Creative Juices flowing again.....

This past holiday weekend I decided to break out the beads and see what I could come up with.  I ordered some beads a couple of months ago, but haven't done much with them.

This first necklace is made from moonstone and Swarovski crystals with silver accent beads.
I love the Earthy tones in this.  It made me think of my sister in law who may be the recipient of this beauty.  
This little guy is mine, all mine.  I found the pendant and knew I had to make something with it.
I used black agate and Carnelian (the orangeish beads) and I really like it.  Now I want to get dressed up and head out for an evening so I can show it off.  I think I may make earrings to go with it.  We'll see.

I've been busy.....

I've been thinking about opening up an etsy shop for a while and decided it was the right time.  So, I went into craft mode and made 24 more pairs of earrings this weekend.  These are just some of them.  I was getting ready to photo them to post on my etsy shop.

Later this week, I am going to start a giveaway centered around my etsy, but haven't decided what exactly to do yet.  I have some ideas, but if you have any suggestions let me know! 

Here's my problem.  I am having a great deal of difficulty getting the site linked on this page.  I have tried a couple of times, but I keep getting just words and no pictures.  I really want some photos on the sidebar so y'all can see what I've been up to.

So, If anyone knows how to post it so there are pictures would you please e-mail me or leave a comment.  I would really appreciate it.

If you would like to check out my etsy, click here.  Any suggestions, criticism would be appreciated.

Would you like to win one of these?

Hello all!  I am hosting a scavenger hunt via Camp Candid Carrie.  These are some of the prizes up for grabs.  If you want to participate, head on over to Two Knit Monkeys and join the fun.  Contest ends 7/13/08 at 11:00PM CST.  Good luck and happy hunting!

Necklace one:  Made of 4mm turquoise rounds with silver spacers.  It is about 16 inches long with a barrel clasp.

Necklace 2:  This is a personal favorite of mine, made of flourite and citrine.  If you suffer from high anxiety, this is the necklace for you.  Very simple, yet elegant at the same time.  Approximately 18.5 inches in length.

Necklace 3: Here we have another Florite and Citrine, this one has a pendant well made of Russian Agate.  The pendant is a light grey with black and creamy highlights within.  Approx. 18 inches in length with the hook clasp.

Necklace 4:  This one is a steal.  Made with golden jade, amber, and yellow quartz.  This one also has a Russian Agate pendant.  This pendant is a creamy yellow with dark yellow highlights.  Approximately 20 inches long.

Necklace 5: Made of Czech glass with a dragonfly pendant.  This one actually can come in a variety of colors: Red, Purple (shown above), Blue, Green, Yellow, and Orange.  If you want it in a different color scheme, all you have to do is let me know, I have all the supplies on hand to recreate this one.    This one is approx. 18.5 inches in length, however if you choose a different color scheme, The length can also be adjusted.

Happy hunting and I hope to see you soon.  

Also, I have had some questions about purchasing one of these. Contact me via e-mail and we can set up arrangements and payment through paypal. It is subject to beads I have in stock.  

Creative Juices A Flowin' Again

Well, with no furniture in here today I had to find something to do. What is better than making more jewelry? Nothing. So I plopped on the floor, got out my beads and board and went to town. I did 6 different necklaces using the same pendant. I posted two of them yesterday. Here are today's additions: This one is made with the Botswana Agate, Green Jade, Garnet and a variety of shapes and sizes of Tourmoline. Very pretty. I love how the Agate has a bit of green on top.

I also decided to make a men's version of the necklace out of various sizes of Black Agate rounds and tubes. For some reason, guys always buy the black jewelry more than anything else. Go figure.This one is made from a variety of Rainbow Fluorite tubes and pebbles along with some Citrine rounds. I accidentally ordered the wrong beads about a year ago and never sent them back. Came in good use today!

This last one is the one I am keeping. I always keep one if I make a bunch. This is a variety of Tourmaline, one of my favorite stones of all time. Hard to find good quality, but our local Bead Supply store usually has some good ones.

Tonight, I plan on finishing up 2 malas. One Sodalite, a beautiful blue and white speckled stone and a Serpentine one that is about the color of Perdot. I am really bored. I need my apartment back!!! Please carpet gods look kindly on us!

Creative Juices A Flowin' Again

Again with the creative juices.  I was expecting to be scarce today as we were supposed to be getting our new carpet installed.  Well, that didn't happen (the driver was sick yesterday and couldn't pick it up) and all we have in the living room is a chair and a TV.  Everything else is outside on the sun porch which makes for a long boring day.  Even as I type this on my laptop I am laying on the floor stealing my neighbors WIFI.  Not very comfy at all.  Glad I went to yoga!

I made 2 necklaces today and hope to finish two more tonight.  I am entering a couple of design contests so any critiques would be appreciated.  I went shopping earlier today and picked up 6 Botswana Agate centerpiece beads, and am trying to focus on them for the time being.

This first one has a Botswana centerpiece with Amber and Golden Jade (in 2 sizes).  I am a big fan of Golden Jade.  The coloring variations from bead to bead are fantastic.

This second necklace has the Botswana centerpiece with Wooden Agate (in 2 sizes) and Black Agate.  The Black Agate beads are the 8mm ones.  I really like the color variations within the Botswana Agate, they can go with most any color.

Later tonight I plan on trying to make one with various sizes and colors of Tourmaline and another with Lavender Florite.  If I get them done, I will post later. Who knows if they will get done tonight.  Like I said earlier any critique (good or bad) is welcome.

Creative Juices A Flowin'

Being off for the summer, I needed to start creating something artsy or I might go crazy.  Today I finished two necklaces and a mala.  I folded them in half to get a better image of the detail involved.  This first necklace is a combination of Smokey Quartz and Crystal Quartz.  The chips ranged from 3mm - 6 mm in size.  Hard to work with with fingernails, but I managed.  I think it turned out beautifully.  

This one is a Ametrine and Labradorite.  I have had the Ametrine for quite some time.  I have made and later destroyed about six necklaces because I was never satisfied with the finished product.  I really like the contrast between the yellowish tints and purple luster of the Labradorite.  I think this one is a keeper.  (or sell, haven't decided yet)  There is a matching bracelet as well.
Here we have a recreation of one of my grandmothers pearl necklaces from (I think) the 1920's.  Need to have it appraised to find out for sure.  It is made with crystal pearls.  I plan to make one for all of the female grandchildren/great grandchildren as a tribute to grandma for Christmas.  
Here we have my mala.  This one is mine all mine.  Made of Golden Jade, with Amber counters, Citrine center piece and Citrine and Florite accents. This picture doesn't do it justice.  Malas are Tibetan prayer beads used in meditation.  I use it at least once a day to ground and center myself.   
This is a half mala, with 54 beads.  It is made from Fancy Jasper with Quartz counters and center.  It was supposed to be a full size mala (108 beads) but I accidentally cut the cord too short.  This one will go for sale along with two others I have finished in the past few weeks.  A Yellow Turqouis and Amethyst full malas.

This upcoming week I plan on finishing some magnets, lanyards, knit some animals, make a few more necklaces and malas, who knows.  I am thinking about selling some jewlery/animals/magnets/arts crafty stuff online.  Not sure yet. It is a foreign concept to me and I don't know how they would sell.