AJE Earring Challenge #22 & #23

These playful lampwork beads above made by Jennifer, are lavished in copper petals and finished with leafy lampwork headpins.  A little bit of lampwork and little bit of copper!

These simple little handmade rectangles have been textured and embellished with a flourish and Swarovski crystal on top.  They sparkle as they move!  Check out Artisan Whimsy to see the other entries.

AJE Earring Challenge #21

These adorable earrings above are made by Jennifer.  Torch-fired enameled filigree balls, fun fiber, and vintage findings make the perfect, but "funky" match!

 

More fun earrings from Gianna!  The peyote stitch surrounds these sparkly chatons!  Crystals form the ruffled edging.  How cute are these... and oh, so pretty in pink!



AJE Earring Challenge #20

The vintage findings on the top of these earrings above look so pretty with the lampwork beads and the torch-fired enamel leaves!  All hand-made by Jennifer,  love the look!

These woven lacey earrings are made with Swarovski crystals, glass pearls and seed beads.  Fun to make and lightweight to wear!

AJE Earring Challenge #19

These earrings above, made by Gianna, are hand-cut, hammered with texture, and gently shaped.  The lovely jade is the perfect touch of color.

 

Before adding the cat's eye cabs, the filigree in these earrings were hit with the torch to add a flame patina.  They have been finished with enameled copper disc.

 

AJE Earring Challenge #18

Cat's Halloween spirit is coming out in these gravestone earrings above.  The gravestones were cut from nickel, then textured and stamped.  They have been finished with iron "ghosties".  A proper haunt for any earlobe!

 

In keeping with the Halloween theme, I made these black and dark purple earrings.  The swirling lampwork is made by Jennifer and they have been paired with Crystal Satin drops.  They remind me of dark candelabras, fog, and brooding vampires.  (A little bit "Twilight".)

AJE Earring Challenge #17

Teaching at our store yesterday was Melanie Rees, a wire-wrapping artist from Kansas City.  It was a fun day indeed!

This first creation above was made by Jennifer.  She wire-wrapped purple AB chinese crystals on gently curved silver-plated wires.  The perfect finishing touches are the beautiful lampwork beads, also made by Jennifer.

 

As for myself...these carefree earrings above were fun to make.  I looped the wire into swirling petals, attached a couple of buttons and topped them off with Vintage Rose Swarovski crystal flatbacks..... Ta-Dah!

 

AJE Earring Challenge #16

These interesting wire creations above are made by my granddaughter, Catherine.  She meticulously wire-wrapped the center of  open brass gears using copper wire.  A faceted, "rose quartz" colored, chinese crystal drop dangles from the gears.  When not in College, persuing her Graphic Arts degree, Cat runs the front of the store, and makes beautiful custom jewelry.

My granddaughter Gianna's designs above are a joy to see.  A perfectly, imperfect, organic design!!!  The findings are made from brass sheet, that has been cut, soldered, filed, then Swarovski Crystallized!  These findings are perfect for the Cloisonne donuts.  Gianna, knows where "everything" in the store is!  She pulls internet orders and keeps track of our Etsy Store.  She is very creative, and makes the most beautiful, unique and fun pieces.  Gianna aspires to one day become a "designing" Pastry chef.

AJE Earring Challange #15

These beautiful blue lampwork beads, the ceramic leaves, and the "Earring Creations" themselves above, are all made by Jennifer.  A little added Swarovski sparkle and some Sari Silk just make for a fun pair of earrings!

I made these copper earrings by adding lampwork flowers by Steve Rhoades of Bokomo Designs.  I attached them with lampwork headpins by Jennifer...a little hand-dyed ribbon brings them together.

AJE Earring Challenge Reveal #14

These earrings are made by my granddaughter, Gianna.  I must say, she mixed up a pretty cool pair of earrings!  She cut, pounded, and torched her findings, then crystallized and added a lampwork bead made by her mom, Jennifer.  These fun earrings are one-of-a-kind!

I most definetly got "hooked" in the bird's nest class!  These earrings are copper with moss agate eggs.  Dangling from the copper chain are Jennifer's beautiful lampwork leaves.

Bird's Nest Pendant Class

What a fun class of building unique and colorful little bird's nest pendants!  Kristin Girard of Kristin's Laboratory taught us today that with a little wire and patience, you can creat an original work of art!  One thing for sure, you'll want to make more!

AJE Earring Challenge-Reveal #13

 These earrings are so cute!  Made by Jennifer with her torch-fired enameled filigree balls.  The Vintage Rhinestone balls and the hand-dyed Vintage Seam-binding ribbon just added that little extra panache.

Cat's been painting with patina again, bringing color and interest to the foliage of these findings.  The enameled copper rings pull these earrings together for a beautiful tropical look.

Bead Hoarders Blog Hop

This necklace has been designed with "a little bit of everything" from 15 years of bead hoarding.  I used Swarovski Crystals, Czech Glass, Quartz Crystals, Cloisonne, and more.  But of course, the "Pièce de Résistance" is the beautiful borosilicate lampwork pendant bead, made by Steve Rhoades of Bokomo Designs.  Thank-you Lori Anderson, it was fun designing this necklace, and fun reminiscing while going through my "amasses of stashes". :)

Be sure to visit these other bead hoarders!

1.  Lori Anderson, Pretty Things

2. Nancy Dale, NEDBeads

3. Roxanne Mendoza, Roxi Designs

4.  Melissa Trudinger, beadrecipes

5.  Rana Lea, Rana Lea Designs

6.  Perri Jackson, Shaktipaj Designs

7.  Rita Avila, Jewel School Friends

8.  Linda Anderson, From the Bead Board

  10.  Erin Guest, Renlish

11.  Joan Williams, lilruby jewelry

12. Diane Hawkey, Diane Hawkey

13.  Jo-Ann Woolverton, It's a Beadiful Creation

14.  Sue Kennedy, SueBeads

15.  Lisa Cone, Inspired Adornments

16.  Kari Asbury, Hippie Chick Design

17.  Nichole Byers, Nichole Byers

18.  Lori Jean Poppe, Adventures in Creativity

19.  Linda Landig, Linda's Bead Blog and Meanderings

20.  Lori Schneider, Bead Addict

21.  Molly Alexander, Beautifully Broken Me

22. Cece Cormier, The Beading Yogini

23.  Niki Sayers, Silver Nik Nats

24.  Elsie Deliz-Fonseca, Eliz-Eliz and All That Craft

25.  Amber Dawn, Inventive Soul

26.  Heather Powers, Humblebeads

27.  Sarah Goode, Pookledo

28.  Monique Urquhart, A Half-Baked Notion

29.  JJ Jacobs, Coming Abstractions

30.  Cheri Reed, Creative Designs by Cheri

31.  Robyn, Museiddity

32.  Catherine King, Catherine's Musings

33.  Jacquie, Bead Gypsy

34.  Janet McDonald, Singing Woods

35. Kay Thomerson, Kayz Kreations

36.  Tanty Sri Hartanti, TJewellicious by Tanti

37.  Hannah Rosner, Good River Valley

38.  Rochelle Brisson, A Creative Chelle

39.  Nelly May, Smelly Nelly

40.  Skylar Bre'z, Brising Beads

41.  Beti Horvath, Stringing Fool

42.  Christie Murrow, Charis Designs

43.  Leanne Loftus, First Impression Design

44.  Valerie Norton, Hot Art

45.  Judy Riggs, Rigglettes

46.  Crystal Thain, Here Bead Dragons

47.  Terry Carter,  Tapping Flamingo

48.  Sue, Mid-Life Great Expectations

49.  Nan Smith, Wired Nan

50.  Miranda Ackerley, MirandAck Arts

51.  Marie Covert, Creating Interest

52.  D'Arsie Manzella, This Here Now, Mamacita

53.  Stephanie Haussler, Pixybug Designs

54.  Lori Bergmann, Lori Bergmann Design

55.  Johanna Nunez, The Lovely One Design

56.  Mary Govaars, MLH Jewelry Designs

57.  Becky Pancake, Becky Pancake Bead Designs

58.  Alicia Marinache, All the Pretty Things

59.  Debbie Rasmussen, A Little of This, A Little of That

60.  Nat, Grubbi Ceramics

61.  Marjorie Savill Linthwaite, Bennu Bird Rising

62.  Cheryl McCloud, One Thing Leads to Another

63.  Heather Otto, The Crafthopper

64.  Candida Castleberry, Spun Sugar Beadworks

66.  JuLee Wolfe, The Polymer Penguin

67.  Ginger Bishop, Lil Mummy Likes

68.  Karen Mitchell, Over the Moon Design

69.  Jeannie Dukic, Jeannie's Blog

70.  Dini Bruinsma, Angaza by Changes

71.  Birgitta Lejonklou, Create With Spirit

72.  Shalini Austin, Jewellery by Shalini

73.  Jayne Capps, Mama's Got to Doodle

74.  Ile Ruzza, Ilenia's Unique Beaded Jewelry

76.  Annita Wilson, AW Jewelry 

77.  Sherri Stokey, Knot Just Macrame

78.  Hannah Trost, PZ Designs

79.  Linda Inhelder, Must Haves Jewelry

80.  Miri Agassi, Beadwork

81.  Hope Smitherman, Crafty Hope

82.  Dyanne Cantrell, Dee-Liteful Jewelry Creations

83.  Susan Bowie, Susan Nelson Bowie

84.  Megan Milliken, MaeMaeMills

85.  Menka Gupta, Menka's Jewelry

86.  Ambra Gostoli, Chic and Frog

87.  Lori Lochner, Bloghner

88.  Gerda Jurimae, Gerda's Crafts Blog

89.  Susan, Mistheword

90.  MaryLou Holvenstot, MaryLou's time2cre8

91.  Mary Shannon Hicks, falling into the sky

92.  Karin King, The Sparklie Things Blog

93.  Christa Murphy, Adventures of One Beady Woman

94.  Jenny Davie-Reazor, Jenny Davies-Reazor

95.  Donetta Farrington, Simply Gorgeous

96.  Mallory Hoffman, Rosebud 101 - For the Love of Beads

97.  Danielle Kelley, Imbue the Muse

98.  Kym Hunter, Kym Hunter Designs

99.  Dolores Rami, CraftyD's Creations

100.  Marcia Dunne, 13 Alternatives

101.  Marlene Cupo, Amazing Designs

102.  Emma Todd, A Polymer Penchant

103.  Wendy Holder, Jewelry by WendyLea

104.  Michelle Escano, The Cabby Crafter

105.  Louise Glazier, Lily and Jasmine Treasures

106.  Dana Hickey, Wind Dancer Studios

107.  Lennis Carter, windbent

108.  Anne Betenson, Crystal River Beads

109.  Audrey Belanger,  Dreams of an Absolution

110.  Lisa Stukel, Carefree Jewelry by Lisa

111.  Janine Lucas, Travel Stories

112.  Claire Lockwood, Something to Do With Your Hands

113.  Kathy Engstrom, Catherine's Dreams

114.  Paula Hisel, Simply Beadiful

115.  Karla Morgan, Texas Pepper Jams

116.  Mischelle Fanucchi, Micheladas Musings

117.  Kim, Cianci Blue

118.  Linda Sadler, Ida Louise Jewelry

119.  Karen, Spokalulu

120.  Jennifer LaVite, Dry Gulch Bead and Jewelry

121.  Andrea Glick-Zenith, ZenithJade Creations

122.  Karen Martinez, Fairies Market

123.  Robin Reed, Artistry HCBD

124.  Amy Bright, LABweorc

125.  Jasvanti Patel, Jewels by Jasvanti

126.  Tammie Everly, TTE Designs

127.  Karin Slaton, Backstory Beads

128.  Natalie Moten, Running Out of Thread

129.  Sharyl McMillian-Nelson, Sharyl's Jewelry & Reflections

130.  Jenny Kyrlach, Wonder and Whimsy

131.  LiliKrist, Handmade by LilK

132.  Jessica Klaaren, The Truth Space

133.  Cynthia Abner, Created Treasures

134.  Beth Emery, Stories by Indigo Heart

135.  Heather Davis, Blissful Garden Beads

136.  Jeanne, Gems by Jeanne Marie

137.  Sandi Volpe, Sandi Volpe

138.  Laren Dee Barton, Laren Dee Designs

139.  Steph, Confessions of a Bead Hoarder

140.  Carolyn Lawson, Carolyn's Creations

141.  B. R. Kuhlman, Mixed Mayhem

142.  Patty Miller, Cabari Beads

143.  Elizabeth Bunn, Elizabeth Beads

144.  Marianna Boylan, Pretty Shiny Things

145.  Lizzie Clarke, The Need to Bead

146.  Christina Miles, Wings 'n' Scales

147.  Patricia, The Color of Dreams

148.  Marde Lowe, Fancimar

149.  Ev Shelby, Raindrop Creations

150.  Sarah Small, By Salla

151.  Perri Jackson, Shaktipaj Designs

152.  Laurie Vyselaar, Lefthand Jewelry

153.  Pam Traub, Klassy Joolz

154.  Lisa Harrison, Daisy Meadow Studio

155.  Anzia Parks, Anzi-Panzi's Work Shoppe

156.  Ingrid, Lilisgems Handcrafted Jewelry Inspirations

157.  Andra Weber, Andra's Joyful Journey

158.  Kelly Hosford Patterson, The Traveling Side Show

159.  Adlinah Kamsir, Dreamstruck Designs

160.  Marci, That Nothing Be Wasted

161.  Kris Lanae Binsfield,  Cherish Designs

162.  Stephanie Perry, Mustard Bead

163.  Birgit Klughardt, Gites Beads

164.  Inge von Roos, Inge's Blog

165.  Rebecca Sirevaag, Becca's Place

166.  Sandy Markley, Gypsy Spirit Designs

167.  Elena Adams, Lena's Beady Blog

Layered Flower Collage Class

Yesterday, July 13th, we made riveted flower layers, added some patina, and "Voila", a wonderful array of colorful necklaces were created.  Many thanks to Kristin Girard, of Kristin's Laboratory for such a fun and inspiring class!

Joplin Vintage Market Treasure Trip

 

Today we were treasure hunting at The Joplin Vintage Market located at the John Q Hammons Center.  There were plenty of fun finds, and one of our favorites was Tarnished Charm, where Ivy Hagedorn makes beautiful, one-of-a-kind upcycled jewelry.

AJE Earring Challenge #12

Still fascinated with the Peyote Stitch, which I used to bring these beautifully faceted Crystal Volcano Square Rings together.  Nothing beats the dazzle of a Swarovski Crystal!



 

My granddaughter, Cat, who also photographs our Earrings, made this fun pair of Giraffe Earrings.  They were painted with patina, and finished with lampwork by Jennifer of Dry Gulch Beads and Jewelry.  A little bit of fiber adds that perfect finishing touch.

Book Pendant Necklace

What's not to love about this charming little Book Pendant?  The Pendant features antiqued layered pages encased in copper and embossed with birds, then finished with blue and purple patina and plenty of charm dangles.  For more information on this necklace check here in our Etsy Store.

AJE Earring Challenge-Reveal #12

These beautiful Lampwork Beads and Earrings are made by Jennifer of Dry Gulch Beads and Jewelry.  The glass is from Striking Color Glass.  They pair so well with the copper and just a touch of patina.

I made these Sterling Silver Earrings with some Lampwork Beads that Jennifer made for me a while back.  The Swarovski Crystals just set them off!  My Grand-daughter, Cat, took all the pictures this morning among the growing and climbing Crypress Vines.  Looks like summer!!!

Sea Glass Seashells

Add color and texture to your jewelry creations with our latest collection of Sea Glass Seashells.  Check out all our Sea Glass here in the Dry Gulch Beads and Jewelry Website.

New Crystals!

 

Check out the beautiful new Crystals here in our Dry Gulch Beads and Jewelry Website.

 



Just The Basics

The perfect class for a beginner, yet fun for any skill level.  This beginner's class teaches you all the necessary basic steps of making beautiful jewelry.  The jewelry above is just a sampling of what was made during our class taught last Saturday by Kristin Girard.  Such wonderful colors!

AJE Earring Challenge Reveal # 11

These blue and peach agates have a crackled texture.  They are combined with peachy caramel  lampwork beads by Jennifer of Dry Gulch Beads and Jewelry, then accented with daisy spacers.

 



Jasper and Jade, a lovely pair.  They are combined with mixed metals and patina, which  highlights the stones earthy appeal. 

Silver Caramel Lampwork

This beautiful set of six lampwork beads are a warm and creamy caramel, adorned with dotted trails of fine silver.  These beads have been kiln annealed for durability.  For more information check here in our Etsy Store.

Blue Ceramic and Jasper Necklace

The beautiful soft color of Aqua Terra Jasper compliment this necklace which features a ceramic flower focal.  A very arty, yet vintage look.  For more information on this necklace check herein our Etsy Store.

Sea Glass Cabochons

These beautiful frosted Sea Glass Cabochons have doomed tops, flat bottoms, and no holes.  Great for wire-wrapping or bezel settings, they just have unlimited designing potential!  Come by and check out our beautiful color options here in our Etsy Store. 

Jasper

Jasper is an impressive gemstone that looks beautiful when used in jewelry.  The appeal of Jasper is in its many interesting colors, patterns, and formations, making each piece unique.  Jasper frequently has a discriptive name from the area in which it is found, such as ocean and rainforest.  Also named for it's color appearance.  Jasper is also thought to promote relaxation and a sense of wholeness. :)  Check out our Jasper selection here on our Dry Gulch Beads and Jewelry Website.

Local Jewelry Artists

It's been fun showing off some of our local talented friends/customers this week.  This evening I will dote on my granddaughter, "Gianna".  She can take unusual ingredients, a little wire, and mix them all together, creating jewelry like this stunning necklace.  Her creativity and style certainly do show in her approach to making jewelry!

Local Jewelry Artists

I love wearing this sterling silver and rhondonite necklace, designed and created by Peggy Lierheimer.  Peggy is an experienced artist who creates beautiful wearable pieces of art, using natural stones, irregular shapes and beautiful colors.  Very intricate and lovely.  You can see more of Peggy's jewelry on Peggy's Jewelry Page.

Local Jewelry Artist

Tisha Doyle of Goodie Two Shoes Designs, creates custom stamped sterling silver and copper jewelry designs.  Tisha specializes in personalized sports jewelry, like this adorable baseball mom charm bracelet, creating unique and timeless keepsakes.

Local Jewelry Artists

This silver filigree pendant is made by Heather Jones of Select Jewelry Designs on Etsy.  A beautiful,  delicate and highly detailed design.

 

Even though Heather works mostly with silver, she also works with copper and brass, making gorgeous one-of-a-kind pieces. 

AJE Earring Challenge Reveal #10

I love the colors in these beautiful lampwork beads made by Jennifer.  The lampwork pairs beautifully with the flower link topped with the sparkle and color of the Swarovski Vitrail.  The perfect finish is the lampwork dangle. 

Since we had the Peyote Class in our Store, I can't stop thinking about Seed Beads.  The colors in the Metallic Burgundy Seed Beads seemed the perfect pair with the purple Sea Glass.  So light to wear,  yet so pretty!

 

 

Dangling Flower Earrings

Filigrees and Flowers, what a lovely combination!  The pink, yellow and green color combination is so warm and cheerful.  For more information on these earrings, check here in our Etsy Store.