Bead Soup Blog Hop Preview

I am excited to post this! I am very pressed for time and will not be long winded today, as we leave for Disneyland in less than 2 days!!

For this BSBH I am partnered up with Maria Rosa Sharrow. I am just getting to know her a little through her blog and shop. She makes these amazing butterfly wing pendants and I am really excited to put this together! The beads are a perfect match and the colours I just love! Great mix!

Maria also surprised me with a second mix of fun beads and pieces! Now I have double the challenge to get something made by tomorrow so I can make the post to be published while I am away on holidays!

Thanks for the wonderful soup mix!! Now to make the actual soup!! Wish me luck!!

Marie

Lariats and Global Fest!!

I have been such a bad blogger. I need to get more into it, but time is a big issue right now and I have to pick and choose what is more important. I have had health issue lately that have made it literally painful to look at the computer screen, so now that I am starting to feel better, I am hoping to catch up on a few things :)

I have had fun trying to create new things, not much energy or stamina, but even with all that plaguing me I still managed to get a few fun things made!
I am adding to my longer necklace selection with these super easy Lariat Necklaces. I had done a survey a few months ago on my Facebook page and most of the answers were that people liked long necklaces. Then came the hard part. Without wire wrapping a bunch of long necklaces, how do I give a good selection of long pieces at a good price. Well, it turns out these are pretty darn popular!! They are almost all gone and I could swear I just started making them!!

 I am using Vintaj and Copper. I may at some point invest in more Gun Metal Gray chain, but I have to use what I have right now, my studio is overflowing with stuff and all I want to do is shop! lol
I am trying all sorts of combinations, I really love mixing the two sides with different components. Polymer, lampwork, trees and leaves... no limits to the combinations I can assemble!

 As always I am in love with green, it is hard for me to stray away from it, but I am trying :) I love how this combo came together. I will have to get more of these awesome Focals by Bubby&McGurk and Humblebeads!! Way too awesome!!

 I did try a purple combo, that worked well for me too :) I think I am feeling inspiration coming on for a pink set... Can't wait to go back in there and play!! I have some adorable beads by Lisa Anderson in this one Love Lisa's beads!!
It also has a shell like the one in my necklace on the cover of Bead Trends Magazine for the month of August, this one is purple the other is Green!

 I absolutely love how I can make them as long as I want without adding too much to the cost. The wire wrapped necklaces I make, the longer I go the more they cost because of the time involved! You need to pay yourself for your work, or what is the point of working!! These stay nice and affordable with lots of character and texture!!

 I just want to sit there all week and make more of these!! But I do have my big Huge Global Fest show to do!! So much work!! I need to reprice everything, and redo some major displays like my earring displays. I also need to package some of the new stuff so that it wears better. I have done lots of shows and have had good turn outs and good sales. I am getting good local exposure and I am starting to build a real name for myself. My shows however have seen between 10-250 people. This is totally different. Last year this show had over 90,000 people come!! Most will only be there for the fireworks competition, but some come for the market!

Even if 10% of the total people there visit {9000 people}  and if only 1% of them actually shop {90 people} I will still have more sales than I have ever had at any of my shows!! That is why I need to have the inventory base, but I am not there yet!! lol 
When I was busy producing like crazy, 20-40+ pieces a day I saw comments popping up in places about having quality over quantity. This is a valid point! I am all about quality. If I don't think something is good enough, I don't sell it. I normally don't duplicate my pieces either. However, for this show I have come up with a simple easy line of pieces geared towards tweens and teens. I am making these to have extra things to sell, but also to attract a new customer base. My art pieces are as they always have been, OOAK and excellent quality. Sometimes you have to sacrifice small things for the greater good, and my family is the greater good in this situation. With my husband almost done school, we are getting closer to the end of all this, but I work hard to keep us afloat. It is a worthwhile cause :) Just a lot of work!!


Speaking of work...


Hope to see some of you at Global Fest!! August 19th, 21st, 23rd, 25th and 27th!! Sometime in the evening, need to check the times!! lol


Marie

Adornments for your Wrist!

 

I have heard it said that if you can't decide on a one piece of jewelry that you should always go for the wrist! This is because the wrist is the thinnest part of your body and so to adorn this particular area draws the eye to it and away from perhaps less "desirable" areas. I tend to agree. I find that somehow I feel more elegant with a well adorned wrist that most other things I could add to my outfit. So without further ado, Adornments for your wrist!!

The first picture is named "Mermaids tail" because of the mix of Czech glass used. The cut sides of the glass beads remind me of the shimmery scales on the tail of one of these mythical creatures. The second photo is named "Monet's Garden" Thanks to someone on my Facebook page I found this name to be more suitable than what I had originally picked out. I love the soft colours of the Czech glass leaves and flowers mixed with the earthy and warm copper.

I used this fabulous clasp a second time to create this warm and rich piece. I love making a little something for every taste, whether simple or complex, colourful or muted, smooth or textured... the possibilities are endless and so I create from my heart and let the designs come out in whatever way they shall. I used brown/gold tones in this one, also made of Czech glass. I did three simple strands in separate rows unlike the first where I intertwined the rows. It lays quite smoothly on your wrist!

This is the crowning glory of the day! Over 4 hours of wire wrapping! A mix of Czech glass in clear with AB finish, deep blue Ocean colours mixed with the earthy tones of the copper. I named it "Ocean Spray"! This is what I felt as I was creating it! I could hear the waves in my head and see the salt spray of the waves crashing on the beach. I have always loved watching the ocean, I live by the mountains so I don't get to enjoy it very often, but as a child I enjoyed the Atlantic Ocean very much with it's tides and rocky sand beaches.

I hope you can take these images with you and be inspired to bring your own surroundings and memories into creation through whatever form of art you use. I wish I could paint, I would create a scarf with the Ocean Spray and the mermaids tail... I am really loving scarves lately, not sure why but they make me smile ;)

Have a great week! {and don't forget to create something!!}

Marie

New pendants with Calico Collage, a show and even some jewelry!!

 I have been trying out some new images that I am very happy with :) I have been looking for some new clock images that would really speak to me and I was lucky enough to meet a lovely lady named Ella, that was willing to work with me on some custom sheets!

Ella is also known as Calico Collage. She has a fun unique style and is so full of energy and spunk! Just my kind of girl! These sheets will be listed in her shop on Monday, for anyone who is interested. They are not available yet, so keep an eye out for 6 new sheets of clocks, maybe more on Monday Morning West Coast time...

The top one is 1inch circles, and has a mix from two different sheets. The second are 1.5 inch circles, perfect for a pendant! There are 4 different sheets of these ones. I think Ella mentioned that she was working on some other sizes too, so keep an eye out ;)


Some of these pieces have already sold but please keep an eye out after the weekend for me to start listing them in my Etsy shop, More Skye Jewels!!

These are by another artist, but I wanted to include them because I love them so much! I love the colour and texture in these. Photos do not do them justice!!

On another note, I was able to find a few minutes to create something new in the last couple of weeks. I am a little overwhelmed by everything that has been going on and keep hoping that someone will offer their services as my assistant in exchange for jewelry! lol Alas no one has offered yet, that lives close enough to actually be able to do it! It was fun to read the comments of those interested though ;)

This necklace is Vintaj, with a mix of other lovelies! It has a very beachy feel and is summery and fun!

Also made with Vintaj, I love the focal bead and this one sits just right on my neck, might keep it, but I have not decided yet! lol

Fallen Angel Brass, Hollow beads...

More Fallen Angel Brass with Hollow beads...
You will be seeing more of these coming out, I am making them a permanent part of my collection. They will all be a little different, just to keep them interesting, but in general they will be pretty much like these two pairs...

Fallen Angel Brass has really grown on me, I am loving it more and more. I think it's the fact that it is so dark. Makes my designs rich and different!

And for the last pair, more Fallen Angel Brass with a touch of French Class! I can't wait to get more!! So fun to play with!!

So please forgive my absence, I will try to stop in more often, it has just been a crazy week/month lol

Come again soon for more fun Calico Collage pendants!!

Marie

Please join me this Saturday in Okotoks for a fun outdoor market! Lots of amazing vendors, fun for the kids and Live Music!!
I will be there with Scentsy and you really don't want to miss it!! See you there!!

somethinguniquebylana: Blog Love..Fav Etsy Shops & A Giveaway.......

Just in case you need one more giveaway ;)... This one is pretty awesome too! :)

somethinguniquebylana: Blog Love..Fav Etsy Shops & A Giveaway.......: "Finally I Can Share The Love.......... I have been wanting to do this for quite some time now but with everything that has been going on in..."

The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton: Thursday Giveaway...

You Do NOT want to miss this giveaway!!

The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton: Thursday Giveaway...: "For this Thursday Giveaway , I wanted to do something special! I wanted to share a few things from the show with everyone out there in the ..."

I Need An Assistant!!

Have you ever had one of those weeks/months where there were just never enough hours in the day to get everything done? I have been in that situation for over a month now. I have so many summer shows booked and add in all the internet stuff I need to do for my business and Spring cleaning on top of that! I have not even had time to make more charms, or photograph the ones I have left! I am taking a moment to do this post because I just honestly needed to sit for a  minute and this was a better excuse than doing nothing!

 

At least the one thing I am getting done is creating! I have made so many new pieces and I have so many more in my head waiting to come out through my hands! I have one week left to make a ton of stuff for the show I have next weekend! It's a pretty big one! Summerfest! I can't wait! Now I am mostly just praying for nice weather! This rain is not helping my business.

 I have a show this Saturday in Millet AB, so if you live in that part of Alberta, come visit! I think it's about 20 minutes south of Edmonton. It's absolutely worth the trip to see me! I have sooo many things to show you!

I have been working on a new line under the name of "Goddess". It is made mostly with copper and some brass, but the main ingredient if you will, is recycled silk sari! It is something out of my comfort zone, but I am loving it! It feels so feminine and has so much texture. I love the feel of the silk and I love the visual interest that the copper adds to the silk! It is packed right now and I have no pictures yet, but keep your eyes open and you will see it very soon, I promise!!

Back to work...

Marie

Outdoor Market Tomorrow!!

Please join us tomorrow for a fabulous day in Okotoks!! I will be there with my Jewelry, Scentsy will be there, glorious cupcakes, cotton candy, Floral arrangements, and so much more!! Don't miss your chance to grab my latest designs first!! Many new pieces including my newest line "Goddess" you will Love it!!

 I have no pictures of the new "Goddess" line yet, but these are some new pieces that I will have with me tomorrow! Some fun earthy and romantic pieces!!

 A touch of Gypsy! I have been experimenting with this style and love the motion you get when the filigree moves!

More from my "Vintage Romance" collection! Lots of new pieces!! I have been working so hard this last month to be ready for this show!

You will also be able to find me in Millet Alberta next Saturday!! More designs are sure to pop up before then too!

Thanks for visiting!!

Marie