Quick Note about My Upcoming Challenge Reveal...

...It is coming! 

It might not happen until tomorrow, but it is coming!

I'm currently taking pictures and posting them to Instagram (@anafiassa)... if you want a sneak peak at what I made, feel free to check there first. Otherwise, just hold tight! I'll be sure to put them here soon.

Thank you so much for stopping by, and I hope you have a great day!

Wonder and Whimsy October Challenge: Autumn Succulents

Happy October, everyone!

For this month's challenge palette, I decided to do something a little unexpected. Where I live, October means Autumn--which usually means Autumn colors.

However, I wasn't really feeling like using fall colors just yet. So! I picked a palette based on succulents instead.

I really do love this mix of colors... I'm a sucker for purples and blues, after all. They might not be your standard Autumn colors, but I think they have lots of promise just the same. Come back on Monday, October 30th, to see what I end up making. 

Until then, have a wonderful October everyone! Thanks for stopping by!

Wonder and Whimsy Challenge Reveal: Purple Mountains

Guess what time it is!

That's right... it's time for a blog reveal. The reveal for this month's Wonder and Whimsy Palette Challenge, to be precise. I've actually been able to do this for three months now, and I'm excited to be settling into more of a blogging rhythm. Hurray!

As a reminder, the palette I chose this month was a mix of warm yellows and cool purples--the perfect palette for the transition from Summer into Autumn.

I called this palette: Purple Mountains.

As shown before, here are the beads that I chose to go with this palette:

And, for fun, here is a quick sneak peak of what I made:

Oh, look... it's a bunch of beaded chain. I wonder what that could mean? (If you've been reading this blog for any amount of time, you probably know that what means.)

Which leads me to this... the final reveal!

Yep! It's one of my signature tassel necklaces! The first one I've made in quite some time. I must say, it felt good to be making a tassel again!

I also made these fun matching earrings... they're made with the same colors (and some of the same beads), but just different enough to not be entirely matchy-matchy.

And now, for more pictures--just because I can.

Thanks so much for stopping by today to see what I made for this challenge. Be sure to stop by next week to see what October's palette challenge is going to be. I'll give you a hint: it probably won't be what you expect!

Thanks again, everyone... I appreciate all of your support, and for continuing to read my blog. Here's wishing you all a wonderful weekend!

Wonder and Whimsy September Challenge: Purple Mountains

Hello, everyone!

I suppose I'm still getting into the habit of posting on my blog again... I realized this morning that I had posted my September challenge palette to Instagram, but not here. Oops!

This month's Wonder and Whimsy Challenge was actually inspired by the beginning of Autumn, and the mixing of cool and warm colors. What better way to do that than to use complementary colors--in this case, yellow and purple.

I present: Purple Mountains!

I really do like this color combination--and not just because my favorite color is purple. I just really like the way that they balance each other. I'm hoping that whatever design I choose manages to maintain that balance!

Come back on September 30th to see what I end up making for this challenge. Until then, have a lovely day, everyone!

Wonder and Whimsy Challenge Reveal: Malachite - Bonus!

Surprise!

As it turns out, I have one more set to show you for the Malachite-inspired palette challenge. 

This one was made using aventurine, green shell pearls, and goldtone metal... for when I'm not in a multi-strand mood.

I realize it doesn't quite incorporate the same amount of green shades as the necklace I posted yesterday, but that's okay. It still captures the opulent feeling I was going for with my previous set.

I honestly still have a few more pieces in the works, but I'm not sure when I'll get to them... especially since I've already started scheming about my next palette! Woohoo! I hope to post it here at the beginning of next week.

Thanks so much for stopping by... Have a lovely day, everyone!

Wonder and Whimsy Challenge Reveal: Malachite

This month's Wonder and Whimsy Challenge was all about green.

As a bit of background, I've recently been having a lot of fun putting together palettes from themes and ideas. This month's theme was Malachite.

From the above picture, I put together this palette:

And from that palette, I gathered together the following beads:

...You may notice that there is no actual malachite in that picture. Instead, it's a collection of Czech glass and aventurine, paired with a strand each of shell pearls and Chinese faceted glass.

I didn't actually end up using all of those beads. In fact, I have two more necklace ideas that I haven't even started. One even involves seed beads!

But! Enough about what I didn't do... Here is what I did make!

When I was designing this necklace, there are two things about malachite that I was trying to capture:

1. The way that malachite has all of those shades of green intermingled

2. The look of many bands of colors pressed up against each other

So, that was the look that I was going for: a design that had many different shades of green, banded together into a bold collection of green.

And the earrings? The earrings were just an added bonus. A necklace this luxurious calls for a complementary ear-dangle after all. 

So, there you go! That's what I made for this challenge. Thanks so much for stopping by today... Be sure to stop by in the beginning of September, to see what my next palette will be!

July 2023 Reveal - SJ Designs Jewelry Honey Do List Design Challenge

It has been over a year since I've joined the Honey Do List Design Challenge, run by Sarajo and Eric Wentling over on SJ Designs Jewelry. I am very happy to announce that it's still going strong--and they've been doing it for eight years now!

For July, here is the picture that Eric picked for the challenge:

Here is what he had to say about it:
Here is some inspiration from our trip to Asheville, NC earlier this summer. I took this picture of pink dogwood flowers right outside an art gallery, so I feel like bringing this around full circle.  Give us some flowers, some leaves, some pink stuff, whatever!

I do love dogwoods... And I have definitely realized that I have a renewed appreciation for pink. I had a lot of fun looking through my stash to find components that would fit this challenge. I ultimately picked out some Czech glass, some peridot, and some rose quartz.

So, with that in mind, here is what I made!

The necklace can be worn with the clasp in the front or in the back. 

On a sidenote: I picked that particular clasp because it reminds me of branches. I thought that was quite fitting for dogwoods!

...I realize that I need to figure out a new way to do my photos. One of my storage drives on my computer completely died, so right now I'm using Instagram as my editor until I figure that out. Ah well. Hopefully these will do! Trust me--these pieces are really lovely in person!

Thanks for stopping by to see what I made! And thank you, Sarajo and Eric, for letting me play along. I hope to do so more in the future. :)

Have a lovely day, everyone!

Wonder and Whimsy Monthly August Challenge: Malachite

Hello, August!

It's time for a new palette!

This month's palette is inspired by the many shades of green found in malachite. 

After choosing a picture (from Unsplash, credit: Lisa Yount) and picking out a matching palette, I dug through my stash to pick out some coordinating beads. (No actual malachite, sadly—didn’t have any in my stash. My main goal with this is to use up things I already own, but I might convince myself to purchase some. Heh. We'll see.)

Like in my previous Monthly Challenges, I'm giving myself a full month to create something lovely. Stop by on August 31st to see what I made!

Until then, have a lovely day everyone!

Wonder and Whimsy Monthly Challenge Reveal: Citrus Glow

It feels so good to be writing a blog reveal again. Yay!

As a refresher, last week I posted a palette that I wanted to use for some good, old-fashioned jewelry inspiration. The theme? 

Citrus Glow

On Unsplash, I found this juicy picture:

From Unsplash, credit Bruna Branco.

Which I turned into this juicy palette:

...And based on that juicy palette, I picked out these juicy beads:

And now, for the reveal. 

Using those juicy beads, I made this:

You guessed it... a juicy necklace! 

Complete with a chandelier connector in the pendant that reminds me of a bunch of orange slices.

I also had fun making a quick and simple pair of matching earrings... they don't use all of the colors, but I think they complement the necklace quite well.

So, ta-da! Nothing too over-the-top, but a solid showing nonetheless... and a good way to start up my Monthly Challenge again. I'm thrilled that I was able to make these pieces in such a short time period, and even get them posted on time. :)

(I did have another necklace that I was working on... it's not quite finished, but I'll be sure to post it when it is.)

Thank you so much for stopping by to see what I made for this challenge. I truly appreciate you. Be sure to stop by tomorrow, to see what my challenge is going to be for next month! (I can't believe it will be August already!)

Until then, have a wonderful day, everyone!

Palette Time!

*dusts off blog*

Hi, there. It has been so long since I've written here--and longer still since I've actually done any sort of jewelry challenge or reveal. Life has been throwing me so many curve balls, and it's been a bit hard to keep up.

But! I am happy to report that things seem to be stabilizing. Still rather crazy (example: I dropped something heavy on my foot and am about to head to the doctor to see if I've broken it), but it's stabilizing. 

And, excitingly, I'm getting back some of my jewelry-making inspiration. 

To that end... I think I'm going to restart my Wonder and Whimsy Monthly Challenge. And for right now, that's going to take the shape of palettes.

I know July is almost over, but I found this fun citrusy picture on Unsplash (credit: Bruna Branco), and thought it would be a perfect way to kick things off.

I introduce: Citrus Glow!

I found the picture, picked out the palette colors, and then when digging through my stash to find beads to match.

My goal? Make something pretty! And then post pictures of it here on July 31st. Come by then to see what I make!

Thanks for stopping by today to see what I've been up to. I truly, truly appreciate you. Thanks for your patience with me as I've been stitching my life back together, and for being there when things got crazy. Wishing you all the best, with many things that make you smile!

Have a lovely day, everyone!