Darkness and Light

Welcome to my reveal for the Black and White Jewelry Design Challenge, the brain child of Sally Russick of The Studio Sublime. Thirty-six bloggers have created original wearables in high-contrast black and white.

My first design features a polymer clay focal created from an original, hand-carved stamp by Stephanie Galea of extase. I loved the result so much that I made an extra one for an exchange with a friend in Springfield, Massachusetts (Hi, Linda, the goofy guy on the right is going in your box!):

I created some more PC beads. This was a chance for me to experiment with a few new techniques. On the left are my variation on Rebekah Payne's faceted crackle technique (well, mine ended up looking like marble, but that's O.K.) The other beads on the right are some black tubes, pre-baked, to which I added thin white tubes and textured them to look like little bones. I was aiming for a "floating" effect; I am somewhat pleased with the effect:

So this is the start of a necklace strung on mousetail. I think I am going to keep experimenting with the bead placement, necklace length I want, etc., but with Sally's encouragement I am sharing the WIP:

I also had these pretty Indonesian dyed, hand-carved bone components from yukidesigns. With some silver-filled decorative (is this cheating, Sally?) headpins from Soul of Somanya I found them sufficiently dramatic for an uncomplicated earring design:

Thanks for visiting...

Now check out all these creative bloggers:

**OUR FEARLESS LEADER**
Sally Russick  thestudiosublime

*YOU ARE Monique Urquhart  ahalfbakednotion HERE*

Patti Vanderbloemen myaddictionshandcrafted

Veralynne Malone  veradesigns

Duane Clark  biz-e-bead

D Lynne Bowland  islandgirlsinsights

Michelle Buettner  misheldesigns

Pam Sears  crazycreativecorner

Therese Frank  theresestreasures

Dawn Doucette  designsbydawnmarie

Nicole Rennell  nicolerennell

Cynthia Machata  antiquitytravelers

Alice Peterson  alicedreaming

Carolyn Lawson  carolynscreations

Evelyn Shelby  raindropcreationsbyevelyn

Alisa Cordner  bramalfiebeadsetc

Michelle Escano  cabbycraft

Mischelle Fanucchi  micheladasmusings

Jess Green  tabbiekoshka

Adrienne Berry  acreativeforce

Lynsey Brooks  lynseybrooksjewellery

Kashmira Patel  sadafulee

Ann Schroeder  beadlove

Marlene Cupo  amazingdesigns-marlene

Susan F.  libellulajewelry

Susan Kennedy  suebeads

Kathy Lindemer  bay-moon-design

Paula Kramer  cavecreekbeads

Lisa Johnson  whimsyswonders

Sandi Volpe  sandivolpe

Donna Bradley  strandedbeads

Karin Slaton  backstorybeads

Jasvanti Patel  jewelrybyjasvanti

Stefanie Teufel  stefaniessammelsurium

Liz Engriser  beadcontagion

Christine Altmiller  onekisscreations

AJE Earring Challenge Weeks 25 and 26

What a hot and humid (100ºF+) weekend it has been in my normally temperate coastal town! Thank goodness making and photographing earrings is very LOW on the perspiration scale. And that my craft-room is in my relatively cool basement. I am presenting both pairs together... without further ado:

Week 25:

"Tropical Breeze"

Featuring handmade organic stoneware beads by Ingrid of potterygirl1 on Etsy, with coconut stick beads from the Philippines and Indonesian carved bone buttons purchased through Karine at yukidesigns. 

Detail of buttons and beads

Week 26:

"Mermaid's Choice"

An asymmetric design with lampwork from two glass artisans in complementary styles. The two colourful, round, swirled beads are made by Mona and sold through her Etsy shop MonasLampwork. The four clear beads in irregular shapes and sizes are the creations of Jane of JPerala Designs. Strung on 2mm silk cords by Marsha through Marsha Neal Studio. These silks are actually hand-sewn into delicate cords, so to achieve the stick-like effect I carefully picked out the stitches and feathered them out. 

Detail of  lampwork

Do check regularly at the Art Jewelry Elements Pinterest board for wonderful designs added regularly!

My Latest Treasury on Etsy

'All Purple, All the Time #1' by SewMF

Purple components for fundraisers... Alzheimers, ADHD and many more.... or just because you love lavender! I have been collecting them and it is time to share the joy! More treasuries to follow...

Aqua, pink and purple Fish L... glassbead $26	Fabric fiber bead Dreadlock ... NellsEmbroider... $8.75	Polymer clay roundabout bead... APolymerPencha... $18
Enamel Beads - Enamel Leaf C... suebeads $8	Heart necklace, purple heart... ThePurpleBallo... $25	Pottery Cuff Bead, The Elli CapturedMoment... $5.99
Gardannebeads / One Enameled... GardanneBeads $8	Silk Ribbons Chloe's Pur... MarshaNealStud... $37	Purple Enameled Flower Toggl... BeadSwedeSuppl... $7.5
Lampwork Bead Set Handmade b... MonasLampwork $30	Patinated butterfly cuff, pu... THEAElements $11	Lilac Pendant humblebeads $20
Watercolor Pansy Garden Purp... JLynnJewels $16.95	Purple Mix WoolyWire (tm) - ... ktotten $15	lavender Romantic Jumbo Hand... visart $10.5
Pink Purple Stripe Pillow La... drygulch $32

Sponsored by send bulk email from excel.

Getting Ready for the Black and White Challenge

A little more than a week to go until Sally Russick's The Studio Sublime Black-and-White Challenge. I am actually "partly ready" LOL, which is very unusual for me. 

I have made my focal.

I have a plan.

I will try to leave a step or two undone until the last minute for that habitual adrenaline rush. That's why we participate, right? RIGHT??

Reveal day is next Wednesday, July 10th. I am excited today, but not as much I will be that day. I can't wait to check out the cool designs in my favorite colours (or non-colours). 

In honour of black-and-white day, here is a cool paper project you can download, possibly for FREE (or almost free). Check it out:

Pop-up Paper Chess Set

Happy Canada Day!

Hoping my fellow Canadian bloggers are enjoying their long weekend with friends, family and all the others who really matter.

Before I join in that barbecue, I'm spending a few minutes relaxing with the polymer clay... think I'll create some faux mokume gane, one of my favorite techniques for just "foolin' around" with the clay...

Results to follow... or NOT!