Friday, May 29, 2015

The Children's Book - another edition of the Inspired By Reading BookClub

How time flies…
Another month has gone by and it's, once again, time for the Inspired By Reading Book Club reveal. And, once again, I'm traveling (I'm back in NYC for my daughter's graduation from Hunter College ! Yay!) I'm posting from my phone and apologize in advance for the quality of my photos.  

I'm excited by my design because of a personal connection to the components. 

This month we read "The Children's Book" by A.S. Byatt. Actually, I've been listening. I was able to download the audio version from the library. The story takes place in England in the late 1800's. It is a mix a "real-time" narrative, reminisces and political commentary. Although, I have some difficulty following the narrative  and many characters, I am intrigued by the story and historical references and am compelled to continue listening. 

Right from the beginning Byatt lavishes us with vivid descriptions, rich in fairy tale, folklore and history. I thought I might want to try my hand at mosaics - perhaps a small pendant in a bezel cup with resin. Since I had no clue how to go about it, that idea was scrapped. 

At one point, Phillip, a runaway and aspiring artist admires a large pot - gold and silver with cobalt.  I knew then that I wanted to use some of the beautiful lapis I purchased at Wonder Sources the last time I was in NYC. Still no clue what to create. 

As I listened further, Byatt described another character in detail, including her pocket watch. I was reminded that my grandfather's watch fob was in a box of incomplete projects. Several years ago I had planned to link gold and silver plated fleur de lis to complete the chain. I'm glad I never did. 

Instead, I soldered sterling silver and gold-filled links, as well as, lapis links. I love the way it coordinates with the 14k gold, two toned antique piece. The new section is removable and can be connected to a chain to make a simpler necklace. 





Please check our group leader, Andrew Thornton's blog to see what the other very creative folks have done.   http://andrew-thornton.blogspot.com/2015/05/inspired-by-reading-may-blog-hop.html?m=1







Monday, May 4, 2015

Bead Peeps Swap and Hop ~ WIP - UPDATED!!!

PLEASE READ THROUGH TO SEE MY FINISHED PIECES!

Unfortunately, I had to travel unexpected for a family emergency and was unable to do justice to the goodies sent to me by my partner, Gloria Allen.

I'm putting together a quick post with what I have accomplished and will update it as soon as possible.



Gloria sent a great selection of beads and components.
I can't wait to play with them all.


For now I have started a necklace with the bead created by Studio St James  matched with the labradorite, pink glass and white shell pearls from Gloria. I've added sterling silver silver from stash.









and a pair of sweet earrings.











Please check back to see what I've created with the rest of the goodies.




***~*****~*****~*****~*****~*****~*****~*****~*****~*****~***

Thanks to everyone for your patience ~ especially my partner, Gloria Allen.  Please check Gloria's blog to see what she did with soup I sent her!

Gloria didn't realize she had sent artisan beads, so she sent a second package. I certainly had a lot to work with!





Here's the finished necklace with the heart pendant from Studio St. James. I also added some smaller shell pearls from my stash to complete the length.

























These yummy lampwork caramels by Two Sisters Designs were in my first package.















Mystery gemstones (appear to be some kind of quartz) from Gloria mix beautifully with my freshwater pearls, cherry quartz and sterling silver. 








Another pearl necklace with the blush shell pearls and crystal.

The bracelet was inspired by all the other pieces I created.



I had a lot of fun creating this cluster of mother of pearl beads with the glass spectra beads.    


Some more earrings to coordinate with the necklaces!

polymer clay by Sue St. James
with cherry quartz

glass spectra by BSue Boutique







And finally, this brass medallion definitely created a challenge.
I decide to punch holes, add chain and turn it into a bracelet.


Thanks again to Gloria for all the amazing goodies!
And to Linda Anderson for her hard work organizing the swap.

Now for the hop...
Do take time to check out the other fabulous artists who participated!

Partner List  

 Our Hostess: Linda Anderson from http//:fromTheBeadBoard.blogspot.com

LindaAndersonhttp://fromTheBeadBoard.blogspot.com
MaricaZammithttp://www.beadlovelies.com
LindaAndersonhttp://fromTheBeadBoard.blogspot.com
JessicaHocutthttps://faithfamilyandadventure.wordpress.com
KristinaHahn Eleniakhttp://www.peacockandlime.wordpress.com
DebbieJeffrieshttp://debrasdivinedesigns.com/blog/
RosantiaPetkovahttp://bairozan.blogspot.com/
ShaliniAustinhttp://jewellerybyshalini.co.uk/my-blog/
CatherineLa Vitehttp://drygulchbeadsandjewelry.blogspot.com
AnnicaLarssonhttp://zestyfrog.wordpress.com/
LoriSchneiderhttp://beadaddicted.blogspot.com/
DivyaNhttp://www.jewelsofsayuri.com
MowseDoylehttp://mowsemadethis.blogspot.com
FayWolfendenhttp://torchfairy.blogspot.com
KathyLindemerhttp://bay-moon-design.blogspot.com/
ClaireFabianhttp://saraccino.blogspot.de/
JaniceWarden Bergeronhttp://thejewelryroom.blogspot.ca
NatalieDavidsonhttp://www.northshoredays.com
DebFortinhttp://www.studiok24.blogspot.ca
Ingevon Rooshttp://ingetraud.wordpress.com
KarenMitchellhttp://overthemoon-design.com
RobinReedhttp://willowdragon.blogspot.com
MarieCoverthttp://thistledown-and-swaddlings.blogspot.com/
AliciaMarinachehttp://www.allprettythings.ca
NanSmithhttp://www.wirednan.blogspot.ca
JohanaNunezhttp://artincendi.com
KellyHosford Pattersonhttp://travelingsideshow.blogspot.com/
LoriBlanchardhttp://alainnjewelry.WordPress.com
Sue Kennedyhttp://suebeads.blogspot.com
ShaiWilliamshttp://www.shaihasramblings.com
NikySayershttp://silverniknats.blogspot.co.uk
MelissaTrudingerhttp://beadrecipes.wordpress.com
CandidaCastleberryhttp://www.spunsugarbeadworks.blogspot.com
ErinGuesthttp://www.renlish.com
NicoleRennellhttp://nicolerennell.com/blog
IenTemaluruhttp://ienmaginationsjewelry.wordpress.com
RobinShowstackhttp://heartsdesiresjewelryforyou.blogspot.com/
SamWaghornhttp://palemooncreation.blogspot.co.uk
MarianneBaxterhttp://www.simplyseablimejewelry.blogspot.com
ElsieDeliz-Fonsecahttp://ladelizchica.blogspot.com
ShaiWilliamshttp://shaihasramblings.com
LeeKoopmanhttp://stregajewellry.wordpress.com
JayneCappshttp://mamasgottodoodle.blogspot.com
MartiConradhttp://artisancomponentmarketplace.com/martisbuttonsandbeads/2015/03/20/bead-peeps-blog-hop/
TinaBoshhttp://bookbug-somanybookssolittletime.blogspot.com/
EleanorThomashttp://woolywireetc.blogspot.com
JeanneSteckhttp://www.gemsbyjeannemarie.blogspot.com
GloriaAllenhttp://www.wingsandbeads.blogspot.com
RachelMallishttp://www.mintmonarch.com/#!blog/c1jlz
AndreaGlickhttp://zenithjade.blogspot.com/
StephanieStamperhttp://skwds.blogspot.com
ChrisHausslerhttp://pixybugdesigns.blogspot.com
BetonyMaidenhttp://www.beadwenches.blogspot.com/
KariAsburyhttp://hippiechickjewelrydesign.com/blog/
JennyKyrlachhttp://anafiassa.blogspot.com/
ColleenFoleyhttp://colleenfoleycreations.blogspot.com
MarybethRichhttp://forestofjewels.blogspot.com/
MarcyLambersonhttp://www.StudioMarcy.blogspot.com
DyanneEverett-Cantrellhttp://www.deelitefuljewelrycreations.blogspot.com
GinnyLoneshttp://www.Skippingintotheunknown.blogspot.com
Maria RosaSharrowhttp://willowstreetshops.blogspot.com
LorettaCarstensenhttp://designsbyloretta.blogspot.com
DoloresRamlhttp://craftydscreations.wordpress.com
MichelleMcCarthyhttp://www.fireflydesignstudio.blogspot.com
LouiseMcCormick-Glazierhttp://jewelrytreasuresbylouise.blogspot.com/
HeatherRichterhttp://desertjewelrydesigns.blogspot.com
TammyAdamshttp://www.paisleylizard.com/blog/
ShirleyMoorehttp://beadsandbread.blogspot.com
Seed Beaders
SusanneStelljeshttp://pearlify.blogspot.de
SheilaProstermanhttp://catswithbeads.blogspot.com
PallaviAsherhttp://kalaabhushan.blogspot.in/
JamiShipphttp://celebratinglifewithdamamashipp.blogspot.com
PeggyKosierhttp://www.kosydesigns.blogspot.ca/
AndraWeberhttp://andrasjoyfuljourney.blogspot.com
CatherineKinghttp://catherines-musings.blogspot.com
KraftyMaxhttp://kraftymax.com
SierraBarretthttp://giraffecanhas.wordpress.com
LoisSherwoodhttp://thiznthat5454blog.wordpress.com
KatyHeiderhttp://onthepondcreations.blogspot.com
RebeccaRobertson   (White)http://morganafeycreations.121hub.com/
HeatherRichterhttp://desertjewelrydesigns.blogspot.com
BrandyCollierhttp://bhjewelry.wordpress.com
StephanieHausslerhttp://www.pixybugdesigns.blogspot.com
LoriBlanchardhttp://alainnjewelry.WordPress.com
KathleenBreedinghttp://99bobotw.blogspot.com
BeckyPancakehttp://beckypancakebeaddesigns.blogspot.com
RenethaStanzianohttp://lamplightcrafts.blogspot.com/
TamiNorrishttps://jewelrybytami.wordpress.com/
GingerBishophttp://lilmummylikes.blogspot.com/
PeggyJohnsonhttp://charmbarn.blogspot.com