Easy Peasy

Erin Siegel recently shared a tutorial on bracelets made with a bead closure, waxed linen, and a link. You can find it here. I loved the idea. So simple and fun and really quite elegant in its simplicity.

And easy, except for the part where I tied knots in two strands of leather and had to force the leather through the beautiful glass beads by Julianna, and I didn't have a bead that was right for the closure. But really all together too easy once I worked things out.

After several minutes (maybe 30 or so) of frustration trying to fit the round peg in the square hole, a light bulb went on. Probably all of you have had this particular light bulb on for several years. So you can go ahead and snicker if you like. But do it quietly OK :-) Yep, that's it. A pair of sissors and a couple of deft clips and that leather slid right through the bead holes.  My knotting technique still needs some serious improvement.

I'm feeling pretty pleased with the closure on this. It's one of my bronze bead caps that I dapped a little too vigorously and bad things happened to the hole in it and the edges went a little wonky. I love when I can save something that was destined for the rubbish bin. I really like how the leather loop kind snugs up under the bead cap. I've had this bracelet on all day. I am never taking it off. Well maybe I'll take it off to shower. But otherwise, never ever.

Thanks, Erin for this great idea. I'm making another one for a special person. Mostly because when that special person comes to visit this fall, I know for sure that if I don't, she will be wearing this one on her way home.

Bead Trends & A Give Away!

My first published piece of jewelry came out in this months Bead Trends. I'm sort of tickled pink, especially because I don't really think of my self as a jewelry maker. But they had a call for jewelry made with art beads and I thought, what the heck. I make beads. Might as well give it a try.

This is the piece that was published. It's got one of my porcelain and bronze branch toggle clasps. It was quite exciting to see how it was photographed in Bead Trends. I love the beautiful photographs in that magazine. The staging and lighting is always superb.

So to celebrate, I'm having a giveaway! I've got a copy of the October issue of Bead Trends that really needs a home and I've got one toggle clasp like the one on my bracelet to go with it. All you have to do is leave a comment on this post by Sunday at midnight. I'll mail this out anywhere in the world that the USPS goes. I'll get out the ole random number generator and announce a winner on Monday. And if I can't get that to work I'll have Alice pick a name from her dog dish. She loves paper. She'd love to pick a name.

And if one give away on a Monday isn't enough. Check this one out.

Mary Jane is celebrating her birthday today by giving away this beautiful pair of earings at Love My Art Jewelry. I want these for myself, but it will be OK if you win. So go check them out here.  I love Mary Jane's work!  You can see more on her blog and I highly recommend following her if you don't already. Not only does she make beautiful jewelry using her own hand made components, she writes about her thoughts and inspiration in a beautiful way as well.

Happy Birthday MJ!!!!!

I'm heading back into the studio to finish up a few bits and pieces. But after that I am settling down to an evening catching up on all of your blogs.  Thanks for stopping by!

Not a speck of porcelain in sight

This may be the very first piece of  jewelry I have ever made that didn't have any porcelain components. Not even a speck of wire work or chain either. Stringing is just not something I have ever had much talent at. I don't have too many inspired ways of putting together beads.  But here it is, a strung piece.

Not too long ago I ordered several stands of turquoise form Julianna on her detash  estsy site, Diet Beads. When I got these coin shaped beads I fell in love with them and the design in a bronze focal with coordinating lentils just sort of popped into my head.  I must say I am actually rather pleased with this and it felt OK to just follow up on what was in my mind at the time in a spontaneous way.

BTW, Juls has been cleaning out the studio, which I believe may be much like my situation, encompassing the whole house. She's got a lot of lovely things over in her detash shop. You should go over and have a look. They won't last long because this is a cleaning project and once they are gone.... well they are gone.