Ship watching

When I'm not making jewelry these days, I've been baskin gin the wonderful Indian Summer we've had bestowed on us.  It's very late as october was a washout but we'll take it better late than never!

I've been posting a lot of photos in the 'here and there' section lately, so you might want to check it out from time to time. 

Ship watching is one of my favorite things to do and yesterday it was like hitting the jackpot!  Thee wasn't a cloud in the sky or a ripple on the lake.  To top it off a Saltie from Monrovia came floating by...

Australian Rainforest necklace

 

  This necklace takes the wearer through a walk in an Australian Rainforest.  Rainforest Jasper, which is found in Australia, is combined with Chinese jade, Bronzite, swarovski Crystals, copper, and sterling silver, and hangs from a rich coffee colored viking knit chain.

Australian Rainforest

Beautiful Rainforest Jasper center focal

Oval side focals

Swarovski crystals, copper and sterling accents

Viking knit chain, copper and sterling toggle closure

This is one of my favorite pieces right now and is headed to my website and etsy today!

Thank you for stopping by and looking and have a great day!

Stephanie

Single bead leather necklace

I've been playing around with making large hole bigger beads to use as a focal bead with a coin and hang on leather.  They can either be tied in a knot or I can add a sterling cord clasp.  Here is one example...

The coin is a Chinese coin and has a dragon on each side of the front.   I used a brass spacer for added interest.

This fun little pair of Swarovski crystal earrings is very festive in cranberry.

Cranberry Swarovski Motion Earrings

I have a big pile of new beads to play with so I'll be back regularly for awhile with jewelry updates!

Thank you for looking!

Stephanie

Swarovski Crystals and Pearls

I think I may have been a crow in my former life, as I am attracted to beautiful shiny things. A beautiful saltwater pearl necklace just isn't complete without swimming in some sparkle.  The crystal rondelles that I used in this necklace add a lot of interest and  movement.  It will dress up any outfit and is perfect for a wedding heirloom necklace.  I call it Pearl Dance.

Pearl Dance

I've also been making some very fun Swarovski crystal snowmen and tree earrings.  There is no shortage of sparkle in these darling dangles!

I have another pair of snowmen with multi colored Sworovski rondelles but I have to re-shoot them so I'll be back later. 

Burrrr....yes, I am having to go outside and shoot.  I need to build a light box before ti gets too cold out there!

Happy Sunday!

Stephanie

Exciting new camera news!

The other day I got a fun new piece of equipment.  Ok, it's a toy...but it's needed equipemnt as well.  I brought hom a beautiful Nikon D3000 dslr camera.  Learning how to use it is not going to be simple but I think I'll manage OK.  

What's awesome is now I can start taking jewelry pics again.  Today, hopefully!  I haven't been able to take my new camera out shooting as the weather has been horrific.  This has been the fall of the daily deluge.  Anyway, this is not a photo from my new camera but I think it's nice.  Hopefully I'll be back this afternoon with new jewelry photos!

Happy Sunday!

The Fall that wasn't

So far we have had the october from hell.  My favorite month has been cold wet and snowy with no end in sight.  it's hardly inspiring but I've been working on some new beads and jewelry.  Unfortunatly, my camera is not cooperating for bead and jewelry pics but I hope to remedy that soon!

I was out trying to shoot Tamarack trees last week before they drop their needles and while they were bright yellow but it's pretty hard to take pics when it's pouring rain!  Maybe tomorrow...

Snow in October, again!

I cannot recall seeing so much snow in October before.  I guess that means that beading season is here sooner rather than later!

I'm looking forward to long days cozied up to my little fireplace and beading and doing nothing else.  When these days come I usually have a pot of soup or stew in the fridge for when I get hungry because stopping to cook is the last thing I'll do! 

I have these new color combinations of seed beads...

With these beads I plan to make a couple of this silky rich feeling bracelet...

 

I just love the rich feeling of this style bracelet and the look of the herringbone weave. 

This is how you will find me spending my days for the duration.  Playing with itty bitty bits of glass with holes in them, listening to the blues...

Happy beading!

Stephanie

BB King

Last night I had the pleasure of seeing BB King in concert at Black Bear Casino.  I was sitting in the second row so I had a great view and since it was my first time seeing him I was one happy camper.  I've always loved BB King but had never seen him live before...

Thank you and God bless you BB!

Earth Day Necklace

Every day is Earth day when you're wearing this scrumptious necklace! Photos will never do it justice but I've tried...

I made the lampwork focal bead specifically to go with the bronzite stones, crystal cut black onyx, petrified wood beads and african brass I used in this necklace and the result is a stunning piece that gets a lot of praise over it's beauty.

The lampwork glass focal bead is 1 1/2 inches (3 1/2cm) long by about 1 1/4 (3cm) inches wide. My lampwork beads are made by me in my studio in northern Wisconsin, near the shores of Lake Superior. Each bead is lovingly hand made by me, one at a time, using rods of Italian glass that I melt in the flame of a torch. My beads go directly from the torch into a hot kiln where they are properly annealed to reduce stress in the glass, helping to insure that the beads are durable and will last many lifetimes. They are glass, however, and must be treated as such for this to happen.

This necklace is strung on C Flex 49 strand coated beading wire and brought to a close using sterling wire protector guardians, and sterling crimp beads and crimp covers to ensure durability and pleasing aesthetics. A sterling toggle completes the piece.

Earth Day

 

This necklace as well as some others are listed in my shop at ETSY and are headed to my website as well.

http://beadedheron1.etsy.com

Happy beading!

Stephanie

The first snow of 09

It's a measureable amount but I'm not going to rush out and start shoveling.  It's supposed to warm up next week so it will melt!

It's officially over

Yes, fall season arrived last week but with temps in the high 70's and low 80's it sure didn't feel like it.  Reality has set in...

At least it's better bead making weather!  It's been kind of hot sitting in front of a torch and kiln these days!

Fall Yard

It won't be long and this scene will be but a frozen white tundra.  Fall is my favorite time of year...

The colors are here!

We're finally having summer weather.   It has been a very warm September so far and it doesn't look to be cooling down a lot any time soon.  This is ok by me but I don't love the humidity! 

I plan to do some nice fall color shooting while scootering this year so if you love to see fall foliage be sure to check back often!  Plus, it will soon be mushroom shooting season too! 

yes I have some beads and jewelry to show you but it's just too hot out there to take pics right now.  I'll see about later or in the morning!

Scooter Dog

Since we have but one day left of nice weather I just can't help but use it to go for a joy ride.  Emmit will be coming with me!

Scootering

I fell in love with riding scooters when I discovered my affection for traveling the nooks and crannies of Jamaica.  It must run in the family because at the time my parents each had scooters too.  Now into their later years they no longer ride them and just yesterday I picked up my dad's 250 Honda Helix from a friend who gave it a tune up. 

This bike is more of a motorcycle in a scooter body as it's much larger than the scooters you commonly see.  With it's 250 engine it goes from 0 to 60 in a hurry!

I'm so happy to finally be able to ride it!  I figure I have a good month before I'll park it for the winter.  Notice the antenna!  Yes, it even has a radio.  And a clock too!

I heart Fall

Happy Laobr Day weekend!  September is my favorite month of all.  So far this year we've had spendind summer weather but with the cooler nights that go along with the changing of the seasons which is great for sleeping!  Sooner or later we'll get that hard frost and most of the bugs will be gone. I'm looking forward to that I'm I'm also salivating shooting Fall pictures of mushrooms and leaves and things and going down by the ship canal now that the throngs of tourists are leaving.

I do still have flowers blooming...

and little red crab apples...

I hope you;re all having a wonderful holiday weekend!

Green Earth Necklace

I've been busy making beads and creating new jewelry and trying to get in the last minutes of nice weather before it all comes crashing down and the snow starts to fall.

This necklace is one of my favorites right now!

The rich earthy tones of this necklace of Chinese Jade and Petrified Wood are accented by one of my hand crafted lampwork glass organic beads.  Copper and sterling silver along with coppery Czech glass complete the accents and add a richness and feel of luxurious earth.

Green Earth

Green Earth focal bead, handcrafted by me

Beautiful Chinese Jade

Petrified Wood

Copper and sterling closure

This necklace is headed to my website at beadedheron.com today!

Thanks for visiting and happy beading!

Stephanie

Beach Walk Necklace

I'm always up for a walk on the beach.  Sadly, we haven't had much of a summer up here in the north country but the weather isn't stopping me from that walk.  I'm doing it from home these days though!

Turquoise Rondelle saccent a beautiful lampwork seascape bead. Petrified Wood along with beautiful cone shaped shells hang from a Viking Knitted to add just the right touch of balance.   Israeli Silver end caps and a hammered Sterling toggle are the perfect accents to complete the piece.  I also use sterling wire guardians at the closure to prevent the wire from rubbing against the jewelry findings and sterling crimp covers over the sterling crimp beads.

Beach Walk

Turquoise Rondelles

Petrified wood, turquoise rondelles and seashell cones

Thank you for looking and happy beading!

Stephanie

Abalone Spirals Necklace

Shimmering silver lined abalone colored seed beads with spiraling fuscia make up the base of the three focal beaded spirals and perfectly match the whole Abalone shell accents.  They are set off by two huge Swarovski Crystals, pearls and Bali Silver cones.    A Sterling Silver toggle closure connects the piece.

The necklace is 25 inches long.  The beaded center spiral is 6 inches long and the side focal beaded beads are 3 3/4 inches long each.  Sterling wire guardians are in place to insure that the wire will not be rubbing against the clasp and sterling crimp covers conceal the crimp beads.

Abalone Spirals

Spiral and Bali SIlver

Swarovski Crystals pearls and whole Abalone shells

Beaded spiral focal beads

This necklace is headed to my website! 

Stephanie

Fair week

One of the highlights of the summer season for many up here in the northwoods is the annual county fair.  It is an enjoyable time all around and this year I entered a few pieces of jewelry and got a first place with the sunset treasures necklace.  I also helped with the dog show and that is always a fun time!

This year the dock dogs were doing demo's at the fair and it was a real hoot!  This Chocolate Lab was a seasoned eteran and lept in the water with glee!  I feel lucky to have caught this fun shot...

I made some new jewelry this weekend to show you too.  Two fun necklaces that show off two focal lampwork beads.  Stay tuned!

Happy beading!

Stephanie