Time Flies

Where does it go? It's been a whirlwind of activity! The spring is such a hectic time. Softball begins, tis the season for art shows, school hosts lots of events in the spring in preparation for the end of the school year, hubby is super busy at work, and then there are my normal day to day activities. Shew! However, while being pulled in 20 different directions I have managed to create.

Ring Around the Rosey

Horizon - Textured Sterling Discs

Clear Blue

Hopefully the next post will not be SO far in the distant future. Have a great week!

Bursting with Color

I was so excited to receive my Artbeads.com package this month as part of the blogging team. This month's theme is "The Beauty of Spring". Ahhh, how I am enjoying this lovely spring weather and looking forward to all the colors of spring after such a harsh, cruel winter. I perused Artbeads.com expansive website on the hunt for eye popping color and came up with some fabulous finds.

I'm absolutely over the moon about this necklace (so is my baby sister). It turned out better than I could have ever imagined. I LOVE the color combination, so cheerful. This is my first go round with felt beads. I've always admired them in projects and wanted to give it a try for myself. I love the texture of them, they are so light weight, and available in a variety of colors and sizes. The square washers were a must have...available in lots of colors and work great for creating an adjustable length lariat. Of course, I had to have one of the new Swarovski Innovations, I used it as well as a couple of Czech flowers on the tassel. The end result...a fabulous necklace with an array of colorful beads and sterling silver wirework. And a favorite! Still up in the air...this one might be a keeper...hum?

Bursting Blooms ~ Colorful Sterling Silver Necklace

Oh and I even made mismatched, matching earrings

When I saw these Swarovski "Wing" beads, right away the wheels started turning...how can I use these to create a butterfly? After all, spring is when the butterflies reappear and I think they are so beautiful. This is a pendant, just haven't decided on the necklace part yet.

Finally, these Swarovski Innovations were chosen because of the shape and the color. They are such a beautiful shade of blue and you can't really tell from the picture but the dangles are a very faint color of blue as well. Spring is known for being rainy...do you see it? Rain falling from dark skies.

This is my rendition of spring jewelry. Now, go ahead and hop on over to Artbeads.com so you can create your own rendition of spring. And they are have a great 48 Hour $1.99 Sale, but hurry on over sale ends Thursday, March 25th at 9am PT.

These products were received free of charge from Artbeads.com. The products have been honestly reviewed and I have not been paid for endorsement as it pertains to the products received.

Thinking...

Oh the thinks you can think...

Every month Erin at Treasures Found challenges jewelry artists to be inspired by a chosen topic. While I have good intentions and plan to participate in various challenges offered in the blogging community however most times I simply run out of time. This months inspiration is Dr. Seuss. Who doesn't love Dr. Seuss, we've all grown up reading his whimsical books. I knew right away that I would make time to participate. I love bold colors and love the catchy rhymes in Dr. Seuss' books.

"Oh the thinks you can thinks" is one of the many books that I enjoy. This was my inspiration for this bracelet. I really had SO much fun planning and creating this piece. Oh the thinks you can think is available in my Etsy shop.

On a Mission

Over the years I have collected a load of beads and silver beads and components. Most of the time, I purchase beads and components that I like and have no idea how I am going to incorporate the items in my designs. Hence, some beads I have had for years and they keep getting pushed to the bottom of the pile which leaves me wondering...Why? did I buy these? Does this ever happen to you?

Now I'm on a mission to use up some of my stash. I even wrote this on my "to do" list. This is my first project to include components and beads that I've had forever. I must admit, at first I had a really hard time with it. The long tubes were what was presenting the problem (and I have A LOT of them...yikes!). I have wrapped them in wire and am really please with the look. Next time I use the tubes I think I might saw them in half, they're just too long.

Bumps in the Road ~ Sterling Silver Wirework & Pearl Necklace

Do you think...

dreaming, wishing, praying for spring and creating jewelry with showy spring colors will chase my winter blues away? I'll try anything...this colorful bracelet will help ward off Old Man Winter, at least in my mind and I was happy while creating it. I'm SO over all the snow we keep getting!

Dreaming in Color ~ Beaded Sterling Silver Wirework Bracelet

Color is Everything

As an artist, I gravitate toward certain colors over and over again. Blues and greens are not necessarily MY favorite colors but I find myself going back to these colors for my projects. Much of the inspiration for my pieces come from nature, more specifically the ocean. This comes from living so close to this vast expanse of water. I'm not saying that the ocean I visit is blue or green, more like a muddy olive color, but in my minds eye this is what it should be.

The ocean is the inspiration for my latest creation. These beads are polymer clay, yes blue and green with the added black for contrast which represents that dark color of the water. And the spiraling to represent the curling of the waves.

Water Spout - Polymer Clay & Sterling Silver Wirework Bracelet

Do you like to work with a specific color?

Hodge Podge

It's been a long time...too long...since I've made a new piece. I've really been jonesing to pull out my wire and get to work on something, with a more rustic, primitive feel. No beads just wire, with no set design in place I started cutting and wrapping and let the wire and my fingers kind of do their own thing while I mindlessly watched.

Hodge Podge - Oxidized Copper Wirework Bangle

The bangle has a true rustic look, don't you think? It totally reminds me of a log cabin we stayed in while vacationing in Colorado. It will look great layered, or by itself. Visit my Etsy shop to claim this bracelet for you own.


And more wintry weather. A blizzard today. Freezing, Snowing, and Windy outside, all bundled up inside. I'm sure many of you may be experiencing much of the same. Cozy up and have a great weekend!

Great Summer Bracelet

~Sunset~ Boro Lampwork and Sterling Silver Wirework Bracelet

Check out this great bracelet for this summer...It's bursting with beautiful pastel colors!...Envision yourself perfectly bronzed from the summer sun with a little blink on your wrist. This bracelet is absolutely eye popping...great pastel colors contrasting with shiny silver...you'll love it!

See this bracelet and many more in my Etsy shop.

Over the Rainbow

Over the Rainbow Bracelet

My daughter colors everything in rainbow colors. I can't say that I've seen a cat in every color under the sun but she is creative (like her mom). So in honor of her colorful out look on life I made this bracelet. Plus, it uses up some of those odd beads, you know the ones that have been hanging around for a while that you just can't seem to pair up.

This bracelet is unique in another way as well. There are no "mass production" beads such as Bali or Thai silver beads. I have juried for an artist tour, and the pieces that I display during the tour can not contain any mass production materials. I'm still waiting to hear from the jury. I'll be sure to let everyone know the outcome.

This bracelet is not in my Etsy shop but hopefully I'll list it sometime this week:)

See this bracelet in my Etsy shop! You'll love it!

Desert Stone Bangle

Desert Stone Bangle

Last week was spring break for us. We went away for a few days, but the rest of the week I was home with the kids, therefore didn't really get to much done. And especially didn't get to craft any new pieces. However, my dear hubby took the kids for the weekend to PA. So I created to my hearts content this past weekend.


I had so much fund creating this bracelet. It has lots of coiling and wire beads...which I love!! I also really like the oxidized copper with these lampwork beads. It really makes them stand out. This bangle is a little different style than what I normally create. In the past bangles have always been a hard sell. They are so size specific...it seems that whenever a client has been interested in a bangle, it's either too small or too big. This bangle has been left open, therefore can easily be adjusted to fit almost any wrist.




Check this bangle out in my Etsy shop.

Oil Spill Pendant

Oil Spill~Sterling Silver Wire Wrapped Pendant

I was so excited upon receiving these beads! Couldn't wait to create a new something. The focal bead is so much larger than the others so I wanted to make a pendant using it.


This is how it turned out. This bead is large and chunky (22 mm x 30 mm), and I wanted the wirework to compliment it well without covering up the metallic finish and raised bumps. The bead is framed in coiled fine gauge wire, followed with another wrap of a medium gauge wire. The base and top loops are also coiled, and the top is embellished with hammered cascading spirals.


I am very please with the results! I almost hate to sell it...but I did save the largest of the smaller beads for moi.

Be sure to check this Oil Spill Pendant out in my etsy shop.

Raspberry Lemonade

~Raspberry Lemonade~

Uummm...I love relaxing by the pool in the summer and drinking homemade raspberry lemonade...I'm almost there~and the ruby red and honey yellow colors in this bracelet whisk me away to those lazy summer days.



Okay back to reality...this is one of the great bracelet that I made while I was on hiatus from my blog. I have listed Raspberry Lemonade in my Etsy shop. The colors in these beads are vibrant, and the bracelet is chunky and fun...Go ahead and treat yourself to a handmade Raspberry Lemonade.

Something New & Different

Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love the jewelry that I create. It is so very therapeutic for me and I enjoy sharing my finished piece for others to enjoy. However, lately I have kind of been in a funk. I feel like I am creating the same old thing over and over, in a different color with little variation. So today I decided that I was going to do something way different for me.

There are a few artists who's work I really enjoy drooling over. One of them is Ronna Weltman. Her jewelry is so beautiful and unique. So the necklace that I created today was inspired by one of her pieces of work. I really enjoyed creating something different and I am very pleased with the finished piece.

Now, I'm off to go oxidize and tumble this necklace...I was just so excited, that I couldn't wait to post a picture of it.