Bead Soup Cafe 9th Blogger/Non-Blogger Challenge Winners!

September 16, 2013, 12:11 pm

≫ Next: Artisan Whimsy Patina Sunset Challenge

≪ Previous: The Bead Soup Cafe 9th Blogger/Non-Blogger Challenge

Lori Anderson's Bead Soup Cafe on Facebook has an ongoing community run jewelry and bead making challenge called the Blogger/Non-Blogger Challenge.

The ongoing challenge was created by Marlene Cupo of Amazing Designs by Marlene to meet the needs of jewelry designers and bead artists who wanted to participate in community blog hops, but without the need for blogs.

Each new round, the previous winner is hostess and is responsible for choosing a new design inspiration photo and offering a prize. The BNB challenges take place regularly at The Bead Soup Cafe' and are great fun!

Here are examples of prizes from challenges:

Goodie Bag Prize from a BNB Challenge -- Hosted by Robin Reed

Jewelry Prize from a BNB Challenge -- Holiday art bead necklace by Marlene Cupo

As the winner of the 8th Bead Soup Cafe BNB Challenge, I have the honor of hostessing the 9th round. I decided to double the fun by creating two colorway inspiration photos:

A modern art colorway, Teal Goddess:

And a folk-art colorway,"Time Flies" by Frida Kahlo:

I also came up with two prizes, one for each photo inspiration. The two first place winners will receive one of two first place prizes: a $50 gift certificate to Lima Beads or a bountiful bead goodie bag, with additional items added for each participant who posted an entry.

Round 9 First Prizes:

The start of the Bountiful Bead Bag

However, once the challenge began, it was obvious to me that two winners would not reflect the talent, beauty, and contributions for this round! The artists of the BSC came through with the most beautiful work! Go to the photos at the Bead Soup Cafe to view the album. Although the next hostess is not in any way required to do so, I decided to offer additional prizes for the 9th BNB Challenge. The outpouring of fine art jewelry and the exceptional entries of the artists were an inspiration, and I'm so impressed.

The WINNERS!

With so many beautiful, well thought out & excellently created designs and beads for the 9th Blogger/Non-Blogger Challenge, I created the following prizes: First Place, Runner Up, Third Place, Hostess Choice, and Honorable Mention. The contributing artists made this challenge one of the finest, and I thank you everyone who participated. Please know you created truly incredible jewelry and beads!

First Place

First Place for Time Flies:

Esterina Mestoko Jagiella

"Inspiration of Life"

First Place for Teal Goddess:

Kandice Seeber

"Gaia"

Winner of 50 Goodies Bead Bag: Esterina Mestoko Jagiella

Winner of Lima Beads $50 GC: Kandice Seeber

Next Hostess: Esterina Mestoko Jagiella

(First in list wins Goodie Bag & is next Hostess)

Congratulations Esterina and Kandice!

You created beautiful art!

Runner Up

Runner Up for Time Flies:

Robin Showstack "Time Flies"

Runner Up for Teal Goddess:

Kelly Hosford Patterson "The Fairy Goblet"

Winner of 25 Goodies Bead Bag: Robin Showstack

Winner of Lima Beads $25 GC: Kelly Hosford Patterson

Congratulations Robin and Kelly!

Beautiful work!

Third Place

Third Place for Teal Goddess (Tie):

Dhea Powers * Java Bead

Third Place for Teal Goddess (Tie):

Birgit Klughardt

Third Place for Time Flies (Tie):

Stephanie Gard Buss * Max & Lucie Jewelry

Third Place for Time Flies (Tie):

Agnes Keh * Me Made Jewels

Winner of 10 Goodies Bead Bag: Agnes Keh

Winner of 10 Goodies Bead Bag: Stephanie Buss

Winner of Lima Beads $10 GC: Dhea Powers

Winner of Lima Beads $10 GC: Birgit Klughardt

Congratulations on Gorgeous Designs Agnes,Dhea,Birgit,and Stephanie!

Hostess Choice

Kelli Nelson

Catherine Shattuck "Poseidon"

Serena Trent * Pink Ice Jewels

Marlene Cupo *Amazing Designs by Marlene

Alison Baird * Beads By Alison

Lennis Carrier * Windbent

Gloria Allen * Gloria Allen Designs

Andrea Glick * Zenith Jade Creations

Dini Bruinsma * Angaza by Changes

Paula Winchester Hisel * Simply Beadiful

Stephanie Weiss

Leah Mifflin Tees

Elsie Deliz-Fonseca

Sam Waghorn * Pale Moon Creations

Dolores Raml

Honorable Mention

Serena Trent * Pink Ice Jewels

Shalini Austin * Jewellery By Shalini

Marie Covert Thistledown and Swaddlings

Veralynne Malone

Sandra McGriff * Skye's Creative Chaos

Alison Baird * Beads By Alison

Anzia Parks * Anzipanz Designs

Robin Reed

Agnes Keh * Me Made Jewels

Hostess Choice & Honorable Mention Winners

will receive an art bead for each winning design!

I didn't award prizes to every design, nor did I pick only one design per artist. I thought a great deal in deciding the hostess choice & honorable mention winners.

Congratulations on Superb Designs!

Gift Certificate winners, please message me with your email

Good Bag & Art Bead Winners, please message me your mailing address

Meet the Artists

9th Blogger/Non-Blogger Challenge

Alison Baird

FB page : www.facebook.com/BeadsByAlison

Website: www.beadsbyalison.com

Gloria Allen

Gloria Allen Designs

Kandice Seeber

FB - https://www.facebook.com/kandice.seeber
Etsy Store - http://kseeber.etsy.com/
Blog - http://coloraddictionblog.blogspot.com/
Website - http://www.lampwork.net/ AND http://www.coloraddiction.com/

Designs by Vera

shop link: http://www.jewellerybyshalini.co.uk/
FB page: https://www.facebook.com/Jewellery.By.Shalini
blog link: http://jewellery-by-shalini.blogspot.co.uk/

Stephanie Gard Buss

Max & Lucie Jewelry

www.maxandlucie.etsy.com
www.facebook.com/maxandlucie
www.maxandlucie.blogspot.com

Dhea Powers

http://www.javabead.com/item_398/Day-Dream--Artisan-Floral-Lampwork-Bead-Bracelet.htm

Esterina Mestoko Jagiella

https://www.facebook.com/ekleijar

http://ekleijar.blogspot.com/
http://pinterest.com/indomacarons/e-kléi-jar-my-creations/

Dini Bruinsma

http://angazabychanges.blogspot.nl/

Marie Covert

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Thistledown-and-Swaddlings/220429498010141?ref=hl

http://thistledown-and-swaddlings.blogspot.com/

Kelly Hosford Patterson

http://travelingsideshow.blogspot.com/2013/09/my-my-how-time-does-fly-double-fun.html

https://www.etsy.com/shop/pyxeestyx
https://www.facebook.com/pages/PyxeeStyx/270684896285606

Agnes Keh

https://www.etsy.com/shop/MeMadeJewels

Lennis Carrier

www.facebook.com/windbent

http://windbent.wordpress.com/

http://www.etsy.com/shop/Windbent

Paula Winchester Hisel

www.simplybeadiful.weebly.com

Marlene Cupo

Amazing Designs by Marlene

http://amazingdesigns-marlene.blogspot.com/

Sandra McGriff

http://skyescreativechaos.blogspot.com/

Robin Showstack

HEARTS' DESIRES JEWELRY STUDIO

Andrea Glick

Blog: http://zenithjade.blogspot.com/

Facebook: http://facebook.com/ZenithJadeCreations

Anzia Parks

https://www.facebook.com/anzipanzdesigns

Blog http://anzipanzisworkshoppe.blogspot.com/

Shop Sites - http://anzipanzdesigns.storenvy.com/

http://www.etsy.com/ca/shop/AnZiPanZDesigns

Stephanie Weiss

Birgit Klughardt

https://www.facebook.com/birgit.klughardt/media_set?set=a.569613296439547.1073741831.100001726460358&type=1

Blog: http://www.gitesbeads-gite.blogspot.com/

Kelli Nelson

Gloria Allen

Robin Kae Reed

www.willowdragon.blogspot.com

Toltec Jewels is an author by day, jewelry maker by night. Her literary work is housed by the San Francisco MOMA and is published internationally in popular magazines, literary quarterlies, and university publications. She has won a number of awards for literary and jewelry arts. She is happiest making handcrafted jewelry with her entire family, snuggling with her doggies and grandkids, sewing, singing, reading, and learning more jewelry techniques. She is the hostess of JSF, a diverse community of expert and emerging artisans taking inspiration from each other and jewelry arts. Join her on FB for networking, fundraising for Beads of Courage, jewelry making challenges, blog hops, contests, give-a-ways and of course, cool beads and jewelry!

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Artisan Whimsy Patina Sunset Challenge

September 16, 2013, 9:00 pm

≫ Next: Creating with Cabochons: Celestial Bliss

≪ Previous: Bead Soup Cafe 9th Blogger/Non-Blogger Challenge Winners!

Patina Sunset Challenge

The super talented Melinda Orr is hostinga perfect Indian Summer challenge -- just as the light changes & the days grow shorter, and we ready our homes & lives for fall -- Paint the Sky with Patina!

The challenge is hosted through her Facebook group, Creative Bead Chat and can be entered at Artisan Whimsy, her online Arts community.

I'm loving the challenge because I recently interviewed Lisa Liddy (interview upcoming) and I personally collect "Color Me This" hand-blended patinas just as I collect beautiful beads! "Color Me This" is a part of "Metal Me This" on Etsy, with over 30 patina colors to choose from! Colors are versatile, ranging from deep, rich shades to soft & subtle ones.

Colors like "Spice" shown above, "Retro" (Pepto Pink, Cornflower Blue, & Tangerine) and "Tahiti" (Sea Green, Orchid, & Black Pearl) come in 3 packs -- as well as 6 packs. The mix & match sets allow you to choose colors like Red Velvet, Paprika, Sapphire, Inca Gold. And then there's my favorite, buy by the dozen.

I think I have almost every color Lisa has blended!

My Entry for the Patina Sunset Challenge:

I created both patina components and handcrafted jewelry using those components for both parts of the challenge with my October earrings! I used Color Me This ifn turquoise and paprika to color the copper discs, and added copper splashes made from heating copper to liquid & cooling. I used a copper splash in warm gold and rose and pumpkin tones on top of the cool vivid turquoise patina, and reversed this with cool olive and peridot greens and iris violet tones on top of the spicy paprika patina. I then sealed the patina and splashes with Permalac in matte to ensure the colors would stay a long time. Lastly, I punched holes in the bottom of the copper discs and added owls by Andrew Thornton. I love the textured, imperfect look of the sky & sunset patinas along with the random shapes & colors of the copper splashes & the hammered look of the brass owls.

I call the earring design, "Under a Spell" for the mesmerizing effect a gorgeous sunset has on us. I have found myself many times standing in awe, enchanted, under a spell created the gorgeous colors of the sky at sunset. The earrings are mismatched purposefully, and like an Autumn painted sky, coordinate in awesome blues and reds!

AW October Challenge:

Patina Sunset...paint the sky with patina

Sept 18th : Deadline to submit

Sept 19th: Winners announced

Oct 1st: Bead Chat Magazine Feature

* * * * * *

To enter and to see all the Patina Sunset Challenge Entries, visit Artisan Whimsy!

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Creating with Cabochons: Celestial Bliss

September 17, 2013, 9:00 pm

≫ Next: Up and Coming October Blog Hops

≪ Previous: Artisan Whimsy Patina Sunset Challenge

Participating today is a great honor for me. The opportunity to share my cabochon work is magical and I'm grateful for the possibility because of an angel whisperer, Sally Russick of The Studio Sublime.

I actually had missed the deadline for joining in this hop and was so disappointed because I'd been bead embroidering cabs all year for a celestial necklace in honor of my daughter Christina, who died last year, and in honor of my other two beautiful daughters, Colene and Sarah.

I didn't want to be rude, so I quietly watched as people prepared for the blog hop. Weeks passed, and I wished. But when I read an AntiquityTravelers post about the hop, I could not not ask to be included. It was just a couple days until the reveal!

And then the coolest thing happened.

Sally read my email just as she was about to email everyone the participant's list! It was right on top as she opened her email.

And so I'm sharing my celestial cabochon jewelry today. Creating it has been healing and meditative work. And being able to participate today is a gift, an affirmation that angels are among us.

So, firstly I'm sharing lots of wire work cabs for inspiration. I think cabs are my very favorite component of all. I love them! I started creating with cabs the first time I began making jewelry.

One of my very favorite bezel techniques uses chainmaille. With a simple Half-Persian 3-1 weave, a strong and versatile bezel can be made for even the largest gemstone cabs.

The tutorial for this bezel is available on the BBJ website, Series 1600 "World Traveler" and it's available for free. What a great technique!

Charoite cab with antique brass chainmaille bezel,
carved amethyst beads, charoite rounds, Swarovski crystals.

The same chain can be inverted also, to create another style bezel.

This cab is seraphinite, the "angel stone"

In addition, I love to chainmaille bezel rivoli crystals with a 12-2 Japanese weave.

And I enjoyed creating my first traditional peyote bezel for a rivoli last month for the Summer Color Surprise blog hop!

Wire wrapping is another of my favorite techniques for cabs.

Rose Quartz and Cubic Zirconia Faceted Gem

Double Wrap of Larimar cabs, with larimar
rounds, pearls, mystic topaz, and silver beads

Blu Mudd Artisan ceramic made into a cab and wire wrapped

Wire wrapped Drusy quartz

And this year, I began combining wire wrapping and beadwork. Here, I've made a simple wire wrap and added beadwork to the wire bezel.

Azurite with Beadcomber flower and Humblebeads

I've also been wire weaving, and creating reversible bezels. I learned the technique from Lisa Barth, and a tutorial is available at her Etsy shop.

One side of the ocean jasper is held with metal work.

Wire woven Ocean jasper

The reversed side of the ocean jasper is a beaded bezel.

Beadwork bezel reversed ocean jasper cabochon

I began creating this necklace last November, almost a year ago! I decided to use all the indigo blue 7 celestial drusy cabochons that I've collected. Most of the cabs are from the lovely Julez Buell and her shop, Julez Jewelz Cabochons on Etsy.

When Sally added me to the challenge, I stayed up most of the night and finished the 10 month long project for our hop. I may reach for more Lacey's and continue on creating a bib design, or I may simply focus on adding soft leather backings to the cabs. No matter what, I'm enchanted; I adore all those seed beads!

Drusy Cabochons from Julez Jewelz, sun button by Beadfreaky.

The sun shone as if to say "be happy!" as I photographed

Thank you Sally for organizing a wonderful cabochon blog hop! I count my lucky stars to be a part of "Creating with Cabochons." And thank you sweet angels for watching over us :)

The Cabochon Artists:

Our Host: Sally Russick

D Lynne Bowland

Alicia Marinache

Lynn Jobber

Jenny Davies-Reazor

Jen Judd

Jo-Ann Woolverton

Marde Lowe

Dawn Doucette

Mary K McGraw

Gloria Allen

Cheri Reed

Sonye Stille

Elizabeth Owens Dwy

Veralynne Malone

Tania Hagen

Lynsey Brooks

Christina Miles

Holly Westfall

Kathy Lindemer

Patti Vanderbloemen

Therese Frank

Adrienne Berry

Liz E

Tanty Sri Hartanti

Ginger Bishop

Renetha Stanziano

Marlene Cupo

Sandi Volpe

Sharyl McMillian-Nelson

Niky Sayers

Mischelle Fanucchi

Tracy Stillman

Skylar Bre'z

Ann Schroeder

Paula Kramer

Jess Green

Susan Kennedy

Stacie Florer

Cathie Carroll

Susan F.

Michelle Caballero

Sabine Dittrich

Kristina Johansson

Kimberly Sturrup-Roberts

Melissa Meman

Cheryl McCloud

Michelle Timms

Cindy Pack

Lynda Carson

Cynthia Machata

Julia Harris

Ingrid Anderson

↧

Up and Coming October Blog Hops

September 26, 2013, 9:00 pm

≫ Next: My Addictions...Handcrafted Jewelry by Patti: I think it is time for a giveaway!

≪ Previous: Creating with Cabochons: Celestial Bliss

Autumn is arriving, and even here in Orlando, the mornings have a chill. October is almost here, and it's time to get out those cozy sweaters. My adorable Chihuahua friend, Pancho, is ready!

October is a hoppin' month for me and Pancho! I'm participating in 4 blog hops and the Art Jewelry Elements Earring Challenge.

Autumn Design Challenge

October 2

I am so looking forward to the Autumn Design Challenge on October 2nd with THEa Elements and Bluberribeads! I am very lucky to get participate, and counting my stars each day as I get ready for the blog hop. Here are the gorgeous beads I received. The brass components are by THEa Elements, and the ceramics are by Blueberribeads. My head is swimming with ideas! The art beads are so pretty!

Seed Bead and Metal Blog Hop

October 19

On October 19th, it will be fun with beadweaving and metalwork for the Seed Bead and Metal Blog Hop. Here are the lovely components I received. I started working right away!

Day of the Dead Hop

October 28

Preparing for Octoberfest, I purchased some very cool Day of the Dead beads from Scotland. When Suburban Girl studio organized a quick Day of the Dead/ Halloween Hop, I jumped in! I think it is a great idea, and as a Hispanic, I'm oh so happy to celebrate my Mexican and Mexican American culture.

Octoberfest Celebration of Autumn

October 27

And the month ends with a party! Octoberfest on October 27th is the blog hop I'm hosting and it is the second annual! I'm sooo excited and honored to share in the celebration of autumn with artists around the globe. I have so many beautiful beads for the event, and more being custom made right now! It will be a lot of fun to create and share because the blog hop is open, with recipes, jewelry, beads, costumes, and more! I can't wait to see what everyone shares. And on Halloween, I'm giving out treats to the participants. I've already gotten some fun new art bead treats for my design, like these polymer clay beauties from Beady Eyed Bunny.

And wow lampwork by Southern Gals Designs.

Happy Autumn and Happy Hopping!

TJ

Toltec Jewels is an author by day, jewelry maker by night. Her literary work is housed by the San Francisco MOMA and is published internationally in popular magazines, literary quarterlies, and university publications. She has won a number of awards for literary and jewelry arts. She is happiest making handcrafted jewelry with her entire family, snuggling with her doggies and grandkids, sewing, singing, reading, and learning more jewelry techniques. She is the hostess of Jewel School Friends, a diverse community of expert and emerging artisans taking inspiration from each other and jewelry arts. Join her for Beads of Courage jewelry challenges, blog hops, give-a-ways and of course, cool art beads and handcrafted jewelry!

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My Addictions...Handcrafted Jewelry by Patti: I think it is time for a giveaway!

September 28, 2013, 1:02 pm

≫ Next: Celebrating Autumn with THEA Elements and BlueberriBeads

≪ Previous: Up and Coming October Blog Hops

Artist extraordinaire Patti Vanderbloemen is having an incredible fundraiser to both raise funds and garner attention for Miracle Horse Rescue (MHR). For eight weeks, she is donating 100% -- yes, indeed, 100% -- of her Etsy sales to this wonderful organization.

Miracle Horse Network is a non-profit horse sanctuary, and we make a powerful difference in helping older or homeless or rescued horses live with dignity simply by treating ourselves to some of the finest -- and it is indeed, the finest -- art jewelry! Shop for the Holidays, shop without guilt for you & enjoy browsing her beautiful designs at Patti's Etsy store, My Addictions: Handcrafted Jewelry by Patti

Patti is holding giveaways on her blog to also raise attention to the Miracle Horse Network. And Patti is also offering a discount off everything in her store through the end of the fundraiser:

9/13/2013 - 9/20/2013 - SAVE 30%

9/21/2013 - 9/27/2013 - SAVE 25%

9/28/2013 - 10/11/2013 - SAVE 20%

10/12/2013 - 10/18/2013 - SAVE 15%

10/19/2013 - 10/31/2013 - SAVE 10%

The community has been incredible in response to her efforts to support MHN, and the 6-8 sales Patti expected have become a miracle in themselves, as thousands have been raised and donated to the Miracle horse sanctuary! Patti writes,

"As of September 25, I have raised - and already donated - $1,865.00 to benefit the equines at Miracle Horse Rescue! I have been gobsmacked with orders (THANK YOU!!)

and I am beyond flabbergasted! Quite frankly, I anticipated maybe 6-8 sales over the 7 week

fundraising period ...I never thought I would raise so much money, especially in such a short

period of time. I am truly humbled by this support! I am hoping that I am also raising

awareness to the plight of horse rescue - all animal rescue! "

I too wanted to help raise funds, and although I didn't have a lot to spend, I purchased earrings for under a twenty dollars. And I think that is how so much is now accumulating: because we are all giving what we can, and like a miracle, each act of kindness grows into something awesome!

The power of love is inspiring -- as are the gorgeous earrings I purchased from Patti! Her jewelry designs are simply beautiful, and the quality of her work is outstanding. Honestly, I learned just from holding her work in my hands, and I think I'll be a better jewelry maker from now on.

Here are my new Autumn earrings. I love them!

"Gorgeous sunshine orange lampwork disc beads, by Sue Beads,

have been dipped in frit around the edges to form these fantastic

dangles for these earrings. The disc beads have been wire wrapped

in sterling silver and topped with sterling silver bead caps

and two matte-finish coordinating lampwork beads by Donna Millard.

The earrings dangle from hand forged, sterling silver ear wires

and measure 2 1/4" from the top of the ear wire to the bottom of the earring."

My Addictions...Handcrafted Jewelry by Patti: I think it is time for a giveaway!:

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Celebrating Autumn with THEA Elements and BlueberriBeads

October 2, 2013, 1:01 am

≫ Next: OctoberFest '13 Participants

≪ Previous: My Addictions...Handcrafted Jewelry by Patti: I think it is time for a giveaway!

(My Seed Bead & Metal Blog Hop Reveal is Upcoming ASAP. My apologies. I've been ill )

Welcome

Autumn

Today we are creating with beautiful components by

Lesley Watt of THEA Elements and Caroline Dewison of BlueberriBeads

Each handcrafted component is the finest.

From BlueBerriBeads: teal branches focal,

midnight blue, matte & metallic ceramic beads --

From THEA Elements: brass and midnight blue

bracelet component, floral etched brass focal.

So beautiful are each individual works of Lesley's and Caroline's art, I created an abundance of fall jewelry.

Autumn came to life, blooming from my garden flowers,

warmed by the sunny days of Orlando, Florida

Art beads came together with gems,

and I had such a lovely time creating.

Along with the art beads for the hop,

I included gifts from friends.

The autumn jewelry became even more treasured.

Silver Birch

Patti Vanderbloemen gifted me a very special Donna Millard lampwork owl last week!

Adding Greek ceramic like birch wood & lampwork

by Crazy Lady Glass, I strung onyx and jasper

heishi beads, and faceted black spinel.

The owl snuggles between Caroline's ceramic bead

and Lesley's brass focal. I love how the matte ceramic

and metal brass look together,

I add carved onyx leaves and an Australian crystal

18k flower I've been saving for years.

More beads gifted were added to Silver Birch: ceramics from Margot Potter, a sterling silver onyx box clasp.

Cornflower

I'd been creating brass links and coloring them with

Sapphire Color Me This patina, when my spouse found

gorgeous chainmaille rings in twisted brass.

I fell in love with the rings, and created

soft golden flowers to compliment the ornate

scrolling brass bracelet connector by Lesley.

Looking at my photos, I realize now I forgot the carved

sapphire flowers. I'll attach them to the component rings.

Marigold

I adore the soft teal focal by Carol.

The image of tree branches powerfully grace

the green turquoise ceramic.

My mind and spirit

touch upon nuances of turning trees in fall,

leaves dancing away in the cool wind.

The light copper tassel chain moves softly.

Again, more objects d'art and gifted beads:

polymer beads by Tree Wings Studio, Swarovski

beads from Margot Potter and a Goddess ceramic

heart from my friend Christine of beadfreaky.

l handcut, textured, and tumbled rings from copper

to compliment the rich Mexican fire opal rondelles

and soft green opal from Peru.

The ceramics seem to belong together.

The Goddess and branches ceramics radiate bliss.

Scilla

With the two blue ceramic beads by Caroline,

another fun jewelry piece to shape with gifts from friends!

I was inspired to use my mystical kyanite stick,

gifted to me by Lennis Carrier of Windbent,

as a perch for an owl by Jenny Davies-Reazor.

Lennis' silver Czech leaves grace the ethereal blue quartz

gifted from my friend Mags Saari of Finland (and in our hop today!). Vintaj chain and a sweet polymer nest by Leah Curtis

of Beady Eyed Bunny make a woodland evening sing.

Arriving just as I finished the necklace, the

lampwork flower by Lea Avroch jumps right

into the fall forest party.

Candytuft

With one last ceramic BlueberriBead left to create with,

I made autumn jewelry reflecting Orlando's fall.

Here, fall has blooming roses, hibiscus,
and tropical flowers galore -- I was happy to
add carved rose quartz and pink tourmaline leaves.

Creating rosary jewelry, the copper coins have a

rose motif was a lovely representation of our Lady.
Arriving to add a touch of beauty: an exquisite
pink lampwork flower by Lea Avroch.

I'm delighted with the pretty warm shades of copper,

the sweet gem and art flowers of the rosary necklace.

Lesley and Caroline, your art was a delight

to create with! Art beads and gems fell

into place, and the jewelry seemed to

naturally come together in honor of fall.

Creating for autumn has been a great joy.

Thank you both for the magic of design,

for the gift of

possibilities.

Fly Well

Bonus

The Heliotrope fairy says,

"Check out the lilac button beads

at BlueBerriBeads!"

The Pine Tree Fairy says

"check out the pine cones at THEA Elements!"

Lesley Watt - http://thegossipinggoddess.blogspot.co.uk/

Caroline Dewison – http://blueberribeads.co.uk

Gay Messander - http://gaysiemay.blogspot.co.uk/

Made By Jules - http://madebyjulesblog.blogspot.co.uk/

Heidi Post - http://expostfactojewelry.blogspot.co.uk/

Janet Bocciardi - http://www.honeyfromthebee.com/

Alice - http://alice-dreaming.blogspot.com

Dolores Raml - http://craftydscreations.wordpress.com

Lucy Haslam - http://faerystone.blogspot.co.uk/

Pine Ridge treasures - http://www.gratefulartist.blogspot.com/

Shirley Moore - http://beadsandbread.blogspot.com

Tracy Collins - http://travelsintimedesigns.blogspot.co.uk

Melissa Trudinger – http://beadrecipes.wordpress.com/

Mags - http://magsinhelmet.blogspot.com

Pepita - http://pepita-handmade.blogspot.co.uk/

Jo-Ann - http://itsabeadifulcreation.blogspot.com

Toltec Jewels - http://www.jewelschoolfriends.com

Judith Johnston – http://www.judith-johnston.com/blog

Janine Lucas – http://www.esfera.me/travel/blog/travel-stories

Madeline Bunyan – http://madelinebunyan.com/mlj/

Chic and frog – http://www.chicandfrog.wordpress.com

Sue Rennie - http://moonandsevenstars.blogspot.co.uk

Toltec Jewels is an author by day, jewelry maker by night. Her literary work is housed by the San Francisco MOMA and is published internationally in popular magazines, literary quarterlies, and university publications. She has won a number of awards for literary and jewelry arts. She is happiest making handcrafted jewelry with her entire family, snuggling with her doggies and grandkids, sewing, singing, reading, and learning more jewelry techniques.Join her for fundraising for Beads of Courage, jewelry making challenges, blog hops, and give-a-ways -- and of course, cool art beads and jewelry!

↧

OctoberFest '13 Participants

October 21, 2013, 4:11 pm

≫ Next: Second Annual October Fest Blog Hop And Dia De Los Muertos Blog Hop

≪ Previous: Celebrating Autumn with THEA Elements and BlueberriBeads

Octoberfest 13 Artists

Caroline http:// Carolynscreationswa.blogspot.com

Andrea Glick-Zenith http://zenithjade.blogspot.com/

Dolores Raml http://craftydscreations.wordpress.com/

Karla Morgan http://TexasPepperJams.blogspot.com

Susie Harris http://jewelleryjunkie.blogspot.com/

Susan http://libellulajewelry.com

Mischelle http://micheladasmusings.blogspot.com/

Billi http://billi-rs-rothove.blogspot.com/

Kay Thomerson http://kayzkreationz.blogspot.com/

Jean Yates http://prettykittydogmoonjewelry.blogspot.com/

Kelly Hosford Patterson http://travelingsideshow.blogspot.com

Kathy Lindemer http://bay-moon-design.blogspot.com

Liz E http://beadcontagion.blogspot.com

Jasvanti Patel http://jewelrybyjasvanti.blogspot.com

Christie Murrow www.charisdesignsjewelry.blogspot.com

Jodie Marshall http://marshalljodie.blogspot.com/

Andrea Trank http://heavenlanecreations.com/

Dini Bruinsma http://angazabychanges.blogspot.nl

Elsie Deliz Fonseca http://ladelizchica.blogspot.com/

Pepita www.pepita-handmade.blogspot.com

Karla Morgan http://texaspepperjams.blogspot.com/

Kathleen http://99bobotw.blogspot.com/

Vera Lynn http://veradesigns.blogspot.com/

Rana Wilson http://ranaleadesigns.blogspot.com/

Catherine King http://catherines-musings.blogspot.com/

Lily Vincent http://thecreativeklutz.blogspot.co.uk/

Janice Hidey (Janimar) http://drawingthelinesomewhere.com/

Cory Tompkins http://TealwaterDesigns.blogspot.com

Candida Castleberry www.spunsugarbeadworks.blogspot.com

Cynthia Kent Machata http://antiquitytravelers.blogspot.com/

Alicia Marinache http://www.allprettythings.ca

Linda Anderson http://fromTheBeadBoard.blogspot.com

Leah Curtis http://beadyeyedbunny.blogspot.com/

Jennifer Reno (JenRen) http://jenrenjewelry.blogspot.com/

Robin Reed http://willowdragon.blogspot.com/

Tanty Sri Hartanti www.tjewellicious.blogspot.com

Lisa Lodge http://gratefulartist.blogspot.com/

Ingrid A. http://lilisgems.wordpress.com/

Judy Turner www.silver-rains.blogspot.com

Gina Hockett http://freestyleelements.blogspot.com/

Nelly May www.smellynelly.blogspot.com

Tanya McGuire http://tanyamcguire.blogspot.com/

Ahowin http://www.blog.ahowinjewelry.com

Sonya Stille http://dreaminofbeads.blogspot.com

Pam http://www.klassyjoolz.blogspot.com

Carol D. http://dillmansdallies.blogspot.com/

Asri Wahyuningsih http://asribeadwork.blogspot.com/

Ginger Bishop http://lilmummylikes.blogspot.com

Janine http://www.esfera.me/travel/blog/travel-stories

Shaiha Williams http://shaihasramblings.blogspot.com/

Toltec Jewels (Rita, your hostess) www.JewelSchoolFriends.com

Remember to Check back on Halloween,

October 31st, for the random.org listing of prize winners!

↧

Second Annual October Fest Blog Hop And Dia De Los Muertos Blog Hop

October 27, 2013, 4:41 pm

≫ Next: Octoberfest 13 Winners

≪ Previous: OctoberFest '13 Participants

Welcome to the Second Annual Octoberfest!
I've posted together both reveals for
my annual Toltec Jewels' Octoberfest blog hop
and
Suburban Girl Studio's
Dia De Los Muertos blog hop

Today and tomorrow I'm celebrating all I love about fall with the coolest group of artists! Welcome to the second annual Octoberfest sharing jewelry and beads, as well as recipes, memories, crafts, decorations for our home, fun with our family, celebrations & traditions & all things autumn!

Since the 27th is Octoberfest and the 28th is my 47th birthday, as well as Suburban Girl Studio Halloween - Day of the Dead blog hop, I'm posting everything in celebration of autumn fun here together!

I LOVE autumn, my magical birthday time, the fun of Halloween & especially as a Mexican-American, my beautiful culture's way of honoring and including death openly as part of life.

October

The air is cooler & crisper,

the turning trees dance in the wind.

Swoosh....

Beautiful handcrafted leaves by Leah Curtis of Beady Eyed Bunny

There is a new magic in the angle of day light,

nights smell delicious, earthy & spicy. The crackle of leaves against earth outside and the aroma of warm homemade

bread & cookies & chilli drift from inside cozy homes.

Costumes are chosen, what we want be comes true, with happiness and anticipation of treats and fun. A special time to transform fear: strangers now become neighbors as children & parents go from house to house, meeting, trick or treating.

Pumpkins, pumpkins, pumpkins! By Andrea Glick of Zenith Jade
Pumpkins are custom made for me to become Halloween jewelry
for little ones, my grandchildren --
and kids at heart too, myself & my daughters :)
Thank you Andrea! xxoo

Autumn brings nesting and nurturing,

friendship & transformation.

Happy Halloween Cats by Andrea Glick of Zenith Jade Creations,
pastel lampwork beads by Jodie Marshall.

Green garnet, brass discs by Sharyl McMillan,
lampwork by Maryse of Glass Bead Art Lampwork

Czech ametrine glass, brass leaves Olla Podrida, lampwork by Glass Bead Art Lampwork

Ceramic drops by Scorched Earth, lampwork by the super talented Valerie O'Neal

Lampwork by Crazy Lady Glass and ceramics by Grubbi

Day of the Dead

Halloween

Sue Beads Skullies with black crystal.

Blu Mudd Sugar Skull owl with brass tree by Andrew Thornton,
brass chainmaille, copper sugar skulls, Sue Beads enamel leaves, copper branches & ribbon.

Sue Beads Enamel leaves!

Fab, colorful paper beads by Gillian McMurray
I thought maybe a necklace, or another set for earrings, or maybe
crazy fun mix-matched Halloween earrings? :)

Czech flowers, Skullies with Bows Zenith Jade Creations, satin lampwork Sue Beads.

In process: beadwork diamond abstract autumn leaves
inspired by Shirley Moore's beadwork component (at front left).

Blu Mudd ceramic Sugar Skull, Czech flowers, leaves, rondelles
anodized aluminum & niobium chainmaille bracelet.

SPOOKY HALLOWEEN NECKLACE!
Ceramic bird skull by Scorched Earth, ceramic disc by Naos Glass

Czech's newest daggers in copper & iris brown!

Scorched Earth ceramic bird skull, Czech daggers, copper & Vintaj chain

Birthday Fun Starts & My Thanks :)

I love that topping it all off

with thanks, feasts, family & love!

A beautiful woods lamp from my daughter Sarah & family! I love it!

A beautiful bouquet from my daughter Colene & family! Pumpkin vase too!

And...Arrr you curious for the best of all?
A Halloween Pirate!

Halloween - Day of the Dead artists, Happy Halloween!
Octoberfest artists, Come back on Halloween
for trick or treating!
There are Beadaholique & Lima Beads Gift certificates,
artisan lampwork, ceramics & more for all artists who joined in.
You'll find sneak peeks back at the Octoberfest Sign-Up post :)

Enjoy your visit to amazing artists
for both
my annual Toltec Jewels' Octoberfest blog hop
and
Suburban Girl Studio's
Dia De Los Muertos blog hop

All links are listed below
Fly WELL!

Octoberfest Artists

Caroline http:// Carolynscreationswa.blogspot.com

Andrea Glick-Zenith http://zenithjade.blogspot.com/

Dolores Raml http://craftydscreations.wordpress.com/

Karla Morgan http://TexasPepperJams.blogspot.com

Susie Harris http://jewelleryjunkie.blogspot.com/

Susan http://libellulajewelry.com

Mischelle http://micheladasmusings.blogspot.com/

Billi http://billi-rs-rothove.blogspot.com/

Kay Thomerson http://kayzkreationz.blogspot.com/

Jean Yates http://prettykittydogmoonjewelry.blogspot.com/

Kelly Hosford Patterson http://travelingsideshow.blogspot.com

Kathy Lindemer http://bay-moon-design.blogspot.com

Liz E http://beadcontagion.blogspot.com

Jasvanti Patel http://jewelrybyjasvanti.blogspot.com

Christie Murrow www.charisdesignsjewelry.blogspot.com

Jodie Marshall http://marshalljodie.blogspot.com/

Andrea Trank http://heavenlanecreations.com/

Dini Bruinsma http://angazabychanges.blogspot.nl

Elsie Deliz Fonseca http://ladelizchica.blogspot.com/

Pepita www.pepita-handmade.blogspot.com

Karla Morgan http://texaspepperjams.blogspot.com/

Kathleen http://99bobotw.blogspot.com/

Vera Lynn http://veradesigns.blogspot.com/

Rana Wilson http://ranaleadesigns.blogspot.com/

Catherine King http://catherines-musings.blogspot.com/

Lily Vincent http://thecreativeklutz.blogspot.co.uk/

Janice Hidey (Janimar) http://drawingthelinesomewhere.com/

Cory Tompkins http://TealwaterDesigns.blogspot.com

Candida Castleberry www.spunsugarbeadworks.blogspot.com

Cynthia Kent Machata http://antiquitytravelers.blogspot.com/

Alicia Marinache http://www.allprettythings.ca

Linda Anderson http://fromTheBeadBoard.blogspot.com

Leah Curtis http://beadyeyedbunny.blogspot.com/

Jennifer Reno (JenRen) http://jenrenjewelry.blogspot.com/

Robin Reed http://willowdragon.blogspot.com/

Tanty Sri Hartanti www.tjewellicious.blogspot.com

Lisa Lodge http://gratefulartist.blogspot.com/

Ingrid A. http://lilisgems.wordpress.com/

Judy Turner www.silver-rains.blogspot.com

Gina Hockett http://freestyleelements.blogspot.com/

Nelly May www.smellynelly.blogspot.com

Tanya McGuire http://tanyamcguire.blogspot.com/

Ahowin http://www.blog.ahowinjewelry.com

Sonya Stille http://dreaminofbeads.blogspot.com

Pam http://www.klassyjoolz.blogspot.com

Carol D. http://dillmansdallies.blogspot.com/

Asri Wahyuningsih http://asribeadwork.blogspot.com/

Ginger Bishop http://lilmummylikes.blogspot.com

Janine http://www.esfera.me/travel/blog/travel-stories

Shaiha Williams http://shaihasramblings.blogspot.com/

Toltec Jewels (Rita, your hostess) www.JewelSchoolFriends.com

Day of the Dead Artists

Diana Ptaszynski http://www.suburbangirlstudio.com

Staci Smith http://www.stacilouiseoriginals.com/

Kathleen Breeding http://99bobotw.blogspot.com

Sue Kennedy http://www.suebeads.blogspot.com

Dianne Miller http://www.artbydianne.blogspot.com

Lisa Liddy http://www.lisaliddy.wordpress.com

Toltec Jewels http://www.JewelSchoolFriends.com

Linda Landig http://www.LindasBeadBlog.com

Laura Medeiros http://Www.zoeowyn.blogspot.com

Veralynne Malone http://www.veradesigns.blogspot.com

Lynn Jobber http://thecreativeklutz.blogspot.co.uk

Michelle McCarthy http://www.fireflydesignstudio.blogspot.com

Karen Totten http://www.starryroadstudio.blogspot.com

Jayne Capps https://mamasgottodoodle.blogspot.com

Jenny Davies-Reazor http://jdaviesreazor.com/blog

Joan Miller http://metalmudandsand.blogspot.com/

Melissa Meman http://melissameman.blogspot.com

Melissa Trudinger http://www.beadrecipes.wordpress.com

Kari Asbury http://hippiechickdesign.blogspot.com

Inge von Roos http://www.ingetraud.wordpress.com

Andrea Glick http://zenithjade.blogspot.com

Stephanie LaRosa http://Www.stringaholic.blogspot.com

Lola Surwillo http://www.beadlolabead.com

Jennifer Cameron http://glassaddictions.com/blog

Diane Hawkey http://dianehawkey.blogspot.com

Kristi Harrison http://kristibasket-itsanewday.blogspot.com

Nicole Valentine Rimmer http://www.nvalentine.blogspot.com

Tanya Goodwin http://www.Pixiloo.blogspot.com

Shai Williams http://shaihasramblings.blogspot.com/

Sandra McGriff http://skyescreativechaos.blogspot.com

Sarajo Wentling http://www.sjdesignsjewelry.blogspot.com

Marie Covert http://thistledown-and-swaddlings.blogspot.com

Lisa Stukel http://www.carefreejewelrybylisa.blogspot.com

Laurie Vyselaar http://www.Lefthandjewelry.wordpress.com

Sherri Stokey http://www.knotjustmacrame.com

Pam Traub http://www.klassyjoolz.blogspot.com

Lori Dorrington http://lorisglassworks.blogspot.com

Kristen Stevens http://kristen-beadjourney.blogspot.com

Eleanor Burian-Mohr http://cornerstoregoddessjewelry.blogspot.com

Sally Russick http://thestudiosublime.com

Dawn M. Gallop http://www.flipflopsandpoptarts.com

Christine Damm http://storiestheytell.blogspot.com

↧

Octoberfest 13 Winners

October 31, 2013, 8:30 pm

≫ Next: Octoberfest 13 prizes are mailed!

≪ Previous: Second Annual October Fest Blog Hop And Dia De Los Muertos Blog Hop

Happy Halloween!

It's the Great Pumpkin!

Thank you for being a part of Octoberfest!

From delicious recipes to gorgeous autumn photos

to jewelry that took my breath away,

you shared wonderful posts.

I'd love to create a special keepsake for Octoberfest 13,

such as a special Glossi or community recipe book.

For now, please enjoy some

Halloween treats as my thank you!

I've listed the treats, and then used random.org to fill in the winners name right below each prize in order. If you've won a gift certificate, please email me (toltecjewels@aol.com) or FB message me with the email you'd like your gift certificate sent to. Also, please email me with your name & address for art beads.

Beadfreaky

Blu Mudd

Jodie Marshall

Southern Gals Designs

Congratulations everyone and thanks again!

Happy Halloween!

xxoo Rita

Octoberfest 13 Winners :)

Blue Mudd Ceramic Art Bead: Ingrid A.

ART BEADS $10 Gift Certificate: Mischelle

Blu Mudd Art Bead: Catherine King

Southern Gals Designs Lampwork: Kathleen

Blue Mudd Ceramic Art Bead: Liz E

Blu Mudd Ceramic Art Bead:: Asri Wahyuningsih

ART BEADS $10 Gift Certificate: Dolores Raml

Blu Mudd Art Bead: Andrea Trank

Blue Mudd Ceramic Art Bead: Robin Reed

Beadfreaky ceramic Art Bead: Alicia Marinache

Blu Mudd Art Bead: Pepita

Jodie Marshall lampwork: Lennis Carrier

Blue Mudd Ceramic Art Bead: Kathy Lindemer

Lima Beads $10 Gift Certificate: Cory Tompkins

Blu Mudd Art Bead: Carol D.

Jodie Marshall lampwork: Ahowin

ART BEADS $10 Gift Certificate: Susan

Blue Mudd Ceramic Art Bead: Susie Harris

Beadfreaky ceramic Art Bead: Christie Murrow

Blu Mudd ceramic Art Bead: Pam

Blue Mudd Ceramic Art Bead: Vera Lynn

Blu Mudd ceramic Art Bead: Dini Bruinsma

Southern Gals Designs Lampwork: Tanya McGuire

Blue Mudd Ceramic Art Bead: Shaiha Williams

Jodie Marshall lampwork: Kay Thomerson

Tori Sophia Art Beads: Kelly Hosford Patterson

Blue Mudd Ceramic Art Bead: Jodie Marshall

Southern Gals Designs Lampwork: Nelly May

Blue Mudd Ceramic Art Bead: Tanty Sri Hartanti

Blu Mudd Art Bead: Jennifer Reno

Lima Beads $10 Gift Certificate: Jean Yates

Blue Mudd Ceramic Art Bead: Sonya Stille

Blue Mudd Ceramic Art Bead: Lisa Lodge

Lea Avroch lampwork: Gina Hockett

Blue Mudd Ceramic Art Bead: Ginger Bishop

Blu Mudd Art Bead: Leah Curtis

Lima Beads $10 Gift Certificate: Karla Morgan

Beadfreaky ceramic art bead: Jasvanti Patel

Blue Mudd Ceramic Art Bead: Caroline

ART BEADS $10 Gift Certificate: Cynthia Kent Machata

FLY WELL!

Screenshot of random.org:

↧

Octoberfest 13 prizes are mailed!

November 8, 2013, 11:07 am

≫ Next: The Season of Goodwill Begins! November Blog Hops and the Beads of Courage Art Charm Auction

≪ Previous: Octoberfest 13 Winners

30 packages of art beads are off in the mail for Octoberfest participants. On their way to

the United Kingdom, Canada, France, the Netherlands, Indonesia, Slovenia, Japan & the U.S.,

the packages are traveling First Class, so look for your Halloween treats in about a week

in the States, and hopefully within a couple weeks internationally. Enjoy! Thank you everyone! :)

↧

The Season of Goodwill Begins! November Blog Hops and the Beads of Courage Art Charm Auction

November 12, 2013, 5:20 pm

≫ Next: The Season of Goodwill Starts with LOVE: Beads of Courage Art Charm Exchange, Reveal, Hop, & Auction

≪ Previous: Octoberfest 13 prizes are mailed!

November. Crisp winds blow, snow graces Northern homes, sky settles into shades of gray and white -- my mornings begin with cozy slippers and warm drinks, as early morning's gentle sunrise invites contemplation in the quiet start of day.

It's during this change of season that I most enjoy my alone time. I make lists, think of decorating ideas, plan my Holiday cooking and baking, prepare big piles Holiday cards and organize gift ideas.

Art Charms created for last year's Exchange & Auction raised $600 for Beads of Courage.
Join us Nov.15th for Blog Hop Reveals of this year's charms & the start of the Auction.

On Thanksgiving night, my family has a tradition of lighting up our home for the Holidays, inside and out. Afterwards, the dark November mornings are filled with the soft lights, glowing all around like magic. I squint my eyes and drink coffee and look at the Christmas tree and decorations. Colors dance from ribbons and wreaths, lighting up fragrant bouquets of poinsettias and collections of birch and velvet and cinnamon pine cones, glowing softly among the greenery of nestled candles and my Advent wreath, and pouring out beyond the room, illuminating garlands above and trees outside our home.

Magic.
November magic.

Celebrate handcrafted arts with a Lampwork and Clay Blog Hop hosted by my friend Lisa Lodge of a Grateful Artist on Saturday, Nov. 16th. Here is a look at some of the beads Lisa sent me to create with, and some of my own added into the mix. I love the soft colorway of the ceramics, and jewelry made with art beads!

Upcoming as well: Lisa Lodge hosts another jewelry challenge & hop on November 16th

And fall into love this November as Jennifer Cameron (lampwork, chainmaille and jewelry artist extraordinaire and founder/editor of the collective blog, Art Jewelry Elements) again hosts the annual Beads of Courage Art Charm Swap and Auction! Almost 40 artists have created 500 art charms, exchanging with each other and donating charms for auction. 100% of the proceeds goes to Beads of Courage. Our theme this year -- love.

Beads of Courage supports children with serious illnesses by helping them tell, record, and honor their story with beads. Each overnight stay in the hospital is signified by certain color beads. A procedure is another. Handcrafted lampwork is given for great courage. Every bead tells a story of strength, honor, and hope.

Join us this Friday, Nov. 15th, in a blog hop hosted by Jennifer Cameron of Art Jewelry Elements for the reveal of the art charms. Even we participating artists haven't yet seen all the charms, and I can't wait to see the reveals and start bidding!

I am delighted to begin my Holiday season with special treasures for gifting that are twice as nice: OOAK handcrafted, beautiful Holiday gifts that support children and families coping with serious illness with 100% of your auction bid :)

Until Friday, here is a teaser of my art charms! I created a set of 3, featuring Amazing Designs by Marlene Cupo, Kristi Bowman Design, and Olla Podria Vintage.

Reversible Art Charm featuring Kristi Boman

Art Charm featuring Marlene Cupo

Art Charm featuring Olla Podria

See you then!

What's this? What art charms will you just love ??
Come back on Friday to pick your favorites!

↧

The Season of Goodwill Starts with LOVE: Beads of Courage Art Charm Exchange, Reveal, Hop, & Auction

November 15, 2013, 4:00 am

≫ Next: November Magic: Lampwork and Clay Blog Hop

≪ Previous: The Season of Goodwill Begins! November Blog Hops and the Beads of Courage Art Charm Auction

Welcome to the Art Charm Swap, Reveal, Hop & Auction!

Iris - Keeper of the Rainbow

Throughout the ages, the rainbow has been the symbol of hope, a promise of better things to come. The ancient Greeks personified the rainbow as the goddess Iris. Carried by her shimmering wings, Iris travels so swiftly that mortals can see only the trail of her rainbow-coloured passage across the sky.

THE ART CHARM EXCHANGE and AUCTION SUPPORTS BEADS OF COURAGE, a non-profit organization caring for children with serious illness, their families, and clinicians.

Hosted by Jennifer Cameron of GLASS ADDICTIONS and ART Jewelry Elements, THE BOC ART CHARM EXCHANGE & AUCTION brings together bead and jewelry artists FOR THE CHALLENGE OF CREATING ART CHARMS to benefit Beads of Courage.

Beads of Courage supports children with serious illnesses by helping them tell, record, and honor their story of courage with beads. Each overnight stay in the hospital is signified by certain color beads. A procedure is another. Handcrafted lampwork is given for great courage. Every bead tells a story of strength, honor, and hope.

"Love will find its way through all languages on its own." ~Rumi

For this year's Beads of Courage art charm exchange, we were challenged to create charms with the theme: "love"

Creative Commons. Lilla Iris Randers.

Love should grow up like a wild iris in the fields,
unexpected, after a terrible storm, opening a purple
mouth to the rain, with not a thought to the future,
ignorant of the grass and the graveyard of leaves
around, forgetting its own beginning.
Love should grow like a wild iris
but does not.

Love more often is to be found in kitchens at the dinner hour,
tired out and hungry, lingers over tables in houses where
the walls record movements, while the cook is probably angry,
and the ingredients of the meal are budgeted, while
a child cries feed me now and her mother not quite
hysterical says over and over, wait just a bit, just a bit,
love should grow up in the fields like a wild iris
but never does
really startle anyone, was to be expected, was to be
predicted, is almost absurd, goes on from day to day, not quite
blindly, gets taken to the cleaners every fall, sings old
songs over and over, and falls on the same piece of rug that
never gets tacked down, gives up, wants to hide, is not
brave, knows too much, is not like an
iris growing wild but more like
staring into space
in the street
not quite sure
which door it was, annoyed about the sidewalk being
slippery, trying all the doors, thinking
if love wished the world to be well, it would be well.

Love should
grow up like a wild iris, but doesn't, it comes from
the midst of everything else, sees like the iris
of an eye, when the light is right,
feels in blindness and when there is nothing else is
tender, blinks, and opens
face up to the skies.

"Like the Iris of an Eye"

-- Susan Griffin

"Light of Iris" Georgia O'Keeffe.Creative Commons Wiki Paintings

Thinking of our theme, I decided not to create individual

art charms, but instead chose to make sets of three art charms

-- for love is generous.

3's a Love Charm

(Love is Generous)

"LOVE IS A DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH" Kristi Bowman Design

custom made copper tags, copper chainmaille diamonds,

Swarovski Black Diamond crystal hearts.

Kristi Bowman-Gruel was wonderful, creating a custom order (in about a day!) of 26 handcrafted Kristi Bowman Design copper LOVE tags. The art charms are reversible, with a sparkling romantic Swarovski heart on one side of the Japanese diamond weave chainmaille, and a cool, modern

copper tag with the word LOVE on the other.

"LOVE You Like Sliced Bread" Amazing Designs by Marlene Cupo

custom made clay bread slices with heart shaped butter,

Czech opaque hearts, Argentium silver, brass, copper.

When talking with my friend Margot Potter one day, she told me as we signed off, "love you like sliced bread!" Click! The moment she said it I was inspired. I had been talking about the charm challenge. I'm not sure if Margot was guiding me in that amazing author-of-tons-of-great- jewelry making books and genius-designer-way of hers, or if she just loves me like sliced bread, but it was a great idea! And my friend, the incredibly talented Marlene Cupo of Amazing Designs made it come true as she created 24 custom bread slices with heart butter (or toast, as I told Margot, "love you like toast ;) for our art charm exchange! I love the fun design and the bright Czech hearts. Created with Argentium silver, brass and copper.

"LOVE IS A KEEPSAKE"Vintage brass heart lockets, vintage brass

heart cages with Swarovski heart chakra green crystal rondelles,

heart stamped brass hearts, LOS antiqued brass, Vintaj brass.

Stephanie Gard Buss was an angel when I came across 10 brass heart lockets -- as well as some very cool brass heart cages -- at her beautiful vintage shop, Olla Podria. She put days of work into finding additional lockets -- enough to make 22 vintage brass art charms! In addition, Margot Potter's beloved husband, my friend Andrew Potter, sent along 4 styles of heart stamps for my project! I patinaed the brass with LOS and added Vintaj findings, so the heart art charms and locket are ready to gently jingle this Holiday and hold your cherished photo or special keepsake.

The BOC Art Charm Exchange & Auction is always popular, and this year nearly 40 artists created 500 art charms. After we've been torching, wrapping, weaving, dapping, etching, sculpting, and firing away, Jenn confidentially
organizes and swaps our art charms. Until today's reveal and blog hop, most of the art charms have not yet been seen -- surprise!

Here is a look at the BEAUTIFUL art charms I received. Every LOVE art charm you see in my post -- the sets of 3 that I created and the individual charms -- will be available at the auction. More charms will be listed every few days, and the listings will run for a week. BINS (Buy it Now) are $20. Take a look at the auction & check back for more charms. Have fun bidding & winning because 100% of the proceeds is donated to Beads of Courage!

What a beautiful collection of art charms! Lampwork, metalwork, clay, ceramic, resin.

Work by (top, left to right) Alenka Obid, Jenn Cameron, Lennis Carrier, Toltec Jewels featuring Kristi Bowman-Gruel, Caroline Dewison, Ginger Bishop, Shai Williams, Toltec Jewels featuring Marlene Cupo, Monique Urquhart, Michelle McCarthy, Toltec Jewels featuring Olla Podria vintage brass, Renetha Staziano, Linda Haskell, Vanessa Gilkes, Susan Delphine Delaney, Nancy Dale, Jean Peter, Shelley Graham Turner, Perri Jackson, Terri Del Signore, Carolyne Chenault.

A word on ART CHARMS

ART CHARMS are charms handcrafted with handcrafted -- the components are created by artisans, so the beads, metalwork, wire work, findings, and design are all unique and special. The book to the left shows some examples of art charms: swapables, keepsakes, trinkets.

Last year I realized how special the one-of-a-kind art charms indeed are: I cherish all my art charms, but I especially treasure having a matching set of Beads of Courage handcrafted art charms. My set of Carolyn Chenault charms (one was swapped and the other gifted to me by the dear Shelley Graham Turner)is cherished :

"Laugh" Art Charms created by Carolyn Chenault for the 2012 Beads of Courage Art Charm Exchange & Auction.

As happy as having charms makes me, missing out on charms stands out too: determined to win one of Jennifer Cameron's awesome lampwork LAUGH charms, a trip to E.R. on the last night of the auction kept me from bidding -- and oh, were those charms cute!! This year, I'm ready!

The beauty of handcrafted, the OOAK designs and unique annual themes, and the 100% donation to Beads of Courage make this jewelry arts event an experience of goodwill and giving at its best! Won't you join us?

I can't think of a better way to begin

the Season of Hope!

Art Charm Auction: http://www.ebay.com/sch/glassaddictions/m.html?_ipg=200&_sop=12&_rdc=1

Jen Cameron: http://glassaddictions.com/blog/

Toltec Jewels: http://www.jewelschoolfriends.com

Vanessa Gilkes: http://culturezine.com/blog/

Caroline Dewison: http://blueberribeads.co.uk

Lesley Watt: http://www.thegossipinggoddess.blogspot.com

Susan Kennedy: http://www.suebeads.blogspot.com

Nancy Dale : http://www.nedbeads.blogspot.com

Alicia Marinache: http://www.allprettythings.ca

Cassi Paslick: http://cassisbeads.blogspot.com

Alenka Obid: http://www.pepita-handmade.blogspot.com

Renetha Stanziano: http://www.lamplightcrafts.blogspot.com

Shelley Graham Turner: http://www.shelleygrahamturner.blogspot.com

Monique Urquhart: http://ahalfbakednotion.blogspot.com

Shai Williams: http://shaihasramblings.blogspot.com

Lennis Carter: http://windbent.wordpress.com

Cheri Reed: http://creativedesignsbycheri.blogspot.com

Moriah Betterly: http://mlbetterly.blogspot.com

Perri Jackson: http://shaktipajdesigns.com/blog/

Mallory Hoffman: http://rosebud101-fortheloveofbeads.blogspot.com

Ginger Bishop: http://lilmummylikes.blogspot.com

Jean Peter: http://jeanpdesigns.blogspot.com

Linda Florian: http://lilysofthevalleyjewelry.blogspot.com

Patricia Pulliam: http://rusticstudio.blogspot.com

Karin Grosset Grange: http://ginkgoetcoquelicot.blogspot.fr

Julie Bowen: http://blog.autochthonous-evolved.com

Susan Delaney: http://ladyflowersbysusan.wordpress.com

Emma Todd: http://www.apolymerpenchant.blogspot.com

Carolyn Chenault : http://carolynchenault.wordpress.com

Terri Del Signore: http://artisticaos.blogspot.com

Cory Tompkins: http://www.tealwaterdesigns.blogspot.com

Cheryl (Lee) Koopman: http://stregajewellry.wordpress.com

Lori Bowring Michaud: http://artfullyornamental.blogspot.com

Andrea Glick: http://zenithjade.blogspot.com

Jacqueline Carlson: http://www.beadgypsy.blogspot.com

Michelle McCarthy: http://www.fireflydesignstudio.blogspot.com

Charlene Bausinger Jacka: http://clay-space.com/blog/

Kristi Bowman: http://dreamsomedesigns.blogspot.com

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November Magic: Lampwork and Clay Blog Hop

November 15, 2013, 9:00 pm

≫ Next: Meet Jewelry Designer and Blog Hop/Destash Hostess Extraordinaire, Lisa Lodge of Pine Ridge Treasures

≪ Previous: The Season of Goodwill Starts with LOVE: Beads of Courage Art Charm Exchange, Reveal, Hop, & Auction

(Looking for the Beads of Courage Art Charm Reveal, Blog Hop & Auction? Click here! :)

Welcome to the Handcrafted Artisan Lampwork & Clay Blog Hop

hosted by Lisa Lodge of A Grateful Artist.

The beads I received to create with are some of the most beautiful Lisa has ever sent! I added in the owl ceramic and a few larger ceramic beads to the pile, admiring the gentle shades and ceramic texture and color. The mix of our beads feels like November to me, and gives me a lovely sense of connection to nature.

(Click on picture to enlarge text :) Art beads by Gaea (pattern) and Beadfreaky (owl)

Here are the beads Lisa sent and my beads gathered from my stash for the challenge. As much as I would have liked to have used everything & presented several pieces of jewelry, I got as far as creating components and photographing one complete design before cutting my palm with a very sharp bread knife! A butterfly bandage is healing my palm right now. I avoided stitches but probably needed them. I'm thinking with stitches instead of a butterfly, I'd be creating away! So, additional art jewelry designs to be be continued, sigh.

Ok, on to our handcrafted lampwork and ceramic hop!

(Click on picture to enlarge text :) Art beads by Gaea (pattern) and Beady Eyed Bunny (bird).

Hello pretty birdie!

A better peek at the simple pretty twisted bugle strand.

And the components I created just before I cut my hand:

embossed brass and copper discs with Lisa Liddy's Color Me This patina in Fern Green, Turquoise, and Plum.

And beadwork created for the Metal & Seed Bead Hop that I was hoping to incorporate today to compliment a very special bead gifted to me by Lisa for my daughter -- a dragonfly by Havana Beads!

Inspired by Shirley Moore's beautiful beadwork components (bottom left), I began creating additional beadwork diamonds (they are built up & need RAW yet) to become a necklace of abstract autumn leaves -- an autumn garden for the dragonfly, Demeter's love for her daughter & wait for reunion. I'm so wanting to use my hand already and get creating with all the components for both blog hops!

Inspired by Shirley Moore's beautiful beadwork component ( bottom left)

And extra, for fun & for the kids:

I also created 66 art charms, or 22 sets, for the Beads of Courage Exchange and Auction! Two of my sets are being auctioned.

38 artists came together to create the art charms, and today special art charms created by Beads of Courage participants themselves will be listed. The handcrafted charms start at $7.50, and 100% of the proceeds goes to Beads of Courage, an organization supporting children with serious illnesses by giving them beads that tell, honor, record, and share their stories of courage.

Take a look at the lovely charms at the auction.

to start off the Season of hope and goodwill! :)

Art charms created with more art beads! You can read about them here :)

Thank you Lisa for creating a blog hop featuring jewelry made with artisan crafted ceramic and lampwork art beads! My new necklace is a new favorite for me -- I love it.

The Artists:

Your hostess: Lisa Lodge, A Grateful Artist

Mary Govaars, MLH Jewelry Designs

Melissa Trudinger, Bead Recipes

Kathy Zeigler Lindemer, Bay Moon Design

Laurie Vyselaar, Lefthand Jewelry

Annette Rivers, MamaOwl's Mess

Karin King, The Sparkle Things Blog

Shaiha Williams, Shaiha's Ramblings

Mimi Gardner, Baubles, Beads and Other Curiosities

Dee Alcalde, Agape Creations Jewelry

Kay Thomerson, Kayz Kreationz

Karla Morgan, Texas Pepper Jams

Lori Jean Poppe, Lorillijean Creative Corner

Eleanor Burian Moore, The Charmed Life

Leah Mifflin Tees, My Beady Little Eyes

Terri Wlaschin, Dances in Fog

Sharyl McMillian-Nelson, Sharyl's Jewelry

Jo-Ann Woolverton, It's a Beadiful Creation

Veralynne Malone, Designed by Vera

Linda Aspenson Bergstrom, TBD

Toltec Jewels, Jewel School Friends

Judy Turner, Silver Rains

Gloria Allen, Gloria Allen Designs

Kathleen Douglas, Washoe Kat's

Connie Tipton, TBD

Christie Searle Murrow, Charis Designs Jewelry

Andrea Glick-Zenith, ZenithJade Creations

Michele Dotson, Star Jewels

Chris Eisenberg, Wanderware

Jennifer Clifford, TBD

Kathleen Breeding, 99 Bottles of Beads on the Wall

Molly Alexander, Beautifully Broken Me

Loretta, Loretta's Boutique

Carolyn Lawson, Carolyns Creations

Shirley Moore, Beads and Bread

Bonnie Coursolle, Jasper's Gems

Alice Craddick, Alice's Beads and Baubles

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Meet Jewelry Designer and Blog Hop/Destash Hostess Extraordinaire, Lisa Lodge of Pine Ridge Treasures

January 9, 2014, 2:47 pm

≫ Next: Into the Forest Blog Hop

≪ Previous: November Magic: Lampwork and Clay Blog Hop

Lisa Lodge is a designer of classic, feminine jewelry.

Her designs can be found in publications such as Bead Trends,

Bead It Today, and the Artisan Whimsy Marketplace. She is a member of the ZnetShows Design Team and the Echo Creative Club.

Lisa's beautiful classic, feminine Pine Ridge Treasures jewelry

Lisa sells her jewelry locally and online at her Zibbet shop, Pine Ridge Treasures. In addition, Lisa is hostess to blog hops for fellow jewelry designers, and offers regular "destashes" of her Pine Ridge Treasures supplies and beads on Facebook at Destash-Pine Ridge Treasures.

Lisa's Autumn Bracelet Give-A-Way at Pine Ridge Treasures

Lisa's blog hops are extremely popular, with themes that focus on nature while challenging artists to create using colorways and materials that Lisa mixes and mails to each participant. Upcoming hops such as "Into the Forest,""Winter Sparkle," and "Ocean" will explore color, designing with crystals, and art beads. Follow Lisa's Pine Ridge Treasures business page on Facebook and blog, A Grateful Artist, to sign up for her blog hops.

I'll be participating in all of Lisa's upcoming blog hops, and look forward to seeing the beautiful art created for this Saturday's hop, "Into the Forest." Rather than simply post about the weekend's upcoming hop, I wanted to share all the great things about Lisa -- her jewelry, her hops, her destashes.

The popular "mystery mixes" at Lisa's Destash group on Facebook.

Lisa's motto for her blog, A Grateful Artist," is "Living Life with Gratitude and Sharing the Joy of Artistic Expression." Lisa Lodge is a terrific friend, super creative lady, and gifted jewelry artist! She inspires me. And, certain she'll inspire you too, I interviewed Lisa for today's post:

1) How long have you been making jewelry?
Three years.

2) What inspired you to begin making jewelry? How did you start?
It started as a project to create Christmas gifts for relatives, and as a stress reliever. It gives me a creative outlet after working all week at my day job. I love coming up with ideas and making them a reality. Currently I sell my work locally, and online at Zibbet.com. Most of my pieces are one of a kind.

3) Favorite technique?
I really enjoy stringing the most. I also enjoy working with wire. Earrings are my favorite type of jewelry to make. Maybe it is because I like variety. There are so many different ways to design earrings.

4) What do you like most about hosting blog hops?
What I like most about hosting the hops is providing fellow designers a platform to try out new design ideas (by using beads they may not normally gravitate toward), making new jewelry contacts/friends, and enjoying our mutual love of jewelry design. If we all gain design inspiration in the process, that is an added bonus! Based on the many positive comments I receive after a hop, I think that the participants are enjoying them! There is always room for growth and improvement. If the hops ever start feeling rote or stale, I will stop doing them.

5) Advice on getting published?
Become familiar with the publication you would like to be published in. What type of jewelry do they publish? What are their needs and specific guidelines? Follow the guidelines to the letter. Submit high quality photographs. Don’t become discouraged if you receive a few rejections.

6) When did you start “destashing” in earnest?
I would have to answer this question by starting with the “stashing” as opposed to the “destashing”. When I started designing jewelry I bought a lot of beads and findings before I really knew anything about making jewelry. Then, as I discovered art beads and handmade lampwork and clay, I just had to buy a bunch of those pretties as well! Before you knew it, I was drowning in supplies (not a bad place to be, I admit), but my wallet sure wasn’t happy. I started listing a few items in the Artisan Whimsy destash events, and then found a few destash groups on Facebook. Now I have my own destash group on Facebook.

7) What is unique about your destashing events?
I like to make the events fun, creative and unique by offering a variety of items in varying quantities and groupings. I like to offer “kits” based on color themes or nature themes such as “the forest” or “the sea”. I also sell “Mystery Kits” where the buyer is given a one word clue as to the contents of the kit, such as a color, or a material, like lampwork or crystal. The mystery kits are super popular, and often sell out within an hour or less. The creation of “Mystery Kits” has a long background for me – my sister and I used to create “Mystery Grab Bags” for our family garage sales many years ago. We placed create “Mystery Grab Bags” for our family garage sales many years ago. We placed items in brown paper lunch bags (stapled shut) with a one or two word clue on the outside of the bag. They were so popular that we had many people return year after year just for the grab bags.

8) What is your goal for the destash part of your business?
First and foremost, I am a jewelry designer and that is my main focus. In order to keep designing jewelry, I need the funds to purchase supplies. So - one of my goals for the destash is probably the same as most everyone’s: to be able to sell enough of my extra supplies to enable me to buy new supplies. (This is a never ending, yet fun cycle). I also have the very important goal of providing high quality, reasonably priced destash supplies to fellow designers in a fun format. Once buyers know the value of what you are offering, they will continue to come back.

Links to Lisa Lodge's blog, destash group, blog hops & jewelry:

Email: jewelryprt@yahoo.com
Store: http://www.zibbet.com/pineridgetreasures
Blog: http://gratefulartist.blogspot.com
Facebook Business Page: http://www.facebook.com/pineridgetreasures
Facebook Destash Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1374259236148886/

↧

Into the Forest Blog Hop

January 11, 2014, 5:10 pm

≫ Next: Chainmaille 101: How to Make Chain Maille Free Tutorial Series

≪ Previous: Meet Jewelry Designer and Blog Hop/Destash Hostess Extraordinaire, Lisa Lodge of Pine Ridge Treasures

Welcome to another special creative challenge and blog hop hosted by Lisa Lodge of "A Grateful Artist" and Pine Ridge Treasures Jewelry!

Today we are all designing with a forest theme, almost as if we are walking through the woods together as we move "into the forest" with color and texture and style. It's a rich and uplifting challenge, warming us in winter and renewing us for the New Year as we paint the trees, greenery, sweet earth and soft light of the woods with our jewelry and beads.

The "Into the Forest" bead mix I received was full of rich olive green Czech rounds, spring green rondelles, leaf green Swarovski bicones, Czech AB peridot leaves, two shades of druk beads, aventurine nuggets, green mosaic turquoise, moss agate barrels, AB peridot size 10 round Czech seed beads, and silver leaf findings for a pendant and earrings:

I had so many design ideas from the kit! I planned on using my multicolored beadwork "leaves" (see below the triangles in autumn colorways) with the silver leaf focal to create a colorful leaf necklace, and use lots of Vintaj antique brass with the gorgeous olivine Czech fire polished beads.

I had ceramic tree and moon by beadfreaky and a bracelet cufff by Humblebeads out on my bead table to use also. I thought the small glass light & medium green rounds might be perfect as a rosary, and I could imagine some cool earrings made from the bicones and Czech leaves. I wasn't sure how to use the aventurine nuggets, although going through my gemstone beads, I realized I do have a strand of pretty amazonite large nuggets. They would be pretty together!

I wanted to use the stunning seraphinite gems and the beautiful cabs the amazing Lennis Carrier of Windbent made and gave to me -- inspired to celebrate friendship & the magic of the forest with her art beads & the rare, angelic (with wisps of white like angel wings) seraphinite! The combination would express my love of the forest, and the peaceful memories I have of being in the woods outside our suburb as a child. The stillness of the woods, the grounding beauty. As a girl, I spent years just sitting, enjoying, relaxing, talking to God in the woods. The woods feel nurturing and safe, renewing. How I love them!

I decided I would finally use my very special bead -- one so hard to find -- a bead of color! Most art beads of fairies or faces are all white folks, I came to realize, so that even Native, aboriginal, ethnic jewelry often ends up with a white person or Caucasian looking face in it! Don't get me wrong, my mom is Irish -- a very, very pale and beautiful redhead -- but I want to create diverse jewelry reflecting a diverse world. So, I'm always on the look for beads of color :)

This sweet fairy treasure is created by Sally Sutherland of Soul Silver! And she's not only a bead of color, but a fairy too! I knew right away she belonged in forest jewelry. And although I wish I'd created everything I felt inspired to make, I am still grateful to have the ideas for the jewelry & the spark of inspiration to create. Since I was thinking our hop was the 18th, I ran out of time -- but creating the fairy felt good and she deserves a special day of her own! I'm happy to have created Forest Fairy jewelry, and am so pleased that she can now be worn & enjoy being out & about -- fairies don't like to be stored away or they'll create mischief! ;)

I created a simple netted chevron gothic necklace (in a day! so it works up quickly) using Lisa's light green Druk beads and the perfect color AB seed beads (the free tutorial pdf is at the PBS Beads, Baubles & Jewels website, series 700, show 707-6, "Gothic" ). I added erenite ABx2 Swarovski bicones, blue crystal quartz rounds, and some Toho AB seed beads to reflect both shades of green in the fairy's gown & the three petal flowers.

Thank you Lisa for hostessing and everyone for creating another lovely hop!

Goodnight xxoo Rita

Artist Unknown -- A beautiful quilt!

Enjoy all the enriching and wonderful jewelry art created by all the hop participants!

Your hostess: Lisa Lodge, A Grateful Artist

Melissa Trudinger, Bead Recipes

Kathy Zeigler Lindemer, Bay Moon Design

Eleanor Burian Moore, The Charmed Life

Jo-Ann Woolverton, It's a Beadiful Creation

Chris Eisenberg, Wanderware

Christine Stonefield, Sweet Girl Design

Carolyn Lawson, Carolyn's Creations

Janine Lucas, Esfera Travel Blog

Jasvanti Patel, Jewelry by Jasvanti

Shaiha Williams, Shaiha's Ramblings

Kay Thomerson, Kayz Kreationz

Karla Morgan, Texas Pepper Jams

Veralynne Malone, Designed by Vera

Toltec Jewels, Jewel School Friends

Christie Searle Murrow, Charis Designs Jewelry

Molly Alexander, Beautifully Broken Me

Monique Urquhart, A Half-Baked Notion

Janet Bocciardi, Honey from the Bee

Dini Bruinsma, Angaza by Changes

Heather Richter, Desert Jewelry Designs

Christina Miles, Wings n Scales

Elizabeth Engriser, Bead Contagion

Alice Peterson, Alice Dreaming

Alicia Marinache, All the Pretty Things

Catherine Yvonne King, Catherine's Musings

Alice Craddick, Alice's Beads and Baubles

Ema Kilroy, Ema K Designs

↧

Chainmaille 101: How to Make Chain Maille Free Tutorial Series

February 8, 2014, 8:14 pm

≫ Next: Free Chainmaille Tutorial Series: Tools You'll Need and Instructions for Project One: "Loopy in Love Charms"

≪ Previous: Into the Forest Blog Hop

Recently a friend asked about the basics of chainmaille. She wanted to know what size rings were most often used, and where to buy supplies. She wanted to create more than earrings, and she wanted to know the needed supplies to make bracelets, necklaces and chains too. So I decided to explore the basics of chainmaille, focusing on a weave at a time, here on my blog, so that chainmaille is as fun for everyone as t is for me! I love it, and yet at one time I believed it "was too hard" to even try. I'm offering free tutorials for the various weaves, as well as resources for tutorials, materials, and tools because it shouldn't be so daunting. Every jewelry designer has a right to create his or her own handcrafted chain. I hope you find the weekly chainmaille information empowering.

In September, Creative Bead Chat's magazine published an interview with me discussing why I love chainmaille, including tutorial links and resources. I'm going to expand on that information, and sharing the basics of maille, in no time at all you'll be creating all the basic weaves and incorporating them into many different designs, just like these below.

From the upper left to the bottom of the picture, there are caged lapis beads, Japanese flowers, Helm or Barrel weave flowers, and Japanese diamonds.

We will learn the weaves one at a time, with resources for materials and several types of free tutorials to fit your learning style. Since chainmaille is an ancient technique, it is in essence, copyright free. Thus, an array of chainmaille tutorials and numerous ways of connecting rings can exist for one weave. I'll be sharing my favorite resources for video, photography, and illustrated tutorials. If a weave seems difficult to you, try a different tutorial. Many times, a different style of teaching makes learning easier, as can trying different processes for putting the rings into the pattern.

We will learn the basic chainmaille weaves & their variations, creating beautiful jewelry with each:

Japenese

Helm or Parallel:

Persian:

Byzantine:

Celtic, European and Inca Puna:

Beadmaille:

Bezels:

Next week, we will begin by going over the basic tools needed for chainmaille, and the different types of rings, materials, and wires used in chainmaille. We will cover basic terms and share a resource guide. We will also create our first earrings, shown below :)

↧

Free Chainmaille Tutorial Series: Tools You'll Need and Instructions for Project One: "Loopy in Love Charms"

February 14, 2014, 1:54 am

≫ Next: Art Bead Scene Blog: February 2014 Challenge Color Palette

≪ Previous: Chainmaille 101: How to Make Chain Maille Free Tutorial Series

"Loppy in Love" Chainmaille Charms

"Loppy in Love" Chainmaille Charms for earrings or pendants are today's free chainmaille tutorial. To read about tools later, and skip ahead to the instructions right now, click here or scroll to the bottom of this post. In an effort to keep blog posts succinct, I'm posting all the tutorials for this series on my tutorial blog. To go to the free tutorials at any time, simply click "tutorials"on the leaf photo located at the top right sidebar of my blog.

Today's weave --loopy loops -- is great for earrings, pendants, and bracelets. The weave can be made with any size rings. Since everyone learns differently, you'll have 3 ways to learn this weave: a downloadable pdf, a video, and my personal photography instructions.

Happy Valentine's Day!

The Helm and Mobius Weaves Combined

Response to this series has been great! Thank you. I appreciate everyone following along. Today, we are going to create our first chainmaille project and discuss the tools we will need for creating chainmaille. We will continue to explore the basic weaves one type at a time.The reason for this: once you create and know the various weaves, you will be able to take off with your own designs. Like the cool chainmaille pattern above that combines a Helm weave with a Mobius, you will also combine weaves and create embellishments for weaves that will make your chainmaille special to you.

We will learn both the MOBIUS & basic LOOPY LOOPS. You will have a video presented by Christiane Ross (she taught me chainmaile) on creating Mobius rings (also known as "love rings") and on creating Loopy Loops. In addition, you will have an illustrated free tutorial from Blue Buddha Boutique on Mobius, or Love Rings & Loopy Loops.

And finally, I will take you step by step on creating & then embellishing Loopy Loops for Valentine's Day, "Loopy in Love Charms" which can be made into earrings or a pendant. These may seem like simple weaves, at first, but keep in mind you are building your understanding of maille, and even the simplest design can be sophisticated. In fact, a design by Lauren Andersen using the "Loopy Loops" weave was published in Step by Step Wire for the 2012 Crystal issue.

But firstly, let's talk tools.

As I stated in last week's post, this series began when a friend asked what ring sizes to buy for chainmaille. Since each weave is like a beadwork pattern, requiring different ring sizes just as beadwork patterns require differing seed beads, there isn't one answer to that question. However, one tool to solve the need for rings in differing sizes is the chainmaille mandrel set by Beadalon. It is my favorite tool of all! With it, one can create almost any and every ring size needed for any chainmaille pattern.

The Beadalon Chain Maille Mandrel Set created for Jewel School

The set of 9 mandrels was created exclusively for Jewel School, so you'll only find it for purchase at the Jewel School website (I've looked everywhere). They are very popular and often sold out, so I purchased a second set recently. They come in the 9 most frequently needed ring sizes for chainmaille patterns:

2 mm

2.4 mm

2.8 mm

3.2 mm

3.6 mm

4.4 mm

4.8 mm

5.6 mm

6 mm

Additional ring making tools: Calipers & Make-shift Mandrels

Digital calipers are another must have tool for creating chainmaille rings easily and accurately. A digital caliper measures the inside of jump rings (using the top prongs) and the circumference of items (using bottom prongs). That makes turning everyday jump rings sold by outer diameter (say, the package at the craft store says 6mm) into chainmaille rings because you can measure the inside of the ring for the chainmaille size.

You can also use items such as crochet hooks, curtain rod supports, and knitting needles as mandrels for making rings. Sometimes, tweaking a pattern means I need an unusual size ring, such as a 3.9 mm. I can use my digital caliper to measure the circumference of items & make the rings I need in any size.

Beadaholique sells digital calipers for under $20.

Making rings:

The most frequently used rings for chainmaille come in widths of 16 gauge, 18 gauge, and 20 gauge. Please note all the gauges I'm sharing are American Wire Gauge. In comparison, Standard wire gauge may be listed for patterns since chainmaille is a global art; we'll cover the difference between American & Standard gauges in an upcoming post, with a chart you can refer to when patterns call for SWG rather than AWG.

The most frequently used metals are copper, brass, jeweler's brass, sterling silver, Argentium silver, gold-filled, stainless steel, Anodized Aluminum, Niobium, and Bronze. I most often use non-tarnish treated as well as natural metals, including copper, brass, Antique copper & Antique brass, Artistic wire colored wire, Anodized Albumin, and Czech glass rings.

Let's look at the wires by color groups and the qualities of each wire for making maille rings:

Copper -- great for rings, softer & easy to use. Plain copper can take a patina (with some work)

Copper, treated for Non-Tarnish -- Artistic Wire Brand -- softer & easy to use, will not tarnish but also can't hold patina. Also, color coated copper by Artistic Wire -- fun to use for splashes of color in design. Available in a huge array of colors that are durable & permanent (exception: the black artistic wire peels!)

Brass -- I buy plain brass wire from my craft store. Brand is Darice. Available in 16 gauge, 18 gauge, 20 gauge for maille rings. (note: not the copper wire coated in brass)

Antique Copper -- Beautiful shade of brown wire that is actually copper. By Vintaj, Parawire, and Artistic Wire (Artistic wire call their brand "gunmetal" but it is Vintaj brown)

Antique Bronze -- Beautiful shade of brown wire that is not actually bronze wire but copper (bronze is very hard & would be too hard to cut & shape by hand). Brands are Vintaj, Parawire, and Artistic Wire (Artistic wire call their brand "gunmetal" but it is Vintaj brown). There is a slight difference in red-tones between the Antique copper & antique Bronze wires by Parawire & Vintaj. Artistic wire offers only "gunmetal" shade.

Silver -- treated for Non-Tarnish by Artistic wire. The craft store offers a very nice blend of rose gold and Argentium (no tarnish) silver by Darice that is great. Also, Argentium wire is a good choice as it is almost pure silver & thus will not tarnish. It is expensive, however. Lastly, sterling silver wire, which can take a patina.

Aluminum and Anodized Aluminum -- Aluminum wire can be found at the craft store & is fine for making your own rings for practice jewelry. Anodized aluminium rings are different from the aluminum wire found at craft stores because the anodizing process makes the aluminum retain its color. Good AA rings are stronger than aluminum wire, and are cut before being coloring, so the ends of the rings are also colored (not white). Poor quality AA rings are cut after anodizing (coloring), leaving unsightly white joins (kerfs) in your chainmaille. Blue Buddha Boutique sells quality AA rings. They also offer packages of slightly "off-color" rings that make excellent practice rings at a discounted price.

Jeweler's Brass -- buy in jump rings; wire not readily available.

Brass -- buy in jump rings; wire not available.

Gold-filled and Niobium -- expensive. Can purchase gold filled wire and niobium wire online at Fire Mountain Beads & Gems and other shops. Chainmaille rings are available at finer chainmaille online shops like Blue Buddha, the Ring Lord, and ChainWeavers.

My Favorite Pliers & Cutters:

The " Generic " version of Italian Flush cutters and Ergo Pliers comes in a kit.
It's SOLD out often, but worth getting on the waiting list at Jewel School.

Pliers:

The "Ultra Ego" brand of pliers are getting more & more attention in the chainmaille community for their wider handles & finely tapered jaws. They don't dig into the palms of the hand, and that means comfort when opening & closing hundreds, if not thousands of rings.

Here are the handles of my Ultra Ergo pliers compared to Beadalon's Sparkle Pliers. Notice how the wider handles curve. They are excellent for preventing pain because there is no pushing into the muscles of the hand.

These relatively new style of pliers are inexpensive and yet becoming very popular for chainmaille. Available on Amazon (search "Ultra Ergo"), they are now even recommended by the famous chainmaille artist and instructor, Spider, and sold at her online shop, SpiderChain. I also found a set of four Ultra Ergo pliers with a pouch at Esslinger.

Baby Wubbers and Lindstrom pliers are also good for maille. You'll want chain nose, bent nose, flat nose and round nose pliers for chainmaille. If working with stainless steel or 14 gauge rings, you will want duck pliers too. All of these pliers -- from the Ultra Ergos to Lindstroms -- can be found and purchased at Blue Buddha Boutique. Here's what you want to look for in your bent nose and chain nose pliers, in addition to comfortable handles:

Your pliers should touch flush along the center,

line up in equal length, and taper to a narrow,

well defined tip.

Cutters:

There are many choices in cutters; for chainmaille we are looking for nippers that will leave the cleanest kerf (where the ring meets when closed). Chainmaille rings that are handcrafted with cutters are called "pinched" rings because one side of the cut will be flush and one side will look pinched. Only saw-cut rings have perfect, flush cut kerfs. The chainmaille flowers below are made with all handcrafted rings. Smaller and more narrow rings have a less obvious pinched kerf than wider and thicker rings. Also, the direction of the ring in the weave can make pinched kerfs more or less obvious.

All handcrafted rings.

Sometimes, handcrafted rings are ideal and add to the value of a design. Other times, I prefer to buy rings for the perfect kerfs. Making chainmaille for auction for Beads of Courage, I chose to use saw cut rings for mainstream buyers. Making jewelry for a community blog hop, I chose to make my own rings as the value was on handcrafted.

Beads of Courage charms made with AA saw cut rings.

The flatter your cutters, the less surface area to pinch the wire. Here are "double-flush" cutters, Martha Stewart cutters, Beadalon cutters, and Italian cutters:

From the side, there's a great difference in surface. The "double-flush" cutters do a poor job of cutting two flush ends because they are too wide to fit into the rings. Likewise, all but the Italian cutters have too much surface area.

DOUBLE FLUSH CUTTERS -- to wide to fit rings

MARTHA STEWART -- too much surface

ITALIAN CUTTERS -- slim, flat, & narrow -- perfect

My favorite cutters are Made in Italy. They are available at Amazon and as part of the Jewel School tool kit (on backorder, but can be requested by email -- see above for link).

Hakko CHP-170 Micro Clean Cutter, 16 Gg Max Cutting Capacity -- available at Amazon

Two more cool tools: Ring Openers & Tool Magic

Besides having great pliers on hand, you will want to have Tool Magic available for your chainmaille projects. Tool magic is a liquid rubber that one dips their pliers into to coat the metal. Coating pliers in Tool Magic prevents marring the rings and slipping pliers, also protecting our hands since slipping pliers can cause hand injury. It's best to apply a thin layer of Tool Magic, let dry for a few hours, and apply a second layer to dry overnight (at least 6 hours). When I'm working on a big project with AA rings or Artistic colored copper rings, I keep two sets of pliers dipped in Tool Magic. That way, as the rubber coating wears off I need only switch pliers and continue to chainmaille.

I also recommend a ring opener. Ring openers will come in handy when you are working on an intricate weave and need both hands to hold rings in place with your pliers. Worn on the top of the finger, it allows you to open the next jump ring without letting go of a weave. Although most of the time we prepare rings by opening and closing a certain number of rings for a pattern, some weaves will require opening rings as you maille. An inexpensive tool costing two dollars or less at most stores, I wouldn't be without mine. You'll find jump ring openers at Beadaholique, ArtBeads, and almost all jewelry online stores. You'll find Tool Magic at Fire Mountain Beads & Gems, BBB, & your local craft store (I buy mine at Joann's).

Now, let's make chainmaille :)

Let's create Loopy in Love Charms.

Click here for Loopy in Love Charms

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Art Bead Scene Blog: February 2014 Challenge Color Palette

February 18, 2014, 7:28 pm

≫ Next: The Color of Dreams Blog Hop

≪ Previous: Free Chainmaille Tutorial Series: Tools You'll Need and Instructions for Project One: "Loopy in Love Charms"

February is more than half-way through, but I wanted to share the beautiful color challenge Brandi Hussey created for this month's Art Bead Scene Color Challenge. She created two palettes of an abstract rose garden. The second palette helps us see the greens.

Check out Art Bead Scene for more information on joining in the challenge. Happy creating!

Art Bead Scene Blog: February 2014 Challenge Color Palette

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The Color of Dreams Blog Hop

February 21, 2014, 5:56 pm

≫ Next: Winter Sparkle Blog Hop Reveal

≪ Previous: Art Bead Scene Blog: February 2014 Challenge Color Palette

What are your dreams? Is there a dream you are watching unfold now? What has been your greatest dream to come true? If you could be, do, or have anything, what would that be?

The Color of Dreams BEADS

The Color of Dreams Boutique on Etsy

Each participant will be given a bead created by artist Patricia Handschuh of The Color of Dreams Boutique bead to design with. Create with the bead and show us your dreams! I'm treating everyone to the beads, and Patricia is donating a matched set of her beads for the blog hop reveal give-a-way. The one rule: let's focus on dreams as possible with the idea, "If we can dream it, we can achieve it." So, try creating "from the end" -- as if your dream has come true -- using your jewelry design to do so.

You may share a dream that has already manifested -- such as becoming a parent, learning tennis, going back to school, or reading many books -- or one you are in the process of making come true, or would like to come true some day. Perhaps you are on the edge of a brand new dream, ready for inspiration. Or perhaps it is a dream you wish to simply keep on dreaming.

The BLOG HOP

Please join us for "The Color of Dreams Blog Hop" on April 6, 2014 to create the story of your dreams in jewelry. Each participant will receive an ooak/orphan bead from The Color of Dreams Boutique. I'm sending these beautiful unique beads out free of charge, so I am limiting the number of participants to 30-35 artists.

To join in, please comment below so I have a count of participants, and also email me (toltecjewels @ aol DOT com) with your name and mailing address, your Blog name & blog address, & info about your shop, if you have one. In order to ensure that everyone has time to receive their bead and create, sign-ups close in one week, on February 28th.

Below is the Blog Hop Widget/ Button for the Hop. Simply right click the image to "save as" a photo. In your Blogger layout, add the button by choosing a new element "add photo" and click "shrink to fit" before uploading the image.

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Winter Sparkle Blog Hop Reveal

February 22, 2014, 5:43 am

≫ Next: Spring Fever Blog Hop with the Gossiping Goddess, BlueberriBeads, and Smitten Beads

≪ Previous: The Color of Dreams Blog Hop

Living in Orlando, winter is full of color. Flowers are blooming, and a soft ocean breeze flows across the peninsula. The air is clean and refreshing, and day light is as nurturing as the evening stars on a quiet late night walk.

When I received my bead mix from Lisa Lodge of "A Grateful artist" I wasn't surprised it was green! Green has been my color for our last few blog hops, and it is also an excellent representation of winter in Florida.

I sorted everything I received, and had several shapes of crystal to create with. I received fresh grass greens in crystal faceted rounds & AB rondelles, olive green glass pearls. larger green rondelles, round & elongated glass, and a handful olive green, larger ovals and bicones. I also received a seed bead mix in bright green, yellow & yellow-green, along with gold-toned metal discs.

I counted the faceted AB rounds -- enough for a rosary! I special ordered a crucifix for my rosary, as well as two artisan crafted beads for the hop: a tree of life green ceramic focal and green & earth tone sea horses for Florida-style earrings. But sadly, non arrived yet.

I did however, come up with a new chainmaille flower design and I'm delighted to say I've not seen it anywhere, so I may create additional colorways in the weave with various pearls & bicones, and eventually submit the design for publication.

A Finnish Helm weave, the flowers are created with "dragon dust" (or stardust) silver rings and embellished with pink glass pearls and Swarovski bicones in Violet AB2. I added the olive glass pearls from Lisa and made handcrafted daisy silver earwires. I LOVE the spring flower (or rather, winter sparkle ) feel and pretty flashes of pastel colors!

I've been sharing a free chainmaille tutorial series on my blog, and I'm considering posting the instructions for making these earrings this upcoming week :) Would you like instructions to make them?

Also, fellow blog hoppers, I'm giving away beads by The Color of Dreams Boutique for a blog hop about our dreams. I'll be sending out around 30 free art beads to artist who would like to participate :) Lisa introduced me to Patricia Handschuh's art in one of her hops, so I think it is nice to pass on more hopping with Patricia's work. Thanks Lisa!

Details are HERE.