ZNETshows Design Team-Round 2-Diamonds in the Rough

UPDATE:  Voting has started and 2 of my designs got picked for their contest. the 2 on the bottom left. my Herringbone wrap bracelet and earring set and my Shel/Pink Rhodonite necklace from my BSBP reveal! please go to their page and click 'like' on the pictures to vote.  https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151568712344523.1073741840.87744049522&type=1

Well, they must have liked my designs for Round one with their Cultured Sea glass, because about a month ago, Bill Zhang of ZNETshows e-mailed asking if I'd be interested in participating in Round 2 of their designing.  They were asking us to pick up to 10 different beads/stones/focals from their supplies that often times get overlooked in designing and jewelry making.  They would add a few extra things to go along with our picks and mail them out for us to start designing with.  He knew a lot of us were involved with Lori Anderson's BSBP party with our reveal this month (mine is on the 27th) so we were to get him our designs after that and in time for their May newsletter.  Unfortunately, I got so excited when I got my box and wanted to start designing right away and forgot to take a picture of the stash before I started. But as I go through my designs I'll let you know what I used from ZNETshows and then have a picture at the end of what's left that I didn't get used, YET.  But my goal is to use everything they sent me.  So here goes.  I actually was able to use some of their stones and focals with my Bead Soup Blog Party designs, so this was great.  My first piece used this fantastic Square Shell MOP focal (code PDG257-05)  along with the Pink Rhodonite puff beads (code BDG44-16)  hey sent me. I also used some pink and white freshwater pearls and the clasp my BSBP partner sent me to finish off my Sweet Sixteen necklace.

Next, I used the Green African Silver Leaf puff beads (code BDS1517-09) along with their Pineapple Glass Quartz Oval puff beads (code BDG46-52) and a great Fan Shell pendant/focal (code PDG78-03).  I added some Bronze colored chain I had and wound some green leather and pink rattail cord through it for a pop of color. Then I attached an adorable Bronze dragonfly toggle clasp I had to finish it off. I also used the African Silver Leaf beads and Pineapple Quartz with a piece of the chain for a pair of earrings and a bracelet to match and finished off the lobster claw clasp on the bracelet with a bronze key.  I haven't decided what to call this set. Any ideas?

After that I tried a new technique and did a herringbone wrap with silver wire on the Purple Dyed Mexican Zebra Jasper oval puffed beads (code BDS1577-17) for a bracelet.  I don't think it turned out too bad for the first time.  I added some purple/white onyx beads I had as links in between the wire wrapped Zebra jasper and added a silver colored toggle clasp.  Then I wrapped a pair of the Zebra jasper beads for a set of earrings and added more Onyx beads and some purple glass daggers I had as drops.  Don't have a name for this set yet either.  Do we see a trend here? LOL

After that I used some more of the African Silver Leaf beads, this time they were round (code BDS1517-14) and some more Pineapple glass, also round (code BDG58-45) and made a 3 strand graduated bracelet and pair of earrings.

And finally my favorite and my husband's.  This necklace used their Agate Oval Focal (code BDS1216-07) and some Heat treated Carnelian free form beads (code BDG98-12).  I wire wrapped the beads with copper wire, trying to make the copper wire match a line in the Agate.  Then I made my own Copper wire wrapped beads to go in between each of the Carnelian and the Agate.  I also made all my own jump rings and added a little pop of color with some gold seed beads on the jump rings on either side of the Agate Focal.  Then I made my own Copper Spiral links and clasp to finish off the necklace. I'm still working on some earrings to match and probably a bracelet, but I ran out of time.  Although this one was a lot of work, I love the way it turned out.  Not sure if I'll sell this one or not.  The others will be available in either my Etsy shop, KayzKreation, here on my blog, or my facebook page, KayzKreationzGlassKreationz.  So watch there if you're interested in any of the pieces.

If you're interested in any of the beads shown here that ZNETshows sent me, be sure to check out their site, ZNETshows.  They sell mostly 'wholesale beads', but you can get a retail account.  Don't forget to check out their znetshowsblog on Friday with all the participants and links to their blogs/posts. And after that they'll have a contest on their znetshows facebook page. You can vote for your favorite and the winners get a prize! Yay!

And finally, here's what I had left, that I haven't gotten to use yet, but I have plans for it all. I love that shell flower focal and the fire agate beads. I have ideas for them, just need to implement them.

Bead Soup Blog Party-3rd Reveal

It's finally here. I'm in the last reveal (the 3rd one) for the monstrous Bead Soup Blog Party.  Lori Anderson of Pretty Things blog hosts this every year and this time around, there was about 540 participants from all over the world.  The basis is this: you sign up for the party, she matches you up with a partner, you communicate, exchange beads and then get to work designing something with your 'soup' from your partner. You have to send and use a focal and clasp, along with a few co-ordinating beads. You are only required to use the focal and clasp, but it's so much fun trying to use everything you receive.  This is my 3rd or 4th soup, can't remember for sure.  And my partner this time is Ann Sherwood  from Ann's Blog.  Be sure to check out what she made with the soup I sent her.  If you want to see the soup I received from Ann, click here. 

 And here's my pieces.  I absolutely loved the ceramice dragonfly focal she sent me. But I had the hardest time coming up with something that I thought would do it justice and let it shine.  I finally hit inspiration in a book my friend Karla Morgan from Texas Pepper Jams lent me about multi-strand necklaces.  (You have to check out their pepper jams. They're to die for!  And she's also participating in this 3rd reveal for the BSBP, so see what she made with her soup.)  So here is my Floating Free necklace with the dragonfly focal.  This was my first time trying to texture, patina and create my own bale from copper strip wire and then rivet it to the focal. I was terrified I'd break the focal while trying to rivet.  But I think it turned out great.  I used the ribbon Ann sent me, the focal, and a few of the green discs she sent. And here's a pair of earrings made with some more of the green discs and the big hole beads used in the necklace.

 
Next up, is my Sweetheart necklace made with the pink and white freshwater pearls Ann sent me and the wonderful blingy clasp she sent. I thought it went very well and matched wonderfully with the shell focal I had and the Pink Rhodondite puff beads as well as some pewter beads I had in my stash.

So there you have it.  My 3 pieces for the BSBP reveal. I'm still working on some earrings to match the second necklace and an idea for the wire knitz Ann sent me, plus the cute little pewter flower beads. I've never worked with wire knitz before, so I'm having a little bit of a hard time getting my idea to work.  Be sure to check out all the participants for the third reveal here on Lori's blog, Pretty Things.  She also has links to the first 2 reveals if you haven't had a chance to check them out yet.  These pieces will probably be available in my shop, KayzKreationz shortly.

Spotlight on Wire Book Review

My newest book review is Spotlight on Wire by Melissa Cable.  It is published by Kalmbach books.  They have an amazing variety of books on all types of Jewelry designs, techniques and more.  This book is a great example.  Melissa has done an amazing job highlighting so many different techniques, design ideas for wire.  She owned beadclub bead store in Woodinville, Washington for 7 years and quickly realized her passion for creating and teaching students projects that would allow them to not only learn fun skills, but walk away with a finished piece.  And she has accomplished that with this book.  She starts out with How to Use the Book and all the abbreviations you'll see throughout all the projects.  She also has Spotlights on Tips and Techniques, Basics and Tools throughout the book. Then she delves right in.  Chapter 1 deals with woven Wire.  I especially love the very first project in the book and this chapter, clustered Jewels and how to make a flat rectangular focal really stand out. I can't wait to try this.  Chapter 2 talks about Textured strip wire and has the neatest idea for a 'Poor-man's Rolling Mill'.  I'm anxious to try this out, too.  And a sneak peak/tip, I got my idea for one of my Bead Soup Blog Party pieces/focal bale from this chapter.  So watch for it on the 20th of this month.  Chapter 3 helps us out with Corrugated Wire.  Roundabout Road and Rippled Bangle are great examples of this and next on my list to try from this chapter.  Chapter 4 deals with Heavy Wire.  Chapter 5 moves on to Chain and Wire and Chapter 6 finishes off with Basics.  If you're looking to widen out in your skill with wire in your jewelry work, this is a fantastic book. You won't regret adding it to your Jewelry Library.  It's for sale here at Kalmbach Books.  Here's just a sample or two to whet your appetite for this wonderful book.

Be sure to keep watching my shop, KayzKreationz for unique jewelry pieces made from inspiration from this book.  I also carry Stained Glass, Mosaics and Fused Glass pieces for your Home and Garden.

 

(The book above was provided by Kalmbach Books for review. The author of this blog has not received any other payment from above-mentioned company. The post above represents only personal opinion of the blog author.)

Bead Soup from my partner, Ann Sheridan

A couple of weeks ago, I received my bead soup from my partner Ann Sherwood, for Lori Anderson's 7th Bead Soup Blog Party.  It took me a while to get pictures of it so I could post it here.  Here's what Ann sent me. This wonderful ceramic Dragonfly focal. She couldn't remember the artist.  I love dragonfly's.  Plus the great Swarovski beads, 5 each of 3 different colors, this gorgeous blingy pewter toggle clasp, these great pewter flower beads and 2 hole connectors, this strand of tourmaline (I also LOVE tourmaline),these pearls, plus this great ribbon and wire knitz. I've never worked with wire knitz and really like the look of it, but not sure how to use it.  Isn't it a great soup?  The only problem is, I'm having the dickens of a time, figuring out what I want to do with it.  I love them all, I'm just not liking any of my designs.  I've google online several times, trying to figure out what/how to work with the wire knitz.  I've come up with several designs for the focal, but nothing is really coming together. And I'm running out of time. I have to use the focal and the clasp and my reveal is the 13th of April.  So stay tuned and see if I get past my design block with this wonderful soup and what comes of it.

And here's what I sent Ann. She said she loved it.  Be sure to watch her blog to see what she creates with the soup I sent her, Ann's Blog.

And if you're looking for some of my Stained Glass, Mosaics or Fused Glass designs for your Home or Garden, check out my shop, KayzKreationz.  You'll also find some of mine and my mom's beaded, wire-wrapped jewelry there, like this great Boot Jewelry with these Jasper stones.

Simple Soldering Book Review-Kate Ferrant Richbourg

I recently received Kate Ferrant Richbourg's new book, Simole Soldering - A Beginner's Guide to Jewelry Making from Interweave/F+W Media. I've been wanting to learn to solder and this looked like just the book to help me.  This is a great book. She starts off with all the basics, an overview of what soldering is, how it works and why.  Then she talks about all the tools we need and the materials we'll use in the projects.  I love the fact that she starts you off making a 'sampler' of all the techniques, just like you would if you were beginning quilting.  It focuses on the process instead of the results and lets us learn at our own pace. This is great, because it helps you get over the fear of messing something up.  I know that's usually one of my biggest fears whenever trying something new. I just don't want to mess up and feel like I've wasted all that time and money/materials.  Plus the 'sampler' helps you learn how to correct your mistakes before you start on a project.  I think the 'sampler' itself will be a cool piece of art to use in some way.  And you start off with the easiest skills/projects and then move on to the more difficult ones.  Another great thing about this book is the included DVD.  There is an icon for the DVD that shows where techniques featured on the DVD are highlighted, so you can watch it in action.  I always find this very helpful, if I can see someone performing the techniques.  There's all kinds of tips, plus a section on how to get organized and set up your work space. I found that very helpful, too. I always seem to have everything just scattered around and have to search for it.  I did find the list of tools a little daunting, so won't be able to complete my sampler right away, as I don't have everything she lists, but she does start out with the basics you'll need for soldering and then moves on to the more advanced tools. So you could do several of the 'sampler' pieces without having everything she mentions.  It is a very comprehensive list.  The book is well-written and illustrated. It is also very thorough. I feel like I can really do this now.  Then she gets into the projects after you've finished your sampler.  She talks about making your own findings, like clasps and dapped bead caps to make your projects uniquely your own.  Two of my favorites are the Tube-Riveted Pendants and the Copper Tube bead. These both look very exciting to try.  All in all, I loved this book and am anxious to jump right in and start on my sampler so I can move up to the projects.  If you've been wanting to learn to solder and enhance your jewelry/metalsmithing talents, this is a great book.  Get it now here at

Amazon,

Barnes and Noble or

Interweave. 

 You won't regret it.  To whet your appetite, here's a picture of some of the projects.

Stay tuned to my shop, KayzKreationz for jewelry/projects I'll be listing as I practice my soldering techniques and making things.  And if you're looking for some great Stained Glass, Mosaics or Fused Glass Kreationz for your Home or Garden, you'll find it at KayzKreationz.

(The book above was provided by F+W Media for review. The author of this blog has not received any other payment from above-mentioned company. The post above represents only personal opinion of the blog author.)

Zinio Magazine giveaway Winners!

Yay!  Here it is!  I finally heard back from all the winners and as promised, here is the list of winners for the Zinio magazine subscription giveaway.  I hope you all enjoy your digital magazine subscriptions.  And stay tuned. I've got another book review coming up in the next day or so.  This one is on Simple Soldering by Kate Richbourg.

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Karla

 

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Ana

 

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Shaiha

 

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Tiffany

 

True Random Number GeneratorMin:Max:Result:8Powered by RANDOM.ORG

Sherry

 

True Random Number GeneratorMin:Max:Result:6Powered by RANDOM.ORG

Kim

 

True Random Number GeneratorMin:Max:Result:5Powered by RANDOM.ORG

Susie

 

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Tracy

 

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Jen
Congrats to all the winners. Zinio should be contacting you directly within the next 3 business days for info on how to access your subscription.  I hope you enjoy them and enjoyed this. 
Looking for Stained Glass, Mosaics and Fused Glass Kreationz for your Home or Garden?  Looking for unique, eclectic wire-wrapped, beaded Jewelry? Check out my shop, KayzKreationz.