A Beady Holiday

It's been a nutty six months. Seriously crazy. Upheaval at work, family job changes, losses of loved ones, moves - all said, not a lot of time or brain space to be creative in the bead room.

So when I had the day off yesterday for the 4th, I was determined - determined!! - to spend some time at the work table. Rather than jumping into a new project (there's one of those on the horizon, which I'll share in a couple of days), I completed a few simple necklaces that I'd strung up months ago. Several of them were ways to use up some beads that I'd had in my stash forever. Easy peasy, but I needed to make clasps and finish them all off.

This one has faceted carnelian (pretty big - about 12mm), amethyst and sterling. I am obsessed with the luscious richness of these two gemstones together.

This too a little extra planning and fiddling, to figure out how to incorporate the copper filigrees into a knotted necklace. With the rhyolite marquis and green jasper rounds, I'm pleased with the result.

Czech glass beads - clear with white cores swirled with black and gold stringers - paired with faceted clear beads with gold cores and onyx rounds. Nice and long to slip over your head without a clasp.

About as simple as it gets - a dichroic pendant that's been at the back of the bead drawers so long it's probably eligible for a driver's license. Hard to see here, but it's a lovely deep purple with a flash of dichro blue at the top edge. A couple of coordinating beads, chain and a sterling clasp. Done.

Again with the substantially sized beads - this time with gorgeous black fire agate, faceted and nestled into pewter end caps with onyx and glass spacers. It looks so elegant.

One of my favorite gemstones, flourite, kept simple with Bali sterling so that the variety of the gemstone colors is the focus of attention.

Mavis Smith may have been one of the first lampwork artists I ever purchased art beads from. Here's a focal of hers that I've been hoarding for way too long.

Aah, a vacation day, cooking out and fireworks, and some completed UFOs. A good day all around!
So what did you do for the 4th?

Jumping Back In The Pool

It's been a while since I've been able to sit down and create something beady. I've been going a little nuts without the creative outlet, to tell the truth.

Like an athlete (and if you knew my athletic ability, you'd understand why this analogy is absolutely hilarious) who's been out on injured reserve, I figured I'd need to start back in slowly.  So here's a simple necklace with delicious carved flourite rounds and delectable stick pearls. Not technically fancy, but it made me happy enough to choose my work outfit yesterday to go with it.

Look at the carving on the flourite!  And trust me, the stick pearls are
much more lustrous than my photography makes them look.

Heading back to the bead table now -- yippee!  How do you get back into your jewelry making when you've had to take some time away?

Why Yes, I Have Been Living Under A Rock...

...or at least completely slammed with work, family, show prep, and other obligations that have kept me from getting here to post witty and insightful updates.  Or dull updates.  Or any updates.

So instead of boring you with tales of my particular rock ('tis the season, and having work and family obligations are something I really am thankful for), I'll just show you a piece I made a while back with some pretty rocks. 

I love the colors of flourite, and finding beads with so much buttery yellow in them added a little extra yummy.  Wire them up with some amethyst rounds and gold filled wire, and it puts a pretty glow in any day.

Yep, I think this one's going to be for sale at this weekend's show.

 

Seriously, this picture was right side up when I uploaded it...

I swear.

I may be crazy busy these days, but I still know which end is up.

Y'all have a good weekend -- I'll see you next week, somewhere between thawing turkey and cleaning house for holiday guests!