Beading Back in Time

I have been wanting to challenge my design skills with using larger, chunkier, funkier

focal pieces, and that's just what this challenge allowed me to do!  I handmade all the ceramic

pieces used, but instead of glazing them, I used different colored washes.  With this technique, you add color, wipe it off, add more color, wipe it off, until you achieve the desired look.  In this case, I was going for fossilized looks in beiges and rust tones.

 

This design features 2 ceramic ammonites, amber, Czech glass round beads, a handmade 16g wire spiral accent and chain.  The asymmetrical look gives it attitude!

 I love the rusty, crusty finish on the fossilized shells in this necklace and earring set.  The ceramic pieces are highlighted by metallic size 6 seed beads, spacer discs, and dagger shaped gemstones.  I used 20g wire as the necklace base due to the weight of the clay pieces.  This is a choker style necklace.  I used 24g wire to wrap the earrings and added some of the metallic seed beads as accents.

 

Please visit my shop to see more of my ceramic beads at www.fireflydesignstudio.etsy.com and visit the blog of the other fantastic designers participating in this fun blog hop challenge!

 

Co-hostess:  Lindsay Starr of Phantasm Creations Co-hostess:  Sherri Stokey of Knot Just Macrame 
Kelly Rodgers of Beadin' Black & Blue  Michelle McCarthy of Firefly Design Studio  Caroline Dewison of Blueberribeads  Melissa Trudinger of Boho Bird Jewellery  Sue Kennedy of SueBeads  Stephanie and Chris Haussler of Pixibug Designs  Jen Cameron of Glass Addictions  Jean Wells of Jean A. Wells Artisan Jewelry 





Desert Sands Challenge Reveal

 

This is my first time participating in one of Andrew Thornton's challenges!  I found a few ceramic glazes that matched the sandy color scheme of the large collection of beads included in the challenge kit.  I made some charm pairs and 2 pendants for necklaces.  Sadly, the necklaces haven't come to life yet, but I made a few fun bracelets and earrings!

 

 

This is what remains for me to make 2 necklaces with.  The reveal will have to wait until I return from Tucson.  I fly out tomorrow for 12 days!  I sell my ceramic beads at To Bead True Blue and I hope to see lots of beading friends there...and of course make some new ones!

I used memory wire for the base of these 2 fun bracelets.  The mix of beads were fun....I just randomly stung them on.  The top bracelet features 2 hand rolled ceramic beads that I created for dangle accents and the bottom bracelet contains the kit mystery component.  At first my mind went to necklace pendant, but I love it as a bracelet dangle!

There were so many great earring beads in this mix of challenge beads.  I have sorted some out for future earrings.  But for now, I have created these....all fun and happy little designs!

 

If you'd like to see more of my ceramic beads, please visit www.fireflydesignstudio.etsy.com and visit the blogs of the other challenge participants!

 

Alison Herrington http://alisonadorns.blogspot.com/

Tammy Bowman http://innermusejewelry.blogspot.com/

Jeanne Steck http://www.gemsbyjeannemarie.blogspot.com/

Christina Hickman http://vintagetreasuresjewelry.blogspot.com/

Kari Asbury http://hippiechickjewelrydesign.com/blog/

 

On Andrew Thornton's blog:Andrew Thornton, Naama from Peculiaris, Nancy Noyes-Ward, Janice Ferrari, Lisa Mendum, Cheryl Lee Tucker http://andrew-thornton.blogspot.com/

 





Muffin Tin Challenge

 

I have used muffin tins to design jewelry with before.  I have tins in all sizes - mini for earrings up to jumbo for statement necklaces.  It works great!  When I saw Heather Powers from Humblebeads was challenging us for the New Year, I was definitely up for it!

 

Here are my muffin tins stuffed with all the goodies - earrings, bracelets and necklace designs:

I almost got them all done.  I have a jewelry show at an art center next weekend, so what a great way to get some jewelry made for that!  So I will finish a few more necklaces before then.  OK here goes:

I am really loving the Czech seahorse beads for earrings and the pet charms are made from sawdust.  Priscilla Beads sells them.  The others have ceramic charms as the focal.

These are the bracelets I made.  I love knotting with waxed linen and I have a slight Czech bead addiction, and I doubly love them together!  I am introducing a line of ceramic buttons next month in Tucson, so here is a sneak peak of them in action!

These are the only 2 necklaces I have finished so far.  The top one features my elegant ceramic seahorse paired with a chunky gemstone and chan.  The other one has a glass starfish from Nikki Thornburg that I have been hoarding for 5 years!  I paired it with seafoam glass, pearls and ceramic accent beads.  I love this one!

 

Thank you so much, Heather for the challenge.  It really felt great starting the new year off by sitting down and designing some fun jewelry! To see more muffin tin challenge results, go to www.humblebeads.blogspot.com.  If you'd like to check out my ceramic beads, go to

www.fireflydesignstudio.etsy.com