What Would You Do?

I've been hopping around the blogosphere looking at what other designers made the same components I used for the pieces I used for my Sunday post.  There's some beautiful work out there - and it is all so very different!

I was over at the Chinook Designs blog (who made the beautiful blue snowflake pendants) and she had a virtual design hop going on with another of her pieces called "What Would You Do Wednesdays".

This one.

I LOVE it! Since I'm taking a break from buying bead supplies for a bit (you'll see why soon), I thought it would be fun to virtually design a piece using this ceramic bracelet bar.

I'd start with some olive green leather cord (this is from Lytha Studios.). This would anchor the focal bead.

I'd find a way to add some beautiful blue Labradorite beads (maybe not briolettes, but definitely this color)

Or

  And add a few Picasso flowers as a good stabilizing neutral.

Then warm it up with a bit of vintage copper chain from Beach Castle Beads.

And I think I might add a strand of antique copper ball chain.

and add a clasp by Shannon LeVart (or maybe just use a nicely finished copper clasp)

It would be perfect with jeans and a bulky olive green sweater and brown boots.

I can't seem to get enough of 3 strand bracelets lately.  It has been my go to "fulfillment" project.  My work is always about collage in some way.  Complicated bracelets sort of match my complicated life and I fully embrace it all.

Can you see it?  I can!  It's a shame this is only a virtual piece.

Lisa

Secret Snowflake Challenge

One of my goals this year is to be more active in the bead blog world.  I "signed up" to participate in Michelle Mach's Secret Snowflake Challenge.  I chose this challenge because the chosen beads are not what I normally gravitate to.  I thought it would kick me out of my color comfort zone at bit.    It was somewhat successful - I used quite a bit of the beads that were in the challenge kit, but I just couldn't stay exclusively in the "light blue" zone.  I HAD to add contrast and color.  

My inspiration was my own experience with Winter.  Keep in mind that it has been in the 70's and 80's here for a while and winter, as most people know it, is something I have limited experience with.  The Sierra's in snow became my color inspiration.  The dark granite of the rocks, the ice white and blue of snow, and the pale winter light of the sun became my muse.  I re-worked the necklace 3 times before I got to a piece I was happy with.  I added more white by using indonesian glass beads, and pale orange using Carnelian (with both the large chunk and the small flashes of orange).  I also used some pretty Czech pressed glass that reminded me of the mountains.  

I ended up with 3 pieces - A necklace, a bracelet and earrings.  While it all goes together, it was not necessarily meant as a matching set.  I also mixed metals - something I also tend not to do.

Earrings

The Necklace 

Necklace Detail

The Bracelet

All 3 pieces

I think these are going to be delivered to Bella Cosa where possibly a homesick North Easterner will buy the pieces and wear them  while sitting in the sun, drinking a latte and remembering the good old days of snowfall.

• Blog Hop Participants
  
  If there is no blog link listed next to a person's name, check Michelle's Beads & Books. Participants without blogs will be posting their photos on her blog.
  • Alice (Alice Dreaming)
  • Chris (beadjewelry.net)
  • Christa (Adventures of One Beady Woman)
  • Crystal (Here Bead Dragons)
  • Cynthia (Cynth's Blog)
  • Dawn (Morning Glory Beading)
  • Donetta (Simply Gorgeous)
  • Erin A.
  • Jennifer (JenniferJW)
  • Jennifer (Jewelry, Art and Life)
  • Kari W.
  • Kate (We Can Make That at Home)
  • Kay (Palm Coast Art)
  • Linda (Lindy's Designs)
  • Lisa C. (A Bead a Day)
  • Lisa (Inspired Adornments) YOU ARE HERE
  • Mary (MLH Designs)
  • Michelle (Beads & Books) 
  • Michelle B.
  • Millie (AMM Jewelry)
  • Norma (Moonlit Fantasies)
  • Pam (The Crazier Sister)
  • Rebecca J.
  • Renetha (Lamplight Crafts)
  • Rosemarie (Gem Rose Designs)
  • Shannon (Falling into the Sky)
  • Susan (Bead Inspired)
  • Therese (Therese's Treasures)
  • Therese (Domestic Goddess Enterprises)

Resolutions?

I generally don't do traditional resolutions, but I do find that the new year is a good time to stop for a moment and take stock of the places I've been and the places I want to go.  Resolutions are more like Re-evaluations and an opportunity to make some adjustments in my path.   My current path looks a bit more like a tree top than a tree trunk.  It is very fragmented and branches off in many different directions.  While I love being busy, I need to do less and make what I do completely worth my time.  I'm going to be trimming some fat this month.  There will be some big changes, but I'm looking forward to every single one of them!

What I will NOT give up is my creative time.  As a matter of fact, that part of my  life needs to be much greater.

And so it shall!

My goal of 2012 looks something like this:

Ahhhhhh!