ABS May 2012: The Italian's House

                                          "Italian's House at Monmarte" by Maurice Utrillo

This wonderful painting with its contrast of green and white is the inspiration piece for our jewelry designs this month.  For more information about this painting and artist, please visit the Art Bead Scene May 2012 Monthly Challenge page. 

I made two pieces for the Challenge this time.  In the past, I've primarily made necklaces, so I was determined to try a bracelet this month.    I wanted to include the green and white colors, but also the light brown earthy toned walkway and the brown wood-tones.  I wanted to capture the pattern of the alternating greens and whites of the buildings and shutters, and the rectangular frames of the window shutters and doors.  

The focal of the bracelet is by Cindy Kovac, Captured Moments.

Copper jumprings and aqua-plated copper wire connect this to the rest of the bracelet.

I began by ordering the beads I hoped would be "just right."  Then when they arrived, I put them in a pattern that fit the painting.  I wanted one side green and the other side patterned with green and white.   It would have been perfect... but it was about 4 inches too large around the wrist!   So I eliminated, and eliminated, and then removed more beads... until it no longer had the pattern I had yearned for, but only one or two of each bead.   I suspect yet one more needs to be removed, but here is what we have...

Three of the green stones remain on the left side, 

in honor of the green building standing alone on that side.

Hand-dyed ribbon from Prairie Bird Boutique 

intertwines among the beads,

as the green of the shutters keeps breaking the solid whiteness 

of the wall on the right side of the painting.  

There are smaller green rondelles in multiples on this side of the bracelet, 

divided by the white beads, representing the right side of the painting.

Sandy Brown Daisies Ceramic Bead, handmade by Natalie Pappas of NKPBeads,

is for the roadway between the two buildings.

It is surrounded by a Fossil Bead in Natural Stone White and 

a Blue Sky Jasper Faceted Nugget, 

the colors of the buildings in each side 

of the road/walkway.

After I finished the bracelet, I couldn't help myself, I had to make a necklace too!  This one is not nearly so representational as the last piece, but I repeated the blue/green element with the remaining Jasper nuggets.   

The primary beads are not white, but red wooden beads with a delicate cream-color design on them.  

The colors seemed to be a fine match for the copper beads that appear in the chain of beads,

and at the end of the pendant. 

 The bail is also genuine copper.

The hand-made ceramic pottery link 

is from Captured Moments.

And more hand-dyed seam-binding at the end.  I tried to use coordinating colors, but they didn't seemed to bring anything special to the piece.   When I finally tried this sunflower yellow, it seemed to lighten and brighten the entire piece, and just felt right to me.

Thank you for taking a closer look at my entry in the Art Bead Scene May 2012 Monthly Challenge.      I hope you'll take a look at the other entries.

  

ABS will host a Blog Tour of the participants on Thursday, May 31st.   Please join the fun.  It begins at the ABS Monthly Challenge page!  

Sharyl ~ Sharyl's Jewelry*

Reminder:   May 31st is last day of Wedding & Special Event Jewelry Sale

and

10% off ALL Jewelry & components, even off sale prices!

i heart macro: Pairs

What's up for this week?

Match the jewelry with a flower!  

I used to do this a lot last summer before I joined "i heart macro."  So here's my first installment for Spring 2012!

#6:  The White Pair

                                                              Ceramic bead by NKPbeads

                                                      Lampwork by blueseraphim

Thanks for stopping by!

Please visit Studio Waterstone for more...

i heart macro!

Sharyl ~ Sharyl's Jewelry*

10% off everything, including items already marked down--

sale ends May 31st!

Double-75 Give-away Winners!

Thanks to each of you who participated in sharing the word about "Sharyl's Jewelry" to enter the drawing...as well as those who shared and didn't enter!  :-)


The winners of the "Double-75" Drawing are...

Necklace... Marla Gibson

"Shades of Ireland Pendant"

Earrings...Shaiha

                                    "Fanned Earrings"


If the winners would kindly send me your mailing addresses through a comment here, I will not publically post, but will send off your packages ASAP!   Many thanks and best wishes!


A reminder: In addition, each person will receive a pair of hammered brass dangles I've made that they can use in their own jewelry design. (If you have won and happen not to make jewelry, just let me know. I can make something up for you.)

Sharyl ~ Sharyl's Jewelry


P.S. I want to note how your efforts are making a difference.  As of this moment we have 98 Facebook likes (nearly time to celebrate again!), 79 blog members, and I made 2 sales this morning.  My complete gratitude to you all!  It couldn't happen without you!


(And for clarification, current sales continue through the end of May!)

Reminders & Wrap-ups!

What a week or two we've had here!   I want to thank everyone who participated so enthusiastically!  This is what I hoped this blog would be like when I started it back on June 16th, 2011, nearly a year ago!   (We'll take a little look back as the anniversary date approaches!)


For now, I want to offer you a few reminders and wrap-ups of recent events:

1) "Double-75 Giveaway"--Details for entering the Give-away can be found on this page.  The deadline is Thursday night, May 24, midnight (think 11:59pm) Central time.


I'm completely "wowed" by what many of you have already done!  In addition to celebrating, I was hoping to bring more traffic to my studio and increase sales (or future sales).  But I'm amazed to see how the blog and Facebook numbers have risen too!  It's nearly time for another giveaway on FB as we are approaching 100!    Thank you all so much for your support, and welcome to new followers--I'm very glad you have come to join us!  You are encouraged to join in the "give-away" too!  Just read over the rules, find a way to share the news that best fits you, then contact me via the comments section on the Give-away page!  

2) Remember the SALE!
It's something you can mention as you spread the word!   10% off everything in the Sharyl's Jewelry store, including already marked down Wedding & Special Event jewelry!

3)  "Sharyl's Bead Packet Design Challenge #1" Reveal --Wrap-up:


I hesitantly, yet optimistically, numbered this event #1, just in case we wanted to do it more than once.  Along the way, I got feedback and/or learned some things that would make me want to consider doing some things differently if we did this again.  (And feel free to leave further comments/suggests for improvement here.)  


However, what I wanted to gain from the event, I did, ...and on a much grander scale than I ever imagined!  I thought of calling this an "experiment" rather than a "challenge" at first.  My interest was in seeing what several people would create given the same set of beads and freedom to design what they wanted.   

Not only did everyone's designs turn out different, they turned out VASTLY different, and  EVERYONE exceeded my wildest expectations in their designs.  The short version of my conclusion is this:


Small bead packet + creative people = FANTASTIC RESULTS!


Thank you to all the participants for their fantastic designs and posting on their blogs for the "mini-hop" as one person named it!   If you missed it, the details and links are all right here.  


And thanks to those who followed along and left comments.  You are all the best!
  
Sharyl ~ Sharyl's Jewelry




Graphics:


Multi-colored balloons:
http://www.wpclipart.com/recreation/party/party_balloons/.cache/party_balloons.png


Red balloon:
http://www.wpclipart.com/recreation/party/party_balloons/.cache/balloon_red.png


Blue balloon:
http://www.wpclipart.com/recreation/party/party_balloons/.cache/balloon_blue.png


White balloon:  http://www.wpclipart.com/recreation/party/party_balloons/.cache/balloon_white.png


Yellow balloon:  
http://www.wpclipart.com/recreation/party/party_balloons/.cache/ballooon_yellow.png


Heart balloons:
http://www.wpclipart.com/recreation/party/party_balloons/.cache/heart_ballons.png

"Sharyl's Bead Packet Design Challenge #1"--THE REVEAL!

Those of you who have been following, know that we've had a "challenge" on for a few weeks now.

5 people were given small packets containing 16 beads each.   There were 6 types of coordinating beads. However, participants were only required to use 2 types of the beads included, in any amount they chose.   

They could use as many more of the beads as they liked.  They could add their own beads and components.  They could make one piece of jewelry or more.  (Easy rules!)

Today is the day 

they reveal what they've made!

As a refresher, here is what each person was given:

Please visit each blog to see their creations!   I've been waiting for months to see what would be designed from these 16 simple beads!  I'm excited to see what they've made!

P.S.  My thanks to all participants, and my apologies to those who did not get selected this time.  

Below this list of participants is my own attempt at designing something with the few beads that remained!

Participants:

Marie-Noel Voyer-Cramp (Skye Jewels)

  

Kristi Jaro (Curiosities by K)

  

Shirley Moore (Beads and Bread) 

Therese Frank (Therese's Treasures) 

  

Kashmira Patel (Sadafulee)

Sharyl McMillian-Nelson, Host 

(Sharyl's Jewelry & Reflections)

My Entry:

 I took the "left overs" from the beads given away.  

That left me with 3 types of beads. 

You'll see those used in the very bottom of the links--2 sizes of bluish-green Picasso rondelles and aqua Cathedral Picasso glass crystals.    I matched them with black and creamy-pearl colored large seed beads.

The bead on the top is a another type of glass rondelle.  One other participant was given this type of bead as a substitute.

I made the copper pieces free-hand.  

Although I often do my own hammering for texture,

this particular piece of copper came with the texture on the copper.

The metal, jump rings, wire, and ear wires  

are all bright genuine copper.

I made all except the jump rings, 

which were artisan-made.

Okay, that's it for me!  Let's head on over to see the others!   I can't wait!

Thanks for joining us!

Sharyl ~ Sharyl's Jewelry

i heart macro: My Mother's Day Flowers

If you are looking for info on the "Double-75 Give-Away," click HERE!  If you don't know what I'm talking about, you might want to click also!)   :-)

There is a joke in our family about me.   I was born 6 weeks early...  and that's the last time I've been early or on time for anything.   :-)    It's not always true, but I suppose there's a spark of truth in there or it wouldn't get repeated!  


Sometimes it's just plain old procrastination for a task I don't want to do or I'm stressed out about doing or I can't seem to figure out... like filing my state retail sales tax.   But "congratulations to me!"... I finally got that accomplished this week, paid my 15 cent late fee and my 3 cents interest fee, and was finally able to say good-bye to months of worry!   What a good feeling!   Whew!

Other times, there is just "too much to squeeze in!"   Such was the case with my macro shots lately!   Last week I wanted to post my rose photos from my walk in the garden with Pixiloo (Tanya) and the Kiddo!  What a nice time we had, and I wanted to celebrate that by sharing the photos!
  

So this week, I'm just getting around to Mother's Day!   :-)   Well the flowers are still standing tall in their vase, so I guess I'm not stretching things too far!

#6:  Mum's Day

Hope everyone had a good "week after Mother's Day!"  :-)


You can see more macro-shots at Studio Waterstone:

"i heart macro!"

Sharyl ~ Sharyl's Jewelry

Special sale!  10% off Everything!

Including Wedding & Special Event Jewelry already greatly reduced!  

 

 It's worth a look!

Double-75 Give-Away!

This week we managed to hit 75 on both Facebook and the Blog!   The numbers aligned so nicely it was as though they were stars, and made the event seem rather "cosmic" and cause for celebration!  

 (That's "fancy -talk" for... 

"It's time for a Give-away!")   

Both Blog and Facebook followers of "Sharyl's Jewelry" are welcome to participate.
We'll have 2 winners this time.   One will win this pendant:

"Shades of Ireland Pendant"

And another, these earrings:

"Fanned Earrings"

In addition, each person will receive a pair of hammered brass dangles I've made that they can use in their own jewelry design.  (If you follow the blog, win, and happen not to make jewelry,  just let me know.  I can make something up for you.)


How to Enter:


1. Tell at least one person you doubt has ever heard of Sharyl's Jewelry about it.  (www.sharylsjewelry.artfire.com)  


(Okay, so that's a whole lot of people to choose from!)  
It can be through an individual message on Facebook or a message on your personal or business page; it could be an email, phone, face-to-face...  It can be a friend or relative, a stranger, anybody anywhere.   I know, this sounds a bit out of the ordinary, but I need to widen my group of potential buyers, and I think this may be one way to do it.  I hope you'll consider helping.


To make your task easier, I've created a  Special promotion through May 31st.  All jewelry is marked down 10%--including all jewelry in the WEDDINGS, PROMS, & SPECIAL EVENTS section --already up to 50 percent off!!!    Many items have been moved into this section just for the sale!


2.  Just drop me a note in the comments of THIS BLOG ENTRY no later than Thurs, May 24, 2012 at midnight Central time.  


Let me know: a) how you spread the word, and b) that you want to be included in the drawing.  


While I'm hoping you will reach one new person, I would of course be very happy if you reached more.   Unfortunately, for the sake of this particular drawing, entries will be limited to one per person.  I'm not sure how we would fairly count multiples in this situation.  Thank you for understanding.


3.  From those who enter, 2 names will be drawn for the prizes and the winners announced!   


My sincere thanks to each and every one of you, who have followed me on the Blog and on Facebook, and who continue to help support my efforts in learning and designing. Best wishes to each of you!


Sharyl ~ Sharyl's Jewelry

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Graphics:


Reach for the Stars: http://www.wpclipart.com/cartoon/people/people_parts/.cache/reach_for_the_stars.png

Admission ticket:  http://www.wpclipart.com/recreation/entertainment/tickets/.cache/ticket_green.png

Gift box:  http://www.wpclipart.com/holiday/Christmas/gifts/.cache/gift_box_blue.png

Sharyl's Bead Packet Design Challenge-- Bead Reveal

"Sharyl's Bead Packet 

Design Challenge #1" 

...is fast approaching now.   (I was warned by a "pro" to start small with my challenges and thank goodness I did.  I had numerous "kinks" to work out even with only 5 participants.  IF/when(?) I ever do this again...  I'll try to do better and avoid the same mistakes...  No doubt I'll make new ones instead!  Not to excuse myself, but I think that's how learning happens.)   


Anyway, hopefully we'll have some fun out of this soon and in the wee-morning hours of Monday, May 21st, all will rise and shine to see our 5 wonderful participants* reveal their creations using a small packet of beads I sent to each.   Nearly all the packets were identical, but sometimes the color of one bead was more pinkish or greenish than another.   And one person had a bead substitute--unfortunate, but it allowed me to squeeze one more person into the challenge!   

*Participants:

Marie-Noel Voyer-Cramp

Kristi Jaro

Shirley Moore

Therese Frank

Kashmira Patel

After the packets were sent, there were just a few remaining beads, which I've been playing around with...  (rolling across the table, chasing under my desk, trying hard not to lose)!    I'll see if I can come up with anything before the reveal date too.


So, here are the beads:

Yep, that's it.  I hope no one was disappointed.  I was drawn to the Picasso finish on each of these and the primarily light turquoise/teal colors with a touch of pink.  But as I said, there are no art beads provided.  Only beads of several different types that could be mixed and matched many different ways to create endless combinations!  

...And the endless combinations are what I'm anxious to see!

Each person is required to only use 2 types of beads, but can use as many or as few as they like. They can make one or more pieces of jewelry.   They can add anything to their designs they want.  It's a really flexible challenge, but I'm very excited to see what each person will do with the starting point of these 16 beads!

Please visit my blog on Monday 21st.  If all goes well, you will find the list of blog participants with links to their blogs and creations.  You can "blog hop" from one to another.  Visit, enjoy, leave comments!   

Hope everyone has a good time!   See you then!

Sharyl ~ 

* * * * * * * * * *

P.S.  Last fall, I was having a conversation with one of our  jewelry designers about how we could take the same objects and design something totally different from them.  From this notion, I got the idea of holding a challenge where a few people would all have the same set of beads so we could see the various designs they would come up with.  I thought it was my "original idea," but I found out later that other people had the same or "similar original ideas" quite a bit before me.   So I want to draw attention to the work of Lori Anderson and others who have held similar events.  While it was never my intention to nab your ideas (and no one ever accused me of such either), I must make known that my  "great idea" was in your head first!  :-)   ~Sharyl

* * * * * * * * * *

Other News:

• Information coming Sat. on my Give-away for "Double 75" hit!    

• So many great give-aways and challenges appearing daily on Facebook and blogs I can't begin to keep up!  Hope you can...and that you win!

• Wedding & special event jewelry is currently on sale at Sharyl's Jewelry!