Workbench Wednesday...Getting Ready For An Art Abandonment...

It has been some time since I showed you what was on the workbench.

It seems something always is...I just don't always take a picture.

Here is what is going on this week...

These charms and beads are on their way to becoming something extra special...

The beads will be turned into bracelets that will be given as gifts...

There are some people I need to thank and art seems like the natural way for me to do it...

Each bracelet will have a hope bead as well as a few others...

I want to make enough that each person can choose the one they like best...

Of course the beads will have to be dyed...

I am thinking pink, blue, purple....

And then I made a pile of these little charms and beads.

My plan is to do a couple different bracelet designs...

And the charms???

Well, they have a special purpose...

They are destined to be a part of my next art abandonment...

What is that, you ask?

Well, there is a movement in art where artists take the things they make and leave them for others to find and take.

All these little charms will be sprinkled about next week in a place where I know they are needed....

The funny part of this story is that after taking these photos, I took the tray of pieces into my garage where I was going to color them....

The whole try flipped over and the beads and pendants scattered down into a huge pile of paint cans and such next to the sink.

Sigh.

I gathered the ones I could see, but I will be making more soon....

Oh my...

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...

New Beads on the Work Bench this Wednesday...

I have spent a great deal of this spring creating my own polymer clay beads.

After purchasing Statci Louise Smith's Tutorial, I was bead obsessed.

My beads were everything I always hoped to create....

They are textured and glossy and just the way I wanted them.

Some had a wonderful, primitive, organic look.

But then my friend came for a workshop and brought some of her beads.

They were so different than mine.

  And so very lovely.

So I started playing with different finishing techniques. 

I used one she did but mine did not turn out like hers.

So I tried a few other things.  

I got some neat new looks.

I liked them in the pan.

They sat there for days.

I loved the blingy shine.

Which was so different than my other beads.

I was not sure what they would be.

One afternoon,I sat down and began knotting.

I am a huge fan of waxed linen cord for knotting.

And before I knew it, this sweet beachy wrap bracelet came to be.

Like I said, it is a change from my other beads.

And I am loving it.

I am also loving my hand forged clasps.

I love how substantial they are.

This bracelet is a double wrap.

I have a couple single wrap bracelets that I wear all the time.  

They are actually very comfortable.

What do you make?

Thanks for stopping by....

Workbench Wednesday... Bead inspiration....

This Wednesday I just wanted to share some pretty bead inspiration from the workbench.

I found these lovely bowls at the thrift store but they were all too chipped to use in the kitchen.

That gave me a great excuse to use them in the studio...

These blue beads set off the blue in the bowl perfectly.

I love all that sparkly goodness.

Normally I am not a bling girl, but I am in love with these...

Thanks for stopping by....

Linked with Old World Patina.

Workbench Wednesday...Something Extremely Rare....

This is actually a post from my on-going studio redo.

I have been busy trying to get it all cleaned up and organized as you know.

Here is a look at the workbench last week:

YIKES!

Wait, there is more...

And more....

and more

and more.

Sigh.

So it has been months of working and then just piling.

Time to get this done.

Even I can't create in this mess.

So on one of the hottest days of the summer so far, I worked and worked and worked.

Lucky for me my awesome husband put up a ceiling fan for me 2 years ago.  

It was not too bad standing right under the fan.

I am pleased to show you the workbench now...

Drum roll please........

Wow!  What a difference!

Of course, just moments after finishing it, I want to create.

Gets me excited to start again.

You can see I was dipping beads.

So enjoy a couple more photos and know a clean workbench is a rare sight indeed in this studio. 

If you are a neat artist, enjoy!

If not, don't worry!  

I am sure by next week there will be some level of chaos for you to enjoy!

Thanks for stopping by...