Copper Component Blog Hop

Happy Saturday everyone!

I am participating in Kristi Bowman's Copper Component Blog Hop Challenge. I was so excited to be a part of this because I love the focals Kristi makes from copper clay.

When I received my Sea Urchin focal I held it up to my glass rods to see which colors I should make beads from to go with it.

The pink and green jumped out at me.

I just love the opalescence of this focal. It reminds me of some real shells from the ocean.

I made one pretty huge mistake.......can you see it?

I made my headpins on fine silver wire instead of copper. I am so accustomed to using silver and copper in my work and I always make my headpins on silver.

Hope it is not too obvious. I just may have to change those.

I made a variety of pink, green and clear beads to enhance the focal.

I also added a layer of copper chain to hang next to the row of glass beads.

I wanted the beads to be pretty and stand on their without taking away from the focal and compliment the focal at the same time.

Those beads had a lot of work to do!!

This was a fun challenge!

Please be sure to go and check out what the other participants made. They are listed below. You wont be disappointed! Have a great weekend!

Kristi Bowman Design http://dreamsomedesigns.blogspot.com/

Jean Wells http://jeanawells.blogspot.com/

Melinda Orr http://orrtec.blogspot.com/

Sue Kennedy http://suebeads.blogspot.com/

Shannon Chomanczuk http://formysweetdaughter.blogspot.com/

Pam Brisse http://bluebetween.blogspot.com/

Melissa Cable http://createrecklessly.blogspot.com/

Cindy Wimmer http://www.sweetbeadstudio.com/

Mary Harding http://maryhardingjewelrybeadblog.blogspot.com/

Jan Molten Mayhem http://moltenmayhem.typepad.com/molten-mayhem/

Linda Landig http://lindasbeadblog.com/

Kristi Harrison http://kristibasket-itsanewday.blogspot.com/

Kimberly Sturrup http://bahamadawn.blogspot.com/ {you are here}

Sally Russick http://thestudiosublime.com/

Lana Kinney (will share on Kristi’s blog)

Etsy & Swirls!!!! I finally did it!

I finally did it!!!!

Several months ago I created an etsy account, with the intention of opening an etsy store, as another way to market and sell my work.  After opening the account I just kept putting off actually posting goodies to the store and making the store public.

Right now I only have 2 items there....for several reasons......

1. Every picture has to be re-sized and that for some reason is taking me FOREVER!!!

2. I have quite a bit of jewelry to post, which I need to sell, but I want to keep it all........not sure what to do about that problem.

So stay tuned and keep checking out my etsy store, and I WILL get new stuff in there.

Another accomplishment I made this week was making a swirl on a glass bead!!!

I was over the moon!   Just because I made a few doesn't mean I am a pro at them now either......gotta find that *perfect* part of the flame for every, single one and sometimes I mess that up.

It's pieces of jewelry like the above photo that I can't let go of.

I stamped "Keep Calm" on the front.  There is also a row of silver chain, czech beads, a blue glass bead of mine, a hanging fuchsia crystal and a silver toggle on the rest of the bracelet.

The inside of the bracelet says "and carry on".

That is one of my favorite sayings, ("keep calm and carry on") and I have to remind my self of this often...like when I am trying to put delicate swirls on glass beads!