Friday, July 31, 2009

Jade Necklace

I made this necklace with large chunks of Jade. Each large nugget is wire wrapped to the next and completed with a decorative hook. That is really all I can say, it was time consuming but I really like the way it turned out. And yes I know my picture is sideways. I just could not be bothered to flip it once it was loaded up. I think it still looks nice so does it matter?

Have a great weekend!!

Marie

Monday, July 27, 2009

"Seaside"


I love the shades of green and blue in this bracelet. Add in the Antique Brass and you really do feel like you should be wearing this on a beach. These are all Lampwork beads with brass beads, slid onto a formed brass bracelet. Very simple and fun.
Just a short post tonight, it is almost midnight and I am off to bed.
Goodnight
Marie

Thursday, July 23, 2009

Bring on the Beads!!

I don't know what has gotten over me today, I just went wild! I think I made over half a dozen bracelets and most of them before breakfast! I have been working really hard to be organized and have all my work sorted and labeled, and today I just happened to notice that I was pretty low on finished bracelets! Well that just won't do!!! They are my best seller and I need to have quite a few on hand to be able to offer my regulars a good selection as well as anyone new. So here I went, and if I had had no kids and no plans, so help me I would most likely still be going! I have some pretty good results too, I just need to photograph and post. It was a pretty good day, all in all.

The link was made by Summers Studio, always a favorite and the Beads are dark green Serpentine. I added some Vintaj Brass, little beads in between and the toggle.

Hope you like it :)

Marie

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

"Captured"

I have been having so much fun with these Ceramic pendants from Summers Studio. I just love the way they look with metal chain. I find it makes the pendants stand out. I just can't wait for all the new goodies I ordered, I am going to go on a creating frenzy!!
You can really see how this pendant stands out with the copper chain. Adding the beads is just for a little extra something, that brings out the rich colours of the pendant.Cute little toggle at the back and you're done!
Go visit Summer Studio and get your goodies. You will love her gorgeous selection of pendants, charms and buttons.
Marie




Monday, July 20, 2009

Fabulously Fantastic Earrings!!!

I am Huge into Vintaj products right now. I live and breathe for the beautiful antiqued brass. It is so fun and the colour is so rich and I could literally own every single piece that they carry. I am trying to refine my earring making skills and I find that the Vintaj products are the ones that inspire me most. I peruse the gallery as often as I can to get a little inspiration and to learn some of the techniques they use on their products.
These earrings were made with locks and keys all dangled together. They are with a friend right now, I am bartering with her for some photography. I used all Vintaj products for those ones.
These earrings were also made with all Vintaj but I brought in a little shine with some peacock fresh water pearls. Once again I am wishing I could wear them. My ears would not take the abuse unfortunately. I love the butterflies and how I added them at the very bottom of the dangles. Very charming.
I will be on lock down from the computer from now on, so I will be a little harder to reach. I need to do this because I can not "afford" to have it on unsupervised. I seem to have developed quite the shopping addiction and need to lock myself out for now. I will still be checking in in the late evening after my hubby gets home.
Thanks for your support
Marie

Sunday, July 19, 2009

New Etsy Listings and Earrings

I spent a little time on my Etsy shop yesterday and listed some of those bookmarks. I have more on order because it seems to have turned into a requested item already. I have not sold anything yet in my Etsy shop, or my website for that matter but my customers around here are going for them. I am starting to have more traffic on my website though, so I am sure it is just a matte of time now. Perseverance is the key I am told. I don't think I am doing too bad considering I only started making jewelry in January. 3 publications coming out, a few solid sales
and a whole bunch of new on-line friends. Sounds like a good beginning to me.


This bookmark was just listed in my Etsy. It is made of Antiqued Embossed Brass and I added a Vintaj filigree spacer, filigree bead caps and a really pretty Ocean Jasper bead.

These earrings are All Vintaj products with the addition of a petty purple Swarovski Crystal on each earring. These are so elegant and pretty, I would just love to wear them. Unfortunately for me Brass swells up my ears. I did just order some stuff from Fire Mountain Gems that is supposed to help. We will see and I will let you know. I don't know when I will get the chance to list some of my new earrings on Etsy, but keep checking back to see...

Marie




Saturday, July 18, 2009

A Necklace, some Bookmarks and an Angel!

To start off with, a necklace...

I had this pendant made by my friend LeAnn from Summers Studio. She custom made it for me because I HAD to have this colour. It is a hard one to make and has varied results so she is hesitant to make it since when it does not turn out, it is not favorable. I hope you go visit her blog and Etsy shop, she always has fun stuff to see and buy.

I had to add copper to this one. I also did the two sides different. One side has Peacock Pearls and the other is Australian Jasper. I used a mix of sizes, chain and links and I am so happy with the result, that I just can not part with this one. It is a keeper.

Next some Bookmarks...
The first is a special order from my friend Dominique. She is french from France and is a lovely, lovely woman. Her favorite colour is blue, so I combined one of my lovely blue lampwork beads from Sue Beads. As always I will praise the fantastic quality of these beads and how lovely a person Sue is. Make sure you go visit her blog and hop on over to her Etsy shop for your own SueBeads.

The second also has one of Sue's Beads. This is extra special because this is part of the first SueBeads I owned. I won them on her blog giveaway and it started my passion for her beads. We all hope that when we give something away it will generate business. I don't think that Sue expected quite that much, but I am in the process of special ordering beads for a project that you will have to keep coming back to hear more about. All I can say is they will all have her beads...
And An Angel...

This is my Angel. 22 month old Eve-Angeline {Eve is the french pronunciation} She is the youngest of 4 and she is my world. {only because she is the only one that does not talk back;) }
I found her like this in my bed yesterday afternoon. I guess she was tired after all. I had just spent about half an hour trying to get her to lay down in her bed without success and after giving up, put her in my bed in front of a Little Einstein show and voila. A perfect little Angel...
Come back again soon
Marie






Friday, July 17, 2009

Last Teaser!!! Use The Muse II

I could only submit 2 photos of my project and since I thought this one turned out pretty well I figured it would make a nice last minute teaser!! The last day to submit is tomorrow and I got it all done last night. Now the anticipation begins. I picked this toggle clasp because it seemed to go well with the colours and theme. So all you can see is a few bits and pieces of the interwoven strands of the necklace. You will have to go to The Beader's Muse to see the finished result. Of course I will be posting it as well so come see me here too...


Marie

Thursday, July 16, 2009

Rose Dangles

Just a quick post today, I have simply been spending way too much time on the computer looking at all your wonderful blogs and playing on Facebook {curse facebook}, and not enough time creating and taking photos of my works. I made these fun Dangles a few weeks ago and thought it would be fun to post them today, since they are the same lampwork beads I used on one of the bookmarks. All the brass is from Vintaj and the lampwork beads are from Beadazzled {she has a sale on until early August}. That is about it I think.

Have a great day!

Marie

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Something new!!!

I have wanted to try making these for awhile. I finally just sat down and did it. The top one is the first one I made. I wanted to do something simple, but with a punch of colour. My best friend likes pink and since I was making it for her, well need I say more. She liked so I am happy. She does not wear jewelry normally so I have been looking to find something to make for her. She loves to read so this was just perfect. It just suddenly popped into my head while she was visiting me today.

The bookmark is an antique brass finish with wire wrapped Ruby crazy lace Agate. Fun and funky :)
Here is a close up. You can really see the detail clearly in this picture. I think I even did an okay job with the photos this time. But I think my favorite part is? The wire wrapping.
This next one is made of copper. I attached a lampwork bead with a nice bead cap and for fun added a cute little brass key under it.
Obviously this last picture is an example of what to do with a book mark. lol. Like you could not have figured it out. right? I am off to bed, I am nodding off here.
Goodnight...until next time
Marie

Filigree Earrings

Here are some filigree earrings I made a couple of weeks ago. These are quite stunning on. Put up your hair and show them off. I used Vintaj filigree, bead caps, beads, head pins, split rings and ear hooks. I also used Australia Jasper beads. I find that thier dark gren colour blends well with the aged brass. I will be listing these either on my website or in my Etsy shop this week. No time today, we have company coming :)

Have a great day!

Marie

Thursday, July 9, 2009

Teaser #2 for Use the Muse II {and a little extra}

You are wondering {????} I thought you showed us something that almost done last time?? You are right, but I was adding something else to it and this is a part of the something else. I am still working... so keep checking back.
That gorgeous lampwork bead is of course from one of my absolute favorite artists... Sue Beads. I can not get enough of them. They are the best quality and you will not be disappointed. There is also some rose quartz and purple glass in there that was not in the Use the Muse II kit. But that is how you make it your own.
Some of you may have noticed my new profile picture, well it was about time. It is not perfect, but it is better than the last one. My daughter is the one that took the picture!! Not bad for a girl who is only going to be nine years old on the 17th of this month. Speaking of Emma {Emma-Jeanne} She is trying to follow in my footsteps and has started creating her own jewelry bits that she wants to display.

Below are two sets of earrings that she just made. She is very proud of her accomplishments and she should be. She works so hard to spend time with me, you will often find her watching me at my desk or joining me with her own little project making.

Thanks for visiting :)
Marie

Etsy Features!!

Here are some of the new items I placed in my Etsy shop yesterday. I am hoping to get little more traffic to my shop, and perhaps get my first sale. Soooo... I am looking for a few good Women to give me some advice and let me know what you think. Is there anyhing I should do differently?? Do I need to advertise?? Do I need to do something else??
Let me know what you think and if any of you go to my shop and purchase something, put a note in the comment section and add "SkyeBlog" and I will refund your shipping through Paypal. I will be adding more items in the next few days, so I will keep this special going until July 17th in honor of my daughter's 9th Birthday {big Grin from Emma}.

Looking forward to hearing your comments.
Marie

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

"Simple Elegance"

Once again with the bad and blurry photography. lol. And yes I was using my macro setting. lol. I always have, but when your camera is old like mine, sometimes it just makes things harder.
This is a "Vintaj" filigree wrapped pendant. I attached it to a brass chain. The stone is a "Black Amazonite". It was really quite simple but I like it :)


Life has been a little crazy lately so forgive the short post. My head is a little out there right now.
Thanks for visiting
Marie

Monday, July 6, 2009

"Earth"

I have been doing too much shopping lately. But with so many wonderful Etsy shops out there, it is hard not to go overboard. I got this fun pendant from Every Heart Crafts as well as a couple of others. I made this eclectic necklace that I am really pleased with. I used some Vintaj Brass etched rings and some chain I got from Michael's. The stones, although it is difficult to see, are large Citrine chunks. I will be listing this one in my Etsy shop.

Hope you have a great week

Marie

Friday, July 3, 2009

"Golden Sun"

Summer is my favorite time of year. I love the sun, the heat and the colours. I love not having to wear all those layers, I love how there is less laundry and I love being able to eat outside. I love that my birthday is in the summer, I love driving with the windows rolled down and I love going on bike rides to Fish Creek Park.

I try to take all my photos outside if I can, the natural backgrounds I feel add lot to my jewelry pieces and my handmade cards. Now I have mentioned on a couple of previous posts, that I am not much of a photographer. I think these turned out ok ;)


I ordered a whole bunch of wonderful things from a new blogging friend of mine LeAnn Weih of "SummersStudio". How appropriate considering my previous ramblings that her name has the word summer in it. This is one of her shield pendants. I love the floral textures on it and had fun adding the Rhyolite nuggets to the brass chain and links as well as the tiny jasper beads at the base of the pendant. I am not sure if this one is going to end up in my Etsy shop yet, I quite like it. If I start to keep everything I won't have anything to sell!
Thanks LeAnn, for your inspiration and friendship.

Marie


Thursday, July 2, 2009

"Dragonfly"

Artbeads has truly become one of my favorite places. They have a wonderful selection and the best shipping rate out there! lol. How could anyone resist :). I got this gorgeous teardrop pendant from them recently and just fell in love with the gorgeous colours and texture. The dark teals and light teal mix has to be a favorite.



The Malachite Jasper Pendant is paired up with a large mix of different types of beads. Semi-precious, glass, pearls, brass, crystal, and my personal favorite... Vintaj Brass. I carefully wrapped the beautiful Pendant in a piece of filigree and put it directly on the wire of the necklace and added the dragonfly directly in front. I then added some seed beads that reminded me of the shimmer of a dragonfly's wings and joined them together through a filigree bead cap and a piece of dark green Agate. I then re threaded the strands separately with seed beads and brass beads, crystals, more brass, pearls, and so on and so on.
I hope you come back soon for the next "teaser" post for my Use the Muse II piece.

Thanks

Marie