Beading Again

It's been a long, quiet summer this year.  I haven't done a whole lot of beading, buying beads, yes...but not doing a whole lot with them.  To get back to it, I decided to play with some wire, wood and my bead soup.  I started out with painted dowel rod, making sure to cut two long pieces and two short.  Wrapped the wire around the cross pieces, to create a frame, then made wire wrapped bead balls.  I used 20 ga galvanized wire throughout.  Measuring by eye, I took separate pieces of wire and wrapped each of them around one end of the frame, added beads and finished wrapping the wire at the opposite end.  Created a hanger with another piece of wire and Bob's Your Uncle, a nice little piece of bead art.

 

It's so nice to be able to use up all those bits and bobs of loose beads that have been hanging around on my bead desk to create something fun to hang on the wall.

 

Last week, I was cleaning up the mess I call my bead desk and uncovered a bag of sea urchin spines.  These are really cool with all the different colorations and patterns they have.  So, out came the crystals, the chain and more wire to make a fun necklace.

 

Sea Urchin Spine Necklace

Even tho' it's still summer and the heat will be returning next week, I can feel and smell fall coming, especially up here in the woods. With the change of season, I will be at my bead desk more often and will be sharing more beady goodness soon.

 

Paula McNamee's Jewelry for December Show

These nature inspired brooches are made with soldered brass and copper, sterling silver wire, beads, charms, and drawings in bezels filled with resin. Stephanie Lee's online class called Homesteader's Metalsmithing is wonderful workshop with great videos and PDF files. All the skills needed to make these brooches were learned in this workshop.




The safety deposit box word keys are flooded with solder, metal letter stamped with added hand soldered jump rings, beads and a bit of fiber. Words become keys to life, a reminder to dream or play. Many artists select a work for the year to guide their artwork. These words can be powerful affirmations and tools for change.


Wrapped leather bracelets feature different sizes, beads and colors. They are fun to wear at any age.
See more of Paula's artwork on her blog- Dreamcicle Journeys.

It's All About the Beads

Peridot and Copper

Labradorite and Crystals
I created these two necklaces for a themed show about Urban Landscapes. What to do with jewelry and urban landscapes? So, I did a little research and found that the Portland area sits on a variety of cinder cones, lava fields and extinct volcanoes called the Boring Lava Field. Then I discovered, there are certain semi-precious stones that were formed when those lava fields and volcanoes were active. Labraborite has been found in Rocky Butte and olivine, also known as peridot in its semi-precious state, is found throughout the area.

To see more that will be available at the show this weekend, please visit my blog Z'annes Bazaar. Scroll down the page to see more goodies.

May Portland Art Collective Giveaway

Here's our May Portland Art Collective giveaway donated by Paula McNamee. Please comment on this blog post to win a crochet-wire, beaded necklace. The necklace measures 16 inches, made of 28 gauge wire, a variety glass beads and Dupioni silk ribbon.
Close up of beads and wire clasp.
To win, post a comment on this post and the winner will be announced the end of May. Thanks for participating and look forward to our monthly giveaways.

Finished Kimono Fabric Bead Necklaces

The kimono fabric bead necklaces are finished and ready for our show. I found the silver beads at the Gem Faire in June and thought they'd go well with the kimono beads. FYI the Gem Faire will be in Portland this weekend, November 27-29, at the Oregon Convention Center, Exhibit Hall E.

Here's a closer look. Come check them out in person the first week in December at our "Open Doors' Show. I'll look forward to seeing you then.

Candy? Sushi? No, Kimono Fabric Beads

My fingers are flying as I sew more kimono fabric beads for necklaces that I plan to sell at our 'Open Doors' show. Adding seed beads is the next step. See what the finished necklaces will look like Here.

Crocheted Wire & Beaded Jewelry for Show

I finished the wire crocheted necklace that I started at our retreat last weekend. It's fun to create different variations- single, double and triple strands with different findings and sari silk ribbons.

Check here to see other jewelry that I will be selling at our Open Doors Show next month. Hope you can come see us and all of our beautiful artwork.

Beaded Necklaces Crocheted with Wire

My latest project involves crocheting beads with wire to make necklaces that look vintage. You'll be able to purchase them at our Portland Art Collective 'Open Doors' Show in December. Click Here to see other examples on my blog.

It's fun to combine textures and colors.

Fire and Wind

I finished these two necklaces today for a theme show in Gresham by the Gresham Art Advisory Committee. The show is
Earth, Wind, Fire and Water. It runs from October 28th through December 11th at the Gresham City Hall Visual Arts Gallery on 1333 NW Eastman Parkway. The reception for this show will be November 18th from 5:30 - 7:00 p.m.

Hope to see you there!

Z'anne

Jewelry Binge

Are you one of those people that loves magazine quizzes? I always liked the Cosmo quizzes and remember doing several fashion typologies. Are you Romantic or Practical? Fashion Forward or Caught in Time? I usually end up Eclectic which, I think, comes from my theater background and a lifelong love of costuming.

I just finished a jewelry-production binge and I think I am also an Eclectic designer. As I review the pieces I see several lines:

New Victoriana
Classic pieces with a bit of a twist. Perhaps living in a house built in 1890 is having its influence. I just LOVE the Victorian look, twisted a bit a la Tim Burton. These are Golden pyrite with brass chain and Faceted onyx earrings.

Business, Baby
These are the type of pieces that I put on when I have client meetings. Sharp and clean. These are Moonstone with a Swarovski crystal and Gold-fill beads on sterling silver hoops.

Sweet Things for Sweet, Young Things
My nieces wear these and they look lovely on those beautiful swan necks. They are too delicate for me but I thing they're exquisite on 20-something necks and lobes. These are Peridot with crystals and Freshwater pearl necklace with crystal.

Sassy Brass
These earrings have a dynamic and assertive quality. My daughter wears these. Below are Faceted glass and Czech glass with freshwater pearl both on sterling.

Meditation Chaplets
I'm also producing a limited set of Meditation Chaplets. These are loaded with symbolism and are a great tool for focusing the mind. They each come with a booklet with descriptions of the meaning of the stones and symbols as well as how to use for prayer or meditation. This one is specifically designed for our dear friend, Scotty.