Getting Ready for Fall

Many of you already know that my brother is getting married this fall. As soon as I knew that I was going to be in the wedding party (and before we'd ever talked about things like shoes, jewelry, etc.), I started thinking about possibilities for jewelry. I find it really funny when I meet people who make jewelry and don't actually wear a lot of jewelry themselves. Isn't half of the fun of having jewelry making skills using them to make customized pieces for yourself? Anyway, aside from my recent Renaissance Fair piece, I haven't made jewelry for myself for an event in years. It's way past time.

I don't work with a lot of Swarovski beads, largely because they're expensive, and I would rather purchase larger quantities of more affordable beads. But for some reason, I was really called to them for this piece. They're available in a wide range of colors, including lovely fall shades. So I went ahead and ordered a batch.

I'm planning to make a triple wrap bracelet, kind of along the style of the very popular leather wrapped bracelets but beaded. The colors for the wedding are red and dark blue, so I will most likely figure out a way to work a hint of blue into this piece. I obviously haven't worked out all of the specifics yet, but that's okay. I'm excited to get going on it this next month.

I am using this post for the August Blogging Business Artisans monthly challenge Fall is Coming. If you have an Etsy shop and enjoy blogging, think about joining our team today.

How are you getting ready for fall?

Bead Trends March magazine feature

My second Bead Trends feature for 2012 is up and running!  I'm so excited that I can say that.  If you missed my post about my February feature, check it out right here.

As always, I got my two free copies of the magazine.

I also got another $20 gift certificate.  Believe it or not, I haven't spent any of these yet.  I need to make some online soon to do a big bead shopping spree at Fire Mountain.  For anyone wondering, I already checked with the site about using multiple gift certificates for a single order, and you can use 5 at one time.

I was pleased see with the feature that they actually photographed my whole item instead of just taking a couple artistic shots of it.  Anyone interested in making this project will have a decent shot at it.  They also clearly didn't have any better idea than I did how to capture this color palette very accurately.

This piece is now available right here in my Etsy shop.

I have revisited different variations of this color combination a few times over the years.  I'm sure that I'm not done with it yet.  These first two pieces are available in my shop.  Click on the photos to go to the listings.

In the comment section of my last Bead Trends feature post, Edi shared a great tip about submitting ideas to magazines:
Magazines are generally looking for ideas 3-6 months ahead of the current trends and season.  When you submit ideas, you should be in this mind frame, too.
Thanks Edi!

Any other tips about magazine submissions?  Share them in the comments!

I am included this post in Michelle's Delicately Constructed Friday - 3/9/2012.

Bead Trends February magazine feature

I have the privilege of starting 2012 with two features in Bead Trends magazine!  I am especially honored because Bead Trends is featuring a lot beadweaving in 2012.  Some of you may remember that I had my first feature with the magazine this time last year.  They were apparently impressed enough that they remembered my work and contacted me to see if I had any new designs to submit.  I sent about eight ideas to them, two of which they picked for early 2012 issues.  Talk about an ego boost!

Bead Trends featured artists always receive two free copies of the magazine.

I'll be honest: I don't love their featured photos.  The lighting and props are good, but the photos are very artsy.  That's fine for a feature that doesn't include a tutorial.  However, theoretically people should be able to make their own versions of these pieces based on the photos and written directions.  The photos make this process tough because they don't do a great job showing the pieces in their entirety.  However, the photos are still high quality, and it's always interesting to see how other people will photograph your work.  Hopefully my written directions are enough to get people there.

You don't receive any money for being featured, but you do get a $20 gift certificate to Fire Mountain Gems.  That's even better, right?  They definitely know what will appeal to their artists.

 

This piece is now available right here in my Etsy shop.

I really love this color combination.  It's a very unique neutral.  I used a similar palette for these earrings.  I also used a similar palette for my piece that will be featured in the March 2012 issue.  It includes one of Kristie's ceramic donuts.  I'll have more information about that when it's released.

For those of you who have also had magazine or similar features, do you have any advice for those who are interested in getting started with this pursuit?

Newest Articles:

Ribbon Storage Solutions: Craft Ideas for Boxes, Organizers, and More

March Holidays and Special Days: Elementary Classroom Activities, Ideas, and Lesson Plans

Looking for older articles?  Click here!

Where I linked up today:

working with jade

My mom got me some jade rounds in China a few years ago.  I have most of mine strung as a bracelet on a simple stretchy cord.  I haven't wanted to part with the remaining few.  But I finally got them out again a few months ago and found some Czech glass and ceramic buttons that I wanted to pair them with to make a couple bracelets.  I ended up making one of them with the intention that it would be a birthday present from my mom for my grandma.  It seems like my mom will be keeping it for herself...and I'm not sure what my grandma is going to get haha, but here's the first one.

I made the second one, which is slightly longer, at the same time and listed it on Etsy last night.  It's available here.

This one doesn't have any strong copper/bronze colored components like this first one does, but it is still awesome.  It took me a long time to find the jade chips that I wanted and decide what Czech glass I wanted to pair with it.  A lot of the Czech glass is from Shannon (beadsandbabble).  The primary mix that I used is right here.  I added the ceramic buttons from Lisa (LisaPetersArt) on a whim at the last minute.  I cannot believe that I forgot they were in my stash.  The color coordinates perfectly.  I have one more left over, too.

I still had a lot of jade chips when I'd finished these pieces so I made a lighter weight jade piece with seed bead accents that I'll have up soon, too.  It's a similar style to to this little coral piece.

new listing

I was going to get this up last night, but our Internet was down for almost 12 hours.  So I'm posting it tonight.  I listed a new pair of earrings tonight: Button Dangle Earrings - Orange/Brown.  I can't believe that I'm still listing pieces that I made this summer.  It's amazing how much you can get done when you're not working haha.  I've sold a couple pairs in this style with red/blue buttons.  Hopefully these will do well, too.

I have a bunch of button ideas that I need to start working up, especially before the fall/winter shows, as the button items tend to do especially well in person.  I have plans for pretty much every aspect of my button work: stud earrings, dangle earrings, magnets, button charm bracelets, and button embellished bracelets.

I also feel like I'm finally getting the hang of photographing earrings in my light box.  My first attempts were pretty bad, but I'm pretty pleased with my shots for this pair of earrings.  Let me know what you think.

I'm going to list more earrings in the next couple weeks, including a purple striped beadwoven pair and as promised, dangle radish Luna Lovegood inspired earrings.  Stay tuned.

Top Droppers feature, new listing

Sharla (BeadedTail) was one of my Top Droppers again in June.  Here is one of her newest items that you should check out!  This color is great.  I never get tired of red.

Berry - Red Coral Antiqued Brass Earrings

Any other Etsy sellers who were in my Top 10 for June are also welcome to pick items from their shops for me to feature here.  Please let me a comment!

I listed my Autumn Explosion peyote cuff tonight.  I have been working on this design in my head for the better part of a year and am so happy with the result.  The term "explosion" did cross my mind with this piece, and then Edi suggested it when I asked for ideas for a name so I'm going with it.  Thanks Edi!

The lamp worked ruffled discs are from Jennifer (blueseraphim).  I am so happy with all of the pieces that I've made with this set of caramel beads from Jen.  I have a set of periwinkle and black beads from her that will have a design...soon.  It's getting there.  The ceramic button clasp on the cuff is from Lisa Peters (lisapetersart).  I know that Lisa doesn't have a lot in her shop right now, but as I'm sure many of you already know, her work is amazing.

I have a pair of matching earrings that I'll be listing soon. :)

triangles - a new listing and a treasury feature

Yes, finally a new item for sale! layers of cream, caramel, and chocolate peyote triangle earrings :)


I love this color combination! I am planning to make a bargello cuff with these four delicas at some point.

And on the subject of triangles, Kandice (KandiceInWonderland) included my red striped peyote triangle pendant in her Trendy Triangles treasury (try saying that quickly haha). I seriously LOVE this collection. Such a fun mix of items. Please check it out!
You can view this treasury live by CLICKING HERE until Saturday April 10 11:30PM EST.

new listing, a couple random bits of awesomeness

I listed my first pair of Starfleet earrings today. I'm calling this one flying in purples and browns.
I also have one finished in kelly green and lime green. I don't have any others in the works yet, but I am open to color combination suggestions! I am definitely planning to visit this design again.

These earrings qualify for my March special: purchase anything in my shop and take 50% off any pendant or pair of earrings in my Etsy shop. More information about this can be found at the shop.

Everyone needs to check this Everything's Just Ducky! spotlight on byhand.me. You may or may not know that I LOVE ducks. I have ever since I was little. One of our bathrooms is duck themed. I have thought about doing an Etsy duck feature myself and still may at some point, but this one is pretty awesome, too.

Also, everyone needs to check out Linda's (beadsforever) new dichroic glass buttons. She blogged about them today here. Here's one of her newest ones on Etsy. I may have to get one of these at some point!

I hope that this week gets off to a good start tomorrow for everyone!

first earrings for sale and a new earring design

I finally listed my first pair of earrings for sale on Etsy today! I'm only going to post the top listing picture here since you've already seen them before, but please click on the picture to check out the listing.


I am still really into all of these green shades of delicas. I will be listing the pendant with all of these shades and other pair of earrings with one of these shades over the next week. I'm still working on my next flower cuff and have two more earring ideas, too.

I photographed my newest pair of earrings today. My husband says that they remind him of the old Star Trek Starfleet logo. I was not intending this, but it is definitely true.



As mentioned before, they are made with the same combination of delicas that I used in my new ceramic donut necklace. I know that the colors look pretty different in these two photos. In most lighting, they look somewhere in between. I don't want to name them after the Starfleet logo and get in some sort of copyright trouble. However, I haven't thought of another title yet so suggestions are welcome. They can have something to do with the shape and/or colors!

purple or brown?

A woman from Chicago bought one of my older pieces, blue with a hint of green right angle bracelet, on Etsy today! That was such a boost. :)

I made my most recent pair of earrings with opaque pearl espresso bean delicas. The opaque and opaque matte shades of the espresso bean delicas are definitely brown. I think that the pearl finish makes them look almost purple, though. You can really see that come through in the first picture.



I used these same espresso bean delicas in my most recent creation for myself this weekend, which is a necklace with the smoke fired ceramic donut that I won from Kristie (artisanclay). I bought some very thin (1/8" wide) black grosgrain ribbon for the cord. I need to mention that I owe a lot of credit to Carol Dean for my original inspiration for this design because she's made some beautiful necklaces like this one that are very similar. I'm very pleased with the result. Kristie still has some ceramic donuts like this one available in shop if anyone is interested.



I made one more pair of earrings this weekend with the same delicas that I used in my necklace. I still need to photograph them.

While I was taking pictures today, someone decided to help me. So I took some pictures of her, too.

Chocolate Temptation

I finished my temptation cuff tonight! The challenge deadline is drawing close (March 5) so I went ahead and photographed and listed it right away. Here it is:


This is by far the most ambitious bead weaving creation that I have attempted thus far far, and I am really really pleased with the result. It was a lot more work than I realized it would be haha, but it was well worth it.

Stay tuned next week for details about voting!