Jewelry | Bead Happily Ever After

Dreams of Spring

Posted on April 21, 2015 by crystal

Each year, there’s a short span of days when winter is over… but spring is still asleep.

The pristine snow slowly disappears and we’re left with a drab and dreary landscape. It’s bleak. We long for warm breezes and cheerful colors.

While we wait, we take comfort in the subtle signs that spring is emerging – early morning songs from returning birds… the appearance of tiny green shoots peeking through the soil…

More days pass and then – almost overnight – barren tree branches have exploded with leaves, the grass is remarkably greener, and the fragrance of lilacs drifts in through the open door.

purple divider

Recently, while dreaming of spring flowers, I made some jewelry inspired by lilacs and violets and purple iris!

Here are a couple of examples.

Wishing you a Happy Spring!

( What have you been up to? 🙂 )

Hugs,

I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Click the envelope to leave a comment or to read what the other kids are saying! 😀

Smile Makers

Posted on August 30, 2013 by crystal

Lately, I’m lovin’ . . .

* These gorgeous roses from Sir Beads!
We celebrated our 42nd wedding anniversary this week. 🙂

(click to enlarge)

* My (finally finished!) bead-woven necklace in plum, gold, and midnight blue.
I wanted to make a design that was showy but still understated enough to allow the artisan-crafted polymer pendant to take center stage.

(click to enlarge)

* Aquamarine AB Dangle Earrings with Textured Brass Rings! These were fun to make. They remind me of a pair I had as a young “hippie” (well, not really a hippie but I was a teenager during that era and wore the fashion of the time.)

(click to enlarge)

Hope you find lots of things to make you smile this Labor Day Weekend! 😀

Hugs,

I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Click the envelope to leave a comment or to read what the other kids are saying! 😀

Bead Play and Giveaway

Posted on August 5, 2013 by crystal

A couple of weeks ago, I promised there would soon be a Jewelry Design Reveal and a chance to enter a very special Giveaway . . .

Well, today’s the day! 😀

My dear friend, Brenda, (of Brenda’s Jewellry Box) agreed to choose some Bead Happily Ever After beads and use them to create an original design – or two!

Here are the beads she chose.

And just look at the fabulous, shoulder-duster earrings she created!
(I love her use of wire on these.)

And she made an adorable anklet, as well!

And now the best part!!!

Brenda is generously sponsoring a GIVEAWAY of these beautiful designs and it’s going on right now!

Fingers crossed that one of you is a lucky winner!
Hurry! Visit Brenda’s blog to find out how to enter.

Hugs,

I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Click the envelope to leave a comment or to read what the other kids are saying! 😀

I’m A Little Bit Vintage

Posted on April 30, 2013 by crystal

Raise your hand if you remember Donny and Marie? 😉

And their theme song?

You know —

She’s “a little bit country”; He’s “a little bit “rock and roll”.

C’mon Kids… please say you know what on earth I’m talking about, here.

(For you youngsters in the group – it’s Donny and Marie Osmond!)

I can hear you asking: “Surely there’s a point to this, Crystal???”

Why, yes. Of course! 😉

If I were to join the chorus along with good ole Donny and Marie, I’d be singing: “I’m a little bit “vintage”.

I’m not referring to my age – though I suppose that’s a good adjective to describe it. I mean that I have a passion for all things vintage – beads, jewelry, books, accessories, china, furniture, etc.!

This week, I took some time to play with a pretty bunch of Vintage Swarovski Rhinestones and Cabochons. I combined them with some vintage-look findings and quick as a wink – I had 3 pairs of earrings!

Sapphire Blue – such sparkle on these vintage rhinestones!

Amethyst purple – my favorite color! Love that marquise-shape stone.

And Swarovski Glass Cabochons in Smoked Topaz Aurora Borealis. Talk about a rainbow of colors!

If you were to chime in with Donny and Marie…. how would you fill in the blank?

“I’m a little bit “_______”.

Hugs,

I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Click the envelope to leave a comment!

Eyes Wide in Wonder

Posted on March 5, 2013 by crystal

I LOVE the internet! Don’t you?
For me, it is still as full of wonder and excitement as it was the very first day I logged on. I’m continually amazed by the vast amount of information at my fingertips. It’s thrilling to know I can get an answer to almost any question in minutes! It’s like having the library open 24/7 . . . a library that’s in your own house!!!

When I browse, I’m always looking for creative ideas and new projects to make. It’s astounding how much talent is showcased on the web – each idea more wonderful than the last! Sometimes, I bookmark them in my “favorites” file on the computer. Other times, I print them on paper. I’ve got the ~~over-stuffed~~ very full folders to prove it. We’re talking scores of projects and patterns! I’ll be a very old lady before I make even half of them, but who cares? The fun is having a whole bunch of good ideas from which to choose whenever I have some time to craft.

Today, I want to show you my latest . . .

It begins with one of these oval-ish silver rings.

Add some tiny glass seed beads, a needle, and beading thread… and soon a design is beginning to form.

When finished, it makes a showy pendant – not too huge, just bold enough to make a statement.

Although it would be pretty on a cord, I decided to play up the silver oval by placing it on this silver chain.

Kinda cute? Don’t you think?

You can find the directions for this adorable pendant by clicking here!

So now I can scratch another project off of my “to make” list!
Hmmm… that’s one more down, and a gazillion to go. 😉

Do you have more restraint than I do when it comes to favorite-ing – everything?!?

(Thank you, Kids, for last week’s wonderful comments!)

xoxoxo