A Half-Baked Notion

Saturday, June 22, 2013

AJE Weeks 22, 23, and 24: Catching Up

*(For the ABS Monthly Challenge post, click here.)*

I've finally caught up (I think!) I'm going to post all three sets of earrings on this one post. I think this has been a busy week at Art Jewelry Elements, so this will make for faster blog hopping this week.

Week 22: sweet racing stallion polymer clay beads by Rebekah of Tree Wings Studio paired with Southwest squared lampwork discs from Julie of Indian Creek Art Glass (Outwest). Mounted on waxed linen cording from JewelryAccord by Lori Eurto, with silver-filled earwires from Soul of Somanya.

Week 23: lovely custom hand-crocheted flowers by Carm (Creative Carmelina), which I embellished with lucite centers, and placed on extra-small surgical steel kidney earwires from The Beady Eye supply shop. These are child-sized earrings, less than 3/4" (20 mm) across.

Week 24: a couple of styles of stud earrings using slices of polymer clay. My first attempt at stud designs. This first pair is a triangular kaleidoscope style I designed using a rose brain cane tutorial by Cindy Lietz. (These are so-called "millefiori" canes, which have a pattern from end to end of the cane and result in an identical pattern wherever they are sliced.)

This second pair I used slices of backgroundless shaded rose cane which is another of my favorite tutorials by Cindy Lietz. It was only when I photographed these that I realized how very three-dimensional they appear. As you can see in the last photo, the slices are absolutely flat and the 3-D effect is just an optical illusion!

Please check the AJE Pinterest board to view lots of lovely designs for this Earring Challenge, or jump aboard for the blog hop this week:

ABS Challenge for June Bracelet Design

*(For the AJE Earring Challenge post, click here.)*

Yay! After some time unable/uninspired to participate, I was so pleased when this month's Art Bead Scene challenge painting spoke to me. Please click on the link for more information on this early 20th century work by the Canadian Group of Seven artist, Franklin Carmichael.

Jackknife Village, 1926

Franklin Carmichael

Watercolor on Paper

(Please note this art is copyrighted and is to be used

only as inspiration.)

Paintings which show the water are very special to me as a descendant of fishermen here in Eastern Canada. When I survey Carmichael's watercolour, I imagine life in these many coastal communities, very often quite isolated, which can be found in many parts of the world. They have in common a healthy respect for the sea from which come their livelihoods. In this inspiration painting I was primarily impressed with the somewhat brooding aspect of the land, sea and sky. The very dark land mass near the center, with the little houses all huddled together as if facing off against the natural elements.

Along with some black snowflake obsidian, purple crazy agate, sandstone Picasso Czech glass, striped purple shell squares and tourmaline, I found several art beads which fit with the craggy landscape, primitive buildings and maritime theme.

An unglazed pendant "Ships in the Night" from Nancy of Round Rabbit; little wood fired miniature house bead from Szilvia of elukka, purple etched rustic lampwork beads by Julie of Indian Creek Art Glass (Outwest) and pale yellow discs created by Marsha, MarshaNealStudio.

I hope you will browse other jewelry creations inspired by this month's inspiration painting at the Art Bead Scene flickr site.

Sunday, June 09, 2013

AJE Earring Challenge Week 21: Garden Grows

Welcome to Week 21 of the Earring Challenge from Art Jewelry Elements! I'm a little behind so week 22 will be featured later (my catch up). Without ado, here is my creation for this week:

How Does Your Garden Grow?

Artisan Adinkra earwires in sterling silver by Soul of Somanya (the design reminds me of a garden trellis).

Handmade ceramic charms from Tori Sophia in purple and teal, by Shelley Graham Turner.

Petite lilies filigree bead caps from Double Angel Design.

Blue lucite flower beads from Dragonfly's Supplies.

Shiny blue Czech flowers from LeCotillon.

Please check the AJE Pinterest board for new designs...

Wednesday, June 05, 2013

Giveaway on Julie's Blog!

Please link to Julie's blog, Waaay Outwest (Indian Creek Art Glass) for a chance to WIN these lovely hand-crafted spacers in a beautiful selection of colours (they look like little gemstones, don't they?)

Winner will be chosen on Saturday morning. Thanks, Julie!

Saturday, June 01, 2013

Put Your Best Foot Forward!

Today is our reveal for Kashmira's Anklet Blog Hop! While I have had my little anklets made for quite a while (so unlike me, I usually like that last-minute "rush"!)... of course, I did leave it to this past week to lasso my lovely models for some outdoor "action shots". I am thankful we finally had a couple of warm days so we all felt summer is around the corner.

Unfortunately, this has been accompanied by an unusually strong wave of POLLEN. It is rare for me to even notice the pollen season coming and going, but this year I feel like my head and chest are stuffed with cotton batting, and sleep is about the only activity I feel really excited about. I may be a little slower getting around to all the blogs for that reason.

I thought I would go with a very traditional design this time, which I made in two colourways. I wanted something pretty and delicate, but totally wearable for a 17-year-old lady.

Believe me, my big clumsy hands had a hard time dealing with these tiny chains: 3.7 mm parallel curb chain (not so bad) and 2.6 mm Figaro (real pain). Must add a chain-holder to my tools if I want to work with these again.

Details of little Swarovski beads:

Now some pics of the twin nieces wearing their anklets (thank you for sharing your lovely ankles, girls!!)

Both colours...

Rhodium parallel chain hung with yellow gold plated figaro
and 4 mm aquamarine and sunflower Swarovski bicones.
A little polymer clay charm added to this one.