Spring Inspiration...

Some new pieces inspired by the colors of spring.

ceramic beads; Elaine Ray

Swarovski pearls in coral

antiqued brass

Antiqued brass

lime quartz

silk yarn

Focusing On Life: 52 Photos - All Wrapped Up

The theme for week 10 of Focusing on Life - 52 Photos is "All Wrapped Up". Sally asked us to visually show what we were wrapped up in last week. With spring approaching, craft show season is right around the corner and that means getting on the ball and creating jewelry so that I will have enough inventory! I also create collections for three shops that sell my jewelry. I send them new collections every two months, with April 1st as my next deadline. So last week, I worked on creating new designs. Oh, how I love when I can devote an entire day to creating jewelry!

This is one of the pieces I created...

This is a cuff design that fell into place while playing with different components on my bead table last week. 

Simply Cindy sent me a box of ruffled lampwork discs that she created in coral and gray. They are really beautiful and unique; the colors make me think of summer. The center of the flower is a green enameled copper headpin from Sue Beads. I created the copper disc from 24 gauge copper sheet, using a Pepe disc cutter and a doming block. I then textured it with a hammer. The brass cuff is from Orrtec. I used a Miland Tools sand texture hammer to give it some dimension, then sanded it to a matte finish. I glued 5mm brown leather from Lima Beads to the inside of the cuff to make it more comfortable to wear. It wraps around the wrist beautifully and feels wonderful on! 

My studio is very organized, but this is the state of my bead table!

Focusing On Life: 52 Photos - Knock, Knock

For week nine of Focusing on Life - 52 Photos, Sally sent us a prompt titled knock, knock: 

"let's open some doors and see what awaits us on the other side". 

Is it a door that holds opportunity?

A door that holds a story?

Is it a door you have been hesitating to open?

Is a gate to a new life?

A door to a new adventure?

Is it a door that holds a memory?

Is it the perfect door for a simple picture?

I spotted this door while visiting The Old Lucketts Store in Lucketts, Virginia. 

It grasped my attention because of the many possibilities it holds. 

It is for sale, so it has opportunity. 

It tells a story of the past. 

The possibility of adventure awaits the new owner. 

It holds memories, perhaps of the person who once owned it. 

It also is a unique door that makes a simple, beautiful photograph.

Inspired By Snowflakes

While the spring season is just around the corner, winter still lingers here in northern Virginia. I for one have decided to embrace the beauty of winter a little bit longer! One of my favorite aspects of the winter season is snow or more specifically, snowflakes. Amazing ice crystals that take on beautiful shapes, no two alike.

Ceramic snowflake pendant: Classic Bead, silver plated brass spacers, navy blue Chinese crystal, bronze peanut seed beads: Veni Vidi Beadi, Vintaj ladder chain: Lima Beads.