Bracelets

Bracelets / Bangles

Is there a difference to you? In my humble opinion a bangle is rigid where a bracelet is "softer".  I have always been a big fan of both but since I have large hands bangles have always been an issue for me. That has to be one of the big benefits of making my own. :)  My wrist is pretty normal in size but my hands are large. (Took after my Father on that one unfortunately.) I am in love with the arm party or stacked bracelet trend. I try to keep the stacked bracelets to a minimum though since I find it difficult to wear too many at once.

Just finished this turquoise bracelet. I am going to post more bangles / bracelets on Wednesdays for the next few weeks ---- come back and see what I come up with.

Thanks for visiting.

Tuesday Eye Candy

Wow! It has been awhile. I have been occupied with family issues. I am easily distracted and will use most any excuse to delay my jewellery work.

But it is time to get back in there and do what I love. I have been all over the map. Stacking bracelets, tribal pieces, found objects, sleek wood, more and more earrings. I have been loving most of what I am making but it not of a style. Decided I need to let that go. "If I like it I will make it" is my new motto.

I like to explore and try new techniques. Glitter, gold leaf stones, why not? Diamonds with plastic? I really admire artists who work in a "style" and I know I have talked about this before but...... embrace the difference -

Do you make jewellery for yourself that is different from what you make to sell? I often find I do not have any pieces to wear casually. So..... I made some casual jewellery. Lots of layering pieces, I love them but they do not sell..... Maybe it is the display? Maybe it is the wrong audience? Maybe, maybe, maybe..... Maybe don't worry so much and just make what you enjoy?

I hope to have some enamel pieces ready to show you next week - in the meantime here are some new pieces I have been working on ---

Enjoy! Thanks for stopping by.....

Mojo Challenge: Week Nine - Ancient History

"Create a piece of jewelry inspired by an ancient design using modern materials. What's ancient? Let's anything before the Renaissance. Head back to ancient Greece, Rome, Africa, China or India for a serious dose of inspiration. Don't forget Celtic and Viking jewelry designs too. There is literally a whole world to explore!"

Click here to see the original post for this week. Thanks again Heather.

This week took me awhile to get my head around - I work with ancient beads all the time. I love them. I love the worn patina, the smooth texture from years of being worn and touched. I read, I goggled, but I was stuck on some vintage trade beads. I decided to modify the challenge a little and use the beads I loved (ancient) but create a more modern design. I have been into wrap bracelets lately and this seemed to be the perfect use for these lovely beads.

Thanks for visiting. Enjoy!

AARCS Art Combat

Thursday evening was a fund raiser for AARCS, a local animal rescue society. This was the second year for their Art Attack Challenge.

I made an interchangeable necklace for the silent auction. The piece sold so I was very pleased that money was raised for a very worthy cause.

The clasp  allows the individual strands to be added and removed allowing the wearer to create a different necklace each time they wear it. It is made from vegetable dyed wooden beads so even if worn with all the stands it is still very light.

We're All Ears: May

Earrings Everyday is hosting their monthly challenge based on this image. "The Greek legend is that there was a boy of astonishing beauty named Nerites. He was a lover of the sea-born Aphrodite. When Aphrodite was invited by Zeus to join the gods on Mount Olympus, she invited Nerites to join her. He refused, preferring to stay in his home, the sea. In revenge she metamorphosed him into a seashell."

 Thank you Earrings Everyday for hosting.

Zigzag Nerite shells - Neritina Communis - from Atlantis Shell Co

This monthly challenge seems to be really helping my earring mojo. I still prefer simple earrings but I have decided that is OK. I can admire all the amazing designs I see on the hop but I can still stay simple.

I do not have anything close to these shells in my stash and there is no way I could order anything and have any chance of it arriving on time. So - what to do --- I decided to work with the seashell theme but not limit myself to what was pictured.

Abalone? They are shells - I love the shape of these beads and hanging like this reminds me of the waves washing in the tiny shells from the inspiration photo.

Enjoy! and thanks for visiting.

Mojo Challenge: Week 8 - Colour Palette Inspiration

Find a color palette to use as the inspiration for your next jewelry design. Pick a color palette that isn't your go-to colors! Think outside the box this week.

 

Click here to see the original post for this week. Thanks again Heather.

 

 



I am not sure which was more difficult this week - finding the palette or making the jewellery. I decided to make a bracelet this week since I have avoided them for this group of challenges so far. Not sure I am a fan of memory wire though. The bracelet tends to fall off my wrist very easily. I am doing some research to see if I can find any suggestions to fix this issue.

So, here is my palette from Design Seeds...

And here is my bracelet ---- I used a variety of vintage wooden, metal, resin, bone, and coconut beads and spacers...

Hope you like it. Enjoy!

Mojo Challenge: Week 7 - One Colour

"Make a piece of jewelry with just one color, varying to value (light & darkness), shape and texture for interest."

 

Click here to see the original post for this week. Thanks again Heather.

I am really confused though - I thought I was so up to date and I find this is week 8 already ---- I need to get my post for week 7 up. "I am late - I am late - for a very important date"  --- Not sure how this happened but all will be right with the world very soon. I have been making a number of monochromatic pieces this week and nothing was striking my fancy. I wanted something simple - to wear with a colourful sun dress - I did not want to use any metal - I know this type of necklace can look very cheap but I was determined to either overcome that or love "cheap" which ever came first ----- And I do love this - enough to make a couple more for layering - I used only bone beads but they all vary slightly in colour due to natural dyes. I also varied the shape ---- I randomly selected from a bowl of different shapes and sizes and placed them onto my beading wire. I was fortunate enough to have a number of bone clasps as well. I am very happy with my results.

Thanks for visiting. Enjoy!