Beads, Tea and Sweets: October 2012

Monday, October 29, 2012

Please vote for me, that is if you have time...

If you have the time please stop by Artisan Whimsy to vote for me(or others) in the Owl Challenge. You need an Artisan Whimsy account to vote but it's really easy to do.(It take about 5 minutes) Also everyone that votes get 3 choices per category. Here's the link: http://artisanwhimsy.ning.com/page/hooters

The things that people have created are just amazing, I would check it out.

On a side note,everyone stay safe who's in Sandy's path. (I still have class, even though Penn State is right in the middle of Sandy's path.) Go in class in a hurricane? Challenge accepted.

Sunday, October 28, 2012

October Fest 2012

Happy( err....Early) Halloween, my most favorite holiday of the year. I mean come on...free candy! But on a serious note, sort of, I also enjoy the history surrounding it, and the dark, horror elements as well. But I'm not going to bore you with that. Moving on to the fun stuff:

This is a Halloween charm bracelet that I made for my mom, because she is awesome and will buy me beading supplies but only if I make her something, fair trade. But charm bracelets are easy, fun but easy. So I made something else... Vampire Bite Necklace!

Guys is there anything on my head?

Spider!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Die!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Right so this isn't my work, it's my mom's; she's one hell of a knitter. Remind me to post my candy button scarf she made me. Anyways, check out what other people did for October (Though I should warn you the list is very long):

Host Toltec Jewels      http://www.JewelSchoolFriends.com
Heather Otto        http://www.thecrafthopper.com
Mischelle Fanucchi        http://www.micheladasmusings.blogspot.com
Marlene Cupo                   http://amazingdesigns-marlene.blogspot.com
Shaiha Williams        http://shaihasramblings.blogspot.com
Shelly Graham Turner    http://shelleygrahamturner.blogspot.com/
Shelly Joyce         http://www.aujourlejour-shelly.blogspot.com/
Charlie Jacka                   http://clay-space.com/blog/Pam Sears                         http://crazycreativecorner.blogspot.com/
Margareta Saari               http://magsinhelmet.blogspot.com/
Marita Suominen            http://momentofjewelry.blogspot.fi/
Lisa Posthumus                https://www.facebook.com/lisa.posthumusharper
Jeannie Dukic                   http://site.jkdjewelry.com/blog
Cheri Reed                         http://creativedesignsbycheri.blogspot.com/
Arlene Dean                   http://aglassbash.blogspot.com/
Duffy Blevins                    http://bubbasjewels1.blogspot.com/
Susan Kennedy          http://suebeads.blogspot.com/
Dita Basu                         http://www.alankarshilpa.blogspot.com/
Sonya Ann Stille           http://dreaminofbeads.blogspot.com/
Audrey Allen                https://www.facebook.com/pages/Wrapped-Up-In-Magic/145456948869148
Kashmira Patel               http://sadafulee.blogspot.com/
Kathy Lindemer                 http://bay-moon-design.blogspot.com/
Kris Mattingly                https://www.facebook.com/kris.h.mattingly
Lennis Carrier                  http://www.windbent.net/
Shannon Hicks           http://uptwnsh-fallingintothesky.blogspot.com/
Karin Slaton                http://backstorybeads.blogspot.com/
Shirley Moore                http://www.beadsandbread.blogspot.com/
Alicia Marinache            http://www.allprettythings.ca/
Valeria G. Rome            http://fancysphynxdesigns.blogspot.com/
Lo                               http://thecreativeklutz.blogspot.com/
Zoe Marcin                     http://beadsteaandsweets.blogspot.com/
Carolyn Lawson        http://carolynscreationswa.blogspot.com
Kimberly Booth               http://thepinkmartiniboutique.blogspot.com/
Sherri Stokey                  http://www.knotjustmacrame.com
Tanya McGuire              http://www.tanyamcguire.blogspot.com/
Debbie Rasmussen         http://kepirasmussen.blogspot.com/
Christine Stonefield     http://sweetgirldesign.blogspot.com/Tanty Sri Hartani        http://tjewellicious.blogspot.com/Sandra McGriff                  http://skyescreativechaos.blogspot.com/
Renetha Stanziano              http://lamplightcrafts.blogspot.com/
Evelyn Shelby                 http://raindropcreationsbyevelyn.blogspot.com/
Colene Waltermire          https://www.facebook.com/groups/426147797447039/?fref=ts
Lee Nova                       https://www.facebook.com/groups/426147797447039/?fref=ts

(P.S I have I no idea why it went crazy towards the bottom of the list.)

Saturday, October 27, 2012

Solar Flare Blog Hop

Right see this awesome picture of a solar flare, so cool right? I know my geek is showing again...anyways how would you base a piece of jewelry around this? That was the challenged that http://usupplies.blogspot.com/ offered us.

Besides using color scheme, random chaos is always fun to use. I decide to make a necklace as random as the solar flares that erupt on the surface of our sun. Right, I basically gathered up all my beads in red, orange, yellow and then threw in some brown and sliver to give to contrast and then put it a bowl, mixed it up and then stung what I randomly picked up. I also did a row of seed beads and brass chain, because I just like multiply chains.

I also had these brass sun charms which fit the theme, so I made a quick pair of earrings as well. See what the others did as well:
Gloria Allen
Blog Link:http://innovativedreamsjewelry.blogspot.com

Shawn Marie Mills
Blog Link: http://shawnmariedesignsatbentwire.blogspot.com/

Karin King
Blog Link: http://maverickbeads.blogspot.com/

Alicia Marinache
Blog Link: http://www.allprettythings.ca

Pam "The Crazier Sister Blog:http://crazycreativecorner.blogspot.com/?m=1

Kelly Hosford Patterson
Blog Link: http://travelingsideshow.blogspot.com/

Delia Marsellos-Traister
Blog Link: www.phoenixmagyk.com

Dana Lang
Blog Link: http://tumblestonehandmakery.blogspot.ca

Mischelle Fanucchi
http://micheladasmusings.blogspot.com

Jessica Murray
Blog Link: http://whimsicalweavings.blogspot.com/

Cynthia Abner
Blog Link: http://createdtreasures.blogspot.com/

Charlie Jacka
Blog: http://clay-space.com/blog

Shannon Hicks
Blog Link:http://uptwnsh-fallingintothesky.blogspot.com/

Zoe Marcin
Blog Link: http://beadsteaandsweets.blogspot.com/

Rebecca Sirevaag
Blog Link: http://godsartistinresidence.blogspot.com/

Miranda C. Ackerley
Blog Link: http://mirandack.com

Paula Winchester Hisel
Blog Link: http://simplybeadiful.weebly.com/simply-stated.html

Lynn Jobber/Lo/The Creative Klutz
Blog Link: http://thecreativeklutz.blogspot.co.uk/

Alenka Obid
Blog Link: http://pepita-handmade.blogspot.com/

Hey but come back I have to post my October Fest Challenge too, don't you want to see what I did? (Spoilers, Not just my work this time.)

Friday, October 26, 2012

Earring Overload

Right, so I have two blog hops due this Sunday. Bad planning on my part.
I have made a couple of earrings over the few days; the pig earrings' wire is actually rose pink, I don't know why it came out like brass. Of course it could be this dreary lighting that I have to work with...winter is coming. Anyways, they will most likely be list on Etsy tomorrow. I don't get done with classes until 2:30, and I have math due today.(of course that comes first.)

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Humor me, ok?

I got bored again,(more speeches) and with no beading supplies allowed in class, (I have no idea why) I turn to paper. So humor me, ok? This is my OC (Original Character): Camellia Blossom. I mean, I draw people too, not just ponies, it's just that they're fun to draw and easy to finish in a 45 minute period. So....*face gets really red*, I have to go study now.

Tea Time Necklace

Wow, I log in today and find that have over 900 views and 21 followers! You guys are the best.I might have to do something when I reach 1000. Anyways, new necklace today. This one comes from my love of tea, and yes I know that there is a coffee bean on the back...I drink both. Actually this necklace came out due to a mistake. The clasp that I used was supposed to be a pair of earrings, but I broke one( apparently ceramics aren't as strong as I thought.) Well, I just had to use the remaining one some how and in my lovely sleepless nights thought: "Clasp!"
The soft warm colors combined with pearls remind me of tranquil dream herbal tea from Teavana. Also I forgot to mention that the pendent is from Green Girl Studios. Love her work, I actually have quite a few because of a sale at bead store down in Pittsburgh.

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Swirl Flower Earrings

I wondered if I could make earrings from cute, little Garment Pins that I find being used on more and more clothes and they worked great! I just cut the sharp end off and rounded it with a Wire Rounder. I then wire wrapped the ceramic flower charms with lampwork head pins for a simple casual earring design.

The ceramic flower charms are from Starry Road Studio: http://www.etsy.com/shop/ktotten?ref=seller_info_count
These are now listed in the Etsy store.

Surprises in Small Packages

My Pay it Forward gift form Hippie Chick Jewelry and Design came yesterday. And all I can say is that she did a great job, these earrings fit me to a T.(I'm wearing them right now.) She took my advice or rant, whatever you what to call it, and did a colorful steampunk piece. I really like the colors and this is just what I needed,since I have been depressed lately and overwhelmed. Hum...and about my pay-it forward? Well I can't tell you it's supposed to be a surprise. ^.^

Anyways, check out more of her work on her blog: http://hippiechickdesign.blogspot.com/

Monday, October 22, 2012

I lied

So I lied about not posting till Monday. Right news from my daily life: Humans won HvZ because they cheated, (but I'm not going to vent, I promised my self I wouldn't), I might not be a science major anymore,(yay! future plans), got caught up with The Walking Dead, and oh, I opened up my Etsy store: Tea Stained beads. http://www.etsy.com/shop/TeaStainedBeads (So go check that out.) Life's full of surprises, isn't it?

I made 3 new bracelets this weekend, the one I already posted for the owl challenge but all 3 are listed in my Etsy store, that feels weird typing. I have a store now...sorry I have to let this all sink in.

Saturday, October 20, 2012

Show us your hooters owl challenge

Artisan Whimsy offered up this challenge and how could I turn down owls? I have had this lamp work owl for about a year now and haven't done anything with it. So I based the rest of the beads around the colors of the owl and did a leather knotted bracelet. I also added some of the mirage beads.(yeah, I bought more) For those of you that don't know mirage beads change color, sort of like mood rings, only 20% cooler. Anyways, the winner gets $50 Paypal gift card, so....go vote for me once voting starts on Oct.28th. I don't have a chance though, everyone's work is adorable. Link: http://artisanwhimsy.ning.com/page/hooters

Here's my entry:

Thursday, October 18, 2012

This is what I do for a living. Yay science!

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

T.A.R.D.I.S

Yay! My T.A.R.D.I.S mug came to day! I just wanted to share that little part of my life with you guys and also to tell you that there, most likely, will not be any posts until next Monday. I'm accounting for crazy days, work, zombies and I'm finishing up my Etsy shop. So I can actual sell things. Who knew?! *Sigh* I'm going to need a lot of tea.

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Yellow sunshine

Not here though, it's gray, cloudy and cold. It makes me want tea.(with my brains, yeah I'm a zombie now.) Anyways, I'm referring to the earrings that my friend Taylor wanted. She stated and these are her own words: "Okay!! Um no longer than and inch dangly and anything yellow, orange, red, or Autumn-y and bright!"
Right... the hardest part was coming up with something that wasn't longer than inch; I went though about 10 different designs before coming up with this one.

Saturday, October 13, 2012

History Blog Hop

I have already shown you that I'm sort of a history nerd, so when Beady Eyed Bunny announced that she was going to do a history blog hop, I jumped right in and took the Victorian period. More specifically, Mid-Victorian and the gothic aspects of it. I had to keep myself from learning towards steampunk though, since it takes place during the same time period. Time to hit the books.

After a twenty year run, the Romantic era ended suddenly with the death of Queen Victoria's husband, Prince Albert in 1860. A new period of mourning known as the Mid-Victorian or "Grand" Period, lasted from 1860 to 1885. Popular gemstones in the mid-Victorian period were amethysts, cabochon garnets, crystal, emeralds, diamonds, onyx, opal, pearl, ruby, black glass, bog oak, jet ivory and tortoise shell. Sadly, I don't own any of those so I had to make to with what I have. Also, lockets became a very important fashion accessory. They held the memory of a dear one close to the heart. They could contain locks of hair or early examples of photographs (daguerreotypes), kept in secret compartments. Victorian lockets were often suspended from "book chain" necklaces and adorned with taille d'epergne style enamel work. Book chain necklaces had a dual purpose. When these flat chains were removed at night, they could be used as a bookmark!

And so this is what I came up with. I had an owl cameo that I based the entire piece around. I was going to use multiply chains, then I found these links and thought that they would be perfect. It was a pain hooking up all the loops to the links, I have so many cuts on my hands it's not even funny. I like the way it came out it has a neo-Victorian feel to it.