Somehow, I ended up at the Bead Show...

I wasn't going to...but...when Dean & I had to run up to Cincinnati Pool & Spa, I thought, we're SO close...why not? I'll be good and not overspend (yeah right) but actually I behaved myself. It probably helped that we were on a deadline because we had a showing of our house this afternoon so I didn't have a whole lot of time.

Wanna see the goods???

 

I spent most of my money at the  AD Adornments booth, which is nothing new. I could spend hours looking through everything there! I bought seven various chains this time and a couple of little trinkets. I bought hand dyed silk ribbons from Riverstone Bead Co.. He always has a nice variety and is priced reasonably as well.

 I bought peanut seed beads....several hanks! The Beadroom booth is always a favorite of mine and she had lots of peanut seed beads AND they were 20% off. I couldn't resist.

 

Last but not least...I bought these lovelies! I can't wait to use them.

My husband also had a great time talking to the various lampworkers there...like Susan Barnes from Fire Goddess and Nikki Thornburg from Thornburg Studio. Check out their websites...they're quite inspiring!

Fantastic Giveaway!

Are you an art bead lover? You MUST check this out and enter to win!

Designer Highlight Bead Trends November 2011

I just received my copies via UPS today but I have to confess...I went to Barnes & Noble last week to buy one! I just couldn't wait!

 

I will be listing these pieces on my website (all except Thunderstorm-that is sold already) in the next couple of weeks. I know I know..I am terrible at keeping up with my website. I tend to have around 20 pieces at all times that aren't listed. I do try to list though on my Facebook page so check it out and let me know if you see something you are interested in. Thanks! ~Kristy

An exciting creative opportunity has come my way...

Heather Powers of Humblebeads asked me to be a contributor on her new blog Earrings Everyday and I am thrilled! There are seven of us and each day there will be a new post on earrings. On the weekend, Heather will spotlight creative ways to store and display our earring collections. So look forward to lots of inspiration and eye candy!  Please consider following our new blog and sharing on Facebook! Thanks :)
I'll leave you with a picture of the first featured earrings by Heather, they are lovely.

Creative Jewelry Magazine Is Out!

It feels like I have been waiting forever to see it! It's such a great magazine, I always find loads of inspiration in the pages. I truly love how the photographers at Interweave Press photograph my pieces, they always do such an amazing job!

The first piece is titled "Centered" and I especially love that it features one of my husband's lampwork hearts. I LOVE his hearts. 

 

You can check out his Etsy store here and his Facebook site here.

Okay, onto the second piece. It's called "Home is where the Heart is" and features a cute pendant by Menagerie Studios. 

 

I also have a pair of earrings in the magazine using more charms from Menagerie Studios. Pic is bottom row, middle pair.

 

Another pair of my earrings "Aztec Sunset" are featured on this page in the magazine (first pair).

 

Another featured necklace is "Seaside Retreat" and features a ceramic pendant by Spirited Earth, I just love Nan's pieces! 

 

My 6th piece is "Turning Leaf" and features a pendant by Chinook. 

 

Last piece is a favorite of mine, "Autumn Luxe" and those gorgeous Chalcedony briolettes are from Rock Candy Beads. 

 

You can pick up a copy of this magazine at your local Barnes & Noble stores or online at Interweave Press (they have online editions available too!).

Soups On!

This is my first time joining in on the fun that Lori Anderson created called "Bead Soup". It's a party and a fun way to connect with other jewelry designers and make new friendships. I lucked out with my partner Diana Ptaszynski of Suburban Girl Studios. We have connected via Facebook and she's a real sweetheart.

This is the soup that she sent to me...

 

I was thrilled! I loved the ceramic pieces that she made and love the combo of the turquoise, the brown beads and the orange ribbon. She was so generous with what she sent that I was able to make 4 pieces and have left over beads!

My first piece is a necklace using mainly what she sent to me. 

I did add carnelian chips, a few magnesite chips and asked my husband to make me a red bird bead since I was using the birds nest charm and the beads had such a nature feel to them-which I love by the way! You can check out his Etsy site, Bubby & McGurk Beads, here.

In my second piece, I used the copper toggle clasp,  Diana's ceramic beads and another of her pretty ceramic heart charms.

The only thing that I added from my own stash was the magnesite chips.

My 3rd piece has the pretty copper pinecone she sent to me, some of the wood beads and a piece of the ribbon that I had left over.

 

The Autumn leaf pendant is by Heather Powers of Humblebeads. The ceramic beads are by Gaea Cannaday. The chain and toggle clasp are by me using MissFickleMedia products. 

And now the last piece..

 

When I saw those pretty brass pieces I knew that they were destined to be earrings. I used some AB coated Labradorite stones from Rock Candy Bead Studio and I really like the way that they turned out. Those stones are just gorgeous.

Want to see what Diana made with the bead soup that I sent to her?

Check out her blog Here.

To check out all 362 Bead Soup Participants Click Here.

Lots of beady FUN on Saturday!

This past Saturday, my husband and I went to the Bead Mercantile show in Cincinnati. There was also a gemstone show in the area, so we went to both. My husband is a lampwork artist and he spent much of the time there talking to other lampwork artists. He really enjoyed himself as I walked around spending money..ha ha.

 I spent too much but did get lots of goodies. Wanna See?

 

Aren't they gorgeous?!? Oh, there's more...

 

I'm really excited about those teardrop beads pictured above..the green and brown ones = loveliness! 

And of course, my favorite colors...

 

 

I give up on trying to steer clear of the blues, greens, aquas and coppers-it's just no use. I immediately gravitate to them. Please tell me that I am not the only one who does this?!?!

I did buy something a bit different for me though and I have a plan for these beauties. Think frosty, icy weather.

 

Now the plan for today is straightening up the bead studio and making room for the new stash and hopefully getting to create a new piece or two.

Bead Soup Partner & The Soup

I'm thrilled with my bead partner, Diana Ptaszynski, of Suburban Girl Studios. We have been messaging and getting to know each other on Facebook. She is a talented ceramic artist and you can see her work here. If you are interested in buying some of her jewelry components check out her other Etsy shop here. She was kind enough to send me a goodie bag!

 

Aren't they gorgeous?!? Can't wait to play with them but first..I must create with the bead soup that she sent me-which I am super excited about....

 

 Can you blame me for being excited? I just happen to love the colors she sent, the coppers, turquoise, browns-my very favorite colors. 

Stay tuned to see what I come up with. The reveal date is September 17th.

Intergalactic Bead Show!

On Sunday I attended the The Intergalactic Bead Show and I tried to hard not to buy what I usually buy which is blues, greens, browns and copper BUT I failed..I failed miserably!

Oh well, what's a girl to do? I did score some pretty cool things. I tend to spend a lot of money at the AD Adornments booth. Here are some of my goodies that I purchased. It will be really hard to part with those two pendants. In fact, I might not.

Okay, now I need to start saving $ for the next bead show.
Happy Creating!

Bead Soup Time!

Lori Anderson is once again hosting Bead Soup Blog Party, but it will be my first time signing up and I am so excited!!! Anyone can sign up, you do it here. Hurry up because you only have 3 days....

It's that time again...

...to cast your votes for your favorite jewelry pieces for Bead Star 2011! I am lucky enough to have placed in the Metals category. I submitted my "Metal Romance" necklace (shown here)

 

Please take a moment and if you aren't already a Beading Daily member, sign up now. It's free and you will receive loads of great information and ideas!

If you happen to like my piece, please Vote for it :)

Voting ends on May 17th.

Thanks and have a great day!

Best of Creative Jewelry Magazine

I was happily surprised when I bought the Best of Creative Jewelry Magazine the other day because 4 of my pieces (from Creative Jewelry 2010) made the issue!

I have had several requests for my seashell stamped hearts since the magazine hit the stands. I really enjoy making them but was shocked at the cost of PMC3! The price has doubled since I bought it last so I think I will wait until the price goes down (fingers crossed!) to buy anymore. Thank goodness that I had a bag of PMC3 left to work with!

I used liver of sulphur on them last night and completely stunk up my laundry room, but it was too cold to do it outside . This is what I came up with...

I love how each one turns out so unique!

Bead Show Goodies!

Went to a bead show yesterday with my friend Lynn, and as usual we had lots of fun and spent lots of money...um, well at least I did. Lynn usually has more self control than I do! So, thought I would post a pic of my purchases...is it wrong that I enjoy sorting them out and arranging them almost as much as I buying them?!?! I can't wait to create some things with this stash...