Dawno's Beaded Badge Lanyards and Jewelry

Bead Happily Ever After Valentine Design Challenge

2012-02-13T20:00:00.000-08:00

The blog Bead Happily Ever After held a design contest and I knew exactly what I wanted to do with some darling vintage Swarovski hearts set in raw brass - I made little 'infinite knots' and hung them from earwires then attached the hearts to the knot. Please visit her blog to see my entry (and check out her Etsy store) and all the other great designs the challenge inspired!

Happy Valentine's Day to you all!

Dawno

'via Blog this'

HRM Steampunk Symposium 2012 Pictures (finally!)

2012-01-28T20:08:00.000-08:00

Thought it was about time I posted my pictures from the HRM Steampunk Symposium I was at in January. The event was held on the Queen Mary in Long Beach, CA.

My dad helped me for the entire show and my daughter and sister also came to visit. I made very little at the show, didn't even cover the cost of the tables and license fee to the City of Long Beach, but I had a great time and made some new friends. I want to do it again next year.

I had a very nice space on the starboard side of the ship, which faced the ocean. The first day it was quite hot because of the sun shining through the uncovered windows, but the next two days there were clouds and it was much cooler.

one view of my table

and another view

Her Royal Majesty, Queen Victoria and her entourage

Two fabulous steampunk ladies

A distinguished officer and his explorer son

An Admiral

A nurse

Happy New Year!

2012-01-01T19:22:00.000-08:00

Getting ready for my first show of 2012, HRM Steampunk Symposium on the Queen Mary in Long Beach starting January 13th. I believe that the vendors area is open to the public from what I've read*, so no need to buy a membership if you're nearby and would like to visit my booth!
*"...but the ideal location and popularity of the Queen Mary will enable our vendors to be exposed to the general public..."

I've made a few new Steampunk and Victorian style pieces, plus one that's not, while I listen to China Mieville's Embassytown from Audible over the last few days:

Earthenwood ceramic pendant and bead, Mother of Pearl, Gears from Vintage Jewelry Supply

Aqua and brown Earthenwood ceramic pendant and Czech glass beads hand knotted on polished linen cord
might be adding a few more to this

This is a non-theme piece - Humblebeads pendant with carved bone, ecru Czech druk beads and some beads that reminded me of slices of wood from dreamgirlbeads

Chandelier earrings with deep teal Czech firepolished glass, brass chain & filigree from Vintage Jewelry Supplies and some lovely brass spacers and bead caps

Here's a Victorian style set with a lavolier-ish necklace made with a filigree and chain in the center, with deep cut garnet glass beads, luster coated glass roundells linked into a chain and a strand of tiny Swarovski crystal pearls and garnet Czech druk glass with tiny gold bead spacers.

These matching earrings are made with Tierra Cast gold plated pewter links and bead caps, gold vermeil spacers, Swarovski 2mm crystal pearls, deep cut garnet glass from Artbeads and garnet Czech druk beads. Chain from Vintage Jewelry Supplies. I'll probably be making a three strand bracelet to complete the set.

Well, that's it for tonite - hope you have a wonderful 2012!

LosCon 38 Wrap Up

2011-12-04T10:13:00.001-08:00

(Much of this is cross posted on my other blog NVNC ID VIDES, NVNC NE VIDES.)

Los Con is held at the Los Angeles International Airport Marriott on the Friday, Saturday & Sunday after Thanksgiving. This year was my 3rd year in the dealer's room there. The last two years I've driven down on Wednesday and stayed through the Monday after with my dad. This year I still ended up staying at Dad's place for two nights, but since I only live about half an hour away from the venue I was able to drive home for the night on the other days. The con was a lot of fun, got to see some familiar faces and meet some new ones, too.

Some shots of my table & goodies:

Dad enjoying the people watching.

I didn't dress up on our first day, with setting up in the morning, I needed to wear comfortable clothes I could move easily in. That didn't stop me from dressing up on Saturday & Sunday, though:

On Saturday I wore my Victorian(ish) Shopkeeper outfit with a new hat (I've since found my original hat) with wonderful purple feathers and lace.

On Sunday I succumbed to temptation and purchased this Renaissance(ish) ensemble.

I've got some pictures of costumed folk who wandered near the table, too:

A customer from another convention poses with her
Dawno's necklace.

Buy More (from the TV show Chuck) couple

Festive Pirate

LosCon 38 Klingon Crew

All in all, a really great weekend. Thanks for dropping by!

Preparing for LosCon38 - My 3rd Show There!

2011-11-19T16:41:00.001-08:00

I'm trying to make some new pieces for LosCon38 this coming Friday, as well as a holiday event where my husband works in early December. The first piece below is an assemblage of copper floral bits on a copper oval with a copper cuff bracelet base. I'm very happy with how it's turned out. The various copper pieces came from B'sue on Etsy (she also has B'sue Boutique) and Vintage Jewelry Supplies.

The next set are a few of the assemblage pieces in steampunk style that I'm going to make pins and necklaces of. Lucite flower from The Beadin' Path, filigree and chain from Vintage Jewelry Supplies. Most of the larger watch parts, the moon face stamping, & tiny watch gears are from Steampunk Supply on Etsy. I think the key may be from there, too. There are a few bits and bobs from Earthenwood Ceramics and Tim Holtz's "idea-ology" line of supplies, too.

Finally, here's a necklace with some gears on the chain and antique watch face, watch part with ruby jewel, brass filigree and brass chain. All the watch parts are from Steampunk Supplies, the chain from Vintage Jewelry Supplies.

Of course I'll have my usual lanyards, bracelets and a few other steampunk pieces on display as well. If you're going to be near the airport (LAX) Marriott the weekend after Thanksgiving check out LosCon and come see me (and my dad!) in the dealer's room! If you can't, I'll try to take a lot of pictures and maybe even live-blog from the event. You can read all about it here!

Have a very happy Thanksgiving!

Another Update on IntoStores.com...BBB Complaints, Quite Revealing

2011-11-06T10:52:00.000-08:00

Now I don't give the BBB all that much credence because of a number of things I've heard about them. For an example, check out this 20/20 report from last April. You can Google "complaints about the Better Business Bureau" and see for yourself.

However, the BBB listing for IntoStores.com has full address and phone number information, as well as info you should know if IntoStores has contacted you, I'm going to share the current BBB link about IntoStores.com and keep screen shots for future reference.

I *highly* recommend you read the full details of the unresolved complaints on the site - they are very informative. Here's an excerpt from one of them:

...After signing up I realized I could not contact buyers. I emailed my sales rep asking for the buyer contact information and he emailed me approximately 50 company names without their contact info. I emailed my sales rep again asking where the buyers names and contact info were and why weren't there more?He said there was no way to contact buyers, their site was designed for the buyers to contact me only. What did they mean when they promised me "unprecedented access to head buyers, key decision makers and upper level executives?" I emailed my sales rep saying I was mis-lead and he offered me free advertising. I told him I was very unhappy and I want a refund. They said no- I have to pay for 6months of membership before I am eligible. To request a refund before makes me not eligible.
Business response: Per consumer *states via email: The company I have submitted a complaint about has contacted me and has offered a refund of $117.00 of the $230 I have invested. I would like to accept this refund so that I am able to recover some of my investment.

*note that IntoStores didn't respond - this is what the consumer who complained emailed back to the BBB.

As I said in the previous post - Seller Beware, what IntoStores offers looks too good to be true, they spam people's emails for clients, and they deliberately make it very difficult to get a hold of them when you're not satisfied with their service.

Caveat Venditor, Redux - "IntoStores.com" Sends Me an Email

2011-11-04T06:00:00.000-07:00

Every now and then this post from 2009 gets a comment thanking me for the research I did into "IntoStores.com" which is re-posted under the Monday Miscellany graphic below. The last comment I received got me thinking that I should re-post this, with that comment as an intro to remind us to investigate as best we can (before we commit our credit card #) to any 'deal' we might hear about to get our work out there with retailers! Also, if it comes to you via email out of the blue, it's a pretty good bet it's not something you want to be involved with.

Here's the comment:

Thanks for posting this since, like an ass, I fell for it! I have been trying to cancel forever now and they have no phone number on the site (imagine that!) and the number listed on my card statement just rolls right to a voice mail. I called the number you posted and got the guy's voice mail too. I did leave a message though. Hopefully they'll cancel it. I don't even care about the refund (it was my own stupid fault for falling for it. I'll chalk that up to a learning experience) but I don't want to continue to pay for it!! I appreciate your posting the number. Thanks!!

First off, thanks MomX for commenting. Secondly, you weren't an ass at all, these kinds of schemers are clever, they have a legitimate looking site, and the message appeals to our desire as artists/creators to get our work out there in the public and make it more profitable.

I was a bit ahead of the game as I had read tons of posts and warnings about similar types in the world of publishing. It's just that I was a bit more educated about how these guys work when I got their email. These kinds of schemes are not something everyone has knowledge of. I'm just so sorry you have had such a bad experience. Please call your credit card company and tell them you want them to stop making payments to that vendor, ask if they'll help you get a refund and that you called them because you've tried to deal with the vendor but he refuses to deal with you directly. Good luck!

Anyone remember my post about WiseRep? Well, maybe the buzz about it was bad enough that they decided to change their name? Either that, or someone else thought it was a good idea - I just got a very similar email from "IntoStores.com".

Do you wholesale your jewelry? The department stores, apparel and accessory retailers, gift shops, specialty stores and large chains we work with are aggressively looking for jewelry to purchase this Holiday season. We need a larger variety of pieces they can choose from, hence my email to you. If you want to make a Christmas push and if you're interested in selling to more stores, now's the time. Visit us at

Sincerely,
Kevin Sanderson
VP Merchandising
866-788-5799 (ext 3)
IntoStores.com

Emails like this should set off your inner skeptic. It's not personalized at all. They say they're working with "department stores, apparel and accessory retailers, gift shops, specialty stores and large chains" but nowhere on their site do you actually get verification that they do. Get an email like this, it's time to do some detective work.

When you get these kinds of emails you might want to check out the site - but be sure your virus scanner is operating and updated, just in case. I checked the IntoStores.com site and it's full of phrases that suggest to me it's a way for them to make money off of the desperate and of no benefit to you.

I learned about similar kinds of sites at places where they discuss 'display sites' that promise to get your book picked up by agents and publishers - promises that don't pan out. A great post to review is on Writer Beware about writer' services. Many of the tips on how to evaluate a display site are applicable here.

So, what am I skeptical of with IntoStores?

"Welcome to one of the largest wholesale networks on the planet." but they don't provide any verifiable statistics back that up.
They want to "streamline the wholesale industry" - uh, a website could do that? That's a huge claim, like wanting to solve world hunger. Hyperbole like that always worries me.
Costs you money to join - lots of it. "Pay a one-time set-up fee of $275 and a monthly maintenance fee of $29."
Also, "Stores that come to you are already motivated to purchase. They'll buy on your terms. You'll set pricing, payment and delivery dates you can handle. They'll pay you directly. Pick and choose who you want to work with."

I'd be willing to bet real money that at major retailers the buyers (well, their contracts and legal staffs) set the terms. You negotiate the best deal you can, but in the end it's 'take it or leave it - there are millions of fish just like you in the sea'. That's how it works in other industries, and I'm professionally qualified via my day job to say so.

Like the buyers at Macy's, or the other stores they've swiped the logo pictures from and posted in their sidebar to make it look like they actually work with them, really want to wade through the listings on a display site. I've looked at some of the listings and I know I wouldn't.

This all sounds like come-on language for the starry-eyed. Stop and think logically. Think about how big businesses really do their purchasing. This is not how they work - I happen to work in the purchasing organization of a very big company (although I'm not a buyer) and I'm seeing a lot of red flags in how this site presents how buyers work, compared to my observation of real ones. In my opinion, this is not how you get your work sold. What it's a lot like, is how someone takes advantage of you on the internet with flashy graphics and grandiose promises.

There's nothing I can find on Google except questions in forums asking "do you think this is a good deal?" (although "elvendude's" comment here is great, so read that) - so unfortunately people are going to fall for this and spend money hoping they'll hit it big right before the holidays. I think your chances are better at Vegas.

The Movers Are Coming on Monday

2011-09-17T14:13:00.000-07:00

...and I'm not quite ready for them yet, but hope that by tomorrow night I will be! Every bead and tool is packed up, so I won't be making anything new until I'm unpacked at the new place. That said, I have two new lanyards to share, the last things I made with the last batch of beads that were left out of the packing until this morning.

I really love the diagonally drilled cube beads with the saucer spacers and hope to find them in a lot more colors.

Til next time!

I Haven't Dropped Off the Planet, But...

2011-09-07T07:43:00.000-07:00

I'm moving! My husband has gotten a job in another city, down in the L.A. area. I've just returned from finding us a very nice townhouse and we move in (sans furniture, for now) this weekend. Stayed with my dad while I was looking. The drive from here to there (plus the driving around in L.A.) and back put nearly 900 miles on the odometer.

I've almost finished packing up the bead workroom/office, and my husband has gotten through a lot of the the other stuff, but there's still tons to do. Once we're settled I'll be getting back to making new stuff and posting about it. Until then, I'll probably be a very infrequent poster.

Renovation World SF Convention Recap

2011-08-22T09:12:00.000-07:00

I gots pictures! Not as many as I'd have liked to do, but representative...

First off, the display:

Setting up on Tuesday

all done!

As things sold or as my whims prompted the order and arrangement changed a bit from day to day.

Front of table as set up for the last day

Other side on last day

This is my fabulous "minion", Bart, wearing one of my lanyard necklaces. After he left and put the lanyard back on the display a customer came by and snatched it up for his fiancee.

Wednesday night I did a class with 15 ladies who made their own necklaces - I wish I had taken more pictures but I was so busy with the class I forgot until I only had a few people left to take pictures of their finished work:

This is 'mom' - she brought two daughters along

This is one of the daughters - she did some really clever things with her design - note the two beads surrounding the center disk - she's put some rings around the beads to create a "Saturn" effect!

This student is an experienced seed bead weaver who does lovely work in that medium but wanted to learn some techniques in stringing. Great eye for design and color!

This student had her own focal piece back in her room, so she came by the next day to my booth to show me her finished work.

I made some pieces while I was sitting at the table:

I used a copper Tim Holt piece as the foundation and then started adding stuff until I was exhausted. Well, until it looked right.

Glad I took a shot of this (there are two separate necklaces in this photo - I'm referring to the one at the top), it sold during the final 5 minutes of the convention! It also has a Tim Holt piece as the base with Accessories Susan filigree and frame.

Didn't make these at the table, but the pink and dark gray Vintage Lucite necklaces from The Beadin' Path, were new for the show. The one at the bottom has some beautiful silver touches and matching earrings.

Finally, I did manage to get one picture of one of the dozens of costumed folk wandering around the dealer's hall

Wish I had taken more pictures, but that's all I managed. I really enjoyed this opportunity. I hope there's a WorldCon close to home again in the near future!

Now I have to start organizing and packing for my move to Los Angeles - I probably won't be posting for some time as I don't think I'll have much time for beading in the next weeks.

Two More Days!

2011-08-15T06:00:00.000-07:00

The 69th Annual World Science Fiction Convention, called Renovation this year, in (where else?) Reno, NV starts Wednesday, although I have to be there tomorrow to set up. I'm going to *try* to take and post pictures, although I often get distracted and forget.

Speaking of pictures, I'm much happier with my new Sony Cybershot camera than I was with the Kodak EasyShare #2 (that's not it's official name, but it was the second EasyShare I bought). I loved my EasyShare #1 - it worked fine for macro shots as well as for regular pictures. Sadly the lens mechanism failed and I went shopping for a new camera.

Since I had all the Easy Share accessories and software, I went ahead and got a new model Easy Share. It's been an ok camera but I was never able to get the EasyShare #2 to take decent pictures when I wanted a group shot or asked someone to get a picture of me at my table - they were very grainy on auto-setting and often blurred, even with the digital image stabilization feature. Don't seem to have these issues with the Cybershot - which to me says it's not user error but the camera.

Speaking of pictures - one last piece to share before I go silent for a bit. I'm hoping that I'll have time and energy to post a little from the convention, but who knows?

The inspiration for this one was the wire mesh - I had a small amount left from a larger piece and couldn't figure out what to do with it. I decided to poke around in my bead stash until I got an idea, and came upon these black and white speckled ceramic beads. I knotted them on and then twisted and opened the mesh between. Then I hung the small bits of chain I had lying around, attached a longer piece with two hooks and there you go!

I hope you have a great week this week, I know I'm going to!

5 More Days Left Until WorldCon

2011-08-12T07:50:00.000-07:00

I've been *very* busy getting ready for the World Science Fiction Convention in Reno next week. The last few days have had me making new necklace lanyards, necklaces and these assemblage pieces for retractable ribbon lanyards:

These pieces are pretty time consuming - there's glue involved! I use Hypo Cement and E-6000 to ensure firm hold for the itty-bitty fiddly bits - the face of the lanyard reel casing is about the size of a quarter. These have been quite popular so I wanted to have as many as possible available.

You might recognize Lucite and metal flowers (some vintage, some new) from The Beadin' Path, Tim Holtz Idea-ology charms and Vintage Jewelry Supplies (Accessories Susan) brass filigree and stampings. There are some Vintaj bits in there as well. All the crystals are Swarovski. The rest are old/antique watch parts and stampings/filigree from Steampunk Supplies on Etsy.

Which one do you like best?

Designer's Block

2011-08-10T06:00:00.000-07:00

Not sure if that's what you'd call it, but I've hit a bit of a wall with this piece. What I've been trying to do is make new necklaces that are a bit outside of my usual comfort zone based on some input from other con-goers about what they look for.

I prefer an ornate style that's a bit delicate, but many browsers have indicated they're looking for bolder designs. This is something I finished yesterday, as an example:

I'm not 100% sure it's finished - seems like I should embellish the top chain, but I'm waffling over that. Oh well, back to the bead board!

(This post is an edited version of something I wrote on LiveJournal a few days back - thought I'd share it here, too.)

Copper and Cobalt Blue

2011-08-09T08:14:00.000-07:00

Thought I'd share a bit about how some of my designs happen - like yesterday's post where the pieces and parts finally came together for the glueable bracelet after more than 2 years. I'm not sure how I obtained the blue glass focal on the necklace below, but I thought it would look great with copper and I constructed the wrapped loop for it with 18g copper wire. Then it sat around waiting for me to figure out what else to do.

I grabbed a card of delicate copper chain at Michael's a couple months back and knew it would be perfect for the blue focal piece but, again, wasn't sure how to put the whole thing together.

Finally, the other day I realized what I wanted to do:

I plan to do a few more pieces along this line, I really like the double chain with the Czech glass bead links. Silver with green beads, I'm thinking, and gold with red ones, maybe.

Well, there's much to do and way too few days left before the big convention to do them, so that's all for now!

Finally Finished the Rings & Things Glueables Challenge!!

2011-08-08T06:00:00.000-07:00

Once upon a time (February or March of '09), Rings & Things sent me some glueable bracelets. I fiddled a bit and did come up with a design (here and here are the posts). I still had a bracelet left over that I couldn't figure out what to do with and it went into a storage box.

As I was tidying up in my workroom today, I came upon that bracelet. It had a teensy bit of tarnish that wiped off right away with a silver polishing cloth (Selvyt pink) and looked good as new. I was immediately inspired with how to use it, as I had just put away a selection of (vintage?) lucite flowers from The Beadin' Path into my "lucite and metal flower" box. Why not put metal and lucite flowers on the glueable blanks? And put little Swarovski flat back crystals in the centers? I loved the idea!

After playing around with various color combos (I had pink and green and purple lucite flowers of the right size as well as bright silver and gunmetal metal flowers) and then picking the right shade of crystals, here's the result (it's not all glued in yet, just the base flowers):

This is one of those 'taken in the workroom at night' pictures that doesn't do the piece full justice - the colors aren't quite so muddy in real life, but I'm really happy with the results! As well as glad to have finally finished the Rings & Things glueable challenge!!

FTC compliance notice of material connection: The glueable bracelet was provided to me for free, to be used for design purposes, or for a statement of my honest opinion of them, by Rings & Things.

Going for a 'Bigger and Bolder' Design - Mother of Pearl Necklace

2011-08-03T13:32:00.000-07:00

Busy, busy, busy! I have a number of new necklaces and lanyards finished, but need to get to work on finishing off the travel bracelets and making some new earrings, too.

Today I'll share the mother of pearl necklace I finished - it features two Beadin' Path monthly bead club pieces - a ceramic sand dollar and a large m.o.p circle, with shell heishis wired to it. The necklace is all white mother of pearl with small beige shell beads in-between.

This necklace is part of my attempt to get big and bold with some of my designs - I personally favor delicate pieces but know that a lot of my customers like the bolder works I've done.

Although I have a number of other pieces ready to share, I think I'll parcel them out over a couple days!

"So, Did You Visit any Bead Stores on Your Trip?" But of Course!!

2011-08-01T15:25:00.000-07:00

Saturday was spent flying, yesterday mostly relaxing. Today I've finished a couple pieces and will share them a bit later. Friday, however, I got to go to Durham, N.C. and visit with a friend. My friend and I share a love of beading and traveled to a couple of bead stores. I didn't get pictures at the store in the Carr Mill shopping center in Durham but did get a couple at Rare Earth Beads, our first stop.

Yay, a sale!

The Store

My friend with her goodies.

I got some wonderful beads there - chalcedony, big rhodochrosite rondells, lapis (all the beads have wonderful flecks of gold) coral and bright brass

I'll show the beads from Carr Mill another time, but I think I got some good finds there, too.

Now, as promised, a couple new pieces:

A tigereye donut and a turquoise nugget suspended from assorted turquoise colored howlite, lava rock and tigereye beads all done on simple loops for the chain, with an off-center hand made clasp using sterling wire and a tigereye nugget.

This one started as just the black and white ceramic strung on wire mesh, then I got the idea to do some asymetric chains, then I got the idea to add the double curb chain with a couple more beads. The piece looks much nifty-er on than in the picture, I'm afraid.

That's all for today - gotta get back to work, only 15 days until WorldCon in Reno!

Yet Another Travel Piece

2011-07-28T08:13:00.000-07:00

I've posted this on my Facebook page but still like to get all my work here on the blog. It's more of the two hole faux turquoise spacers interspersed with coral colored glass beads. The design is very simple but the color combo is what makes it special. I really love that combo!

This is probably it for posts until I get home - my son has arrived and we will be hanging out this afternoon and tomorrow I go visit a friend in Durham, NC. We *may* do some bead shopping. Saturday I have a very early flight home. If I don't just totally collapse and nap the day away, I might be back with a few more tidbits. Have a great Friday and weekend!

Another Travel Piece

2011-07-27T08:00:00.000-07:00

Hi again from my hotel room in Fayvetteville, NC! I finished off another piece and thought I'd share it here, although it was posted to my Facebook page earlier.

It's the two hole faux turquoise with coral glass beads. Simple, but the color mix is the key element. I love the combo.

I'm working on a couple other things, but ran out of beading wire - amazing how fast a 30' spool will go - I'm so used to the 100' ones I didn't think to buy two!

See you again soon!

Travel Beading

2011-07-26T05:47:00.000-07:00

I'm in Fayetteville, NC until the end of the week. Arrived late on the 23rd and went out yesterday to A.C. Moore and Michael's (There's a JoAnne's nearby, too, might check that out today) to grab some beading stuff. For long visits I have a really full check-in bag and don't want to add more weight (and pay overages on top of bag fees) to my suitcase, so I don't bring beading supplies. So once in town I'm usually Google-ing for local bead/crafts stores.

I picked up some faux turquoise, carved bone beads, shell heishis and miscellaneous findings/tools and this cool BeadBuddy Design Save 'n Go. I will need to get a small duffel or backpack to haul stuff home in. Next time I'll pack an empty one to bring along!

I've posted some of my travel beading on Facebook and Google+ but here they are (plus one that's exclusive to this blog!) for those of you who don't follow me elsewhere. ( I'm Dawno on Google+ if you'd like to add me to a circle. If you want to follow me on Google + and need a G+ invite, I have some - just email me).

Ok, travel bead design #1, Faux turquoise and shell heshi necklace. I'm doing a make and take at Renovation, World Science Fiction convention and this was a trial-run idea. (Please excuse the wrinkly background, photographed these on the hotel bed)

This will get some re-work at home when I have my round-nose pliers to re-do the eye & headpins on the pendant. It was low-cost, fast to make and looks pretty good on.

Design #2 - this is the blog only exclusive - two hole faux turquoise spacerbars with faux turquoise roundells and carved bone beads. Didn't find the right clasp for it at either store, so if I don't find it at another shop while I'm here, I'll finish it at home. The carving on the bone looks like little flowers.

Design #3 - I found some interesting looped metal beads and got an idea to use them with a three hole spacer bar by beading in-between the outside beads with the loops turned inward (instead of hanging some dangles off them on the outside) to anchor the middle strand. I used metal daisy spacers and shell heishis between the loops. Another one that will be finished at home if I don't see the right clasp here somewhere.

Design #4 - the last of the designs - the spacer bars came in packs with a set of 2 or 3 hole spacers and the package with the bars for the above design also came with some rhinestone 2-hole bars. I wandered around looking for what I wanted to pair up with them and found some big (about 1/2" diameter) glass pearls. I'm not sure about the placement of the different colors - so it may change a little before I add the clasp.

These were all a lot of fun to make and it's cool how limiting oneself to what's on hand and trying to use the same supplies for different looks work out. I've got more of the faux turquoise spacers left, enough for another bracelet, so I'll probably fiddle around with that today.

I'm enjoying my time here - cool thunderstorm yesterday that really brought down the temperature, which has been in the upper 90s. It's hot again today, though there's a chance of another thunderstorm later on.

'Til next time!

Gunmetal and Greys Bracelet

2011-07-19T13:06:00.000-07:00

Had a lovely weekend with my daughter. Been busy since then, too. Next week I leave for North Carolina to welcome my son back from his deployment in Afghanistan so I'll probably be rather quiet here.

As I mentioned in my last post I was working on a new bracelet and it's all finished (finally!) I used Swarovski Crystal Silver Night and Jet with Swarovski Mystic Black pearls on a double link chain and finished it with a magnetic clasp.

Now I'm pondering what to make next - I think I need to do something with bright tones since I've been doing so much with gunmetal and greys.

'Til next time!

Freshwater Peacock Pearls and Silver Squareknot Chain

2011-07-14T10:55:00.001-07:00

Today has been pretty busy already. I'm "nesting" I guess, got up at 7:30, read email and watched the end of a Babylon 5 movie I downloaded from Amazon as I got myself awake. Fixed breakfast for Glenn and me, did some overdue housework and laundry, got my daughter's room a bit more ready for her visit here tonight.

There's still more to do in there later - when she's not here it's my "photo studio" so I had to fold up my light box and put away all the accoutrements. My daughter is visiting because she, Glenn and I are going to go see the last Harry Potter movie together tomorrow morning...even have our Gryffindor scarves!

As a reward for my hard work I decided to take a break and post my latest work in progress. So far it's just the chain and pearls. Not sure if I should try to do more.

There are about 8 more inches of chain behind the display for a total of 17", so I think it may have to be a bit longer. This piece was quite time consuming as I needed to assemble the links into a chain then add all the pearl dangles, which each have to be assembled with headpins and then looped.

The pearls were ordered a long time ago from FireMountain and many of them had double drill holes, so adding to the tedium was sorting through the bin for good ones. I do love the colors, though. It's hard to tell in the picture, but they range from a blue-grey to silvery lavender and are slightly iridescent.

I'm now working on some commissions for friends I worked with who raided my lanyard stock before my last day, as well as a gunmetal and Swarovski pearls & crystals bracelet. I'll be ready to show that to you soon, so do come back!

Gunmetal and Montana Blue Three Strand Necklace

2011-07-13T07:53:00.000-07:00

Now that I have plenty of time to design, experiment and blog about my ideas again, here's a new piece I'm working on. Using beads from The Beadin' Path bead club set sent in January - I think of this year - I've created a multi-strand necklace with two types of bulk gunmetal chain, headpins and jumprings from Rings & Things and two other types of chain from my local Michael's. On the first strand are Montana blue drops, the second strand has luster glass in the same shade. I left the last strand plain as it has an interesting texture of it's own. The drops are attached with gunmetal jumprings. I guess the only question I have is should I keep the third strand? I think so, but I'm wavering.

I'm building up my inventory for the 69th World Science Fiction Convention to be held in Reno August 17 thru 21. This is the first WorldCon that I'll attend as a dealer and I'm both excited and nervous.

'Til next time!

BayCon and Westercon 2010 Photos

2010-05-20T10:49:00.000-07:00

I've been to three conventions so far this year - one more to go for sure, and one possible. I've been approved for LosCon again, over Thanksgiving weekend and may perhaps apply for Conjecture in San Diego, held in the beginning of October. Doing Baycon at the end of May and Westercon at the end of June was a bit stressful, so I'm giving it a lot of thought. I've been busy with family stuff, too - you'll want to see the special pictures at the end of the post to know exactly what I mean...

These first pictures are from BayCon - my dear husband came by around lunch time to give me a chance to stretch and grab a bite to eat, but otherwise I couldn't have done it without my wonderful neighbors, especially Tammie from Handee Books (who took the picture of me). Baycon was great this year - I got into the dealer's room and I made a lot of sales - it was very worthwhile.

These next ones are from Westercon - the last three are customers posing with their new jewelry. I finally got a banner so people know who I am and what I'm selling! I bought two, but forgot them, so my fabulous husband shipped one of the overnight to the hotel. Next convention I hope I don't forget them! This was my first Westercon - I didn't do as well there but I had a great time - my dad came and helped me set up and sat with me all 4 days, too! I really enjoyed it. Next year's is in San Jose so I hope I get accepted again - it will be great to be close to home (and save on gas money!):

And now for the big announcement - congratulations to Matthew (my son) and Amanda who got married on June 29th!

Daughter, Husband and Son before the ceremony. I'm behind the camera, of course!

Amanda, the beautiful bride to be

At the Altar

It's official!

Thanks for dropping by!

Dawno

Final Pics from Norwescon33 Trip

2010-04-07T06:00:00.000-07:00

A few last pictures from the last day of the con. This is Gir from the comic Invader Zim - the costume was on sale and Gir was wandering around the con for a couple days.

One of the Drow (an elf character from Dungeons and Dragons) prowling the dealer's room

The other two caught up later & posed for this (unfortunately it's pretty blurry, sorry)

Snow capped mountains on the way home

Some of the snow in the pass in Oregon on the way home - I drove through some snow showers both coming up and heading home.

And once I got down from the mountains I saw this incredible rainbow. The picture doesn't do it justice, of course - it was amazingly complete and bright. You could see the full arch of it except for a bit at the top at times.

I'm still not unpacked nor recovered from the long drive - very glad to be home!

Day 3 at Norwescon - Busy!

2010-04-03T22:19:00.000-07:00

I managed to get the attention of some of the passersby in their amazing costumes today!

And here are two of my customers in their purchases - the vintage lucite flower necklace and a jet lanyard:

Had a pretty good day today as far as sales were concerned. Tomorrow is the last day of the con and while I've had a great time, I'm looking forward to getting back home. I probably won't blog again for a few days - tomorrow is all about getting packed up and resting for as long as I can because Monday I have to drive the entire trip that I spent two days getting here earlier in the week in one day.

Brrr!! Day 2 at Norwescon

2010-04-02T21:57:00.000-07:00

Really cold (at least for me) & very wet outside today. There were severe storm warnings and if the power went out we were told we'd have to "evacuate" the dealer's room. Fortunately it didn't happen.

Was either busy or distracted today and didn't take pictures - I wish I had at least gotten one of one of my customers - her outfit was fabulous. I made some new embellished retractable lanyards & she bought one which went really well.

My dear friends have made this con a near tie with LosCon for my best time ever behind the table. I say a near tie because spending four days with my Dad at LosCon last November was definitely at the top.

If I don't screw up and get my paperwork in on time, I'll be at Westercon/ConChord the 4th of July weekend in Pasadena, CA. I believe I turned in paperwork for LosCon 2010 at the end of last one's, so I hope I'm set. I think I'll email 'em just to be sure. If that's set, I'll have my 3 cons for the year.

I'm getting just a teensy worried about the trip home. If it snows in either of the two passes between here and home, I may be stuck in either Washington or Oregon until that clears. I have my work laptop and can check in with the office, so it's more of a inconvenience than anything, but I do hope I can get back on Monday, I miss my husband and kitties.

Well, need my sleep - will try to remember to take pictures tomorrow!

Norwescon Day 1

2010-04-01T21:54:00.000-07:00

I got to the convention at 10:30 ish and worked on set up with my helpers 'til 4 when the doors opened. Sat at the table 'til 8, covered the stuff, had a lovely late dinner and then came back to my hotel room. Thank goodness my two dear friends are here to help. I got plenty of stretch and bathroom breaks. Their help in set up was invaluable. I'm fairly certain I wouldn't have figured out how to use the tiny space with out them.

Wireless wasn't very reliable today, so I didn't get a chance to post while at the convention. May not be able to tomorrow either, so if I do post tomorrow, it'll be in the evening again.

Good night from Seattle (and yes - it's raining).

Made it to SeaTac Today

2010-03-31T19:03:00.000-07:00

The drive from Medford took 7 hours through some really lovely landscapes. There were quite a few places that looked like fun to visit, if I had time. The one place I passed that I was *very* sad about was Shipwreck Beads in Lacey, WA. I wish I'd had several hours to spare, but I wanted to be at the convention hotel by 4 so I could drop off all my stuff.

In my travel through Oregon I discovered that the 70 mph speed limit I'd gotten used to in California on I-5 drops to 60 or 65 through the entire state with several patches of 55mph. Goes back to 70 when you cross over into Washington. Also, there are no self-serve gas stations. At my first stop for gas a lively fellow told me all about it. At length. He's written to President Obama, suggesting that it should be a federal law. Probably would create several million jobs; can't say I think it's a terrible idea. The gas prices in Oregon, even with full service, are quite a bit lower than in California. No sales tax there either - I should have budgeted some time to shop.

One last note, if you ever need to stay in Medford, OR, I wouldn't recommend the Ramada. It's really run down and the room was bare bones - except for the refrigerator and microwave. No elevators, either. Had to carry my very heavy bags up a flight of stairs. I was inexpensive, at least.

The convention hotel here in SeaTac was fully booked before I heard that my application was approved, so I'm staying just across the street at the Days Inn. It's nicer than the Ramada, that's for sure and nearly as inexpensive. Unfortunately the room doesn't have a refrigerator and there aren't even little mini ones for rent. This matters to me because I drink copious amounts of Arizona Diet Green Tea and usually keep a gallon or two chilling in the fridge when I travel. I'm quite disappointed in that, but otherwise, it's a nice place. Plus, free wireless!

No pictures tonight - last night I pretty much did my post and fell asleep. I'll share convention pictures in the next post. Good Night!

Hi from Medford, Oregon and Some New Steampunk Creations

2010-03-30T19:30:00.000-07:00

Well, I finally got everything organized and packed (with a few detours to make some new stuff - why does inspiration hit hardest when you have NO TIME for it?) and this morning I hit the road. Medford is 395 miles from my home and is the half-way stop before heading to Seattle, which I'll do tomorrow . Drove through some of the most lovely places - all the hills are green from rain and I drove past Mt. Shasta where most of the peaks are covered in snow.

The pass from California into Oregon had snow on the ground, but the freeway was clear and no chains needed.

I wish I could have taken pictures, but it's not really safe to do that and drive...

Anyway, I did manage to get pictures of the stuff I worked on when I should have been packing:

A steampunk style pendant with silver filigree and Swarovski crystals, top and bottom rings are steampunk style, the middle one doesn't have any gears or clockwork - just a vintage repro filigree from Accessories Susan in brass, with a freshwater pearl and 5 Swarovski crystals. Thanks go to Steampunk Supply for the beautiful etched watch parts that form the base of the pendant and rings, plus most of the other gears and the silver filigree. The curled silver filigrees and the wrapped filigree backing the pendant are also from Accessories Susan.

I'm going to try and live-blog this week from the convention, hope you'll check in!

Using Up the Stash #14 - More Infinity Knots and Green Glass

2010-03-27T06:00:00.000-07:00

I thought I was done, but turns out this piece is still in progress. I find it interesting how after I photograph something to post about it, I take a new look and decide there's something else needed...

Anyway, I had the infinity knot links lying around since I made my St. Patrick's Day bracelet and decided to just start fiddling and playing around with them, the brass chain, brass head pins and some, smaller, lighter green, cathedral beads.

Here's where the design has taken me so far:

Can you see where I think I need to add two more links and something - probably chain with beads, to the design?

I have not yet heard from texinlulu about claiming her prize - I'll give her a couple more days then I'll re-draw and award the prize to someone else.

See you tomorrow for Weekly Wanderings, I hope!

TGIF! (Using Up the Stash #13)

2010-03-26T06:00:00.000-07:00

Really glad to see the backside of this week. Not that I won't be working hard all weekend getting ready to exhibit at Norwescon next week (April 1 - 4, Doubletree Hotel, SeaTac, Washingon)

I did get a little jewelry work done. I made quick and easy earrings the last two days to go with other pieces I wore to work, and one pair to go with the electric purple vintage style necklace I shared on Monday - it's also quite a bit longer, been adding beads to it tonight.

Here are the earrings, made the ear wires myself, too:

This weekend and next week blogging may be a real challenge - I'll post when I can, and if possible live-blog and share pictures from Norwescon.

Hi!

2010-03-25T06:00:00.000-07:00

Just thought I'd leave a quick post letting you know I'm still alive and kicking. Just been wrapped up in a few other things that need to be done before I head to Norwescon next week. I'm really looking forward to my first show of 2010 and hope it won't be the only one! I'm not going to be able to do BayCon this year, which I'm very sad about, and I haven't heard back from the other two conventions - one in July and LosCon in November.

Anyway, thank you again for checking in!

Electric Purple in a Vintage Look Necklace - Rings & Things Goodies Design

2010-03-22T06:00:00.000-07:00

Just in case you missed it, texilulu was the winner of the Rings & Things memory jewelry bottle giveaway and there's a great list of posts to check out in Sunday's Weekly Wanderings.

I still have quite a few of the Rings & Things goodies from late February. That package was shell pearls and glass rondelles, as you might recall.

I decided that I wanted a very antique looking necklace with the electric purple roundelles, so I got out some antiqued brass chain, beadcaps and headpins to make one. The hook at the end is made from brass wire and because the design is like it is, the necklace can be worn as shown or with the clasp in the back.

Right now it's collar length, but I'm thinking since I have so many of these purple ones I may just keep adding until I've used them all up. Then I could wear it doubled or long.

See you next time!

FTC compliance notice of material connection: The glass beads were provided to me for free, to be used for design purposes, or for a statement of my honest opinion of them, by Rings & Things.

Weekly Wanderings Around the Beadosphere

2010-03-21T06:00:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the first weekend of Spring! It's definitely been spring-like here. Warm days, blooms everywhere. Allergies...mine were particularly bad this morning, so the post is *very* late today.

Just a reminder: these posts come from my personal wanderings. I know there are many, many more bead/jewelry and related crafts blogs out there, but these are some of the ones I visit every day via my Google Reader. If you have a favorite blog I'm not mentioning, let me know and I'll start visiting (and linking!) it, too.

A Bead A Day - Look at the fabulous springtime design element Lisa found at Artbeads, check out the rest of the week's posts and then land here for the piece she made + a giveaway of her book!

Ahtee's blog - Adventure in Big Bear - there's an inspirational location! She promises some jewelry posts this week, too.

An Artist's Year Off - Lori made some beautiful beads and talks about the learning process.

Backyard Beads - take a poll, beautiful packaging

Beading Arts - Beads of Courage call for submissions

Beading Gem's Journal - another great week - tough to choose just a few, but this Artbead's Beauty of Spring project is lovely, and Princess Diana's Swan Lake necklace inspires a design are definitely good reads.

Be-jeweled by Jana - Five Things about Me and You giveaway

Carmi's Art/Life World - Manifesto Brooch

The Cerebral Dilettante - Industrial Brain (I really love this style)

Deez News - You are going to have to visit each day's post - every day last week she's done a piece inspired by the "Monday's Child" poem. I'll start you off with Monday but, seriously, view each day's work - and leave a Davinia a comment (you can tell her I sent you), this is really gorgeous stuff.

Designs by Blanche - lovely "steampunked" skeleton key

Just A Tish - some fun earrings, bracelet and necklace with Rings & Things goodies, tidying up the studio, and some great finds at the flea market were a few things Tish shared this week.

Margot Potter - Margot shares the steps to making a necklace embellished T-shirt, and some of her design inspirations.

Orion Designs - love these brilliant pink briolette earrings.

Silver Parrot - Friday bead porn!

Smutopia - there's a Thing a Day going on over there, so every day has a great project, but I really liked her Thursday bracelet - congratulations on having it displayed (with the rest of the set) at the Art of Fashion event in downtown Raleigh, NC on Monday night!

Willow Walker - she finished and listed some lovely earrings last week, but you can't have these, I already bought 'em!

Normally I'd select a post or two for each of these, but today I've been so busy I really only had time to finish up the artisan blog posts, but I encourage you to visit these supplier's blogs often.

Artbeads -

The Beadin' Path -

Daily Bead Buzz -

Earthenwood Studios Blog -

Friendly Plastic -

Ornamentea -

Rings & Things -

SoftFlexGirl -

Thanks for coming along this week. Remember, if you follow* this blog, you'll never miss the weekly wanderings because you forgot to check - I'll be delivered right to your reader or Blogger dashboard every day!

*Look up at the uppermost left hand side of this page - see the boxes that say "search blog" "flag blog" and "follow blog" - just click the "follow blog" box!

Hope you have a great week - see you tomorrow!

Congratulations texinlulu! You won the Rings & Things bottles!

2010-03-20T18:01:00.000-07:00

Thank you to everyone who entered with comments here, on Facebook, who became new fans and tweeted! I was so thrilled to see the many multiple entries.

I drew from all the names (some of which were entered up to 5 times) and texinlulu was the winner of the Rings & Things goodies shown below:

I will be having another giveaway next month of some Spring themed items from Artbeads - keep checking back!

FTC compliance notice of material connection: The glass bottles were provided to me for free, to be used for design purposes, or for a statement of my honest opinion of them, by Rings & Things.

Thank You Rose for the Roses!

2010-03-20T06:00:00.000-07:00

In this UUtS post I grumbled about having to go search for a clasp. But Rose commented with an entire list of links, one of which led me to a little treasure of clasps - including the porcelain one with a yellow rose I added to the necklace:

While I was shopping there, I grabbed 4 clasps, some stamped brass medallions and bead caps, too.

Later today I'll collect all the entries to my Rings & Things giveaway and post the winner! I'm sorry I'm a day late - yesterday wasn't a very good day and I turned in early.

2010-03-19T06:00:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone - this is just a placeholder post. I may have something to share later in the day, but I didn't get anything done last night so I didn't have anything for today's post. I was going to share some pictures of beautiful spring blooms I saw at work and took pictures of with my phone camera, but I can't get them to send from my phone.

I'll leave you with a picture of Jello in a Sink:

Rings & Things Goodies - Skeletons, Skulls, Peppers and More

2010-03-18T06:00:00.000-07:00

Thank goodness Rings & Things sent a bag of goodies. I'd have nothing to post again, otherwise. I'm just not in a real creative place tonight.

The bag has 8 pairs of lampwork skulls - some with decoration on the back, the others have the same skull design on both sides- 8 hot chili peppers 4 gold plate skeletons (two men, two women) and two silver plate skulls and two silver plate skeletons, plus an assortment of gluables (two of them are "shoe clips" which may not end up being for shoes at all) these will definitely be used for Steampunk designs.

Check back to see what I do with all these fun pieces!

FTC compliance notice of material connection: The beads, charms and gluable findings pictured above were provided to me for free, to be used for design purposes, or for a statement of my honest opinion of them, by Rings & Things.

Using Up the Stash #12 - St. Patrick's Day Bracelet

2010-03-17T06:00:00.000-07:00

Sorry I was too tired to post Tuesday. I did get a start Monday night on today's bracelet, but for some reason wrapping the cathedral glass beads onto the knot links gave me a ton of trouble and I didn't finish until today.

In honor of St. Patrick's Day, I wanted to make something green. While going through my stash I came upon these Celtic looking "Infinity Knot" connectors from the Blue Moon Royal Boheme collection and decided to pair them with green cathedral cut glass beads.

I wasn't totally happy with the look after I'd wired the beads to the knot connectors, so I pondered a bit and decided to add some chain. I put jump rings through the loops on each side of each knot and "strung" them through the rings rather than attaching them to give the chain a bit more movement.

Here's a long view

This view shows better how it looks on the wrist

Happy St. Patrick's Day, all!

Using Up the Stash #11 - Constellation Necklace with Lemon Ice CZs

2010-03-15T06:00:00.000-07:00

I mentioned that when I finished the purple Constellation necklace that I had a lot of the silver rice beads and was going to make more Constellation necklaces with other colors. When I bought the purple CZ teardrop I also bought some "Lemon Ice" colored ones. The Lemon Ice is very green (although it photographs much yellower) so I got out my bright green pearls and started the necklace.

Unfortunately, I wasn't happy with how the necklace looked just using the pearls, so I went to Lima Beads, where I'd bought the teardrop, and ordered some Lemon Ice CZ bicones. Yeah, the necklace isn't totally from the stash, but for the most part it is, so I'm ok with the UUtS label.

~*~*~*~*~

Since I posted about it on Saturday, which is not one of the most visited days here, I'm going to mention again that Soft Flex Company is having another Flex Your Creativity Contest! This time the focus is on creating Steampunk-style work with Soft Flex beading wire. I love Steampunk, so I'm really excited about entering. Contest entries must be received by September 1, 2010, winners will be announced on December 1st.

I listed some references and posted some pictures of my Steampunk designs on Saturday - hope you'll check the post. Click the image above for the rules and more information about the contest at the Soft Flex site.

Weekly Wanderings Around the Beadosphere

2010-03-14T06:00:00.000-07:00

If you're living in the U.S. it's "Daylight Savings is Back" Sunday. Will be waking up to darker mornings for a while, but it will be nice to have more sunshine after work.

A Bead A Day - Lisa has great ideas for her Rings & Things Memory Jewelry goodies, went digging for treasure in the bead bin at her local bead store and made a bracelet with them to remind her of the fun time she had.

After Hours Art Glass - Shannon shares great photography hints and SEO (search engine optimization) ideas.

Ahtee's blog - Rose posted a great list of blogs she's reading, and shows off her first Etsy purchase (lovely piece!), and some lovely bridal earrings.

Need a little humor break in your day? May I suggest An Army of Ermas? This is a shared blog with short family humor pieces that always brighten my day.

Backyard Beads - announces the winner of her giveaway

Beading Arts - have you heard of (and seen) Zulugrass beads? Cyndi has a lovely Zulugrass bracelet to giveaway, too.

Beading Gem's Journal - get the info on historical jewelry worn at the Oscars, tutorial on making water bracelets, see a spirograph inspired necklace and more toy/game inspired jewelry plus a tutorial on making a domino bracelet.

Be-jeweled by Jana - Jana made an awesome wire and bead crocheted red iris bead necklace. I'm not normally a fan of crocheted wire, but Jana's perfected the art.

Carmi's Art/Life World - great mixed media piece: Jeweled Button Necklace

The Cerebral Dilettante - with posts like harboring purple in her psyche, lizard in a former life, how can you *not* be following this blog?

Deez News - Even during a heat wave, Davinia creates a beautiful necklace!

Designs by Blanche - Alice in Wonderland inspired and totally wonderful!

ErtheFae - Do you know about the Beading for a Cure auction? Round one ends today, so don't miss out, but if you do, another round starts Monday.

Just A Tish - more shell pearl earrings, Spring furnace glass fun, Spring fling bracelet, and purpose pendants, and those were just some of her posts last week! Tish, you're wearing me out!!

Katie's Beading Blog - Katie got a Rings & Things shell pearl goodie bag, too - look at the fabulous multi-strand necklace with a bold daisy focal she made!

Margot Potter - Margot laments the empty necklines at the Oscars and challenges: "leave a comment with your own design ideas here. I'll announce two winners and share a finished design based on my concepts next Friday." Hope you enter!

Orion Designs - I'm going to admit something that may make me unpopular, but I'm just not that fond of beadwoven jewelry. I admire the art and patience and spectacular designs, but it's not my thing. *HOWEVER* this necklace, a free form one by Vicki Potter, I love. I'd get one like it in a heartbeat and wear it a lot. Vicki also makes other jewelry styles and has a wonderful, conversational blog.

SCDiva - grabbed my attention with her post about metal foils, alcohol inks and polymer clay.

Silver Parrot - her opinion of the fashions at the Oscars, "sometimes jewelry happens" and she was the winner over at Treasures Found!

Smutopia - She's doing a "Thing a Day" so you'll want to catch her every day, but here are a couple favorites - origami cranes, and a lovely citrine necklace.

Strands of Beads - Melissa is having "The Short One's Superhero" giveaway!

Willow Walker - a full week over at Willow Walker! Started with these red drops, then there were these elongated turquoise colored ones, and yesterday, these fabulous heart shaped ones.

Artbeads - Easter ideas and Crafts Month

The Beadin' Path - Weekly Beadditudes with Dara - wire wrapped heart pendant

Daily Bead Buzz - check out these emeralds and some green jade marquise cut beads - Spring is clearly on their minds.

Earthenwood Studios Blog - "The Wheel and the Maypole" - song inspired designs

Friendly Plastic - National Craft Month Tips, Haute handbag (this wouldn't have been out of place on the red carpet on Oscar night)

Ornamentea - customer showcase winners

Rings & Things - Bead Tour Contest, "crunchy granola charm" ebook review

SoftFlexGirl - spotlight on Lisa Crone's book A Bead in Time, necklace inspired by Alice in Wonderland and (fanfare!) this year's Flex Your Creativity Contest announcement.

Thanks for coming along this week. Remember, if you follow* this blog, you'll never miss the weekly wanderings because you forgot to check - I'll be delivered right to your reader or Blogger dashboard every day!

*Look up at the uppermost left hand side of this page - see the boxes that say "search blog" "flag blog" and "follow blog" - just click the "follow blog" box!

Hope you have a great week - see you tomorrow!

Exciting News! Steampunk and Soft Flex "Flex Your Creativity Contest" Together!

2010-03-13T06:00:00.000-08:00

Just out from SoftFlexGirl's blog: Soft Flex Company is having another Flex Your Creativity Contest! This time the focus is on creating Steampunk-style work with Soft Flex beading wire. I love Steampunk, so I'm really excited about entering. Contest entries must be received by September 1, 2010, winners will be announced on December 1st.

Want to learn more about Steampunk?

I did a whole post about it here, and here are some Stemampunk styles I've worked on:

Spring Time

M is for Moments (sold this at LosCon in November '09)

Ring

Pendant (changed a bit and sold at BayCon '09)

charms (at the bottom of the post)

Other Steampunk sites on the web:

Steampunk Workshop
Steampunk Lab
Steampunk themed comic (one of my favorites) Girl Genius

Melanie from Earthenwood Studios has done some great Steampunk work and has great Steampunk themed components and focals for sale.

Here's a necklace I made from one of her "Toolbox Treasures" focals.

Hope you enter - can't wait to see what you do!

Time for a Giveaway!

2010-03-12T06:00:00.000-08:00

You can be the lucky winner of four Rings&Things memory items - two cork topped glass bottles, one screw top "heart" bottle and a light blue diamond pendant bottle. I'll fill the cork topped bottles with some beads, too! Here's a picture (I've marked the ones not included in the giveaway, just to be clear) of the bottles you'll get:

How to enter - each way you enter, even if you choose more than one, gets you a separate chance, so your name can be in the drawing multiple times:

1. Comment here, but specify in the comment that you want to be in the drawing
2. Follow me on Twitter & tweet me or DM me: "Enter me in the bottle giveaway"
3. Become a fan on Face Book
4. Follow this blog

I'll do a random drawing and announce the winner from all entries on Friday, March 19th

FTC compliance notice of material connection: The glass bottles were provided to me for free, to be used for design purposes, or for a statement of my honest opinion of them, by Rings & Things.

Bold, Maybe Too Bold, Chain and Shell Pearl Necklace

2010-03-11T06:00:00.000-08:00

Ok, today I got the aluminum chain from Fire Mountain Gems purchased with my Bead Trends gift certificate that I talked about on Monday. I thought I had a good idea of how large the links would be but they're a bit bigger in person than I imagined.

I broke a 13 loop base metal silver tone necklace finding (like this one) I had in my stash, in half, and filed the ends smooth. Then I wired various shell pearls and electric blue faceted rounds to each loop, attached it to a length of chain made from more of same, added a few dangles and attached the chain. It hangs 18" from midpoint of chain to the end of the cluster. Because the chain is aluminum, it is lighter than it looks.

The shell pearls and electric blue faceted rounds can be found at Rings & Things:

29-555-10-905 Bead, Shell Pearl, Round, 10mm (Blue Mix) 36-44 beads per 16" strand.
29-555-16-905 Bead, Shell Pearl, Round, 16mm (Blue Mix) 23-27 beads per 16" strand.
29-555-10-901 Bead, Shell Pearl, Round, 10mm (Brown Mix) - 36-44 beads per 16" strand.
29-555-16-901 Bead, Shell Pearl, Round, 16mm (Brown Mix) - 23-27 beads per 16" strand.
28-000-007 -443 Bead, Glass, Faceted Round, 10mm (Electric Blue) - 45-55 beads per 16" strand.

So, is the chain too much? It looks pretty dramatic on, that's for sure. If you like it, thank Tish for being my inspiration to go bold. If you don't, blame me for poor execution of the concept!

And please come back tomorrow for details of my giveaway!

FTC compliance notice of material connection: The assorted beads, as noted above, were provided to me for free, to be used for design purposes, or for a statement of my honest opinion of them, by Rings & Things.

Using Up the Stash #10 - Roses and Sparrows

2010-03-10T06:00:00.000-08:00

Pulled out my box of yellow beads - was in a yellow mood tonight. I picked out a couple glass beads with yellow roses (decals?) on them, and 4mm yellow quartz beads. Decided to make a rosary style chain with the yellow quartz and brass eye pins, then placing the yellow rose beads as a focal.

Yes, it's a terrible picture, but you can click it for a larger view.
I really need to set up my new light box
if I'm going to continue to take these at night!

As you can see I added some sparrow links into the mix. They're one sided stamped brass, so I put a right and a left together so it wouldn't matter if they turned over. Unfortunately I had to put a little lobster claw between them for a clasp because that's all I could find for now.

The lobster claw is definitely temporary - I don't have anything in the stash right now I like for a clasp. What I'd like is something that works as an integral part of the design. I'd love it if I could find a rose or maybe a little nest. As a last resort I'll settle for a toggle. If you would point me to a link with a clasp you think would work, I'd be ever so grateful!

Pretty soon, maybe tomorrow, I'll be posting about a giveaway I'm planning, so do come back!

Rings & Things Hinged Picture Frame - Part 1 Mixed Media Design

2010-03-09T06:00:00.000-08:00

Got a late start tonight, worked on my shelves (needed to re-adjust the height) and then watched some shows. My husband and I are fans of several Monday night shows, Chuck, House, Castle, and The Big Bang Theory. We only watched Chuck, House and Big Bang tonight. Thank goodness for TiVo!

My husband is also doing a major clean-up of the garage and bringing in a lot of stuff we bagged to give away. We've been sorting and he's been dropping it off. He's also brought in some really nice suits I'd put out there when I stopped wearing them. I'm going to take a few to the dry-cleaners and start wearing them again. All the better to show off my jewelry!

Anyway, with all that going on, I only completed three steps tonight towards the final design I came up with using the Rings & Things 1.5" square hinged picture frame:

Step one was to stamp the glass on the right (inside) with archival ink
Step two was to sprinkle and heat embossing powder to give some depth and shine
Step three was to apply some alcohol ink to the glass on the left (inside) and then using a Q-tip with Alcohol Blending Solution, wipe until it was a very thin wash

My plan is to add some detail next. Not sure what comes after that - I'm thinking brooch rather than pendant. The thanks for the inspiration on this piece goes to Margot Potter's Beyond The Bead: Making Jewelry With Unexpected Finds.

See you tomorrow with either more steps or something completely different in my Using Up the Stash series.

FTC compliance notice of material connection: The hinged glass frame was provided to me for free, to be used for design purposes, or for a statement of my honest opinion of them, by Rings & Things.

Using Up the Stash #9 - Constellation Necklace in Purple Velvet Satin with CZ Pendant

2010-03-08T06:00:00.000-08:00

Does this happen to you? You're working on one piece and an idea you tried with it isn't quite right, but you like the idea enough to make it its own piece? That's what happened the other day when I made this necklace.

I was thinking to make the bracelet from Saturday into something with multiple strands and had strung a length of dark purple Swarovski pearls, CRYSTALLIZED™ Swarovski Elements Purple Velvet Satin 6mm bicones, light purple 3mm Swarovski bicones and tiny sterling rice beads. It just didn't work with the bracelet but I really liked the strand on its own, so I made it longer and added the Violet 7x30mm faceted CZ drop which I got from Lima Beads last year.

I have a lot of those rice beads, so I gave this necklace pattern a name (Constellation) and will be trying similar looks in different colors.

~*~*~*~*~

I've been working on a necklace project using the shell beads sent by Rings & Things to their blog partners last month that I'd hoped to have finished by today. It's tediously full of wrapped loops, so it's taking forever.

I'm also stymied with how to finish it off - mostly because my work room is a total wreck, half of my stuff is upstairs and the rest is here and there everywhere all over the room. I need to go through my stash and see if there is a length of chain that would work with this (so I don't have to buy more and thus can't Use Up the Stash). The prospect of digging through the piles upstairs had stopped me from finishing the necklace. Then I remembered I received a $20 gift certificate with Fire Mountain Gems from Bead Trends for submitting a necklace that was in the March issue. I decided on a substantial double cable oval link aluminum chain - hoping the aluminum will be light because all those shell beads aren't - and threw in some sterling silver bead cap purchases, too.

My efforts to get organized started last weekend but were cut short by the miserably lingering head cold I'm still slowly recovering from. I did clear off the wooden hutch in the back of the room and get all the mixed media craft/stamping stuff over on the work surface there where I can actually use it.

I really want to get finished, but my sinuses are still giving me horrific headaches when I do any bending and lifting. Plus, I'm still lacking strength for carrying stuff up and down stairs. I did go get some shelving at Target Saturday morning, so I've got an incentive to clear off the space and get those put up. Maybe this week I'll be able to share some pictures of the *yet again* re-organized work space!

Weekly Wanderings Around the Beadosphere

2010-03-07T06:00:00.000-08:00

Sunday already. I have so much to do and not enough time + energy to get it all done! I'm very, very glad that the Beadosphere is a place where one can wander the world virtually!

A Bead A Day - Lisa thinks about all the Rings & Things blog partner goodies she got, and the post titles are so wonderful: Creativity Unleashed, I See Dandelions, Just Add Baubles

Ahtee's blog - Thanks for sharing my blog in your Monday reading list! Elsewhere at Ahtee's there's the Romance in Brass Bracelet and a lovely copper and pearl necklace.

Beading Gem's Journal - as usual, a ginormous number of great posts last week - here are a couple of my favorites: tutorial link for darling origami heart earrings, spike necklaces, and links to easy chain jewelry tutorials.

*New!* The Cerebral Dilettante - gorgeous necklace using hardware (like Ace hardware-hardware!), beautiful sea dragon necklace, and wonderful wire work in this Signs of Spring piece.

Deez News - the day Davinia posted this I made my husband get me tomato soup on the way home (great comfy food for a stuffy head), and Earrings Galore!

ErtheFae - Giveaway earrings (sorry, they're gone now), a lovely opalized flourite stone. I wonder, what it will become? In the comments there are hints of bead embroidery and purple velvet Swarovskis.

Just A Tish - As usual Tish has come up with the most creative, totally unique designs using her Rings & Things blog partner goodies. I'm hard pressed (again) not to just link to every one. Let's visit the wire wrap bracelet with the shell beads from February and the glass pendant full of delightful beads from this month, her "Window to My Creative Soul".

Livewire Jewelry - featuring an earthy heartsong necklace and Hope II bracelet this week.

Margot Potter - cool idea "Newsworthy Bracelet" tutorial using acrylic beads and decoupaging techniques with Collage Pauge Instant Decoupage.

Shoozle's Wear Your Art! - kicking "can't" to the curb!

Silver Parrot - Loads of great snowy vacation shots this week and, of course, the Friday Bead "P-word" (apparently the p-word is a problem on some reader's work computers).

Something Pacific Northwest - more flowery inspiration for Spring creations - Camelias

Willow Walker - did some traveling last week, but also got some work done on the road - if those cabs at the lower right become earrings, I'm pretty sure I'll be buying them!

Artbeads - Swarovski DIY designs, Swarovski Spring Innovations

The Beadin' Path - Weekly Beadditudes - Lucite Flowers

Daily Bead Buzz - new gemstone products, 15% off savings

Earthenwood Studios Blog - read the story behind these new heart-shaped beads inspired by Paul Simon's "Graceland" - I hope they'll be on sale, I'd love to have one or two.

Friendly Plastic - simulated polymer clay beads, bracelet design inspirations

Ornamentea - funky, fun, flower earrings, daisy chain bracelet (my friends and I made these by the dozens when I was a young teen).

Rings & Things - Twitter pearl?, Kelly Tidwell's jewelry from nature, and are you crazy about all things Alice?

SoftFlexGirl - favorite free project ideas, Soft Flex wire for the Color Contest, bold, impressive large hole beads bracelet with SoftFlex.

Thanks for coming along this week! Remember, if you follow* this blog, you'll never miss the weekly wanderings because you forgot to check - I'll be delivered right to your reader or Blogger dashboard every day!

*Look up at the uppermost left hand side of this page - see the boxes that say "search blog" "flag blog" and "follow blog" - just click the "follow blog" box!

Hope you have a great week - see you tomorrow!

Using Up the Stash #8 - Alexandrite Bottle Pendant Bracelet?

2010-03-06T06:00:00.000-08:00

With absolutely no clue what to do with the faceted diamond shaped Alexandrite colored bottle pendant from the Rings & Things blog partner goodies, I just started adding wrapped loop beads and dangles in various shades of purple.

All of the items but the bottle have been in my stash for various amounts of time. Those silver filigree ovals have been sitting around for ages. The faceted ovals, and one of the dangles, came from a mixed sizes/shapes batch of Czech glass I got in Redondo Beach. The faceted oval that looks orange has more of the copper-y coating on it than the others, so it doesn't show the purple very well. I'm of two minds about swapping it out for something else. The faceted round bead is from The Beadin' Path's bead of the month club. Right now this is bracelet length, but I might keep going for necklace length, perhaps using some sterling chain.

Please join me tomorrow for Wandering Around the Beadosphere!

FTC compliance notice of material connection: The alexandrite colored bottle pendant, as noted above, was provided to me for free, to be used for design purposes, or for a statement of my honest opinion of them, by Rings & Things.

I Got Nothin' - So, Here's a Funny Cat Video

2010-03-05T06:00:00.000-08:00

Using Up the Stash #7 - Spring Time

2010-03-04T06:00:00.000-08:00

Still pretty miserable from my cold and not getting much done, but I did assemble something to share - it's not finished, needs some gluing and perhaps a bit more color before I could say "done", but I wouldn't have a post if I didn't share at least the current status of a work in progress.

I'm very fond of Steampunk style items and the hinged glass pendant from this month's Rings & Things goodies reminded me a bit of a pocket watch case. So I put in a beautifully engraved piece from the inside of a vintage pocket watch, a stamped leaf and ladybug, all of which I purchased from Steampunk Supply at Etsy, and had in the stash waiting for just the right inspiration.

Since I wanted a bit of color to signify Spring, I placed a green opal glass flower bead cap from Rings & Things near the leaf, and added a tiny rhinestone in the center of the bead cap to cover the hole. Of course the piece had to be named Spring Time.

Apologies for the glare from the lamp - took the picture at night,
but click to enlarge and see the really lovely engraving on the pocket watch piece.

Since the back of the pendant is glass as well, there's a floral filigree piece (also from Steampunk Supply) wrapped around back of the large watch piece to provide a nice look for that side of the pendant. It also provides stability for the watch part and keeps it from sliding around inside the pendant.

I'm still thinking about how I'd like to finish that side - I've got some ideas that will take time and gluing, so I couldn't get to it tonight. I'll post again with that side's finished look when it's done.

Oh, and last reminder to enter> Artbeads 10th anniversary sweepstakes closes at 11:59pm Pacific time TODAY.

FTC compliance notice of material connection: The hinged glass case above, was provided to me for free, to be used for design purposes, or for a statement of my honest opinion of them, by Rings & Things.

Taking a Sick Day, Checking Out the Contests

2010-03-03T06:00:00.000-08:00

Way too icky feeling to do anything today - especially anything that takes patience and/or steady hands not occupied with pulling tissues to catch sneezes or wipe a runny nose. So, instead of jewelry blogging, I'll just mention a couple things going on in the Beadosphere I think you should check out.

Artbeads 10th Anniversary Sweepstakes for the $1,000 Shopping Spree will be ending at Thursday, March 4, 2010 at 11:59pm (PST). The contest is open to United States and Canadian residents (excluding Quebec) over the age of 18.

Let's Trade aka Share Your Wares over at JustATish - contact Tish with stuff you want to trade.

Become a fan of Erthe Fae Designs on Facebook for a chance to win some really lovely earrings. Current fans are automatically entered into the drawing. On Friday night she'll draw a random name and the lucky winner will receive the beautiful earrings free of charge.

Glitter giveaway at Just Something I Made - To enter the giveaway, leave a glitter related comment. Entry deadline is this Friday night, March 5 at 11:59 pm. She will draw and announce the winners on Saturday, March 6. BE SURE you leave her a way to contact you if you win. If your comment links to your blog, make certain there’s a link on your blog for emailing. While you're there, you can download some really wonderful label templates.

Over at Treasures Found, the March "Inspired by...Dr. Seuss" challenge is on. You have until 11:59 pm CST on Wednesday, March 31st to post to the contest Flickr account. Details at Treasures Found, towards the end of the post.

The Art Bead Scene March monthly challenge is up, too. Van Gogh's Almond Blossoms is the inspiration this month. Details at the ABS blog.

Doreen of Backyard Beads is having a grand opening celebration for her shop, Doreen's Backyard Beads. The winner will receive this set of Wild Things beads which are like those currently in her Etsy shop. You have two chances to win, details on her blog. The drawing is this Sunday, March 7th.

Use the Muse IV is underway, kits are limited and moving fast. Entry deadline is April 12th with an early bird drawing for entries received by March 29th. Entry details here.

Any challenges, contests or giveaways you're doing or entering? Let me know in the comments!

Rings & Things Goodies - Memory Jewelry

2010-03-02T06:00:00.000-08:00

I have a completely icky head cold right now, started last night just before bed, too, so I didn't sleep very well. I don't feel completely awful, just very congested. I went to work this morning (I have this thing about calling in sick on a Monday) which I really shouldn't have. About an hour after I got there I was so miserable that I drove to the local Walgreen's and bought nose spray, Dayquil, tissues, throat drops and a huge pump bottle of hand sanitizer. I hope I didn't give this to anyone else.

I left work a bit early this afternoon, at my manager's kindly suggestion, which also included "why don't you work from home tomorrow, too?" You don't have to ask me twice! Anyway, coming home to find an envelope from Rings & Things waiting for me was just the kind of pick-me-up I needed at the end of the day.

What a great collection of items for making memory jewelry! I haven't made any to this point, guess I'm going to have another opportunity to move out of the ol' comfy zone again. The bezel cups are going to be my biggest challenge. I haven't worked with resin yet (have some, haven't gotten around to using it) don't have a UV light for curing it indoors, and it's been cloudy and rainy lately, so outdoors isn't an option most days. I may not be able to show off a finished piece with these until I get a sunny weekend!

Here's the stock # list with links (these aren't in the same order as pictured above, btw):

32x15mm glass jars, cork top #30-187-SM
Glass heart vial #30-407-H
Brass 22mm bezel cup, round, one loop #46-301-11-0
Brass 22m bezel cup, round, two loops #46-301-21-0
Brass 18x13 bezel cup, oval, one loop #46-301-50-0
Brass 18x13 bezel cup, oval, two loops #46-301-60-0
Hinged picture frame 1.5" square #55-700-21-1
Antiqued copper plated hinged shadowbox, 1.6" square #55-701-01-7
Hinged glass pendant, round (glass front and back) #55-702-11-1
Alexandrite colored diamond shaped glass bottle #56-999-01-262
Blue diamond shaped glass bottle #56-999-01-452

Where to start? I'll let you know as soon as I figure it out!

FTC compliance notice of material connection: The items shown above were provided to me for free, to be used for design purposes, or for a statement of my honest opinion of them, by Rings & Things.

Using Up the Stash #6 Black Diamond Glass Beads with Sterling Leaf

2010-03-01T06:00:00.000-08:00

I've had this beautiful, large sterling silver leaf in my stash for nearly two years now and just couldn't see the design it belonged with. Finally while stringing a mix of "black diamond" glass beads, I realized they'd look great with the leaf. And, because nothing in the necklace is made from materials I've purchased recently, it was a great piece for the UUtS series, too.

There was only one problem, I didn't want to add another strand of beads but the two strands alone were too skimpy for the bold pendant. That's when I remembered I had a length of silver colored wire mesh tubing from Rings & Things. I incorporated the ribbon with the strands, finished the ends with sterling cones and there you go!

I have one month to go before I display my pieces at Norwescon in Seattle - so much to do to get ready! I'm not sure what kind of a display area I will have so I need to be ready to adapt to whatever I get. I'm considering doing something a bit different than I did in L.A. but I'll need to experiment with the idea to see if it works. I'll let you in on it when I do.

Weekly Wanderings Around the Beadosphere

2010-02-28T06:00:00.000-08:00

These posts are my personal wanderings - I know there are many, many more bead/jewelry and associated crafts blogs out there, but these are the ones I visit every day via my Google Reader. If you have a favorite blog I'm not mentioning, let me know and I'll start visiting (and linking!) it, too.

A Bead A Day - this week has featured the Rings & Things blog partner goodies Lisa received. Starting with piles of pearls on Monday, featuring Electric Sparkle on Wednesday and her clever creations with them on Saturday.

Ahtee's blog -Rose's week featured lovely earrings, window shopping and "Romance in Brass"

Beading Gem's Journal - lots of great posts (as always!) this week, but I think my favorite one was about the pop-out jewelry - what a cool idea!

*New!* The Cerebral Dilettante - featured on the Ornamentea blog Shiny Little Things (a regular in the Supplier Blogs, below) last week, check out her fascinating designs!

Deez News - Davinia has a necklace in Australian Beading Magazine and talks about a dynamic designer.

ErtheFae - check out the beautiful necklaces this week - The Sun Spirals Ever Onward, and The Hungriest Pixie Ever.

Just A Tish - If you visit one post on one blog this weekend, visit this one: Share Your Wares and get in on some cool bead swapping! Then, check out the great pieces Tish has created with her Rings & Things blog partner goodies: Not Nanny's Necklace, Shell Pendant Design, and Blue Note.

Lampwork Diva - Cindy got her Rings & Things goodies, too which inspired her Slash of Blue necklace.

Livewire Jewelry - mixed metal bracelet comprised of beads and bits with special meaning.

Margot Potter - my favorite posts this week were the crocheted wire and crystal necklace, and how to write and publish a craft book, pt 1, but her thoughts on social media sites are very interesting and thought provoking.

Pretty Things - eye candy over on her other blog, An Artist's Year Off plus where to find more of her work to admire (I'll give you a hint, it's Flickr).

Shoozle's Wear Your Art! - I really love these mini glass graffiti walls she's made - look forward to seeing how they can be used in jewelry.

Silver Parrot - fascinating idea: lost in space necklace, she's got her Rings & Things goodies, too, double the bead porn, this week with posts on Wednesday and Friday.

Something Pacific Northwest - looking for a spring inspiration? Check out the colors on this beautiful tree! I'll be visiting with the blogger in April and am looking forward to seeing in person some of the beautiful spots she's featured on her blog.

Willow Walker - gorgeous black and silver dichroic fused glass earrings, and more glass cab designs with 22k gold decals.

Alpha Stamps - lots of great items and ideas for mixed media spring designs

Artbeads - Swarovski spring innovations coming soon, spring/summer fashion trends, St. Patrick's Day sale (thru March 4th)

The Beadin' Path - featuring JustATish! and Dara's Beadditudes: Spring Earrings

Daily Bead Buzz - Happy First Anniversary!, beading contest winners

Earthenwood Studios Blog - Melanie supplies great art beads she makes herself, but she's also a Rings & Things blog partner, too!

Friendly Plastic - Zentangle and Zentgangle how to video

Ornamentea - customer's lovely necklace

Rings & Things - a guest *ahem* blogger, bead soup party to correspond with the Rings & Things show in San Antonio, and a new season of the Bead Tour: "Bead Frenzy"

SoftFlexGirl - featuring Cindy Lietz, polymer clay tutor, Sara's new beads, and new books.

Also, if you follow* this blog, you'll never miss the weekly wanderings because you forgot to check - I'll be delivered right to your reader or Blogger dashboard every day!

*Look up at the uppermost left hand side of this page - see the boxes that say "search blog" "flag blog" and "follow blog" - just click the "follow blog" box!

Hope you have a great week - see you tomorrow!

Commission Piece

2010-02-27T06:00:00.000-08:00

A colleague of mine has two of my lanyards and has commissioned a third. She showed me a pair of earrings which have a large, square, blue faceted glass gem in the center and then smaller multi-color glass gems around it, set in an antique gold-tone metal.

Edited to add, now that I've recovered my files from my old computer and my darling wonderful incredible husband got them all loaded over to my other laptop, a picture via camera phone, so it's not great, of the earring in question:

She wanted a lanyard that had those colors and was really vibrant, "just this side of garish". I strung several series of pattern ideas on a sample strand and had her pick which she liked best. Some of the patterns had pearls, some had smaller beads. With a little from one series and a little from another we came up with this pattern.

I've left it unfinished for now, will get a final approval from her on Monday before finishing it off. It's a good thing I didn't finish it off, because after I took the picture above I realized that in one of the sequences I'd forgotten a purple bead and had to re-string nearly half the strand.

I think this is my most interesting commission yet (not that I've had all that many). What was yours?

Be here tomorrow for Wandering Around the Beadosphere - there were really great posts last week - you'll want to check them out!

Color Challenge!

2010-02-26T06:00:00.000-08:00

Been busy at work and tired in the evenings lately, so no new project to share with you today, but Art Bead Scene blog is sponsoring a color contest featuring Margie Deeb and a palette from her Spring/Summer 2010 color report:

According to the blog, "We have three judges who will select a winner based on creativity, aesthetics, use of color, and wearability. Our judges include Marcia DeCoster, Jane Dickerson and Lorelei Eurto."

Contest details are here. Deadline is April 1st and the entry must include an art bead, either one you have obtained from a bead artist, or one you've made yourself. Great prize, too: "Winner will receive a year’s worth (2) of Margie Deeb’s Color Report for Bead & Jewelry Artists and a $50 gift certificate from Humblebeads.com."

So, you going to enter? I'm pondering...

Published!

2010-02-25T06:00:00.000-08:00

Just got the March 2010 issue of Bead Trends in the mail. May I direct your attention to pages 28 & 29, where you can see Tahiti by Dawn O'Bryan-Lamb. This is a necklace I made using aquamarine and pearls, aquamarine being the March birthstone featured in this month's issue.

Whoo Hoo!!!

This is my first submitted and published work, if you don't count the necklace I entered in the Step by Step Beads Colorworks contest. I am so thrilled to see my work in Bead Trends, which is such a lovely magazine, and one that showcases so many artists with gorgeous photography and very little in the way of intrusive ads.

Thanks go out to Artbeads, Rings & Things and Soft Flex for providing the perfect components to make the necklace, and for the support of the wonderful people from those companies, Steve, Duchess, Dave and Sara, for helping me stretch my creativity and gain confidence!

Thank you, also, to my dear friends of this blog who have left such wonderful supportive comments these past 500+ posts - you, too, have been a source of inspiration and delight!

'Til tomorrow!

Using Up the Stash #5 with Bonus Rings & Things Goodies

2010-02-24T06:00:00.000-08:00

Several things to share before I get to my project for today. First, with the crash of the VAIO I have lost access to a bunch of software and notes and other stuff I desperately need to get to, one of which is all my photo editing stuff. I've downloaded Picassa to this computer so I can do some very basic manipulation, but I miss my PaintShop Pro!

Secondly, yesterday was my 500th post! Snuck right past me - only noticed it tonight when I was on my dashboard to create tonight's post.

Finally, I need to update something from yesterday's post about my blog partner goodies from Rings & Things. In it I mentioned that some of the shell pearls I received were a bit banged up. I want to say for the record that nothing I've ever purchased from Rings & Things has ever gotten here the least bit damaged. They do a fabulous job of carefully packing every piece (and they throw in some yummy candy, too). I just felt that it was important to give a completely objective report of what I received - your experience as a customer of Rings & Things should be just as exemplary as mine have been.

OK, on to tonight's jewelry project - it's a combination of using up the stash and partner goodies - I picked out some of the lighter, pastel peach-ish 10mm shell pearls - they're not quite gold, not quite peach - I'm really not sure what to call them! Since there weren't enough to do a necklace, I made a bracelet from them with 4mm CRYSTALLIZED™ Swarovski Elements bicones in a vivid fuchsia color (that's looking a lot more purple than pink in the light from my Ott lamp than they looked as I was using them), some bright lime green rice pearls and gold plated TierraCast pewter beadcaps.

I chose the vivid colors as a fun contrast - what do you think?

Thanks for stopping by!

FTC notice of material connections: the items in this post from Rings&Things were provided as a promotional gift as part of the Blog Partner Program for review or design purposes.

Rings & Things Blog Partner Goodies Are Here!

2010-02-23T06:00:00.000-08:00

My Rings & Things Blog Partner package of shell pearls and faceted glass roundelles arrived from Rings & Things on Saturday. The shell pearl colors are a wonderful mix with a dark orange-y peach, antique gold, purple, mauve, and some light and dark gray. Forgive me for being lazy, but since JustATish already itemized her package, and it looks pretty much the same. I'll just provide you with a link to her post (and you can read what she's up to with hers, as well!)

The roundelles came in a deep purple and a dark royal blue with an iridescent coating. There were also a few loose pearl-like beads (also made to look like freshwater pearls with shell or perhaps they are freshwater pearls - not sure) in the shipping package. Sadly, quite a few of those loose beads were cracked, chipped and broken.

The shell pearls fared better, but there are dents in some of the larger (16mm) ones, which is unfortunate, as they're otherwise really pretty, but I'd hesitate to use them in earrings or as necklace focals. They were all packed quite tightly in a zip lock bag inside the padded mailer and perhaps that's why rather than a manufacturing defect. I do hope that the same beads would be better packed for purchase, it would be very disappointing to get them in poor condition.

For some reason I immediately got a mental picture of the big pearls as earrings, so I grabbed some headpins and bead caps in antiqued brass for these:

I don't know if your computer shows the color well, but these are done with the purple shell pearls and roundelles. The purple color is really lovely in person. Also, the larger pearl, it's pretty bold for a pearl - would cover up a dime if you set it on one.

I'll be making more pieces with the goodies and sharing soon. I've got a necklace and a bracelet idea already!

In other news, my wonderful Sony VAIO laptop's display went on the fritz today and isn't working anymore, so the DH is getting my little Dell set up for me. I'm doing this post on my work laptop (at home, after hours!)

I think the VAIO may be replaced rather than repaired - and I'll miss it, it's been a fabulous laptop with a big screen, great keyboard and built in video camera. There is also a lot of helpful software on it, but as my next laptop will undoubtedly be a Mac, I'll have to learn how to use a whole new suite of programs.

FTC compliance notice of material connection: The assorted beads, as noted above, were provided to me for free, to be used for design purposes, or for a statement of my honest opinion of them, by Rings & Things.

Using Up the Stash #4

2010-02-22T06:00:00.000-08:00

I have a lot of older beads in the stash that I bought from Michael's when I was first starting out. Nothing against Michael's, it's got a lot of fun stuff and tons of basics, plus if you're into mixed media it's a handy supplier of so many different media.

However, as I got more into making jewelry and then decided I wanted to try and sell my pieces, I found that I needed better better quality and better priced supplies. That's when I started shopping from places like Artbeads, Rings & Things, and other online suppliers you will find on my blogroll to the right of the post.

That said, I still shop there quite often. Sometimes because it's close and I need something quick, and sometimes because they have some cool, fun and different stuff to choose from I haven't seen online. I also head there when I'm traveling out of town and just want something to keep me occupied at the hotel in the evenings.

The bracelet I made for today's UUtS project is from a strand of circle shell beads (donuts?) from Bead Gallery, iridescent champagne glass beads sorted out from a Blue Moon bead mix, gold freshwater pearls and gold seed beads. It's in the 'Orbit' design family, like the lanyard I shared earlier in the series.

I keep meaning to make earrings with those circle/donut beads - they're really perfect for that. I hope I have a couple left over!

I noticed that Tish talked about grabbing from her bead stash to get inspired to make a gorgeous necklace recently - how about you? Any recent work you've done with beads you've had lying around forever and finally realized what they were waiting to become?

Looking forward to hearing from you!

Weekly Wanderings Around the Beadosphere (is back!)

2010-02-21T06:00:00.001-08:00

Another lovely week out there in the Beadosphere, even when it's snowing or raining like crazy outside the window, it's warm and bright on every blog.

These posts are my personal wanderings - I know there are many, many more bead/jewelry and associated crafts blogs out there, but these are the ones I visit every day via my Google Reader. If you have a favorite blog I'm not mentioning, let me know and I'll start visiting (and linking!) it, too.

A Bead A Day - it's always hard to keep from linking to each post over at Lisa's! I've been trying to incorporate a knitted (or net) wire ribbon into a necklace I'm making, so I'll link to her post about it, but you should always check in every day, if only to start the day off with a smile!

Ahtee's blog - Rose (who leaves the most wonderful and encouraging comments here - thanks!) shares her beautiful glass pearl necklace/bracelet set, some cool purple pillar earrings and check out the watercolor sketchbook she made for her boyfriend - lucky guy!

Beading Arts - I think you'll agree that Cyndi's lavish beaded collar with Artbeads CZs is breathtaking!

Beading Gem's Journal - My favorites of the week were easy chainmaille earrings, square tile mother of pearl beads, making prong cabochon settings using wire wrapping techniques

Deez News - Davinia's copy of Lisa's A Bead in Time book has arrived, she's gone "girly and glam" with some new designs, too. Because I haven't posted a wandering in a while there are a lot of previous week's posts you should check - more gorgeous grungeboard and wallpaper earrings (the pair with the swirly gunmetal scrapbook paperclips as an embellishment are my favorites!), a fabulous find for $2, and more. I hope you've followed her blog!

ErtheFae - check out the entire week's posts about her RenFaire trip and admire the cool headpiece she made to match her outfit!

Jeanette Blix - patinaed brass ribcage earrings and a riveted spinner ring in copper - very cool and inspirational, too - I really want to try making more cold connection pieces. I guess a trip to the hardware store isn't out of the question...

Just A Tish - Lisa from A Bead a Day and Tish do a swap, Tish answers the challenge, and Tish uses Artbeads furnace glass in a new, beautiful, creation.

Just Something I've Made - a fabulous mega measuring tape growth chart how-to from a vintage cloth measuring tape.

Lampwork Diva - Cindy goes bead shopping in Toronto and features the Art Bead Scene Blog Carnival.

Livewire Jewelry - beautiful paper/mixed media crafts and a bit of jewelry were featured this week

Margot Potter - Margot's thoughts about sharing ideas on our blogs and seeing them appropriated without permission is a worthwhile read. Check out the cool collars and hat she made with a Knifty Knitter, too.

Pretty Things - Lori shares good ideas for bringing in the readers

Shoozle's Wear Your Art! - showing off a dozen adorable post earrings

Silver Parrot - I really look forward to Friday at Silver Parrot, who could help but drool over the bead porn? Then there's the stellar (pardon the pun) necklace she made featuring a dramatic lampwork focal from a Bastille Bleu bead.

Willow Walker - St. Patrick's day is coming up and these gorgeous emerald green earrings would make the leprechauns give up the gold! While each pair is beautiful on this post, I'm very fond of the gleaming white ones. I don't often plug stores here, but you should really visit her ArtFire shop and see the gorgeous work she does there. And, great news, her comments are working again!

Artbeads - You can pre-order your Use the Muse IV kits now at Artbeads, inexpensive Metallite metalized plastic from Zamba Pro are available at Artbeads.

The Beadin' Path - be sure to check back frequently to the Design Partner Blogs feature (Tish was featured recently!) Dara's Weekly Beadditude about showcasing vintage jewelry is a good read, too.

Earthenwood Studios Blog - check out their pieces in the Ice Resin Blog Hop, especially this one featuring some darling Rings & Things charms.

Friendly Plastic - Cool2Craft live interactive web tv event featuring a how to with Friendly Plastic, also check out the fun charm swap!

Ornamentea - a bit of a cheat, since it was from the week before last, but in my opinion, you simply *must* read the story of these "freaky fish" beads.

Rings & Things - a "snappy logo" you can use when linking to Rings & Things and some of the best craft tips from Twitter and Facebook followers of Rings & Things.

SoftFlexGirl - Lisa from A Bead a Day is showing up *everywhere* - check out her designs with SoftFlex featured on their blog, free project ideas, and Jamie Hogsett's piece in Margie Deeb's Spring Color Report

Also, if you follow* this blog, you'll never miss the weekly wanderings because you forgot to check - I'll be delivered right to your reader or Blogger dashboard every day!

*Look up at the uppermost left hand side of this page - see the boxes that say "search blog" "flag blog" and "follow blog" - just click the "follow blog" box!

Hope you have a great week - see you tomorrow!

Using Up the Stash #3

2010-02-20T06:00:00.000-08:00

In another Michael's close-out last year or so, I saw several Blue Moon lampwork bead sets and thought they were adorable, so I grabbed them. I think the smaller matte, facet patterned glass beads were in them too, but I really can't recall. I used the greener ones in yesterday's necklace and the bluer ones in this, along with blue opal CRYSTALLIZED™ Swarovski Elements bicones, sterling bead caps and sterling beads.

This piece makes me think of a lagoon by a tropical island for some reason. Not that I've ever been...maybe some day! Meanwhile I can wear this and dream of palm trees and white sand beaches. If you click the picture you can view it in more detail.

More UUtS stuff to come - so please visit again!

Using Up the Stash #2

2010-02-19T06:00:00.000-08:00

Continuing my quest to use up the stash, I pulled out these light green enameled beads with large holes I bought a bunch of packages of when they were on closeout at Michael's. When I color sorted various beads they ended up in a box with some unusual geometric patterned light green glass beads that closely matched.

I never figured out what I wanted to do with them and they've been lying around for a year or two. Then I pulled out a coil of Beadalon jewelry cable I'd wanted to use and these beads came to mind. I planned the pattern and spacing out on a bead board then started to string them with crimp beads along the cable. Green glass bead holes were the tiniest bit small, so I had to ream them out a bit.

The holes in the spacer beads are quite large, so I designed the pattern so they'd fit over the ends of the glass beads.

sorry this is off center, too lazy to go photograph it again

Now, I could have sworn that the larger enameled beads were the same shade of green as all the others, but in these photos they show up creamy yellow, so I guess I was wrong. Even so, I think the color difference is ok, and a good combination for spring.

UUtS#3 coming soon!

New Project Series: Using Up the Stash #1

2010-02-18T06:00:00.000-08:00

Here's a new lanyard design called Orbit - it comes out of my goal to start reducing my bead stash. I've had both the shell circle beads and the silver topped light topaz cathedral beads in my stash forever. I think I picked them up at Michael's two or three years ago.

I've added some silver beads with a silverdust finish that I can't for the life of me remember how or why I bought them, but I think they go well with this design. The final touch were some light topaz seed beads as spacers inside and between the shell circles.

This design is more modern and bold than I usually do, but was fun to make.

Just an aside, I saw that gold prices were over $1,100 an oz. today. When I do make new supply purchases, think I'll be getting copper, brass and silver.

Mid-Week Mutterings - Peach Moonstone Necklace Lanyard

2010-02-17T06:00:00.000-08:00

Here's another "Baroness" necklace lanyard - because I don't have the clasps on yet, I'm showing just the front. I used peach moonstone rounds, pale mauve Swarovski pearls, small disk shaped shells that vary from light peach to ivory to pale mauve shades and 4mm CRYSTALLIZED™ Swarovski Elements bicones in a pale pink with tiny gold plated TierraCast™ petaled beadcaps. Those beadcaps are a real workhorse in my jewelry designs - I try to keep a couple hundred in the stash at all times.

I've done a lot of pieces that explore various design types, but this romantic, old-fashioned look is always my favorite and I keep going back to it.

My company has started an internal classifieds on our company intranet and I'm thinking about putting up an ad about my jewelry lanyards. It's free, so that's a huge plus! I'm pretty much decided to do it, just really thinking about how I want to word my ad. They allow pictures, too.

Hope all is well, wherever you are. See you tomorrow!

Tuesday Tidbit

2010-02-16T06:00:00.000-08:00

I crocheted these Amigurumi lovebirds for my daughter for Valentine's Day, from a free Lion Brand yarn pattern. I also bought the materials for them from Lion Brand on the same page. I love the Wool-ease yarn (a blend of lambs wool and acrylic), very soft. A bit challenging to work tight stitches with the size 6 hook as the yarn fibers are a bit loose. Also, the crochet hook in the materials is plastic, and not fun to use, so I went digging for my metal hook in the same size.

The first try at the pattern turned out way too large with the plastic needle for some reason, but the second try was ok using the metal one. Still, they turned out bigger than I thought they would - it would be nice if the Lion Brand picture had some point of reference in it for size. The birds below are about 4 inches high. I used some jasper coin beads for the eyes.

It's been ages since I followed a crochet pattern and I need more practice, but I was happy with the way these turned out.

I'll be back tomorrow with a new lanyard. Hope you'll be back, too!

Monday Miscellany - New Lanyard Necklace Design

2010-02-15T06:00:00.000-08:00

Still trying to get back into the groove around here. It's been an interesting few weeks - like the "May you live in interesting times," curse kind of interesting.

I've made a few new pieces that I can share this week, though. Today's is a lanyard using Swarovski pearls, CRYSTALLIZED™ Swarovski Elements Mocca 6mm bicones, small gold glass bicones and large dark topaz glass with an iridescent coating on one side. It's a long lanyard, 30", finished with gold lobster claws. I used medium 49 strand SoftFlex for the stringing wire. Everything in it came from my stash, so I'm doing fairly well sticking to my plan to use what I have and buy fewer new items. That said, I have broken down and bought a few new things - I'm particularly excited about my new Earthenwood Studios stuff.

I'm pretty fond of this pattern and will probably make a series of lanyard necklaces with a similar look using other colors. I've called this pattern Baroness and this particular lanyard "Mink". When I get my photography studio (aka my daughter's bedroom which she's currently occupying for the weekend) back, I'll be taking better photos and listing it at Artfire.

Thanks for coming by!

Happy Valentine's Day

2010-02-14T08:59:00.000-08:00

Artbeads Ceramic Pendant Necklace

2010-02-02T06:00:00.000-08:00

Today was Groundhog day and apparently we're in for an extra six weeks of winter, oh joy. Looking out the window at the gray skies and rain, I guess I'm not really surprised. Meanwhile, although my official Valentine's Day projects are done, I do have one more to share. As one of the Artbeads Blogging for Beads partners, I get the opportunity to choose from a specific set of their beads, use them for review or design purposes.

Artbeads suggested I select from their Valentine's day charms, beads and stoneware pendants. I chose one of the new stoneware pendants with matching beads: Stoneware Large Red with White Flowers Heart Pendant-Offset Hole Right -15% OFF .

I really liked the idea of working with a heart bead that was drilled with an off center hole. I created the necklace in a symmetrical pattern, added a little heart glass dangle bead and a beaded wire bail.

The stoneware beads and pendant are quite lovely. The beads have a handmade feel to them, the pendant, while the design is folksy, looks a little more mass produced, but not to the detriment of the overall look.

The way I made this was to string and finish each side of the necklace using scrimps and at one end looping the beading wire (SoftFlex medium satin silver) through the wire wrapped bail. At the other end I put the clasp findings.

The bail was very easy to make - just wrap the center of a length of wire add a bead to the wire left over at each side, create a wrapped loop and trim after each bead.

If you shop the Artbeads Sweetheart Sale, you'll save 15% on all orders of $60 or more storewide (20% if you're a newsletter subscriber). To receive these savings, enter coupon code SCW15P-SHS at checkout. The Sweetheart Sale ends at 9am (PST) on Thursday, February 4, 2010.

Looking through FB, Twitter and the blog, it doesn't appear that anyone was really interested in the bracelet I offered to give away:

However, there were a couple re-tweets of my Valentine's Day projects last month, and if you think you were entering the drawing with those, or you'd just like a chance so you can have the beads to make into something else, let me know in comments. I'll draw the winner from today's comments. Offer ends at Midnight, Pacific, tomorrow (Feb. 3rd).

FTC notice of material connection: Artbeads has generously provided the stoneware heart and red stoneware beads for review and/or design purposes.

The Last Valentine's Day Idea (#18) - Glass Bead Charm Bracelet

2010-01-29T06:00:00.000-08:00

Only 16 Days Left Until Valentine's Day!

For the last Valentine's Day idea project I was basically inspired by a left over length of copper chain. It was just the right size for a bracelet, so I pulled out some copper bead caps, a copper heart toggle and grabbed my box of pink glass beads. I'd completely forgotten about some small pink hearts and the last of the Rings & Things blog partner lampwork heart beads which I'd put in the same box. I wrapped the hearts and other pink glass beads with antiqued copper wires and the fancy copper caps, and used some lovely iridescent coated dark pink matte beads for accents.

And that's it for the Valentine's day idea posts! Thanks for following along, it was a lot of fun and I have 18 great Valentine's gift suggestions to list and display at shows.

Also, today and tomorrow are the last days to enter to win the cute Valentine's Day bracelet, all it takes to be entered is a comment! Say "Enter me in the bracelet giveaway" on any post this month. If you're on Twitter and RT any of my tweets this month you'll get another entry. If you're a fan or become a fan of Dawno's on Facebook and leave a comment on any post there with "Enter me in the bracelet giveaway", you get another entry - so there's a total of 3 entries you can make towards the giveaway.

Random drawing will be held on Sunday - and if selected, you'll get the bracelet in plenty of time for Valentine's Day!

FTC compliance notice of material connection: The lampwork heart bead, as noted above, was provided to me for free, to be used for design and/or review purposes by Rings & Things.

Valentine's Day Idea #17 - Amber Glass Earrings

2010-01-28T06:00:00.000-08:00

Only 17 Days left until Valentine's Day!

I wanted to do something a bit different for my next to last Valentine's Day project. So, I went on a search through my beads for heart shaped beads, but in a color other than red or pink. I found some dark amber colored ones and thought they'd be cute as earrings.

I also had a pack of small gold plated toggles, mostly circles, but there were a couple of heart toggles, too, that I'd set aside to use, which I thought would be just the right touch. With a bit of wire and two tiny jump rings, it took hardly any time at all to make these. Good thing too, with the State of the Union, I got to a late start on tonight's project.

I'm thinking about upscaling this design with gold filled heart charms and Swarovski hearts...but I'm trying to be good about buying new stuff, so I'm using available beads from my stash. I also, as you can see, used post and loop ear-studs for a change, as well.

Also, only three days left to enter to win the cute Valentine's Day bracelet, all it takes to be entered is a comment! Say "Enter me in the bracelet giveaway" on any post this month. If you're on Twitter and RT any of my tweets this month you'll get another entry. If you're a fan or become a fan of Dawno's on Facebook and leave a comment on any post there with "Enter me in the bracelet giveaway", you get another entry - so there's a total of 3 entries you can make towards the giveaway.

Random drawing will be held on January 31st - and if selected, you'll get the bracelet in plenty of time for Valentine's Day!

Valentine's Day Idea #16 - Carnelian and Copper

2010-01-27T06:00:00.000-08:00

I decided that for today's Valentine's Day idea, I'd show a bracelet I made quite some time ago. I'd gone back (way, way and deeply back) into my comfort zone with a vintage/romantic style, and made a bracelet with ornate copper bead caps, gold Swarovski pearls, Crystal Copper Swarovski 6mm bicones and large faceted carnelian beads. The bead caps are Tierra Cast copper plated pewter.

I think this would go nicely with the necklace I posted about in December, if you don't mind mixing metals (the necklace uses gold).

I've posted this and other Valentine's Day idea pieces on my Artfire shop, and sale priced them through Valentine's Day. If you'd like to have something I've posted recently for yourself, you can check there. More will go up throughout the week. Do you think it's tacky to maybe do a list of all the pieces and their shop links?

Also, only four days left to enter to win the cute Valentine's Day bracelet, all it takes to be entered is a comment! Say "Enter me in the bracelet giveaway" on any post between now and the end of the month. If you're on Twitter and RT any of my tweets this month you'll get another entry. If you're a fan or become a fan of Dawno's on Facebook and leave a comment on any post there with "Enter me in the bracelet giveaway", you get another entry - so there's a total of 3 entries you can make towards the giveaway.

Random drawing will be held on January 31st - and if selected, you'll get the bracelet in plenty of time for Valentine's Day!

Valentine's Day Idea #15 - Garnet Glass Bordeaux Swarovski Pearls and Copper Necklace

2010-01-26T06:00:00.000-08:00

Only 19 Days until Valentine's Day!

Since I had the box of garnets and garnet colored glass near by from yesterday's Valentine's Day idea necklace, I decided to make a garnet glass and copper heart necklace with the new copper spacers with loops I just received from ABeadStore.com. I threw in a few of the Bordeaux Swarovski glass pearls as well. The bead caps are ornate Tierra Cast copper.

I haven't finished the necklace yet - I'm not 100% sure of how long I want it to be. I think a fairly short length is called for with this design, so it'll be somewhere around 20", I guess. I've got some cute toggles in copper, but I'm not fond of using toggles at the back of necklaces - is that odd?

I've been listing my Valentine's Day items, and added some sale item logos (I've reduced the prices on all of these by up to $5.00) to a few other pieces, at my Artfire shop. I've also been working on some amethyst pieces to put up for February birthdays. Although it's really challenging, because of the day job, to make mention of my pieces on Twitter, I've noted that the ones I do mention have gotten numerous views, so I'm going to try harder to make a point of mentioning them.

I think the Valentine's Day ideas posts will make it to Friday, after that I'm back to my usual designs and posts. I've got some Artbeads items to write about - I'm really looking forward to it, they're going to push me out of the comfy zone again.

You only have until Sunday to enter to win a cute Valentine's Day bracelet, all it takes to be entered is a comment! Say "Enter me in the bracelet giveaway" on any post between now and the end of the month. If you're on Twitter and RT any of my tweets this month you'll get another entry. If you're a fan or become a fan of Dawno's on Facebook and leave a comment on any post there with "Enter me in the bracelet giveaway", you get another entry - so there's a total of 3 entries you can make towards the giveaway.

Random drawing will be held on January 31st - and if selected, you'll get the bracelet in plenty of time for Valentine's Day!

Valentine's Day Idea #14 - Hammered Copper Hearts With Garnets

2010-01-25T06:00:00.000-08:00

This one took me many tries, and probably a foot of copper wire, to finally get three closely matched hammered hearts for this necklace. I added some rough faceted garnet drops and round garnet beads for a bit of color. The chain was something I picked up at Michael's. To match the look of the chain, I used walnut stain Distress Ink and jet black Archival Ink. I'll probably need to coat it with something so it won't wear off - will have to do some research to determine the best product.

Since it's getting close to the end of the month, I'm trying to get as many of my Valentine's items as I can (and can bear to part with) up on my Artfire shop for sale. If you liked something I've posted recently, you should check there and throughout the week, I've got quite a few more ready to add, but want to spread the listings out over a few days in hopes a couple of them will get noticed when they show up on the "new listings" page.

Also, time's running out for entering to win the cute Valentine's Day bracelet, all it takes to be entered is a comment! Say "Enter me in the bracelet giveaway" on any post between now and the end of the month. If you're on Twitter and RT any of my tweets this month you'll get another entry. If you're a fan or become a fan of Dawno's on Facebook and leave a comment on any post there with "Enter me in the bracelet giveaway", you get another entry - so there's a total of 3 entries you can make towards the giveaway.

Random drawing will be held on January 31st - and if selected, you'll get the bracelet in plenty of time for Valentine's Day!

Weekly Wanderings Around the Beadosphere

2010-01-24T06:00:00.000-08:00

A number of posts this week were about CHA, reviews of A Bead in Time and Valentine's Day jewelry. Despite the cold or rainy weather out there, it was a lovely week out there in the Beadosphere.

A Bead A Day - Lisa's great new book is officially released! plus, Egg Hunt Trios and Jill MacKay clasp bracelet.

Ahtee's blog - "Mechanical Butterfly".

Barbe St. John - Review of A Bead In Time

Beading Arts - Get your work featured at Beading Arts.

Beading Gem's Journal - Swarovski and Disney, new Alice in Wonderland jewelry tie-ins
and a review of Lisa (A Bead A Day) Crone's just released book: A Bead in Time.

Craft Critique - Lots of CHA pics

Deez News - the ups and downs of jewelry design with Davinia.

Designs by Victoria - lovely designs for the Artbeads blogging for beads program

Doe-c-doe shows how to change some great old clip earrings into a beautiful necklace. (via Beading Gem's Journal)

ErtheFae - riding out the "Super Storm" and trying to figure out the right design for some great beads and focal.

For the love of beads - support a worthy cause, Tanya Boden (Aardvark Silver on Etsy) needs surgery and other sellers are donating proceeds.

Just A Tish - "Don't rush the creativity!" with her Rings & Things blog partner goodies, green kyanite (really? green? cool!) necklace and odds and ends earrings.

Ladybead Beach Jewelry - a new bracelet with Swarovski pearls and Austrian crystal in a lovely multi-strand design.

Lampwork Diva - Rings & Things blog partner post - Valentine's Day heart necklace and cool "grunge beads" in polymer clay

Margot Potter posts a wonderful review of A Bead In Time.

Melissa J. Lee's Artbeads Beads for Bloggers CZ designs

Nikon Sniper - inspirational colors from the desert.

Pretty Things - Valentine's day heart designs from Lori Anderson - also, check out her new blog An Artist's Year Off.

Silver Parrot - Even though it's raining like crazy, Silver Parrot has lovely new designs to share and gives a peek at the great beads, chain and clasps from the Pasadena Bead and Design Show on the 14th - 17th

Willow Walker - gorgeous new Valentine's Day inspired jewelry, and start here then read the following day's posts to see how it happens.

Just Something I've Made - creating lovely crafts with vintage typewriter paper

And, while it's a non-beading blog it would be a huge favor if you can help my dear friend: Does anyone know what this flower is? Leave a comment on Lisa's blog.

Artbeads - The History of the Valentine's Day Card

The Beadin' Path - Weekly Beadditudes with Dara: Button Jewelry Part 1 - buttons with holes

Earthenwood Studios Blog - Melanie is on a bead cruise (I'm jealous! How about you?), but has prepared some posts for the week - this one about a tutorial on the Clockwork Coil Carapace necklace she'll be giving on the cruise.

Friendly Plastic - The Friendly Plastic booth at CHA

ModPodgeRocks - CHA Saturday SuperShow with ModgePodge

Ornamentea - Steampunk Art from The Graphics Fairy

Rings & Things - designers featured in Stringing who use Rings & Things in their designs

SoftFlexGirl - fashion trends

Don't see your favorite blog here? Just leave me the link in comments and I'll be sure to check them out.

Also, if you follow* this blog, you'll never miss the weekly wanderings because you forgot to check - I'll be delivered right to your reader or Blogger dashboard every day!

*Look up at the uppermost left hand side of this page - see the boxes that say "search blog" "flag blog" and "follow blog" - just click the "follow blog" box!

Hope you have a great week - see you tomorrow!