The Big Bead Soup Reveal

Hi everyone, 

This is the day all of us, 

the Bead Soup Blog Party participants,have been waiting for. 

Here is the link to our gracious host Lori Anderson Click Here,  

and the entire list of jewelry designer's websites so you can follow the blog hop.

My partner is Beth Bricker    

Click Here  or  Here to see the wonderful and generous amount of ingredients 

she so carefully packaged, labeled and sent meand the stash I sent her. 
Here: Vintage Sweets to meet Beth and see  her creations. 

I loved how Beth labeled all the beads because 

I am not an expert about different types of stone and crystal and 

I haven't labeled my stash carefully so I tend to forget what a lot of my beads are called. 

I really love the smokey quartz, the czech beads and 

those chunky black tourmaline beads are just amazing. 

There are some beads totally new to me that really intrigued me; 

the amber red deer horn beads, the antler button and the deer bone beads. 

Fortunately I was so inspired  that I got started right away because I have been sick this week.

I could not be the queen of the last minute this round. 
I was unable to use all of the goodies she sent but have plans to use them in the future. 

Not only did these beads inspire jewelry but they also told me a story, 

  So grab your coffee or tea and relax and enjoy a little Mountain Romance.

The air was cool and crisp, perfumed with a refreshing balsam scent from the glorious pines all around her. It left a fine mist on Mira's skin contrasting sharply with the crackle of dry fallen leaves under her feet. They both stopped at the same time without saying a word.  The music of  water trickling in a rocky bedded stream was not so distant now.  He knew they were almost there. She had no idea what he had in store for her, simply put he had said: "I have a surprise for you today and had handed her a rusty old key."  

"What is this for?" she had asked and he simply smiled and said: "You will see soon enough." Mira loved the way that smile made her heart flutter and as she looked into his eyes she knew how much she trusted and cared about Josh. She could almost see the thrill of being surrounded by nature coursing through his Inuit blood and just before he turned to continue their hike, she looked down from his eyes, and between the lapels of his plaid flannel shirt  to the dream catcher he always wore around his neck, just over his heart. 

Mira loved the feathers that hung on either side and the unusual seed in the center. She wondered had he made it as a child on the reservation and what dreams had he captured in that tiny net. She was going to have to ask him more about that one day but for now she simply followed him through the forest paradise.  Similar to a slow crescendo in a Beethoven Symphony, the soothing but exciting music of the stream was getting louder and the forest brighter as they approached a clearing.  Like little fairies playing hop scotch with magic wands glistening in their tiny hands , the light of the sun flitted on the green and sandy brown pebbles and floated away down stream on the fallen leaves, temporarily blinding her to what lay ahead. 

When Mira's eyes had time to adjust to this sudden burst of light, a gentle gasp excaped her lips.  There before her was a bridge, surely hand made from logs in this forest that led over the stream bed to the most perfect little log cabin she had ever seen. She had always dreamed of living in the woods someday, relishing the clean air and the beauty mother nature hid in the emerald forests of these rugged Northwest Mountains, away from the noise of the city and all it's frenzied occupants.  Josh took her hand and led her to the center of the bridge. Then he did the strangest thing.  Still holding her hand in his he knelt down on one knee and said, 

" Mira, you are holding "The Key To My Heart" 

and the key to this log cabin I built with my own hands just for you.  Will you spend the rest of your life here with me?" And like a gentle breeze  he whispered "... I love you..."  

Mira dropped to her knees in front of him, tears burst from her eyes and trickled like the stream down her cheeks but the smile on her face said,  "Yes... yes, a thousand times yes." She would never have to ask about the secrets in his dream catcher, she would live them with him for the rest of her life. 

Okay,

 now you know I have read a few too many romance novels in my lifetime 

but with 360+ blogs to read 

I thought you might enjoy this little enhancement to your reading pleasure. 

Before the necklace I made a bracelet and earring set too. 

Here they are:

For the mountain loving women like Mira; 

an everyday casual type bracelet and earring set 

she could wear with jeans and a nice flannel shirt 

while cozying up to the fire in her perfect little log cabin in the woods.

 

I loved the contrasts between the turquoise (Josh the inuit), 

the round horn beads (mother natures creatures recycled) 

and the chunky black tourmaline beads (like the charred wood in a fireplace) 

so I wired them together for the dangles.  

The smokey quartz (smoke curling from the chimney in the log cabing) could stand alone. Copper was my main choice of metals for this set 

The necklace has both copper and antique brass components. (Male and female characters)

 I added the stone chips and leaf chain to the bead soup 

because it helped to let your eye trickle (like the stream) 

from all the details of the key clasp on the left (key to his heart and cabin)

and the dream catcher on the right side of the necklace.

(Josh's dreams to be shared with Mira) 

The tawny czech glass beads reminded me of split logs with some bark left on. 

(inspiring the log cabin and the bridge) 

and I used the fabric Beth wrapped my soup in, 

torn to create the plaid ribbon to evoke a casual feel to the necklace.

(the lapels of Josh's flannel shirt)  

Lastly (For all of you who are cynics)- 

I wrapped one piece of the smokey quartz with copper wire 

in the head of the rusty key to symbolize 

how slightly clouded our heads get when we are in love!!  

Just kidding.... LOL 

I for one am a hopeless romantic and isn't that what jewelry is all about? 

Enjoy your blog hopping!! 


PS Check out the  HUGE CLEARANCE SALE  in my heatherp22 Etsy shop-  
starting Tuesday Sept 20th, ending Sept 30th!! 
BUY ONE GET ONE FREE!! 

Heather-Aquariart

Back to my Jewelry Passion

For me this year has been all about trying to combine 

my love of fiber, polymer clay and jewelry into art to wear. 

I am so excited 

because I entered 3 pieces into the Cloth Paper Scissors Artisan 2012 competition 

in the mixed media jewelry category 

and then forgot all about it. 

Well, Wednesday morning when I checked my email 

I had a message from the editor Jenn, 
that I have been chosen as one of the 25 finalists!!! 

This means I have to ship my pieces off to them 

and they will have them until Nov of 2012.  

Fortunately one of them did not sell on Ebay last week.  

So here are the pieces I entered:

My Peacock Feather inspired necklace

My "Ophelia" Cuff

My Woodland Fairy Bib Necklace

  

Please give them a kiss goodbye and wish me luck. 

There are only 5 challengers in each of the five categories 

so I figure I have a 20% chance of winning!  

Pretty good odds. 

And my humblest thanks to Cloth Paper Scissors 

for hosting this contest 

and choosing my art jewelry.

And to Heather Powers at Humble Beads 

and the Art Bead Scene Blog 

for providing the inspirational challenges that led to me making these pieces. 

This made my week! 

I have been battling a bad bout of diverticulitus.

There is a limited time in which broth and coconut water taste delicious

and I think it is half past that time. 
We are having a thunderstorm so I am going to go watch the show!! 
Have a great weekend everyone! 

My Fiber Art Accesories, gearing up for fall and winter

Did I mention my addiction to fiber?

As I secretly work on my Bead Soup I also have been very busy with fiber 

so today it's all about Fiber!!

I am creating more patterns and classes for my crochet students at Gail Knits here in town.

In the last week I completed a crocheted pillow,

Made with Cascade "Duo" which is an undyed yarn 70% Baby Alpaca and 30% Merino Wool
It is so soft you just can't resist putting your face down on it for a little nap. 
The pillow overlaps and is closed with my handmade polymer clay buttons. 

Another Hairpin Lace Scarf, 

Hairpin Lace Scarf made with Trendsetter "Segue"
a hand dyed polyamide ribbon yarn. 

A Felted Purse

Felted Purse made with Cascade "Pastaza"- 50% Llama and 50% wool
and a novelty yarn by Trendsetter called "Joy"
All it needs now is a wonderful polymer clay button closure and 
a lining with lots of pockets. 

Here is the bottom where you start with an oval shape and increase to the width you want the purse to be.
The purse is crocheted with a size N crochet hook, 
when felted it shrinks about 30% and all
the lacy holes mesh to form a boucle-like texture.
Last of all I made a recycled leather cuff from an old purse, 

My thank you gift to my daughter Jessie for her help at my last craft show.

She wears her white cowboy boots to Stoney's
(She is an avid Country Western fan; line and swing dancer)
This cuff matches her boots perfectly!!

Yesterday Jessie had a day off and  graciously modeled some of my accesories

for a photo shoot in our front yard. 
I think she even had fun doing it! 

These pictures are now on my first IDVD Slideshow -

"Aquariart Portfolio" 

completed late last night (yawn).  

Thanks are due to my wonderful friend Barbara too

for her help teaching me the IDVD program.  

 Here are a few of the pictures we took:

It makes such a difference to see your items on an actual person. 

 I am so fortunate to have two gorgeous daughters,

one of which is right here and available to photograph.  

For all my jewelry fans we took a couple of jewelry shots:
then we were both tired so more another day. 

My Kokopeli Set made with an enamel focal (the kokopeli figure) 

from EB Bead and Metal Works.

Yes that is a tiny handmade native american flute hanging from the pendant.
I made all the beads out of polymer clay. 

and My "Fairy Garden" Bib Necklace

This one has lots of my hand made flowers, lucite flower beads, seed beads and organza leaves.
Th-th-th-that's all folks,
now you know what I mean when I say:
"I have been busy this week!" 
Have a wonderful Labor Day Weekend Everyone!! 

A little late for BTW but finished on time for ABS

Don't you just love acrynoms.
  (!#$%#@&*^+_) I  DON"T!!

Really they can mean a million different things to millions of different people.

It can be so confusing.  

If you follow regularly you may know that BTW on my page is not "By the Way" 

but Bead Table Wednesday and I missed it this week.
(But you can go get inspired by the other jewelers)  

ABS is not the abbrieviation for those (troublesome sagging) six packs I used to have 

but the Art Bead Scene Blog Challenge. 

So now that we have all that sorted out. 

Here is my entry for the Art Bead Scene August Challenge inspired by Frederick Ramsdell. 

An Art Deco Poster for American Crescent Cycles. 

I love the poster, the girl's long flowing hair and blowing dress have such nice movement. 

I wove hand dyed silk ribbon in an auburn shade 

through some really unique antique brass chain I have that reminds me of bicycle chain.  

I was picturing in my mind a pendant that was a bicycle wheel on one side 

and had a portrait of the girl inlaid in the other 

so I got out my polymer clay and started mixing colors to match the palette.  

(Unfortunately my green turned more blue in the oven) 

My eye was drawn to the wheel with the silver spokes, pink rim and white washed tire.  

This inspired the pendant which I made first and then baked.  

Next I added the bezel on the front and the handles 

which if you look closely resemble the handles on the bicycle in the poster. 

I spent a lot of time sketching to create a line drawing portrait 

to insert in my bezel with the girl's profile and flowing hair.

When I finally had a successful result I minimized it in Adobe Photoshop 

and printed a whole page of her.

You may see her again in other jewelry. 

One of the last additions to my necklace is my favorite part- 

the three graduated loops of antique brass chain hanging from the pendant. 

I knew I was finished when I added that. 

It balanced out the whole design.

I also am in love with this leaf chain that is dangling from the knot of silk. I have been adding it to everything I make- it is sooooooo nice.
I inserted the white lily, which you see many of in the poster, just for the photos,
I never found a place for it in the necklace.
I made that a long time ago and it is still looking for a home.
I am really puzzled by how this all came together.  

No sketch, except the portrait, just intuitive combining of ingredients and well, 

sometimes that's when I do my best work. 

Let go and let it happen.
Click here to see some more wonderful creations!!

Bead Soup for Beth Bricker

Okay, this is the teaser. 

Beth's Bead Soup is in on it's way to her. 

Meet my Bead Soup Partner caught at a Bead Show.
Beth is on the Right- with the great smile.
Do you think Beads make her happy?  I do.I had fun with Adobe Elements and disguised the pictures I took of her ingredients. I don't think you will recognize anything in this but that is the point. Surprise!!  

Bead Soup a la Jurassic Park for Beth
andI love this one, came out really abstract after about 8 filter effects.

Bead Soup el Cognito

I sent her a really nice clasp, handmade by a favorite etsy artist I will divulge later.

I made the focal pendant and all of the polymer clay beads 

and then poured in a lot of spicy beads to warm it up. 

I am anxiously waiting my ingredients for the Party too! 

(Saturday) 

Okay, that was yesterday, the teaser above, 
(Now you know one of my little secrets, I started to prepare this post yesterday for today)
my husband brought in the mail and 
Guess What?!!@%$&*
My Bead Soup arrived from Beth!! 
(Today- Sunday)
I had to wait until this morning to photograph it all.
Beth was so generous!!
and there are beads I have never ever seen before in the mix! 
This is so exciting.
 I need to take you through 
the visual experience of opening this package of goodies

The mysterious package- I think she discovered that I sew too!  

A kind and encouraging note and more fabric related wrapping- love it!!  

Oh my, very organized, all labeled and carefully packaged!
This is a lesson for me.  I am learning from this.

This is unbelievable!! So many truly unique beads!
I am so wowed by how many I have never seen before.
You need to see some of these close up:

We have mountain sheep here in Nevada but I have never seen
Horn, Antler or Deer Bone beads
in any of all the bead stores here in town
and I have been in them all.
 I love them!  
I think that deliciously nubby big bead is the antler bead,
it is really amazing- wish you could see it from all angles! Can't make a truly tasty broth for the soup without some Bone can we.
Also I have never seen undyed howlite or seeds quite like these. 

There are some really different czech beads too.  I love all the earthy tones.
They are making me yearn for a vacation in the Montana Mountains,
where I could wear a plaid flannel shirt with my jeans like this cloth
and not sweat to death like I do here in the Desert. 

I think she may have figured out some of my favorite colors
with the Mardi Gras beads and the Turquoise.
The Black Tourmaline is so unusual- love the chunky randomness of the facets,
I couldn't quite capture it's true beauty because
I over slept this morning and the sun was already too bright. I love copper and will probably be adding even more to the mix

The Earthy Howlite Focal and a gorgeous Copper Clasp. 
(sorry about the tint, the sun was not cooperating outside
so I moved indoors for the rest of the photos)

Last and most precious,
an alternate Focal; a Rusty Key.  
I found all these ingredients really inspiring and can't wait to get to work. 
Thank you so much Beth for your amazing package of goodies!!
I am going to get started with some wire wrapping,
right now,  with Copper of course!! 
Be sure to come back on September 17th for the Blog Hop Reveal. 

A little Fiber Fun

I have a whole part of my life wrapped around fiber that I don't always share here 

due to all the art bead and polymer clay challenges I have been participating in lately. 

I teach crochet classes at Gail Knits here in town. 

She has a fabulous selection of gorgeous yarns and 

I love to see all the ones Gail gets in that are new to the market.   

This morning I finished a scarf  using two brand new yarns from Trendsetter Yarns:  

Flamenco (the ruffly green) and Minestrone(the gold, brown beige multi textured one).  

Here is my lovely daughter Jessie modeling it. 

This is an extra long crocheted scarf.  

I will be listing patterns in my Etsy Shop- Aquariart this fall 

for all the designs I have created for my classes. 

If you would like to be notified leave a comment below-

I will contact you when they are listed. 

Here is this month's challenge piece for my Art Quilt ect. Circle.

We had to use a shoebox to create something. 

The first thing you see is the top which is a small quilt 

I free motion stitched and then painted

of water dripping and rippling. 

This one inspired my to do a larger water quilt which I have started using the same technique.

I love how the paints bring out the liines in the quilting. 

Next you notice there is a quote around the side and front of the box:

"If there is magic on this planet then it is contained in water."

It's all about water.
Zentangled waves, bubbles... 

The bottom and back of the box - Zentangles all over! 

My very relaxed bathing lady.  Her legs flip out of the box and hang over .

She is free motion stitched and then painted with Shiva Oil Sticks.

Don't ask me where I get these ideas, I really don't know sometimes.
I apologize for the photos- I didn't take them early enough in the day so there are lots of shadows.

Okay now back to Bead Stuff-
I have to go raid my stash and put together a wonderful set of beads for my Bead Soup Partner -Beth Bricker.
You can find out more about her on her blog here.
This is a wonderful party for jewelry designers hosted by Lori Anderson at Pretty Things.
Check back for more about that and
the Big Bead Soup Blog Hop Reveal which will be Sept 17th!

Inspired by Nature: Dragonflies

This is my entry for Heather Power's Challenge: 

Inspired by Nature: this week; Dragonflies. 

I made the polymer clay faux turquoise beads a long while ago 

and they finally found a home, 

including the pebble in the pond pendant, 

this Dragonfly landed on.

I was totally clueless about what to do with it. 

In the book,"Animal-Speak" byTed Andrews, 

he says of the Dragonfly;

 The Power fo Light:

" Life is never quite the way it appears, but it is always filled with light and color. 

Dragonfly can help you to see through your illusions and thus allow your own light to shine forth. Dragonfly brings the brightness of transformation and the wonder of colorful new vision."

This Dragon of the Fairy Realm is waiting to take the fairy in each of you for a ride.