Landscapes and beyond

I have several more landscapes almost complete. The even newer ones seem to be escaping their bezels. Hmmm...no photos of that tangent yet.

This piece has no added acrylic paint. Its a stretch for me.

I'm re-working an earlier piece because I'm just not satisfied with it yet. So its sits here partially finished. I realized it would be very convenient for me to have about 4 huge tables on which to lay out partially finished work for weeks and weeks just so I could look at it, play with it, try it on then walk away for days. Come back, insert bead, take out bead, insert different bead and so on. I think I just need to live with things for a while before I can finish them.

Stopped me in my tracks

I find myself increasingly interested in closures and clasps (maybe because I struggle with them). These necklaces from Vladimír Rozkovec really got my wheels turning.


I love how the clasp works but especially that it is completely integrated into the focal pendant - nothing is an after thought here.


Aren't they fantastic? Couldn't you see this idea of closure translating to polymer clay?

Vladimír has an Etsy shop where you can enjoy more of his sculptural leather work.

Just a peak

A peak at carving work. I've done totally carved beads so now I am moving toward partially carved surfaces and forming organic shapes.


I am venturing into aluminum foil core beads because I need to work on weight of finished pieces. Why didn't I try this sooner?!


And one last peak... a peak at my house (and my Yellena prints) on the Artisan's Gallery Blog.

A BIG thanks

A quick post with BIG thanks to Kellie who so graciously chose me for the Talented Tuesday spot on her blog! If you're in Brisbane, Australia she'll be at The Handmade Expo Market this Saturday. If you're like me and geography does not allow (what a shame!) , click over to her etsy shop and check out her resin jewelry and buttons!

The end result

The large custom Sediment necklace is finished and on its way across the country!


Stainless steel strung through a short length of hollow rubber cord creates the loop for a toggle clasp. (my left thumbnail almost permanently has black paint under it - sorry to everyone except Claire :-)



The beads graduate as they get close to necklace for comfort and to cut some of the weight. (it has about 275 beads!) I was a little sad to say good bye to this piece. I truly labored over it.

The day was made

I got a lovely email this morning from Delphine of Le Blog du Coolest. She posted the necklace she made (below) after seeing my fiber bead tutorial last November and another necklace incorporating her "quotation" of my moon earrings. Very cool to see her take on these textures. You really made my day, Delphine. Thank you!
Several big custom orders have kept me very busy these past 3 weeks or so. I've really been feeling like I needed to stretch myself more in regard to construction so when a request came along for a necklace version of my Sediment bracelet I knew it was meant to be. Here's the necklace in progress. I wedged the beads at the bottom to help create the curve without a lot of gaping.



What kind of clasp to use was probably my biggest hurdle. I sketched. I stared. I sketched. I stared. I wanted something simple and sturdy but also something that was incorporated into the overall design so a purchased clasp was out. I finished it tonight and will hopefully get some good photographs tomorrow before its shipped to its new home.