Sue Beads

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 …

Yep, gonna say it again...it's time for the AJE Component of the Month already!  The month of September's component was provided by Kristi Bowman-Gruel.  You can find her gorgeous copper and polymer creations here in her etsy store.  Since Linda was coming to Bead Fest again this year, she brought Kristi's components for many of us to choose, and I chose this one:

 The first thing that came to my mind was silk ribbon.  I checked on etsy and found Jamn Glass and purchased these exact silk ribbons. 
Photo by Jamn Glass
Unfortunately, I haven't received the ribbons yet so I haven't been able to finish my CoM.  However, I thought I would do a work-in-progress post and you can at least see my process until the silks arrive.
The first idea I came up with is this one, and this is the one I am actually going with.  As you can see, I drew my design in a notebook that I received from Jenny Davies-Reazor - I love the notebook, and I love that she encouraged me to draw - I hav…

Today is also the reveal day for the Component of the Month over at Art Jewelry Elements!  This month, Kristi Bowman Gruel provided us with gorgeous copper components.  You can get one in her etsy store!


I made beaded beads to go with the bracelet bar - this is is my new obsession!  They work up quickly and can be made in any color combination!  Originally I was going to make a necklace with it, but my idea required the holes to be more toward the top of the bar.  So, I made a bracelet instead! 


 Here's my finished bracelet!  I really like it.  I used the seed beads to match the beaded beads.  I covered the crimp beads by the bracelet bar with the copper heishe beads, but couldn't figure out how to do it with the crimp beads by the toggle - if anyone has a good idea, let me know! 

The only thing I'm not thrilled about is the toggle.  I had another one by Shannon of MissFickleMedia but couldn't find it anywhere...

Please check out the AJE blog to see what everyone else …

Today is the reveal for Kristi Bowman's Wonky Bead Blog Hop.

We purchased sets of polymer clay beads at a discounted price, and were challenged to make something wonderful with them!  They are very cool beads, btw!  Below is the group shot of the color palette I chose - I actually received the set second from the left.


Initially I thought chunky bracelet would be the way to go.  And then I thought that maybe it would be too predictable, so I decided to go with a wire-wrapped looooooong necklace.  I started looking for beads that I had made that would work with the colors.  On hand, the only ones I could come up with are these red transparent ones, and they just really didn't go.


I went through my stash of gems and found these cappucino jasper beads that I thought might work.  I tried setting them up in an assymetrical pattern with Kristi's beads, but it just wasn't happening.


I did find these red vintage lucite beads in my stash and they went perfectly.  So I patinaed …

It's that time again!  Art Jewelry Elements Earring Challenge reveal!  Here's what I made!  Both pairs of earrings are made with my little lampwork beads and Kristi Bowman-Gruel's newest polymer clay creations!  Don't you love them!  Check out AJE Blog to see what everyone else made!