Garden and Jewelry Tour

Every so often, especially during Spring and Fall, I like to combine my love of macrophotography, flowers, jewelry-making, and COLOR!  

So today I'm sharing a few of the photos I took this Spring, just as blooms were popping, and some of my jewelry and beads in the same Spring colors!   (If you enjoy them enough, you can follow the direct links to my store.)

Forsynthia bush in front yard

"Bright as the Sun" Flower in Metallic Pastels PC14-061  

US $8 + S/H

Plant unknown.

Front flower garden.

Rectangular aqua and silver polymer clay pendant 

PC14-044

US $8 + S/H

Tulips in the backyard "Circle Garden"

8 Yellow "Funky Flat Poly Beads"  PC14-067

US $8 + S/H

4 Yellow "Funky Flat Poly Beads" PC14-068

US $4 + S/H

Orange-red tulip, front yard

Lotta Fun Sun Summer Earrings

US$22 plus S/H

Hope you enjoyed the quick Garden and Jewelry Tour!  Happy Spring!  

~Sharyl

Sharyl's Jewelry

*************

Diana Ptaszynski's "Waxed Linen Blog Hop!"

When Diana Ptaszynski of Suburban Girl Studio and Suburban Girl Beads announced she was hosting a "Waxed Linen Blog Hop" I jumped at the chance to join in!  I had been thinking about waxed linen, how I had used it a couple of times last  year, then rather forgotten about it.  

Pair from last summer.
"Jelly Fish Teal Glass Earrings"
(They sold right away!)
Lampwork beads by Russ Powers of JavaBead.com
Double layer of recycled glass beads from Ghana, West Africa.

I had been thinking I should try designing with it again, and Diana's blog hop fit right in with my plans!  

The only problem was the the reveal date of Saturday, May 24 was during a family event, but I decided to join in the fun and post a little early. Hope you will visit the other participants listed on Diana's blog on May 24th or after!  

So, here is what I created for the blog hop:

My first attempt for the blog hop.
I hardly ever design using pink, but wanted to give it a try.Terra Jasper stone beads.
Brass earwires.

Second item I made for the blog hop!
Czech beads.
My handmade copper earwires.

After a couple of goes with earrings, I decided I should try a bracelet.  I got this far, but when I attached a ceramic bracelet bar I had planned to use, I realized I had made it too large.  Unable to untie these knots to reduce the size... I assure you I untied many a knot working with the thread... I decided for a different design, and removed the focal bead for another piece.  I'm thinking a button or bead as a clasp might work, but not sure yet.  

A bracelet, in progress.
Light blue lampwork by LampworkByAmy.
Turquoise matte lampwork by PowersArtStudio.

Finally, it was time to tackle a necklace! I wanted something long and elegant. This necklace wraps and wraps!

It makes 2-3 long really strands or 4 medium length ones.

Close-up of some of the beads used in the necklace:

Ivory lampwork spacers by Blue Seraphim, 

Blue-gray pottery tab beads by NKP Designs, and

Powder blue altered brass component by me. 

And finally, back for more earring fun with these two pair:

Lampwork from GraceBeads.
 Orange beads are Czech glass.
Sterling silver earwires.

Stones, copper, glass!
My handmade copper earwires.

I enjoyed this so much, you can look forward to finding these items and more in my Sharyl's Jewelry store soon!  

Thank you to Diana for hosting this event and bringing me back to Irish waxed linen thread!  

And a shout-out to Mary Hubbard at WhiteCloverKiln!  I've purchased several batches of the thread from her with another order coming soon! 

Please visit Diana's blog to find the list of other participants beginning May 24!

~Sharyl

*******************

Bright new look for Sharyl's Jewelry!

Notice anything different?   A little bit WILD?!  Yes, I do mean the dots! 

I recently redesigned my logo... 

Logo by Sharyl McMillian-Nelson©2014

...and purchased new marketing materials (business cards, event banner, and even a few bags)!  

Business cards

Cotton bags

This prompted a long-overdue redesign of my Artfire store site with a new banner I created.  (Similar but not identical to the marketing products from VistaPrint.)

Sharyl's Jewelry ArtFire Studio banner

by Sharyl McMillian-Nelson©2014

(My Facebook business page has had a banner with the poly beads for a month or so now, so you may recognize the beads from that!)

If you haven't already,
I invite you to "Like" my Facebook business page.
Please also click "Get Notifications" to make sure you receive messages such as sale info,
new products and events!

This blog was the last to be redone and the most challenging.  I couldn't seem to apply my own banner so I used one of the Blogger backgrounds.  This was the closest match I could find.  It's busier than I'd like but I thought I'd give it a try. You know, live on the wide side! 

The goal is to create a more unified marketing presence for Sharyl's Jewelry.   And the colorful dots remind me of my "Funky Flat Poly Beads!"  

Hopefully you like it and when you see the dots, you'll think of Sharyl's Jewelry!

Best wishes to all,

Sharyl

P.S.  Have YOU updated your marketing recently?  Please share a note in the comment section and/or link to a photo!  

P.P.S.  I'm pleased to say I've been in business for 3 1/2 years now.  (In reformatting my blog, I also updated the Company History and other pages linked to the tabs at the top of the page.) 

Thanks for being with me through this journey! 

*************************

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day to all 

celebrating being a mom 

and others 

cherishing or remembering a mom.

Thinking of you all today,

and wishing you joy and peace!

--Sharyl

The lilacs are from our yard, planted in memory of my mother-in-law, who grew such lovely ones!   It goes without saying that she, and my own dear Mother, are in my heart today...

* * * * * * * *