2nd Annual Bead Hoarders Blog Hop...Reveal Time!!!

Once again Lori Anderson invites us to stop hoarding and start creating! Many of us beady people tend to hoard, stash, squirrel or otherwise keep a tight grip on many of the lovely beads we acquire. So Lori is challenging us again to pull out those gorgeous beads and use them...it's time to create some gorgeous designs! I must say last time I participated in this hop I went creative crazy. I was very inspired. This time I am in the middle of a 6 day...that's right SIX...show that spreads over 2 weekends and started right after Thanksgiving! I do this show every year and every year I tell my family this will be the last year...that started about 10 years ago! Anyway, the long and the short is I only created one necklace this time around and I am writing this post just after 11pm with my hubby reminding over the shoulder it will be bedtime soon because tomorrow is an early morning. Oh the life of an artist!

Beads from the "collection" (my preferred term...hoarder seems so ugly for such beauty) are the stunning seahorse pendant from Nan Emmett of Spirited Earth and boro beads from Firelily. The seaglass is new from Lisa Lodge of Pine Ridge Treasures. She holds some wonderful destash and bead challenge kits and events in her Facebook group. The piece is finished with copper chain, one of my handmade spiral clasps. All the copper is antiqued and sealed by me.

I wore this piece to my show today. I haven't decided if I will list it my shop or keep it for myself...I still have enough beads in my stash to make another and at least 3 more seahorse pendants from Nan...maybe I should sell this one! LOL! Well that's it for me...I'm off to bed soon for a busy day tomorrow. I will hop around next week while I am trying to recover from this show craziness :) Please visit Lori's blog here for a complete list of participants...I know there will be tons of gorgeous eye candy to see! ~Kari

Royal Feather...Reveal Time!

It't that time again to enjoy another design challenge and blog hop hosted by the wonderful Andrew Thornton! If you are not familiar with Andrew's design challenge kits you can visit his blog here for the details. Now on to the good stuff...

I usually take pictures of the kit when I receive it but this time...OOPS! forgot that part...or if I took them, I stored them in a super secret folder on my computer. If you want to see what was in the kit you can check it out here. So I really love purples and greens so I was excited to grab this one up. I played with design possibilities for several days but in the end settle on bracelets...LOTS of them! 

They are all tied on Irish waxed linen...some have plum, some olive, and some emerald green. The plum came with the kit all other colors are from my own supply. I used brass snap clasps from my supplies and one artisan charm...I'll give you the details when we get to that picture. 

Everything else is from the kit...I love how each bracelet is beautiful alone but also look great in any combination together...makes for lot of versatility...which I love in my jewelry! Isn't the polymer crown charm fantastic? Andrew made it as our mystery component this time. It has a lovely shimmer that kind of shows in the picture although never as dazzling as it is in person.

Remember that artisan charm I mentioned earlier? I won 3rd place in the ACM Jewelry Designer Contest held in July...if you have not checked out this group on Facebook you really should...tons of beady goodness all in one great location. We've also started a marketplace to shop all these lovely bead artists. Anyway...long story, longer...HAHA! I got to choose $10 worth of goodies from one of our artists shops. I chose Linda Landig...she makes wonderful ceramic goodies. I asked her to surprise. This fantastic charm is ONE of the goodies she sent me. It is a perfect element for the dark greens of this kit! and the perfect size for a bracelet charm :)

This is the first bracelet I made ...funny it's the last I'm showing. I love this combination the luster in the green beads is perfect with the dark plum color. 

I also made earrings to match this bracelet...the picture of them alone was not loading correctly...so had to resort to just sharing the picture of the pair...

and a picture of all the bracelets together...lovely combination, don't you think? So that's it for me this time. Thank you once again to Andrew for putting together wonderful kits full of inspiration and beady goodness! I hope you will check out the other participants below and see what lovelies they created! ~Kari

Kari Asbury

Ann Schroeder

Sarajo Wentling

Christina Porter

Tammy Bowman

Tara Linda

On Andrew Thornton's blog:

Andrew Thornton

Margriet Schnabel 

Keisha Russell 

Tara Linda 

Alison Herrington 

Laurel Ross 

Marcia Gilbert 

Joanne Goldberg 

Crystal Lombardo Farrell 

Cheryl Lee Tucker

Shop Update... and a few changes...

If you are looking for my Bead Soup post click here.

I've spent some time lately looking at my Etsy shops and...I've decide to add a DIY Design Elements section to my jewelry shop and close my supply shop. There are still a few listings in my supply shop, which will be available until they expire around the end of June. In the meantime, I have new supply listings, starting Monday, June 2nd that will be listed here.

At little sneak peak...some of the new tiles I will be listing featuring gorgeous Boho images from Calico Collage. If you follow my work you know Ella is one of my favorite digital designers!

I will also be adding new design kits...I'm very excited to offer these! Each kit will feature one of my handmade wood tiles, a selection of handmade beads from a variety of artists and a length of sari ribbon. All specially selected to inspire your design muse!

The initial kits I've prepared include beads from Gaea and/or Firelily...if these kits are popular I will continue adding other artists to the mix...and remember I accept custom requests!

~Kari

It's a waxed linen creation craze! Blog Hop and Reveal Time!

First off, THANK YOU, to our lovely hostess Diana Ptaszynski of Suburban Girl Studio...without her we would not have united today in our craze to create with waxed linen! As usual I was creating up to the last minute and am rushing to write my post...things are so hectic lately! I'll also mention in my defense...I have been working to create a new studio space in my house from one of our extra bedrooms and while it's not done...I have managed to create more disarray for myself and had to scramble to get photos since my photo station is still waiting on it's new place in the studio! But enough of all that...let's get to some creations!

First up, earrings! I am in love with the chicklet beads from Sue Beads. I have LOTS of them and she just keeps listing more lovely, tempting colors! This pair is a denim blue color and I've paired them with some rings from Outwest, in blue, green, cream and grey. They were a nice little extra with one of my purchases. Crystals in smoke and brass ear wires from Vintaj...everything brought together with a denim blue waxed linen of course! These earrings are long and have lots of swing...love them!

One more picture...I was experimenting with my make shift photo set up to get these. Not too bad considering how make shift it is...no pictures of it...to embarassing ;)

The other piece I completed is a necklace...the focal and large lava bead are actually from my bead soup leftovers. A few crystals, small lava beads and waxed linen complete the look.

The crystals and small lava beads were part of my 50% off sale finds at Michael's. 

A close up of the beautiful butterfly focal...

and a close up of the rest of the necklace... Well that's it for me...I do have a couple of works in progress but they weren't coming together in my last minute frenzy so they will wait for another day! I hope you'll stop by next week for a special reveal using more of those wonderful chicklet beads from Sue...there could be more waxed linen too!

Please visit the rest of the participants by clicking on their links below...and remember we all love to read your comments!

Diana Ptaszynski

Kelsy Vincent

Susan Kennedy

Linda Landig

Kashmira Patel

Jenny Davies-Reazor

Vanessa Gilkes

Sandy Huntress

Kay Thomerson

Sarajo Wentling

Kari Asbury you are here :)

Rebecca Anderson

Melissa Trudinger

Ann Schroeder

Shai Williams

Blanca Medina

Cheryl Brown

Johana Nunez Rivera

Lori Bowring Michaud

Kelly Morgan

Barbara Bechtel

Kristen Stevens

Heather Boardman

Janet Bocciardi

Kathy Lindemer

Lesley Watt

Susan Kolovson

Jayne Capps

Michelle McCarthy

Cynthia Deis

Karla Morgan

Erin Siegel

Becky Pancake

Kelly Hosford Patterson

Sharyl McMillian-Nelson

Inge von Roos

Carolyn Lawson

Linda Younkman

Sandi Volpe

Toltec Jewels

Michelle Mach

Jen Cameron

Dorothy Winchell

Darlene Mansue

Cory Tompkins

Reveal Day! 8th Bead Soup Blog Hop is finally here!

Here is my original post about my partner and the goodies I received...it also contains a brief explanation in case you aren't familiar with the Bead Soup Blog Hop and our lovely, inspiring hostess Lori Anderson. Now on to the reveal...

Beautiful, pale blue sea glass from my soup...I still have several of these beads left for another project since my partner graciously sent a whole strand! I thought they might be a bit heavy for earrings originally and was mulling other ideas when I ran across this wonderful chain at Michaels Craft Store in the Bead Gallery section...during a week when all Bead Gallery strands were 50% off...how could I resist? They are tiny wood beads so very lightweight...I added a Swarovski crystal on the top (seen better in the next picture) since the holes in the sea glass are a bit larger and finished off with brass ear wires from Vintaj. I really love the way the chain creates just the right amount of movement.

My soup had a pair of rustic, pink wood beads...perfect for earrings, right? I tried several techniques before settling on this finished design. I wanted the beads to sit sideways so you could really see how pretty they are with a bit of gold, slightly worn. In that same trip to Michaels...they had pink and purple chain too...did I mention 50% off? That's completely my justification for adding more beads I didn't really need to my ever growing collection. A purple, pink hued luster finish glass bead and brass ear wires complete the look. These are ultra lightweight, for their size and lots of movement in all that beaded chain and dangle!

                            

Aren't they just gorgeous, girly earrings...perfect for a summer dress or jeans and a tee shirt!

                            

My partner was very generous with what she sent so I had a choice of focals and clasps to use...hop rules say you must at least use the focal and clasp you are sent...I've been on somewhat of a wax linen, cord knotting, type kick lately...not sure why. So I had some great dark orange colored cord I wanted to use with the bee focal and copper clasp. Faceted glass compliments of the 50% sale...lol! They are called 'painted' and as you can really see in the next two pictures, they really do have a kind of water color painted look. I also like them for their bright colors, like crayons. :)

So I hand knotted all the beads on my lovely orange cord, and hung the bee focal from the clasp at the front of the necklace...just 'cuz I'm like that...I drive my hubby crazy with my asymetrical, off balance, 'weird-ass' designs...he always says things look good but wonders why I can create just one 'normal' thing? I guess it's just not me.

I have worn this necklace a couple of times and it seems to be a hit...looks very good with my standard casual favorite jeans, white tee and grey soft drape cardigan and mint green chucks ;)

I do have another necklace started with the butterfly focal, lava and rudraksha beads...but it won't be finished in time for the post. I hope you've enjoy visiting me today and I hope you will stop by Lori's blog here for a complete list of participants. We have nearly 500 participants...I hope you will take some time to hop around and enjoy all the wonderful designs!

A bit about my swap partner and soup has arrived!

and by soup I mean BEAD soup...the very best kind! I am pleased to be participating in the 8th Annual Bead Soup Blog Party, hosted by the lovely Lori Anderson...visit her blog here for more information on this annual event. This is my second time participating and I just can't say enough about what a wonderful party it is! Lori is quite ill at this time, but with the help of a wonderful, supportive husband and son, as well as several wonderful ladies in the bead community, she has managed to bring 400+ jewelry designers together and partner us, so we can swap beady goodness and create beautiful designs. THANK YOU Lori and as always...love, light and healing to you. THANK YOU Rick and Lisa...I know your help to Lori and the community was invaluable when bringing together the final lists and answering questions in Lori down time. Now onto the beady goodness and my lovely partner...

Kashmira Patel, of Sadafulee...Always in Bloom is my partner for this blog party. I hope you will click on her name and a take a visit to her blog. It talks about how she got into jewelry making and her connections with Project Why in New Dehli...an organization helping area slum kids. Kashmira and I were already facebook and bead group friends so this is a nice opportunity to get to know more about her. As we were preparing and exchanging soups, she was also preparing for the annual Bead Cruise...of course I'm jealous! So it will be very exciting to see all the lovely photos and hear about the fun...she also took the soup I sent her so at least it got to travel along! But enough on that...back to what I received...the packaging was simple and lovely, and included to separate soups.

First a gorgeous spring assortment which includes a focal from Barbara Bechtel, painted wood beads from Hope Smitherman, seaglass, african tube beads, silver findings and natural stones...Kashmira notes she isn't sure what they are...I believe they are unakite but I haven't had a chance to pull out my gemstone reference sampler yet to check for sure. I definitely see several inspiring designs here...so much gorgeous color!

Second a beautiful earthy assortment which includes a special butterfly pendant, Kashmira notes it was difficult to part with...hopefully I do it justice...it is gorgeous! Coordinating green beads...which I have something similar, might be a type of stone or marble, have to check...black lava bead, brown/gold stone beads and rudrasksha beads...which are seeds used in prayer strands in India. I have seen them before but never worked with them in anything so really looking forward to seeing how the designs come together...which of course many swirling with this soup as well!

I am so inspired by all the delightful goodies I received...I've fondled them, searched through my stash to see what else I might want to add, and even just looked over them for hours pondering the possibilities! Below is a picture of what I sent to Kashimira...

I hope she is enjoying her goodies as much as I am mine...please come back May 3 to see what I make and hop around to see all the fantastic designs! Until then...

Halloween/Day of the Dead Blog Hop Reveal Time!

When our lovely hostess, Diana suggested a Halloween/Day of the Dead Blog Hop theme I jumped right in...I love Halloween and I've been 'collecting' some wonderful goodies over the last year, perfect for this theme. If you stopped by for my last post in July...what a blogging slacker...you saw I am quite the 'collector'...so here we go!

First up...I recently purchased images from Ella of Calico Collage from her new Day of the Dead collection...I hadn't gotten around to using them yet so now was the perfect time.

These pictures where taken during my process of creating the tiles...some ended up in my creations, some went into my supply shop, a couple were purchased for pendants and a few were 'gifted' to a couple of special ladies who inspire me...you know who you are! :)

 

 

I love how this bracelet turned out...so colorful...perfectly representing the bright Day of the Dead themes. Also, my first work with steel wire...LOVE IT! The ceramic beads are from Gaea, another artist's talents I lovingly collect! :) 

Earrings using a pair of my matchstick tiles, with etched lilac beads from Havana Beads.

I am torn between this necklace and the bracelet above being my favorite...I love the bright, sunrise colors against the copper filigree. The mini lampwork beads are from artbylisi. I managed to find her when she did a special assorted listing, my first purchase but definitely not my last!

I originally planned 3 Halloween pieces also but ran out of time...I did at least manage the necklace above a fun take on the classic purple and orange colors associated with Halloween. The wonderful jack 'o lantern link is from Gaea, orange polka dot lampwork from Pink Beach and mini purple lampwork from artbylisi.

Thanks again to our hostess, Diana! Thanks to all the ladies who inspire me with their art and art beads...without you I could not do what I do! Please be sure to visit the other participants below to see what lovelies they created...I'm off to hop!

Diana Ptaszynski  http://www.suburbangirlstudio.com

Staci Smith  http://www.stacilouiseoriginals.com/

Kathleen Breeding  http://99bobotw.blogspot.com

Sue Kennedy  http://www.suebeads.blogspot.com

Dianne Miller  http://www.artbydianne.blogspot.com

Lisa Liddy  http://www.lisaliddy.wordpress.com

Toltec Jewels  http://www.JewelSchoolFriends.com

Linda Landig  http://www.LindasBeadBlog.com

Laura Medeiros  http://Www.zoeowyn.blogspot.com

Veralynne Malone  http://www.veradesigns.blogspot.com

Lynn Jobber  http://thecreativeklutz.blogspot.co.uk

Michelle McCarthy  http://www.fireflydesignstudio.blogspot.com

Karen Totten  http://www.starryroadstudio.blogspot.com

Jayne Capps  https://mamasgottodoodle.blogspot.com

Jenny Davies-Reazor  http://jdaviesreazor.com/blog

Joan Miller  http://metalmudandsand.blogspot.com/

Melissa Meman  http://melissameman.blogspot.com

Melissa Trudinger  http://www.beadrecipes.wordpress.com

Kari Asbury  http://hippiechickdesign.blogspot.com  you are here :)

Inge von Roos  http://www.ingetraud.wordpress.com

Andrea Glick  http://zenithjade.blogspot.com 

Stephanie LaRosa  http://Www.stringaholic.blogspot.com

Lola Surwillo  http://www.beadlolabead.com

Jennifer Cameron  http://glassaddictions.com/blog

Diane Hawkey  http://dianehawkey.blogspot.com

Kristi Harrison  http://kristibasket-itsanewday.blogspot.com

Nicole Valentine Rimmer  http://www.nvalentine.blogspot.com

Tanya Goodwin  http://www.Pixiloo.blogspot.com

Shai Williams  http://shaihasramblings.blogspot.com/

Sandra McGriff  http://skyescreativechaos.blogspot.com

Sarajo Wentling  http://www.sjdesignsjewelry.blogspot.com

Marie Covert  http://thistledown-and-swaddlings.blogspot.com

Lisa Stukel  http://www.carefreejewelrybylisa.blogspot.com

Laurie Vyselaar  http://www.Lefthandjewelry.wordpress.com

Sherri Stokey  http://www.knotjustmacrame.com

Pam Traub  http://www.klassyjoolz.blogspot.com

Lori Dorrington  http://lorisglassworks.blogspot.com

Kristen Stevens  http://kristen-beadjourney.blogspot.com

Eleanor Burian-Mohr  http://cornerstoregoddessjewelry.blogspot.com 

Sally Russick  http://thestudiosublime.com

Dawn M. Gallop  http://www.flipflopsandpoptarts.com

Christine Damm   http://storiestheytell.blogspot.com

 

 

Bead Hoarders Reveal Time!

 

Several weeks ago I signed up to participate in Lori Anderson's Bead Hoarders Blog Hop. At the time I signed up I didn't realize I would be at an all day show on reveal day...needless to say I'll be hopping late this evening or Sunday while I sit around in my pjs recouping from the show! For those who don't know this hop is about using beads from our own stash to create...whether you hoard, stash, or save for "just the right design" the idea is use those fabulous goodies! Previously I have shared pictures of my ever growing bead addiction...some artisan goodies I just can't resist and I won't even bother to try! Participating this hop has been wonderful. I created lots of new designs...perfect timing for my show...and after I return from the show I will be having shop update which is long over due!

 

I have tons of fabulous images from Calico Collage, and a bit of serendipity revealed how perfect the matchstick (half domino) size works for bookmarks. From past designs I knew the images would be beautiful with Gaea's beads, Firelily boro beads, and Spirited Earth beads. Similar wood tiles are available in my supply shop, Asbury Avenue Designs.

 

 

 

 The matchstick tiles are also a great size for long, lightweight earrings! Again, I've combined the images with Gaea and Firelily beads. The tiles are also beautiful wrapped in filigree as seen in the last pair. The earrings on the right are my first attempts at using Ranger patinas from Vintaj to color the brass chandelier drops. They are fun and easy to use...I have many ideas for future designs with colored metals. The gorgeous glass headpins are from Havana Beads.

 

  

 I love the way these earrings turned out! Everything just really came together in creating these beauties. The first pair has charms from Tesori Trovati and boro beads from Firelily. Erin offers 3-6-9-12 month samplers and I was most fortunate to "subscribe" for almost a year in 3 and 6 month increments. These charms were from one the samplers making them an extra special treat because she only creates so many of each month. The top right earrings are Firelily beads...are you seeing a pattern here...lol! They are paired with long rectangles from Menagerie Studio, finished off with a few sparkly crystal dangles. The last pair has copper charms from Kristi Bowman Design. These I have held onto waiting for "just the right beads" and I think these boros from Firelily turned out to be perfect! The purple in the beads really picks up the purple in the copper.

 

 

 Thanks to a custom request I even got creative with some filigree, Czech firepolish, Lucite flowers and colored glass pearls. I have a huge variety of colors and sizes in the flowers and filigree so keep an eye out during the shop update for some new collections made from these!

 

 

Last but not least, I did manage to create several necklaces too! Some of these were projects started that didn't work out in the first go around so I set them aside...some were in the planning stages but never progressed past planning. I am very pleased how they all came together, sometimes creating is all about timing! These designs range from extra long to choker style and share some of my favorite artists. Menagerie Studio, Firelily, Tesori Trovati, Spirited Earth, Bo Hulley Beads, Gaea and images from Calico Collage.

 

I would like to thank Lori for hosting this hop...it has been wonderful for my creative flow! I'd also like to ask you all to send a little extra love, good thoughts, prayers, whatever Lori's way...she's had a lot of health struggles over the last few months and I know our support and caring helps her so much. Also, a big THANK YOU to all the wonderful artists who do what they do that helps inspire me to do what I do...I appreciate each of your friendships, creativity and inspiration so much!

Ears To You!

I'm more than a little late on this post...but things have been so hectic! Anyone who visited during the 3rd reveal of the 7th Bead Soup Blog hop will know about my plans to donate several pieces to a couple of wonderful organizations...I am still working on the bracelet donation but several weeks ago I did send off 10 pairs of earrings to Ears to You.

6 pairs were from my bead soup and the other 4 were from my stock of earrings. I plan to send more later this year, maybe around the holidays for an extra special pick me up for these special ladies. I hope you will visit their website and consider donating to this wonderful organization.

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!

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!

Bead of Clay Design Team Reveal!

Several months ago the opportunity came to be part of a wonderful design team through Bead of Clay. So many of us wanted to participate that we've been split into teams...each waiting our opportunity to participate in a design series. I was so excited to hear at the end of July that I would be part of the August/September round of designers.

Marla was so wonderful to give a sneak peak of all the loot that would be coming our way...the ideas of course began swirling at first sight. So many fantastic beads, components and even fiberwire to work with...did I mention I was excited!

Then Marla presented us with a challenge... She asked that we make a pair of earrings and a necklace OR bracelet. The catch, we had to use EVERYTHING  sent to us in our designs...leave nothing out. Did I mention we were getting a TON of stuff? Here's a picture of the all the loot...

I have to take a moment to say I love the color pallette and they all did a fantastic job with coordinating colors to each others items. Now back to that use everything and only 1 pair of earrings and 1 necklace OR bracelet...yikes! Best to just dig in...and take a few progress pictures along the way!

 

I picked beads for the earrings first. I really liked the purple rounds..I know hard to believe, lol. At first I was undecided about the teal tubes or the green rounds (slightly mismatched). So at this point I set the earrings aside and decided to move on for the moment...

Links, dangles, and more links... It is at this point I will tell you I decided to cheat, just a little, in my design. I actually end up with 2 necklaces, which can be worn together or separately and a pair of earrings that can be worn with either necklace. I wanted to follow Marla's request but felt I also had to let the beads 'speak' to me. Besides I'm an artist, not good at following directions by nature...LOL!

So the first necklace is a 3 strand chain style linked together with one of my hubby's new handmade copper rings...coming soon to our supply shop Asbury Avenue Designs. I love the way this necklace turned out, I was able to use most of the loot in this necklace without having the piece be "too much". wrapped links are spaced out on each strand and I've made this one adjustable to it can be worn close to the neck up to about 18-19 inches.

 

The adjustable style of this one perfectly compliments the extra lenth in the second necklace. It took me a bit to get past only having one of Kristi's beautiful copper cones...oh what I could have done with two! But the one I decided was perfect to create a focal with a few of the larger beads that just didn't sit right as links for the first necklace.

This simple style also turned out to be a great place to use the fiberwire and not have it get 'lost' in the design.

Right about now you're thinking what happened to the earrings...

and now that I've shown you all these beautiful goodies, in wonderful pictures and collages...I wanted to show how both necklaces can be worn together and how the earrings compliment everything but of course...I couldn't get a good picture to save myself! So pardon this horrible picture but you can atleast see how it all goes together.

My extra long post is almost over...just a little business and thank you left to do...THANK YOU to all the wonderful artists from Beads of Clay...without you we would not have this wonderful design group! I hope you will visit the other designers who participated. Links to their blogs are below along with links to all the bead designers for your shopping pleasure. :)

Designers:

CillaWatkins
Lesley Watt
MaryLou Holvenstot
Shannon Chomanczuk

BOC Contributors:

Karen Totten Starry Road Studio
Julie Rowe Beads, Birds and Bones
JeraLuna Designs
Marla James Marla's Mud
Kristi Bowman KristiBowmanDesign
Yarn Sweet Yarn