"Seed Bead and Metal Blog Hop" Reveal!

Welcome to the "Seed Bead and Metal Blog Hop" Reveal!   Thank you all for joining us to take a look at the special designs created for this challenge.  

A special thanks to Shirley Moore, co-host of this event, who handmade all the seed bead components that went into each packet.   And our thanks to the participants who purchased their packets and created jewelry using our components.   It is always a thrill to see our works taken and made into some new and lovely creation at the hands of talented designers, so we thank you from the bottoms of our hearts for this opportunity you give us today!

We have 11 participants, including ourselves.  The list will be provided at the end of this page, so you can hop from blog-to-blog to see all the entries!   Please do so and leave a message so everyone will know you paid them a visit!  

On my page, will be not only my entry, but those of two other designers, so please keep reading, scrolling, and enjoying until the end!  

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Entries:

Sharyl McMillian-Nelson  -- (Co-host) 

"Sharyl's Jewelry"

The inspiration for my design started with this diamond-shaped seed bead piece made by our co-host, Shirley Moore. Like everyone else, I honestly wasn't sure what was in my own packet until I opened it, and that was just the way I wanted it.   

Even though I had assembled the items in the packets, trying to make sure each person would have some kind of inspiration to draw on in terms of colors, fabrics, beads, etc, I found myself rejecting parts of what I had put in my own packet when I created it!   Items in my packet included:

Out of my batch of goodies, I ended up using the diamond seed bead piece (by Shirley), the 2 round green patina brass components (by me), some of the jump rings, and the sari ribbon. 

I added 9 handmade lampwork beads in greenish shades from a chain of "orphan" beads I purchased from Eleanor at LilysOffering some time ago.  I also included creamy-colored stone beads, and three types of copper beads.   

In the back of the necklace I used the soft sari ribbon. It simply ties in a bow.   It's plaid in yellow and lime colors.

For the front of the necklace, I made an embossed bail to match the lime green round disks I later used for earrings. From this I hung a lampwork bead and Shirley's beaded diamond.

 When the necklace was complete, I made coordinating earrings, using my lime green patinated components from the packet, dark green lampwork beads (still part of the orphan chain), and other small accent beads.   

I'll admit, I spent more time designing this piece, putting it together, taking it apart, trying it a variety of different ways... than I normally do.  It didn't come easy to me this time.  I was really hoping to do Shirley's piece justice and I hadn't worked with seed bead work like this before.  I certainly enjoyed integrating it into this jewelry though.   And I look forward to using my 3 little beaded balls in another piece soon! 

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 Candy Wham -- (Participant)

The package Candy received.

Candy reports, "I made earrings using the handmade ear wires, the discs Sharyl made, the (carnelian) beads included in my package, the copper twist looking jump rings, and the fabric that was tied to box. With that I wrapped around the darker jump rings sent. I also used my own gears, copper daisy beads, vintage and Czech beads and copper wire." 

The ribbon wasn't the yellow sari ribbon from her packet, but brown and dusty pink cotton batik fabric tied around the gift box.  "I had to use the fabric, I loved it!" says Candy.

 

Sharyl's Comments:  What a great idea for integrating textiles into jewelry design! I love how it's wrapped between the beads!  Framing the copper bird disks with the gears also seems inspired!   What delightful earrings!   I love them top to bottom!

 Angi Mullis -- (Participant)

The package Angi received.

Angi used the copper leaf embossed and patinated discs and Czech glass beads, along with delicate bead caps and white flower petal beads to create these lovely earrings!

And just look what follows! The multicolor brown hand-dyed silk ribbon is integrated with copper chain and shell beads...

... which make up the back of the necklace.   (Isn't the light lovely in this photograph?!)

A close-up of the copper bail by Sharyl and the twisted seed-beaded component by Shirley Moore.

A final look at the complete necklace by Angi Mullis.   

Sharyl's Comments:  I find this so beautifully done, with such attention to detail. There's even a dangle of the brown ribbon at the end of the beaded pendant! Although it wasn't at all required, it looks like Angi used every piece she received in her package! (I'm also so in awe of the photography here! The tree and lighting really make a dramatic setting for Angi's jewelry!)

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Other Participants:

I'm really impressed by what I have seen so far, but there is more to come! Please visit our other participants below:

Shirley Moore -- Beads and Bread       (*Co-Host)     

                                                  

Laren Dee Barton --  Laren Dee Designs     

Beti Horvath  --   Stringing Fool                 

Tanya Goodwin -- A Work in Progress       

Marybeth Rich -- Forest of Jewels                 

Amy Severino  -- AmyBeads                         

Carolyn's Creations -- Carolyn's Creations   

Toltec Jewels --  Jewel School Friends   

Thank you all for visiting today!  We hope you enjoy the event!  ~Sharyl & Shirley

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Sharyl's Jewelry

All jewelry and components currently 20% off. 

Use Coupon Code: FALLSALE

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