Mushrooms, Birds, & Handmade Clasps

I haven't been particularly inspired in the last couple of weeks. I don't know if it's the heat, or because I'm looking forward to the new things I'll be getting at the upcoming bead show next month. But I'm just not feeling it. I did, however, manage to come up with a few things last week. I am really enjoying making my own clasps at least.

Anyone know what the pendant is? It was unmarked when I got it a year and a half ago. Some sort of jasper I'm guessing. It's really pretty and goes well with the millefiori/foiled beads I used.

Remember when I made the bird pendants from a mold I created? I do like the way this one came out. I'd made myself a necklace with one at the time, but now that I've made this, I'm going to have to revisit the other one. It also includes some betel nut beads and Czech glass.

 These mod little earrings are blackstone and Czech glass. 

And these cute retro styled mushrooms are paired with faux coral.

Can't wait 'til the bead show. It's no Bead & Button or Tucson, but it's the best we get here in NOLA and I'm excited!

I Won! I Won!

***EDIT*** Sadly, I got confirmation from the artist himself that nope, he had nothing to do with this. And then someone pointed out that it was probably done for display purposes at a record store at the time. That seems so obvious now, I don't know why I didn't see that right away. Oh well, it's still cool looking and looks great in my living room, so I can't complain too much. ***END EDIT***

Remember that piece of artwork I was hoping to win at the Art Auction I mentioned a couple of blogs ago? Well, I won. I really expected to get outbid by some ridiculous amount of money, but it didn't happen. I guess it was just the wrong demographic, because the right person would have done that. There was only a little competition, and I got it for a totally reasonable price!

I know you're all wondering what it is, aren't you? It is (allegedly) the original mock-up artwork for David Bowie's Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps) album. I have NO idea what on earth that was doing at an auction house in New Orleans for the last 20 years, but there it was. It was discovered a few months ago, and donated to the PBS Art Auction where I have been volunteering for the past several years. It's like it was meant for me!

So here it is:

And here I am next to it so you can see how huge it is.

I seriously cannot believe I own this. I've loved David Bowie as long as I can remember. When I was 16, I saw him on the Glass Spiders tour. I was smashed against the stage, and he came over to the edge and pointed his finger, waving it around searching for The One, and that was me! He grabbed my hand and held it and sang to me for a minute or so, then quickly whipped his hand back ignoring all the other people who were trying to get what I got. Some random guy standing next to me turned and shouted, "HE touched YOU!!!" voicing my exact feelings. And it was almost as exciting last night when the Auctioneer banged the gavel down and cried SOLD!

My TV Modeling Debut

Remember how last time I was talking about donating a necklace to my local PBS station's Art Auction? And how I was intending to bid on a particular piece of art? Well, the first weekend of the Auction just passed (the art I'm bidding on isn't up until this coming Sunday, same goes for the necklace I donated), and I volunteered as usual. For the first time, however, they needed me to model a piece of  jewelry (not mine!) for the camera. Here I am!

I didn't really make much this week -- I was too busy reworking my packaging. I had a stamp made with my name, etc., and made little business cards by stamping it onto colorful cardstock. Then, I got some fun patterned cardstock and redid all my earring cards. I stamped my stamp on the back and wrote the contents of each pair of earrings, and the price. They look way better than they did on my previous white cards with my old banner at the bottom. I couldn't think of much to do with my necklaces and bracelets, but I was pretty excited about the earrings. That's what tends to sell the most anyway. Here's a pic of some of them.

While I was at it, I decided to update my etsy shop! Finally! And while that was going on, someone decided to put this necklace:

in an Etsy Treasury! 

It's my first time, so I'm pretty excited about it!

Finally, there's this necklace I made yesterday. I wasn't sure how I felt about the Cloisonne fish, since he reminds me of old ladies in the 80s (he came from the big box o' stuff my friend gave me a few months ago), but I've grown fonder of him. Besides, the 80s are totally back, and there will always be fish people. Also, for those who've been paying attention, you might recognize the clasp on this necklace. I recently won it from a giveaway on Lori Anderson's blog :)

Thanks for coming by! And look for a giveaway soon...

A Mermaid & Synchronicity

I finally used my first Green Girl piece that I've been hoarding for a while now. I'd always known the mermaid would be hanging onto a piece of sari silk, but I'd envisioned much brighter aqua colors. However, I went with this lightly shimmery sea foam green piece, and that dictated the rest of the color scheme. Labradorite chips and mauve Czech crystals, plus some gunmetal chain and a vintage rhinestone button finish off the design. I'm quite pleased with it. The colors are understated, which is a nice contrast for everything that's going on with the necklace. It looks great on too!

Last night, I went on an earring making binge! I have an event next weekend, and I need to have lots of jewelry with me. Every year, I donate and volunteer for our local PBS's televised Art Auction. This year, I donated the necklace I made for the last Bead Soup Blog Party. I can't wait to see what happens! I get so nervous watching my creations on TV and hearing the bids come in (or not come in).

Well, the auction starts next weekend and the other volunteers always insist that I bring my jewelry. I went to my hair salon today to pick up everything there as well, so I should have a pretty good selection for people to peruse. I really hope things sell well because there's a particular piece of art being auctioned that I have EVERY intention of owning. And the more I sell, the higher I can bid on that piece. I will post all about it when I win it, because I will!!!

Anyway, here are some of the earrings I made last night.

 Quartz w/ annealed steel wire. I admit I was inspired by Malin de Koning here. (Please forgive me Malin!!! Yours are so much better anyway ♥)

 Jasper, carved bone, and Czech crystal.

 Dyed jade, quartz, Czech glass, & copper.

Dyed jade, Imperial jasper, & gunmetal discs.

Amazonite, labradorite, Czech crystals, vintage rhinestone rondelles & antiqued brass cones.

 

 

I kinda freaked out an hour or so ago when I checked my email and saw one of those 2-Day Designer Closeout Sale Things (Rue La La, Haute Look, Beyond the Rack, etc.), and one of my favorite jewelry designers, Lori Leavitt was featured. I excitedly clicked the link, eager to see what was available. And what did I see but this!

 

  It's just like the earrings I made last night! Great minds, and all that I guess...