Pearls and Hearts

These earrings I designed all on my own.  I love the delicate Padparaska Crystals and the pleasing way they went together with Pearls.  It is feminine and dressy and very Valentine's Day, if desired, or any other fancy day.  

This beauty is made with Swarovski Crystals (of course, my favorite);  13 mm Padparadska hearts and 3 mm matching bicones. The pearls are 3 mm cultured pearls.  

I love the way they turned out and am pleased with the color and design.  I have more hearts in various colors and can make more by request.

HAPPY BEADING

BLOG'nGRAM

Around We Go Earring

Sharing Time:  This little beauty is a copy with adjustments from Fusion Beads.  The original called:  Around We Go Earring is made with black beads.  See at

Fusion Beads

 Black is not my color so I changed the black for turquoise which is my color.  Now they are mine and I am calling them Around We Go AZ.  Turquoise and silver are definitely an Arizona style.

I like these.  They are made of turquoise tilla beads (two holed),  4 mm Crystal Labrador 2X Preciosa Czech Bicone beads, and size 11 silver plated Seed Beads.  They are about 1 3/4 inchs long.  

I plan to make more of these in various colors.

HAPPY BEADING

BLOG'nGRAM

All that was October

 I would like to finish up October before I begin moving forward.  I had a lot of October stuff that I wanted to post, but my time was taken up with personal things and vacations.  I neglected my blog.

HALLOWEEN:
     

Attempted Selfie

Halloween Pillow Covers:

I had some remnants of Halloween printed fleece and decided to cover my sofa pillows;  one is black with ghosts and the other is crazy yellow.   There was a little more fabric so I made some small pillows, too, that fit the leftover fabric.    
They all have velcro openings so they can be stored easily in the Halloween totes and I can make other covers for other seasons.


I have lots of pillow forms from my days clerking and store managing at House of Fabrics.  The small 12 x 12 is supposed to be a gift and the narrow one I filled with a used pillow that I brought home from the mission and washed up. [See link on washing pillows: washday whites on February 2, 2015.] I cut one of these former Walmart pillows in half and sewed it closed then used it as my filler for the narrow yellow pillow.  Voila--recycle, reuse, repurpose.

Crazy Yellow pillow cover with velcro

This was a last minute project I threw together just before Halloween.  I have more to make next year.  See next October.

Halloween Jewelry (a small sample):

Gravestone Bones from Fusion Beads.com

Nightmare Before Christmas Tree Earrrings and Black Swirl Necklace

Fang You Very Much Necklace from Fusion Beads.com

Pumpkin Earrings

Swarovski Skull Earrings

Dare to Scare Bracelet from Fusion Beads.com

Dare to Scare Bracelet from Fusion Beads.com

Halloween Wreath:

And finally, my Halloween Wreath that was hurriedly put together from my grape vines late in the summer

fresh grape vine wreath

when I was supposed to be picking elderberries.  Dan spray- painted it black for me and I hung some Halloween stuff on it quickly including one of my necklaces--Halloween Bones.

Remember my little spiders, kids?

It was not that impressive, but it is all mine.  Perhaps I can fix it up more next year.  I love the black leaves on it, but they keep falling off.  Oh, well.

That is all the pix I took, but there was so much more.  It is all put away now.  See  you next OCTOBER. 

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

BLOG'nGRAM

Back Again

Back home after five weeks service at the Salt Lake City South Mission. They needed us.  It is so wonderful to be needed.  I sat down at my old desk and felt like I had never left the mission.  The love poured out by the missionaries was so gratifying.  As I answered the telephone with "Sister Hall" there would be a pause and then "SISTER HALL!".  I loved every call.

Now it is time to pick up my blog and run with it.  The first weekend (4th of July) I worked to finish up my back yard.  I am building another terraced area beside the new pergola--trying to regain the barren chicken yard.  Many concrete wall bricks later, I tore it apart and started again, but Life Interuptus one more time happened.  I reached down into the big black garbage can for a piece of wood and something popped in my chest. The X-ray ruled out a broken or cracked rib, but there is still this hard lump and swelling and pain on my right chest.  This is the fifth day restricting me from over exerting or lifting (large cement wall bricks) so I have been doing indoor things.



I mended some broken jewelry, made a cute pair of Red, White and Bloom Earrings and misplaced one before I even wore it. This was before I hurt myself.  My first big project was a Tropical Miranda Necklace to match the Tropical Orchard Earrings that I posted March 3, 2012.




I had an idea in mind called Summer Flower that I saw on O.com and posted on Pinterest on my board: Bead It Daily.  It was not something I wanted to copy so I made a redo and called it Tropical Miranda Necklace after the film star in the 40's named Carmen Miranda who wore colorful ruffled dresses and a bandana/hat  made of fruit.  She was before your time, my time, too. Maybe your grandmother's time.  I have a skirt that is bright and tropical with a ruffle that I wear with a bright marigold yellow knit shirt.  This will match it perfectly.

The real yellow.

The photography was very poor.  It was getting late in the evening and a huge black cloud overtook the sun before I could capture the pictures.  I finally gave up after tons of bad pix.  I made them extra large so you could see the details. Top picture was taken inside.  The light was crumby so I went outside.  The center picture above is what color the shirt really is when the camera decided to take its own pix.  (I touched the screen and it kept on shooting.)  The bottom pix is hanging in the Hawthorn Tree.  I included it so you can see the shed that was painted yesterday. I do like the colors together.  The redwood is bright and the background is a medium Loden Green.  I just wanted Loden Green, but was afraid it would be too dark so I chose the middle shade on the paint chip.  It could be darker, but it looks good.  Different anyway.

These are some sweet missionary Sisters that I love and miss.  

The colors of the skirt is shown here.  The necklace picks up the colors in the skirt.  I used Turquoise, yellow colored Mountain Jade, Red Agate, Carnelian, Amethyst, and Garnet stones to make the 24" necklace and the earrings.  Both are made with gold plated findings and gold filled clasp and earwires.  This set can be recreated if desired.

HAPPY BEADING


BLOG'nGRAM

Angels In Our Midst

Today I wish to honor all the angels we have in our life; all the beautiful spirits that have gone on to greater glory.

This week we lost our nephew and cousin, Russell Troy Kelsey on Sunday, March 29, 2015.

We are so sorry to see him go.  He died as a result of complications after surgery for necrotizing fasciitis.  It is such a great loss for his family.  He was so  young, 37 years old, leaving a wife and family.

The recent death of Emily Kempe, December 17, 2014, is still such a tender memory in  our hearts.  Little Emily lived just one month then passed away of congenital heart disease. We so miss her.

Emily Joaanna Kempe

I recently made an adorable earing set that is especially to honor the loss of all our little angels.  This is a sweet angel earring set that comes directly from Fusion Beads.  I was so beautiful and I thought of our Emily Joanna and Emily Dawn and decided to make a pair.

Angel of Lilac Earrings

I love the delicate sterling silver wings.  The Swarovski crystals are Crystal Lilac Shadow colored.  They are so lovely.

We can reflect on the atonement of Christ at this Easter Season and remember those who have gone before us into his loving arms.

HAPPY MEMORIES

CYBERGRAM

Can't Get Enough Hearts

So many hearts. . .

I cannot stop making heart jewelry.  I have trays full of beautiful hearts.  Why do I have to make hearts only for Valentine's Day?  

This set of jewelry was designed for packages of beads that I have been keeping for just the right moment. I have one pyramid bead left from three packages that I bought at JoAnn's.

 I love the cut crystal pyramidal shape and the Capri blue color with a purplish AB haze.

  I discovered that the Swarovski Cyclamen Opal color coordinates and enhances the purple undertones.

I introduce: 

Capri Opal Jewelry Set

I just had to use up all the beads--I will never find another like it.  

Happy Beading

CYBERGRAM  

More Hearts

Now the jewelry making has begun, I just don't want to stop. There are so many nice heart beads just waiting to be made into jewelry.

This is a different type of metal drop that makes great year- round earring.  It is named Fluttering Hearts.

Fluttering Hearts Earrings

Closer details -- Fluttering Hearts Earring

Notice the cute butterfly on the heart. This earring took a little more time because of the dangling wire wrapped crystals, but it was not that difficult to make.  I chose Swarovski's Indian Red 4mm bicones for a different red color.  I think I will make a matching necklace* with chain and inserted crystals. There is an extra drop that doesn't have a mate to make more earrings to sell.

Next, I needed a pair of earrings to go with  a Turquoise necklace I made a while back.  The earrings pick up the colors in the necklace that has inlaid coral, yellow and black obsidian (and more).

South Western Heart Earrings

The hearts are 15mm Magnasite dyed turquoise with Coral chips and size 11 seed beads in yellow, black and turquoise.

South Western Heart Set

The pendant is a 30mm Turquoise and inlaid gemstones like Malakite, Lapiz, Coral, Obsidian, (Not sure what the yellow is?) with Sterling Silver divisions across the heart.  The necklace is made with Turquoise mini chips dissected with Coral, Calcite and Lapiz small chips and SS beads. I have one pendant left, first come first serve.

Happy Beading!

*Note: I don't appreciate Oprah Winfrey starting the "matchy, matchy" thing on her program years ago.  I still like matching jewelry.  So there! 

I (Heart) Hearts

Can you believe it?  The beading table is clean.  I worked hard on it and now I can bead again.  My first project is a dangling heart earring. Actually, I made three pair of heart earrings tonight. I don't have any heart earrings to wear this season except one that won't go into my ear smoothly.  It always hurts and I have to put a rubber backing on it or it will fall out.  Not my favorite.  The others seem to be hiding somewhere.

Hugs and Kisses Earring

This beauty is the Hugs and Kisses Earrings.  It is a version of Fusion Beads earring of the same name.  It is virtually the same, but the size of Swarovski crystal heart is larger.  I used a 18mm heart rather than the 14mm one.  This was very simple with an "X" dangle in front of the heart on one and an "O" dangle on the other.  I like it.

Cascading Hearts Earrings

Second, the Cascading Hearts Earrings.  The chain of red glass hearts already attached  (I bought them that way) is hooked to the loop of the Silver Plated Earwire and voila' the earring is completed.  Easy, peasy.

Chained To My Heart Earrings

Third, Chained To My Heart Earrings.  The 18 mm red enameled hearts are attached to the earwire with a 5mm jumpring. The small red enameled hearts are connected to a 3-3 1/2" Sterling Silver delicate chain then offset so they are not dangling evenly and attached to the back of the first jumpring with a tiny 2mm jumpring.  All done.  These are fun and fancy.

Now that's my cup of tea

So good to be back.

Happy Beading 

Use A Bead In Your Stash.

Today:  Use a bead that's been in your bead stash forever!

Where do I begin.  My stash is full of beads that have been here forever.  I chose Jade--with green being the COY and March and all.  I collected a goodly stock of Nephrite Jade a long time ago.  The time is now.

First, the earrings.  One pair of lovely carved shamrocks are made into an earring set along with Sterling Silver earwires and other findings.  They are precious.  They are also lost.  They were worn to work today for St. Patty's Day early--not open on Sundays.  Then I decided to take them off and use the Celtic Charm earrings to go with the gold necklace I wore.  Alas, they are now missing.  I took them off at work and cannot find them anywhere.  

If and when I do locate them, I will put them in this blog.  So sad!

Use Swarovski Mini Bead in an Earring

Today:  Use colorful Swarovski Elements mini beads in a pair of earrings!

Done--planned ahead and ordered a few of the new mini flat rounds in green, of course.  They are small.

This Saint Patrick's Day earring is all Irish.  Included in the earring are gold Celtic design beads and gold shamrocks with the emerald green mini bead in between;  an breeze to make and a fun earring for the holiday.

See:  Celtic Charm:

Use a Found Object in a Jewelry Piece

Today:  get creative and use a found object in a jewelry piece!

Pass today.  Found a beautiful feather, but have not yet designed a piece of jewelry from it.  Probably wouldn't wear a feather.

To fill in for this day, I found a use for a spiral bead that I keep looking at wondering what to do with it.  It is a lime green bead that has a fancy coating on one side to make it iridescent.  I combined it with a silver earwire and hung a silver dolphin from the eyepin used to connect the earring.  It is pretty and fun.

See:  Dolphin Spiral:

Agree?  Cute.

Gather Fellow Beaders

Today's (not) challenge:  Gather your fellow beaders and have a beading date night!

This outing or ining is scheduled for later in the month.  I am so pleased to find friends who would like to bead.  They are invited over but not tonight.

Contingency plan:  On the first day of March I made several pair of earring to fill in on days when I just cannot make anything.  

Tiger Eye Heart is constructed of 25mm carved Tiger Eye hearts, T/E rondelles and faceted T/E round beads.  All the findings are in Gold Plate.  An up-eye is first glued into the hole at the top of the heart,  then wire is attached with wire wrapping, the beads strung on with bead caps on either side of the round beads and earwires attached to the top with wire wrapping.  This is an easy project.
The most time involved is waiting for the glue to dry overnight.

See it:  Tiger Eye Heart Earring:

Tiger Eye is one of my favorite gemstones.  As the piece moves the gold lights up as in the heart on the left.  This is called chatoyancy and is present in many gemstones with Tiger Eye being one of the most noticable.  They are beautiful.  As the earring dangles, the lights of the stone change and dance.

Try A Different Metal

Today's challenge:  Try a different metal in your Jewelry that you don't normally use.

I use a variety of metals in the jewelry I make.  Gold, Silver, Antique Gold, Silver and Bronze, Gun Metal.  There is not much left to choose from.  Therefore, I chose a different metal finding in the stash that needs to be used.  

Recently I purchased some gold rings to use on necklaces--you know the look, many charms suspended in a circle from a long chain.  Still waiting to do that.

These circles are gold with gold wire wrapped around them.  Not the usual circle.  They came in two sizes--1 1/2 inch and 2 inch.  

Perhaps they  would make an interesting earring.  Little tails of faceted carnelian rondelles were suspended on headpins and attached in threes to the bottom of the 1 1/2 inch rings with earwires attached to the top.  

There it is:  Not Your Mother's Earring. (ps  the dangles move over to be centered easily.  Not a mistake.)

Would I wear them?  Not really.  I have a second choice to go with the Mexican Fire Opal/Carnelian necklace.  It will show up later.

Clean Up--Use Leftover Beads

Today:  clean up your stash and use up some leftovers.

Interesting idea.  I have lots of leftover beads, but they are not so easy to find.  Here is a project that used two beads that I keep running into and really want to do something with.  This is not such a memorable project, but it was fun and easy.  I need easy some days this month or I will never finish.

The beads are green lampworked beads that have a fancy gold stripe around the middle and a wavy gold line top and bottom.  Tiny bits of glass have been fused onto the gold line.  I have always kept these aside to use, but what can you do with only two beads?

I decided to make a pair of earrings.  Emerald Green is the Pantone Color of the Year so I am making many green items.  This will go with some of the necklaces that I will make.  

I consider these two beads to be somewhat regal.   A gold headpin that is flattened on the end is used to look like a tiny tassel.  The main beads are flanked with small green Swarovski bicones to add sparkle and jewel tones and fill the large hole.  The beads are suspended an inch or so down the pin from a gold jumpring to give them movement and presence.  

See The Royal Green Earring:

One bead is fancier than the other, but as my Mother used to say:  "Who's going to notice on a galloping goose."  

Time Marches On

It March 2013 and I am challenging myself to bead daily again.  This is craft month and Fusion beads is doing their March Beading Challenge again.  I am up for it (once more).  Last year I made it to March 6th.  Let me pass that date this year and keep on beading.

 

The first challenge is to make a pair of earrings.  Easy peasy.  I have made at least 6 pair of earrings so far.  I must admit that this first pair was made in February for fun, but I now have made one in silver to sell.  I hope to get a spot on a farmer's market this summer once a week.  I think earrings are the easiest to make so I may just feature them.  

Hearts of Green is made simply with a partially drilled green aventurine heart to which I glued an up-eye and then constructed the earrings--one pair in gold for me and one in silver.  Add a very simple wire wrapped beaded rondelle and Swarovski Palace Opal Crystal and voila, it is done.  We don't want to start out too hard and get discouraged.

Taking the pictures was discouraging.  Not the best.  The beads really do match the hearts better than it shows.

  

With Silver

With Gold