I’m so thrilled to be published again in the latest issue of Jewelry Affaire (on sale today)! My “Love Letters” (originally named “Enveloped”) series as well as my “Miracle of Love” necklace were featured. I hope you enjoy them.
Published Again :)
Tag Archives: fashion
Where’d You Get Those Shoes?
So I was thumbing through the latest issue of Bead Trends magazine and saw an advertisement featuring fashion designer turned scrapbooking queen, Amy Tan of Amy Tangerine. The ad was for a new Signature Series book about scrapbooking projects. Now while I’m no scrapbook queen myself, I know a cute pair of shoes when I see them. In the ad, Amy has on the most adorable aqua mint flats with little black bows.
I searched the web for said shoes with no luck, so I decided to contact Amy herself. I found her blog Amy Tangerine and sent her a note asking “Where’d you get those shoes?” To my delight, she replied right away, but not to my delight she said she got the shoes in Brazil 😦 She did let me know the shoes are from a brand called Melissa. Again, I went to the internet and searched for the coveted Melissa flats. I did find them on a few sites, but they either didn’t have my size, the right color, or they were several times what I was willing to pay.
Being the resourceful artist that I am, I decided to just make my own. During my previous web searches I’d found some cute, affordable Mossimo flats at Target.com that seemed pretty close to the color I wanted. When they arrived today, I went upstairs to my studio and after digging through my box of “fibers” I found a black silk ribbon intended for jewelry making. With a little glue, I was able to make a reasonable facsimile for under $35. I am planning to wear them tomorrow with boyfriend jeans, a blazer over a white tee, and top it off with some fab jewelry.
Melissa flats next to my version:
3rd Annual Challenge of Color Reveal!!!
I was torn between the two palettes selected for me, so I decided to use both! I should note that I challenged myself a bit more by committing to only use beads that I already had on hand. So I dug through boxes, jars, and bowls of bead soup to find the combinations I wanted.
To represent the Namib Desert palette I created a statement necklace using leopard print beads, silver pearls, and various other types of beads in shades of brown. For the Meighen Island palette, I used watery blue lamp work and other glass beads combined with vibrant green pearls in a 5-strand bracelet with a slide clasp. Both items are for sale in my Etsy shop StrandedInTheCity. You can see a full list of the participants with links to their blogs below. Enjoy!
Click the image above to visit Erin’s blog for the main post!
Erin Prais-Hintz http://treasures-found.blogspot.com/2012/11/3rd-annual-challenge-of-color-reveal.html
Rebecca Anderson http://songbeads.blogspot.com
Kris Auderer https://strandedinthecity.wordpress.com
Chrizette Bayman http://beadsoupmix.blogspot.com
Lori Bowring Michaud http://artfullyornamental.blogspot.com
Courtney Breul http://beadsbybreul.blogspot.com/
Lynsey Brooks http://yellowunicorncreations.blogspot.co.uk
Stephanie Buss http://maxandlucie.blogspot.com
Iveth Caruso http://www.creativeatelier.net/
Shannon Chomanczuk http://www.formysweetdaughter.blogspot.com
Lisa Cone http://inspiredadornments.blogspot.com/
Cece Cormier http://thebeadingyogini.com
Lori Dorrington http://lorisglassworks.blogspot.com
Dawn Doucette http://designsbydawnmarie.blogspot.com
Jeannie Dukic http://site.jkdjewelry.com/blog/
Kim Dworak http://cianciblue.blogspot.com/
Beth Emery http://storiesbyindigoheart.blogspot.com
Janice Everett http://JLynnJewels.blogspot.com
Pam Farren http://www.re-maker.blogspot.com
Donetta Farrington http://simplygorgeous-donetta.blogspot.com
Gloria Ferrer http://judetaama.blogspot.com.es/
Cherrie Fick http://designsinthelight.co
Therese Frank http://www.theresestreasures59.blogspot.com
Patty Gasparino http://www.mylifeunderthebus.typepad.com
Tanya Goodwin http://pixiloo.blogspot.com/2012/11/3rd-annual-challenge-of-color.html
Ambra Gostoli http://chicandfrog.wordpress.com/2012/11/27/3rd-challenge-of-color
Jess Green http://tabbiekoshka.blogspot.co.uk/
Denielle Hagerman http://somebeadsandotherthings.com
Mary Harding www.maryhardingjewelrybeadblog.blogspot.com
Karla Hartzog http://www.karlakrafts.com
Kim Hora http://www.kimmykats.com
Brandi Hussey http://brandigirlblog.com
Emanda Johnson http://ArtemisiaStudio.blogspot.com
Jennifer Justman http://soulsfiredesigns.blogspot.com/
Sue Kennedy http://suebeads.blogspot.com
Ema Kilroy http://emakaye.blogspot.com
Lee Koopman http://Stregajewellry.wordpress.com
Linda Landig http://www.LindasBeadBlog.com
Kirsi Luostarinen http://kirsiluokorut.blogspot.com
Cynthia Machata http://antiquitytravelers.blogspot.com/
Alicia Marinache http://www.allprettythings.ca
Beth McCord http://www.ebbeadandmetalworks.blogspot.com
Mary K McGraw http://mkaymac.blogspot.com/
Karen Mitchell http://www.overthemoon-design.com
Cheri Mitchell-Reed http://creativedesignsbycheri.blogspot.com/
Aimee Moisa http://threecatsdancing.blogspot.com
Karla Morgan http://www.texaspepperjams.blogspot.com
Penny Neville http://copperpennydesigns.blogspot.com
Becky Pancake http://beckypancakebeaddesigns.blogspot.com
Kashmira Patel http://sadafulee.blogspot.com
Alice Peterson http://alice-dreaming.blogspot.com
Kayla Potega http://www.teejewelry.blogspot.com
Debbie Price http://greenshoot.blogspot.co.uk
Bobbie Rafferty http://beadsong.blogspot.com
Caron Reid http://caronmichelle.blogspot.com.au/
Nicole Rennell http://nicolerennell.com/blog
Cynthia Riggs http://cynthsblog.blogspot.com/2012/11/3rd-annual-challenge-of-color.html
Andrea Ross http://silvermapledesigns.blogspot.com/
Sally Russick http://thestudiosublime.com
Annie Scherz http://www.studioluma.ca
Pam Sears http://crazycreativecorner.blogspot.com/
Renetha Stanziano http://lamplightcrafts.blogspot.com
Sandra Stein http://sannipanni.wordpress.com
Kristen Stevens http://kristen-beadjourney.blogspot.com
Tracy Stillman http://www.tracystillmandesigns.com
Sherri Stokey http://www.knotjustmacrame.com/2012/11/challenge-of-color-reveal.html
Lola Survillo http://www.beadlolabead.blogspot.com
Kay Thomerson http://KayzKreationz.blogspot.com
Jo Tinley http://daisychaindesignsjewellery.blogspot.com
Emma Todd http://www.apolymerpenchant.com
Cory Tompkins http://www.tealwaterdesigns.blogspot.com
Pam Traub http://www.klassyjoolz.blogspot.com
Melissa Trudinger http://beadrecipes.wordpress.com
Michelle Tucker http://michellescreativemusings.blogspot.com/
Shelley Graham Turner http://www.shelleygrahamturner.blogspot.com
Monique Urquhart http://ahalfbakednotion.blogspot.com/
Rachel Van-Walsk http://balancedcrafts.com/blog
Patti Vanderbloemen http://www.myaddictionshandcrafted.blogspot.com
Lesley Watt http://thegossipinggoddess.blogspot.com
Lynn White http://lynnwhitejewelry.com/Lynn_White_Jewelry/Lynns_Jewelry_Blog/Lynns_Jewelry_Blog.html
Joan Williams http://www.lilrubyjewelry.com
A Style Altering Moment
Have you ever experienced a moment that changed the way you design? I had a moment like that in the Spring of 2011 when I discovered Jewelry Affaire magazine. I hate to really even call it a magazine since it’s much more like a quarterly book. The photographs overwhelmed me. The techniques I saw were different from anything I’d ever imagined. Because of the talented artists featured as well as the efforts of the magazine staff, my mind was opened to a whole new world of jewelry design.
Before picking up this issue (which I’ve probably read dozens of times since) I didn’t realize I was limiting myself by only using new jewelry components. Once I realized that almost anything could be considered jewelry making media, the possibilities seemed endless. A large portion of my designs now incorporate vintage jewelry or findings or found objects. After discovering Jewelry Affaire, I bought both previous back issues (the magazine was new and only published twice a year at that point, but now it’s quarterly) and also bought up the past few years of its sister publication Belle Armoire Jewelry and I’ve bought every issue of both magazine since.
I’m very proud to announce that I will get to join the artists I admire when some of my designs are featured in the next few issues of Jewelry Affaire. Even if you’ve never made jewelry before, I encourage you to check out the Winter issue on sale January 1st. Not only will you get to see some of my work, you’re sure to be inspired in your own creative journey. To see more of my work in the meantime, visit my etsy shop StrandedInTheCity.
A Week of Jewelry
I thought it would be fun to give you an inside look at at my jewelry wardrobe for the week. Enjoy!
Tassel Necklace Project 2
In my previous post Tassel Necklace Project, I explained how I created my own gold-tone version of a Stella & Dot necklace that I love, and already own, in silver-tone. I also worked on a different Stella & Dot inspired collaboration recently with my BFF Nikki.
We are both head over heels for Stella & Dot’s Windsor Tassel necklace so we decided to make our own version. We started by taking a gold colord eye pin and snipped it to the length we wanted, then cut several pieces of goldtone chain in various lengths and “strung” them on the eye pin. After creating a loop in the cut end, we attached one end of long gunmetal chain to each loop. For the next step, it helps to place the necklace on a dressmaker form (clip it in the back if you have to). We draped a few additional pieces of gold chain over the eye pin and then wrapped Industrial Chic rhinestone trim around the chain a few times (below the eye pin) to create a tassel shape. If you are not familiar with Industrial Chic by Susan Lenart Kazmer, you can check it out here and purchase it at Michael’s. The trim can be secured with wire or glue in the back. Very easy and chic, and a great DIY version of an amazing design by Stella & Dot.
The Possible Dream
This gallery contains 8 photos.
I started making jewelry about 5 years ago per my mom’s suggestion. I’ve always been drawn to the arts, but jewelry design is where I’ve really found my niche (thanks, Mom!). For the first few years I would just carry my supplies around in a plastic container and bead all around the house. For the […]
Tassel Necklace Project
So I’m not ashamed to admit that I cannot figure out how to add a photo to a comment I made on Agness Rae’s awesome post Trendy Tassels. If anyone knows, please share 🙂 Anyway, here’s my comment and the photos of a necklace I made that was inspired by the Stella & Dot Gitane Tassel necklace that I own:
One pic shows my gold-tone version compared to the real thing in silver-tone. The other 2 show me wearing the necklace doubled with the tassel, and then long with the tassel removed (just like the way the Stella necklace works). Basically I just rosary wrapped a TON of 4mm czech beads in various metallic colors on 26g wire (I believe the Stella necklace has mostly 3mm beads but I had to work with what I could get quickly!). About halfway I added a jump ring on each side, then gave up on the rosary wrapping and just added dangles and spaced them out a little bit more (this is where mine really starts to differ from the Stella necklace). For the tassel, I just cut up some old chain, put it on a jump ring, added a larger glass bead and a lobster claw clasp, and voila! Enjoy 🙂
Inspiration Strikes!
I was pouring over some back issues of bead magazines earlier this week, as I often do and was captivated by Naomi Fujimoto’s necklace on the cover of the September 2010 issue of BeadStyle. I sat down in my studio and after a lot of trial and error, ended up with my Midnight Garden necklace. It’s amazing how the two necklaces can be so different, yet one inspired the other. I love this feeling – being moved enough by another artist’s work to use it as the launching point for something that’s completely my own. I plan to wear this one to an upcoming gala and can’t wait to tell anyone who compliments me “oh, it’s one of my own designs”! Who knows, maybe it will inspire someone else 🙂
The inspiration:
Kicking off June with fun summer bracelets
June is here and that means cookouts and lots of weekends soaking up the sun poolside, or if you’re like me, balancing the jewelry-making madness inside with spending time outside. While most of the jewelry work I do would be difficult to take outdoors, the following idea is a pretty easy one to work on anywhere. Last night I made four wire-wrapped bracelets and covered them in tons of colorful glass beads. These bracelets only require 2 materials (beads and wire), a pair of round-nose pliers, and a pair of wire cutters. I love to take my bead soup bowl, sit on the couch, and make these while I watch tv. They’d also be easy to make while sitting outside by the pool!
I learned this technique from Joanna Hanna, owner of Crescent Moon Beads in Eureka Springs, Arkansas (you MUST stop in and visit her if you’re in the area) http://www.crescentmoonbeads.net/. I may add a tutorial in the future to share the technique with you, but for now enjoy the photos and visit my shop on Etsy at http://www.etsy.com/shop/strandedinthecity to purchase one 🙂
Stranded In The City 