What's new?

I'm trying really, really, really hard to blog more. It's not that I don't have anything to share here, but that things have been so busy. And hey, one thing leads to another, and you just don't have the time.

But here I am! Want to see what I've been up to?

It's getting a wee bit Wintry here with even a sighting or two of the first snow flurries. I made some of my favourite birds with an extra light dusting of snowy white...

And a large Cardinal focal bead - my home State's bird back in NC.

Finally,  some fun beads I like to call coral caps. They were inspired by coral, barnacles, and deep sea tube worms. The colours seem just right for Winter designs.

And in other news, you can now find one of my newest tutorials in Old Bicycle Shop. The kit comes with everything you need (minus the tools!) and my tutorial. The tutorial has step by step instructions and detailed pictures throughout.

It's a very elegant bracelet, and you can even get the kit in a silver colour option! As with all my work, if you do buy the tutorial, my personal contact details are provided, in case you need a little extra advice or help.

Finally, I'm working on a special Christmas edition of The Beading Glass. If you haven't found out about it yet, it's a monthly inspirational e-magazine that I write. It showcases a variety of talented artists in one of a kind jewelry and bead making. Here's the November issue. Enjoy!

Click to view The Beading Glass on GLOSSI.COM

New beads

It seems like ages since I've had a shop update. It seems even longer since I made some cute birds and animal beads. I've had a rustic phase (you probably noticed!) recently, but I squeezed in a few of the old favorites in this time.

Cute and colorful guinea pigs

Bird pairs for earrings

 And something new - leaf headpins.

And finally, these cute little beads. I made a few bunny charms and single bird beads for people who like to use them in bracelets.

I hope you like them! There are a lot more in my shop and more to come next week, plus a few pieces of jewelry I'll show you later.

Anniversary Giveaway: Winner Announced!

It's here! I can hardly believe it. One year ago today I opened my shop on Etsy. It started with jewelry and has become a home for my handmade beads, too. And what a year it's been!

This giveaway was to say thank you to all my customers over the past year who have made my experience on Etsy so great. So, thank you! But I'm sure you want to know who the winner is now...

Here's a reminder of the prize.

I used a random number generator to pick the winner.

Mr. Random chose number 15...which is...

Rebecca Anderson!

Congrats, Rebecca! And thanks again to everyone who's been a part of my first year. Here's to many more!

OctoberFest 2013 Blog Hop: Fall Reflection

The Autumn has always been my favorite season. I have many fond memories of road trips to the more scenic parts of North Carolina with my family. Well, most of NC is beautiful, but to get the best show of Autumn's colors, we'd drive to the mountains. 

From there, you could see the exciting terrain dappled and splashed with fantastic colors. I always think of leaves and those trips to the mountains when the Fall comes around.

I couldn't resist joining in Rita's OctoberFest. She challenged us to share our happy memories, recipes, crafts, or whatever we were inspired to make. I was so distracted recently, I forgot I signed up! It wasn't until Rita, very efficiently, emailed the participants with a full list of blogs. With only a few days left before the hop, I wasn't about to give up, so I went on a walk to find some inspiration.

The colours here in the UK are not always as dramatic - maybe it's that mild, crawl into the cooler months - but there's still plenty of inspiration out there. I love the surprise of orange leaves popping out from these trees.

I know what I said about the leaves in my home State being more dramatic, but these wild rose hips were stunning! There were bushes full of them along the path sprawling in all directions.

And finally, the reason I walked on this path, to find a lovely oak tree. I've been watching this tree since Autumn began to creep in. I saw the first tiny signs of acorns turn to huge, green fruits until there was one last acorn waiting to drop. A glimpse of the faded branches of Winter, and a reminder of the new growth to come.

With all those images in my mind, I began to form my earrings. I chose some Czech glass leaves in warm orange and fleeting green and paired them with my handmade blackened brass wire leaves.

I call the earrings Fall Reflection because of the memories they evoke (thanks to Solange for the great name!).

  

I wasn't sure what beads to use above the leaves, but I found some recycled, and worn little bead caps in my stash. I thought they'd give the earrings a great "assemblage" feel. Last night, I thought about some African trade beads I bought from my friend at Ahowin. I thought the bright red might clash with the leaves, but they look beautiful against the dark metals. A lot like the rose hips!

The metals are all brass and patinaed with heat from shades of nut brown, to remind of the acorns, to black. I think the pops of color from the rose-hip red trade beads and the leaves are a wonderful reminder of Autumn.

I hope you've enjoyed sharing in my Autumnal inspiration! There is much more to see. You can find all the blog hop participants below. A big thank you to Rita for hosting this great blog hop! Happy hopping!

Octoberfest 13 Artists

Caroline                                       http:// Carolynscreationswa.blogspot.com

Andrea Glick-Zenith                     http://zenithjade.blogspot.com/

Dolores Raml                               http://craftydscreations.wordpress.com/

Karla Morgan                               http://TexasPepperJams.blogspot.com

Susie Harris                                 http://jewelleryjunkie.blogspot.com/

Susan                                          http://libellulajewelry.com

Mischelle                                      http://micheladasmusings.blogspot.com/

Billi                                               http://billi-rs-rothove.blogspot.com/

Kay Thomerson                           http://kayzkreationz.blogspot.com/

Jean Yates                                  http://prettykittydogmoonjewelry.blogspot.com/

Kelly Hosford Patterson               http://travelingsideshow.blogspot.com

Kathy Lindemer                           http://bay-moon-design.blogspot.com

Liz E                                            http://beadcontagion.blogspot.com

Jasvanti Patel                              http://jewelrybyjasvanti.blogspot.com

Christie Murrow                           www.charisdesignsjewelry.blogspot.com

Jodie Marshall                             http://marshalljodie.blogspot.com/

Andrea Trank                              http://heavenlanecreations.com/

Dini Bruinsma                              http://angazabychanges.blogspot.nl

Elsie Deliz Fonseca                     http://ladelizchica.blogspot.com/

Pepita                                         www.pepita-handmade.blogspot.com

Karla Morgan                              http://texaspepperjams.blogspot.com/

Kathleen                                     http://99bobotw.blogspot.com/

Vera Lynn                                   http://veradesigns.blogspot.com/

Rana Wilson                               http://ranaleadesigns.blogspot.com/

Catherine King                           http://catherines-musings.blogspot.com/

Lily Vincent                                 http://thecreativeklutz.blogspot.co.uk/

Janice Hidey (Janimar)               http://drawingthelinesomewhere.com/

Cory Tompkins                           http://TealwaterDesigns.blogspot.com

Candida Castleberry                  www.spunsugarbeadworks.blogspot.com

Cynthia Kent Machata                http://antiquitytravelers.blogspot.com/

Alicia Marinache                         http://www.allprettythings.ca

Linda Anderson                          http://fromTheBeadBoard.blogspot.com

Leah Curtis                                 http://beadyeyedbunny.blogspot.com/

Jennifer Reno (JenRen)              http://jenrenjewelry.blogspot.com/

Robin Reed                                 http://willowdragon.blogspot.com/

Tanty Sri Hartanti                        www.tjewellicious.blogspot.com

Lisa Lodge                                  http://gratefulartist.blogspot.com/

Ingrid A.                                      http://lilisgems.wordpress.com/

Judy Turner                                www.silver-rains.blogspot.com

Gina Hockett                               http://freestyleelements.blogspot.com/

Nelly May                                    www.smellynelly.blogspot.com

Tanya McGuire                           http://tanyamcguire.blogspot.com/

Ahowin                                        http://www.blog.ahowinjewelry.com

Sonya Stille                                 http://dreaminofbeads.blogspot.com

Pam                                            http://www.klassyjoolz.blogspot.com

Carol D.                                      http://dillmansdallies.blogspot.com/

Asri Wahyuningsih                      http://asribeadwork.blogspot.com/

Ginger Bishop                             http://lilmummylikes.blogspot.com

Janine                                         http://www.esfera.me/travel/blog/travel-stories

Shaiha Williams                          http://shaihasramblings.blogspot.com/

Toltec Jewels (Rita, your hostess)  www.JewelSchoolFriends.com

October ABS Challenge

This month the Art Bead Scene has chosen a beautiful, Japanese painting. I loved the soft, subtle colors and couldn't resist taking up the challenge. Not least because the painting is of an owl - one of my favorite animals.

I immediately thought of a ceramic owl pendant I had in my stash. The pendant was given to me in this year's Bead Soup Blog Party by Marcia Dunne and made by AngelWhisperer. Finally, it has a home!

The owl is a soft sage green color with speckles of brown. It's almost so subtle you could miss the owl. A little bit like the real thing...

I wanted to keep the necklace fairly simple with a linear chain - not too busy. I used rustic Czech glass beads and leaves to pick up on the forest theme. There are leaves dotted along the chain to draw the eye down to the focal.

For the focal area, I made a "messy" brass wire wrapped circle. I forged a base out of thick brass and wrapped it with handmade headpins. They twist and turn organically like twigs. And below them is a little cluster of grey-green leaves with the owl just peeking through...

The rest of the necklace is made up of a double strand of recycled leather and a hand forged clasp; slightly patinaed for a rustic feel with gentle organic curves.

I hope you've enjoyed seeing my necklace! Be sure to check out the other entries in the ABS Flickr pool.

Missing Link: Don't miss it!

I'm sure you've all been following Cindy Wimmer's blog tour for her book, The Missing Link. Today the tour stops on one of my favourite blogs - Art Bead Scene. You could win Cindy's book just by commenting over at the ABS!

The more I see this book, the more I need to have it. Don't miss your chance to enter the giveaway!

Beady Eyed Bunny Giveaway!

Happy anniversary! Well, almost. Nearly 1 year ago I opened my shop, Beady Eyed Bunny, on Etsy. I never once imagined it would be doing so well! And so, to thank all of the wonderful customers who got me this far, I'm celebrating with a giveaway.

And what could it be? Beads, of course!

 

I've made some new beads especially for this giveaway and for one of my lucky customers. I went through a phase not long ago of making floral beads. For the prize, I made a pair of my cute little birds in moss green with sweet pink flowers on their chests.

There are a couple beads to match the birds as well as a pretty, sparkly, floral teardrop with a light blue base. And finally, an Autmnal bead in russet, shades of orange, and a lime green frill.

All of these beads will be going to one winner! And as this is a thank you gift, all past customers will be entered into the giveaway. New customers who place orders between now and November 2nd (my shop's anniversary!) will also be entered into the giveaway.

Giveaway is open to past, present, and future customers of my shop until November 2nd. I'll ship worldwide. 

The winner will be drawn at random on November 2nd. Good luck!
For anyone who does not make jewelry (or collect beads!), I will substitute the prize for a custom, handmade piece of jewelry.

A big, big thank you to all my followers and customers! It's turned out to be a great first year thanks to your encouragement and support. Thank you!