Showing posts with label handmade jewelry. Show all posts
Showing posts with label handmade jewelry. Show all posts

Monday, March 4, 2019

Art Bead Scene Art Journey 2 - Fairytales, Knotted Crystals and Art Solder

We've been working on some new jewelry designs and components for our upcoming shows and we found some fabulous inspiration by the creators at Art Bead Scene.  We joined their Art Journey 2 challenge this month, and we're excited to show you some of the designs that we were inspired to create!  For the Art Journey, creators are inspired by 3 Art Nouveau illustrations made in the early 1900s.  These beautiful works of art were created by Virginia Frances Sterrett and feature lovely colors, textures and elements reminiscent of fairy tales.


Our first design features gorgeous opalescent crystals and Czech glass cathedrals in colors found in the "Blondine and the Tortoise" - Gianna loves to match colors and we think she did a beautiful job pairing up the pretty blues and pale peaches.  The necklace was hand knotted by Deborah on nylon for a soft, supple look.  We also created lampwork headpins that we can't wait to design with - these pins are our new Unicorn Horn shape made by Catherine and they feature gorgeous mottled blues and greens similar to the Tortoise shell featured in the illustration. 
  
  


Our second design was inspired by "Proserpina and the Sea Nymphs", this pretty illustration features ocean and mermaid themes.  For our design, we again created a hand knotted necklace that features delicious ocean colors of crystal glass beads and cathedral cut Czech glass.  This necklace was designed by Gianna, and knotted by Deborah on a coral colored nylon cord. Our focal echos the coral in the illustration, it is a vintage piece of bright orange branch coral that Catherine topped with an art solder cap.  We used rubber stamps during the molten solder process and we love the barnacle-like texture that came about!

  



Our final design was inspired by the 3rd Art Journey illustration "Blondine Threw Her Arms Around Him" which features Art Deco elements and a lovely white deer.  This bold, geometric illustration prompted Gianna to put together many different kinds of crystal glass beads and Czech cathedrals that Deborah then hand knotted into a long, sparkly necklace.  The focal for this design features several handmade elements like a vintage chandelier teardrop and druzy quartz nugget that Catherine accented with art solder bezels and caps, and a lampwork glass leaf charm from Jennifer.  We have loved adding art solder elements to our designs, the textures are so much fun!

  
  


We have thoroughly enjoyed creating for the Art Journey.  Be sure to check out our entries at the Art Bead Scene gallery, and come see these jewelry designs and many more at our shows this spring in Kansas City, Joplin, Tulsa and Branson.  Don't forget, it all starts with one little bead!


Sunday, May 15, 2016

2016 Bead Peeps Swap N' Hop Reveal!

Reveal day!  We joined Linda Anderson's 2016 Bead Peeps Swap N' Hop this past January, and now we're ready for the epic conclusion!  In this Swap N' Hop, entrants swap bead mixes, create sparkly creations with those beads and reveal them.  We were partnered with Christina Hickman of Vintage Treasure Jewelry, and after we received our bead swap mix, we got our creative wheels turning!

https://www.facebook.com/groups/beadPeeps/


Christina sent a lovely assortment of handmade creations in a forest theme.  We received ribbon, handmade pewter bird and acorn charms, rough stones, a custom bead mix, Czech glass, artisan handmade pendants and more.  The colors were earthy greens and browns.  The Dry Gulch gals consist of 4 ladies, so we each took a handful of beads and handmade components, and began to put our own unique spins on them.

 


The first batch, a bracelet and necklace duo, was created by Jennifer, who is our resident lampworker.  She incorporated Christina's silk ribbon, glass beads and artisan-made pewter bird (painted a spring-time blue!).  She used our Ancient Alchemy chain in both the necklace and bracelet, and her own bumpy lampwork creation paired with a handmade porcelain leaf for the necklace's pendant.  Jennifer's favorite part was adding the blue to the bird for a pop of color.



The next creation was a necklace made by Catherine.  This piece was designed with Christina's custom bead mix, a handmade polymer toggle and an artisan pewter horse button.  Cat added Ancient Alchemy components like the filigree and ring, then hand-knotted the chain with turquoise and pearls.  The knotting was a challenge, but the final outcome was worth it!



The next set was created by Gianna, and she specializes in seed bead weaving.  Using Christina's bead mix and glass beads, Gianna wire-wrapped and seed beaded a bracelet and earrings using brick and peyote stitch.  She also added Jennifer's lampwork leaves to the earrings to complete the forest feel.  Gianna loved working the bird coins into the earrings!



The final creation was a collaboration between Deborah and Catherine.  Taking the handmade "A Forest is in an Acorn" pendant, Deborah worked her collage magic and added tiny handpainted charms and leaves for a forest wreath.  Catherine then sawed tiny falling leaves into a sheet of copper metal before riveting the assembled book jewelry to a leather journal.  They then added a Jennifer-created lampwork leaf and an artisan pewter acorn as book charms.  Deborah is a master at altering and making something what it isn't, she loves to transform!



A big thank you to Christina for sending us such a lovely mix of beads (and the chocolate, which we all fought over because it was so GOOD!).  Also, a big thank you to Linda Anderson for putting together this Swap N' Hop.  We can't wait to join next year.  Be sure to "hop" through all the participating blogs this year by clicking through the list below.  Thank y'all for stopping by! #beadpeepsswap #drygulchjewelry


Linda Anderson - Hostess - http://fromTheBeadBoard.blogspot.com
 
SEEDERS 
Palak (aka Pallavi Asher)http://kalaabhushan.blogspot.in/ 
 


Sunday, January 6, 2013

Starting the New Year Off Right


This first week just flew by. It was filled with lots of creativity and new ideas.  We always enjoy hosting beading parties at our store and on Saturday a wedding party came in and made jewelry together, and they were all very fun and creative.  Watching them reminded us of all the reasons we love beading.


Tuesday, December 25, 2012

Ribbon Bracelet


This beautiful ribbon bracelet is embellished with a brass filigree and a vintage brooch. This bracelet van be found here in our Etsy store.


To finish off this bracelet we used antique brass ribbon ends and an antique brass toggle.  The findings can be purchased at Dry Gulch Beads and Jewelry.