therapist
Laurie Hanna, Laurie's Jewelbox
Leah Curtis, Beady Eyed Bunny
Lesley Watt, The Gossiping Goddess
Linda Inhelder, Must-Haves Jewelry

Lisa Liddy, Metal Me This
Mallory Hoffman, For the Love of Beads
Marge Beebe, Rock Creek Creations
Marianna Boylan, Pretty Shiny Things
Marion Simmons, Shade Tree Studio
Marla Gibson, Spice Box Design
Marta Weaver, Marta Weaver Jewelry

Marti Conrad, Marti C's Clay Blog
Maryse Fritzsch-Thillens, GlassBeadArt, Lampwork Beads
Melanie Brooks, Earthenwood Studio
Michelle Hardy, Firefly Visions
Mikala Coates, Maybe Just Perhaps
Mowse Doyle, HoCArt
Nancy Boylan, Snazzy Doodle Designs
Nancy Peterson, Beading From the Heart
Nicole Rennell, Nicole Rennell Designs

Niki Meiners, 365 Days of Craft
Niky Sayers, Silver Nik Nats
Norma Turvey, Moonlit Fantaseas
Paige Maxim, Paige Maxim Designs
Pamela Gangler, She Always Loved Pink
Patricia Johnson, Patricia L. Johnson Glass Art
Perri Jackson, Shaktipaj Designs
Raida Disbrow, Havana Beads
Renetha Stanziano, Lamplight Crafts
Shannon Hicks, Falling Into the Sky

Shannon LeVart, Miss Fickle Media
Sharon Driscoll, Right Turn Art Werks
Shelley Graham Turner, Fabric of My Life
Sherri Stokey, Knot Just Macrame
Shirley Moore, Beads and Bread
Skylar Bre'z, Brising Beads
Stacie Florer, Soul to Substance
Stacie Stamper, Park Avenue
Stacy Alderson, Iridal's Attic

Stephanie Haussler, Pixybug Designs
Stephanie Stamper, Rainy Day Designs
Suzette Bentley, Ellie's Bijoux
Tammy Jones, Jewelry Making Daily
Tanty Sri Hartanti, TJewellicious by Tanti
Terry Matuszyk, Pink Chapeau


Vonna Maslanka, Just Vonna

Posted by Kim at 12:01 AM 45 creative thoughts
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The Language of Beads

by Kim

 If you do not speak the language of beads, allow me to translate. This necklace says "thank you!" 


 I was commissioned to make a piece for the Director of Women's Ministries at my church, who I also count as a friend. Our women's ministries programs are meaningful and wide reaching. To say thanks, we gave her this necklace. It is not enough, but hopefully it is a start to letting her know we appreciate her and all she does for us.


 I enjoy designing and making a piece for someone I know, especially if it is a gift that is expressing thanks. Working on it gives me a chance to think about and pray for that person. It becomes personal.


When I started thinking about what she might like, these blues came to mind. I don't often enamel my beads, but when I mixed colors on these, they turned out nicely. I made the beads with clear glass, and did not cover the beads completely with enamel. There are places, you can see into the bead. There is a nice mixture of texture and depth of color.


Thank you to our fabulous leader who uses her Vitamin C everyday!!

Posted by Kim at 9:29 PM 2 creative thoughts
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Flap Your Wings Blog Hop

by Kim

flapyourwingsbloghop1.jpg


Today is the Flap Your Wings Design Challenge - Blog Hop. Two points to this challenge are to honor the artist Judy Glende, and to rise money for charity in her name. 

I made this pendant. It is for sale in my Etsy shop. Proceeds from the sale of my pendant will go to my charity, CBC Divine Design. You will find the details of DD's current project on the same Etsy page where you find the pendant. I believe the money that comes from the sale of this pendant will be put to very good use.

Then, make a cup of tea, sit, and visit the blogs of the rest of the artists participating in this challenge/hop:

1. Tania Spivey

2. Lori Anderson

3. Kashmira Patel

4. Gail Accinelli

5. Rebecca Anderson

6. Rebekah Payne 

7. Amanda Doyle Tibbetts 

8. Kim Ballor 

9. Rochelle Brisson 

10. Sandra McGriff 

11. Lana Kinney 

12. Kym Hunter 

13.  Terri Wlaschin 

14.  Ginger Bishop

15.  Shannon Chomanczuk 

16.  Kelli Jacobson

17.  Patricia Gasparino

18.  Deana Hager

19.  Erin Siegel

20.  Deborah Wenske Brooks

21.  Lynne Bowland

22.  Alicia Marinache

23.  Pam Ferrari

24.  Shirley Jones Moore

25.  Joanne Tinley

26.  Shanti Johnson

27.  Lorelei Eurto

28.  Antiquity Travelers

29.  Shelly Joyce

30.  Marlene Cupo

31.  Dee Torcherer Elgie

See how we all used our Vitamin C!

Posted by Kim at 12:40 AM 11 creative thoughts
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Wavy Disc Beads

by Kim

I have been having Fun With Wavy Discs. Love these earrings, (I am going to show you how to make them, keep reading....)

...and these sweet little pink bell flowers. They are in this month's issue of  Bead Design Studio Magazine...both a lesson on how to make the wavy disc/bell flower beads, and how to make the necklace they are in. Find my column: First Glass. And if you are not a lampworker and the lesson on how to make the beads is lost on you, you can buzz over to my Etsy shop and buy some already made.

 Back to the earrings! You need two wavy disc beads...also available in my Etsy shop in different sizes and colors. 


 1. Cut a 5" length of silver 20 gauge wire. Wrap a small loop in one end. 


2. Gather up some small beads you like. I have seed beads in two sizes and some 4mm crystals. String them on silver head pins. Make 3-5 headpins with beads.


 3. Attach the headpins to the wire loop by wrapping loops.


 4. Put the wire with the dangles into the front of the wavy disc bead.


5. Turn it over. Bend the wire at a 90 degree angle.
6. Wire wrap the earring piece to an earring finding. Repeat for the second earring.


I had planned on taking these earrings apart and putting the beads in the Etsy shop, but changed my mind! If you want to buy a set of these purple and red beads, just post or email and I will make you some.


Take your Vitamin C and tell me what else you might do with wavy disc beads.

Skip To My LouTip Junkie handmade projects

Posted by Kim at 6:27 PM 1 creative thoughts
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My German Bead Soup

by Kim

 I did not get into the current bead soup party over at Lori Anderson's Pretty Things blog. So, I threw it out there that I would love to exchange beads with someone, unofficially. That is how I met my new friend Doris. She is a lampworker who lives in Germany. Check out her blog, she makes great beads. I definitely got the best part of this deal. She blogged about our exchange in German and in English. Impressive!


I received a selection of beads from her. She had asked me what my fav colors are and I declined to tell, because I wanted her not to have limitations. Even so, she sent me my favorite colors! 


 I made two bracelets from the beads she sent. I used the fabulous donut bead as a focal piece for the first bracelet. I used an asymmetrical design.


 Here is the donut focal and the cute charm Doris sent.


 On one side, I used her big hole beads (that remind me of Cheerios, I love them), as sliders. They move back and forth over a section of seed beads.


 And on the other side, I used the cheerios in a different way. I also added a bead dangle at the clasp to balance out the weight of the focal when worn.


 
For the second bracelet, I braided three strands of crystal beads, adding in three spacer beads from Doris. 

 It is very sparkly! 

Three of her beads became a focal piece. I like that it is a totally different kind of focal than in the first bracelet.

And, a bonus! Doris sent me this cute birdie charm!


What a cool bead exchange we had. Interesting that we sent the same color palette and a bird to each other. Guess we were thinking spring. On her blog, you can see what I sent her and the beautiful piece she made from them.


Thank you Doris!


Put yourself out there and use your Vitamin C, you never know what great people and things will come your way.

Posted by Kim at 1:13 PM 3 creative thoughts
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