Get It Together With Tangerine Orange

I'm sharing my latest EBW Challenge piece in a slightly different format than usual.  I'm participating in Janet's Get It Together link up and sharing some other accessories and fashion picks that coordinate with my new piece.

The July EBW Challenge is Tangerine Tango for the 2012 Pantone Color of the Year.  This is such an inspired choice!  You can read more about it here.  I'm sure that many of you know how much I love orange.  I put together a bangle design similar to my 80's inspired A Material Girl's True Colors bangle that I created last year.

The sandals pick up on the orange without creating too much of a "matchy" look.  I love the deep red and the unique style.  You can dress these up or down for anything.

I picked a more casual skirt for summer that you can throw on without even thinking about it.  Isn't the little bird cute?

I try to branch out in my features and not pick the same sellers over and over again.  But I had to return to Madelynn's shop and select a set of stacking rings.  The orange bangle is so vivid that you don't need to overwhelm everyone with more orange jewelry.  Instead pair it with some other bright colors.

You have to click through to the listing to see all of the ways that you can style this versatile black wrap.

I continued to mix up the colors for this outfit with a purple necklace from one of my newest favorite shops.


The skirt and wrap will match so many different types of summer tops.  I have a hard time finding tank tops on Etsy that aren't really skimpy so I opted for a simple blue tree t-shirt instead.

I finished this outfit off with a rich green leather messenger bag.  Isn't that a unique piece?

My tangerine bangle is available on Etsy right here.  As always, if you'd like something similar in a different size or color palette, don't hesitate to ask.  Voting for the July EBW challenge starts on July 9.  Check back here then for more details.

Have you ever worked with tangerine materials?  What have you been creating lately?

I included this post in Michelle's Delicately Constructed Friday 6/29/12.

voting for April EBW Challenge

Voting for the April EBW Challenge Seed Beads Only is up and running!  You can vote on the blog today through April 15.  Voting is on the right side of the page.  You'll have to scroll down a little bit to see all of the entries.  If you have problems with the main page, click here.  Check out all of the entries and vote for your favorite.

Here's my entry.

It's still available for sale here.  If you missed the blog post about it last month, read more about it right here.

As always, there are lots of stunning entries in this challenge.  Here are just a few of my favorites.

This is such an original design.
EBWC April Challenge Bow Bracelet by Fandefanfan

I love the fringe work here.  I need to try making a herringbone rope with Czech class beads like this one sometime.
Spring Bouquet Beadwoven Necklace...EBWC April 2012 Challenge...EBW Team by MaryTDesigns

This has been one of my favorites since the beginning of this challenge.  It reminds me of an Impressionism painting.
Wildflowers in the Sage Seed Bead Bracelet by SierraBeader

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a brand new bangle design...in purple!

I know that I'll get questions about this so I'll put this out there now.  I did not make my coasters, wedding art, and bangle this past week.  I simply got them all up on my blog this past week.  I have actually spent most of my creative energy this past week on a time-consuming customer order and spread out these other projects over the past month.

The April EBW Challenge theme is Seed Beads Only.  As part of the EBW mod team, we had a difficult time putting out a definition of the term "seed bead" and what the perimeters for the challenge would be.  This would seem like the most straight forward theme ever, but there were a lot of questions about whether non-beaded clasps would be allowed and what shapes and sizes of seed beads could be used.  I will spare you all the details, but suffice it to say, that I was pretty happy with the final decisions and decided that I did want to participate.

I have moved away from using beaded bead clasps for bracelets, as customers have really preferred button and metal clasps.  Since neither of these options are allowed, I opted for a bangle.  All of my bangles thus far have been based one of the most standard bangle designs out there.  I decided it was time to break way from that and do something new.

One of the final stipulations is that 20% or less of the final design can be non-round seed bead shapes (hexagons, triangles, cubes, etc.).  Yep, this involved doing some math before I started beading.  I thought that some would be interested to learn that the final piece has over 1,500 seed beads.

This is a variation of my skinny wrapped peyote design.  I had wanted to make a purple version of this design for a while and decided to convert it to a bangle.  I've always used right angle weave for bangles.  For those of you who beadweave, you know how easily it converts to a bangle.  I honestly didn't know how peyote would go.  It is not as flawless, but it's pretty good.  I chose to complete all of the wrapped embellishment before I joined the two ends, as I didn't know if the beadwork would allow the design to flip or not.  It turns out that it is flexible enough to flip so if I do this again, I may join the cube base, which will make the bangle conversion more flawless.

As always, it was really hard to put together a well blended purple combination and photograph is accurately.  Bangles are not my favorite type of jewelry to photograph anyway, but I'm fairly pleased with the result.  Purple continues to be a very popular color combination so it's well worth the effort.

This piece is available for sale here.  Voting for the April challenge will take place on the EBW blog April 9-15.  Check back here that week for all of the voting information.

Have you been working on any new designs lately?

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metallic bangle and some treasury love

I listed a new bangle this week.

It's available here.  I'm not making a lot of bangles these days, but this has been a popular design so I made another version.  I love this kind of jewelry because it's simple and classic.  You can wear it for just about any occasion.

I was very fortunate to be included in several new treasuries this week.  Check them out!

(Is anyone else frustrated by how the treasury format keeps getting bigger and bigger?  I think Etsy's trying to discourage these screen shots or something.)

Kelly (MadeWithButtons) included my Beaded Cuff Bracelet - Skinny - Sunshine Gold Accented in her Gimme Some Sunshine Baby treasury.  Kelly just opened up her new button shop this month.  I'm so glad that she's creating again!

CatchSomeRaes included my Button Charm Bracelet - Yellow in her think Happy thoughts treasury.

Christina (AnnasAdornments) included my Beaded Bracelet - Button Embellished - Rainbow (which now has 17 hearts!) in her Button-Crazy! treasury.  Thank you, Christina, for another fabulous collection.  And thank you, Lisa (Alterity) for the comments on my blog and on the treasury page about how we're in this awesome collection together!  Lisa also has amazing button jewelry.

Stay tuned tomorrow for my monthly Top Droppers and commenters appreciation post as well as my May sale information!

voting for the March EBW Challenge

Voting for the March EBW Challenge Fashion Through the Ages starts today and goes through March 15!  You can vote at the EBW blog on the right side of the page.  Of course, I always want to encourage people to check out my entry (which is #6), but please check out all of the other entries as well.  There is so much talent in this group and so many unique, beautiful pieces.  They all deserve some attention.

Once again, this is my piece: Beaded Bangle Bracelet - A Material Girl's True Colors.

Marilyn (Starwaves) was very kind to include it in her EBW Fashion through the Ages - Part 1 treasury.  Thanks Marilyn!

challenge title revealed

I finally decided on a name for my 80's bangle for the March EBW Challenge Fashion Through the Ages and listed it on Etsy.  Thank you so much to everyone who gave me suggestions!  Some of the ideas that I got included the following:

I almost called it Girls Just Wanna Have Fun, but I wanted something a little more original.  So it's now known as Beaded Bangle Bracelet - A Material Girl's True Colors for Madonna's Material Girl and Cyndi Lauper's True Colors.

I used the same right angle weave base for this bangle that I do for all of my right angle bangles, but I used so much embellishment that you really can't tell.  The mix and vividness of colors was my main focus was I put beads together.  I didn't find quite as many neon shades as I wanted, but I'm still pleased with the overall brightness.  Of course I also wanted to include some daggers so there are three different colors of small daggers in the mix.  The tear drop shapes are from Shannon (beadsandbabble).  My fellow EtsyBlogger Deb suggested that I make a turquoise bangle like this sometime, which would be awesome, too!

Voting for this challenge will take place on the EBW blog in a couple weeks.  I'll have more information about it then.

Also, Theresa (TiLTcreations) included my Beaded Bracelet - Button Embellished - Green in her Green Etsybloggers treasury this week.  Thanks Theresa!

naming a new challenge piece

As I mentioned last week, the March EBW Challenge theme is Fashion Through the Ages.  I decided to make an 80's bangle because I thought it would be fun to work with bright colors.  I also wanted to experiment with a fully fringed bangle.  I didn't find quite as many neon shades as I hoped I would, but I'm still very pleased with the result.

The only downside is that this lovely (crazy?) piece doesn't have a name yet.  I would like to include an 80's movie or song title/quote or something along those lines, but I'm open to other suggestions, too.  Let me know what you think and if you have any ideas!

sneak peak, treasury feature

I'm almost finished with my most recent custom order.  The buyer requested one more little detail tonight so I'm going to add that later.  I'll have the final pictures tomorrow.  Here's a sneak peak from earlier today.

One of the newest EtsyBlogger members HoneyFromTheBee included my Beadwoven Bangle Bracelet - Dreaming of Hawaii in her Chasing Rainbows treasury.  Thank you!

I think that I'm finally finished with my fall leafy bracelet designs (for now).  I'm still going to make more fall leafy earrings.  I'll have some new pictures of the final bracelets up soon.

treasury features

Thank you so much to everyone who left me comments last night and this morning about my pictures!  I really appreciate your positive feedback.  I am definitely not giving up on Etsy or on my music background.  I have still had a great summer with my jewelry and hope that things will continue to improve, especially on Etsy, as the holidays get closer.

I will post more about the light box and today's other happenings later.  For now, I want to post the two newest treasuries that I'm in.

Christy (PurseWorks) included my black and white button charm bracelet in her A Change of Seasons treasury.

You can view this treasury live by CLICKING HERE.

wildangelkuri included my Christmas right angle bangle in her It's beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas treasury.  I had no idea that the Christmas in July sale would generate this many treasuries!

You can view this treasury live by CLICKING HERE.

three items to check out

I've already made a lot of progress this weekend with my jewelry pictures and inventory.  I got behind a couple weeks before the Arts Festival with editing pictures and getting descriptions ready for new items, and I'm still playing catch up.  There's still a lot of work to do, but I feel good about everything that I've accomplished.  I also made a lot of progress editing non-jewelry pictures from this school year.  I have posted everything that I want to from October through May on Facebook now and have ordered a bunch of new prints to put up at home and work.

I listed my neutral square stitch embellished cuff today.

I am really pleased with how this picture turned out.  I think that it's one of the best that I've taken in a long time.

I used a few random components left over from one of my Art Bead's blogging stashes in this cuff.  There are several Swarovskis as well as a handful of Czech glass beads, including Czech glass hearts.  As it goes with all of my embellished cuffs, I had fun pulling components from a variety of sources.  Some of the beads in here I picked out when I was making my wedding jewelry almost 4 years ago!

I lowered the cost of all of my embellished square stitch cuffs in my Etsy shop today.  From here on out, they will all be $40.00.

I made a new version of my tri-color with red border triangle pendant that I sold last summer and updated the listing with new pictures today.

Because the ribbons were such a big hit at the Arts Festival, I will include ribbons with all of my pendants from now on, both on Etsy and at craft fairs.  If you would like a different length and/or color than the one pictured in the listing, just let me know!  I current have red, white, and black and am happy to get more colors as people request them.

I sold the coordinating bracelet for this pendant at the Arts Festival and made a new one this past week as well as a matching pair of earrings.  I will list both of them sometime in the next month.

While I was taking pictures of some other new items today, I took pictures of my older turning to fall bangle whose renewal is coming up soon.

I have a handful of other older items that also desperately need new pictures.  As their renewals come up on Etsy, I'm planning to update their listings with new pictures.  I have a lot of respect for people who edit huge numbers of listings at once.  I don't have the motivation to do that!  Instead, I do my best to continue make changes a little bit at a time.

reworked bangle

I hope that everyone is enjoying their long weekend and taking time to remember those who have served for our country.  We haven't done anything too exciting with our time off, but it's been very nice relaxing.

I am not planning to list any new items on Etsy before the Arts Festival unless I have another sale, but I did update the listing for my subtle colors right angle bangle today.

This is the third version that I've made of this piece and definitely the best set of pictures for it so far.

I finished another pair of leaf earrings today.  Otherwise not too much going on.  This is the last day to take advantage of my May 2010 special: take 15% off with $1.00 shipping on any item tagged "turquoise" in my Etsy shop.  A new special starts tomorrow!

treasury feature

I started this month with a treasury feature and now I'm ending it with another one. My fellow EtsyBlogger member Elizabeth (ebogie) included my warmth right angle bangle (in its second treasury appearance) in her Orange Makes Me Smile! treasury. Thank you!

You can view this treasury live by CLICKING HERE until Saturday May 1st 8:03AM EST.

earring cards, metallic bangle redone

I started asking around for general advice about earring cards on both the EBW message board and the EtsyBloggers forum thread a couple weeks ago. I got a lot of great tips about them from both groups. Thank you to everyone who did respond! Sharla (BeadedTail) suggested that maybe Edi (memoriesforlifesb) could make something for me. Edi very generously offered not only to make some for me but to create a custom design. We worked together to figure out what background/lettering/etc. and sizes I wanted. You can see Edi's sweet blog post about it by clicking here.

The cards came today, and I had to take a picture of them, too.
Thank you again Edi! :) I am so excited about how they turned out! Thank you to all who left wonderful comments about them on Edi's blog. I hope that others who view them here like them as well. I ordered rubber earwire backs from Art Beads today to secure my dangles on their cards (and for anyone who might want some when they purchase their earrings).

I completed the last couple items that needed to be reworked for my old custom order last night. Here's the new metallic bangle that will be on its way tomorrow.
This means that the original, smaller version is available again (although as always, I'm happy to create something in a different size for you). I took new pictures of it this weekend for my Etsy shop. Click on the picture to check out the listing.

a couple of Christmas pieces

Once again, I only had one reply from my Top Droppers for a featured item, which was from Sharla (BeadedTail). She chose one of her newest pairs of Christmas earrings: Noel Green Polymer Clay and Red Swarovski Crystal Beaded Christmas Earrings.


If there are others from the Top Dropper list who would like me to feature items, it's not too late! Just let me a comment with a link. Tonight I listed one of the two Christmas bracelets that I made at the end of the Christmas season. I posted a picture of it last year, but here it is again with the link to the listing.


On the subject of Christmas, I got most of my shopping finished yesterday after work. I just need a few more small things. I need to wrap everything, but this is still WAY ahead of where I normally am at with presents this time of year. I'm also almost ready to start sending out Christmas cards, too. :) Hopefully I can get everything finished tomorrow and start working on them this weekend. I love Christmas cards!

new listings, looking for digital camera advice

I listed the last two pieces from this summer over the weekend.



I did one remake of an existing design this week after I'd reworked the original for one of my summer orders. I took pictures, but I haven't edited the new ones yet.

I am considering getting a new digital camera sometime in the next 3 months. My husband and I recently received our cell phone rebates (we got new phones at the end of June), which turned out to be Visa Promotion Cards. I was planning to put the rebate money in the bank, but obviously we have to spend it instead. It looked like we needed to replace our dryer, but thankfully we don't so the money will not be going to that now. And I'm thinking about using it for a digital camera, which my husband is okay with.

I currently have a Nikon Coolpix 3200 which I got almost 5 years ago. I love Nikon and have been pleased with this model, but we all know how quickly digital cameras go obsolete. It's frustrating *sigh*, but what can you do? I know there are much better models out there now for about what my original digital camera cost. I am most likely going to get another Coolpix, but am looking for advice on what model to get. Any tips anyone can give would be much appreciated! :)

treasury feature

beadsandblooms included my warmth right angle bangle in her I'm so Tired of Being Cold treasury!


You can visit it live until Friday, January 30 at 5:06PM EST by CLICKING HERE !

Please be sure to check out beadsandblooms' Etsy shop, too. She has lots of wonderful items like this bracelet:


Thanks again! :)

EBW January/February Challenge

EBW Challenge time is coming up again! I'm entering it this time. It's my first challenge entry. I felt very humble listing my entry today because the three other entries already listed are AMAZING. My bangle is very very simple in comparison. But it's colorful and fitting for the theme nonetheless. I know I don't have any real chance of winning, but if I get any votes I'll be pretty excited.

Voting will be from Feb. 9-15. I will post reminders again when it gets closer. For now you can admire (and purchase) my tropical holiday bangle here:

trying to stay warm

I know that those of you who are also in the midwest can sympathize - it is COLD right now! I think that part of what inspired all of the red, orange, and yellow pieces that I made last week is doing what I can to keep thinking warm thoughts. I posted my first red/orange/yellow piece tonight:


I got some of these beads via destash from lindab142. I shared my bracelet with her earlier tonight, and she offered to do a feature about me on her blog! I will let you know when it's up. :)

slow sales, purple and yellow

I finally wrapped up all of my sales. Unfortunately there haven't been any new ones. I'm trying not let it get me down. Hopefully there will be more soon, right?

I tried the button clasp idea that I was talking about a couple posts ago. Listings are going up soon! I also got on a purple kick and then a yellow kick this past week - so unlike me! I love pretty much all colors, but normally I favor turquoise, green, and red. I have my purple pieces listed:




Purple is so hard to photograph so the colors come out looking as rich as they do in person. The first picture shows the colors nicely, the second two don't really do the pieces justice. Hopefully they still give you a pretty good idea what they're like, though!

Yellow pieces and button clasp pieces will be coming soon. :)