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!! 

TA DAH!!

I am so excited to show you my finished "Green Challenge" pieces 

for my local circle- Art Quilts Ect monthly challenge.  

I had my ingredients laid out for Bead Table Wednesday and here are my finished pieces. 

Right now I am in love with this set.  

Not only are the bib necklace and cuff comfortable to wear; light weight and lined with flannel.  

They drape perfectly for a stunning look. 

Here are closer looks at the necklace, 

and the cuff.

You can find out more about my process on Flickr .

I am extremely happy with the color combinations and design.  

This has inspired me to do a collection based on inspiration from nature, 

thanks to Heather Powers at Humble Beads and my art quilt group.  

I have been striving all year long for ways to incorporate my love of fiber with my love of jewelry 

and I think this will be my most unique series.  

I plan on doing seasonal pieces that will all include fiber, my handmade polymer clay components 

and beads ect. from my jewelry stash. 

I am madly working on my "feather" challenge piece too 

and hope to post it tomorrow just in time for the deadline. 

I made two sets of peacock feather beads, here they are:

My first attempt are a little subtle.

I am happiest with this second attempt because the color is more intense. 

This is the back side of the beads,  textured and painted too.
Come back tomorrow to see my Inspired by Nature: Feathers entry.
Swing by Heather Powers Blog to join in the fun.
Have a great day- I am headed for the pool!! 

  

Bead Table Wednesday and Art Bead Scene Blog Challenge June 2011

I finally finished my cuff for the Art Bead Scene Blog June Challenge 

inspired by painting "Ophelia" by Redon. 

Above is the cuff laid out so you can see all of it at once 

and here are some photos of it being worn by me. 

  

Have you ever tried to photograph your own arm.  

I felt a bit like a circus contortionist. 

But since I am home alone all day without any gorgeous models hanging out 

and my husband's arms are too hairy you will have to settle for this. 

This is what I have been working on all week -

so it is also my Bead Table Wednesday post. 

I made all the yellow beads from polymer clay for this cuff,

my bead stash has only 2 tubes of yellow seed beads.

Not one of my favorite colors, 

although I do like the way it plays so nicely with the blue in this piece. 

I hand dyed the lace with coffee to give it an old feel 

and the portrait of Ophelia is hand needle felted wool roving and then wet felted.  

I free motion stitched it to the upcycled denim and then

began the embellishing with beads.  

My original plan was to make a bib necklace 

but the shape of the felted piece was just not right for that.  

It works much better as a cuff. 

That's all for today.