Michaels Challenge

Today is reveal day for the Micheal's Challenge! Back a few weeks ago, Lorelei posed a reader beading challenge on her blog. We were all to buy similar beads from Micheal's and make a necklace using as many elements from Lorelei's chosen bead stash (above) as we could. Here's the necklace I came up with. I made an earthy, chunky necklace.

I ended up buying only two of the beads from Lorelei's picks. The white carved cinnabar beads and the green freshwater pearls. I kept the same color palette of dark brown, white and green. I substituted in these large dark wooden rounds to represent the dark brown beads Lorelei had selected. I added in these silver nugget beads and silver seed beads as my added element to the piece.

I used 6 strands of waxed linen cord to make the necklace. I strung the green freshwater pearls together in clusters for fullness and dimension. The silver seed beads were strung onto the multiple strands of linen and wrapped around the large wooden rounds for a decorative effect. Even though I used only two of Lorelei's bead picks, all of the beads in my necklace I bought at Micheal's! Now, I just need a nice name for my creation, any suggestions? Please leave a comment. Thanks for stopping by! There are lots of others participating in this fun challenge! Below is the list. Click the links to go on to the next designers! or Go to Lorelei's blog to check out the list there!

Mary Harding
Hilary of Fryestyle
For My Sweet Daughter
My Life Under the Bus
Kristie of DreamSomeDesigns
Linda's Bead Blog & Meanderings
Copper Diem

Andrew Thornton
TyneBodenNecklaces
Erin of Treasuresfound
Molly of BeautifullyBrokenMe
Beading by Malin de Koning



AuntieAnnie
Gr8Findings
Deborah M Purdy
Spirited Earth

Erin Siegel Jewelry
beads by breul
Beads for Busy Gals
Cynths Blog
Nayas Organized Chaos
Crafty Hope

Rosebud For the Love of Beads
Jamberry Song
Peacock Fairy
Elysian Studio Art
Designs by Debi
sweet girl design

October Happenings

There are quite a few events and things coming up around the blog-o-sphere in the next week or so. Here's a list of some things coming up soon:

Sunday, October 17th - Lorelei's Micheals Beading Challenge

Please come back this Sunday to see what I came up with! Be sure to check out Lorelei's blog on Sunday to see what she did and also she will have a list of all participating blogs and jewelry pics from participating beaders. I'm looking forward to seeing what everyone created!

Tuesday, October 19th - Gaea's 'copy me' Design Challenge

I will be revealing my design this coming Tuesday. I was lucky enough to be a chosen designer for this challenge, but Gaea has left this one open to anyone that wants to participate! Check out her blog.

Wednesday, October 20th - Super Duper Big Announcement!!!

My good friend Lorelei Eurto and I will be making a BIG special announcement! Please be sure to check both our blogs on Wednesday. We are so excited to share this news and we hope you will be just as excited! All you jewelry designers out there will not want to miss this!

Sunday, October 24th - The Beads-Of-Clay Fall Blog Event

Plan on attending this event! I hope to attend this as well. The ceramic bead artists over at the BOC blog will be having an open studio event with a blog hop, shop sales and tons of giveaways all day!

And last but not least, somewhere in between all this, I will hopefully be having a BABY! LOL! :) So, if I've gone missing, I'm probably in the delivery room! Wish me luck.

Turquoise Button Necklace

My second design for the Artbeads.com Fall design challenge. As I did for my first piece, I used the 'Fall 2010 Patone's Color Report' for my inspiration. Lagoon, Lipstick Red, and Oyster Grey. Turquoise is my absolute favorite color and my favorite gemstone! I'm thrilled that Turquoise is the 'Color of the Year', according to Patone and I'm taking full advantage of it! I love the organic shape of this natural Turquoise nugget bead strand. I hand-knotted the Turquoise gems onto some Red silk beading cord. The large antique silversmith button serves as the focal and the clasp! This decorative button can be worn at the side, in the front or at the back!

I made a simple loop for the button with a piece of 2mm dark brown leather and a large antique silver pewter crimp end. I hope you've enjoyed my Artbeads Fall design project! Thank you for stopping by! :) Happy Beading!

Disclaimer: Artbeads.com has sent me the above mentioned beads, pendants, materials and/or findings to create with as part of their design partner blog program. I have not been paid by Artbeads.com to participate. Thank you.

Interview!

Please head over to Marcie's blog, La Bella Joya! Marcie was kind enough to ask me to answer a few questions for her blog series called Artists Answers. I am honored that she asked me for my input! 

Thank you and I hope you enjoy the Q and A! :)

Baby Shower!

Here's me at my Baby Shower last week on Sept. 16th. Yay! I'm 35 weeks pregnant here in this pic. The shower was held at The Riverwalk Bead Shop and Gallery, where I sell my jewelry and teach beading and jewelry-making classes! My girlfriends at the shop threw the shower for me. They did everything, from inviting all the guests to providing the food and beverages! It was so nice! I didn't do anything really except enjoy the party! I had so much fun! We laughed and talked about everything baby! Everyone was so generous with the gifts, I was a little overwhelmed but, oh so appreciated everything! My little girl will be all set for clothes, baby blankets, toys and a car seat! I love this place and all  my friends here! Thank you so much Nancy and Birdie for throwing me an awesome shower! :)

Marigold Sky Bracelet

Marigold Sky

Leather and Silk Bracelet by Erin Siegel 

I made this little number last night. It's my first design in a series for the new ArtBeads.Com Fall Design Challenge! I love these design challenges from artbeads. I get to try some ideas or jewelry supplies that I might not think of otherwise. For this challenge, the designers were encouraged to use 'Colors of Fall' in our jewelry creations. I chose to be inspired by the 'Fall 2010 Pantone Color Report' for my designs. This bracelet features 'Patone Colors' Lagoon, Golden Glow, Chocolate Truffle, and Oyster Gray. Interesting combination, but I think it works! 

The items I used from art beads are:

2mm Chocolate Brown Leather

100% Silk Beading Cord in Amber

Antique Silver Square Filigree Button

Thanks for looking! Happy Fall Beading! :)


Disclaimer: Artbeads.com has sent me the above mentioned beads, pendants, materials and/or findings to create with as part of their design partner blog program. I have not been paid by Artbeads.com to participate. Thank you.

Linen Hoop Earrings

Linen and Lace Hoop Earrings

Here's the first piece of jewelry I made from the little bead stash I got from Diana. (See my previous post) These hoop earrings look kinda funky and punky, don't you think?  I made a circle frame for these earrings out of 18 gauge sterling wire, then wrapped the frames with black waxed linen and small faceted black onyx beads. I've had this linen wrapped hoop idea for a while. Diana's ceramic charms were the perfect motivation to actually execute the idea!  I knew her pieces would be the perfect focals to hang from the center! The charms here are porcelain with a lace impression.  I'd love to make some more of these in some different color combination! You can check out more of Diana's work in her Etsy shop. Thanks for looking! :)