Geometric Stitch Bracelet and Earrings, Grey Black and Blue

Hexagon Bracelet $75.00, Hexagon Earrings $45.00

 

I learned this stitch (which I'm referring to it as a hexagon stitch lately) from Huib Petersen back when I took his workshop.  We were making water lily pads out of it, but I occasionally been try to think of other ways to use it.  I made a more off-set bracelet a while back, and then a necklace to match, but haven't really picked this stitch back up since.

So as I perused my bead stash, these black bugle beads grabbed my attention and I wanted to keep playing with this grey black and blue mix.  

 

I think it turned out brilliantly, even the photos I took look pretty cool. What do you think?

The Blue, Grey and Black inspiration piece that I talked about in this previous blog post is the painting toward the left side of this postcard:

If you're in Michigan and find yourself in Lansing during their holiday exhibition, make sure to go check out the Lansing Art Gallery's Holiday Exhibit.  I was just in there this weekend and this morning and it looks great.  The painting is in the front window now too!

 

Also, my next two Holiday Shows are next week! 

 

U-Club Holiday Show

December 5, 11:00am-2:30pm

3435 Forest Rd, Lansing, MI

 

Art for the Soul

Sunday, December 8, 11am-5pm

6177 Zimmer Road

Williamston, MI

Grey and Black Leaf Jewelry Set

After the last bracelet and earrings set, I really wanted to play with more of the grey beads that I have in my stash.  I think I've been inundated with visuals that grey as the new neutral color.  So here is a "set" with a necklace, bracelet, cluster leaf earrings and regular leaf earrings with a black pearl detail.

Leaf Bracelet $85

I've found that I enjoy these neutral base sets because they go with about everything.  I know a lot of people that wear black as their base color so the greys in this set gives it a pop. 

Daphne Necklace Variation $140

Leaf Earrings $55

 

The leaf earrings are made from a really beautiful seed bead that I picked up at the Bead Boutique in Naples, FL. I may be calling them to order more at some point.  I have had a really hard time finding these faceted seed beads. Probably because they're expensive to carry.  Photos don't do this bead justice as they have a wonderful sparkle.  It's very pleasing to work with them.

Cluster Leaf Earrings $75

I will definitely have this set at my next show at the U-Club (unless someone contacts me sooner that wants them, I have been mailing a number of items out lately). 

The U-Club show is Thursday, December 5th in the afternoon.  11:00am-2:30pm

You can find my calender on the new improved www.jennyschu.com too.  I'm getting much better at updating it.  Please bear with me as we get my photo galleries up on it too.

Blue Grey Deco Earrings and Bangle, Free Time Goods Hat

I can be really sporadic with my color choices  I have moved on to playing with a blue, grey and black mix.  I think I'll blame the Lansing Art Gallery because their 2013 Holiday Exhibition invites have a painting in this colorway that really struck me.  I'll probably get to see the painting tonight at their holiday art exhibit opening reception. 

I first sampled this color combo in the above earrings.  The original earrings in this design I made to match the Art Deco Bangle which has gotten a lot of positive feedback.  I wanted to whip up a quicker bangle to match these earrings so I drafted a smaller, simpler design as seen above.

I also have to give a shout-out to my girl Emily out in Aspen.  I saw a hat I loved in the Free People Holiday catalog, wanted it, but when I looked at the description the pom-pom was faux fur.  I cannot stand faux fur.  So I ordered a blue and brown mutation fox fur pom and begged Em to crochet me one of her Free Time Goods slouch hats quickly.  It's getting cold here in Michigan!  Also, I already have a Free Time Goods hat that I wear all of the time, so I knew that the quality of wool that Emily uses isn't itchy.

 

I don't like posting tons of photos of myself, but this has been my go-to look recently.  I usually can't wear my hair down because it gets in my face, but wearing glasses more has helped that issue.  Plus I love my new winter hat.

 

I want to wear this set for a minute, so it will make it's debut at my next Holiday Show on December 5th at the University Club.  More information can be found on my Calendar Page on www.JennySchu.com.  Which reminds me, my website has gone though some major changes!  I love the new design, we are still working on getting more images up on it.  So go check it out when you have the chance.



Pattern Play Bangle from our Florida Road Trip

On my drive down and back to Florida with my husband in September I got to do the beading while he drove.  I'm sure there was something else I was supposed to be working on, but it seems that vacation can be the best time for me to focus my creative juices on something that I have been thinking about, but haven't gotten around to.  The last time this was really successful was when we were riding trains around Europe with my "Leaves Between Bangle."

So here are a few shots of how I bead in the car, my little tray/box thing rides on my lap:

 

(yes, those are old containers that Mary Kay eyeshadow came in)

 

 

I am constantly thinking about how I can use the stitches that I know in new ways.  This particular idea sprouted from a combination of the Netting Bangle, the Black Lattice Bangle and just having used the St. Petersburg Chain stitch on the newer Lavender, White and Grey combination Bangle.  I wanted to use narrower bangles with simple designs connected with smaller 15/0 beads in my netting stitch and St. Petersburg Chain Stitch.  I had packed a Green, Blue and Neutral combination of beads for this trip. Luckily, when I was at a point on this bangle that I needed even more variation in bead finishes and sizes I found The Bead Boutique in Naples, FL.

 

I had to graph out a few of the bangle designs, but most of this bangle was stitched on the fly.  I am ecstatic the way that it turned out.  I cannot wait to submit it to juried opportunities, I hope others enjoy it as much as I do.  It also looks really great on.  It can be worn alone, but when I showed my mom, she slipped it over her dark brown sweater sleeve and it was extremely dressy over the sleeve of her basic top.

 

 

I look forward to doing similar pieces in other colors.

"Wall" Bangle and more upcoming holiday events

 

 

This is my first attempt at something that I want to look like a stone or brick wall.  Although I like the design, it's not my desired "look", I think it looks more like camouflage blocks.  Which I am ok with.  I did fall absolutely in love with this matte silver/pewter base color while making this piece.  This color ended up cropping up in my next little checker bangle and earring set.

 

 



As much as I have been trying to make some more holiday-looking pieces, I've given up and am just going with the flow.  There's a new lariat leaf necklace in an interesting Fall-colored combination that is over at Grove Gallery for our Holiday Preview Night this Friday.  I'm also finishing up a few more pieces for that.

Lansing Art Gallery is getting a refresh of my jewelry on Friday and they are having their Holiday Open house on Tuesday, November 19th from 5:30-7:00pm.

The following weekend I will be at Washtenaw Community College for the Ann Arbor Fiberarts Guild Holiday Sale. One day only, Saturday, November 16th, 2013. 10:00am-4:00pm

 

Are you ready for Holiday Sales? Because I think I'm getting there....

Checker Bangle & Earrings... Onward to Holiday

 

Checker Bangle $55, Checker Earrings $35

 

Now that I have gotten through Halloween and the weekend of the University of Michigan vs Michigan State football game in my front yard, I am getting into beading and organizing for holiday shows.  This actually entails a lot of shifting my work around, filling in pieces to make a good-looking grouping, and driving to swap work.  The next 4 days is the calm before the storm.

 

During this calm, I wonder what I should be making, try to get organized as best as I can, and just keep my fingers moving.  The above checker set is a matte silver and black basic design that goes with about anything.  I usually like to make sparkly-glitzy things, but I've been leaning towards neutrals since I've been experiencing some anxiety about color at the moment.

 

On Friday I will be swapping out jewelry at the Lansing Art Gallery in the morning.  Then we have our Holiday Gala Preview Party at Grove Gallery that night.  If you'd like to come, swing by between 5:00pm and 8:00pm and say that I sent you.  The members at Grove invite a number of guest artist's to pack-out our gallery space with lots of variety and gift-ideas.  Our Gala Preview is where you can have first-dibs on the newest items!  We shall see what I decide on for these two spaces by the week's end.