i made it! mine

i will be a part of this awesome show in pittsburgh february 6, from 12 pm. to 5 pm.

come and see me and my wares if you are local!

circle of hope 2009

each year, fire mountain gems, one of the top suppliers of findings, gemstones, and beads for jewelry makers, asks artists to donate beads to the circle of hope necklace. the beads are then sold and the proceeds go to breast cancer research and awareness.

it means a lot to me to have my work included in the necklace this year since my mother was just diagnosed with breast cancer in may, and my mother in law is a 15 year breast cancer survivor.

i have two beads feature in the necklace. one was put up for sale and has already sold for $25!

the other bead also sold--for $30!

the necklace and links to my websites will be featured both online and in their print catalog.
it feels great to get national exposure and help a cause i feel so passionate about!


you can view this years necklace and the designer's info here:

http://www.firemountaingems.com/circleofhope/circleofhope9.asp

CONTEST AND GIVEAWAY!

Delve into your vocabulary and win free stuff!


recently, i have been creating lockets with definitions from antique dictionaries. sometimes i make them into pendants, and sometimes i use them in my collage necklaces.

but i need some help coming up with some good words to use.



THE CONTEST:
reply to this post with some ideas for words to feature in my lockets, and if i like your suggestions, you will be entered to win one of my glass tile pendants with the word of your choice on it! (it doesn't have to be the word you suggested) family and friends are encouraged to participate! all are welcome! (well, in the continental U.S., that is)


hints:

pick words that would appeal to a large number of people, words that are not too long, and words that people would generally be aware of the meaning. for example, "verisimilitude" is a sweet word, but people don't know what it means, and it is way too long to fit in one of my lockets.
"dung" is a short word, and people know what it means, but it is not too appealing for a piece of jewelry. get it?

the contest is open for the month of october! please include a means of contacting you with your post. the winner will be chosen at random from all entries with words i can use in my art!

please check out my jewelry at:

www.erikaoriginals.etsy.com

true love!

our rings we handmade for eachother:
the house we stayed in and had our reception in:
our rings in a sea shell:
my bouquet:
our beautiful cake:
rob with his best man (and brother) rich, and sister marlene
the couple has their first dance:
me and stef, my maid of honor:
the bride and groom:

may 15, 2009
rodanthe, north carolina on the outer banks

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.