Exhibition outcome

Well my Exhibition is over and done with ... bit sad actually ... but it went very well, and I've had so many positive comments about it and my work. Even managed to get my piccie in the paper a couple of times - not that that is a good thing LOL.

Sales wise I sold three pieces, but the whole aim of doing the Exhibition was to get my name out there, so the sales weren't a priority. I'm extremely happy with how it went, and I would love to do another one ... perhaps next year after I've built up another collection. :)

Pic from the local paper a couple of weeks ago.

That's me on the right hand side. :)

Exhibition pics

Thought I'd post up some pics of the setup for my Exhibition ... turned out quite well and I'm really pleased with it all. :)

The paintings in the background are from my lovely co-exhibitor Margaret Burgess ... her paintings are hauntingly beautiful.

Exhibition is here!!!!!

Well ... today is setup day for my very first Exhibition. Ugh I am sooooo tired. Stayed up last night and "tweaked" a couple of pieces before packing them away. LOL I'm getting to be a bit of a perfectionist.

Today is also a big day because it turns out I'm to be interviewed by ABC Tropical North Radio while I'm at the Gallery. *insert very wide-eyed shocked look just here* :) ... I don't know what's more nervewracking - the Exhibition OR getting interviewed.

Anyway, everything is packed up and ready to go ... I just need to do the hour drive to get out there. On another exciting note ... the Gallery here in town saw my flyers/invites, liked what they saw, and want to see more. After the Exhibition is finished at the end of May, they'd like to see more of my pieces with the possibility of selling some in their shop. Cool hey!! :)

Well, wish me luck!!!! :)

Rustic Earth

Edited to add - Finally thought of a name ... and I'm very happy to say that this is the one they chose :)

This is the third and final piece that I have made for my gorgeous family members to choose between for their mum. Turquoise just happens to be one of her favourite stones, and I had a couple of these big slabs of African Turquoise in my gemmie collection for quite a while ... just waiting for the right piece. After much starting, pulling apart, and starting again, this piece just wasn't happening ... so I did the other two pieces instead. Finally I decided that I needed more slabs to work with ... and lo and behold, inspiration hit. Why don't I go back to my first love? Wiring?

Nothing goes better with Turquoise than copper findings and wire.  I had good intentions of this piece being structured and the wire framing the beads .... that just wasn't going to work LOL. Structured and me just don't go together :). My wiring took on a more freeform nature, but also because I didn't want the wire to take anything away from the gorgeous African Turquoise ... and I think I achieve that.

The pillow beads are also African Turquoise - there's also a smattering of Swarovski Copper Pearls in there. I love this piece and I almost want to keep it for myself ....  :).

Blue Metallica

These beautiful dichroic cabs have been in my collection for a while now just waiting for the right inspiration ... a lovely Etsy lady from adornedintreasure made them, and they are spectacular in real life.

Took me a few goes to get this right - I've unpicked it a few times, and wasted alot of thread in the process. It has changed a little from my original design as I decided in the end to use ribbon/twine as the necklace part. The front is pretty "out there" so it really didn't need a flashy necklace part as well.

This is piece number two from my special commission request. I've decided to make a couple of pieces for them to choose from - this and the beautiful Cyclamen Serenade piece below - I may even go one more. I'm hoping that whichever one they choose, that she'll adore it.

Cyclamen Serenade

This piece was made after getting a special request from members of my family for their mum. As she is a very bright and extroverted person, she needs something that is right out there with her. This piece IS a statement piece, but it is oddly subtle at the same time ... I think LOL.

I love the Swaro colour Cyclamen Opal, and it just goes perfectly with this handmade clay Peruzi (Nat) cabochon. Using bead embroidery, I've surrounded it with a fringing of 258 Cyclamen Opal 4mm Swaros and 24kt gold seedies. The necklace is made of more of Nat's beads, Czech facetted glass and more Swaros.

Cyclamen Serenade

Seahorses Playground - DQ19

This piece was made as part of the Designer Quest Challenge on the Beading Forum.

My mojo left me a few weeks ago when my back went out, so it actually took me a long while to get the bolt of inspiration I needed to get this made before the challenge ended ... I scraped it in with a few days to spare.  The lovely pack for this Challenge was provided by Dani from The Whimsical Beads - she made the seahorse focal herself.

The piece has a peyote rope base which has been embellished with glass shell beads, seed beads and metal rounds. The seahorse is floating on a bubbly fringed bed of seed beads, glass shell beads and metal rounds. He looks very magical in real life :)

Passionate Expressions - A Creative Journey

Well ... it's almost here. Just six short weeks until the opening of my very first Exhibition "Passionate Expressions - A Creative Journey", featuring all my bigger show pieces and my jewellery.

Passionate Expressions - A Creative Journey
1 - 31 May, 2010
Gargett Gallery, Gargett, Qld, Australia

I'll be having a Meet the Artist day early in the month, which I'm a bit scared about, but I'm excited about at the same time. I'm hoping to get more exposure for my pieces, and be able to pick up a sale or two ... even better would be another exhibition in the future.

Etsy Frontpage

Well it finally happened and I didn't even know anything about it LOL. One of my pieces - "Snow Queen" - made it to the frontpage of Etsy the other day. It's funny, I was sitting there that night trying to figure out why I got about 30 new hearts that day .... DOH!! Pleased as punch I am :)

EBW treasury

Finally, after patiently stalking the Treasuries for weeks, I managed to snag another treasury ... this one is full of some gorgeous work by my fellow Etsybeadweavers. Please go and have a look at all these lovely ladies work :) You can find it here.

New piece and a Treasury

This piece is fairly simple ... after 3-4 weeks basically being on my back, I could only do simple. You can't go past pearls for simplicity and elegance, and I love these grey mix of South Sea Shell pearls that I've used in this one, and the gorgeous Sterling Silver clasp I picked up from Lilysoffering on Etsy

I've also been featured in another treasury over the weekend, and this one is so gorgeous. I love the colours and the pieces that have gone into this one .. and it was such a bonus to find my Burlesque Nights neckpiece in amongst them. Thankyou GreenEnvyDesigns :)

Third row, middle pic

More treasury love

This treasury made by Vicki Diane, features some of the gorgeous people of the Etsy Beadweavers group, and the creations we made especially for this treasury. Muggins me can be found in the 2nd row in the middle, with the earrings I made. :)

Thankyou Vicki Diane :)

Another treasury I found one of my pieces in this beautiful treasury by HaffinaAgain (Jen). It features some gorgeous lampwork beadies. Thanks Jen *hug*.

Treasury love

While I'm in the posting mood, I found one of my pieces in this lovely etsy treasury yesterday - titled "Is it blue or turquoise".

Bottom row in the middle

Been out of action

As the title says ... I've been out of action for a few weeks. My back finally gave out on me and blew a disc (prolapsed disc) and I've been slowly, but surely, healing. It has meant that I haven't been able to sit down for longer than 5 minutes at a time ... so no beading :( , no getting on the computer :( , in fact not much of anything except lying on the couch.

But there is light at the end of the tunnel with the help of a wonderful chiro who's been attempting to fix 15 years worth of damage to my back. The result - this week I've actually been able to sit for longer periods of time, I'm walking better, and depending less on painkillers. So I'm hoping that I may be able to fit some beading in somewhere, and catching up on my posting. :)

Take care all :)

New listings

I actually got around to doing some new beading this week ... after 6 weeks of doing nothing!!!

So besides the Snow Queen (pics below), I've also managed to do a couple of simple necklaces and a pair of earrings.

Moonlight

Moonstone & Labradorite sterling silver pendant, with Moonstone and Labradorite beadies, and a sterling silver clasp.

Dark and Stormy

Big beautiful Labradorite facetted slabs, wire-wrapped with freshwater pearls and Comet Argent Swarovski Crystals.

Peruvian Opal earrings

Peruvian Opal, Smokey Quartz and sterling silver

Treasury pics

Just happened to be in the right place at the right time today and scored myself my first Treasury Main.

Full of items from my favourites list


And below are Treasuries that I've been featured in so far this year - thankyou all for including me in your lovely Treasuries.

My Verdegris Heart necklace - top centre

My Scarlet Woman necklace - third row, first pic

Horned Owl Pendant - last row, third pic

Horned Owl Pendant - first row, third pic

Sun Man brooch - Fourth row, first pic

Pearly Shell Wedding Bracelet - First row, first pic

Snow Queen

My latest piece I made over the weekend ... Snow Queen. Made as part of a YOJ challenge on the Beading Forum - "White Witch". My inspiration for this piece has come from the White Witch from Narnia ... so I wanted my piece to look icy and cold ... just like her I guess :).

Made with Crystal and Aquamarine chips, lots of clear and white seedies, that huge crystal quartz in the middle, some rock crystal nuggets and just a smattering of Swarovski crystals. I love this piece as it is so tactile, and it just looks like ice crystals forming. I am undecided though whether I should put some sort of fringing on it ..... so I'd love your input to help me decide.

Oh and you can thank my lovely daughter for the name ... she didn't like White Witch as a name and wants it called Snow Queen ... hence she wins. :)

Thanks for looking

Snow Queen

Feature article

At the end of last year I had the pleasure of being interviewed by Tina from Your Daily Muse. That interview has been featured this week. Please visit "Your Daily Muse" and check out the many artists that she has featured .... their work is amazing.

The link to my interview is here.

Thankyou Tina for this opportunity, I had alot of fun answering your questions.

Feature Artist - Evy Designs

Seeing as things are a bit quiet for me on the jewellery making front at the moment, I've decided that I'm going to start featuring Artists that inspire me ... starting with Elizabeth from Evy Designs.

Elizabeth hails from Yorkshire in England, and her jewellery designs are to die for. Being a mix of contempory to classic, all her designs convey a beauty that is timeless.

Some of my favs ....

Willow Bracelet

Coralis Earrings

On the Grapevine



Peacock and Pearl Earrings



You can see more of Elizabeth's work in her blog, Etsy store, and her website.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Yeah I know it's a bit late, but hey, better late than never.

I hope you all had a fantastic Christmas, and that this very New Year brings lots of happiness to all of you. Here's to a creative and inspiring year!!! :)