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...

Bracelet stacks

Sorry I have been MIA lately.

Sometimes life throws you some curve balls.

But I am back now.

How about some pretty bracelet stacks to celebrate?

I love this set for summer...

And this one is actually a single piece that looks like a bracelet stack.  

I wear this one all the time.

I made it just for me.

I never do that...

So what have you been up to?

Hope it has brought you joy and relaxation...

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....

Turquoise Triple Strand Bracelet

Time for turquoise...

If your birthday is in December, it is your birth stone.

I love turquoise and am always drawn to buying it.

Then I hoard it and am afraid to use it.

Not anymore.

I am starting to use things that bring me joy.

Every day.

For no special reason.

Just because I love it.

I might even keep this one to wear myself.

I love triple strand bracelets...

The layered look with only one clasp...

Thanks for stopping by....

                  Linking up with these great blogs.

Shades of Rose

I know I have not been posting as often.

Sometimes life throws a few curves into our carefully planned lives.

I always believe each difficulty I experience is a chance for learning and growth.

I have some serious learning to do....

So let's just share something pretty for the moment..

I think you know I love to knot linen cord.

It is SO much fun.

Here is a sweet little pink triple strand bracelet I made.

I used my little hand wrought links...

And that sweet little dangle makes me smile.

I am not usually a pink (or purple) person.

But they are growing on me...

                    What have you made lately?

                       Thanks for stopping by....

                  Linking up with these great blogs.

Triple Strand Bracelets

What is a good day like for you?

A good day for me is making something...

A friend, a good dinner, or something beautiful.

I have a lot of good days.

I have a lot of amazing people that I call friends, a few good meals here and there, and I make A LOT of stuff.

Here are a couple triple stand bracelets.

Today's material of choice is buttons.

Buttons and waxed linen cord.

If you have been here before, you know I love that stuff.

There is something so relaxing and satisfying to me to string and knot with waxed linen.

This bracelet has vintage buttons, pearls and these fun blue beads.

I love that little turtle charm dangle too.

 I love multi strand bracelets for the look and the ease to wear.

  They look like you took time to gather and assemble the pieces and put them on, but nope!

One simple hook clasp and you are ready to go.

Thanks for stopping by...

                  Linking up with these great blogs.

Workbench Wednesday: Leather Cuffs

I always have to chuckle when it comes time to photograph Workbench Wednesday.

The location varies from week to week.

Sometimes it is in my garage/studio.

Sometimes it is in the living room. 

 It can be in the annex on the workbench outside.

I work in different places for different tasks.

Any hammering is completed on a cement floor.  

This time it was on our back porch.

Yes, the cement porch floor is carpeted.

  The couple that built the house glued it down. 

It is there to stay.

This week I was stamping cuffs.

I love picking up leather belts to use for making bracelets.

I have my handy dandy leather stamp alphabet set.

The sponge is for wetting the leather before stamping.

The sweet double enamel bucket was a clearance buy years ago at a drugstore in town.

It has a handle so it is easy to move current projects.

I usually do more than one of each word or phrase on different cuffs.

These have all been cut, trimmed and had the holes punched.

I will sit and stamp until they are either all done, or I am tired of sitting on the floor.

My body does not enjoy sitting on the concrete as much as it used to.

Next I will use some gilders' pastes and waxes.

I am so proud that cuffs similar to these are in the current issue of Somerset Studio.

I actually am choosing a reader to receive a free copy of the magazine this week.

  If you  missed out on the post, check it out here.

I am a messy worker.

This is actually neater than usual because I can't leave the mess here.

I will have to clean it up as soon as I am done.

Not pictured are my two art buddies, the dogs. 

 Both are off camera.

One on each side.

Hope you enjoyed a peek at what I am working on...

What is on your workbench?

Thanks for stopping by....

Linking up with these great blogs.