Fun with Tools

I'll admit... I'm a bit of a tool junkie! I have recently purchased a new bead roller from CG Beads Donna makes great tools and I love my stubby bicone shaper. This denim blue color has been so popular lately, I made this set with silvered ivory and fine silver wire. I am learning the trick to these tools is not too much glass to start with. Otherwise the bead gets too wide and you end up loosing your "dimple"

Inspiration

Someone recently asked how I can put together such asymetrical sets (or maybe they were referring to jewelry!)I've always loved monochromatic color schemes. When I had my flower shop, customers would come in just for one of my bouquets made in all pinks, lavenders or peaches. So when I'm looking to create a set of not so matchy-matchy beads, I look for a color palette that will make a pleasing to the eye set of beads for jewelry making. Not all the glass is the same and sometimes even diggerent shapes go into the set. I look for color inspiration in magazines, Google images, clothing catalogues and of course...Design Seeds.

New Pinterest Board

I have created a new Pinterest board called "Jewelry Other People Have Made with My Beads" Here's a link: http://pinterest.com/stonedesigns/jewelry-people-have-made-with-my-beads/ If you have made jewelry with my lampwork beads and would like to be featured in this board, just contact me through my Etsyand I will add you! Meanwhile, here's a new beadwork necklace from me.

Cabochons

I was fooling around with some new necklace pieces on my bead table and came up with this great use for my lampwork cabochons using a filigree component from Filigree and Me Gently bending the edges of the metal around the cab, secures it in place and adds a beauitful backing to the piece. I just slipped a jump ring through the back and it's ready to use in my new necklace.

Bead Soup Blog Party

It's time for Lori Anderson's annual Bead Soup Blog Party 7! I have a great and talented partner, Rain Hannah of Honey and Ollie. Here's a link to great Etsy shop. http://www.etsy.com/shop/honeyandollie?ref=search_shop_redirect I recieved my bead soup and it has so much inspiration! I'm thinking at least 2 designs from all that. Our reveal date is March 30, 2013. So with 500 participants this year, Lori divided it into 3 reveal dates. Lots of blogging going on!

New Series

My newest series of lampwork lentil focal beads is named after exotic hardwoods. While researching names for the beads I learned that American Hardwood is a sustainable and abundant resource as deemed by the U.S. congress. I love the look of hardwood floors. These beads are a loose interpretation. This is 'Cherrywood'

New Look

After reading alot of blog posts in the recent blog hop, I decided to change the look of my blog. What do you think? I still can't get the lettering on the right hand side to change color..but I guess it looks okay. I think it will make a better background for my beads and not so hard to look at as the black! I've been busy working on a trunk show for my niece and sister-in-law's bead store, but I'm done now so will be posting lots of new beads this week...especially now that the weather has warmed up a few degrees, I can work out in my studio without freezing!