September Component of the Month Reveal

Its time for the Art Jewelry Elements September Component of the Month Reveal!  This month’s components are from Kristi Bowman Design.

Copper PMC Pendants by Kristi Bowman

I love Kristi’s copper metal clay pieces and have used many of them in my jewelry designs over the years.  For this month’s design, I chose the first piece in the bottom row of the picture above.

Unfortunately I had a lot going on this month and somehow the end of the September snuck up on me sooner than I expected.  So today’s post will be a peek at a work in progress necklace.

I just loosely strung the beads on walnut colored, waxed linen cording, to give you an idea of where I’m going with this.  The final piece will be knotted between the beads.

I wrapped the center of Kristi’s pendant with turquoise colored Wooly Wire.  I also wrapped two channel beads with Wooly Wire.  I love the vibrant turquoise with Kristi’s copper pendant and the Wooly Wire adds such a nice soft texture contrast to the hard copper.

I continued the copper and turquoise theme with some gorgeous, handmade raku beads that I got from Xaz Beads, at Bead Fest last year.

Unfortunately that’s as far as I got with this project.  I’ll post an update later this week when I finish the necklace.

So now I encourage you to visit the other participants blogs to see what they created with Kristi’s pendants.  And visit Kristi’s shop too, to see more of her work!

Guest Artists

SJ Designs Jewelry

Kari Asbury

Shirley Moore

AJE Team Members

Caroline Dewison

Diana Ptaszynski

Lesley Watt

Melissa Meman

Linda Landig   – You are here.

Kristen Stevens

Jenny Davies-Reazor
Sue Kennedy

I am always delighted to read your comments!   Hope to hear from you.

-Linda

Linda Landig Jewelry

 

Forest Lodge Bracelet

AJE Component of the Month Reveal

Once a month Art Jewelry Elements hosts a component giveaway and reveal.  March’s components were made by the talented Jo Tinley of Daisy Chain Extra.  Each member of the Art Jewelry Elements team, plus five other artists were given a copper lentil bead that Jo had made for us.  To read more about how Jo made these copper beads, go to Making Hollow Beads.

The beads had different surface textures, as you can see from the pictures.  The bead I received had a textured surface created by the rounded end of a ball peen hammer.

I love the copper beads, but I ran into a couple of challenges while creating my bracelet.  Although challenges can be a bit frustrating, I kind of like the way the problem solving process makes me think more creatively.  I knew I wanted to pair Jo’s copper lentil bead with other flat or lentil shaped beads, but it took a bit of searching to find beads that would not over-power Jo’s bead in terms of color or size.  I finally found a Kazuri bead that was a perfect fit.

Forest Lodge Bracelet

The greater challenge was that I wanted to have multiple strands of glass seed beads in the back of the bracelet.  My plan was to use 5 strands of beading wire.  I wanted the wires to be separated when they ran through the seed beads, but to be strung all together when running through the larger beads.  Nice idea, but it didn’t work.

Forest Lodge Bracelet

It turned out that the copper lentil would only accept one strand of beading wire.  So I needed to figure out a way to taper the number of threads going through the lentil, without letting the mechanics of the transition be visible.  I worked this out by crimping all 5 strands and then  trimming the strands down to one  and hiding the crimps under the solid turquoise beads.  I finished the bracelet with a spiral brass hook I made. I’m  pleased with how it all turned out.

Forest Lodge Bracelet

I named this piece the “Forest Lodge Bracelet” because last week my husband and I took a day trip to the magnificent Lake Quinault Lodge.  Nestled in the woods on the shores of Lake Quinault, this traditional lodge was built in 1926.  Everything about it exudes tranquility and relaxation.  It seemed like the perfect way to name the bracelet!

Lake Quinault Lodge

Lake Quinault Lodge

I really enjoyed designing with Jo’s handmade copper bead and I’d encourage you to check out both her component shop, Daisychain Extra, as well as her jewelry shop, Daisychain Jewellery.  Now go have fun discovering what the other jewelry designers have created with these copper lentil beads!  Just click on the picture below to get links to the other participating blogs.

I am always delighted to read your comments!  Hope to hear from you.

Linda

Linda Landig Jewelry – ArtFire 

Linda Landig Jewelry – Etsy

 

Celebrate Spring: Earring Giveaway

Celebrate Spring

Winters in Washington State, while not as severe as, say Minnesota, (where I was born), are long and gray.  People tend to get depressed because of the lack of sunshine.

And then suddenly things shift.  It may be chilly, but the sun is out.  Buds appear and people start smiling again.  I feel a noticeable lift in my spirits when the sun returns and the forsythia and daffodils start to bloom.  There’s a new spring in my step and I know it is time to celebrate.  So…..

It’s time for a Spring Time Giveaway!

I’ve been playing with adding fibers to my designs.  I was so pleased with the outcome of these earrings, that I decided to do a giveaway!  Some people have told me these earrings look like the spice route to India and others have said they look like a tropical beach.  Either way, they are made for sunny weather!

So Sari Earrings

The gorgeous embossed copper components are made by Melinda Orr Designs.  The orange glass beads are handmade by the lampwork glass artists at Radiant Mind.  The fibers are recycled sari silk from India.

So Sari Earrings

I will be giving these earrings away to one lucky winner on Saturday, March 31st.  There are multiple opportunities to enter the giveaway.

So Sari Earrings

Here’s how you can win:

Click to go to my Facebook page.

• Comment on the Facebook Giveaway post  for 1 entry.
• Click the share button on the Facebook post and get 2 extra entries.
• If you have a business page, click to share it there too and get an another 2 entries.
• Post about this Giveaway on your blog and leave a comment on my Facebook Giveaway post letting me know you have done this for 2 entries.
• Share the Giveaway on Google+ and let me know about it on my Facebook Giveaway post, for 2 entries.

The basics:

Comment = 1 entry

Shares = 2 entries

I will number all these entries in the order received and then use an online random number generator to determine the winner!  Best of luck and Happy Springtime!

The winner will be chosen on Saturday, March 31st~

I’ll hope you enter to win!

Good luck!

Bead Table Wednesday: Copper Component Blog Hop This Saturday

Copper Component Blog Hop This Saturday

What’s on my bead table today? -The bracelet that I’m working on for this Saturday’s Copper Component Blog Hop.

15 jewelry artisans are designing bracelets utilizing an amazing copper focal piece by the talented Kristi Bowman of Kristi Bowman Designs.

Here is the copper focal that is the centerpiece of my bracelet.

Copper focal by Kristi Bowman

And here is a sneak peek of the bracelet I’m working on.  Come back on Saturday to get a clearer view!

Come back on Saturday!

Here is a complete list of all the participants.  Please come back on Saturday, Feb. 4th to see all the coppery goodies revealed!

Kristi Bowman Design http://dreamsomedesigns.blogspot.com/

Jean Wells http://jeanawells.blogspot.com/

Melinda Orr http://orrtec.blogspot.com/

Sue Kennedy http://suebeads.blogspot.com/

Shannon Chomanczuk http://formysweetdaughter.blogspot.com/

Pam Brisse http://bluebetween.blogspot.com/

Melissa Cable http://createrecklessly.blogspot.com/

Cindy Wimmer http://www.sweetbeadstudio.com/

Mary Harding http://maryhardingjewelrybeadblog.blogspot.com/

Karen Totten http://starryroadstudio.blogspot.com/

Jan Molten Mayhem http://moltenmayhem.typepad.com/molten-mayhem/

Linda Landig http://lindasbeadblog.com/

Kristi Harrison http://kristibasket-itsanewday.blogspot.com/

Kimberly Sturrup http://bahamadawn.blogspot.com/

Sally Russick http://thestudiosublime.com/

Lana Kinney (will share on Kristi’s blog)

 

Visit the BTW Flickr group and see what others have on their  bead tables today.

Wish List

“Star bright, star light…

First star I see tonight.

I wish I may, I wish I might,

Have the wish,

I wish tonight.”

Did you ever recite that ditty as a child?  Here’s my current wish list:

These enameled wonders are from Teka and Zoe on ArtFire.  Basically I love every single thing in their shop.  If I won the lottery, I’d buy them out!

I love the scent of mint.  I drink peppermint tea, and prefer to bathe with handmade mint infused soap. This soap is from DeShawn Marie on ArtFire.

Be still my heart…  Just think what cool earrings could be made with these shiny baubles from Booga119!

I love the raised pattern on these earrings, don’t you?

Did you know that I used to make hand dyed silk scarves? Mine weren’t this nice, though.   I love the work of Morgan Silk !

Darn this girl!  She just keeps making more and more copper components that I just can’t live without! Kristi Bowman Designs:

Wouldn’t these lampwork beads from Radiant Mind, look luscious with Kristi’s copper components?  Just sayin’

I saved the best for the last!  I coveted these earrings for a while, but now I have them–and you can have them too!  They are made by my daughter, Naomi Landig.  Aren’t they awesome? I wear them all the time!

Bead Table Wednesday – New Goodies

I’ve Been Shopping!

Jewelry Display

My friend and I were in JC Penny the other day to find a dress jacket for her to wear to a friend’s wedding.  We passed by the jewelry (oh-oh, danger zone) where I saw some adorable jewelry display stands.  They were marked $10 off because they were all a bit bent.  But if you design jewelry, then you know how to wield  jeweler’s pliers and it doesn’t take much to bring it back into alignment.  I’ve tweaked it a bit, but I can see from this picture that it’s still not quite right yet. The left footing still doesn’t sit flush with the table.  But with another small tweak, it will be good to go!  It was a great deal because of the mark down and I think it will make a nice addition to my booth at jewelry shows.  What do you think?

Dream Some

I have lots of wonderful handmade metal components on my work table today! I got these components from Kristi Bowman of DreamSome on Etsy.  The charms are handmade from copper metal clay.  When fired they become pure copper and a second firing creates this gorgeous patina.  I’ve already made a pair of earrings from one set of charms (not shown) and can hardly wait to get my hands on the pair that are pictured here.  I also purchased this delightful domed brass heart pendant.

Miss Fickle Media

And since I’m a “more is always more” kind of gal, I also placed an order with Shannon LeVart of MissFickleMedia,  on Etsy.  Shannon is well known for the many colors she is able to coax from metals with her special patina processes.  These copper and brass charms will probably also find their way into earrings.

I don’t have a definite plan yet for these amazing pure copper round beads.  Sometimes when something is as gorgeous as these beads are, I get afraid to use them–like I’ll spoil the magic or something.  I know–I gotta get over it.  Eventually I just force myself to use my treasures.  You just have to push on through your real or imagined barriers.

✿Do you ever have to force yourself to take the next step?  Do you have to actively silence the critic in your head?  What helps move you forward? ✿

Check out other bead tables over at the Bead Table Wednesday Flickr group!

Bird Banner

Today’s sunny weather inspired me to create a Springtime banner for my blog.  It’s a slice from this picture, featuring my Pink Bird Necklace.  What do you think of the banner?  Is it too busy, or not?

Bead Table Wednesday – Spring Fever!

On My Work Table Today

Spring has finally arrived in the Pacific Northwest and since I love flowers almost as much as I love beads, I’m one happy person!  Spring fever spilled over into my jewelry design this week too, so  I decided to name this bracelet Spring Fever.

 

Spring Fever includes glass, wood and ceramic beads.  The double strand of copper chain finishes with a flirty, little flower dangle.

Look What I Won!

 I entered a giveaway, this week,  that Beads and Botanicals hosted on Facebook and I was the winner!  How cool is that?  I love this new bead.  I can hardly wait to see what kind of necklace it inspires!  They have a beautiful new website that makes me want every single thing on it! Click on The Lampwork Bead to check it out.

Lampwork beads from Beads and Botanicals

BTW- and this time it means By The Way & Not Bead Table Wednesday

I want to thank everyone who posted words of comfort and empathy on my blog and Facebook page after a dog ran out in front of my car and was killed on Sunday.  I felt the hugs and care that everyone sent my way.  Thank you for being so wonderful and for lifting me up. ♥✿♥✿♥

I encourage you to check out other people’s bead tables at our Bead Table Wednesday Flickr Group.  Just click on the image below.

 

Bead Table Wednesday – Pink Bird

BTW (Bead Table Wednesday)

I’m loving how BTW is keeping me accountable for getting something done every week. This Pink Bird Necklace sat neglected, on my bead mat, almost all week-long. I got busy, though, when I thought, “Oh my gosh, BTW is almost here.  It will be way too embarrassing to post the same unfinished necklace two weeks in a row!” So last night I added the leaf and brass bird dangle, as promised last week.  But I still wasn’t satisfied with it.  The length was out of proportion to the elements in the necklace.  So I chopped off a bunch of the chain and now, at 21.5 inches (54.61 cm), I really like it. The ceramic bird pendant is by Nan Emmett of Spirited Earth.

 

Think Green!

I’ve had green on my mind as St. Patrick’s Day approaches.  These earrings aren’t St. Paddy’s Day earrings, but they are green –  in fact, they are  three lovely shades of green.  Their classic good styling would take them from a weekend of jeans and a sweater, to work and dinner out. The graceful carved jade tubes are a flattering shape.  They are accented with pearls, malachite and Bali spacers.  I’m loving these Jade Earrings–green is one of my favorite colors!

I encourage you to  enjoy BTW in other people’s studios.  Just click on the image below to visit the BTW Flickr Group.