Brrr, Winter

Winter is here and many of us are shivering under layers of clothes.  But once you peel off your coat, scarf, hat and gloves, some wintery jewelry might just take the edge off the brrr.

Blue Snowflake Necklace 

This rustic necklace features a ceramic pendant by my friend Diana Ptaszynski, a handmade clasp that echoes the angles of the snowflake and gorgeous deep blue batik ribbon. Nobody will accuse you of being boring when you wear this unique artisan necklace!

Casual Snowflake Necklace

Perhaps you’d like something a little more subtle; something you can just slip over your head with a simple tee shirt or sweater. This necklace features my own handmade ceramic snowflake and a raku bead by Xaz Beads.

Let It Snow Earrings

I also have a couple of winter themed earrings in my shop.  These earrings have ceramic snowflakes by Bo Hulley and lampwork glass by my friends at Paradise Bead. All the wire is Sterling silver.  These are so pretty!

Tranquil Snowflake Earrings

These are my favorite of the four shown here.  The lampwork beads by Sue Beads shimmer with a silvery iridescence and the artisan sterling silver snowflakes are exquisitely detailed. These will make your ears happy!

What do you like best about winter? I like walking in crunchy sounding snow. How about you?

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

Linda Landig Jewelry

Muffin Tin Challenge 2017

Life is what happens when you make other plans.  Ever heard that saying?  It pretty much explains what happened to me the past two weeks, in regards to this challenge.  Let me explain.

Heather Powers (Humble Beads) issued her annual Muffin Tin Challenge a couple of weeks ago.  The idea is to kick start your creativity at the start of the new year.  Participants  load up each cup of a muffin tin with all the “ingredients” needed to make a piece of jewelry.  Then whenever you have a spare moment, you can sit down and start creating, without the need to gather material or get distracted by all the other pretties.

I was coming down with a cold, so I decided to make it easy on myself and just use a 6 cup muffin tin, rather than attempting 12 projects.

My muffin tin.

That cold I mentioned?  Yah, well it quickly morphed into bronchitis.  Which explains why my muffin tin reveal is now a week late.  Even though I missed the deadline for the blog hop, I still felt a sense of commitment to follow through on this challenge.

Before the bronchitis hit me like a tsunami, I got a couple of pieces done.  First up is a pair of earrings that I featured on my Earrings Everyday blog post yesterday.  I ended up making the earrings from the contents of the first two muffin cups. The ceramic spikes are from Suburban Girl Studio and the beaded beads are from Sue Beads.

Then I went on to make a necklace with the Humble Beads bird pendant that you see in the second muffin cup.

The rest of the jewelry was made this week. I made these cute earrings next.  They are strung on Irish waxed linen and I macramed the loops at the tops.  The wavy ceramic charms were made by Marsha Neal Studio.  I’m in love with the glaze on these.  See how it shades from mauve to lavender? ❤

I adore this wonderfully textured heart, by Yoli Miramontes.  I topped it with a  lampwork glass cube, that pulls in the pink from the heart and accents that with mint green.  I’ve been looking for an excuse to use these unusually faceted, mint green beads.  Their time had come to shine!  I interspersed them with tiny green seed beads and transparent pink fire polish beads.  I’m super pleased with this one.

This next necklace features more ceramic work by Marsha Neal Studio.  I have a huge hoard of Marsha’s work, so I need to focus on designing with her things and then releasing them out into the world, so others can enjoy them.  I topped Marsha’s pendant with a delightful, ceramic bird bead by Caroline Dewison of BlueberriBeads.

And finally, I wrapped up this challenge with these happy, little flower earrings.  Unfortunately, I don’t remember the name of the lampwork artist.

So I finally finished the Muffin Tin Challenge.  Better late than never.  The first pair of earrings are available in my shop now and I will be adding the others over the next few days.  Thanks for visiting my blog.
I am always delighted to read your comments!  Hope to hear from you.

Linda Landig Jewelry

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We’re All Ears :: June Tide Pools Challenge

Growing up near the Pacific coast, my fascination with tide pools dates back to childhood vacations on the ocean.  There is an entire ecosystem in each little puddle and pool.

Sea stars, anemomes, mussels and barnacles share habitat on Rialto Beach. Photo by Halfcenturyhiker.

Sea stars (aka starfish) usually have 5 arms, but sometimes we’d find sea stars with a many more arms than that.

The many colored sea anemones look like strange plants, but are actually animals that attach themselves to rocks and shells.  They wave their tentacles when the tide is in and close up when the tide is out.  If you accidentally step on one, it will squirt water!

Tide pools are also home to shellfish, such as mussels, limpets and barnacles.  Any kid who has ever clambered around on rocky tide pools in flip flops can tell you how viciously a barnacle can cut your foot, if you slip on some slick seaweed!

I can not imagine living far from the sea.  It’s where I go when I need council, comfort or serenity.

Which it to say that I love this month’s Earrings Everyday Tide Pools theme.  The earrings I made would be great to wear at the beach.  But I know that I’d wear them lots of other times, just to bring a bit of the beach into my everyday life.

The beautiful blue lampwork beads are handmade by Sue Kennedy of Sue Beads.  There is a lovely trailing of fine silver around these beads, which accents the sterling silver starfish that I dangled below them.

The Silver Starfish Earrings are available in my shop: Linda Landig Jewelry.  To see my entire Surf and Sand Collection go here:  Surf and Sand Collection

This is a blog hop.  To see everyone else’s tide pool inspired earrings, head over to Earrings Everyday, to get the links.

Linda

Linda Landig Jewelry

Choosy Chicks Choose Chicklets Blog Hop Reveal

Toltec Jewels is hosting a blog hop today, featuring Chicklet Beads from Susan Kennedy of SueBeads.  I have designed with Sue’s Chicklet beads before and I really love them, so I was excited to have the opportunity to use these beads again.

Here’s a bracelet I designed with Sue’s Chicklet beads, in May 2014.

Cornflower Bracelet

For today’s blog hop, I received a plum purple colored Chicklet bead.  I like the way these tab beads lay flat in a bracelet design, so I combined my Chicklet bead with other artisan beads and came up with this “Plum Delight” bracelet.

Plum Delight Bracelet

I combined Sue’s Chicklet bead, with a lentil shaped bead from Beads & Botanicals and a ceramic bead from White Clover Kiln.

Plum Delight Bracelet

Additional accents include tip-drilled pearls, purple Czech glass bird beads, fire polish beads and ovals of Chinese Charoite.

Plum Delight Bracelet

Thank  you Toltec Jewels for hosting this wonderful blog hop!  And thank you Sue Beads for your lovely lampwork beads!

Plum Delight Bracelet

Now check out all the other jewelry designers who created awesome designs with Sue’s Chicklet Beads!

ARTISTS:

Guest of Honor & Featured Artist:  Susan Kennedy

Sue Kennedy’s blogs:     SueBeads…A Beady Girl’s blog

                                           Art Jewelry Elements

Sue Kennedy’s website:     SueBeads

SueBeads Art Beads:     SueBeads

                                       Hostess:

Toltec Jewels                                           http://www.JewelSchoolFriends.com

                                   Artists:

Linda Anderson                                       http://fromthebeadboard.blogspot.com/

Jennifer Reno                                           http://jenrenjewelry.blogspot.com/

Shirley Moore                                          http://beadsandbread.blogspot.com/

Kristen Stevens                                        http://kristen-beadjourney.blogspot.com

Marybeth Rich                                         http://forestofjewels.blogspot.com

Jael Thorp                                                http://jaelsjewels.blogspot.com/

Melissa Trudinger                                     http://Beadrecipes.wordpress.com

Andrea Glick                                            http://zenithjade.blogspot.com/

Nan Smith                                                http://wirednan.blogspot.com

Blanca Medina                                         www.peru-medesigns.com

Shai Williams                                            http://shaihasramblings.blogspot.com

Carolyn Lawson                                       http://Carolynscreationswa.blogspot.com

Rana Wilson                                             http://Ranaleadesigns.blogspot.com

Robin Reed                                              http://willowdragon.blogspot.com

Robin Showstack                                     http://heartsdesiresjewelryforyou.blogspot.com/

Sheila Prosterman                                     http://catswithbeads.blogspot.com

Karla Morgan                                          http://Texaspepperjams.blogspot.com

Kari Asbury                                             http://hippiechickdesign.blogspot.com

Kelly Rodgers                                          https://www.facebook.com/BeadinBlackBlue

Jayne Capps                                            https://mamasgottodoodle.blogspot.com/

Mischelle Andrade Fanucchi                    https://micheladasmusings.blogspot.com/

Heather Richter                                       http://desertjewelrydesigns.blogspot.com

Chris Eisenberg                                       www.wanderware.blogspot.com

Kathleen Breeding                                   http://www.zibbet.com/99BottlesofBeadsontheWall

Linda Landig                                          https://lindalandig.wordpress.com 

Crystal Thain                                           http://beaddragons.blogspot.com/

Cheri Reed                                              http://creativedesignsbycheri.blogspot.com

Heather d-Entremont                               http://frugalmadougall.wordpress.com/

Dini Bruinsma                                          http://angazabychanges.blogspot.com/

Lori Schneider                                         http://www.beadaddicted.blogspot.com/

Tammy Adams                                        http://www.paisleylizard.com/blog.html

Melinda Orr                                            http://bandanagirl.indiemade.com/blog

Lennis Carrier                                         http://windbent.wordpress.com/

Cynthia Machata                                     http://antiquitytravelers.blogspot.com

Elizabeth Hodges                                    http://thewhisperingseas.blogspot.com

Debbie Rasmussen                                  http://kepirasmussen.blogspot.com/

Tanya McGuire                                       http://tanyamcguire.blogspot.com/

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

Ev Shelby                                                  http://raindropcreationsbyevelyn.blogspot.com/

Sharyl McMillian-Nelson                        http://sharylsjewelry.blogspot.com/

Jasvanti Patel                                        http://jewelrybyjasvanti.blogspot.com

 

Cornflower Bracelet

AJE May Component of the Month Reveal

Once a month Art Jewelry Elements (AJE) hosts a giveaway and jewelry reveal.  May’s giveaway component was made by Susan Kennedy of Sue Beads.  Members of the Art Jewelry Elements team, plus a few lucky guest artists were given a set of these beautiful  lampwork glass flower beads that Sue made for us.  I was given the blue set on the far right.

Beautiful flower tab beads from Sue Beads.

First I must say that I really love these beads.  You know me – I ❤ flowers, plus I like the unusual shape.  The fact that this shape lays flat on the wrist, makes them especially well suited to bracelet designs.  I do have an earring design in mind too, but that will have to wait till another time.

Cornflower Bracelet

I used one of Lesley Watt’s gorgeous brass bracelet bars as the focal of my bracelet.  Sue’s beads frame it perfectly.  I love these three together.  I think they were made for each other! I furthered the floral theme with two Czech glass flower beads.  The rest of the bracelet is fire polished beads and little glass seed beads, finished with a decorative antiqued brass toggle clasp.

Cornflower Bracelet

It is a simple design, but quite eye-catching and elegant.  I can personally attest to the eye-catching part.  I wore it today and the lady at the grocery store asked me about it and wanted not just one of my business cards, but several to share with the other women who work there!

Cornflower Bracelet

I named this bracelet after the beautiful blue Cornflower (aka Bachelor Button).  When you look at the photo below, you’ll see what a perfect match this name is.

Cornflower

Want to see more gorgeous  jewelry with Susan’s  lampwork glass beads? –  Here are all the links.    Have fun blog hopping!

Guests

Shai Williams

Erin Prais-Hintz

Kari Asbury

Carolyn Lawson

Merja Sundstrom

AJE Members

Susan Kennedy

Diana Ptaszynski

Linda Landig  – You are here.

Lesley Watt

Melissa Meman

Caroline Dewison

Francesca Watson

Jenny Davies-Reazor

Rebekah Payne

Keirsten Giles

Kristen Stevens

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

Linda

Linda Landig Jewelry – ArtFire 

Linda Landig Jewelry – Etsy

Snowflake Earrings

Last Art Jewelry Earring Challenge Reveal

Its time for the last Art Jewelry Elements Earring Challenge Reveal.  This Challenge lasted all throughout 2013.  The goal was to make one pair of earrings each week of the year.  I missed a few weeks when life got crazy, but overall I did fairly well.  This challenge really pushed me to produce, and I think it was good for me!

“Let It Snow” Earrings

The “Let It Snow” earrings feature shimmering blue lampwork glass beads by fellow AJE team member Sue Kennedy.  The beads have a silvery sheen that adds a striking lux factor to the earrings.

Let It Snow Earrings

Dangling beneath Sue’s lampwork beads are handmade sterling silver snowflakes by Oakhill Silver Supply.

Let It Snow Earrings

Spiral Fiber Earrings

I blogged about these earrings on the Art Jewelry Elements blog, but I haven’t shared them here.  I made the Spiral Fiber Earrings using wire links that I learned from Cindy Wimmer’s book, “The Missing Link”.

Spiral Fiber Earrings

After I formed the wire links, I wrapped the hoop portion with Wooly Wire and dangled lampwork headpins by Lori Bergman, from the hoops.

Spiral Fiber Earrings

Want to see more gorgeous earrings?  Head on over to Art Jewelry Elements  for links to the other Earring Reveal blog posts!  We  also have an AJE Earring Challenge Board on Pinterest.

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

Linda

Linda Landig Jewelry – ArtFire 

Linda Landig Jewelry – Etsy

Blue Skies and Sunshine Necklace

AJE Component of the Month Reveal

Once a month Art Jewelry Elements hosts a component giveaway and reveal. May’s component was made by the talented Sue Kennedy of Sue Beads.  Members of the Art Jewelry Elements team, plus several other artists were each given one of these gorgeous lampwork glass discs that Sue made for us.

Component of the Month by Sue Beads

I received the disc at the top, with the orange center.  I was so delighted, because orange is one of my favorite colors!

Remember last month when I broke one of Jen’s lampwork glass headpins?  This month’s Component of the Month was just the opposite experience.  The necklace went together quickly and easily and I am rather pleased with it.

Blue Skies and Sunshine Necklace

I strung the necklace on orange leather cording, attaching the lampwork disc with a larks head knot. Using waxed linen cording, I dangled a flower bead below the disc.  The flower is accented with a turquoise seed bead and a tiny transparent, peach colored glass teardrop-shaped bead.

Blue Skies and Sunshine Necklace

I placed a turquoise, enameled bead by Barbara Lewis, above the glass disc, completing the pendant portion of the necklace.  The two round, orange ceramic beads were made by Bo Hulley.  The rest of the ceramic and glass beads are commercially made.

Blue Skies and Sunshine Necklace

About 17 years ago, a bead shop near my parents’ house, bought out all the glass buttons from a defunct German button factory.  I bought quite a supply of them back then at a very reasonable price.  One of the orange glass buttons worked  perfectly as a loop and button closure for this necklace.  The necklace measures about 16.5 inches long and the enamel bead will be at about collarbone length on most people.

Blue Skies and Sunshine Necklace

I made this necklace on a gorgeous spring day.  As I looked out my studio window, I noticed that the sky was a clear blue-turquoise, like the beads in the necklace.  That’s how this necklace came to be named the “Blue Skies and Sunshine” necklace!

Want to see more gorgeous  jewelry with these lampwork discs?  Head on over to Art Jewelry Elements  for links to the other Component of the Month blog posts!  

P.S. My blog has a new template!  Did you notice?  Its a cleaner, more modern format.  I’m still working on the heading banner and I need to update my blog roll, but I’m liking it.  How about you?

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

Linda

Linda Landig Jewelry – ArtFire 

Linda Landig Jewelry – Etsy  

New Earrings And An Interview

Lampwork Glass Head Pins

I’ve been having fun making earrings with lampwork glass head pins.  Basically this means that a glass artist formed the molten glass around a thin metal wire.  For example, in the earrings below, Susan Kennedy of Sue Beads, created the mango colored rounds with a thin vertical metal wire sticking up from the top.  I strung on the blue ceramic beads and topped them with small carnelians.

Mango Delight Earrings

Then I wrapped a loop with that wire at the top and attached it to the brass ear wires.  I love these cheerful earrings.  They’d be awesome with jeans, but they’d go with anything blue, brown, beige, rust or orange.  I titled these the “Mango Delight” earrings and they are in my shop now.

Mango Delight Earrings

This next pair of earrings also features glass head pins from Sue Beads.  Sue called these blue rounds “Snow Flowers” and you can see why.  The pattern that has been pressed into the glass could be interpreted as either a flower or a snowflake, making them a great year round choice.

Crystal Blue Earrings

I topped the glass head pins with lampwork glass (handmade glass) by another talented glass artist, Jenelle Aubade of Beads and Botanicals. When you peer into these beads they are miniature wonders, full of swirling baby blue, cobalt blue and clear glass encasing.  I topped Jenelle’s beads with light blue Swarovski crystals.  The ear wires are sterling silver.  The “Crystal Blue” earrings are also in my shop now.

Crystal Blue Earrings

Interview on the

Pacific N.W. ArtFire Guild Blog

I was recently interviewed on the Pacific Northwest ArtFire Guild Blog.  My interviewer, Linda Steider of Steider Studios asked excellent questions and the whole thing turned out quite nicely.  If you’d like to learn more about my background and design process visit:

Studio Spotlight – Linda Landig, Artisan Jewelry