Miss Fickle Frenzy!

http://missficklemediacom.blogspot.com/As soon as I receive an order of patinated components from Miss Fickle, I seem to become instantly inspired and other projects are pushed aside!  All the colors are awesome and go well with a large variety of other metals, gemstones,  art beads, and fibers.  As you will see, I've been reaching for the turquoise, but I will broaden out in the near future.  It's all so irresistible!  Since I have quite a collection on hand before some of it goes off to the northern Wisconsin galleries, I would like to show you what I did.

                 The Sea Grass Hammered Bars are like two delicate arms, suspending the turquoise.

Here I have combined Indigo Washed Chestnut Chain and Coins with copper bicones.

                      I love these organic links!  This is Chestnut Opal with a rough garnet nugget.

The coordinating earrings and bracelet.  That Indigo Washed Chestnut Chain just caresses your wrist!

                                     Chestnut Chain with Water and Wood 16mm Links

                                                      These large oval links are so useful!

   These earrings are among my favorites.  You don't need a lot of embellishment on these beautiful                          Water and Wood rings.

More Water and Woods!  The chain in the center provides the added touch of contrast and interest.

             This is fun to wear and the Oval links lay so nice.  You could attach a lot of danglies !

The Water and Woods is so compatible with this turquoise!

                  I like using the silk wrap for a finished look.

                           A closer look at those colorful Water and Woods  rounds!

A Soot Black toggle with lots of chain!

                  MissFickle generously sent me two unbelievable black tourmaline nuggets
                 and some ceramic beads from MaCarroll, check out her beads!

                         The other black tourmaline with Black Soot chain, a no-brainer choice!
The clear quartz nugget is the perfect contrast and the heart is from my friend Judy's necklace!

Details!  Soot Black toggle,  secure and looks good in any position on a necklace.  I also used MissFickle's instructions on wiring the cut chain lengths back together, a neat trick with style!

See her blog, Monday, August 30, 2010.

                         Verdigris Mini-Discs flutter from any earring design or as a bracelet dangle.

Would you believe that I have lots more of these delightful parts and pieces?!  Sure you would,
because we all need something left to hoard and play with while waiting for the creative juices to
come our way.  The next display will include Violet!  Thanks, MissFickle for your love and 
talents!

Color Inspiration from Maui Art

Everyone is talking about spring!  Here's a quick post with some photos of artwork on the walls of our condo in Maui.  Every condo we've stayed in has local art everywhere, such ambiance!  I thought the artwork would be great color inspiration!

Now would you please make some jewelry and show me how inspired you were?!

Spring motivates us to clean, and while cleaning my desk, I found this advice I had saved and I would like to share it with you:

     Whatever you desire or dream about,
           take some small action every day
           that moves you closer to your goal.

The comments you gift me with are greatly appreciated!

More Maui Jewelry!

We're all familiar with the inspiration that is stimulated by the natural beauty of those "special" places in our world.  The Hawaiian islands are strong in that category, and I want to share a small part of Marta Howell's story.  "Using Mother Nature as inspiration, Marta creates artful and unique pieces of jewelry from her studio in Kailua, Hawaii.  She designs using Abalone shells and Mother of Pearl and complements each with semi-precious gemstones.... The mother of pearl that she uses comes from the Black Lip Oyster, the oyster which generates the Black Tahitian Pearl." This is quoted from the information included with your purchase.  The Oceanside Jewelers in Lahaina, Maui, is where I discovered Marta's work several years ago.  I was attracted to the store because from the front door, you can see right through to the back deck that overlooks the ocean, a perfect combination!  While browsing, you may sight a whale and feel the ocean breezes, yes, it's really awesome!

                   A piece of a Black Lip Oyster shell.  It is just radiant in person.  While living in Thailand, Marta gathered many of these shells from the beach, not your average shell collection!

Here's Katie, wearing a Marta Howell Mother of Pearl pendant with an amethyst.

Both are beautiful!

                     An abalone shell is displayed with other pieces by Marta.  So many choices!!

This is my anniversary present!  Black Lip Shell with peridot.  I am happy!

Come back soon for a glimpse of bead shopping!

Maui Beading Buddy!

We've just enjoyed the most wonderful 2 weeks in Maui!  The first day we were here and on our way to the vegetable market, we glanced in a little shop that has jewelry.  Dan said "That looks like Jasmine"!  And there she was, now set up in her own shop, "At Witt's End", (because her last name is Witt).  I  met Jasmine during our first trip to Maui, about 9 years ago.  We were with our friends, Jim and Judy,  walking along the trail in the Iao Valley, when we came upon a lovely young girl, singing and making a gorgeous turtle necklace.  Of course, Judy and I stopped to chat, and Judy bought the necklace!  Two years later, Dan and I were back in Maui and I recognized Jasmine at a local market, selling her jewelry.  She kindly shared her supply of turtle pendants, made of carved mango wood and limpet shells.  The necklaces I made with these turtles were very popular, and one of them eventually became  my first time published in Bead Trends Magazine, August 2010.  I thought it was very exciting  to see how Jasmine persisted and  progressed from a small start to her own shop!  I hope the photos will capture enough of the story and give you some incentive!

                                        A variety of items invites you to take a closer look!
              "Handmade Hawaiian Polynesian jewelry, baskets, arts, and crafts"

Meet Jasmine!

                                                       Beautiful displays are everywhere!

             This is very interesting, especially her desire to put more "ALOHA" in her work!

                                                         These colors are gorgeous!

                                                 Shells, pearls, and coral are abundant!

Wish you could see it in person!

Had to include the corner where it all comes together -

                                            Isn't it fun to see someone else's work/mess area?
                                                            We all have this, right?

Jasmine doesn't have a blog, but you can leave comments here and she'll be glad to read them.  It was so much fun to visit with her again, and I wanted to share her success story with the bloggers!

Winter Storm in Wisconsin!

This weekend it snowed at least a foot or more, then the high winds kicked in!  I'm sorry for anyone who had to be on the roads, but for me, this means HiBERNaTe!!  My husband made Italian vegetable soup, and I made some jewelry :)  Wanna see?

                                      "I Wait and Watch"

"Listening", because owls hear their prey, rather than see it.  Especially when it's covered with snow!

                             

  

        
These are jasper (Brecciated?) owls with beautiful autumn colors.  I thought it was quite a challenge to get them successfully wired onto their branches!  Thank you, 24 gauge brass wire from Vintaj.  The branches, leaves, and chain are also from Vintaj.

        
                      No name yet, but I enjoyed knotting with the brown/black waxed linen.  I would love some name ideas, just a little comment will do!

            Faceted gold and black glass beads with 14 kt. goldfilled findings.
         It would dazzle with one of those "little black dresses", but I hesitate to use that for the name.

Bead Soup Re-Vamp!

It's the middle of November, what a perfect time to have bright and beautiful jewelry to gaze upon!  I was the "left over" in pairing up, so Lori Anderson kindly took me on as her second partner.  She sent me a breezy, colorful necklace that I told her I would've worn to a beach wedding in Maui!  Here it is -

There was a lot to work with.  In order to be "me", I selected only 2 of the components, the fabulous silver clasp and the fun keishi pearls.  Lori also sent extras, and I discovered that the lampwork beads that were included had a colorful spot that coordinated with the pearls, although the photo doesn't really emphasize that.

This is the secondary focal and I used the clasp as the main focal.

Isn't it spectacular!!  The silver brings out the silvery-gray pearls very nicely.  I also added peach and gray potato pearls and one more of the lampwork beads.

Here is another view, it can be worn in several positions.

Thanks, Lori, for being a generous partner and for organizing!

"Elegance Re-Born"

Be sure you visit all the blogs!  

Each re-vamp is a delightful surprise!

Erin Prais-Hintz http://treasures-found.blogspot.com
Jen Velasquez http://jenjuddrocks.blogspot.com
Johanna Rhodes http://firephoenixcreations.blogspot.com
Laurel Steven http://laurelsteven.blogspot.com
Loretta Carstensen http://www.designsbyloretta.blogspot.com
Lori Anderson http://www.PrettyThingsBlog.com

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

Marianna Boylan http://www.stargirlshop.blogspot.com
Norma Turvey http://www.bead dreams and moonlitfantaseas
Sharon Misuraco http://goinoffthebeadinpath.blogspot.com You are here.
Stacey Curry http://starhitchedwagon.blogspot.com
Tyne Bodenburg http://www. tynebodennecklaces.blogspot.com

Applefest at Blue Vista Farm

The weather was mostly clear and crisp, and the sun brought out the glorious color of each leaf, as the largest crowd in 20 years arrived in Bayfield, WI for the annual Applefest.  Blue Vista Farm  has a display of my jewelry throughout their season, and I bring in a larger display for Applefest weekend.  I set up my display amongst pottery by local artists, honey by local bees, and the beautiful dried flower arrangements that are grown at Blue Vista.  Everything seems to grow better in this area.  I don't have enough pictures to tell the whole story, but here are a few glimpses into this magical area!

                                         The entrance to the retail shop in full summer bloom.

The front of the historic barn.  As soon as you get out of your car, you hear strains of Chopin, Mozart, or Beethoven drifting from the speakers in the loft, and the sound carries way out to the berry fields!

                Dan and I never seem to get enough blueberries!  They're so bountiful and healthy.

The Applefest "bouquet of the day" was displayed next to me, a bittersweet "summer's end" look, don't you think?

                                  A brilliant maple in front of the big barn, gives the day a lift!

        Dan was busy sorting and packing apples.  It takes many hands to keep up with the demand!

                         A variety of apples come out of their bath and go into the new cider press.

            Keith Carlson helps out with the cider press, producing the freshest cider imaginable!

      Part of my display.  I added a dried bouquet of blackberry lillies, there are many to choose from.

  Ending with a small part of the "blue vista", looking over Lake Superior from the back of the barn.  I          wish everyone could stand right here and take a deep breath and enjoy this peaceful atmosphere.  We have many savored memories from our visits here over the years.