Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Custom: Pink Necklace for Mom

My mom loves the color pink, so I made her this five-strand necklace featuring some pretty pink glass beads spaced by the iridescent glass seed beads I've used before.  I fashioned it in the same way as the coral hemp necklace and the unwanted corded necklace.

This necklace differs from the two spiral cord necklaces because I used a claspless metal chain instead of weaving the cord.





Thursday, April 12, 2012

Wedding Jewelry: Guinea Fowl Feathers (Bridesmaids' Necklaces/Earrings)

To match my own bridal jewelry, I made matching bridesmaid necklace/earring sets from guinea fowl feathers.  For the necklaces, I included some cream-colored rose cabochons.  All of the findings were either platinum or white-gold plated.

One of my bridesmaids did not have her ears pierced, so I made her a special pair with clip-on findings (not-pictured).



bridesmaid jewelry action shot

bridesmaid bouquet featuring guinea fowl feathers


Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Wedding Jewelry: Guinea Fowl Feathers (Bridal Earrings)

For my wedding in 2010, I had guinea fowl feathers in my bouquets, decorations, and my jewelry!  I couldn't find in the stores exactly what I had pictured in my mind, so I made my own.  Pictured below are my wedding earrings, made from colorless crystals and guinea fowl feathers.

I absolutely love feather jewelry, especially with these speckled feathers!  I made matching bridesmaids' jewelry sets as well.
  

wedding earrings in action


my bridal bouquet, featuring guinea fowl feathers

Custom: Wooden Earrings for Mom

Long ago, my mom requested that I make her some earrings using wooden beads.  The pair on the left features the abalone circle beads I used previously, in addition to some beehive-shaped wooden beads.  The earrings on the right feature barrel-shaped wood beads and those pretty plastic jade-colored beads I've used before.






Monday, April 2, 2012

Etsy Store Launch!

Today I launched my Etsy store, where you can find my designs for sale and request custom orders!

Remember, anything you see in the blog can be recreated by request (either identical or very similar).




Custom: Coral & Turquoise for Catt

I made this matching necklace/earring set for my friend Catt; she has a bold personality and a great fashion sense, so I made her a very eye-catching necklace.  The bold and bright colors of the real turquoise beads complement the bright coral color.  The big coral-colored beads are hand-carved, painted wood beads, and the pendant is a polished piece of stone (agate?).

Going international!  Catt wore her necklace to India with a matching sari

Sunday, April 1, 2012

Unwanted Collection: Part 5 (Pink Earrings)

It is difficult to make earrings from the Unwanted glass beads, but these two pink beads were just meant to be.  I paired them with some random unwanted purple glass beads that were entwined with wire, and spaced them with some amethyst beads.

The two beads are not symmetric, but that's part of what makes them unique.

You can find these earrings in the Etsy store!





Unwanted Collection: Part 4 (Spiral Cord Necklace)

Inspired by my coral hemp necklace, I created a similar necklace for the Unwanted Collection using the tiny glass beads used in the three Unwanted bracelets.  Because the glass beads are heavy, I spaced them with some iridescent seed beads.  I braided the cord with some lime nylon thread, and again used a button for the clasp.

SOLD!





fancy button clasp


Unwanted Collection: Part 3 (Black Feathers)

This necklace features more of the large unwanted beads, this time all in black.  I made a pendant from black duck feathers by sticking them through a black bead and attaching them to a fixture to form a bead.

I absolutely adore this necklace, which will be in the Etsy store!  I plan on making one for myself, but using black plastic beads since I used up all of the unwanted beads in this necklace.







Unwanted Collection: Part 2 (Big Bead Necklaces)

While most of the unwanted beads were tiny, I pulled out all of the big ones and separated them by color.  I fashioned two complementary necklaces using the orange/brown beads and the blue/green beads.  The blue/green necklace has been claimed by my sister, but the orange/brown one will be in the Etsy store!

I spaced them with matching small beads to keep them from slipping about the chain, since the holes in the large beads were quite large.  Each bead is handmade, unique, and pretty!







Unwanted Collection: Part 1 (Bracelets)

A while ago my sister unloaded a giant vat of handmade glass beads onto my person.  I finally got around to sifting through them, and realized they were quite vibrant and beautiful.  I started crafting the "Unwanted Collection", named after the leftover/abandoned nature of the beads.

Here are three bracelets that I made with the unwanted beads.  I attached four strands to a watch face to make a bracelet watch.  Four more were attached to a resin-filled cabochon that I sent to my sister.  A third piece was made by attaching three strands to a large clear glass bead to which I attached a real Fender guitar pick.

The guitar pick bracelet is available in the Etsy store.

The watch is SOLD!



Fender bracelet

Fender bracelet

watch face bracelet

watch face bracelet

resin cabochon bracelet

resin cabochon bracelet

Custom: Golden Jewelry Set for Sarah

My good friend Sarah is a fellow craftster, but she is gifted with the ability to knit.  We struck a deal: if she were to knit me a grump-a-saurus, I would make her some jewelry.  Having a grump-a-saurus is very important, because he absorbs negative energy.

I made her an earring/necklace set of gold-toned jewelry, featuring some cream-colored fixtures which I made myself by wrapping some cotton floss cord around some unfinished earring findings.  The other beads I really liked here were those golden pearls you see, which I believe are dyed freshwater pearls (not sure), and some puka shells.  I liked the natural and earthy feel of the jewelry, which I felt complemented Sarah's personality.


Grump-a-saurus (made by Sarah)

Winter Leaves Collection (Part 2)

This is one of the pieces I made for the Winter Leaves Collection.  Here is the earring/necklace set I made for myself featuring a gold brushed leaf pendant and fuchsia/coral colored beads.  I don't always wear them at the same time, but I love both!