Bottle Cap Necklaces...

 I have been having fun with some bottle caps.  These are not the purchased ones but they are real ones that my friends have popped off the top of their favorite bottle drinks.  Therefore the shapes are not perfect and the backs are original to the advertising or logo of the drink. I love the colors of them too. 

I purchased a sheet of bottle cap circle art...I apologize that I cannot give credit of manufacture name but with me "volume out" is the packaging and it goes first to make more room for art supplies.  I was hand cutting each little circle until I had a 40% off coupon and bought one of my favorite Fiskars easy ergonomic punches that cuts out the 1" circle perfect every time.  Some Ranger Glossy Accents and a little glitter and voila.  This one is particularly appropriate as September is following each of the months of this year as they really do fly past so fast.  I have used organza ribbon in place of the ball chain as I like this look and feel much better. 
This is such a fast and easy make.  Keychains would be this easy as well with just a short ball chain or a keyring loop.  Great gifts for all ages and genders.
Our weather has turned warm however still so perfect.  I am praying for all who are experiencing such horrific wildfires, no rain or too much rain, flooding, tornados and hurricanes.  This year has certainly been extreme for so many.
May creativity Fall into your minds and hands...

Celebrations...Birthdays, Graduations, Anniversaries

May continues to be a very busy month. Lots of celebrations happen in May.
This wicker bottle carrier was perfect for a bottle of celebration champagne. I decorated the carrier with a row of ribbon around the bottom edge. Then I glued on a row of dark silk rose leaves. Next a row of pink silk rose buds. A couple of the leaves on the handle top. Done. Unfortunately I neglected to photo the finished carrier with the champagne and some fun polka dot tissue and a homemade gift tag tied with ribbon to the bottle. Even Mr. C thought this turned out looking great.

I made a neclace and earring set for the birthday lady. She likes bling and that is what this has. It is also adjustable and can be worn at many different lengths. The earrings are about 1 inch in length and compliment the necklace. This photo truly does not show the bling of the crystals.

Here is a closeup view of the many crystal dangles and the heart charm for love. No idea if the birthday lady liked it as the gifts weren't opened at the celebration party.

I make things that I personalize to the recipients taste and this should be just right. Lots of bling and glitz and flexibility in wearing it for daytime or nighttime.

My muse and I are really missing the creative side of making jewelry. Maybe I should get the beads out more often.

A new week...they seem to be passing by very quickly.

Very cold weather however the snow is melting and the rain is not so bad.

Makes for a great day to work indoors with organizing and prepping in the studio. Oh and about seven loads of laundry. Isn't Monday considered "wash day". I don't know who snuck their laundry into mine but I am determined to get it all done! At least for a day or so. :o)

Happy and productive week to all...

Santa Fe Feeling...

Happy Sunshine to those of us who finally have some. And wishing sunshine for those who are experiencing rain and tornados and flooding and horrible weather. Prayers for recovery.
Thank goodness I have a few photos of some projects I have completed in previous months. My creative time has been very much lacking with this long dreary winter.
My mother had this pendant pin in her jewelry when she passed away and I liked it. I wore it many times on a blazer as a pin. Now I am honoring it as a removable pendant on a necklace I created. This way it can be removed and still worn as a pin. You can see the time and wear this piece has enjoyed. The stories it could tell would be wonderful to know. Where did mom get this piece? It had to be on one of her many travels. What country? She had to have met the artist and gotten a lot of talking time with them as that is who my mother was...very friendly and personable.

When I began to compose the components for this necklace I naturally started with the pin above. Then I gravitated towards a Santa Fe feeling with silver, red coral and turquoise. My mother loved these elements especially turquoise. This red coral heart bead really speaks to me as it appears to have an energy vortex naturally created right into the stone.

This is the finished necklace and I love how all the elements just came together and look perfectly Santa Fe in my opinion.

I made this piece to sell. Well, as you have probably already surmised I just cannot bring myself to offer it for sale. I wore it to quality check my work and it simply felt right on me and is one of my most very favorite pieces. I even have another very similiar pin/pendant from mom so I could make another necklace. Somehow this one is just the perfect piece that speaks to me.

I hope you are having a wonderful week and that creativity is abundant in your muse. I just cleared off my studio table and feel a new surge of creativity coming forth as this glorious sunshine brings energy to me. What? No time to create now? I must go to a meeting and do my volunteering which I do love to do. Oh how I need to do it all!

What about you? What do you like to do? Do you feel like you are being pulled in too many directions? Is there a balance so we can do it all?

Thank you for joining me along my journey...

Snow Inspiration=Pure Sparkle...

In honor of all our recent snow I thought I would show you one of the necklace and earrings sets I recently made. I titled it Pure Sparkle. As you can see by this close up shown on one of my hats I love working with lace in my jewelry. This combination of stick pearls, Swarovski crystals and lace really do sparkle when in the sun or lovely lighting.

Here is a view showing the clasp which is beautiful all on its own. The perfect compliment to the beads used in this necklace.

Here is the necklace and earrings together. The sparkle does not show in these photos. You really must see this in person to get the full effect of sparkle, shine and glimmer.

Have you worked with stick pearls?

With all of our weather I am spending time indoors going through some drawers and organizing them. It is like a treasure hunt as I find my personal treasures I have. Yesterday I found some fun things I will share in the future.
I am so happy that March is here and I can experience the days staying light later which gives me more energy. I am hoping our rain storm we are having will help to melt the snow and wash it away so I might be able to enjoy my daffodils which were just beginning to bud when they got buried under 4 feet of snow last week. I do so love the bright yellow blooms as they really do give me hope that Spring will be here even if for a very short time as we always get snow in April and May.

I am off to my studio to work on a small project.

May you have a wonderful and super creative day that brings you much joy.

Happy creating...

Aubergine and Lace...

I have always loved the word aubergine. It just sounds so regal. And regal is just what purple has always represented. My mother's favorite color was purple. I never really cared much for it one way or another. However as I "mature" I find I am drawn more and more to the colors of purple and it's many hues. I created this necklace from beads I had picked up in Rome Italy and several other much more local places.

I am realizing that I like working with the asymmetrical rather than the completely balanced matching ways of style. I did make matching pierced earrings using the amethyst beads. Actually amethyst is the gemstone for February so this is quite fitting.

I might list this set in my etsy shop. I have spent several hours recently lowering my prices in my etsy shop so as to allow everyone the opportunity to acquire their favorite pieces. Please do take a look just in case you find a gift for yourself or for someone dear to you.
We are having lots of snow here in Northern California. Awoke to a good sized oak tree crashed down over the driveway. Mr. C and I spent the day outside shoveling, brooming, clearing, chain-sawing and hauling debris off the driveway just so we can get out if need be. However it is snowing as fast as we can shovel. Time for warm tea and homebaked peanut butter cookies.

May you enjoy your weekend and make something wonderful.

Happy creating...

Success Is In Doing...

I feel success is in doing for a couple of reasons. Mr. C and I traveled to Italy a while back and had a wonderful trip. I was focused on beads and inspiration for making jewelry. I have shared a lot of this in previous posts. In one of the more upscale fashion districts in Florence I saw a necklace displayed in a shop window and I was entranced. Of course my photos wouldn't work because of the glass and the lighting. So in my mind was this necklace I just had to make as my own. Time passes...more time passes and I never make it. Well you know the story...doubt held me back! So in my 2011 frame of mind to do it NOW I went into my studio yesterday and pulled out everything I thought I might like to use. I knew it would be black and silver overall. Well...

Here is my version of the coveted Italian necklace. I used all things I already owned. A couple of vintage necklaces, some purchased chain, black suede hearts, Swarovski crystals in clear and smokey black diamond, a black tassel, some sheer polka dot ribbon and two purchased round charms. I started to assemble everything together and just let the pieces fall where they wanted to. I am so pleased with how this turned out and will be wearing it this weekend which I shall share in a future post.

My feeling of success is the best. Getting it done NOW is even better. I am feeling quite positive about this year and what I personally will be able to achieve.

Getting things done is something I can accomplish. It may be cleaning a room, it may be spending time with my family and friends or it may be creating something fun.

I hope you are feeling success with something important to you.

Happy creating...

Treasury Feature...

I am so excited to be featured in this wonderful caramel treasury that Miss FancifulFluff has put together. Thank you so very much for including this Caramel Cameo Choker Necklace that I created.

How fun to be part of a treasury and this is a first for me. I am very grateful.

Please check out FancifulFluff and her wonderful etsy shop. There are lots of great gift items to be found there. Yes, in my etsy shop also you can find gifts for all occasions and just because you want it, need it, like it etcetera.

This is the beginning of a very busy weekend and I hope you enjoy every moment of your time.

Happy being grateful...

Bead Trends August...

This is August and the current issue of Bead Trends magazine. Once again I am so fortunate to have one of my necklace creations featured in this amazing publication.

River Flow is the name given to the lampwork bead my husband actually purchased for me one day.

The blues and greens are my favorite colors and certainly remind me of water and nature.

I combined my favorite Italian mesh ribbon in two shades of navy and olive along with some beautiful mohair yarn to create the carrier for this bead.

It is thrilling and exhilarating to have something I have spent my time making be featured in print. I am very humbled and grateful.

Now I am off to my studio to continue to create beautiful jewelry.

I am undecided about listing this piece in my etsy shop. I think I am attached to it. :o)

Happy creating...

Personal Goal...

I have finally achieved a personal goal and it feels very exciting and inspiring and wonderful. Several years ago I made it my goal to have something I make with my own design and hands to be published in a magazine I admire and get inspiration from. I spent lots of time and money and frustration submitting to a major multi publication magazine and was consistently rejected. My items got returned in less than stellar condition after extremely lengthy waiting periods. I became dissapointed after several years of attempts. I never received any feedback or explanation of why my items were being rejected. After so many attempts I just stopped and felt sad.
One day at a major book store I found the most beautiful magazine I had ever seen for jewelry focus. I found it to be very expensive however you always get what you pay for...quality! I immediately subscribed so I won't miss an issue.

I have posted before about Bead Trends and here I am again. This is such an amazing publication and the people who work there are super nice as I came to find out.

This past February I decided to submit one of my necklaces. They do it so nicely that the entire process is easy and affordable.

I submitted "Mint Julep" and it was accepted for the July 2010 printing. Here is a photo of the two page spread it received. Just imagine how thrilled and over the moon I am with this beautiful photography and layout Bead Trends has done with my necklace.

This is the entire necklace as I submitted my photo to them.

I made this with Chalk Green Turquiose, Swarovski crystals and black lace. I do believe I have a very unique design and a lovely necklace. In person the colors are striking and beautiful.

Having set my goals and working hard to achieve them I find I am inspired to continue working hard and see where I go from here.

It is my true honor to be published in such a wonderful magazine.

The amount of confidence I have gained through this experience is priceless!
Thank you so very much.
Happy creating...

Blushing Pinks Choker-Lampwork and Lace

Blushing Pinks Choker - Lampwork and Lace. This is my newest creation. Burgundy grosgrain ribbons with Italian lace ribbon and green leaf ribbon all hand stitched together. The lampwork button focal piece is artisan made by Carol Rose. I purchased it a few years ago at our local artisan boutique held Thanksgiving weekend not knowing what I wanted to do with such a special piece. The obvious was to use it as a button on a sweater or something but that never really interested me as I hardly ever wear sweaters. Then one day the choker vision came to me and I really like how it is the focal piece.

I like to hand stitch my pieces together as I believe it is so much more hand created than mass produced. This choker has a lot of dimension with the Italian lace ribbon that is ruffled and stitched atop the leaf ribbon. I also hand stitched some lovely 6.0 seed beads to add interest and dimension. The choker ties in back with soft grosgrain 1/2" ribbon so the size is adjustable.

This is listed in my etsy shop and I would love to have you pop over and take a look for yourselves.

I am so pleased with how this turned out. From my vision to a finished piece.

I see this being worn with everything from Prom dresses to bridesmaid dresses to sundresses to tank tops and of course with elegant Victorian costumes.

What would you wear this with?

Who Moved My Focus?

Here it is March and the sun is shining for more than a few hours, the rain has subsided for the time being, Daffodils are blooming and we have Daylight Savings Time in effect which gives us longer days by staying light later. Personally I love all of this. Unfortunately I lose my New Year resolve and my FOCUS gets distracted and I go in way too many directions and start way too many projects. I am just so excited that we will be done with dreary and cold winter (well for the most part).
So...Who Moved My Focus? Who me? Did I do that? (Can't you just hear Urkel saying that?!)
So luckily I caught myself and re-focused myself so that I can be on track to accomplish all of the wonderful things I plan on accomplishing this year.

Pictured at the top is the Tuscany countryside in Italy. I took that inspiration and made this necklace and earrings from some of the Murano glass beads I bought while visiting Italy.
Tuscany Gold Green is what I named this...Tuscan Oro Verde. I like the combination of glass beads and fabric heart yo-yos. Yes, I have listed it in my etsy shop. I feel like I am on my focus once again and it feels so excellent to accomplish something today.
I have been working on my Adorn-Me jewelry design line and I shall be able to post updates in the near future. For now I am just thrilled to be working in my studio and making what I love to do.
How are you doing on your own personal New Year "resolutions"?

Beading basics...

This is a very basic beaded necklace I made for one of my granddaughters who just happens to like dolphins. I am showing this not for my photographic skills but for the beading basics.

This is a simple single strand necklace. It is a longer length around 20 inches.

There are Standard Jewelry Lengths which are as follows:

Bracelet = 6-7 inches

Anklet = 8-9 inches

Choker = 15-16 inches

Princess = 18-20 inches

Matinee = 23-27 inches

Lariat = 42 inches or more

These are merely suggested lengths and the beauty of making your own jewelry is that you can lengthen or shorten as you wish. For instance bracelets are mostly comfortable at 7 1/2 inches for most people however some prefer a much shorter or longer fitting.

If you use a beading board to lay out your beads it will be helpful as it also has inches marked so you can easily determine the length you are working with.

I am currently making some bracelets for 2010 Christmas gifts for family members. I will be carefully measuring them without the recipient knowing. Hmmm...that will be a trick. LOL

I like to be prepared for gifting long before the time comes. I used to keep a cupboard just for gifts however I ran out of space. Now I dedicate an antique dresser to the task of storing gifts through the year. I buy or make when something strikes my fancy for a specific person. Then I have birthdays and holidays covered when the occasion is here.

I hope you try your beading techniques and share them with us.

I have a new item on the design board that I would love to share soon.

Italian Bead Quest...

Oh the quest for beads in Italy began far before my actual trip took place. I searched on the internet, asked friends and travelers, chatted on line with recent returning travelers and it was looking very grim for finding beads and bead stores in Italy. I finally just days before departure found one bead store in Florence which was our first stop. This is me looking very tired and wondering in hindsight why we forgot to take any photos inside while we selected and made our purchases.

These are the handmade lampwork beads the artist makes. I merely bought an assortment not knowing what I was going to do other than make jewelry pieces for my etsy shop. The shop owner and artist actually graciously fired up the torch and made me a bead on the spot. It is the black and white one in the photo at top of the group. I was trying to convince my husband to learn lampwork bead making as I am too fearful of fire and burning flesh to do it myself. I did not succeed with that request. LOL

Purchasing beads in a foreign country is a wonderful pursuit as it breaks up the constant visits to churches and museums. Also the beads are very easy to carry and don't add much weight to carry-ons. They also lighten the bank account as the prices can really soar especially with the very high Euro to US Dollar rates we experienced.

Oh I feel so proud like I have just hatched the most beautiful creation.

This necklace is the first item for "Adorn Me!" jewelry design line I am adding to etsy. Please check out http://createology.etsy.com/ for more information.

It is titled "Night Lights on the Arno" and the photo at the top is the inspiration for it.

It was a magical and wonderful trip to Italy and one I shall never forget. Oh I do wish I had purchased more beads than I did.

Buona sera.

Mystic River...

This is my beautiful necklace from my birthday visit to Gioielli's in the Gold Country. Dear Hubby bought this lampwork bead and the sterling silver findings and the Italian mesh ribbon for me for my birthday. Of course it is much more beautiful in person as my photography is not the best.

The lampwork bead is amazing. Lots of detail that does not show in the photo. I believe the name Mystic River comes from the greenish trail that runs from top to bottom on both sides of the approximate 2" pendant.

As for the Italian mesh ribbon I actually have two colors used here. A beautiful darker blue and a very stunning greenish gold which both are exactly represented color wise in the bead. I have ruffled both colors of mesh ribbon as I like this look. Included in with the mesh ribbon I have added two complimentary colors of mohair yarn just to give the necklace a bit more fiber detail.

This necklace has so much texture with the lampwork bead, ribbons and fibers that it is very soft and feminine. The colors are spectacular and actually are working very well for fall.

I am loving my birthday present and never minded the fortune of being able to help select the components at my favorite bead shop and then be able to actually put it together to fit me perfectly. Thank you Mr. Dear Hubby. I am also thankful you like the finished product. :o)

I look forward to making more very special pieces with these types of materials that I shall offer in my etsy shop in the near future.

Have you worked with Italian mesh ribbon? Please let me know what you have done.

Happy Labor Day...

Happy Labor Day to everyone. I do hope you are taking time to relax and enjoy the

cooler mornings and evenings.

My wonderful hubby took me for a surprise drive the other day. We headed east and took a very beautiful scenic drive to Donner Lake over Donner Summit. The weather was perfect, the sky was blue and the trees were green and full. We drove to Truckee www.truckee.com which is a very old quaint town from the gold rush days. One of our favorite restaurants is there and I enjoyed a yummy tossed curry chicken cobb salad while overlooking the old town, the hillsides and the trains coming and going ( I love the sound of a good train whistle!).

Then dear hubby had a bigger surprise for me. We visited one of my favorite bead stores, Gioelli www.specialtybeads.com which happens to be in Truckee located in a little house on the main street of the old town. Well, upon entering this haven of beads and findings hubby spots my newest favorite...Bead Trends magazine on a table. It is opened to show the necklace pictured above. We talk with the shop hostess and find out Janelle,owner of Gioelli's, is the proud creator of this necklace and has been published in the magazine. This is her second publishing. The store has all of the components to make this beautiful necklace ready for purchase. How clever of them. I am in search of just the right special look for me. A couple of years ago hubby brought me here and I made a beautiful necklace that I happened to be wearing this very day. What inspiration I was surrounded with. How could I select just one focal bead for my special new necklace? Then it happened. Lampwork beads that are each unique and special caught my attention. Some shaped like hearts and some long and rectangular. Oh the colors and the designs and the colors and oh my... How could I pick just one to be my special gift this year? Then I touched the beads and yes one bead was special just for me. It felt good in my hand and when I took it to the window to see it in real light it was beautiful yet serene. Now I paired it with Italian mesh ribbons and that was the right look. Dear hubby bought me the special bead and findings and ribbons and I shall complete the necklace at home in my studio.

We drove along the lake and enjoyed the beauty of the surroundings. If you ever get to the area you will see why people come from all over the world just to experience the hiking, boating, biking and rock climbing and yes in winter the snow skiing.

What a beautiful and special day it was. Thank you hubby and Mother Nature.

When I have completed my necklace I shall share pictures with you.

Studio time beading...

Today I spent time in my studio and it felt great. I have been promising myself to complete an old task before starting a new one. Doesn't that sound familiar? Well today I did just that. I restrung a necklace that was very old and fraying.

About fifteen years ago my daughter hand beaded these lovely earrings for me. So I beaded a very simple necklace to go with them. Long ago when I would bead it was popular to use dental floss to string with as it was affordable and very strong. In fact it did last for at least a dozen years before becoming frayed.

I got out the supplies: needle, nymo beading thread, pliers, spare beads (for the ones I drop and can't find on the floor lol), scissors and bead threader/cutter. I can't imagine why I kept putting this task off as it was very simple and didn't take long to complete at all.

Now I have kept my promise to myself and completed an old task that was just always hanging over me. I feel so much better for having finished this. I am ready to wear these earrings and necklace and due to the beautiful pastel colors they will be very nice during the hot weather we will still have this summer.

Thank you daughter for continuing our family legacy of being creative and making beautiful things with your hands and heart.