New Summer Floral Bangle

2013 Floral Bangle: $180.00

 

I bought a new dress over at Grace in Old Town a few weeks ago.  Adding to my dress collection for the weddings, showers and art openings (yay!) that are coming up this summer.  So, of course, the beautiful water-color leaves and flowers gave me fodder for a new bangle inspiration.

 

I had originally thought of making the bangle really wide (like 2 1/2+ inches), but decided that the design in my head would fight with the busy pattern of the dress.  There's a lot of information that I still wanted to put into this bangle, so I did not do a repeat pattern on it.  Meaning, unlike most of my bangles, it's a different image on every side.



 

I must have been slightly out of my mind though when I was drafting this pattern.  I was torn between things I have to get done and things that I want to make.  I decided to take the want-to-make route and make this bangle.  I somehow managed to count out the circumference of this design 20 beads too big.  I thought that it seemed large when I strung on the first row, ignored the issue, and decided not to look back after I was well into it.  I love the design, and may even pull parts of it for other bangle drafts.  It's easy enough to take out 20 rows somewhere to make it "normal" sized later.  For now, I will wear it slid up on my forearm.

 

 



I'm still thinking about making a larger version of the bangle, with a lot of white space.  It probably won't be wore along with the dress though.  Below is an image of the pattern in the dress (front middle). 

 

Weaving "Layers 1"

Last week I went on an Internet radio show (and on Comcast's public service station) called Time Slot 2x.  I found myself bumbling through explaining how to weave fabric to Melik and Franklin Mint.  Which spurred me to make this video the very next day.

I was telling a weaver-friend about my struggle in explaining how to weave fabric, and she said she keeps it simple "it's over under over under" which is plain weave, which is simple.  I tend to think of weaving in much more complex terms (and I'm not even in a complex weavers group) so I've decided I should put some video up to show people just what us weavers do and can do.

My apologies for the lousy video, it's the first time I've taken video on this camera, I think it had a hard time focusing.

Chevron Fringe Pendant

On Tuesday I was beading at Grove Gallery and mulling over a new pendant design.  I have been wearing a long sterling chain lately, and I wanted something that would have some length, but also a bit of width too.  I've noticed a trend in long necklaces with a chunky pendant on them coming out in storefronts and popping up on Pinterest.

Earrings $55.00, Bracelet $45.00

Since I'm on this chevron kick, I decided to try a pendant to match a pair of mint green and dark gold chevron earrings. The first photo up top and below is what I came up with:

"back side"

I usually hate to put on fringe, it never looks perfect and I bead so tightly I have to tug it out a bit to let it hang.  Using heavier beads toward the bottom would help, but I love the look of the freshwater pearls with the tiny 15/0 seed beads.

This pendant is 2 3/4 inches long by 1 inch wide.  Current price is $75.00

Chevron Jewelry in Black & White

 

I have been completely enamoured with all of the chevron pattern that has been emerging in the fashion scene this spring/summer.  Mostly I'm picking it up on Pinterest, which may be my latest social media addiction. (I know, I'm behind, but they needed a good phone app.  Twitter, I still love you most). 

I needed a simple change of pace to get back into beading bangles (I haven't made a bangle-style in a while!)  So I drew up a simple pattern and started in on this bangle on my way up north over the past weekend.

The bangle is a little wider than I had anticipated, and took longer than I thought it would, despite being just 2 colors. Oh well.  A friend pointed out that there are a lot of beads in that.  I figured 3,840 seed beads to be exact.  This bangle is 2 inches wide from point to point (the zig-zag is 1 1/2 inches wide).  The bangle is $250.00.

I've also been making some chevron earrings.  Two pairs sold at Fiber Feast, then I was at a networking event on Tuesday and 3 people who are on my Facebook/Instagram feed inquired about them also.  I finished another pair if black and white ones last night.

Yes, I can do them in pretty much any color.
The size you see here on the blog is $58.00, they're 2 5/8 inches long from the top of the earwire to the tip of the bottom of the earring.

Contact me if you want a pair, I'm happy to make them special for you.

Dark Green/Blue Lariat Set and Fiber Feast

 

I really loved this set of the leaf lariat necklace, cluster earrings and a leaf clasp bracelet.  So did the lovely gentleman at the Ann Arbor Fiberarts Guild Fiber Feast, who purchased the necklace for his wife, and another woman who bought the bracelet before I had a chance to photograph it because i finished it the night before.

 

So instead of talking about this set of jewelry, I'm going to take a minute to talk about doing shows and getting to meet customers in person, face to face.  I love it.  It's a chance for me to talk about my work to people who are really interested in what I do. They ask wonderful questions, and I like talking to them.

 

The man who purchased the necklace for his wife was wearing a fantastic kilt, which I believe was handwoven in his family's colors (mostly lavender base, with green, brown and black plaid).  He told me that they had just recently found out that they were Scottish.  I believe he said his last name was Taylor, usually an English name.  He was so cute when he decided on the necklace, he told me that the ladies he was with suggested he buy from me because I had the best jewelry.  I hope his wife is enjoying her new necklace, I'm already missing it myself.

 

 

I don't always get to talk to my customers in-depth, and I apologize for that.  When my table or booth is really busy, you kind-of have to buzz around and make sure everyone is being helped and questions being answered.  The lady the bought the matching bracelet, just picked it up, said "I love this" to me and put it in her basket. 

 

I always love doing Fiber Feast with the Ann Arbor Fiberarts Guild because I have a great time selling and talking to people, I get to model wonderful handmade items on the runway, and I get to work with and meet such great people.  It's a busy day and I'm wiped out when its all over, but that just means it's been a good day.

 

Photo by Jeanne Sarna

 

Uprooted 1

Uprooted 1
Photo by Luke Anthony Photography



"Uprooted 1" is one of the pieces that was really pushing me for my movement into beaded sculpture.  I knew that I had been collecting these rosebush roots for a reason and I decided to start with one of the smaller ones of my root collection.

As I created the beaded tendrils, I positioned them on the root and allowed the piece to speak to me and develop as I worked on it.  I initially thought it would only have 2 large tendrils reaching up out of it, but the root demanded a third.  When I was near-done with the piece and adding in the bead details on the root-base I felt it had to be growing 2 smaller tendrils at the ends of the root. 

Uprooted 1

Photo by Luke Anthony Photography

I did finally find a stopping point (I was a little scared to go overboard on this sculpture).  You can see it right now at the Grove Gallery through the end of April.

I'm very excited to announce that "Uprooted 1" was accepted to the Handweavers Guild of America's exhibit "Small Expressions 2013" which is an international juried show. Yay!  The opening reception for Small Expressions 2013 is June 1 at the Fine Line Creative Arts Center, just Northwest of Chicago.  I've changed my plans for that weekend so that I can go (and stop in for a visit to Chicago of course).

I've grown to love beading these tendrils, so I am on to working on "Uprooted 2" (I think).  I would love to have an entire grouping of these sculptures, leading up to a very large one.  I want to have plenty of practice before I start drilling into that root though.

Mint Green Obsession

 

Pastels usually don't speak to me, but having been exposed to lots of mint green last spring/summer and seeing it out again this spring I was inspired.  I also needed something completely different from the browns and greens that I've been working with for my sculptural pieces.

Mint Green and White Leaf Clasp Bracelet  $95.00

 

 

Mint Green and White Lariat Necklace  $260.00

Mint Green Pod Earrings $60.00

Mint Green and White Cluster Earrings $85.00

 

 Mint Green Leaf/Pearl Earrings $55.00

 

 

I will have most of these pieces at the Ann Arbor Fiberarts Guild Fiber Feast on April 13, 2013 at Washtenaw Community College.  There may or may not be tickets left for the fashion show/luncheon (See the AAFG's Website) but I'm sure you can still come for the shopping before and after.