Jewelry | Bead Happily Ever After

Lilacs in the Snow

Posted on January 12, 2011 by crystal

Hi Kids,
You are all too cute! I appreciate yesterday’s comments, and I’m so glad you put up with my attempts at humor, here. 😉

It’s no secret that I’m a major fan of vintage beads, but among all my favorites – I have some very *FAVORITE* favorites!

These Vintage Lucite “Puffed” Roses in Lilac are heart-meltingly gorgeous in person.

They were made in Western Germany in the 1960’s and are now incredibly rare. Their 3-dimensional sculpted effect is just so pretty. I loved working with them.

When paired with Swarovski Lilac Aurora Borealis crystals in several sizes and shapes, the result is a beautiful set to wear both spring and summer (or even today, while it’s snowing!) 😀

Smiles and hugs,

Wordless Wednesday

Posted on December 1, 2010 by crystal

Not quite finished . . . the bracelet needs a clasp. 😉
This jewel-tones color combo (deep fuchsia, olivine green, and gold) reminds me of stained glass windows!

It’s hard to find the time, but I really enjoy bead weaving. This set is done in “Right Angle Weave”. Usually I concentrate on earrings because they’re quick to complete, but I was anxious to make a bracelet for a change.

Sometimes, you just have to MAKE time!

Hugs,

P.S. Hey! No giggling about the fact that I’m not too good at this “wordless” stuff! 😉

Remember me?

Posted on November 15, 2010 by crystal

Happy Monday, Sweet Kids!

Thanks so much for all your warm and caring comments last week – you touched my heart. 🙂

Let’s get back to our regularly scheduled program.

Ok???? OK!!! 😉

I was wondering if I could ask you a favor?

I’m trying to plan future jewelry projects and I would really value your opinion on a few things….

Would you mind answering a mini survey right here in the comments?

1. What is your favorite color?

2. Are your ears pierced?

3. Are you a glitzy gal who likes bold jewelry, or a fan of delicate jewels, or somewhere in between?

4. How long are most of the earrings in your wardrobe? (Maybe you could grab a favorite pair and measure from the top of the earwire to the bottom of the dangle?) Of course if you only wear studs – no measurement necessary!

5. Do you prefer silver or gold metal? What do you think of the copper and the “antiqued”/hematite silver metals that are so popular right now?

See you tomorrow for Show and Tell Tuesday!

Hugs,

Falling for Beads

Posted on October 28, 2010 by crystal

All this week, I’ve been feeling especially “fall-ish”.

Not sure whether it’s the Halloween posts I’ve done, or the brilliant gold leaves on our beech tree, or the recent chatting with friends about Thanksgiving plans, but the mood has inspired an autumn color palette in some jewelry I’ve been working on.

These earrings remind me of Indian Corn, which for many years was a fixture on our front door during November! 😀

Now available on my website

Try and find a few moments for some you time today . . .

Hugs,

Noodling Around

Posted on September 27, 2010 by crystal

Monday Greetings!

On Friday, Carapace hoped I’d be “swimming in beads” over the weekend . . .

I was! 😉 (And I hope she had a chance to paint!)

I began by working on some jewelry orders, but I made sure to spend a little time “playing”, too.

I wanted to come up with a creative use for these beautiful Vintage Swarovski jewelry components.

Click photo to enlarge.

Because they’re such sparkling “hoops” – earrings seemed to be a natural choice, but I didn’t want to go the usual route of using wire or jump rings to make them dangle . . .

Ever since I returned to using thread last month with my Summer Wind flat spiral bracelet, I’ve been reminded just how much I enjoy it.

So I dug out the 11/0 seed beads and here’s what I ended up with. Earrings!!!

Click photo to enlarge.

They’re based on a Dulcey Heller design, and I may have to make some in other colors, as well! I have some gold rings with ruby red rhinestones that would be gorgeous for the holidays!

If you like to “play” with beads – the rhinestone rings seen above are available in my shop.

Are you ready for a weekly question? 😀

Here at our house, whenever we lose power during a storm, we have multiple clocks blinking as soon as the electricity is restored. Sometimes, right after we get every one of them reset, the power goes off AGAIN – for a minute or two (kind of a practical joke from the electric company, I suppose) so we have to do all of them a second time. Grrr! This has had us wondering if we really need all the clocks as we have.

How many clocks you have in your house? And could you function without a few of them?

Hugs,