Jewelry | Bead Happily Ever After

It’s a Phase

Posted on June 27, 2011 by crystal

If you know me, you might know that I have a tendency to over-think things.

In fact, Sir Beads often says that I think too much! 😉

I hate to admit it, but he may be right about that . . .

I worry about things that “could” happen, whereas he was born with the blessing of not worrying until something “has” happened.

But, that makes us a good match; gives us balance – yin and yang.

And when you THINK about it (There I go again!), somewhere between no worry and too much worry is probably best!

Don’t ya think? 😉

Oh man! She’s in one of those philosophical moods again.

Get to the point, Crystal!

Oh yes, the point. Well, during these last few weeks of retirement prep here, I keep having the same thought . . . It seems to me that retirement is really a phase – right up there with becoming a teenager! So many similarities.

I mean it’s a whole new world for a person.

You’ve been looking forward to it, but you don’t really know how it will go.
You’ll have more freedom (That’s exciting.)
But there will be new rules as well.
You will have new experiences, but some of them will be unfamiliar; you’ll have no frame of reference, which can be unnerving. The unknown often is!

Then again, life is full of phases and it’s comforting to realize that they usually go just the way they are supposed to, albeit with a few bumps along the path. I’m not spending too much time worrying about it.

If I did – there’d be no time to make a sparkly little tennis-style bracelet!

Or several of them!

Or a pair of earrings to match my favorite of the bunch.

This color combo is GORGEOUS in person! Wish I could hand the earring to you right through the screen. Violet and soft aqua – delish! 🙂

Until next time,

Hugs,

Earrings for a Wordless Wednesday

Posted on June 8, 2011 by crystal

It’s too hot to speak!

(Our weather guy says the “feels-like” temperature is 100 degrees! I would have been perfectly happy not knowing that.) 😉

No matter! I’m going to distract myself with a bit of bling . . .

This first pair is made with Vintage Swarovski components and petal-shaped, 14K gold-filled earwires.

And this pair in sterling silver features a color scheme with the soothing coolness of an aqua blue sea . . .

Both pairs now available in my shop! 🙂

Stay cool today – wherever you are!

Hugs,

If at first you don’t succeed…

Posted on May 20, 2011 by crystal

Well, you know the rest!

If you dabble in the arts or in crafts of any type, then you know that slip-ups are part of the territory.

Even if you’re quite experienced, having a finished item turn out well is never a forgone conclusion – particularly if you’re adding a new element.

It can be frustrating when you’ve devoted time to a project and it ends up being unusable. But, on the bright side, it can be very rewarding to try again and eventually solve the problem.

Currently, I’m at the “try again” stage.

What we have here, Kids, is a reject!

My plan was to use this beautiful Czech Glass Button for a clasp on a bracelet. And I was pretty excited to discover coordinating beads in such a similar color palette. Along the way, I tested, and measured, and all appeared to be going well.

However, when the piece was finished, it did not drape properly on the wrist. The button shank is too wobbly. I thought I had allowed for “wobble”, but sometimes it’s not possible to tell exactly how a piece of jewelry will lie on the wrist, or on the neckline, until it’s finished. There really is a bit of engineering involved and that can mean trial and error. I’ll bet you’ve had a commercially-made piece of jewelry that never seemed to hang correctly or fit just right. It was probably never “tested” after it was made.

Sooooo,

I’ll be taking this baby apart . . . totally . . . and then starting over . . .

but maybe not today. 😉

Hugs,

Summer Sparklers

Posted on May 18, 2011 by crystal

Did you think I meant the kind of sparklers you light for the 4th of July? 😉

Well, they are quite festive . . . but I meant a different type of sparkler . . .

I’m talking summer jewelry!

Here’s a pretty bracelet for the upcoming season – created with the colors of the sea and as refreshing as a splash of cool water.

It’s no secret I’m addicted to bling. In fact, I don’t feel totally dressed without jewelry.

BUT, I am also a wimp when the summer temperatures soar.

If it’s hot, hot, hot – I’ll usually abandon my necklaces (I KNOW – Gasp!) and rely on a pair of dangle earrings and a showy bracelet as accessories.

How about you? Does the summer affect your choices in accessories?

Hugs,

Les Bijoux

Posted on May 10, 2011 by crystal

Lately, I’m in the middle of a jewelry-making kick . . . sort of a bead binge! lol

I have several things finished and several more in various stages of completion. I’m particularly excited about a bracelet/earring set that I’m working on.

I need to take photos, but the weather is not cooperating – too dreary to highlight the true sparkle of some of my finished items!

For now though, I do have a couple of pairs of earrings to show . . .

This first pair is made with Vintage Swarovski Components – both the crystal beads and the bezel-set drops! The vintage findings are always so elegant. The color here is a warm golden topaz – full of sunshine!

A Drop of Honey

Next, I have these Glass “Bell” Flowers in a pretty shade of Tanzanite Violet/Blue. The over-sized kidney wire hoops allow the earrings to sway gracefully as you move.

Bluebells

Both pairs are currently available in the Bead Happily Ever After web store.

What are you up to this week? 🙂

Hugs,