Going Nautical

The May 2012 Etsy Beadweavers theme is Nautical Inspired.  This is a pretty straight forward theme, but you can read more about it here.  While April's Seed Beads Only challenge was a lot more fun than originally anticipated, I am glad that this challenge and the next one are much more open ended.

As many of you know, I frequently find inspiration from color.  I did a little nautical color palette hunting online to help me figure out where I was going with this theme.

Nautical Colors of Port Jefferson, Long Island

This post has several great palettes, but I've always liked light houses, so I went right for the one with the rich red.

I went for blues and grays that were a little lighter than the original palette, but I didn't add any other colors.

I loved adding the lampwork discs to my skinny wrapped design for my nest piece and decided to use this technique again for my nautical piece.  They don't represent anything nautical in a literal sense, but the colors tied together so well.

I got these beads from Jen of blueseraphim a while back during a big pre-holiday sale.  I try not to purchase in one of a kind beads like this without a project in mind, but Jen's beads are so versatile that I always find a use for them pretty quickly.

I love this embellished addition to my wrapped bracelets and will most likely make more in the future.  As always, if there are any color combinations that you're like to see, let me know.

This piece is available for sale in my Etsy shop right here.  Voting will take place on the EBW blog in early May.  Check back on my blog the week of May 9 for all of the voting details.  To get a sneak peek at the other entries already up and running, search EBWC on Etsy.

Has anyone else created nautical items?  Share your listings and blog posts!

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Where I Linked Up Today:

how do you create a nest piece of jewelry?

The February EBW Challenge theme is simply Nest.  You can read more about it here.  Around the time that the challenge was announced, I came across this tutorial via Pintrest.

Source: sarahortega.com via Rose on Pinterest

There are a number of variations of this idea out there, but I decided that this tutorial would work perfectly for a little nest that could be part of a beadwoven piece.

I made the nest first.  I used some pearls that I had left over from an old project.  Wire wrapping is not really something that I enjoy, but this was pretty easy and the result is very satisfying.

I paired the silver nest with brown cube beads, brown and white lamp work beads, and seed beads in earthy tones.

There are so many possibilities for these little nests, but in keeping with my goals for this year, I used my skinny wrapped peyote cuff design as the base for this bracelet.  The nest is so small and delicate that it doesn't need a substantial piece of beadwork paired with it.  It just needs something that fits with its style.

The lamp work glass beads are from Jen of blueseraphim.  I'd never embellished a cuff this skinny with lamp work beads, but it worked very well.  (I used a larger white bead of hers for the clasp, too.)  I have some square beads from her in other colors and may use them for similar bracelets.  Any thoughts on this?

I am not planning to make nests for more beadwoven pieces in the near future.  However, I would like to get some metal charms to pair with them for charm sets.

Do you have a preference?  Are there other bird charms that you like?

This bracelet is available in my Etsy shop right here.  Voting for the EBW challenge will take place February 9-15.  I will post more information about it then.  For now, you can check out the other entries for the challenge by searching "ebwc" on Etsy.

I included this post in Michelle's Delicately Constructed Friday 1/20/11.

new beads...an order and a surprise set

I have been trying very hard to hold back on major bead purchases until Christmas and focus on creating pieces on my "to do" list with what I have in stock.  One of the things that I enjoy most about making jewelry is choosing and working with beads so it's tough to hold off on bead purchases.

I'm sure that many of you know that I'm a big fan of Jen of blueseraphim.  I browse her shop very regularly.  When I saw that she was having a 35% off sale on orders of $50 or more, I knew that I couldn't pass it up.  I have asked for Jen's beads for Christmas the last couple years.  I figure that I'm just treating myself early this year.  If you like lampwork beads, please get over there and take advantage of this amazing offer.  The averaged price of these beads after the discount and including shipping was $1 per piece.

I'm planning to use the charm as one of the charm options for my new herringbone line.  The turquoise beads will be amazing focals for one or two pieces.  I'm looking forward to using the squares and other discs as buttons or for embellishments.

I also got a package from Erika earlier this month.  She had asked me if I'd be interested in her leaf beads that she isn't planning to use any time soon.  Of course I said yes.  Erika is so generous.  Look at everything that she sent me.

The green leaf charm will be another amazing focal for herringbone wrap bracelets/necklaces.  There is a lot of great Czech glass here, too, that I'll be able to use in my classic lines.  Thanks again Erika!

Friday feature: random

Welcome to the November edition of my monthly random blog feature!  Enjoy!

I feature a lot of Shannon's beads here, so I thought I'd feature something a little different from her shop that I put in my favorites recently.  I have a neat idea how I can use these with herringbone.  I'm trying to hold off on major bead purchases until Christmas so this item is waiting for now.
32x12x2mm Antique Silver Plated Base Metal Links from beadsandbabble

Yep, I still love daggers.
Beadwoven Peyote Dagger Bracelet in Matte Aquamarine and White Pearl by MadeByKatarina

I'm still looking at purses from Jenny's shop.  My next big Etsy purchase is going to be my anniversary ring so I'm holding off on this for now but it is definitely still on my mind.  I love these little bags!
Traveler in Brown Tweed and Corduroy - Made to Order by jennyndesign

I'm always eying something from Jen's shop, too.  Love the orange!  She just announced that she's closing her shop for the whole month of December so get her goodies while you can!  She has lots of beautiful simple necklaces and earrings that would make wonderful Christmas gifts.  Of course she also has lots of beads for you to make your own gift goodies, too.
Orange Marmalade Glass Nuggets by blueseraphim

This is just because...I don't think it needs a lot of explanation.
Star Wars pinback buttons - CHOOSE SIX (6) by BarrelOfMonkeys

I tie my jewelry boxes with ribbon before shipping them.  If I ever want to change up my ribbon look, this shop has so many awesome choices.
Silk Sari Ribbon the antique collection by designtalentedone

Isn't this an adorable idea?  She has them in different finishes for different types of jewelry.
Love to Bake Cupcakes Pewter Charm Necklace - with antiqued muffin tin miniature measuring spoons and silver chain by SaritasJewelryBox

Friday Feature: tuquoise/red

I've been rounding up a lot of turquoise and red items in my favorites lately so it's time for another turquoise and red feature.  I never get tired of this color combination.  Enjoy!

SueBeads - Beach Earring Pair - Handmade Lampwork Beads - SRA M67 by suebeads

Handmade Gemstone Necklace Turquoise Howlite and Cinnabar - Mermaid by linkeldesigns

Turquoise nugget wire wrapped and red coral by PristineJewels

I actually found this when I was searching for my argyle feature this month, but I decided that I had to save it for this feature.
Aqua and Red Polka Dot and Argyle 3 Pc Burp Cloth Set (BC2) Baby Shower Gift Set by callyfindlay

Flower Necklace, Turquoise Jewelry, Charm Necklace, Vintage Jewelry by zafirenia

Sew Beautiful Red and Turquoise Charm Bracelet by MistressJennie

Warm Winter Blanket - Turquoise and Red Aviary - 30 x 30 by pinkdixie

Bird on a branch necklace in turquoise and red (N041) by beautyspot

Cherry Red Glass Disc Earring Pair by blueseraphim

Friday Feature: random

Welcome to the August random edition of my Friday feature.  Before I get to the items, I want to follow up on a couple things from earlier this week.

1) Thanks for all of your feedback about my disclaimer post.  Your encouragement really means a lot to me.  When things like this happen, I usually second guess my own actions.  It's good to know that so many people believe that I did the right thing.  Your feedback has also encouraged me to start including a set of care instructions in my packages, especially for my beadwoven pieces.
2) I seriously cannot believe that I have been writing "peaks" when I meant "peeks" on this blog for the last couple years.  I HATE grammatical errors and will not be making this particular mistake anymore.  I apologize if this bothered anyone.  So sorry!

Moving onto the features for this week...enjoy!

There are so many things that I love about this piece.  The color combination is amazing.  I love the mix of neutrals and metallics.  I also love the little bits of detail.  And it's sized for a small wrist!  Etsy is one of the few places I've seen where people consistently offer smaller sized jewelry.
circle of gems x-small bracelet set-silver and gold by tamarascottdesigns

Of course I had to include some buttons.  These are blue and striped, so what's not to love?
Polymer clay hand made unique blueberry buttons 4 pcs. by visart

Another button item!  These are so adorable with the buttons paired with vintage music paper.  She has lots of other button scrapbook embellishments in her shop, too.
Mini Doily Button embellishments in Candy colors by ScrappingArt

I've shown some of Beth's items here before so you may have checked out her resin bangles.  She does amazing work.  This is one of her newest ones.
stages of the moon - translucent resin bangle (SCIENCE) - MADE to ORDER by bethtastic

Of course I had to include some beads.
Copper Bronze... by blueseraphim

And some more beads.  These would be an awesome component for my rock garden bracelets.
6mm Matte Opaque Raspberry Swirl Czech Glass Beads from beadsandbabble

I found this while I was browsing patterns for some of my newest hubs.  It doesn't fit anything that I'm writing about over there right now, but it is still amazing.
Stairway to H / beaded bracelet / PDF file by mariposa8000

Friday Feature: random

Welcome to the July random edition of my Friday Feature!  Enjoy!

Of course I had to include at least one set of beads.  I would probably use the sets of 4 beads for each color separately, but I love this color palette, too.
Purple, Olive, and Dark Teal Lampwork Glass Spacer Beads by alishawhite

It wouldn't be a random feature without at least one triangle item.  I love the idea of creating a beadwoven triangle clasp like this!
Iced Fuchsia Beadwoven Bracelet by MaryTDesigns

I had to include one more triangle item, too.
passementerie triangle golden bronze and natural brass earrings vintage lace by tundradear

This is actually a pattern listing.  I don't post a lot of them here.  This is for all of us who love right angle weave.
Bracelet - PDF Beading Pattern - Cutie Pie by HeatherCollin

How can you not love this?
Mr. White and Baby - Etsy Project Embrace by dancingintherains

One more set of beads...

Turquoise Black... by blueseraphim

And another one...I apologize that this random feature is a little heavy on the beads.  It's one of the only items that I've been browsing lately on Etsy.

Handmade Lampwork  Beads - Pirate Ship - disk set by moderntrails