Showing posts with label SueBeads. Show all posts
Showing posts with label SueBeads. Show all posts

10/31/13

October Art Bead Scene Challenge

 
Ohara Koson's woodblock print chosen by Art Bead Scene for this month's challenge was the perfect October inspiration. I love the way the warm grays give the whole scene a gorgeous glow!

And I had the perfect etched gemstone focal in the print's blacks, whites and grays. I think it suggests a full moon in a star-filled October sky.


Handmade glass disc beads by Susan Kennedy and Kimberly Branch, along with lampwork beads by Juls Beads and April Larson provide the accent beads for the Russian Spiral-stitched rope. The brick-stitched bail, embellished with branch and leaf from Nina Designs, gave me the opportunity to include just a touch of the painting's muted peach and golden yellow.


Now, click over to the Art Bead Scene blog to see some really fantastic designs by this month's challenge participants!
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5/4/13

Hats Off Challenge


I grew up in Louisville, where my parents and their circle of friends celebrated the Kentucky Derby each year with bigger and bigger parties. When it was my parents’ turn to host, my sister and I joined in the pre-party frenzy. Janet whipped up her legendary cream puffs and it usually fell to me to polish the dozen or so silver mint julep cups used only on this storied day.


Hats were always the crowning jewels of the event, both the ones the women wore (there was usually a contest for most creative), and the silk top hat that was passed from host to host and held the horses’ names each year. Guests had to cheer for the horse they drew, and won the pot if they held the winning name.
So, I just had to sign up for Bobbie Rafferty’s Hats Off Challenge, where our goal was to design a piece of jewelry inspired by one of the extravagant creations Bobbie curated for us. I chose this very interesting hat from the Sculptural category.



The day before Bobbie unveiled the designer hats from which we could choose, I picked up this vintage 1950’s focal at a local bead show. Can you see the face in the mahogany obsidian stone?



My design plays up the browns and corals in the hat and gives a nod to blue in the lampwork flower by Sue Kennedy.




My husband and I will be having our own Derby party this afternoon. (The mint julep cups are polished and waiting!) But not until I hop around to see what all the other Hats Off participants dreamed up for this challenge. And thanks so much to Bobbie Rafferty of Beadsong Jewelry for showing us you don’t have to go to Churchill Downs to enjoy Derby Day! Here's a link to all the participants' blogs:
Bobbie Rafferty www.beadsong.blogspot.com
Susan Nelson Bowie www.susanbowie.wordpress.com
 
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3/30/13

AJE Earring Challenge - Bursts of Spring

I have been literally watching the world outside my window transform into Spring  as I worked at my bead table this Easter week. I tried to capture some of those fresh bursts of color in my earring designs for Weeks 11 and 12 of the Art Jewelry Elements Earring Challenge.


A large sterling silver and  trio of tiny BeadforLife paper beads dangle from Victoria Swirl lampwork beads by SueBeads. Lavender waxed linen keeps these light and swingy!


Blue sky jasper rounds are encircled by sterling silver and vintage bronze wrapped hoops. Enamel head pins are by SueBeads. This is my take on a project from Kerry Bogert's fabulous Aspire to Wire eCourse.

I hope you're finding extra time to enjoy the beauty of Spring with family and friends this Easter week-end.




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2/17/13

AJE Earring Challenge – 3rd Reveal


My  Week 5 earrings reflect our recent visit to the California Wine Country. They start with SueBead’s fittingly named Wine Terrazzo lampwork beads. With their red wine hues and striking silver foil, they combine nicely with a tapered column of black gold-plated wavy discs in 8 and 6mm. Vintage glass and metal beads dangle from black silk cord. These earrings have a lively swing and a nice sparkle.


Week 6 is my version of a class project from Kerry Bogert’s Aspire to Wire eCourse. THEAtoo’s handmade bronze charms in the colors of autumn are the stars of these earrings. All other components are handmade by me.

Click over to the Art Jewelry Elements blog and enjoy the Week 5 and 6 designs of all the challenge participants.
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