Lapis, Coral and Mother of Pearls

I love to challenge myself. So, I go on these bead hauls and tend to go crazy, especially since I just got my tax return. When I told the clerk at the bead store what I wanted to do and showed her my colors she didn't like the color palette. But I had orange and blue in my head and when I react on thoughts without the second guess it usually turns out right. 

I didn't steer myself wrong this time either. I love the way the bracelet and earrings turned out. 

I

Candy Coated Ears ~ Earring Challenge



Fantasy Art Print - Love Letter 2 by Jamie Best

I sooo love this print. I created beads and charms of this color palette. I've made a large array of things that I decide to host an earring challenge.

The challenge rules and timeline go like this.

1) You must make a pair of earrings using this color palette
2) You have to include wire and/ or chain in your earring design
3) You must have a blog as well

You can of course make as many pair of earrings as you like.  Please sign-up by leaving a comment; list your email, as well as, your blog's link.

The BIG Reveal day will be March 25th.

Any questions please email me, pinkicejewels@gmail.com

Jade Scott Enameled Flower Challenge

It involves these beautiful colorful enameled flower headpins by Jade Scott. Seven of us was chosen by Lorelei (whom makes eight). We are to use the whole flower including the bezel.

Well, I was so excited to have my flower chose me! I loved the colors of these wonderful blooms and if anyone knows I LOVE flowers and color. So this challenge was right up my alley. My flower was of purple, green with hints of yellow and pink. I tried my bless to incorporate all the colors in this piece. 

I could not make up my mind what I wanted to make and earring was out of the question. I only had one, though that isn't a reason to not make earrings, I wasn't feelin' it. Bracelet and a ring crossed my mind but Lorelei did a ring so no. But now that I think about it a bracelet would have been different but maybe I'll buy a couple of flowers and see what I an do.

But all that to display what I did come up with...a choker and a pair of my Blossom Fairies earrings to match.

This is also day #43 of my 90 days of earrings

Please visit the other blogs to see what the others came up with for these lovely flowers. I was unable to get links for two of the participants so please visit Lorelei's blog to see the complete list.

1. Lorelei Eurto

1. Serena Trent (U R Here)

2. Susan Raber

3. Shawna Tobias

4. Lucid Moon Studio

5. K Hutchinson

6. Gigi (pictures posted on Lorelei's blog)

 7. Lois Moon

other participants:

http://mariagrimes.blogspot.com

http://cherishdesigns.wordpress.com

http://peacockfairy.blogspot.com/

Joann's Demo Challenge

Jesse James bead sets (left), finished stretch bracelets

Throughout my three years working at Joann Etc., I elect to do the jewelry demos every so often. In the pass I usually post (months later) when I complete one. I want to get better at posting these sort of things but I get so bumped about the demo that I don’t get excited about doing them. Reason being because the demos are usually very easy skills that I acquired some time ago. I’m a person who needs to be challenged (there goes that word again) but anyway…I need to be provoked! So today I provoked myself into doing something different.

the finished bracelet with a charm dangle from the toggle

I got so excited about the challenge and revealing yesterday that I’m still in that mode, looking for another avenue pump up the creative juices and come up with something good. I went in earlier in the week to make a couple of the samples for the demo and realized that it really would only take me 15 minutes to complete the entire thing (I get two hours for each demo). So I challenged myself to come with a new design, using different techniques and skill sets but using some of the beads from the demo. The beads are titled "Designer Mixes, Trendy, Hot, Current Colors". I think it looks like a blue jean mix. I also added beads from the Michaels Challenge and some of the rock crystal. I have three different metals; brass, silver and gunmetal in this design. It’s funny because the managers and guests liked my bracelet over the stretch ones. I felt good about it too!

I just wanted to share my self created challenge. I want to host a challenge, titled “Treasure Hunt”. I haven’t worked out the details yet but as soon as I do I’ll let everyone in on it. I thought blog hopping and viewing each other’s designs was fun. And I can’t wait to get started on the next one.

Below is the Jesse James display at the store.

You can also visit http://www.jessejamesbeads.com/

Work n Progress...

Ha ha! I said I was getting ready for my party on the 16th and I'm not playing. I have bs long enough and it's time for me to ARRIVE! LOL! No, seriously here are JUST some of the things I've decided to pull out of my head and make an reality.

I really want to get back into my business of making jewelry. I have been off track for a while and having a baby did not help matters either but of course I will not place blame on him…it’s all me. I love everything about crafting and selling my designs but I’ve gotten lost along the way. So, I have endured the struggle and accept all that it brings. I have decided to stop making excuses and just find a way to do things. And I have tried and tried again to find my own design voice, let me tell you it’s a work in progress, as we all are as humans.

In trying to find my own voice I have found that it is a journey and not a trip or a vacation. It’s going to be on going and never ending and I’m going to find that some aspects of myself I don’t like, so I’ll change. Brick walls, ditches, dug holes, gutters, barrels, ish up creeks and forked roads are all really, REALLY good experiences. Of course while going through the experience is agony but it gives way to growth. I know trust me personally. You will discover so much about yourself by going through…literally!

I have come to really like…no LOVE my mad ideas and I have learned to love those ideas whether others do or don’t because they are all of me, from me, so who else but me should love them. My designs are my babies, my children. We all love children whether their good or bad especially those of your own.

I did not expect this post to be so long but I guess I just felt like sharing. Anyway, if you made it this far you've seen some pics of the things I’ve been working on…Have a good one, People!

An Eventful Jewelry Day

I had the most eventful day today and it all centered around...you guess it JEWELRY! I have went through all my old stuff and arranged a spreadsheet to figure out what I'm keeping for the re-scheduled Holiday Party on December 16th. There are somethings I'm going to take apart and redo, others that will simply be giveaways. Everything is going to be on sale 30% and up on the 16th.

The other half of the day consist of shopping for the next Michael's Challenge which will be revealed on December 17th. I got all but one of the five items and that's because I forgot what they look like, I was shopping by memory. If you want more information on the challenge click here.

I have an idea about the piece I'm going to create already. I just have to sit down and let the beads talk to me and tell me what they want to do, so to speak.

Michaels Challendge

I did not participate in this challenge :( but I will next time (if you click on the title, it should take you to the list of designers so you too can blog hop). I did the hop to most on the list and saw some really cool designs. I love challenges like this. It's amazing to see what each individual sees in the beads. I encourage you to leave comments and become followers of the blogs.

Beads speak to me and tell me what to do with them and when I listen I find myself with an extraordinary piece of jewelry. I've been thinking maybe of starting my own challenge as well. It would be fun.

Start the blog hop here!

100 designs + a tutu in 14 days

I have set a goal I know so HIGH that it's going to be nearly impossible to complete but that's the beauty of a goal, especially one as challenged as this!

This is the deal I set the 100 designs for the month of October but to no avail as of today, I've only completed 1 pair of earrings and half a necklace. I'm trying to build inventory for a couple of parties coming up in November and hopefully for those to following December.

You know the worst part is (you thought I gave you the bad news already - NO) I'm having designer's block (like writer's block, I have those too!), so I in stuck mode. I'll work through it besides...The Michaels' Challenge will help me at least get a couple of necklaces actually completed...we shall see!

Butterflies n' Orchids

I designed these two pieces, necklace and earrings for the Butterflies n' Orchid design contest for Vintaj Natural Brass. Only thing is I missed the deadline by a day.

Oh well...I'll have better luck next time.