Red Magma Sprig Coral!

How is that for a name of a Swarovski crystal??? Red magma is a gorgeous color!

That is the color of the Swarovski Sprig Coral that I received from Artbeads.com in the same packages as the tanzanite Swarovski crystals. I just noticed while doing this post the Sprigs and many of the Swarovski pendants and components are 15% off until November 5th....I'm going to have to take a few minutes to do some shopping!!!

Isn't the Sprig beautiful...I've never been a fan of orange red but this is special!

I also liked the is Swarovski Cosmic Oval in the red Magma...it will go nicely I think!

...and what about these huge Swarovski red Magma roundelles??? I love these so much I picked up a dozen more...not sure how many I'll use for the piece but they certainly won't go to waste!

There you have the individual pieces all from Artbead.com...I'm also planning on using one or two pieces of fine silver ovals and sterling silver chain...

Stay tuned for the finished piece soon...

A special thanks to Artbeads.com for all the gorgeous Swarovski components, pendants and beads.

Sorry I've been absent this week...I had a great three day show this past weekend and I'm preparing for the last of my three day shows this coming weekend...then I will have some time to get back to my regular visiting!

Cheers

Simply Elegant!

Here is the finished necklace made with the gorgeous tanzanite Swarovski filigree flower pendant that arrived from Artbeads.com...

If you remember I also received tanzanite Swarovski links as well as Swarovski tear drops. The links I spaced with in the chain and the tear drops as you see I hung from the pendant...

I decided to use a couple of clear bicone crystals along with a delicate round linked chain which I had on hand. I wire wrapped the bicones with sterling silver wire before adding them to the chain along with the Swarovski links...the round linked chain complimented the filigree effect of the pendant! I wire wrapped the pendant to rings because all my rings are 18g and the filigree around the edges was too small for the rings to fit through...not an issue for me but if you don't do much wire wrapping you would have to make sure you have a 20 gauge rings or smaller on hand. The tanzanite tear drops also had to be wire wrapped on to the pendant...a simple add with great results.

I have to congratulate the Swarovski company as they out-did themselves when they made this filigree flower pendant.. I can't say enough how gorgeous it is...delicate looking but substantial without being too heavy, it is rhodium plated which will help to keep it bright and sparkly as the day you receive it!

I wire wrapped two clear crystals to two of the links for a simple pair of complementing earrings which you see in the photo below.

Artbeads.com has over 20 other filigree flower pendants for you to check out...gold, silver or rhodium plated, with different colored Swarovski crystal, ranging in size from 19.5 x 19.5mm to 38 x 38 mm...

When I first saw the pendant I new right away what I wanted to do with it...something simple but elegant...not too fussy...
Artbeads.com is a great place to shop...they have some of the most interesting and unique items I've not found else where...
Thank you Artbeads.com
Cheers...

Who doesn't love Swarovski crystals???

I may not use them in every piece I make but I come back to them often...
I received my package from Artbeads.com and I'm so excited to show you part of the order today... gorgeous tanzanite Swarovski components and tear drop pendants ..when I was looking through Artbeads.com a few weeks ago and saw this stunning, delicate, yet substantial filigree pendant I knew I had to have it, I knew exactly what I wanted to do with it as well...of course purple is my favorite color so the color of this pendant was a huge draw for me.

Then we need special accessories for the pendant...such as these great Tanzanite Swarovksi channel set links...are you getting the idea in my mind?

How about these three elegant tear drop pendants...they will be great additions to this piece or any piece for that matter...

Here is a photo of everything together...well almost everything...I will be using sterling silver chain as well, but I haven't decide which one to use just yet so instead of holding up the post I've decide to show it with out the chain! A surprise is good!

Thank you to the wonderful folks at Artbeads.com...check out their online store you won't be disappointed!!!
Cheers
PS...there is one more Swarovski crystal post...but not till I show this piece finished!

Winning beads!

Laundry room photography studio!!!!!!!
For the month of September we had warm sunny weather but the minute I wanted to take photos it started to rain, got cold and windy....down right nasty!!!
For the last three years I've tried to take photos indoors, in every room imaginable, upstairs, downstairs, living room, dining room...I've never been satisfied with the results after taking what felt like 100's...poor lighting, no sparkle, wrong color, etc., etc., etc.

BUT...Late yesterday afternoon it dawned on me when I was doing laundry that the window right beside my dryer just might have the perfect lighting!!! I couldn't believe it was staring me in the face daily. I went to take a few photos and of course my battery died so I had to wait until it charged, which takes a few hours. I took the photos this afternoon of all the beads and I'm so thrilled with them, especially the crystals...wish I had thought of it before!!! So ...here is the first of three post that I was talking about...

My beads have arrived...
On September 13th I entered a contest on Pearl's blog, a fellow Canadian, thebeadinggem.com. You really must visit her blog as her posts are always interesting, and informative, but often she showcases unique and unusual designers/jewelry. The prize for Pearl's draw was African trade bone beads from For The Love of Beads a Canadian online bead store, which is run by Emily and Suzanne the bead ladies who look after the store and their husbands Mike and Hayden who are the webmasters.

Here are my beads and I'm thrilled with them...take a look!!!
I received three 16 inch strands of these brown and beige beads, very earthy and rustic looking...I can dress these up or down, pair with other bone beads, wood, pewter, or copper beads, or how about smokey quartz or onyx or even carnelian...there are endless possibilities for these!

I also received three 17 inch strands of these gorgeous dark brown and turquoise colored beads...they would work perfectly with turquoise stones and sterling silver or copper accents...but my choice would be sterling silver! Onyx and smokey quartz would also be nice...it will take me fore ever to decide!!!

I would like to thank Pearl for having the contest and Emily and Suzanne for providing such a great prize...imagine 6 strands of beads!!!

Don't forget to stop by and visit Pearl and the ladies of For The Love of Beads!!!

Cheers

PS...watch for my posts with "sparkling Swarovskis" coming soon!

I've decided!

As I'm sure most of you will remember I did a post back in the beginning of September regarding my gorgeous Turquoise Song pendant...which came from Artbeads.com.



I added the pendant to a double strand necklace as a focal...everything about the pendant reminded me of the swirling ocean...I've been drawn to water all my life...which is why I added the pieces to the necklace!

I was asked a question by Lisa, you can find her here... A Bead A Day, a great blog which I visit regularly...back to the question, Lisa was wondering if I was going to keep the necklace for myself???

I thought about it but I know if I did I wouldn't wear it, you see I have arthritis in my neck...I can't wear anything that heavy...so...what I decided to do is keep the pendant for myself and put it on either a leather cord or a sterling silver chain, most likely the chain!

The double strand necklace will be offered for sale at my shows, but I couldn't part with the pendant!!!! I may have to split the necklace as I'm not sure there are many women who could wear such a heavy piece...will see what happens!

I have three posts waiting for photos...I take terrible ones inside so I was waiting for a sunny day or at least not raining, how about that! Having said that if the weather continues I may have to give in and take the photos inside!

So...stay tuned for some gorgeous beads to come...

Cheers

Sunset on Lake Nipissing!!!

I'm sure in the last year or so many of you have heard me talk about the gorgeous sunsets I see from my studio window...I ran for my camera one evening last week...usually the battery is either dead or dying when I've tried to take photos before but this time it was fully charged!!!

I had to run to my van, which was in the garage, then find the camera in my Market containers, which took me a few minuets...the sunset was low by the time I finally got lakeside but at least this will give you an idea!


Sunset on beautiful Lake Nipissing...
Cheers

The happy couple and their wedding party!

Here is a "sneak peek" preview from the photographer...I will publish something similar in color when I receive it, but for now...the happy couple with their wedding party! Click on the photo to see a larger shot...
Cheers

Wonderful Wedding Day!

After much anticipation, Michael's & Melissa's wedding day was everything I expected and wanted, if possible even more! I know they felt the same way...

The weather was a beautiful, sunny day, clear blue skies while the evening was crisp & cool, which helped to cool down the venue...the air conditioning was turned on well before the arrival of guests but the dance floor, with the exception of dinner, wasn't empty all evening...

The hall was beautifully decorated in white, black and fuchsia, the food was excellent, the DJ was amazing...as I mentioned the dance floor was full all evening...that doesn't happen very often, at least not at functions I've attended!!! :0)

The Melissa had a round wedding cake at the top with tiered cupcakes below...all done in white with fuchsia flowers on top of the cake...beautiful to look at and delicious as well, the cupcakes were lemon chiffon and black velvet...supplied by my son-in-law, who's business caters weddings!

The bouquets were gorgeous fuchsia roses and cala lilies with lime green accents, and the boutonnieres were fuchsia roses ...all done by a friend of mine! Definitly colors that popped against Melissa's gown, Micheal's tux as well as the black dresses and suits of the attendants and groomsmen!

The happy couple are honeymooning in Las Vegas until Saturday morning...I just know they are loving it!!!

I will be posting photos once I get them...I didn't take any myself, sorry I just didn't have time, besides Melissa had a professional photographer with them from noon until 11:00pm that night so I will post some photos once I get them. As well my daughter took some, she is "slightly" challenged :0) when it comes to uploading photos and emailing them so it may take a while for me to get them...but...I will post photos as soon as I receive them!

Thank you to everyone who wished them well...
Cheers

Turquoise Song necklace!

I know it took forever but here is the finished piece the" Turquoise Song necklace" ...life kept getting in the way of my creativity, what with my three Markets, custom orders and creating the jewelry for my soon to be daughter-in-law's bridal attendants ...my son is getting married on September 12th...I've been a bit short on time!

All along I've been rather indecisive as too what I actually wanted, in fact I've put together and taken apart my ideas 6 times before I decide on the necklace below... I'm rather happy with the results...

Turquoise Song wood pendant necklace

I've also added a photo of just the necklace as I decided there should be more than one way to wear the pendant and the necklace...as a combo yes...but besides being attached to the stone necklace, the pendant would be great hung simply from a black leather cord, black ribbon, or combine both the leather and ribbon! Or hang the pendant from a sterling silver chain...I tried all these ways and a few more which is the reason I felt the pendant shouldn't be limited to being worn one way! The best of both worlds!

I didn't photograph the necklace with the pendant on a bust as one of the bails came off and I had to glue it back on twice...I didn't want to delay this post anymore so I decided to show the necklace and pendant as is!

As you can see ...I've used the amazonite nuggets, as well as some amazonite chips, and the African jade nuggets... from Artbeads.com I've used my stunning Turquoise Song wood pendant, the malachite jasper rice beads, 4 sterling silver shell beads, and the sterling silver fish toggle . I've also used lead and nickle free pewter sun faces, along with a few sterling silver beads.

I enjoyed myself browsing through Artbeads.com where you will find many wonderful products, check out their unique and interesting pendants of which there are many...in fact I think they have one of the most amazing selections of hand crafted pendants I've ever seen.

This was an interesting experience for me, I enjoyed the whole process, would definitly do it again...I met interesting people along the way...I found a great new place for beads & supplies...a girl can't have too many places to shop! To top it all off a stunning pendant/necklace!!!!!!

Cheers

Everything finally arrived!!!

It took some time but every thing has finally arrived for my necklace...
Below is a gorgeous strand of natural amazonite nuggets wrapped with an equally gorgeous strand of natural, African Jade, at the bottom right hand corner is a beautiful strand of rice shaped Malachite Jasper stones, which are wrapped around smaller amazonite stones.

As well you can see the sterling silver fish toggle, four sterling silver shells and six tubes with a sunburst design on them, all are from Artbeads.com . I've added a close up photo below as they are rather cramped in the photo above...

Everything was purchased with my wonderful Turquoise Song pendant in mind but I've been known to change my mind many times...so who acutally knows what I'll use???

I have to prepare for my Market tomorrow, loading the van etc., once I'm all finished I'll sit down and read for awhile which will relax me...I have to be up at 4:00am so it is always an early Thursday night!!!

Cheers