Archive for April, 2009

Last Saturday and Sunday, I participated in the Mint Hill Arts Spring Jewelry Show. Here’s one of the pieces I took to the show. It’s a jasper pendant with smoky quartz on one side and synthetic chalcedony on the other. It’s wrapped with sterling silver wire and has a sterling silver extender chain and clasp. You can check out a few more pieces from the show in my gallery.

It was inspiring to see other people’s jewelry and the artwork on display at the center. I enjoyed meeting the people who attended and chatting with the artists who are members of Mint Hill Arts. I feel lucky to have been asked to participate. Thank you Tammy for pulling the whole thing together. You were so wonderful to work and show with. I hope we’re able to do it again soon.

I just added some pieces I recently completed to my Etsy shop. Here’s one of my new 3 in 1 necklaces.

It is designed to be worn three different ways. The wearer turns it to the side they wish to display. It has an ornate S clasp that is functional and  works as a ”bead” element. I’m very interested in designing necklaces that are assymetrical and offer different options (I like to think of them as wearing opportunities).

I came up with this design idea after a prolonged struggle with a necklace that just wouldn’t “work”. Sometimes, things don’t “work” the first time for a reason. Don’t be afraid to cut it apart and keep playing with it.

I just launched my ArtFire shop. I have been working very hard to have it up and running before the Mint Hill Arts show. Here’s a faceted smoky and rose quartz bracelet that is available in this shop. It’s a wire wrapped sterling silver piece with a sterling silver toggle clasp. It’s a simple design but I think it’s elegant and well, kind of pretty.

This month’s CAJA meetup was held Beadlush. Tammy taught us how to make not one, but two wire wrapped bracelets using her “frequency link”. She said she named it the “frequency link” because she uses it so much. Most people added a few dangles to their links but I sort of liked it dangle-less. I watched the second demonstration but didn’t finish my second bracelet. I was so wrapped up in hammering the texture on the links for the first one that I ran out of time.

After the meetup, I did a little shopping (of course) for a new (more…)

Attended the Beadaholics meetup yesterday. We met at the University City Blvd. Hobby Lobby. It was the first time we gathered there. They provided one of their  classrooms for us and that gave us plenty of space to spread out. I love attending these meetups because it’s inspiring to see what everyone is working on.

The group is planning a day trip to go bead shopping in Asheville, NC. I would love to go but it’s the same weekend I have family in town. Hopefully, they’ll plan another trip later this year. Can’t wait to see what everyone comes back from Asheville with.