Merry Christmas...

Stay tuned for fabulous new jewelry designs and specials coming 2013!!

Almost a whole year passed!

Wow, almost a whole year has passed since I've blogged!!  So much time!!  I have been one busy person.  Without going into too much detail here's a summary of what I've been up to since my last post back in January:

(Jan) I took a weekend trip to Houston, TX that was a complete nightmare!  One of the two cars we were in was clipped by an 18-wheeler and did a massive roll-over...a few feet from the tracks of on on coming train!!  I know, scary, right?!  Miraculously everyone made it out with minor injuries and was okay...no major damage other then a totaled SUV.

(March) Participated in a delicious show dedicated entirely to Chocolate and every imaginable sweet and pastry.  This show was a amazing!  I hope to participate again this coming year.

(April) Participated in the King Williams Festival.  I met so many amazing artists and new clients.  After working for 3 months straight to get ready for the King Williams Festival, as soon as the show was over I took a very long creative break lasting the majority of the summer.

(May--August) Did absolutely nothing and enjoyed every minute!!  I did go on a few field trips to museums, spent hours at bookstores, and did some major brainstorming...then the creative bug hit me.

(Sept) *Bang!*  I came out of my creative hiatus and hit the ground running.  Began sketching new ideas for shrines and I started work on a new jewelry business that I'm hoping to launch by January 2013.  *More details coming soon*

(Oct--Nov) Day of the Dead!!!  The best creating time ever!!  I showcased my Day of the Dead artwork at Say Si's annual Muertitos Fest.  Here's a pic of the glitter brooches I made for the show.

(Dec) Getting ready to have my first trunk show!!  I've been working on new jewelry and art work for my first trunk show in my studio scheduled for this month.

More information will be posted on my blog and Facebook!  It's good to be back blogging and sharing.  

Until next time...

PS...I did finish the earring challenge!  Made 31 pairs of earrings and sold them all at the Chocolate show.

Days 4 through 8...the challenge continues

So after being what seems like an eternity without internet...seriously, what did we do before the WORLD WIDE WEB?!...I'm finally able to post my photos of my "Earring a Day Challenge."  My internet went out last week while trying to post Day #4 pair of earrings.  I spent Days #5--#7 arguing with AT&T and finally getting a new modem and tech guy installing the modem on Day #9.

Here are pairs #4 through yesterday #8:

Day #4: "Purple Rose Earrings"

Beading Daily Challenge- Day#4: "Purple Rose Earrings"

Ingredients:
2 purple polymer clay roses (made from a mold)
6 iridescent purple/goldish crystals
sterling earring hooks

Very lightweight & comfy!

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Day #5: "Turquoise Melody Earrings"

Beading Daily Challenge- Day#5: "Turquoise Melody Earrings"

Ingredients:

2 Turquoise heart-shaped stones

6 tiny faceted red Jade beads

Sterling earring hooks

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Day #6: "Regal Earrings"

Inspired by a pair of earrings worn by the royalty during the 15th century Europe...

Beading Daily Challenge- Day#6: "Regal Earrings"

Ingredients:

2 London Blue Topaz colored glass beads

2 coin-shaped Freshwater Pearls

Sterling Bali spacers

Sterling earring hooks

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Day #7: "Simple Star Earrings"

Beading Daily Challenge- Day#7: "Simple Star Earrings"

I had a pair of left over beads from a charm bracelet.  Sometimes the best and simplest creations come from the 'left overs."

Ingredients:

2 Turquoise star-shaped stones

Sterling earring hooks

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Day #8: "Simple Star Earrings"

Beading Daily Challenge- Day#8: "Santa Fe Sunset Earrings"

Complimenting the colors of the sun dancing off the clay dessert...

Ingredients:

2 oval lampwork beads

4 red Magnesium stones

Sterling Bali Spacers

Sterling earring hooks

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Okay that's what I've been busy making these past days without the internet.  I've also made some neat jewelry boxes and a couple of charm bracelets..but that's for next time.  I will have today's Day #9 earrings posted as soon as my camera charges up.

If anyone else is doing a jewelry or artwork challenge let me know.  Post your link in the comments section.

Earring a Day Challenge...Day #3

Day 3 is here and these are my earrings...

Beading Daily Challenge-- Day #3: Mermaid Tears Earrings

Inspired by the sea and the mermaid scene from Pirates of the Caribbean: Stranger Tides (we rented that movie last night and that was the only scene that stuck with me).  Anyhow, the mermaids had beautiful shimmery tails, despite the fact that they were evil.

Ingredients:

2 large Abalone Shell beads (these beads are closed and large...about 3 1/4")

2 green shimmery crystals

Sterling silver wire & hooks

Let me know what you think.

Earring a Day Challenge...Day #2

Day two is here and I have my earrings!!  These earrings were so fun and easy to make.  I had a left over strand of tiny silver crystals on my work table and some scraps of 20 gauge wire.  To make these earrings begin by making your basic beginning wire-wrap loop.  Run the crystals through the wire and finish with another wire-wrap loop.  I used a mandrel to form the hoop but if you don't own a mandrel anything round will work.  Afterwards I made another wire-wrap loop to attach both ends of the crystals to the bottom section.  I left the top of the wire-lopp blank to insert my Sterling earring hook...and voila...a quick pair of bling'ed out hoops!  Stay tuned for tomorrows pair of earrings.

Beading Daily Challenge-- Day #2: Bling-Bling Hoops

Welcome 2012 with new designs...

Happy 2012 to everyone!  May this year be full of wonderful adventures jammed packed with creativity and kindness!

Last year flew by quick.  After my last show of the year I took a mini-break to spend time with friends and family and to re-charge my creativity.  I've been brainstorming new ideas, color palettes, and designs I plan on launching this year.  I really want to challenge myself more this year and take my designs to a new level.

I've gotten a jump start on one particular challenge that is being started on "Beading Daily," a website/forum/blog dedicated to beaders.  Trust me, there are a lot of us out there!  One of there challenges is called "A Pair of Earrings a Day."  This particular challenge calls for making a pair of earrings a day with whatever beads you have lying around.  The idea is to find time to create something. If you can't create a "pair a day" they suggest a pair a week or if you don't want to make earrings swap them out for a necklace or bracelet a week.  Anything that keeps your creativity flowing...stress-free!

I've decided to take the "Earrings a Day" challenge for one whole month, then move on to something new the following month.  I will post my progress here on the blog with photos.  I'm thinking of just posting the earrings I make during this month exclusive to my ETSY store but I haven't decided yet.

Here are my pair of earrings to January 1st... let me know what you think.

Beading Daily Challenge-- Day #1: Super Fancy Earrings

Ingredients:
Sterling Silver,
a pinch of Freshwater Pearls,
tons of Rock Quartz crystal briolettes,
2 large Opal teardrops for beauty.