by Barbara | Oct 11, 2016 | An Aside, Art Jewelry, Art to Wear, Beading, Beads and Materials, Designer Patterns, Earrings, Embellishments, Handmade, Inspiration, Jewelry kits, Materials and Supplies, One-of-a-Kind, Seed Beads, Techniques
All I want to do is bead, bead, and bead some more! I’m playing with a selection of 15/0 Toho seed beads and trying my hand at the “warped square” inspired by Jean Power’s “Geometric Beadwork”, which differs slightly from Kate...
by Barbara | Sep 27, 2016 | Art Jewelry, Art to Wear, Beading, Beads and Materials, Bracelets, Cabochons and Gemstones, Components, Delica beads, Designer Patterns, Earrings, Gemstones, Handmade, Inspiration, Jewelry kits, Materials and Supplies, Seed Beads, Sterling Silver
The project I take on my next vacation will consist of Delica, seed, and Charlotte beads and a collection of beautiful Swarovski crystal cabochons. These beauties just arrived and they are absolutely breathtaking! I’m ordering more in other colors, shapes, and...
by Barbara | May 25, 2016 | An Aside, Art Jewelry, Art to Wear, Beaded Beads, Beading, Earrings, Embellishments, Handmade, Inspiration, Materials and Supplies, One-of-a-Kind, Seed Beads, Sterling Silver, Techniques
I seldom take commissions. If I’m granted carte blanche to design whatever my heart desires, I may, but that is seldom the case. I’ve just completed these beaded earrings and they are not at all “my style”, but they are perfect for the...
by Barbara | Mar 3, 2016 | An Aside, Art Jewelry, Art to Wear, Beads and Materials, Components, Earrings, Embellishments, Handmade, Inspiration, Materials and Supplies, Mixed Media, One-of-a-Kind, Polymer Clay, Sterling Silver, Techniques
As the saying goes…the third time’s the charm! I’d been working on a pair of earrings featuring polymer clay faux amber and coral. The first pair (shown at left) also featured faux turquoise. I found this pair to be too long and too heavy to wear....
by Barbara | Jan 27, 2016 | Art Jewelry, Components, Earrings, Handmade, Inspiration, Materials and Supplies, Mixed Media, One-of-a-Kind, Patina, Polymer Clay, Resin, Sterling Silver, Techniques
My hydraulic press and a floral-themed pancake die were used to create these playful earrings. Made of patinaed sterling silver and 18k gold bimetal (I love the rich amber tones and flashes of blue at the center!), they swing and sway from hammer-textured 18-gauge...
by Barbara | Jan 24, 2016 | An Aside, At the Bench, Earrings, Gemstones, Handmade, Materials and Supplies, Mixed Media, One-of-a-Kind, Polymer Clay, Resin, Seed Beads, Sterling Silver, Techniques, Tools
I’ll admit that I’m a packrat! Over the many years that I’ve made jewelry, I’ve collected a lot of scrap metal and doo-dads. Things that didn’t work out or were leftover from finished projects just get thrown into containers. Many of the pieces are still useable so...
by Barbara | Nov 23, 2015 | An Aside, Art Jewelry, Art to Wear, At the Bench, Components, Earrings, Handmade, Inspiration
Shutterfly has come through again with speedy service, excellent quality, and great pricing (I had a coupon for a free 8” x 8” 20-page book…shipping was extra and $1 per extra page over twenty). “Jewerly Inspired by Medieval Muses” is the fourth book I’ve...
by Barbara | Nov 20, 2015 | Art Jewelry, Art to Wear, Components, Earrings, Embellishments, Gemstones, Handmade, Inspiration, Materials and Supplies, One-of-a-Kind, Patina, Sterling Silver, Uncategorized
Another pair of earrings is finished. I’m thinking ahead to the holidays…they are mere weeks away, and I’m trying to finish up several pairs of earrings to offer for sale for holiday gift giving. Creating the earrings is not a problem, but parting with them...
by Barbara | Nov 14, 2015 | Art Jewelry, Art to Wear, Cabochons and Gemstones, Earrings, Embellishments, Handmade, Inspiration, Materials and Supplies, One-of-a-Kind
The Cross Pattée is a perfect addition to medieval inspired jewelry and a form I am readily using in my work of late. My “Cross of Alisée” earrings embellished with Chalcedony briolette dangles were created first. Accented with cabochons of Garnet and a Chrysocolla...
by Barbara | Nov 4, 2015 | Art Jewelry, Art to Wear, At the Bench, Beading, Beads and Materials, Bracelets, Earrings, Gemstones, Handmade, One-of-a-Kind
I’m in the process of creating several more pairs of earrings. They have become my favorite “go to” jewelry of late and there are several reasons for that. I had always favored bracelets, but discovered they have been responsible for snagging my fine knit...
