2-Tone Circle Clasps

Lately I've been experimenting with blending glazes.  I've tried out several combinations but I'm particularly enamored with the combination of these rustic colors.  You can check out a bracelet I made with one on day 7 of my Week of Bracelets series.  I'm planning to try out new colors or shapes, and possibly designs applied on top.  Here are some of my pieces.  I hope you like them.

Yellow on outside, bluish on inside, greenish toggle bar

Terracotta on the outside, bluish on inside, bluish toggle bar

Bluish on outside, terracotta in the middle, bluish toggle bar

Necklaceology Book Review

For Christmas I got a Barnes and Noble gift card, so I bought 2 jewelry design books with it.  The first was Bohemian Inspired Jewelry by Lorelei Eurto and Erin Siegel (see my review of it in my May 2013 archive) but to reach the $25 free shipping, I picked out another book that I knew relatively little about.  It is Necklaceology: How to make chokers, lariats, ropes & more by Candie Cooper.  It looked intriguing and the cover boasted 40 different jewelry designs, so I was excited to get it.  I wasn't disappointed.  Some of the designs were pretty traditional, but I found some of them to be unique. 
 
While I enjoyed looking at the designs summed up in words like "axis," "helios," and "stone's throw," what I liked most about the book is that it gave techniques for altering individual jewelry components.  So many times we see jewelry that is mass produced with recognizable components.  Candie shows us how to take these components and add color, patinas, texture, and composition.  These little changes can make a huge difference in making your pieces one-of-a-kind and special. 

Many of her jewelry projects in her book show the sketched piece and the finished piece.  I enjoyed seeing the translation from the sketch to the actual piece.  The sketch also helps reveal the structure of the pieces, so you can use it as a jumping off point for your own jewelry designs--change up the beads, add little embellishments, use a different cord, etc. 

The book is published by Lark Crafts (Lark also publishes the fantastic 500 book series), and was worth the money.  I have already looked through the book many times and I will be using it as a reference in the future.  Yay for great jewelry artists who share their inspiration.

Happy Creating!
--Kathy

Taos, New Mexico - Destination Inspiration

We recently took a trip to Taos, New Mexico, and stayed in a lovely little bed and breakfast (Hacienda Del Sol).  The feeling in Taos is quite unique.  It is a town of Native American and Spanish influence and has been settled for hundreds of years.  Currently Taos is also known as a mecca for artisans.  Color is big here and our B&B shows that.  Most of the decorative pieces were handmade by artisans and some are very old.  Here are some pictures of the building where we stayed. 

 

Gorgeous waiting room/hallway--every piece has a history.  The floor was original to the structure and had dips and slopes.

Yes that is my cute baby, but try to focus on the room--definitely a southwestern vibe but the room also touches on the catholic history of the location. The door was quite small--I (5'3") fit fine but my hubby (6'2") had to duck.

The whole B&B was covered in original art much of which was for sale.

 

There is nothing like a crackling fire and check out the lovely timbers on the ceiling.

So, how do we reflect a little bit of Taos in our jewelry pieces?  Perhaps fun colors, different textures--maybe weathered wood or stamped silver.  Maybe crosses, pieces reminiscent of landscapes, or Georgia O'Keefe inspired elements.

Based on my experience, (and my supplies) I decided to emphasize the Spanish flavor of fun colors in a necklace.  You can see the bright colors mixed with silver and a touch of turquoise stone.  The pendant looks a bit worn and has a design that could be old.  Here is my Taos inspired necklace...

I would love to see your pieces.

Happy Creating!
--Kathy

A Week of Art Bead Bracelets - Day 7

Day 7 (Final Day)

To finish off my week of bracelets, I decided to use one of my clasps as the focal art bead.  This is a new color combo clasp I've been working on and I love how the two colors come together.  I paired the ceramic circle with stamped brass for the toggle bar.  For this final bracelet I decided to do a cha cha style with lots of moveable parts.  I've added a chain with lots of wonderful medium sized glass beads.  They have so much play that this bracelet could jazz up any outfit.  I hope you like bracelet #7. 

I hope this week of bracelet designs has sparked some new ideas in you.  I'd love to see what you are working on.  Happy Creating!
--Kathy

A Week of Art Bead Bracelets - Day 6

Day 6

Today I'm getting in touch with my southwestern surroundings.  Here is art bead bracelet #6:

This bracelet features some glazed round beads with melted glass.  The glass makes a beautiful color contrast to the brownish glaze and also adds some crackling, which I think gives it more interest.  The four handmade beads are separated by spacers, attached to silver washer rings on either side and connected to brown leather suede.  I know that leather is hot right now, so I wanted to do a bracelet that included some.  Finally, I finished off the piece with a silver toned barrel clasp.  I like that it is about the same diameter as the leather and it ties in the silver end caps on the leather as well.  I hope you like bracelet number 6.

What do you think of this bracelet, and what are you working on?  I'd love to know or see pictures. Happy Creating!

--Kathy

A Week of Art Bead Bracelets - Day 5

A Week of Art Bead Bracelets - Day 5

Okay, I'm going a little goth on you today.  A while ago I made these fantastic red and gray/silver beads.  I stamped them so they would look interesting and I glazed them with three glazes.  The bright red is in the middle, a semi gloss gray is on one side and a mirror-like silver gray is on the other side of each bead.  Because of the stamped design, the glazes ran together showing off the geometric shapes.  I really love how they turned out.  These beads are a little more free form than some of my others, so they vary a bit in size and shape.  A talented jewelry designer friend of mine suggested that I use black chain with them and I loved the idea.  I just didn't know how it would all come together.  I decided to add a hint of antique silver and this beaded bracelet is what I came up with.  It has a wonderfully Gothic feel.  The bracelet construction is composed of two strands of beads.  I then bound them together with jump rings that are free to move a little.  This binding gives the bracelet a feeling of bulk without the movement of two loose strands.  I used 1 to 2 connectors at either end and connected them to a clasp that snaps shut.  I think this kind of clasp is a little easier to use when putting a bracelet on yourself.  I hope you like bracelet #5. 

This picture really shows the detail in the beads as well as the structure of the bracelet.

What piece are you working on today?  Any innovative ideas or beads?  I'd love to see pics or hear your input on my designs.  Happy Creating!

--Kathy

A Week of Art Bead Bracelets - Day 4

A Week of Art Bead Bracelets - Day 4

 

This bracelet is much more earthy than some of the others.  It is grounded with chocolate brown and yellow.  The chocolate brown is a really cool glaze.  It has flashes of yellow in it, but the coolest part about it is that there are tiny sparkles in it.  I have only found one other glaze that does sparkles, and that glaze doesn't look this cool.  Thee diamond shaped art bead is mold-formed and the tan swirly one is stamped on both sides.  I like that the chain is doubled up a bit, and I love the dangles at the bottom of the extender.  This would be a fantastic bracelet for fall.  What does your most recent bracelet look like?  What is your inspiration? Happy Creating!

--Kathy

A Week of Art Bead Bracelets - Day 3

A Week of Art Bead Bracelets - Day 3

Going in for a whole new look, this bracelet has more of a "running on the beach" feel.  The art bead on this is, of course, ceramic and has dragonflies stamped into it.  I've used a glaze on the focal piece that is really cool.  It is mostly tan, but has hints of periwinkle.  I've paired up the dragonfly focal with one side of turquoise stones and one side of smaller handmade ceramic beads.  Some of these are two toned, and some are stamped.  The smaller beads with the straight lines on them are glazed with the tan/periwinkle glaze in the center, and a blue glaze on the edges.  The back of these beads is cross-hatched too, so when the beads turn around it'll give different looks.  I've put these beads on copper because I thought the copper would pop more than bronze.  Looking at it makes me miss the beach...
Happy Creating!
--Kathy

A Week of Art Bead Bracelets - Day 2

A Week of Art Bead Bracelets - Day 2

This bracelet has a whole different feel than yesterday's.  This bracelet was made with colorful ceramic beads including three art beads.  I've linked them together with silver toned findings, charms, and added fun little crystal beads for a little more glitz and movement.  This bracelet screams warm weather to me and is fancy.  It would be perfect to wear on a date with my wonderful hubby.  

Happy Creating!

--Kathy

A Week of Art Bead Bracelets - Day 1

I've been really interested in making art bead bracelets in the last few days, so I thought I'd devote a week to them--one new bracelet every day.  It will be a fun way to use some of my jewelry supplies and have some stuff to list on my finished jewelry etsy site, www.shookaloot.etsy.com.  I'm going to try different patterns, colors, and general designs.  I'd love to see what bracelets you come up with.  So here it goes,

DAY 1

 I really like how this bracelet turned out.  The colors are inspired by nature and I would call the overall design Bohemian.  The focal art bead has been kicking around my studio for a while.  It was made out of earthenware ceramic clay which was stamped and glazed with one of my favorite rust-colored glazes.  I made a matching bead to pull the eye along in the bracelet design.  I also adore these colors of green.  All three colors look great with antique bronze chain and findings, one of my favorite colors to work with.  I particularly like how the chain changes part way over from one larger layer of chain to two smaller layers.  I also love the way this moves on your wrist.  So much fun.  I'd love to see your "Day 1 Bracelets."  Send them in along with comments.  I'd love to hear what you think of this piece.  Happy Creating!
--Kathy