beading contest entries

tax day (april 15) was also the last day for submissions to the fire mountain gems beading contest.

i managed to create two pieces .

this first one i entered into the seed bead category and the freshwater pearls category. everything in each piece had to be purchased from fire mountain gems other than found objects, things you made, or things they don't sell.

this necklace has quartz beads, coin pearls, traditional pearls, delica seed beads, and a sterling silver and pearl clasp. these elements along with acculon bead cord and crimp beads were all from fire mountain gems.

i also included beach glass from lake erie, and three focal beads that i made.


the focal beads were made with clear glass, covered in silver foil, and then encased in clear glass.

i made the surface textured to look more organic and more like a found object.

i tried acid etching some of the beads i made, but it eliminated the silver look too much, so i left them shiny.




















the second necklace is "hot rocks!"
i entered it into the art clay and metal categories.

it has sterling silver chain, onxy beads, sterling silver wire, and an onxy and sterling clasp from fire mountain gems.

it also has lava rocks from FMG that i transformed into silver beads with layers of art clay paste and firing with the torch.

five of my "graffiti beads" are also on the necklace. i made them with black glass and white stringer.







i don't know how either piece will do. they tend to select heavily seed beaded items, which i guess require skill and lots and lots of time, but i don't find them particularly wearable or at all hip.

it was at least a good experiment and if nothing else, i have two very interesting necklaces i can sell later in the summer.

upcoming shows!

i will have things in the spring and summer shows!

in the spring show will be my handmade paper gift tags "the paper garden" which have perennial seeds in them. when you are done with the gift tag, you plant it in your garden and in a few weeks have little flowers a sproutin'!

in the summer show will be my handmade jewelry, bookmarks, key chains and glass beads.

one day during the summer show i will be doing a bead making demonstration!

circle of hope

so, this year i decided to participate in Fire Mountain Gems circle of hope necklace project.

i submitted two beads to be incorporated into the necklace, and then be auctioned off with all proceeds benefiting breast cancer research. i think this is a great project and a great cause. it also gets me some publicity since my name and website will be published along with pictures of the complete necklace on their website and in the 2008-2009 catalog!

here are my two beads:

this one was made with raku frit over silver purple glass. it was then encased in clear, pressed and the dots added:


this one is also made with raku frit as well as green aventurine chips over green glass. it was then encased in clear.


i am really happy with how they both turned out. keep an eye out for them if you get the Fire Mountain Gems catalog.

no body loves me...

or, at least, no body loves hearing about my art when i post away about it on myspace and livejournal.
so i am making this blog so that i may blog to my hearts content about making things and no one has to bother reading it who isn't interested in my crafty ways.

and i don't have to go eat worms, either.