14th Non-Blogger/Blogger Challenge -Twice as Nice Holiday in July:

14th Non-Blogger/Blogger Challenge -Twice as Nice Holiday in July

Hosted by Toltec Jewels     

                     Above are the pictures we used for inspiration i the 14th Non-blogger/blogger Challenge.  i couldn't decide which to do so I did several pieces....

First: The Sparkle Picture with the aqua and silver colors.

This one is crocheted using white yarn embedded with silver, though it is hard to see.  I then used aqua acrylic beads from a vintage necklace that was broken and sitting in my "junk" bead drawer.  On the beads hanging around the edge I have little silver "grapes" The back is closed ribbons endings and a chain with a lobster claw. I like this pattern and am doing it up in several colors including neon!

This is just a simple set made with aqua, and varying shades of greens. I just like how they all seem to get along...They are strung on goldtone wire and I used goldtone findings. It will soon find it's way to my Etsy shop!

Second: Woodland Creatures using Christmas colors

This one I made for a friend, the colors are soooo Christmas with reds, greens, and golds.  I truly enjoyed doing this piece...the beads just seem to come together all on their own...I know my friend will be happy I am finished with it and can get it mailed to her.

 This last one is created using my curly q. I love using it and am really wanting to use it more. There are Swarovski crystals on the curled wire spacers. I used Christmas Charms and oblong jump rings on the earrings.  Then there is a Christmas Tree pendant.  This will be going in my Etsy shop soon. 

Thanks for looking. For more great pieces, check out Our Pinterest board after August 24. 

Thanks for looking...

Art Bead Scene Aug Challenge

The Indian Rug (or Red Slippers), 1942 

by Anne Redpath 

Oil on plywood

73.90 x 96.10 cm (framed: 91.50 x 113.50 x 6.20 cm)

About the Art

The vivid colours and flat patterning of this painting owe much to Matisse, while the 'tipped-up' perspective reflects Redpath's admiration for early Italian painting. Redpath was fascinated by colour and texture. In this painting, the pattern of the rug meshes with the shapes of the slippers and chair to such a degree that it is difficult to separate flat from three-dimensional form. Redpath's father designed tweed fabrics and her work has the sense of patterning sometimes found in textiles. She remarked: 'I do with a spot of red or yellow in a harmony of grey what my father did with his tweed.'

This month I wasn't sure if I would be able to do something , but I was drawn to this picture. At first I thought about doing a miniature rug in needle point but I couldn't get the design the way I wanted...

So I decided to print the pictures out and then put them on Plexiglas clear pendants.  The middle one with the shoes I seed beaded embroiderer around. The other four are just mod podged on to the Plexiglas. 

In another challenge I was in with earrings, one of the participants used seed beaded beads...and I thought how cool was that...so I used the beads I had embroidered with and made some beaded beads to hang the other pendants from. They are attached to a plain silver chain with black satin ribbon threaded through it.  It is choker style.

I love doing challenges so that I can really think out of the box and try new techniques! I think I need more practice with the beaded beads...but I like how they turned out...really got my mind working on variations.

For more great pieces go the Art Bead Scene and click on current entries.  Thanks for looking.

We're All Ears :: August Reveal

Sorry for the delay, we have had storms all day and my

 internet has been wonky...but this month we were

challenged with the art of Gabriel Dawe.  My inspiration 

came from these pics that Erin posted...I love the rainbow 

and how it was done using string...

So for my post....I used memory wire and chain, and Swarovski crystals with some glass and plastic beads.

I like the swingy feel they have and the "sun" in the middle to show off the "rainbow".

For more great earrings, check out Earrings Everyday. Thanks for looking!

August Photo Challenge - Animals

When I saw this one, I was like, YES, I have animal pictures, tons of them....but I decided to do the ones I took at Gatorland, FL.  Most of the animals were easy to take pictures of as long as they stayed still.  The birds were the hardest!

I used my Fugjifilm Finepix AX with zoom lens. I cropped and edited the pictures in Picasa on my computer.

Furry Animals

(Well I guess the rooster should have been with the birds...but I was thinking farm animal....)

Feathery Animals

Cold Blooded Animals

The main thing I try to do with my pictures is depending upon the subject, I try to take a few with lots of background to I can crop it, and then a few close ups, if I can get that close.  Some of these were taken through glass, so you had to make sure you were at an angle so not to get glare from the glass.  The same would apply if I had had to take a picture through fencing, but luckily I didn't.  I also set my flash as auto, just in case I forget and the area is dark.  But loads of fun!

For more great photos check out A Personal Photo Challenge

Summer Carnival 2014 Blog Hop

Well the time is finally here.....And Lisa has tasked us with a new challenge.  For some reason, I had a hard time coming up with designs....must be because I would rather be AT the carnival. I also have started having a problem with my right wrist...think it needs a break.

First up are the beads I received from Lisa. They are Tiaria crystals, sea glass and other miscellaneous beads.

Of course first off, as much as I hated to do red/white/blue I did... I used the red/white/blue sea glass with silver filigree metal beads I had. The wire links, I wrapped, then connected to the silver tone chain necklace. Once I had the red/white/blue out of my system...I went on. 

This one I used the red roundels along with green beads that I had. They are on copper wire and I did a curly cue wire wrap to attach each piece to the chain which is copper tone. The back clasp is just a simple toggle. 

This one I was experimenting with wire crochet and yarn crochet...I have really been trying with my more current pieces to put these two techniques together.  Of course the gold "pin" that is attaching one end to the black ring is NOT what is supposed to be there...do you think I could find a large black lobster claw....nooooo ! I checked several places close by.  I will have to order one on line and then it will look much better....

This last one was a spur of the moment piece. I have a bunch of different colored pieces of sample vinyl and have been dying to try it out....so I had the black rhinestone links and the red disk from Lisa along with black Swarovski crystals.  It was a quick put together and I know I made some mistakes, but....I know NOT to use this kind of thread in the future and measure twice, thrice, even four times before cutting...as I said it was a spur of the moment piece. I still have more beads and vinyl so I may make a new one and just wear this one myself...

So there you have it....hope you enjoyed the tour. For more eye candy hop to Lisa's at A GrateFul Artist