Playing with Clay: 2017

Thursday, December 21, 2017

Tacky Holiday Earrings Blog Hop

Do you have an ugly Christmas sweater? You will get to see mine and I am not sure if it's totally ugly, but it definitely is tacky! So it was my inspiration when designing the earrings for this blog hop.

Our blog hop hostess, Diana Ptaszynski, always has fun ideas for her friends and this was a must do for me! I needed a small break from my busy holiday show season and this was it! So be sure to hop around all the blogs to see what the designers have come up with.

Since white deer are on my sweater, I purchased these 2 white acrylic deer pins at a holiday show I was selling at. They were originally pins, so I said a little prayer before removing the pin backs so I didn't break them LOL! I rubbed red alcohol ink on them then distressed the tops so the ink is barely seen in the recessed areas. The eyes needed some bling, so I glued 2 flat back crystals on. I also took a chance with the red pom poms with silver glitter accents. They do not have holes so I again hoped my idea of shoving beading wire through them would work - and it did! See - these tacky earrings were meant to be in my life! I made 2 10mm emerald green ceramic beads and used 2 8mm clear faceted crystals to complete the look.

Here is the sweater that was the inspiration for these tacky earrings:

And a close up of the earrings:

Thanks Diana! And I hope everyone has a fantastic holiday season!

Diana Ptaszynski

Michelle Ann McCarthy

Heather Powers

Loralee Kolton

Sue Kennedy

Melissa Trudinger

Kari Asbury

Sandi Volpe

Lindsay Starr

Laney Mead

Saturday, April 8, 2017

Bead Peeps Swap Reveal

I have been paired up with Beth Blanc this year of Beth Blanc Designs. Beth sent me a wonderful variety of pendants, charms, crystals and Czech glass. The main colorway is black, cream and silver. Since I make ceramic beads and pendants, I found my matte beige glaze picked the beige tones up perfectly in the Czech glass, so that's where my inspiration came from while putting together my design plan. But first - the beads! This is what I sent to Beth:

Be sure to stop by Beth's blog to see what she created with this fun assortment of beads she received. Here is what I received:

And these are the ceramic pieces I made to go along with the beads I received. I ended up not using the owl bracelet topper for the challenge, but he's there, "just in case!"

Now for my necklace design. I felt antique bronze was a better metal match to the beige and black, so I used an open link chain, a toggle bar, 20g wire. I added seed bead accents and the chunky, multi tone Czech barrel beads in this fun, springy design. It measures 18" long and has the crystal Swarovski heart accent that Beth included by the clasp.

I used Vintaj ear wires in the left pair and a fun pre made antique copper earring findings and charm in the right pair along with ceramic beads and Czech glass.

So I have lots of beads left over for future designs. Thank you Beth for spoiling me with a wonderful goodie package! I'd also like to thank our swap hostess, Linda Anderson for putting together another fun event. Be sure to hop around to all the participants blogs to see what wonderful jewelry designs were created!

Linda Anderson    http://fromTheBeadBoard.blogspot.com
Christina Hickman http://www.vintagetreasuresjewelry.blogspot.com
 
Catherine LaVite http://drygulchbeadsandjewelry.blogspot.com/
Barbara Price    http://www.instagram.com/colorcopiajewelrydesigns/
 
Kathy Lindemer  https://bay-moon-design.blogspot.com/
Linda Raggo  http://www.instagram.com/linda_raggo_
 
Marianne Baxter  http://simplyseablimejewelry.blogspot.com
Rachelle Walker  http://www.chellerydesigns.net/blog
 
Gloria Allen  http://wingsandbeads.blogspot.com
Ally Asato  https://instagram.com/purplemosspal
 
Robin Lynne Showstack http://heartsdesiresjewelryforyou.blogspot.com/
Naomi Knafla     https://www.instagram.com/naomiknafla/
 
Maria Rosa Sharrow http://willowstreetshops.blogspot.com
Dana Phillips    http://www.neverwinterdesigns.blogspot.com
 
Michelle McCarthy http://www.fireflydesignstudio.blogspot.com
Beth Blanc       https://www.instagram.com/beth.blanc.designs.jewelry/
 
Hope Smitherman  http://CraftyHope.com
Kari Asbury     https://www.instagram.com/kariasburyjewelry/
 
Shai Williams   http://www.shaihasramblings.com/
Betony Maiden   http://beadwenches.blogspot.com
 
Inge van Roos     http://ingetraud.wordpress.com
Kelly Hosford Patterson https://www.instagram.com/pyxeestyx/
 
Kristina Peck  http://tealeavesandtinyhats.blogspot.com/
Lori Schneider  http://beadaddicted.blogspot.com

Rosantia Petkova    http://bairozan.blogspot.bg/
Erika Price      http://erikaprice.co.uk 
 
Claire Fabian  http://saraccino.blogspot.de/
Rachel Mallis  http://www.sharpthingsblog.com
 
Deb Fortin     http://mhotistudio.blogspot.ca
Nicole Rennell   http://nicolerennell.com
 
Joanne Bell  https://joannetinks.wordpress.com/
Johana Nunez  http://www.artincendi.com
 
Sam Waghorn      http://palemooncreation.blogspot.co.uk
Natalie Davidson http://www.northshoredays.com/
 
Robin Reed     http://www.willowdragon.blogspot.com
Faye Wolfenden  http://torchfairy.blogspot.com
 
Karin King  http://maverickbeads.blogspot.ca
Divya      http://www.jewelsofsayuri.com
 
Rebecca White  http://morganafeycreations.wordpress.com
Palak Udeshi  http://kalaabhushan.blogspot.in
 
Seed Beaders 
Rebecca White  http://morganafeycreations.wordpress.com
Palak Udeshi  http://kalaabhushan.blogspot.in
 
Penny Houghton  http://smellynelly.blogspot.com.au
Krafty Max     http://www.kraftymax.net/blogposts/
 
Heather Canepa  http://www.desertjewelrydesigns.com
Ginger Bishop  http://lilmummylikes.blogspot.com
 
Katy Heider      http://onthepondcreations.blogspot.com/
Renetha Stanziano http://lamplightcrafts.blogspot.com/
 
Becky Pancake  http://beckypancakebeaddesigns.blogspot.com/
Tina Pawass  https://freebirdsinnovations.blogspot.com

Mowse Doyle  http://www.midnight-leopard.com/
Tami Norris  https://www.instagram.com/taminorris79/
 
Minnette Miller    https://www.instagram.com/minnettemiller/
Veralynne Malone http://www.veradesigns.blogspot.com

Friday, March 24, 2017

Bead Soup Swap and Hop Reveal

I really enjoy being paired up with another jewelry designer to swap beads and to get to know each other. The anticipation of what is going to arrive in that special little package is exciting! My partner this year is Carol Dillman. She is a lampwork artist as well as jewelry designer. How cool is that? In fact, she created the lampwork beads that i received!

I rarely design in the color palette of the beads that I received, so it was a bit of a challenge for me to decide what direction to go in. I am a ceramic bead artist, so I found my maroon glaze matched the beads very nicely that Carol made. I live in Florida and sea life is my favorite inspiration, so I made a focal starfish glazed in the coordinating glaze. I also made a pair of flower earring charms to pair up with some additional beads in the set.

I challenged myself a bit further by creating a double layer design. I am quite happy with the way it turned out! The length is 18" which allows the starfish to be the center of attention in this design. Carols lampwork beads add nice contrast to the ceramic, gemstones and Czech glass accent beads.

The flower earrings are fun and cheerful. I usually use commercial ear wires, but I made my own for this design. Even though they are a little longer than I usually make at 3", I love them and I hope you do, too!

Carol - I hope I did your beautiful lampwork beads justice and I can't wait to see what you created with the beads I sent you! Here is what Carol received from me:

So be sure to visit Carol's blog to see her reveal as well as all the other designers blogs. And of course a huge Thank You to our blog hostess, Lori Anderson! It's a huge job :)

Lori Anderson :: Hostess

Marianna DeLuca Wehner

Terry Jeanette Carter

Erin Kenny

Kelly Hosford Patterson

Dyanne Everett-Cantrell

Michelle Escano Caballero

Monday, January 30, 2017

Swap and Hop Is Coming!

I have been participating in the fun Swap and Hop event for quite a few years now, and each time it gets better and better! Our swap hostess, Linda Anderson, pairs up the participants, so here's some info about me, what I like, don't like ( bead related Lol) and some jewelry designs I have recently made. I am also a ceramic bead artist, so I try to include at least one of my handmade beads in each piece of jewelry I design.

I live in Port Charlotte, Florida which is on the west coast in between Tampa and Fort Myers. I am influenced by all the beaches and sea life surrounding me. So all shades of blue is seen a lot in my jewelry designs.

But - I also love nature. Birds and owls are another of my favorite design subjects. I think shades of brown capture much of nature.

Green is another color I love. There are so many yummy shades from bright lime to subtle mint.

I like using a crystal accent for some bling in my jewelry and I also like the "other" metal shades like bronze, copper and gunmetal rather than silver and gold. I don't use seed beads often except for the larger ones for accent beads. However - a thing on my to do list is to learn how to bezel set my ceramic cabochons with seed beads. Some day, right?!

See you again when I get to introduce my swap partner :)