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!!! :)

Use the Muse III revealed

Finally I can show my piece from the Use the Muse III competition run by Scarlett Larson.

Autumnal Muse

This Muse - the gorgeous copper butterfly - conjured up memories of flowers, gardens, romanticism and Autumnal colours. Using bead embroidery, some newly acquired lace flowers, and learning how to make peyote leaves, I set about creating a romantic Autumnal garden for this “musing” butterfly.

A butterfly lights beside us, like a sunbeam ... and for a brief moment it's glory and beauty belong to our world ... but then it flies on again, and although we wish it could have stayed, we are so thankful to have seen it at all.
Anon

You can check out all the entries and the winners here.

Beading goals for 2010

As we near the end of 2009 - (and believe me I am personally glad to see this year bite the dust) - and we round the corner to 2010, I get to thinking where I'd like my beading, and wearable art, to go next year.

There are so many techniques out there that I just don't know about, so my main objective is to learn lots of new techniques .... things like a spiral rope (can't believe I haven't done this one yet). Ndebele is another technique I'd like to take up. I'd like to take my wire-work to another level - get out of this rut that I seem to have found myself in with wire, and explore and create more satisfying pieces out of this great medium. As far as Bead Embroidery goes ... I'd like to explore and make the designs that have been swimming around in my head for ages ... and incorporate the new techniques I want to learn. It seems that seed beads have taken over my beading desk LOL ... I know I have "normal" beads on there somewhere, but these pesky little things just get in the way. :)

2010 sees my first major Exhibition as well - set down for the month of May. I am both scared and excited all at the same time at the prospect of doing this. Now, I'm sure everything will turn out OK, and if I can sell some of my pieces, that would be a major bonus.

Competitions seem to be a major part of my beading life now ... I love the challenge of entering competitions. The 2010 Swarovski comp is one that I've already got a piece made for - and I hope to explore wire and crystals again next year for the same comp. I also hope to be entering more shows - Brisbane and Sydney just for starters. The "Muse" competition (a US based comp) - run by Scarlett Lanson, is one that I just love entering as it inspires me to go that little bit further ... and who doesn't love a mystery with the "Muse".

So, 2010 ... I'm hoping that it's a better year, and it brings lots of new and exciting ventures. :)

Burlesque Nights

I can't believe I made this in one day!!!

Created for a themed challenge - "Burlesque". After a bit of research about Burlesque, I knew I had to use some of the black lace motifs I got down in Brisbane last month. I pulled off the beads that were on them and replaced them with my own ... black and red AB seedies, Czech FPs and Czech flowers ... all on red ultrasuede. The centrepiece is Black Onyx with a window bezel, surrounded by red Czech FPs.

It all came together so well, and I'm so in love with it ... I love this style. Now I know what to do with the rest of the lace I got :).


Burlesque Nights

Free shipping

Yep, you read right .... you're NOT going crazy ... for this weekend ONLY on my Etsy store ... I'm offering FREE world-wide shipping on all items. From Friday 27/11 to Monday 30/11

This is your chance to get that special Christmas pressie for someone, or maybe yourself!!!

New etsy items & photos

Just a tiny one today :)

Finally got around to uploading a couple of pieces this morning that I haven't had on Etsy before. I've also replaced some rather cruddy looking photos that I had on there for other products. Hopefully they look OK now.

New piece and a Treasury or two

Wine Under Blue Skies

This one is for me .... made for my partners work xmas party tonight (matches my new shirt). Featuring beads from a very talented clay/ceramic artist - Natalie @ Peruzi, some spacer lampies from Lampwork artist Jan Cahill, Czech FPs, seedies, Fluorite and Swarovski Crystals in the new gorgeous colour - Cyclamen Opal.


I'm also chuffed that I've been featured in another Etsy Treasury. "A Hint of Gold in a Cerulean Sky" by Windyriver features some very gorgeous jewellery pieces, including my Blue Swirls necklace. Thankyou WR :)

This one is by AngelqueCreations titled "Here Comes the Sun", full of gorgeous summery pieces and my humble Sun Man brooch. Thanks once again Angelque

Treasury features

I'm stoked again to be featured in another Etsy Treasury ... "Wintery Days" by AngelqueCreations ... with my wired Dragonfly Brooch. Thankyou Angelque :)


and this one by MaryTDesigns, who has featured my "Dark Faerie" necklace. I loved making this one, so I'm chuffed to have this one featured so soon after listing it. Thanks Mary.

And again, this time with my "Ouro Preto" pendant in a gorgoeus earthy treasury by enchantedbeas, thanks darl :)