Paige Maxim Designs

Saturday, August 11, 2012

BSBP #6 Reveal 2: Uh-Oh!

Uh-Oh. I messed up. Big time. I haven’t been on the computer much lately (darn summer…and computer issues!). I totally forgot that today is the 2nd reveal for the BSBP. For some reason, I thought it was NEXT Saturday! I feel completely awful. I only remembered when my phone beeped 48 minutes ago, to remind me. I thought I set the reminder for 48 HOURS before the event. So I quickly snapped some photos of what I’ve completed so far. Hopefully I’ll be able to finish my pieces today and post more photos/rewrite this post.

These earrings were made using some jump rings and pocketwatch keys that Pam (my partner for this reveal) sent. I used some waxed linen cord and used half-hitch knots to wrap a soldered large link of a chain. I’m not 100% happy with them—they don’t lay right, and I may end up changing out the top jump rings. But I love the idea, and the knots were super simple!

The only other thing I’ve worked on was the pendant for a necklace.

This picture is absolutely HORRID. I used the cash register key pendant that Pam made, and took the bottom jump ring off. I added a smaller one of my own, and put 5 dangles of red glass beads from the huge strand of glass beads from India that Pam sent along.

Again, I feel horrible that I didn’t finish in time for the real reveal. But you can still have fun hopping along with all those who can remember a date! Here’s the list of all the participants in this reveal.

Saturday, July 28, 2012

Bead Soup Blog Party #6-Reveal 1

Welcome to the first reveal of the 6th Bead Soup Blog Party! Make sure to check out all the lovely soups created—there’s al list at the end of the post!

I was able to create 3 pieces from the beautiful soup that Mowse sent to me. Here’s a reminder of what she sent me:

I made a whole matching set-bracelet, earrings, and necklace. My favorite piece is the bracelet.

“Grow”

I used the “grow” connector from Swoondimples, the beautiful set of polymer beads that Mowse made herself, the turquoise nuggets, swarovski’s, and the small clasp Mowse sent. I added in my own beading wire and daisy spacers. I absolutely love the way this bracelet turned out!

Next, I made some simple earrings.

“Growing” Earrings

For the earrings, I used 2 of the matching teardrop beads from the set by Mowse and 2 of the Swarovski crystals. I added in my own sterling silver ear wires, a couple tanzanite AB Swarovski's, and some silver plated chain. The earrings measure about 3 inches long the way they are now, but the cool part is that they can “grow”. Okay, so maybe that’s a stretch…but the chain is one long continuous length, and can be changed easily by the wearer to make the teardrop side longer, or even, or one side much longer than the other.

Then I made a necklace to match. And took it apart. And remade it…and took it apart again. I finally settled on this final design yesterday, but tonight it’s not really doing it for me. I think I may end up redoing it yet again—I’m really not happy with it.

“Untitled” Necklace

For the necklace, I wanted to showcase the huge beautiful clasp. So I tried to try out an asymmetrical necklace with the clasp on the side in the front. I used the same chain from the earrings, and the chain that came with the clasp. I used the matching Polymer/Shell focal, and made a little drop with a Swarovski and one of the other teardrops. I sort of like where this necklace is going, but it doesn’t really scream “Wear Me!” yet. I think I may go back to my first design, which used more beads from the soup, and didn’t use as much chain.

I hope you enjoyed this bowl of soup—don’t forget to check out all the other soup in the blogosphere today! I’m headed to bed, but will be hopping throughout the day (and probably the next few days!).

Other Particpants:

Hostess, Lori Anderson, PrettyThingsBlog.com

Alice Craddick, Alice's Beads and Baubles

Alicia Marinache, All The Pretty Things

Amanda Tibbetts, Amanda Made

Amber Dawn Goldish, Inventive Soul

Annita Wilson, AW Jewelry

Beti Horvath, Stringing Fool

Birgitta Lejonklou, Create With Spirit

Candida Castleberry, Spinning Spun Sugar

Carolyn Lawson, Carolyn's Creations

Cassie Donlen, Glass Beadle

Cheri Reed, Creative Designs by Cheri

Cheryl McCloud, One Thing Leads to Another

Cheryl Roe, BeadRoe

Christina Hickman, Vintage Treasures Jewelry

Christine Hendrickson, Clamworks

Cilla Watkins, Tell Your Girlfriends

Cindy Wilson, Mommy's Dream

Cindy Wimmer, Sweet Bead Studio

Cory Celaya, Art With Moxie

Cory Tompkins, Tealwater Designs

Cris Peacock, Cris' Page

Cynthia Deis, Shiny Little Things

Cynthia Machata, Antiquity Travelers

Cynthia Wainscott, Exotic Peru

Dana Hickey, Magpie Approved

Dana James, Dana's Jewelry Designs

Dana Lang, Tumblestone Handmakery

Debbie Price, Green Shoot Jewellery Designs

Denielle Hagerman, Some Beads and Other Things

Diane Valasek, Dragonfly Close

Doris Stumpf, Glaszwerg

Dyanne Everett-Cantrell, Dee-Liteful Jewelry Creations

Elaine Robitaille, Too Aquarius

Eleanor Burian-Mohr, The Charmed Life

Enikö Fabian, Perl-eni

Erin Prais-Hintz, Treasures Found

Heather Davis, Blissful Garden Beads

Heidi Post, Ex Post Facto Jewelry

Hilary Frye, FryeStyle

Ilenia Ruzza, Ilenia's Unique Beaded and Painted Jewelry

Inge von Roos, Inge's Blog

Jami Shipp, Celebrating Life

Jayne Capps, Mama's Got to Doodle

Jean A. Well, Jean A. Wells Handcrafted Artisan Jewelry

Jean Yates, Snap Out of It Jean! There's Beading to Do!

Jennifer Cameron, Glass Addictions

Jennifer Pottner, Rock Candy Beads

Jennifer VanBenschoten, Jewelry, Art and Life

Jenny Davies-Reazor, Jenny Davies-Reazor

Jenny Vidberg, Shyme Design

Jessica Dickens, My Jewelry, My Life, Me

Jessica Klaaren, Beadful-Things by Jessica

JJ Jacobs, Coming Abstractions

Joan Williams, Lilruby Jewelry

Judith Johnston, Judith Johnston

Judy Riggs, Rigglettes

Judy Turner, Silver Rains

Julie Anne Leggett, The Peaceful Bead

K Hutchinson, Jumbled Hutch

Karen Meador, Dreamcatcher Ranch

Karyn Bonfiglio, Plus Size Bangles

Katherine Gale, Terra Beadworks
Kathleen Lange Klik, Modern Nature Studio

Katja Benevol Gabrijelcic, Slovonske Technobe

Kelli Jacobson, Creative Moon

Kelly Ramstack, Adventures with Kelly

Keri Lee Sereika, Pink Lemonade

Kim Ballor, Vitamin C... A Daily Dose of Creativity

Kim Bender-Hora, KimmyKat

Kirsi Luostarinen, Kirsi Luo Korut

Kitty Bozzini, Kitty Lampwork

Laura Demoya, The Bead Therapist

Laurie Hanna, Laurie's Jewelbox

Leah Curtis, Beady Eyed Bunny

Lesley Watt, The Gossiping Goddess

Linda Inhelder, Must-Haves Jewelry

Linda Landig, Linda's Bead Blog & Meanderings

Lisa Liddy, Metal Me This

Lori Dorrington, Lori's Adventures in Etsy Land

Lori Poppe, Adventures in Creativity with Lorillijean

Mallory Hoffman, For the Love of Beads

Marge Beebe, Rock Creek Creations

Marianna Boylan, Pretty Shiny Things

Marion Simmons, Shade Tree Studio

Marla Gibson, Spice Box Design

Marta Weaver, Marta Weaver Jewelry

Marti Conrad, Marti C's Clay Blog

Maryse Fritzsch-Thillens, GlassBeadArt, Lampwork Beads

Melanie Brooks, Earthenwood Studio

Michelle Hardy, Firefly Visions

Mikala Coates, Maybe Just Perhaps

Mowse Doyle, HoCArt [My Partner!]

Nan Emmett, Spirit Rattles - Spirited Earth

Nancy Boylan, Snazzy Doodle Designs

Nancy Peterson, Beading From the Heart

Nicole Rennell, Nicole Rennell Designs

Niki Meiners, 365 Days of Craft

Niky Sayers, Silver Nik Nats

Norma Turvey, Moonlit Fantaseas
Paige Maxim, Paige Maxim Designs [You Are Here!]
Pamela Gangler, She Always Loved Pink

Patricia Johnson, Patricia L. Johnson Glass Art

Patti Vanderbloemen, My Addictions ... Handcrafted Jewelry by Patti

Perri Jackson, Shaktipaj Designs

Raida Disbrow, Havana Beads

Renetha Stanziano, Lamplight Crafts

Shannon Hicks, Falling Into the Sky

Shannon LeVart, Miss Fickle Media

Sharon Driscoll, Right Turn Art Werks

Shelby Foxwell, Sundown Bead Designs Rhetoric

Shelley Graham Turner, Fabric of My Life

Sherri Stokey, Knot Just Macrame

Shirley Moore, Beads and Bread

Skylar Bre'z, Brising Beads

Stacie Florer, Soul to Substance

Stacie Stamper, Park Avenue

Stacy Alderson, Iridal's Attic

Stephanie Haussler, Pixybug Designs

Stephanie Stamper, Rainy Day Designs

Sue Hamel, The Bottle Cork and Crystal

Suzette Bentley, Ellie's Bijoux

Szarka, Magpie Gemstones

Tammy Jones, Jewelry Making Daily

Tania Tebbit, Glass, Craft, & Artful Goodness

Tanty Sri Hartanti, TJewellicious by Tanti

Terry Matuszyk, Pink Chapeau

Tina Bosh, Every Good and Perfect Gift

Tracy Bell, Copper, Glass and Recycled Trash

Vonna Maslanka, Just Vonna

Thursday, July 26, 2012

Soup #1 is Cooking!

It’s taken a few weeks, but I think my soup is just about done! I have 3 pieces made, some photos taken, but I’m hoping to maybe squeeze another piece or two out tomorrow (Friday)—crazy, right? Especially since the big reveal is just about 24 hours away. I’m also hoping to take some better photos tomorrow, as the weather hasn’t been all that great this week. And because I had a genius idea about 20 minutes ago for a great new photo set up, I may just fix it up and test it out. :) But, to tide you all over, here’s a sneak peak at what you can see on Saturday!

Okay, so it’s really more of a teaser, since I altered the photos. :D It’s just too much fun! Be sure to check back on Saturday for the first reveal of the 6th Bead Soup Blog Party.

Saturday, July 14, 2012

Bead Soup Blog Party: Meet Mowse, Partner #2

About 2 weeks ago, Lori posted on the Bead Soup Cafe group that a partier hadn’t heard from their partner yet. I stepped up, because bead soup is so much fun! We had to get our soups out ASAP, but I think we got our soups right! :D

Mowse sent an AMAZING bunch of soup ingredients. And the letter she wrote and stickers for my Mermaid Soup were all Lisa Frank—which made me super happy! Lisa Frank was a HUGE part of my life in 5-8th grade! Mowse also sent my ingredients in their own shell shaped bowl—perfect for my soup! :D

The whole lot—isn’t it amazing? Close ups below.

The whole soup in its bowl—mingling around, waiting to become some beautiful jewelry.

One pendent and matching bead set. Mowse made these herself—aren’t they gorgeous?

The focal is a shell that she has covered with polymer clay in flowers and circles in my favorite

colors: purple, blue, green. I have ideas for these beads already-I can’t wait to get started on them.

Just waiting to find a few more components in my stash.

Another shell/polymer pendant-this one is greens, blues, yellows, and equally gorgeous!

She also sent along 2 clasps, which I’m in love with, and a Pewter Key from Purple Dragon Gifts.

Mowse also included a small baggie of turquoise nuggets from a trip of hers to Arizona, a skein of

turquoise colored embroidery floss, a small baggie of purple Swarovski crystals, a baggie of small

white disc beads (wood? shell?), some wooden beads rescued from a vintage necklace, some blue-

green ceramic hearts that match one of the shell pendants, white textured beads, a purple “grow”

connecter (it looks like maybe from Floridity? But I could be wrong!), some green ribbon, and some

really cool shaped green beads from Wings, Beads, & Things. Whew! What lovely ingredients!

I think I have about 6 designs in my head using these beads! I hope I get to finish them before our reveal date—which might prove tricky. Our reveal is July 28th! I have just 2 weeks to create at least one of those designs, and I have to use at least one of the focals and one of the clasps. The hard part now? Picking which design to start with!

Mowse got her soup from me yesterday, so here’s a quick peek at what I sent to her:

Mowse told me she also loves blues, purples, and greens. So I found this awesome blue butterfly focal from Round Rabbit Extra, and decided to go with a blue/orange theme. I sent along a handmade clasp from Lynn Davis, some coordinating Swarovski crystals, some vintage lucite, acryllic flowers, brazlian sodalite, chalcedony, dyed coral, carnelian, chain, and some wire. I also sent a few orange and blue vintage lucite/Swarovski flowers I made last fall like I sent to my other partner, Pam. I can’t wait to see what Mowse makes!

Friday, July 13, 2012

Simple Truths Blog Hop

Erin over at Treasures Found makes the most adorable, cool, and beautiful charms & pendants—Simple Truths. I’ve hoarded a few of them over the last year and a half or so. Erin asked us to show some of our creations using her Simple Truths Pendants & Charms in today’s blog hop. My most recent creation with one of Erin’s Simple Truths was a birthday present for one of my younger sisters. She turned 17, so I kept it simple, but funky.

“Have A Heart” Connecter charm was from Erin’s first batch of Simple Truths! :D

My sister loves the bracelet! I used a finished charm bracelet, and cut a few sections out for the “Have a Heart” Simple Truths connecter, and the red glass heart bead. I used some neat copper triangle jump rings from Ornamentea to connect the charm to the bracelet. Then I used some scraps of silk ribbons from JodyPoesy and tied some knots to the jump rings and some of the chain links. Then I added a Czech glass rondelle dangle at the clasp, to give it some weight, and so the claps (hopefully) wouldn’t slide to the top of the wrist. So far, so good!

I’m not 100% happy with the length of the ribbons—I may cut them a bit (oh the joy of having the finished/gifted piece of jewelry in the same house as you!).

“Have A Heart” is the perfect reminder for my sister—being a teen, she often forgets to think of others. I’m so happy she loves it!

To see other creations using Erin’s Simple Truths, check out these fabulous blogs:

Erin Prais-Hintz http://treasures-found.blogspot.com

Sharon Misuraco http://goinoffthebeadinpath.blogspot.com/

Tanya Goodwin http://pixiloo.blogspot.com

Alice Peterson http://www.alice-dreaming.blogspot.com

Melissa Trudinger http://beadrecipes.wordpress.com

Lori Bowring Michaud http://artfullyornamental.blogspot.com

Rebecca Anderson http://songbeads.blogspot.com

Chris White http://dzeyenrstudio.blogspot.com

Cherrie Fick http://designsinthelight.com

Rosanne Garvison http://fabfibers.blogspot.com