Artisan Headpin Challenge

I am a huge fan of  Art Jewelry Elements.

It is a bonus to have so many talented artists all sharing in one place.

It is one of the few blogs I subscribe to and always read.

When they suggested an art headpin challenge, I was intrigued and emailed right away to sign up.

Just one problem....

I did not actually own any art headpins.

Which leaves me 2 options: buy some or make some.

Well, I am a making kind of girl.

So here is what I came up with this weekend.

Well that is just the first half of the story.

Want to see some of the designs I came up with using those headpins?

Ok, here they are....

Which is your favorite?

Leave a comment below for a chance to win this pair.

Just tell me your favorite pair shown and your email address so I can get in touch with you if you win.  

I will choose and announce a winner September 17th.

This is a long contest...

Tell all your friends

And good luck.

Want to see more fabulous art headpins?

Visit each of these blogs for more fabulousness.

Guests:

Alison Herrington

Renetha Stanziano

Karin Grosset Grange

Gloria Allen

Deb Fortin

Cate van Alphen

Mona Arnott

Shai Williams

Sarajo Wentling

Kathy Lindemer

Solange Collin

Melissa Meman

Patricia Handschuh

Tammy Adams

Melissa Trudinger

AJE Team Members:

Caroline Dewison

Lesley Watt

Cathy Mendola

Jenny Davies-Reazor

Susan Kennedy

Laney Mead

Diana Ptaszynski

Lindsay Starr

Niky Sayers

Thanks for stopping by and don't forget to leave a comment with your favorite pair from this post and your email before September 17th for a chance to win....

Metallic Lustres On Polymer Clay

As you know, I love to play with finishes on white clay.  

In some ways it is silly, really.

I could start with a color then play with it, but NOOOOOO!

I will start with white, paint it a color and then mess with it again.

That is what happened with these pieces.

I used white as the base...

Painted them black and then rubbed them with Metallic Lustres paints from DecoArt.

I love the way they turned out.

But i am thinking down the road to make my life a little easier, I will start with black clay, then use the Metallic Lustres.

Work smarter not harder...

In all fairness to me, when I make polymer pieces, I never know how they will be finished down the road.

I do things in stages....

I make beads and components for a week.

Bake them all.

Then I divide them into groups for how they will be finished and start working on them in those groups.

Lastly I seal them.

Once they are sealed,  they wait to become a necklace, bracelet or earrings.

Anyway, Metallic Lustres are one of my favorite ways to finish beads.

I love rubbing them into the pieces.

Have you ever tried them?

Thanks for stopping by....

Black and White and Gorgeous All Over....

A while back, my daughter and I tried making some pieces for a specific color challenge.

The challenge was to use black.

My daughter came up with some stunning pieces.

First up, this complete set.

Love the necklace focal and the earrings.

Our styles are so different.

                     I love how she thinks.

I am not a matched set kind of gal, but I love these pieces because they very much go together without being all matchy-matchy.

I really like her twisted wire with the focal.

Perfect!

I love this piece.

These are something I would definitely wear....

I love the movement the chains create...

This bracelet is so sophisticated.

This is the perfect dress up accessory.

And then there is this last bracelet.

The elements she combined are so interesting together.

The chain next to her beaded chain compliment each other.

These little pounded wire pieces add a rustic organic element to the piece.

Would you wear this one?

I would!

How fun is that?

Just for fun today, try something totally different and see where it leads you.

Limit your color palette, materials or style.

See what happens.

Then tell me all about it.

Thanks for stopping by...

Midnight Prowler...Wings Series

I love my new determination to use the wonderful bits and pieces I have been saving.

It makes it so much fun to get things out to create.

I know anything could end up in a design instead of just the things I have plenty of.

Typically I can be drawn to a piece of jewelry that has just one component that I love....

In this piece, I love them all.

Which is your favorite?

I definitely cannot choose just one...

Well, off to make something else.

Thanks for stopping by....

Blueberry Cove Beads-Fairy Tales

Are you familiar with Blueberry Cove Beads?

It is a bead subscription service.

You receive a monthly curated themed box of beads.

My first box seemed like it was created just for me.

The theme: Fairy Tales.

I am not kidding.

Here's what was in the box.

I created a couple tutorials for Isobel using the beads and components in the box.

I made these easy toadstool earrings.

You can find the full tutorial here.

I tell you step-by-step how to make your own pair.

I added a few other supplies not in the box to make my earrings like moss and earring hoops.

The tutorial also provides directions for making these whimsical earrings.

I used more earring hoops and some waxed linen cord to make these designs.

There are lots of beads and components in the box....

Enough to make several pieces.

So I did another tutorial for making this necklace as well.

You can find it here.

I just added some jump rings, silk strips and a skeleton key.

If you love to make jewelry but get overwhelmed with what to choose when you go shopping, Blueberry Cove Beads will be perfect for you.

Thanks for stopping by...