Monday, April 30, 2012

Monday--Last day for Spring Sale 2012!



Time flies!

It's the last day for my Spring Sale!
(Sale ends Mon. at midnight Central time,
April 30, 2012.

15% off all items at "Sharyl's Jewelry!"

Below, just a little sampling of items 
you will find there.  
(Links to items provided.)


(Pendant by Beth Nadler; 
Lampwork by Crazy Lady Glass)



Light Sapphire and Silver Earrings






2-sided Rainbow Bird and Tree Necklace

(Kansas Artisan-made pendant)




Thanks to all who took a look here, 
visited my studio, 
and/or helped spread the word of my sale this month!   
Much appreciated!




Sunday, April 29, 2012

i heart macro: It's all about the Yellow

This week, it's all about the color yellow...


#9:  "Wild Yellow"


Ever notice how half my flowers 
could be called "weeds?!"





Okay, so it's not JUST about yellow.
These two are just green.
And they are not weeds, 
but houseplants set outdoors 
 for sunshine!



Oh, goodness!  
I actually purchased this 
and planted it by a tree,
but it went wild and buggy last year,
so I cut it all out.
Back this year, but looking much better!


Wishing you a colorful day!


 Please see what other colors abound 
this week at 

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15% off storewide sale 
through Monday, April 30th 
at midnight Central!  
Lots of new items!  
Come shop for Spring!




Saturday, April 28, 2012

Winning Streak!

NOTE: If you are looking for my April Art Bead Scene Challenge entry, please click here.


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In the past week, I have been visited by good-fortune twice!


First, do you recall this lovely bracelet I was eager to show you earlier this month?



...with the exquisite beadwork by Nancy
from NEDBeads...


...and this silver clasp I adore?

I read about it on the NEDBeads blog 
(with better photos than I can take)! 

I wrote and shared about it on this blog
to further our conversation about seed-beadwork.

Then, I got the lucky message telling me

I was the winner!

Now as I've mentioned here more than once, I'm not able to do this type of intricate bead work (even if I DID have the patience...which I don't), but I admire it and the artists who create these pieces tremendously!  So I am surprised and honored and thrilled to have won Nancy's beautiful cuff bracelet!  It's like a treasure to me!

And speaking of treasures and gifts...




...as if that wasn't enough 
good fortune for me
(after a bit of a dry spell...)
I received the news last week that a photograph of mine
would be included in 
Lori Anderson's new e-book:



...and more good news,
I was given a free copy 
as a gift for contributing!

So let's just call that my "lucky week!"   If you haven't been lucky enough to get a free copy or win one Lori has given away, you can still purchase one from her blog, Pretty Things!


Thanks for listening to my story of a double-dose of good luck!  I'll resume my normal "whining schedule" next time!  :-)

Oh yes, and my Spring jewelry sale ends April 30th.  Just added these a bit ago!  Everything in studio is 15% off!  Still have more to add!   Visit Sharyl's Jewelry to see the full collection.  Thanks!







Image Credits:

  • All photos by Sharyl.
  • Book banner used by permission of Lori Anderson.

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

ABS Challenge, April 2012: "Boreas" Necklace

This month's Art Bead Scene challenge entry was going to be so easy.


...And any time I start with that idea, things are bound not to be!



Boreas by John William Waterhouse, 1903

As noted on the Art Bead Scene Blog site,

...Called Boreas after the north wind in Greek mythology, the work shows a young girl in a windswept landscape. In 1904 the Royal Academy notes described the subject as: 'In wind-blown draperies of slate-colour and blue, a girl passes through a spring landscape accented by pink blossom and daffodils.
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When I saw this painting, one I've admired for a long while, I  realized I had a number of good options for pendants.   One was this beautiful focal bead I've been saving for many, many months--just waiting for the right project--something worthy of the lovely lampwork.   Here was my chance...



My photographs cannot do it justice.
It's difficult to describe this bead.   
It's more of an "experience" than anything else.
I find when I look at it, I'm not just seeing 
a lovely piece of hand-made glass,
I'm experiencing something very special.

Jennifer Cameron, from JenCameronDesigns
created this focal bead called:

           "Mushroom Hunting in Wonderland." 


The color is blue with hints of violet, gray, and green.  There are very tiny swirls of tan and yellow at each end.



All I had to do was find the right beads and design to go with it.   And to somehow make the piece my own.   Easy, right?


I went through shop after shop online, comparing beads I could use for the rest of the necklace.  I felt sure I wanted glass beads, likely glass crystals, for most of the necklace, but also wanted to incorporate some hand-dyed ribbon with the colors of the painting.   I spent hours...many...hours...trying to buy the perfect beads and ribbons.


I wanted to use two types of beads.  I made several "misses" on the beads which really s-l-o-w-e-d ...my..project...d-o-w-n.   (Too small, WAY too small, too gray,  too blue, too purple, too clashy, too matchy...)     Until,...




...with the help of Jenni, the shop owner 
at Cascadia Beads
I found my first "perfect" match for beads! 
I sent her a photo of my focal so she could compare 
3 similar beads to match the right color.  
She did a terrific job!   Thank you, Jenni!  
(From her shop come the Faceted Rondell Czech Glass Picasso Beads in Montana Blue  (6x8mm), which make up most of the necklace.   

The "perfect" hand-dyed

      NIGHTFALL dark shimmer edge ribbon

ribbon came from 
blending shades of blue, turquoise, 
violet, and grayish-green.

(Unfortunately, the other "perfect" beads I had in mind arrived after I put the necklace together, 
but I will save them for another 
Boreas-inspired necklace I already have in mind!)






Instead, I incorporated fresh-water pearls in Peacock, cut glass crystals in a lighter, bluer-blue, some in a gold color, and used accent beads in blue-gray glass, brass, and copper. 



The variety of colors probably worked to the advantage of the necklace by giving it more visual interest.



So here is the necklace!


I made the beaded part of the necklace first, then attached the silk for the back, then created the complete pendant last.


It looks rather short here, but is actually fairly long.  The beaded sections run over 8" on each side.  With the ribbon, the necklace is over 28" around.  The ribbon can be adjusted to shorten or lengthen the necklace.   The focal bead is over 1" long, with the total length of the pendant being over 5" long.




I hope you've enjoyed this month's challenge as much as I have!   (A special thanks to Jennifer Cameron for creating this lovely lampwork bead!)


Please take a look at the other submissions to the April ABS Challenge.   On Friday, April 27, please follow the ABS blog hop and see the beautiful creations of others! 

Thank you for visiting and for any comments you would care to leave.   




Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Considering Creativity

I've been trying to be more creative in my jewelry making lately--to break out of patterns I've developed and try some new things.   Sometimes I'm no longer happy with what I created 6-months to a year ago.  Sometimes I just think my customers deserve a greater variety. 


Using more ribbon and clamps, 
more metal beads, more dangles...


 And sometimes I've developed new skills and ideas I want to try out.  


Trying my hand at metalsmithing--
making earwires and components from
copper and brass.

 Not every piece is a success.  Some require several tries.  Some never make it to the studio.   And some just please the heck out me!   :-)   


Completely new style for me for a bracelet.
Rather than stringing beads or dangles on a chain, I've used a ceramic focal, glass flower beads, 
and wrap-around ribbon.


So today, I thought I'd just share a few thoughts on creativity that seem close to what I'm thinking....(although given the dates, they obviously thought them up first!)  




* George Bernard Shaw quotes (Irish literary CriticPlaywright and Essayist. 1925 Nobel Prize for Literature, 1856-1950)


* Epictetus quotes (Greek philosopher associated with the Stoics, AD 55-c.135)




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Do YOU have thoughts on creativity?   
What helps YOU be creative? 

Please share in the comments section!

                          * * * * * * * * * *

Sharyl / Sharyl's Jewelry

P.S. 15% sale off all items in studio extended through end of April!    I'm still adding new items and want customers to have a chance to purchase at sale prices!  (I'll be full of gratitude if you help me spread the news!  Thanks!)




CREDITS:

All Quotations & Author Information Quoted From:   http://thinkexist.com/quotations/creativity/


Confetti Graphics:   http://www.wpclipart.com/holiday/party/.cache/party_confetti01.png
http://www.wpclipart.com/holiday/party/.cache/party_confetti03.png


Jewelry and Jewelry Photographs by Sharyl, 4/2012.



Saturday, April 21, 2012

i heart macro: Back to Spring Flowers

~ Happy Earth Day 2012! ~


For "i heart macro" I'm all about Spring flowers again this week.  I just can't tire of them!

White Spirea along the fence line 
in the Japanese Garden on one side of the house.  
We have a pink version on the other side fence. 

#5:  "Spirea Draping"
The spirea bunch up in the middle (as above)
then drape downward in 
a lovely shower of blossoms.

Another tulip.  
They pop up in different garden areas in the yard, 
at different times, in various colors.  
I like the pink and yellow here--
an inspiring color combination, I think!

Pink peony about to bloom!
We never bring them inside though,
look at those ants!

More sweet little wild flowers.


Finally, a white peony blooms!

I hope you have enjoyed my garden tour this week!  Please visit the other micro-photographers on Lori Plyer's website.


Please click here for more


Have a good week!

P.S.  15% off sale on all items extended through end of April 2012.   Many new items being added!




Thursday, April 19, 2012

Blog Salad Today!

1. Those of you receiving bead packets for the challenge,  if I haven't heard from you yet, would you please reply here and let me know if you've received your packet?   (I don't have to post your comment if you prefer not, but it's an easy way for me to find it quickly.)   I think I've heard from 2 of you so far.   Once everyone has their packet, I'll set a date for the reveal!


2. I tend to ask questions at the end of posts when I should ask more toward the beginning, so trying it in reverse!   Recently I asked:  What is your favorite tool to use in jewelry-making?   Just curious!    Someone recently asked me to put up a bit in a Facebook group that I wrote on tools when I first started my blog.   I'll put the link in here too in case you want some "retro-reading!"    

I've got some new cool tools recently (and a few I'm finding not-so-cool I could use some tips with).  Hoping we can all share!


3. I'm extending my Spring sale through the end of April!  I'm still adding new things for Spring and Summer and hope to give people a chance to take advantage of the savings!   Please help me spread the word if you would!   My thanks to those you who have already done so!





Blue Stick Earrings






There are more in the camera, waiting to be listed, and more pieces nearly completed!   Many new styles coming too!   Hope you'll be pleasantly surprised!  ~Sharyl


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Graphics


Photographs by Sharyl, 2012