It's spring in Chicago. It's that brief moment in time when the temperatures are moderate, the skies are bluer, and living things begin to unfold and reveal touches glimpses of their colorful glory. And it's GREEN everywhere!!! At no other time does the grass grow as furiously, and as lush as it does right now. Two or three months from now, patches of dry wilting, moisture-starved turf start appearing everywhere, except on turf owned by those citizens desperately battling to save the green with artificial watering. Yes, it's a battle. But right now, rain is abundant, and green, green, GREEN is our the world.
So how does that make one feel? Well, I know that when I look out my window and see green grass, green flowering plants, and lush green foliage....I feel rested. And relaxed. And taken away...to somewhere natural, botanical, or maybe even tropical.
It's no secret that colors influence one's mood. Scientists have studied the human physiological response to color for quite some time. Warm, hot colors excite...cooler blues and greens relax. But regardless of what science has discovered, it's important to be sensitive to the impact that colors have on you. Pay attention to what you find soothing and comforting. Make note of environments that you find energizing, then analyze whether or not the colors might have something to do with that feeling of invigoration!
Welcome to The Weekend Jewelry Designer Blog!
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Third Annual Suburban Bead Encounter...
I missed it! I learned about the May 15th show while shopping at The Place to Bead in Naperville, IL. Obviously, I had the location wrong in my brain, and showed up the next day at the wrong place! Too late I realized that the show must have been at the "other" Hilton on Coporate West. By then, I had changed my afternoon plans and had gone clothes shopping instead. I think there's another one scheduled for the fall.
It's been too gray/rainy to do much photography. So I've been working on some beadstitching projects, including a really fabulous piece that I can't wait to list on NoelleLaBelle.etsy.com! I've also been organizing a room downstairs in our house to be my beading/jewelry studio. I have a work station, much better lighting, and finally a permanent place for my rolling cart. I purchased a Commercial 7-Tier Steel Bin Rack from Sam's Club awhile ago that is really made for organizing garage tools. But it's perfect for storing my jewelry tools, beads, findings, bead stitching books and magazines, and everything else. I can pull out the individual bins and bring them to the table if I need to, then put them back neatly when I'm done.
It's been too gray/rainy to do much photography. So I've been working on some beadstitching projects, including a really fabulous piece that I can't wait to list on NoelleLaBelle.etsy.com! I've also been organizing a room downstairs in our house to be my beading/jewelry studio. I have a work station, much better lighting, and finally a permanent place for my rolling cart. I purchased a Commercial 7-Tier Steel Bin Rack from Sam's Club awhile ago that is really made for organizing garage tools. But it's perfect for storing my jewelry tools, beads, findings, bead stitching books and magazines, and everything else. I can pull out the individual bins and bring them to the table if I need to, then put them back neatly when I'm done.
Monday, May 2, 2011
I must admit, I am wowed by this necklace!
Selling one of my hand made jewelry designs is similar to arranging an adoption. It's hard to part with some of my creations, but I feel a certain sense of elation in finding a "good home" for them. It's particularly exciting to see somebody wearing my pieces, like my coworker Sam, who purchased a gleaming tiger eye necklace with matching earrings. She looked stunning!
I really, really adore this necklace. It started as a "beaded bead" worked in Cellini Spiral, an intricate stitch which demands total concentration in order to maintain the pattern. It was so lovely, that I just had to make it the centerpiece of a necklace. I love how the pale aqua color of the amazonite adds contrast to the blue of the bead, and how the greenish-blue of the labradorite ovals capture flashes of deeper blue. Swarovski crystals in indicolite are a near match to the blue of the focal bead. Sterling silver is used throughout.
I really, really adore this necklace. It started as a "beaded bead" worked in Cellini Spiral, an intricate stitch which demands total concentration in order to maintain the pattern. It was so lovely, that I just had to make it the centerpiece of a necklace. I love how the pale aqua color of the amazonite adds contrast to the blue of the bead, and how the greenish-blue of the labradorite ovals capture flashes of deeper blue. Swarovski crystals in indicolite are a near match to the blue of the focal bead. Sterling silver is used throughout.
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Sunday, May 1, 2011
Have you ever heard of a Cellini Spiral?
Cellini Spiral is a beadwork stitch that uses seed beads stepping up from very tiny ones, to gradually larger ones. I found this pattern to be challening, especially when first establishing the foundational pattern. But one I got the hang of it, it went smoothly. The resulting "beaded bead" is the focal piece of this necklace.
To give this piece a really rich look, I chose a turquoise and bronze theme, using bronze hex beads, turquoise and gold seed beads, genuine facetted turquoise rondelles and brass/bronze cultured pearls and Swarovski crystal pearls. Each strand connects to a length of brass link chain which closes securely at the back of then neck with a brass lobster clasp.
To give this piece a really rich look, I chose a turquoise and bronze theme, using bronze hex beads, turquoise and gold seed beads, genuine facetted turquoise rondelles and brass/bronze cultured pearls and Swarovski crystal pearls. Each strand connects to a length of brass link chain which closes securely at the back of then neck with a brass lobster clasp.
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| http://www.etsy.com/listing/73246060/turquoise-brass-and-pearl-necklace-with |
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