Sue Beads

I'm getting this up really late because I'm just really over-extended right now, but I was part of a challenge with Andrew Thornton - he sold kids with gorgeous beads called Amethyst Aether.  He did send along a wonderful polymer clay super-secret pendant he made for everyone, but I didn't get a chance to use it yet.  But here's the beads, and what I made!



The beads are all so gorgeous, I wanted to use them all.  I do have plans for the rest, but here's what I got accomplished. First, these earrings.  These beads all just wanted to be together, so I let them!

 Next, I knew I wanted to use these totally gorgeous stick beads in a necklace, and so I made a multi-strand necklace using all the beads I possibly could from the luxury mix.  I do like how it turned out!




Now, if I ever get around to making more things, I will let you know!  Thanks for sponsoring this challenge Andrew!  Sorry I'm late with the post!

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For the January Component of the Month Challenge at Art Jewelry Elements, we decided to do a "use your stash" challenge.  Use pieces you have from other AJE Team Members.  The guests were each chosen and sent a piece from one of the AJE Team Members to make something with as well.

Here are my pieces for this month!

 I made these earrings from heart charms I had from Kristi Bowman-Gruel.  I put the copper floral charms together with gorgeous pearls and gold filled ear wires - the gold filled ear wires don't seem to bother my ears like other metals do.
 These cute pink earrings were made from Diana Ptaszynski's flower charms - I made these for my mom - her favorite color is pink.
 These earrings were made from charms by Linda Landig!  I got these at Bead Fest in August!
 And these earrings, which are my new favorites, are with silver metal clay beads by Melissa Meman.  The photo below shows the detail on the beads!

I made these with cute brass spacer beads I bought at …

Last weekend was the Ligonier Ice Fest - I took this as a sign that I should go and visit Andrew Thornton at his new location for his bead store, Allegory Gallery.  He happened to be having a show called "Fathom" so it was perfect timing.

The hallmark of the Ice Fest is, of course, ice scupture. 
There were ice scuptures all along the diamond, and also in front of several businesses who sponsored them.
Many shops were open late to accommodate the crowds.
It was cold but it was a very nice afternoon for ice!
Here's Andrew at his new location for his bead store.  It's very nice and cheerful!
He had a gallery opening Saturday night, called "Fathom".  Mermaids abounded!  If you click on the photo you'll see works by his sister, Cynthia, Diane Hawkey, and Junker Jane, to name a few.
After we visited with Andrew, we went into Greensburg and had a great dinner at J Corks.  All in all an awesome day off!

Andrew Thornton hosts a monthly book club called Inspired by Reading.  He picks books and we read the section and create based on our reading!  Although I've been able to read only one book (and it was good) so far, this time Andrew was nice and provided me with a selection from this month's book, "My Mother She Killed Me, My Father He Ate Me: Forty New Fairy Tales", edited by Kate Bernheimer - basically adult fairy tales!

 The story I chose was First Day of Snow by Naoko Awa, a Japanese fairy tale that borrows elements from folktales about disappearance. This story is about a girl who finds a mysterious round hopscotch trail and takes it for what seems like miles and miles.  She finally sees snow and hears a rhyme; it's the bunny rabbits, appearing as snow to take her away from the world and turn her into a chunk of snow.  The only way she can get back is by chanting a rhyme about spring and a mugwort leaf.


My idea for the necklace was a white bunny bead I had f…