I recently received a package of goodies from Rings and Things as a part of their blogger program, and included in the package was this crazy cool wooden chain! It is big and chunky, and appears to be cut from one piece of high quality wood, as I don't see any seams (if there are, they are immaculately put together). I have never seen anything quite like it available for beaders. The chain I received is a long and short chain link style made of Ebony and I couldn't wait to play with it! I figured some big chunky pendants would work well with it, and the color and shaped matched my new oval key and keyhole pendants perfectly!

I linked the pendants to the chain with some brass and gunmetal heavy jump rings and hammered brass circles, and then was trying to decide what to do for a clasp for this chunky necklace. I wanted something big and industrial looking, and remembered the Idea-ology Swivel Clasp that was also included with the R&T package. I clipped the chain off of it, and used it as the clasp. Perfect! It is listed for sale in my Etsy Galleria.

This necklace is chunky and funky and really different! Before I got the chain sample, I had seen it in the catalog and had to try it, so I also have a piece of the Bayong, more rust colored chain below. Maybe I will work on a bracelet for that chain. It is really fun to play with such innovative new supplies!



The wooden chain and clasp used in the previous post, specifically referenced as from Rings and Things, were provided as promotional gifts by for review or design partnership purposes.

Tick Tock, Tick Tock! That old saying about having too much time on your hands... well, that does not apply to me, lately. I have a big old pile of tasks to do and beads to make, and somehow that pile seems to be growing! Time is slipping away from me and I am scrambling, but I feel great. Just trying to keep up...

For example, I started this bracelet in my booth at the Bead & Button Show. I had received a delicious shipment of 6 Swarovski Crystal Rings from ArtBeads in May to blog about, and wasn't able to make anything in the days leading up to the show. But I found some time at the show, and started the bracelet. And I just finished it this week and just took the photos yesterday.

Anyway, this crystal ring bead is a style of the many kinds of Swarovski crystal beads that I have not used before. When I ordered them, I had just started making the Toolbox Treasure links, so I had a piece like this in mind, and I chose earthy colors in Olivine and Crystal Copper. I love the way they look with my Desert Pine and Rusty Engine glazes. The faceted rings are neat, because they have a small hole running through, in addition to the large central hole, so there are a variety of different ways to use them. I chose to use a headpin on each side, strung through the bead from the center, so I could wire wrap them, leaving the center hole open. I think it would be fun to trap a little bead inside the ring, too.

I am really pleased with this bracelet design. I like the colors and the little clock charm, and how it works with the subtle gear and industrial markings on the Toolbox links. The faceted rings add a bit of elegance and sparkle to the bracelet too.

I mentioned that I ordered 6 rings, and only 4 are shown here. Tomorrow, I will show you what I did with the other two.

This is another new pendant design that I have come up with lately. Its a pretty simple piece, just a little bit of brass and one of my popular Dragonfly Halo stones. I have been trying to use some of the brass I already have in stock, playing around with new ways to use the filigree that I have played with before, and finally using some of the pieces that I haven't quite figured out how to use until now. I really have been enjoying working with the brass, and making jewelry again. I never seem to get caught up on production enough to really settle into making a jewelry line, but at least a few new pendants are starting to trickle out of the studio now. I am at a bit of a loss as to where to start with a jewelry line. I want to use the ample inventory of random beads and things that I have in stock now, and not spend money to buy new stuff. Arg, but that so goes against my production minded ways: not creating a whole line of things that are exactly the same in design, just different in color. Although I do feel like doing one-of-a-kind things will be good for me and is the direction that I want to go with jewelry, for the most part. I think I might start with some earrings; some little detailed things that I can do quickly. Any thoughts out there, about what you might like to see from me, finished jewelry wise? I am happy to entertain thoughts about jewelry at this point...

So I am fluttering off this weekend, taking a break after a busy week of not feeling well, and working hard. I am looking forward to a good relaxing weekend, easing my body of the pressures of the week, letting my mind wander, and setting my heart free for a while.

Find this pendant and more jewelry in the Earthenwood Etsy shop

I wrote up instructions for this quick project using my Steam Stone vertical link components. It is posted over at Art Bead Scene. Check it out! Today, my plan is to make some of these to sell as finished jewelry (*gasp!* I know! How rare!) I have a big show coming up next week (the Potters Market) where I sell jewelry every year, and I am woefully low on stock this time around. I am caught up on my orders, so this holiday weekend will be spent in my usual tradition of assembling and labelling jewelry while surrounded by delicious food, and friends and family. At some point this weekend, I also hope to send out a sale newsletter, the big one of the year, for the last chance to get Earthenwood goodies made in time for the holidays. If you are not on the mailing list, you can sign up here.

ooh look at the shiny thing I found the other day at the Shiny Little Things blog by Cynthia of Ornamentea! A really neat necklace using one of my Steam Stone links with a keyhole design. Cynthia cleverly paired the bloodmetal colored charm with some chunky brass chain and a gorgeous antique looking key as the toggle of the clasp. Check out all the chain and bits and bobs available at the Ornamentea website!

Quickie post today, its my day off. I need to do a little work, but I hope to mostly rest. Maybe go visiting, I don't know. I woke up with a bunch of ideas, so I am chasing those...even though this is not the time to come up with new stuff. I have orders to do so I really can't play now, but I can dream. 

So yesterday I mentioned the simultaneous inspiration phenomenon between me and my friend Gaea. Today I will show another recent example. I have posted a few examples of my new bubble beads (I still don't really have a name for them). Compare them with Gaea's new Bubbles! That's fun! They are really not alike very much, just both consisting of little balls of clay arranged bubble like. I think they would compliment each other really well, actually. I want to use one of her "oodles" or "in a later" pendants with my little bubble accents, and dangle some little crystally drops down so it looks like rain clouds!

 

To celebrate the countdown to Christmas, we are doing 12 days of quick projects with art beads over on Art Bead Scene. We kicked it off today with my project, the Charmed Scarf Pin. It's really easy and quick, and a great way to use odd beads and charms. It is perfect for winter because it can go on those big chunky knit scarves, sweaters, coats and shawls. It was a fun project for me to design, because I wanted to use beads from all the editors of ABS, mixed with my own beads. I made one to match one of each of my favorite scarves, which are shown in the pictures. The pins and supplies are listed for sale in my Etsy Shop. Check back everyday for a new fun project!