Neutral Green with Fuchsia Leaf Lariat Necklace

I forgot to post about this piece, it's already at the "Made in Michigan" Holiday Show at the Lansing Art Gallery, along with the rest of its matching earrings and bracelets. I decided I hadn't made a leaf lariat necklace in quite some time and I really enjoy this color group so it eventually came to be. I picked away at beading it in the evenings and finished it just before the show's drop off so I completely spaced on posting it to my blog until I ran into the photos. 

See this leaf lariat neckace at:

Reception: This Thurs. Nov. 9, 2023 from 5 - 8 PM

Holiday Webpage: https://lansingartgallery.org/2023-michigan-made-holiday-art-exhibition/

Facebook Event for the Opening Reception: https://fb.me/e/1pdOXENpb

Lavender Leaf Jewelry Set

I finally finished this lavender leaf jewelry set.  I think I started on the chain last fall and got distracted with something else (Halloween, Holiday shows, work....)  Thinking about it now, October through New Years is just a whirlwind and I barely remember it. Things are finally slowing down a little bit.  Enough for me to finish some jewelry and get back to my weaving loom!  Anyway, I took some quick photos of this set, the light balance isn't great, but it's a current favorite, which usually means I get to wear it a handful of times and then it sells fast.

The colors in it are really a lavender with antique-looking off white faceted seed beads that I work with a lot.  There's 1 lariat necklace, a large leaf bracelet which can be shortened at the loop at the base of the last leaf for a smaller wrist.  I usually don't make them this way, but I liked how the leaf points off of the bracelet and down your wrist (see how it's clasped below).

And two matching earring options, a small faceted leaf and a pair of my leaf cluster earrings.

Ultraviolet Leaves, Netting and Necklaces Set

This set started with the Pantone color of the year, Ultraviolet.  It doesn't hurt that purple is one of my favorite colors.  The wide netting bracelet has already sold, so I created a smaller one.  I hope to get these on my online shop sooner than later, but a lot of these are heading to galleries this month.  So if you see something you need to purchase, let me know!

This long necklace with the braid detail has been in my head for quite a while, I'm glad I got around to doing it, the braiding, pinning and stitching to make it lay right took me 6 hours alone. 

This leaf lariat necklace begged for a few extra leaves than I usually put on.  I'm looking forward to wearing it asap before it gets to go hang out in a gallery.

Cluster Leaf Earrings

Small Netting Bracelet with 3 Swarovski pearls, adjustable.

St. Petersburg Chain Small Loop Earrings, sterling silver earwires

White Leaf Beaded Jewelry Set

Last year I ended up selling my white lariat leaf and cluster earrings to a lovely lady at an airport bar in Florida.  I learned from her that it's cheaper to drink on the airplane by ordering double shots of vodka at the bar and pouring them into a water bottle (I did not follow suit). Also that I should look into galleries in Florida but stick to white and pastels.  Which I do tend towards for spring. Maybe if I ever get my stock built up enough I will look into Florida galleries.

Now that I'm back to retail and working at White House Black Market, I was missing my white jewelry staples so I just finished this set.  1 Lariat Necklace, 1 pair of cluster earrings, a leaf bracelet and 2 smaller pairs of earrings. 

You'll be able to see them and try them on at Fiber Feast in April (unless you see me beforehand). I'm up for doing pop-ups around my oddball retail schedule.

Lois's tail was too photogenic to not post this one....

Blue and Purple Leaf Lariat Set

In preperation for holiday I've been making sure to stay on top of creating new jewelry.  I'm pretty satisfied with this blue and purple set.  I haven't made a shorter leaf necklace in a long time, so I'm glad I finished this one on time.  These will be headed to the Lansing Art Gallery on Friday.

Green and Gold Lariat Necklace and Earrings Finished!

This weekend I finished up a green and gold lariat leaf necklace and pair of matching cluster earrings.  I'm excited to announce that my jewelry will be part of WSG Gallery's Holiday Show at 306 S. Main Street, Ann Arbor.

Yes, I am already starting to think about holiday shows and I'm making use of my extra time by getting a lot of beading done, so look out for a flurry of new work this week!

More Purple, Gold and Brown Jewelry Variegations

I feel like I've been working on finishing this lariat necklace for forever, I guess I've been busy with my day job, replacing a kitchen faucet and generally catching up on housework now that ski season is over. Today I'll throw in the towel and get my skis out of my car too.  Anyway, this set is finished and ready to head to the Ann Arbor Fiberart Guild's Fiber Feast at the end of April.  If it doesn't sell, it'll probably end up at Synchronicity or Higher Art Gallery.

I'm still on a purple, gold and brown kick.  Even the next bangle I'm working on is the same colorway.  Usually I'm inspired by something else or am tired of looking at this color set, but it hasn't happened yet so I'm rolling with it.  I wanted to keep this lariat necklace simple at the ends because there's a lot of color change in the lariat itself.  I used swarovski pearls and crystals as accents.

I think it's also important to point out that all of these pieces are just variations to the St. Petersburg Chain stitch.  I love how it looks and feels with tiny seed beads, so I keep coming back around to it.

Larger chandelier earrings can be the bane of my existence.  The perfectionist in me is annoyed that the left earring is not hanging as well as the right, even though they're stitched the same.  They're best stored hanging so the thread can bear the weight and sort itself out.  I've worn them a number of times and gotten some really nice compliments so in the end, that's what matters.