Winner of the Wild Wire Pyrite Necklace

by Staci L. Smith

Thank you to everyone for the positive feedback on my wire necklaces!  I am really happy to be able to share one with you all.  There were a lot of entries, and since some comments got entered twice, or other people commented more then once, I went through and wrote each name one time in order, and used random number generator to pick.  

The lucky winner is

Deb Fortin!!!!!!

Congrats to you Deb!  Please contact me with your shipping information as soon as possible at staci.louise@hotmail.com

I also just want to mention that I have lots of sugar skulls and winged skulls still available in my shop!  It's probably the last batch of the year......so if you want to have some rocking Sugar Skull necklaces for Halloween or Dia de los Muertos, then snag them up while they last.  I had sort of a bum show at my last one, but the only necklace I sold was one of them!  So, tis the season!

http://www.stacilouiseoriginals.com/catalog/sugar-skulls

Asymmetry Boot Camp

by Staci L. Smith

Even a 9 year old can do it?
  

Perhaps. Maybe they are better at it then us, because they are uninhibited.  (Or maybe my 9 year old just has my kind of brain, drawn to things a little off kilter, just enough to be interesting. ) I don't know, but it was neat to observe the making of this yesterday.

by Julia Smith- art bead focal by Jenny Davis-Reazor

Julia finally got the jewelry making bug, and her and I sat down so I could show her some basic ways to assemble her bead collection into jewelry. 

I showed her how to wire wrap, and she put together this piece.  I laid out the focal for her, and she selected the beads to go around it.  To my surprise, she made it asymmetrical.  Not even a worry that both sides didn't match.  Then she added the matching droplets on each side.  I liked that touch, that she added something similar on each side to create a little more balance.

(it still needs a clasp- almost done)
I am a proud mama!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Really, I wanted to post today about bead making and buying as it pertains to asymmetry.  I see people post all the time on facebook, asking how many beads they should make in a set.  Do people want even numbers, or odd numbers?  There is never a definitive answer, because some of us work symmetrically, and others asymmetrically. 

So, if you want to push yourself to try asymmetry, I suggest embracing those odd lots of beads, the orphans, the similar color sets that none of the shapes match..........it may help you to try it out.

I make my bead sets that way, all different, usually with odd numbers of beads in them.  I do it, because that is what I would buy, and its what I use in my jewelry.  As a matter of fact, I made some beads sets so big, that I thought, if I just added a few beads here and there, it would be an asymmetrical necklace.

So to test the theory, I made this (also because I couldn't make these sets to sell without using one myself)

focal and organic polymer by me, ceramic spiral pods by marsha neal studio, rustic lampwork focal by Genea Beads, raku ammonite by Suburban Girl Studio and black ceramic rounds by Starry road studio

One strand of my organic mis-matched beads.  A few other art beads, and gemstones, and some fancy arranging.  Voila- asymmetrical necklace.  

So, here are some links to non-matchy or odd numbered sets to get you inspired!!!

https://www.etsy.com/listing/182070680/wing-dings-ocean-beach-stone-jewel?ref=shop_home_feat_4

https://www.ktotten.etsy.com 

https://www.etsy.com/listing/178781845/handmade-lampwork-bead-sra-coral-creek?ref=sr_gallery_15&ga_search_query=art+bead+orphans&ga_ship_to=US&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery

https://www.etsy.com/listing/179820051/handmade-lampwork-beads-free-formed-m-i?ref=shop_home_active_10

https://www.etsy.com/listing/168500025/reach-long-spike-and-cup-handmade?ref=shop_home_active_1

https://www.etsy.com/listing/177166070/artisan-tribal-clay-beads-banded-spike?ref=shop_home_feat_1

https://www.etsy.com/listing/170100608/rustic-handmade-bead-set-tiny-hole?ref=sr_gallery_18&ga_search_query=ceramic+bead+sets&ga_page=4&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery

Another thing you can do is find a fun shop where you can mix and match beads to create fun asymmetrical designs.  My Elements is one of those shops.  Yvonne has a great selection of fun bits and bobs- and she creates many shapes and sizes in similar colors, so it makes it easier to create asymmetrical pieces that are unified by color.  

https://www.etsy.com/listing/161637926/hip?ref=shop_home_active_8

Here is a pair of earrings she has in her jewelry shop, Drool Worthy.  

They have great balance in shape and color, but are definitely not symmetrical.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/173203702/gabriella-earrings?ref=related-0

I hope this has inspired you to try out some asymmetrical jewlery!  Remember to enter your pieces in our flickr group, with a description of what you made - and some reference to Boot Camp in the description or title too.

Most importantly- have fun!!!!



Going once, Going twice......

MaryAnn Carroll

One thing I have learned from my experience with online groups is that similar to "real life" groups, people may come and go. It is the part of life we all have that takes us through different experiences. One thing I have experienced being a part of Love My Art Jewelry is that I continue to become a more inspired, educated and connected person through those in the group and those of you who follow, share comments, guest posts, jewelry creations on SYS and more.

I can't quite remember how this jewelry collaboration came to be because it was quite some time ago. It may have even been close to a year.... not sure.... life goes by so quickly.  The time has finally come that our collaboration was published in this very awesome edition of Belle Armoire Jewelry.

 

This art jewelry set was created by some wonderful artists that include, Mary Jane Dodd, Kelli Pope, Izzy Winterhart, Staci Louise Smith, LeAnn Weih, Patty Lakinsmith, D'Arsie Manzella and me. Our intent was twofold. One was to promote the love of creating handmade with handmade. The other was to recognize and support the organizations that fight to end domestic violence. Many of us have been affected by this whether it is ourselves or someone close to us.Check out the issue for some fab pictures. This issue also includes a bracelet tutorial by our very own Staci Louise Smith.

 

With that said, stay tuned for more details regarding how you could be the owner of this unique art necklace, art bracelet and earrings to match, while at the same time, helping with an important cause.  Once I receive the jewelry back from Belle Armoire Jewelry, we will be auctioning all five pieces together. I was the last one to have these before sending them off to the publisher and I can assure you that when I tried them on, it was AMAZING!!!

As always,

Thank-you for supporting those who create handmade with handmade.

MaryAnn

PS....

This awesome Art Bead Love Tour chain is ready to move on to the next winner. Click HERE to find out more about it.

like birthin' babies

                                                                                                 mary jane dodd


gestation: n. the act of carrying young from conception to delivery


sometimes taking a piece from idea to execution can be just like that... replete with discomfort, moments of anticipation and planning, hopes for what it may 'grow up' to be... and a lot of anxiety as the due date nears... 


take for example a piece i have been carrying around in my head since may - this is not uncommon for me... my etsy shop doesn't have 4 pages of listings, i don't make things quickly... i admire those people, i am just not one of them... 

meet 'tenacity'... we are going on 6 months now... i know i am closing in on delivery - my chest pounds just thinking about it... 

the sketches are basic - nothing fancy, but it is a way to bring some kind of reality to the project... at night i just put down what i am thinking about... 


the defining components are made - 

resin paddles with antique dictionary paper... 'perseverance', 'tenacity' and 'blooming'... 

glass from patty lakinsmith... 

'tenacity' was born of her meaning - 'holding fast' ... there are things that we at times must hold fast to - if we do and carry it through, we blossom...


and, seriously, who can resist a good meanie?!