Thursday, May 9, 2013

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.

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

Awesome job, Kay - very creative designs! Really love all the copper spirals on the last piece!

CraftyHope said...

LOVE(!) your designs. I'm partial to that set you created. You said you hadn't named it, but it feels kinda safari-ish to me with the African silver and all. That's just me though. Your necklace with the heriingbone weave is awesome. I've been wanting to try to wrap like that myself and your execution of it gives me just another reason why I should. Excellent job with your 'diamonds' :)

kmorgan said...

Fabulous, simply fabulous darling! I love the zebra jasper bracelet & earrings. I also really love the carnelian with the copper! All your pieces are great!

CraftyHope said...

I know I said necklace earlier, I apologize... I was apparently befuddled. Sorry.

Cindy Cima said...

Your designs are beautiful! You got some great wire work going on in some! Congrats on having two of your designs chosen for the contest!

The Crazy Creative Corner said...

I love Autumn colors. And I love what you did with the carnelian. And the herringbone wrap! I have to work on that. It's a great wrap and I'm too chicken to try (which is what scrap wire is for!). Lovely designs.

Christine said...

All of your pieces are gorgeous!! Very creative carnelian necklace, the African silver leaf and pineapple beads look great together and your herringbone turned out beautifully!

Becky Pancake said...

Kay you did a wonderful job of designing. Your wirework on the carnelian and the herringbone weave is fabulous. My favorite is the first necklace.

Chrissy said...

LOVE your wire wrappings... Beautiful pieces. I am really attracted to the herringbone wrapped piece, something I have been really wanting to learn. Funny because I was seriously going to try this technique and put it in the challenge..but..ran out of time! Awesome job! Best of luck to you on the challenge... :-)

Dolores Raml said...

So many pretty pieces, but really like the first piece the most.

Mimi Gardner said...

Wonderful job, Kay! The Rhodonite and square shell necklace is so pretty...all beautiful designs.

Rachel said...

Love the herringbone wrap and what you did with your carnelian!