New Beads and Jewelry

New Work, wahoo! I have been having so much fun playing with color lately and here are the results. 

Bracelets, Necklaces, Earrings, and Bead Sets.

These are all in the Etsy shop as of today. Spring can't come fast enough for me.

Have a Happy Day,

Visit my Website, Etsy Shop, Blog, Facebook

Oh January

Oh January, I start out with so much gusto and have so many ideas. Why can't I get it all done the way I have it pictured in my head?

Visit my Website, Etsy Shop, Blog, Facebook

Bead Trends Bracelet

Natasha Lutes created this bracelet for the latest issue of Bead Trends. Don't you love it? That's my blue flower bead in focal. You can see more of Natasha's work on her Facebook page.  She's one crafty lady.

So what's up? I feel like I don't know what's going on in the world, it's been deadline central around here. Throw in spring break, a million allergy doctor appointments and it's pretty much non stop go go. I can't complain though, I have been finishing up some fun stuff. I turned in two new sewing patterns to the printer yesterday, woohoo. These babies have been a long time coming. They just kept getting pushed back for timing issues. But now, the timing is perfect. Once they are back, I will share with you my patterns.

Back to the last paragraph about allergy doctors. We recently found out that Fletcher is allergic to wheat, corn, and peanuts! When you throw in the fact that we are vegetarians, food gets real complicated around our house. We are constantly at the grocery store looking for new options and then constantly at the doctor for more in depth testing.

Okey Dokey, it's back to work for me.... I promise to be back real soon,
Jennifer

Visit my Website, Etsy Shop, Blog, Facebook, or Studio and Gallery

Kumihimo Bracelet

Do you do Kumihimo? I don't but Margy McCroskey does and she made this really great bracelet with one of my flower beads in the middle. It's so darling, I asked her if I could show it off on my blog. She was kind enough to say yes. I just love those glass seed beads with the lime green.
Have a great day,

What's Going On

I thought today I would do a post about the happenings in the studio and outside. I have been working hard around here and haven't had time for much else. This always happens right after the Buyers Market so it's not surprising to be so loaded down with things to do. But first of all, it snowed. See the Heynen Hula Hut? That's part of our tropical hangout on the back porch...not very tropical, eh? I just have to keep reminding myself, one of the days we'll have leaves on the trees again and I will be complaining about how hot it is.

Enough about the weather...back to beads. I have been making beads and buttons during the day and then at night I sit with the TV on and assemble jewelry. Here a box all sorted out and ready to go for bracelets. I love to see all of my beads lined up like that. Below are my seed beads that also go into many of my pieces. I have had to reload my bowl three times now because I am using so many seed beads.

Last but not least are my buttons. I told you about my line of fabrics for In The Beginning. Well, for them to sell and distribute my buttons, they need samples. These are the buttons that will be glued onto the sample cards that the stores will get to order from. Only a few more to come out of the kiln and they will be shipped off. And only a few more weeks until I can show you the whole collection. I can't wait.

As you can see I have been a very busy bee, I like to be busy so all these projects make me happy.

Have a Great Day,

Simply Beads Projects

(© Simply Beads 2008, used by permission)

Hello everyone in blog land...... hope you're having a good day. I wanted to mention that I have two, great for spring and summer, projects in the April issue of Simply Beads. You should check them out. The first is a charm bracelet made with a sterling silver charm bracelet and my ceramic discs. It makes noise when you wear it. You could say it Jangles. Ha! Ha!

My second project in the issue is called the swag necklace. I guess that name came from when I was a floral designer, long ago. Swags are the things that are like wreathes you hang over the door. This necklace kind of has an upside down swag made with seed beads. I used my bead cones, original beads, and bead mixes to finish off the necklace.

Both necklaces are in the magazine with full instructions. If you haven't picked up an issue of Simply Beads lately, you should. It's got some really great projects.

Cheers,
Jennifer

Memory Wire Bracelet, Project No. 8

Project Instructions

Supplies needed for bracelet

• 3 Bright original ceramic beads
• 1 Periwinkle 1/2" ceramic disc
• 2 lime 1/1" ceramic disc
• 1 turquoise 1/2" ceramic disc
• 16 silver balls 4mm
• Approximately 16" memory wire
• Approximately 16" black rubber tubing

1. To begin, grab the end of your memory wire at the tips of your round nose pliers. Turn the wire to make a loop. Trim any sharp wire ends.
2. String on a silver ball.
3. Cut the rubber tubing into 1 1/2" - 2" pieces. String a piece of tubing onto the memory wire.String a ceramic bead with a silver ball on each side. Continue to string a piece of tubing, ball, ceramic, ball, until the bracelet has all of the beads on it.
4. Finish by stringing on one last silver ball. Trim the wire leaving approximately 1/2 inch of wire at the end.
5. Create a loop just as you did in step one. Keep rolling up the wire until the beads are snug.