Plasticky Fun

Today's bead is one of the remaining treasure chest plastic beads I posted about a couple weeks ago and I apologize for the repeat of that project, but I seriously LOVE it and have worn it quite a bit, even with a suit!!

AND, I personally thought it looked great! Not only that, it has a great swishy sound to it.

Not too jangly, just the perfect way to let someone know you are heading down their aisle in a maze of workstations!

This adorable little bead didn't make it into the bracelet and I think there are probably 20 or so others still sitting in a little baggie.

What do you think about doing the same type of piece for earrings?

Ready-Made Bracelet Chain

Today I am sharing a ready made chain that I bought during a recent shopping spree to a local shop called European Papers which is also where I found the red heart lock featured yesterday.

This chain was actually the purpose of our visit that day because I had bought one about a year ago when we first visited. We had signed up to attend the annual event put on by the shop, "Artiscape", so we could take a class in making plexiglass jewelry.

The wonderful and talented, craft book acquisitions editor and author, Tonia Davenport, was teaching us how to take a square of plexiglass and, using a jeweler's saw, create a heart that would be either a focal piece for a bracelet or necklace.

We also had fun creating little pieces of extra embellishment out of good old shrink plastic (a.k.a. shrinky-dinks). Here's the original post of my plexi-heart..it's unique and feels like it is so ME! I've worn it an awful lot since and just love it!

We had so much fun and learned A LOT!! Not only about plexiglass and shrink plastic, but also about using different "power" tools and inks.

Okay, back to the chain...we had visited their store that day as part of our fun day off work. I ended up using the chain in a bracelet a little while after the class when my friend and I spent a day playing with shrink plastic. The result was a little die cut piece of yellow plastic that had been rubber stamped.

This trip down memory lane is making me want to heat up the oven and get shrinking!! :) I recently bought several more packs of shrink plastic and haven't made the time to play. I think it's time!! I'll keep you posted on my progress! :)

"Key to My Heart"

What in the world? A bright red heart lock with two little keys? When I saw this in a little drawer while visiting a local art studio/paper/stamping/book binding/decopauging store called European Papers, I wanted it pretty bad.

It is very light weight so it actually could be used in a piece of jewelry. :) The inspiration has not yet struck, but I love looking at it and playing with it. What does that mean?

I also bought a really tiny deck of playing cards. No clue why, but after digging in a treasure chest for a huge baggie of plastic beads, I was no longer using my conscious mind, I was just allowing myself to have what I wanted.

No harm done really, less than $15 spent all told, including all the plastic magic wands that have now been distributed to various friends.

I'd love to hear your ideas on using this actual working lock in a jewelry piece!! :) Have a great evening!

Peace, Love & Bead Bloggers!

I hope everyone is having a fun-filled sunny Sunday! While gearing up for the coming week, below are some links that I hope will inspire, encourage and/or motivate you, whichever the situation might call for!

I am always looking for motivation especially when there are a million things to do and it's so easy to let the creative part slide. I like to think it's the creative part that keeps everything else in balance. If you let that go for the sake of time, things get thrown off.

Have a great, perfectly aligned week!!

About.com Jewelry Making It's time for a fling, a spring fling that is, and why not start by making a pretty beaded flower?
Art Bead Scene Art Bead Scene Free Project: Bead Cap Tutorial.
Barbe Saint John - New Jewelry from Forgotten Artifacts I'm certified!
Beading Arts Cyndi shares how she constructs her bead embroidered cuff bracelets for the Bead Journal Project.
Cindy Gimbrone aka The Lampwork Diva Cindy re-interprets a traditional Easter icon into Grunge Bunny!
Earthenwood Studio Chronicles Melanie sees a new line of beads in the internet adventures of Molly the Owl
Jean Campbell Jean tells all about her adventures in San Francisco during Beading by the Bay--a creative retreat.
Snap ot of it, Jean! There's beading to be done! Although Andrew has posted about this,Jean wants to emphasize how beautiful the motivation and the necklace Andrew and Loreli made, for Relief for Haiti!
The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton Andrew collaborates with fellow designer, Lorelei Eurto, on a necklace to be auctioned off to raise money for the Red Cross's Haiti Relief Fund. Bid while you still can!

Hot Pepper Sunshine

I am going to blame the lateness of this post on tonight's drive-in excursion. It was Alvin & the Chipmunks "the squeakuel" and Clash of the Titans.

It never really matters whether we like the movies all that much, we go for the fun and atmosphere! :)

Rather than a complete project, I am posting the initial IDEA for a project until I can come to some final decision. I love the idea of using these red chilli peppers as rays of the sun in some kind of jewelry piece.

They are rather large which will certainly make a statement, but are they too large? Other questions that come to mind are: can you wear this as a bracelet?

Is it more fun than practical? Can it be used as a pendant in a necklace?

So, if you have thoughts on this design "conundrum", please send them my way!!

:)

Featured Designer: Kelley's Bead Studio

Yay, it's opening weekend at the drive-in movies!! We are so fortunate in central Ohio to have some serious summer weather to go along with it, how perfect!! :)

I wanted to share not only a fabulous bead designer with you today, but also let you know that Kelley's Bead Studio is having a huge bead giveaway!

In fact, the entire package of beads weighs over a pound and a half!! WOW, very generous!!

Check out her blog to enter very soon...the winner will be selected next Friday, 4/9/10. (Good Luck)!!

Now, back to Kelley's lampwork beads!!...Kelley Wenzel of Georgia is a self professed pyromaniac! She has written that she LOVES firing up her torch, even though it often takes a back burner to the kids! :)

Kelley's Bead Studio has a number of cool beads up on Etsy and it really seems like there is something for everyone! A great variety! Here are a few of my faves.

Let's get ready to create...time to get the beads out!! :) Have a great weekend!

Grand Finale of FUN Celebratory Beads & Charms

As promised...many more fun beads and charms!! These will make for a fabulously interesting and unusual charm bracelet, I can't wait to play with them!!

Thanks to Susan Roper of "Watercolors by Susan Roper" for her informational comment on yesterday's post as follows:

"I think these were probably intended for the Mexican "Dia del Muerto" as many of the items bought for this celebration are of skeletons. On this day, they honor the dead and celebrate the lives of those who have passed. I have seen large cakes decorated with skeletons and all sorts of party decorations using them."

How wonderful to use these to honor and celebrate the lives of those who have passed!! They certainly make me feel spirited and happy!

I just couldn't help but become drawn to the "TierraCast® calavera sugar skull charms". To me, these smiling skulls with flowery eyes make me think they are having a moment of flower power and saying "peace"!

These maraca playing characters in hats, which are TierraCast® catrina charms, just make me laugh and the handmade lampwork calaveras flower skull beads above bring in some great color.

So, one more time, THANKS RINGS & THINGS for this fun-filled package of cheer! I love it!


FTC compliance disclosure, notice of material connections: the items in this post from Rings&Things were provided as a promotional gift as part of the Blog Partner Program for review or design purposes. More info about the Rings & Things Blog Partner Program