CC7A Reveal for August: Colourful Chaos

Welcome to the August edition of the Creative Continuum of Seven Artists! This month I was charged with providing the inspiration photo, and I chose this fun photo of the harbour of St. John's, the capital of the Canadian Province of Newfoundland and Labrador (commonly referred to simply as Newfoundland). Newfoundland only joined the country in 1949, and remains one of the most culturally unique spots in Canada. They are well-known for this style of brightly coloured architecture.

When I saw this photo I knew immediately I would use these adorable little ceramic house beads from Finland's Szilvia Vihriälä (Elukka). Especially apropos since Newfoundland's first European visitors were from Scandinavia over 1000 years ago.

I added these "Mardi Gras" Impression Jasper beads in 8mm and 18mm sizes, with copper findings, for a bold and fun design. This is super-sized at 38" in length. I thought the stone a great addition to my photo theme, as Newfoundland is known colloquially as "The Rock" ;)

Thanks everyone for dropping by, and do check out the designs from these talented ladies:

Alicia Marinache 
(*will post Saturday*)

Christine Altmiller

Cynthia Machata

Sally Russick

Therese Frank

Join us again on September 26 when Cynthia will inspire us with the colours of Indian Summer. See you then!

CC7A Monthly Challenge is this week!

Hello everyone! I hope it has been a relaxing and restful couple of months for most of you. For me, not so much, but I am certainly eager to move on to the next season and get blogging again, after being mostly absent online since June :(

Our Creative Continuum of 7 Artists (CC7A) design group will be kicking things off with our August installment, creating from this photo of the bright and colourful buildings of St. John's, Newfoundland:

Awesome colour palette provided by the lovely Sally Russick :)

So you are invited to drop in and have a peek this Wednesday, August 26. See you then :)

CC7A Reveal for June: Soft Summer Hues

Welcome to the June edition of the Creative Continuum of Seven Artists! This month Sally Russick  presents the gently elegant colours of summer:

Pastels are a challenge for me, but luckily I had a FEW shinies I could call upon to try to do the palette justice :) I created this necklace using artisan lampwork beads by Patricia Ritchie, Angela Bohanan, Jane Perala, and Carolyn Muir. Small pink Indonesian glass from Karine Loiseau. All findings are antiqued brass. I rarely use brass (as a matter of fact I was surprised by how much I encountered in my findings drawers LOL), but it really appealed to me with this palette. (I know you love brass, Alicia!) This guy is super long, 32", with a doubled-length of twisted oval & figure 8 chain.

Standing at attention :)

Relaxing :)

Close-up of the cute focal :)

Profile view :)

Thanks for visiting again, everyone!

Now check out the rest of the CC7A gang:

Alicia Marinache 
(Fearless Leader)

Christine Altmiller

Cynthia Machata

Sally Russick
(this month's hostess)

Therese Frank

Our group will be taking a mid-summer break now to connect with family and friends, travel, relax... you know, all the typical summertime stuff. But we will be back on August 26 for our next installment. I will be in charge of the photo inspiration, which Sally has nicknamed "Colorful Chaos" LOL. See everyone in August! 

CC7A Reveal for May: Tutti-Fruity

Welcome to the May edition of the Creative Continuum of Seven Artists! This month Therese Frank brings us the colours of late spring in Alabama... "Tutti-Fruity":

This month I had plenty of piles of starters, half-thought-out designs and gorgeous green, orange and yellow beads. Finally everything went back in a tray:

These WILL return. I have plans. Sort of :)
I forgot to mention... this is ONE tray... of SEVEN I had out!

Then I played with polymer clay for a few days. No problem getting the colours pretty close:

I was overwhelmed with inspiration. Not.

So for the last week I have been stringing and restringing pretty well the same beads. I thought it would be fun to make something with only two types of components. I picked glass and leather. Here, finally, is version #199:

Looks so innocent and without guile just laying there, doesn't it? LOL One would never guess at the struggle it put up!

And on the bust:

Here's what made the cut: artisan lampwork by Gems in Bloom (Jacqueline) (focal); Kathryn Newman Lampwork and Jewellery (Kat); A Little Trinket (Anna); Mermaid Glass (Laurie); oodles of Indonesian lampwork by makers whose names I will undoubtedly never learn (imported by Karine of Yukidesigns); and some yellow agate donuts (OK, that's a cheat, but they look and feel like glass LOL). Everything strung on lime green 1-mm leather cord. Oh and teeny tiny African seed beads of recycled glass.

The necklace length is adjustable from 16"-22" by way of two sliding knots at the top.

Knew I forgot one photo. Here's the "gang" LOL:

Do visit these lovely blogs and check what goodies these designers have in store for you:

Alicia Marinache 
(Fearless Leader)

Christine Altmiller

Cynthia Machata

Sally Russick

Therese Frank
(this month's hostess) 

Yes, we are down one member but we hope it's only temporary!

You are welcome to return on June 26 when it will be Sally's turn to share Soft Summer Hues :)

Pearl's Awesome Giveaway

It has been a long time since I shared a giveaway here, but this one is too good NOT to pass along :) This giveaway is INTERNATIONAL (open to everyone) and ends in a week's time, at 6 pm EST Monday, May 25, 2015. Check here for details on how to take part. This contest has now concluded... congrats to Pearl's winner, Mary Morris! I'll bet you will take lots of wonderful photos with this kit!

Modahaus' $116 Steady Stand SS300 Kit/
Tabletop Studio TS400 Bundle 

Guaranteed to help beginners and experts get nicely light-balanced photos. Now that I have rearranged my studio and have a dedicated photography area, this little set-up would be a welcome addition :)