Moobie Grace Designs: artisan beads

Showing posts with label artisan beads. Show all posts

Saturday, July 14, 2012

Who Will Be The Next Stop On The Art Bead Love Tour??

The chain is making a pit stop at Lori Anderson's home at the moment but run over to her blog to sign up to be the next stop on the Art Bead Love Tour!!

Just take a look at the gorgeous beads/charms!!!

Photo Credit: Lori Anderson

And what Lori has added to the chain (after making her selections):

Photo Credit: Lori Anderson

Please make sure you read the "rules" before you enter!!!

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Super Secret Bead Soup Swap

...Okay, not so super secret, but still as awesome as the "original" Bead Soup Blog Party hosted by Lori Anderson!!

My partner is Patti Vanderbloemen. Patti is also a fellow Virginian and not only has fantastic taste in artisan beads, but has some utterly gorgeous jewelry on her Etsy site!

For example...

Starfish & Sea Foam Green Necklace

Blue Jeans Porcelain Bracelet

And the gorgeous goodies Patti was so kind enough to send me...

I know my pictures absolutely stink, but you have no idea how much self control it took to snap these two shots before I dug right in! Patti sent an awesome detailed list of each bead and where/from whom it was purchased...and I "put it in a spot that I would remember", and yep...I can't remember where I put it! I'll come back and give every bead it's credit (I do remember Summer's Studio & Humblebeads)...as soon as I find that sheet!

I'm still in awe how generous Patti was...I'm not sure I could have parted with some of the pretties she gifted, as I tend to hoard those extra special beads! I mean A WHOLE SET of fabulous lampwork beads?? Patti's a keeper! ;)

As soon as I come up with a few designs worthy of these I'll be sure to post an update!

Sunday, March 18, 2012

Tree Wings Studio - Giveaway!!!

Rebecka Payne of Tree Wings Studio is hosting a gracious giveaway. Rebekah is a polymer clay artisan and creates the most adorable clay beads...just take a look:

The THREE assortments of beads that Rebecka is giving away...I believe the woodland critters is my favorite set! Who wouldn't want in on this give away? So, head on over to Tree Wings Studio blog and enter for yourself! Or if you're Jonesing for them, you can pick a few up at her Etsy shop!

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

I Need Opinions...Please?

As a few are anticipating embroidery framed beads...I had to take a small break from them today. My oldest pulled a 17 hour shift yesterday afternoon/evening/night/this morning, so I had to tiptoe around the house today while she slept...which meant not being able to drill (where I am in the process), as the studio space shares a wall with her room, so I worked on another design.

I've been toying with this "watercolor" idea for a while now. There are many similar beads out there (which are freaking amazing)...so I need opinions.

I started with a lentil bead that I made some time ago...which ended up as this necklace:

Made a haphazard mold:

Don't mind the cornstarch "mold release"

And ended with these:

Didn't even brush the drill shavings off before I snapped a picture!

Just a different color combination.

These are still in the prototype phase. Maybe some in a more neutral color palette (I just used the colors that were on my work space today), making different flowers/vines, bigger and on a flat plate (not molding from a bead), bigger bracelet connectors, different shapes, etc. Should I antique them, or leave them be?

I'm pretty thick skinned, so critical comments and suggestions are welcome. If the majority think they are "copy cats" that's ok too...they'll find homes as presents for family, etc.

Saturday, March 3, 2012

Lori Anderson's 5th Bead Soup Blog Party - REVEAL!!!!

YAY!!! It's Lori Anderson's bead soup reveal day! Honestly, I know I won't accomplish anything else but blog hopping today! There will be no doing laundry, dusting (ok...I don't do that anyway), and the family is definitely going to have to fend for themselves today...It's ok...I stocked up on ready to eat snacks, and dinner is in the crock pot!

First, and foremost a HUGE thank you to Lori!! I can't imagine after organizing a massive blog hop that she has a single nerve or a nary pink hair left on her pretty little head!! So for you Lori:

My BSBP partner is Jennifer Cameron of Glass Addictions. Awesome partner, who creates stunning lampwork beads and jewelry designs! After exchanging a few emails with Jen, I set of in search off the perfect soup mix for her. Here's what I came up with:

And the unbelievable soup beads I received from Jen:

When I received the coveted package, I held my breath as I lifted the lid! As soon as I picked my jaw up off of the ground, it hit (as it usually does)...this isn't what I had expected? In my own mind I had somehow picked out what Jennifer would send...am I the only one who does this? Even though I have no control over the selection my partner puts together, I still somehow think I'm in control of the situation! Yet more proof that this life is so unpredictable! This is when the reality of Bead Soup Blog Party quandary descends...and for me, it's the best part of the hop!! Reds, aquas, purples...oh my...now what?

Helping #1: As bad as this sounds...I don't wear earrings often. Stop "tsk-tsking" me! I think it comes from years of office work, and always having a phone glued to my ear. Many earring impressions later I just gave them up. Sure, I wear them when we're out on the town, but unfortunately we don't paint the town very often!

I like whimsical, not only in jewelry, but in every aspect of life, and these fit the bill perfectly! I had a couple of these brass starfish connectors laying around, and decided to use waxed cotton instead of head pins for more of a casual look and a lot more movement. Jen sent me the amethyst nuggets, Czech glass, labradorite, and pearls and I added pressed glass, candy jade, magnesite, impression jasper, Swarovski, and lavender Czech glass shells. Of course I had to add a little sari silk...it seems to creep into everything I create lately!

Helping #2:

I love bracelets!! I don't tend to make them often, as that's my husband's department, but since I keep my Bead Soup creations for myself, I went at it!

I adore these lampwork beads that Jen made and included in my soup! I'm not usually a red wearing girl, but I'll make an exception for these...maybe with the cute grey dress I have, yet never wear? Jen also sent the "dangles" of tiny dusty purple pearls and AB lavender Czech rounds. Also included in my soup mix, was a gorgeous pewter starfish clasp from Green Girl Studios. I love "sea side" inspired components, but I couldn't for the life in me create a piece using it as the toggle. Nothing seemed to "fit"...and after 3 failed attempts, I decided it would work best as a charm. Being pewter, it stands out among the copper, almost making it as much of a focal as the lampwork...PERFECT!! My all time favorite is coral. Seriously, I hoard it...have bins of it...every shape, color, and size, so I accented all the loveliness of the lampwork with a single organic coral bead! I recently tried my hand with Copprclay and using the bumps of Jen's beads as inspiration, made a sea urchin toggle clasp and a tiny little charm to complete the look (I know they're not the best, but I'm such a novice that it's not even comical). The toggle and clasp haven't been tumbled yet, hence the dull sheen....but I was impatient and wanted to get photos ASAP!

Helping #3: Quite possibly my favorite piece I've ever made for myself...which doesn't happen often! But when I signed up for my first BSBP, I promised myself that the beads I received, and the pieces I designed would be just for me!!

The lampwork focal that Jen sent is absolutely amazing, yet it intimidated the hell out of me! It sat on my bead table front and center for a few weeks...just taunting me! I didn't want to just put it on a chain and call it a day, because I knew it deserved more! It was destined to be a necklace, and I wanted it to be a signature, bold and artsy piece, 3 pounds of wasted copper wire later I came up with this! Again it sat on my work table...I had the focal wrapped, but now what? A few days later I was digging around in my mold container and spied tiny little resin frames that I had purchased (but forgotten about) to use for making molds, and the proverbial light bulb went off!

Just days ago, I blogged that I very rarely wear any of the typical dainty beads that I create...which seems insane to me. But, I'm a funky/bohemian type, and delicate just doesn't fit my personality, but I had an idea to make it work! I made tiny picture frames from polymer clay, grunged them up, drilled them, and inset little polymer clay embroidered flowers/vines into each frame. Dainty, yet more me! The dangles are a mix of all the soup Jen sent me (including a single blue kyanite...I'm hoarding the remaining four) and a few from my own stash. I've since relocated the teal shell spike to the other side as it distracted from the "crystal ball" lampwork, and we couldn't have that, now could we?

Group shot:

I never wear matching pieces...nor do I make them...it's against my religion! :) So, while I wouldn't wear all of these pieces at the same time, (wouldn't I look like the circus coming to town?) I love that I can switch them up, yet they all coordinate. Not to mention I think I found a favorite color palette of aqua and tomato red!

Last minute creation...Helping #4:

I finally decided what to do with the amazing blue kyanite that was included in my soup! I love these lampwork beads from my own stash, and Coppr Clay seashells that I made for these earrings. Everything will take a dip in liver of sulfur, but as usual I waited until I was completely out to order more!

Now, for a little sneak peak of a give away!

I decided to share the "leftovers" from my soup (labradorite, pearls, amethyst and Czech glass), and created a bracelet with one of my new framed embroidery beads to hang front and center. I'll give everyone a few days to blog hop before I post the actual give away. Stay tuned!

I apologize for the shoddy photography of the last two pictures...I really was in a hurry! I will retake pictures of the give away bracelet before I post the actual give away next week!

So, there you have it! I apologize for being long winded, especially since you have 200 other blogs to visit...but as usual, I'm usually the talker of the bunch!

Now, run along and check out all the other participants' creations!

Click on the pic for the participants!!

Thursday, February 23, 2012

Everything But The Kitchen Sink

I'm feeling a little scatterbrained this evening...so you get a little bit of everything!

First, it's been a while since I shared what's been coming off of the bead table...so here ya go!

A little kooky...but I love little antique what-nots, so I had to have these vintage medicine bottle cut outs! Finished with brass, gold coral, yellow agate...and a cute little pill shaped wood bead...on sari silk. I love "odd" jewelry!

I see house shaped beads everywhere these days...so I decided to give it a go...Moobie style. Added orange glass faceted rounds, some Czech flowers, and lots of copper.

I can't wait for summer! Sea glass ladder necklace with brass/copper chain/chain and 2 little Czech glass flowers...hurry up summer!

My sweet children brought a bunch of shells back when they went to the beach last summer. They've been sitting around waiting for "their day" Shells, yellow agate, pearl, Czech oval, new jade and a sea urchin spine...I can already smell the salt of the ocean! All on brass and embellished with kelp-like sari silk.

Decided to go with a tribal flair. I found the naked lady (can you see the difference between her front & and her back?) Czech beads at the closest decent bead shop...wish I would have purchased more than one strand! Lots of copper, large orange swirled polymer bead, coin, mother of pearl spike and a touch of sari silk.

My only New Year's resolution was to branch out and buy more artisan beads...instead of ordering in bulk run of the mill type beads...boy is this a dangerous resolution! Here's what I received in the mail today:

Awesome lampwork from Pomegranate Glass

And these beauties from Golem Studio I was sad that another set I ordered sold out before my order was shipped...guess I have to be a little quicker on the draw!

And these are in route...

Also from Pomegranate Glass

Both from fellow Virginian Silverfish Designs

Now, I know I'm not suppose to show you my Bead Soup creations yet...but I'll give you just a little teaser...'cause I like you...

This one reminds me so much of my mom! She ALWAYS had a horseshoe hung above the most used door to bring good luck to all who entered...hence the horseshoe shapes. Her lucky number was 7...so seven horseshoes, of course! Oh, and the cute faceted labradorite rondelle? That's the teaser...my bead soup partner Jennifer Cameron sent that as part of my soup...ok...so not much of a teaser (but I promise my finished soup looks NOTHING like the above), I know! You'll have to come back March 3rd to see all THREE of my creations!!

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Tick Tock

Patience definitely isn't one of my virtues...

Finally, the countdown to Lori Anderson's 5th Bead Soup Blog Party reveal is only 11 days away!! Errr...I better get busy and finish up!

Although I can't quite show you what I've cranked out in the past few weeks...I'll give you a little teaser

Gorgeous lampwork beads from Glass Addictions & my color palette I selected

Jen of Glass Addictions is my bead partner this go-round, and she sent some awesome soup to work with! I've racked my brain trying to come up with unique designs. I'm not in to delicate/demur jewelry (which is pretty hilarious considering that most of the beads I create are on the dainty side), I prefer wearing a single bold piece of jewelry, so Jen's lampwork beads are right up my alley! Now, if I can just bring them justice!

So, slide back this way on March 3rd to see what my obscure little brain came up with, and who knows...I just might reconstruct a new outfit to wear with my creations!

Saturday, February 4, 2012

Happy Saturday

Anticipation!! Can't wait for all my new goodies to get here! Until then, here are just a few beads I listed on Etsy yesterday...

Faux brass/bronze hollow lentil 4 bead set - tree of life, sand dollar, flowering vine and cherry blossom

Faux ceramic rustic honey bee bead

Hope everyone has an awesome weekend! I'm going to try and re-organize the studio to make room for new supplies!

Thursday, February 2, 2012

Bead Soup Arrival

As it's well known, I'm one of the 200 participating in Lori Anderson's 5th Bead Soup Blog Hop, and my partner is Jennifer Cameron of Glass Addictions!!!!

Ok, I won't fill this post with "fluff", and I'll get down to the good stuff...the beads!!!!

Do you know how hard it is to refrain from opening the goodies long enough to get a decent picture?? Complete torture!!

And the sweet card Jennifer enclosed...cute color combination to boot!

A Green Girl Studios pewter starfish toggle clasp... LOVE!!

The focal and accent beads...more utter and complete LOVE!!! I seriously have had to hide them from The Mr...as he's more than ready to sneak one to use on his bracelets...and believe me, that's a MAJOR compliment!!