Day 13:: Writing Challenge:: AWESOMENESS:: Beads

This blog is called

"For the Love of Beads,"

and 

I would be remiss if I didn't talk about my favorite subject.

I've been making beads for almost 9 years now.  

Those are the glass beads that I have been making for that long.  

I have only recently started making polymer clay bead.

There have been issues that forced me into polymer clay because I needed the creative act of bead making to help me through some very difficult times that continue.

I have now fallen in love with polymer clay and all it's possibilities.

If you look at this pile of beads, 

you'll see what I mean.

I've sorted out most of the beads.

There are birds of a feather, but of different colors and sizes.

I don't care if it's glass or clay,

I love making discs.

These discs will fare well in the jewelry that I envision with them.

Then there are focals.

Each one is unique.

(I can't seem to make two beads alike no matter how hard I try.

Glass or clay,

It doesn't matter.)

Soon, I'm hoping that I'll be able to get back to glass, but I don't know when that will be.

It doesn't matter,

Glass

or 

Clay.

AWESOME!!

I've Got Headpins!!

My latest headpins in my Etsy store.

If you would like a closer look at them, click

HERE

and you'll see all of my headpins.

I'm adding more.

I guess I didn't realize how low I was.  

See you tomorrow.

New Work

Here's some new work.

Some of it is listed in my Etsy Store,

I hope to list it all soon.

 

  Critters!

Polymer Clay

Birds!

On Critters and Such

Sunday, The Craft Star goes live.

My plan is open a store on that site when it opens.

Actually, since it's Mother's Day,

I'll just sign up, but won't open the store for a day or two.

So,

When it comes to critters and such,

I'll give you a sneak preview of some of the items I plan to feature in my new store.

I can't give you a link yet, but when my store is live,

I'll post the link.

Please meet Hans the Hammerhead Shark

This is Shelley, the sea horse.

This is Ricardo the Rhino.

This is Margaritta the Sweet little bird.

This is Rosa the Red Bird.

There will be many more things that I am going to be listing.

They are the...

And such items.  I'll show those next week.

Thanks for looking.

Finally! New to My Etsy Store, and There's Spring in the Air!

At last,

I've finally got my stuff together,
and
I've added some new items to my Etsy store.
Take a peek!
I love this key! It's so pretty. I used a silver enriched glass for the bead, and, yes, the bead slides up and down the key!

I call them Bumpsters! I love these little, dotted beads. They remind me of early spring!

These rich, jewel toned Bumpsters remind me of spring that is ready to ripen into summer!

These head pins/bead pins/ pod pins are my absolute favorite!
I can see these pod pins making some gorgeous wearings or as danglies in a necklace or bracelet!

These head pins/bead pins/pod pins are ready for summer! Remember summer? I know it's been a long winter, but what a magnificent way to brighten up your day!

Last, but not least, is Tweet! He's the first bird of spring! Oh, and that isn't bird poop coming out of his butt. It's just the string I used to tie this mini set together. Wouldn't this make a great, funky pendant for spring?

Well, that's all for now. I just need color! These beads have helped me!
Enjoy!

My Drawing is for THE BIRDS! Week 2 of Drawing Lab with Jeannie

This week's assignment in the Drawing Lab was to draw birds.

I uploaded my photos.
I'm not sure this was what Jeannie was expecting, especially after seeing the wonderful birds that were already uploaded to the flickr group.
Now, don't get me wrong.
Jeannie gave wonderful instructions on how to draw birds,
everything from proportion to shading.
My birds were very much the cartoon.
However,
I was very happy with my last bird, which, I actually drew first.
Now, here's my study of birds.

So, these do resemble birds,
but they are the cartoon type of birds.
Now,
what do I need to make these better?
My work word for the year: DETAIL.
Sometimes, awareness is the name of the game.
Oh, and if you are wondering,
the bird in the upper right hand corner,
well, yes, it did do what you think it did.
The bird at the bottom has a broken wing.
The owl is confused as to who it is.
The penguin can't find his shoes.
Maybe there is more to the study than I thought?
My final, which was really my first bird.
Again,
this is a cartoon style of bird.
I don't like this bird as much as I like this one.

This bird is the backside of the bird 1.
You can't see it in the photos,
but the colors are softer and muted
which really makes it more sharp and attractive.
So, does any of this make sense?
I hope so.
It's late and I'm tired.
So,
good night.
I'm working toward improvement in my drawing.
This week,
the assignment was continuous line drawing.
Now, this should really be interesting.
Stay tuned!

Shopping My Etsy Store. What's New?

I'm having a sale!

All the items in my
FOR JENNY
section are 25% off from now until the 23rd of December.
Look at these turtle earrings!
They have a cousin who might make a great pendant to go with those sweet little critters!
My shop has gone to the birds!
I have snow birds, a crystal bird, and a holey bird.

This is the holey bird!
Can you imagine the possibilities with the holes?
This bird could have a beautiful tail!

These shards are a new blend in my shop!
I love the way the violet and white react with the silver!
Nummy!

These earrings are great looking.
I held them up to my ears, and they show through the hair!
I love that!


These headpins are called Hearts and Flowers!
I have other headpins in my store, but these are some of my favorites!
This was a quick tour of my store.
Stop by anytime and spend more time there.
You won't be disappointed!

This Little Rock

At the end of summer, I found this little rock in the yard. I don't know where it came from, but, one day, it was just there. I brought it into the house immediately and laid it aside for future inspiration.

While I waited for the inspiration, I kept looking at this little rock. The rock itself looks as if someone, somewhere, chipped out the shape. Was it a tool for a small child at one time? Did a mother or a father make it for their child so that this child could learn to grind corn, make other tools? Was it a toy for young hands to hold and admire?

I moved the rock around to view it from different sides. I stood it on its side. I tilted and turned it, then I saw it!

I had purchased Jennifer Geldard's tutorial on making The Bird. You can still find this wonderful tutorial here. Next step in the inspiration, autumn flying into winter. Snow Birds! (More to follow with the snowbirds on Etsy.) As Erin Prais-Hintz says, "Treasures Found: Inspiration is Everywhere!" This little rock has quickly become a treasure found, not only for inspiration, but for wondering.