Monday, October 29, 2012

MisMatch Monday...Halloween Style!

Many of you know Diana of Suburban Girl Studio (Beads, Jewelry) and of her love of mismatch earrings. In fact she guest posts on Art Jewelry Elements about her mismatch love.

After participating in the mismatch swap and blog hop last week I also am hooked! Then I find that in her last Monday MisMatch post Diana threw out a new challenge to include Halloween...I LOVE Halloween! To see Diana's orignal post click on the link above...she posted some really beautiful fall inspired earrings using some of her awesome stone wear designs.

But enough about all that! Let's have some reveal you say!



I am completely in love with my earrings! I decided I wanted to use one of the tiles I made from the latest Halloween images from Ella of Calico Collage. Similar tiles are available in my supply shop, Asbury Avenue Designs. Then I discovered the little pink skull bead from Gaea and the skeleton key image was perfect! The same day I saw Diana's post and started putting ideas together, my polymer rounds came in the mail from Martha of Menagerie Studio. I'm linking you to her webshop because these are a special order item and she provides detail on her wesite how to contact and order. She has lots of yummy colors! I had of course ordered purple...along with several other colors! They were perfect with the coloring in the tile and a wonderful shade of what I call witch purple...my favorite! I brought the designs together with darkened brass wire, chain and a filigree hoop from Fallen Angel Brass. The earwires are handmade by me from darkened brass wire.


I hope you enjoyed today's mismatch post...Stop by again soon!

Thursday, October 18, 2012

Show Us Your Hooters! Artisan Whimsy Challenge


I am part of an awesome group called Artisan Whimsy and I have decided to enter this necklace in the Show Us Your Hooters Owl Challenge.


My necklace features a woodland owl ephemera tile made by me. Similar tiles are available in my supply shop Asbury Avenue Designs. Beautiful ceramic beads in shades of green, chocolate and cream from Gaea. And a beautiful lampwork bead from Bubby & McGurk.

I hope you will stop by Artisan Whimsy, take a look around and join our fantastic group! Also, don't forget to cast your vote for your favorite Hooters!

This lovely OOAK Woodland Owls Necklace is available in my finished jewelry shop, along with many other wonderful designs! Stop by and have a look around, Hippie Chick Jewelry & Design.

Pay It Forward First Design Reveal...



You may remember at the beginning of September I had a Pay It Forward post. The idea was after I was one of 3 people to comment on Patti Vanderbloemen's post to receive a surprise, I would 'Pay It Forward' by offering the same opportunity on my blog. The only set rule was you have to mail out your surprises sometime in the next 365 days...at the beginning of October I mailed the first of my 3 creations to Lisa Chapman, Beach Cat Beads.


If you visited my blog on Tuesday for the MisMatch Earring Swap reveal you probably recognize these beautiful metal disks. They were an extra goodie from Lisa Liddy of Metal Me This. I've paired them with some blue glass rings and kaleidescope lampwork headpins from Raida Disbrow of Havana Beads. I really love how these turned out and I hope Lisa is enjoying wearing them as much as I did making them.

This design uses 2 of the 4 disks Lisa Liddy sent me...I'm hoarding the other 2 for now! :) Thanks again so much Lisa, for these goodies! They are fantastic and it was a wonderful inspiration for me on this design!

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

It's Reveal Time!

Mismatched earrings anyone?

I must admit when I first saw Diana's invitation to participate in a mismatch earring swap I almost passed it by...I love all the designs I see (especially the ones she posts). I just wasn't sure it was for me...but then of course lately I have difficulty passing up any opportunity, especially one that challenges me.

Of course once I decided to sign up a million ideas began but I had to wait for partners to be assigned so I could narrow down my design...then Diana teased me with "you'll be really happy with your partner, but I'm not telling until later"...MEANIE!

In the end I was delighted with my pairing and when the opportunity came to take on a second partner for the swap...I said of course! Did I mention I have this problem with taking on too much sometimes...anyway...it all worked out great and my partners were fantastic!

Now don't you wish I'd quit all the blah, blah, blah and get to the pictures already...

My first partner was Lisa Liddy of Metal Me This ...very happy indeed! Here is what I received from Lisa...


Green beads are from Second Surf ...her beads always look so beautiful and vibrant it was wonderful to see them in person. Purple disks and copper ear wires are from Lisa's shop Metal Me This ...and she sent me extra disks so I could try them out in a design of my own! Check back soon to see what I designed with some of them...I'm hoarding the others for future design goodness!

My second partner was Karin Slaton ...looks like she is in process of starting a shop but it's not up yet so I linked you to her lovely blog...be sure to stop by and check out all the beautiful designs she has posted through out her blog. Here is what I received from Karin...

 
So many wonderful things...where do I begin...elongated oval woven by Karin (from Diane Fitzgerald's Shaped Beadwork). I am always in aww of bead weaving...I've tried it only to my frustration! Enamel leaves and lampwork bead (inside weaving) from Sue Kennedy of Sue Beads. A raku ceramic bead, pressed glass oval and sterling silver posts...love the shape of the posts it really accents the earring designs beautifully! Karin also included an extra goodie..enameled pink gears also from Sue Kennedy. I already have a design for them so look for a post soon to see what I did!

I hope you enjoyed your stop here today and that I gave proper credit to all the wonderful artists who participated, whether it was through their beads or designs.

Thank you to my to wonderful partners! It was great getting to know you both and having this opportunity to challenge myself in the mismatch earring world...I think I'll be creating a few pairs for an upcoming show...wish me luck with that!

Please be sure to follow the links below to visit the other participants in this swap and enjoy more mismatch fun!

Lisa Liddy http://www.lisaliddy.wordpress.com
Kari Asbury http://www.hippiechickdesign.blogspot.com (you are here)
Mary Harding http://www.maryhardingjewelrybeadblog.blogspot.com