Wonder and Whimsy - June Reveal

For this month's challenge, I decided to make jewelry based on the ocean.

More specifically, the Atlantic Ocean... like I saw while vacationing with my family back in April. I realize that different oceans and different beaches do not all look the same--and that is why I decided to draw inspiration specifically from my time on the Mid-Atlantic coast.

As a reminder, these were the beads that I picked out for this project:

...And, without further ado, here is what I made!

Yep! I have finished two tassel necklaces in one month--woohoo!

For this necklace, I was really inspired by the deep, rich colors of the Atlantic Ocean... the dark dark blue of the water, the white foam of the surf, the grey where those two colors meet, and the tawny tans and browns of the sand. 

Those colors gave me my palette--and the transition between them gave me the design for the tassel itself. 

To tie it all together, I used a handmade lamp work bead that I have had in my stash for awhile. (Unfortunately, I do not know the artist who made it.) I love the way that it swirls with the same colors as the tassel--much like where the ocean meets the land.

I am exceedingly happy with how this necklace turned out. I know it is not traditionally beachy--no pastels or tropical colors--but it definitely captures what I remember seeing on my trip. It was a very special trip, and I am very pleased that this necklace does it credit.

And, although it isn't finished, here is the second project that I started, with a palette based on the glorious sunsets I saw while there...

...and that is as far as I got. As much as I really, really wanted to finish three tassel necklaces this month, it just wasn't in the cards. That's all right, though... I definitely look forward to finishing this one soon!

So, there you go! That's what I made for this month's challenge. I have been wanting to do this one since my trip, and I'm ecstatic that I finally got a chance to do it.

Thanks so much for stopping by today... Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!

Wonder and Whimsy Monthly Challenge - June Reveal(ish)

...is being postponed until later this evening, or possibly tomorrow. 

I'm currently taking/editing pictures, but there will be a delay in the actual posting. In the meantime, have a picture of something I made for this challenge but didn't end up using:

I'll be back in a bit to show you what I did actually create. 

Until then, have a happy evening, everyone! Thanks so much for understanding! :)

Pretty Palettes - June Reveal

Hello, everyone!

This is going to be a relatively quick little entry, but I'm super excited to share what I made for this month's Pretty Palette challenge. After all, my hand has healed enough that I was able to make four pieces for it. Four! 

...I'm so happy.

Before I get too ahead of myself, however, here is this month's palette:

...and here is what I made!

Yay! I got to make one of my signature tassels! As I said--I'm so excited. :)

Materials range from vintage moonglow acrylic to shell to howlite to glass, with bronze and brass highlights to represent the brown in the palette.

I was even able to make matching earrings:

But wait, there's more! 

Using many of the same materials, I went ahead and made this necklace, too. (And I just finished it today--phew! Slipped in under the wire!)

Yep! Another--but different--tassel! What can I say... I really enjoyed being back in my element this month.

I also made earrings to match this necklace--similar to the previous ones, but slightly different:

Honestly, the earrings are so similar that they can be worn with either necklace. Or mix-matched. What it really comes down to is that I couldn't decide which focal beads I liked better, so I just made both pairs. :)

So, there you go. That's what I made for this month's Pretty Palettes challenge. I'm so, so happy to be back at my beading table, making tassels and designing jewelry again. Hurray!

Thanks so much for stopping by today to see what I've been up to... Have a wonderful day, everyone!

Wednesday's Worktable

Would you look at that... a Wednesday Worktable post, actually posted on a Wednesday. Hah! 

Not only that, but I actually have some things to show off. Imagine! 

So, what am I working on this week? Well, recently, a beading friend sent me a package with these in it:

Aren't they lovely? Different sizes and shapes and kinds of metal, some hammered and some smooth.

And you know what they are? Fishing lures! I wouldn't have guessed that in a million years. They really do look and feel like things you'd buy at a high end bead store.

So, I've been having a lot of fun playing around with a few different ideas for them. Some of the perfect size for earrings, while others lend themselves to being bold pendants. So many possibilities!

I greatly enjoy using unique components in my jewelry, and these are no exception. We'll see what all I come up with! (I've actually already made a pair of earrings, which I hope to photograph once it stops raining.)

Thanks for stopping by today... Have a wonderful week, everyone!

Wonder and Whimsy Monthly Challenge - June Edition

Sheesh, I'm really having a hard time posting on this time month. Oi. Sorry, everyone!

Still, I am extremely excited to announce the theme for this month's Wonder and Whimsy Challenge. It's actually been awhile in the making--since April, in fact. I'm pretty happy that my thumb/wrist is finally feeling good enough to tackle it!

So, just what is this challenge? Well, I'm going to be making jewelry based on this:

Yep: I'm making jewelry based on the ocean. 

...Specifically, the North Atlantic Ocean--since that's the only one I've had much experience with. And, as an added bonus to this challenge, I'm going to be using some of the beads that I bought while I was there in April:

...I had so much fun with that photoshoot. :)

I also bought these beads, because they reminded me of one of the glorious ocean sunsets I saw:

So, there you go! That is my challenge for this month. Come back on Friday, June 28th to see what I end up making! :)

Until then, have a lovely day, everyone!

Hello, June!

I honestly can't believe that it's already June. This year certainly is flying by!

I don't have much to show in the way of current projects today, but I am happy to report that I've been making some headway on adding new listings to my store the past few weeks. I definitely hope to be adding more as time goes on!

Pretty as a Button
...recent listing on my store, found here.

I'm also planning out my June Monthly Challenge, and I'm pretty excited. Come by at the beginning of next week to find out what I'm going to do!

Thanks so much for stopping by today and checking up on me... I really appreciate you. Have a lovely June, everyone!