Wonder and Whimsy Monthly Challenge - July Reveal

It's the last day in July, and here I am for one final reveal this month! Woo-hoo!

It's been quite some time since I did a Wonder and Whimsy challenge--a personal challenge, just to get my creative juice flowing--and I really wanted to get back into the swing of things. 

So! To get back into the habit of doing these challenges, this month I decided to make jewelry based on summer thunderstorms. (Technically, it's was my best friend's idea... credit where credit is due.)

Photo by Jonas Kaiser on Unsplash

Now, I had four necklaces in the works for this challenge, and only finished one of them. Ah well! That's what happens when I have more inspiration than time, I suppose. 

Still! I really really like the necklace that I was able to finish. I was inspired by raindrops and the grey skies that accompany those summer thunderstorms.

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

It was made with pyrite, labradorite, moonstone, silvertone metal, and a lampwork focal by GlassyFields.

I chose the beadcaps for the focal because they made me think of swirling clouds.

Oh, and the chain is mildly asymmetrical; the sides are inverses of each other.

To be honest, I'm in love with this necklace. The combination of stone and lampworkglass makes it downright luxurious--and a fitting tribute to the many many thunderstorms that we've had this month. Grey skies can be lovely, too!

Thanks so much for stopping by today and joining me for this reveal... I truly appreciate you. I hope everyone has a wonderful day!

Pretty Palettes - July 2020 Reveal

It's time for another reveal! Hurray!

This time, I'm showing off what I made for this month's Pretty Palette challenge, put forth by the talented Molly Schaller and the team at Halcraft Collection. 

Inspired by the Daylilies in Molly's garden, here is the palette in question:

I decided to use the daylily as the main inspiration for my necklace, too. In fact, I knew exactly what I wanted to make as soon as I saw the palette--and I was delighted that, with a little bit of work, I was able to make my idea a reality!

So, without further ado, here is what I made:

...complete with a lily pendant, made using seed beads and the French beaded flower technique.

I made each petal individually, using 24 gauge copper wire and seed beads. I then made the stamen, which I have popping out of a beadcap. I then wrapped all of the stems together using more wire, which created the final flower. 

And, from there, I added beads to make a lovely tassel to fit the theme!

Oh, and I added a cute little bee toggle to complete the look:

Overall, I am incredibly pleased with this necklace--especially since I have never tried making French beaded flowers before. It's definitely something I will be trying more! 

Oh, and for fun, I made a mask that matches, too:

Coordinating pandemic fashion! ...or something. But, hey, it's cute and also has lilies on it. If I have to wear masks to go into stores, at least I'll be fashionable. :)

So, there you go! That's what I made for this challenge. I actually have two other tassels (and matching masks!) in the making, but I haven't gotten a chance to finish them yet. Which is okay... I'm really happy with what I was able to accomplish!

Thank you so, so much for stopping by today to see what I've been up to! I hope you all have wonderful days! 

July Reveal - SJ Designs Jewelry Honey Do List Design Challenge

It's been awhile since I've been able to do an honest-to-goodness challenge reveal. Today, I'm glad that I get to change that! Sarajo Wentling has been continuing her Honey Do List challenge... and this month, I've been able to play along. Hurray! 

Here is the picture that served as the inspiration for this month:

And here is what Eric had to say about it:

Since I've been going more monochrome recently, I decided to pop some flowers and color into the mix this month. This is a flower I took a shot of along Hadrian's Wall in England last summer.  Back when we could go out and travel.  I figure folks can find inspiration in flowers, lichen, colors, etc this month!

Pretty flowers! 

I didn't have a lot of time, but I did manage to make two pairs of earrings to go with this picture. The first was made with Czech glass, and was inspired by the lovely clustered appearance of the inspiration flowers:

The second pair of earrings were inspired by the trumpet shape of the flowers. Oh, and the color! They were made using goldtone metal, glass, and handmade lampwork flowers by Serena Smith Lampwork:

So, ta-da! There you go! That's what I was able to make for this lovely challenge. I also had a necklace that I wanted to make, but ran out of time. If I end up making it, I'll be sure to post it, too!

Thank you to Sarajo and Eric for continuing this fun challenge, and letting me play along. And thank you, readers, so much for stopping by today to see what I've been up to! 

Have a wonderful day, everyone!

July's Worktable... so far...

Two posts in one month! Woo-hoo! 

...I'm taking small steps getting back into the swing of posting here, apparently.

However, while preparing for this post, I realized that I don't really have a lot to show for this month so far. Well, correction: I don't have a lot to show, that isn't for a challenge with a reveal later this month.

So! Let me show you what else I've been working on: masks!

Specifically, cute masks. Partially because they are required now in my part of Ohio, partially because I like accessorizing and it's a new creative outlet, and partially because I really really like blessing people by making things for them.

...And partially because it's really fun finding cute fabric and making things with it. Like these llama masks:

...So many llama masks...

I also have an entire stack of new fabric to play with... including, but not limited to, this lovely Egyptian themed fabric:

...because, like I said: I really like accessorizing. Hah!

So, there you go: a glimpse into what I've been working on so far this month. I hope to have actually jewelry things to show at some point soon--but, in the meantime, I hope you enjoyed my foray into sewing. 

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

I'm Back... with Another Monthly Challenge!

I'm back!

...I am going to try my very darnedest to get back into the swing of posting over here. I have really been missing it. Everything has been so different these last few months--from adjusting to quarantine and then to new routines, and switching my creativity to making everyone masks... it's certainly not what I had in mind when this year started.

But! I am doing really well, all things considered. And I'm excited to get back to making more jewelry... including once more stretching my creative muscles and doing my monthly challenges. Hurray!

For this month's challenge, my best friend challenged me to make jewelry based on summer thunderstorms.

Photo by Jonas Kaiser on Unsplash

And considering the huge storm that we had last night, this seems quite appropriate! :)

Photo by Michelle McEwen on Unsplash

I already have a lot of ideas swimming around in my head, so we'll see what I settle on. Be sure to come back on Friday, July 31st to see what I end up making! 

Thanks so much for stopping by today... and thanks for hanging in there with me during my hiatus. I know that these are uncertain, strange times... I hope that my happy little shiny things are able to bring you some joy as we all keep going forward, one step at a time.

Happy July, everyone!

March Reveal - SJ Designs Jewelry Honey Do List Design Challenge

...I really haven't been the best about posting recently, have I? Oops. Still doing okay here in Cincinnati, still making jewelry, still trying to find joy in little things.

For today's entry, I have another reveal! Sarajo Wentling has been continuing her Honey Do List challenge... and for the second month in a row, I've been able to play along. Hurray! 

Here is the picture that served as the inspiration for this month:

Here is what Eric, Sarajo's husband, has to say about it:
This is an oldie, from our trip to Prague summers years ago.  This is the huge ornate door to the German Consulate and I really loved the metal work and colors in it.  Not pictured are the many cameras around the door, and I had some reservations about getting close and taking this shot...luckily no German guards bearing submachine guns came storming out of the gates after me!  

At first, I wasn't sure what to make for this challenge. While I was cleaning off my craft table, however, I found a beadwoven flower that I made as an earring prototype last November. (Heh, yes, it's been awhile since I've cleaned off my craft table!) It matched the colors perfectly. The only problem was that, while large enough to be a pendant, it was not entirely stable enough on its own.

A little more rummaging led me to find some flower filigree. So! One thing led to another, and here is the final product:

The chain is made with pearls and glass. The pendant is made with Czech petal beads, seed beads, metal corrugated rounds, and filigree.

Thank you so much for stopping by today to see what I made! And thank you, Sarajo and Eric, for continuing this challenge! It's been a nice thing to focus on, while everything else seems so uncertain and up in the air.

Stay safe, everyone. Wishing you all lovely days--whether you get to spend it outside, or if (like me) you're sheltering-in-place! May there be shiny things that make you smile!

February Reveal - SJ Designs Jewelry Honey Do List Design Challenge

It feels like it's been forever since I posted. Hello, everyone! I'm still around, still making jewelry. If you follow me on Instagram, you'll know some of what I've been up to--namely, taking a trip to Niagara Falls and learning how to make lampwork beads.

For this entry, though, I thought it would be fun to participate in a blog challenge. Sarajo Wentling is still going strong with her Honey Do List Challenge, and I thought I'd join in! Here is the picture that her husband, Eric, picked for this month's challenge:

This is what Eric had to say about it:
This month I had a hard time coming up with a good challenge. I have plenty of bird and flower pictures but still within the icy grips of Minnesota winter these just didn't seem right for February. I ended up going monochrome with this cool railing and shadow from atop Herman the German in New Ulm. Hopefully the design will supply some inspiration!

I love a good black-and-white challenge. My original plan didn't quite work out, but that's all right. (I was going to attempt to make some lampwork beads to go with the theme, but I wasn't able to get to the studio to play with the torch.) Instead, I was able to use some beads I already had in my stash--some carved dolomite and some howlite. 

Without further ado, here is what I made!

...I realize that you really can't see the swirls on the black dolomite, but trust me--they're there! :)

Now I know that this the most complicated of sets, but I still really enjoyed making these pieces. As much as I like using color, it's always fun to use a limited palette with such stark contrast. :)

Thank you, Sarajo and Eric for letting me play along! And thank you, readers, for stopping by today! I hope to get back into the swing of posting here... I've missed it. 

Have a wonderful day, everyone! 

Brief Hiatus

Hello, everyone!

These last few months have been ridiculously busy. Good, but busy. So, I'm going to be taking a week or two off. I look forward to coming back in full swing (I have something exciting that I'm trying next month!), but for now... it's time to relax and re-center, and plan just what I want to accomplish in this wonderful year ahead.

See you soon, everyone... and, until then, have a wonderful day! :)