New Favorite Spring Beads from NKPDesigns!

I've been relaxing and taking some time off this Spring, but that doesn't mean I don't still DREAM about BEADS!    While I'm spending more time "dreaming" than "doing" these days, I thought I might share some of the beads and jewelry I just find the "dreamiest" as I relax!    Today, I'm featuring some of my favorite Spring beads from Natalie Pappas of NKP Designs.   
 
In case you haven't had time for bead shopping lately, here are a few suggestions from me! 
  

Dancing Daisy Porcelain Bead

This one reminds me of a perfect apple, made all the more cheerful with Natalie's "dancing flowers" included!  What a perfect focal bead this would make for a whimsical necklace!   (From NKPDesigns on Etsy.)

Peachy Cream Textured Nugget Ceramic Bead

These remind me of the pottery whistles Natalie creates!  (I encourage you to take a look at those too!   They also make creative jewelry as well as being functional whistles!)    These beads are just as delightful but without the sound.  Love the creamy white and soft peachy accent holes!   What a lovely summery necklace they would make.   Gorgeous with any type of beads, but I keep picturing pearls!    (From NKPDesigns on Etsy.)

Natural Tones Sprig Round Stoneware Bead Set

It's morel mushroom hunting season in the midwest and when I first saw these beads I was reminded of the rare delicacy!    Just as morels are well-hidden by nature,  leaves cover these bead treasures as well,   Yum, morels, and very yummy beads!      (From NKPDesigns on Etsy.)

African Violet Porcelain Oval Sprig Bead

Who doesn't love African Violet's?  I find this oblong focal bead irresistible!   String it up with more purple or make a necklace with a garden full of colors!   (From NKPDesigns on Etsy.)

 

Dark Pinks Daisy Stoneware Tablets

Look at the colors in these beautiful tab beads!   Daisy images in lovely natural clay color with a dash of dark pink to make them just perfect for Spring.   (These are from Natalie's store:   nkpdesigns.com)

Mint Green Leaf Seed Square Stoneware Beads

A set of beads all matching in design and color but in several sizes with imprints that look like leaves or flower petals.  Perfect in minty green!   I dream of a necklace from these.  What do YOU dream of?      (These are from Natalie's store:   nkpdesigns.com)



If you ask me tomorrow, I would probably come up with an entirely new list; that's how much I enjoy Natalie's creations!  So be sure to check out all the current options at Natalie's two stores:

• NKP Designs on  Etsy
• NKPDesigns.com  

Enjoy the bead peak!  Hope to see you again soon!  ~Sharyl

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Image Credits:

All bead photos NKPDesigns

Graphics from wpclipart.com

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Looking back on blogging, looking forward...

Looking back at blogging...

My very first blog entry was June 16, 2011:  "Jewelry Design - My "Unique" Philosophy."  

When I look back at that entry, every bit of what I wrote was true then, and true now.   So much has changed, but my vision of what I wanted to accomplish with jewelry design is exactly the same as when I started.   I find that rather remarkable. 


Not all my early blog posts were something I'd still be proud of.   I was very "green" and feel a bit horrified about how I spoke with authority about things I didn't know enough about.   My photographs were terrible. (It took me 6 months to take a remotely decent photo!  I blogged about that on Jan. 14 and Jan. 18, 2012. Many of my blog posts in the first year focused on photography practice!)  


But to back up a bit, as I recall, I had no followers at all until I had blogged for about 6 weeks.   I just kept writing, hoping someone would appear.  And finally, it happened, one day, someone finally made the choice to "follow" my blog.  And about a week later, another, this time a young man from Russia.  I never forgot about him.   I was so thrilled to have these 2 pay attention to what I wrote!   And eventually more came, and when I hit 10, I felt I had finally "arrived!"  ha!  

In the early days, I greeted each new member with a welcome paragraph!   Eventually, it became impossible.   Blog hops would bring new members in larger numbers all at once, I couldn't keep up.  What a shame about that.  My blog membership numbers are still not stunning, but they've been "hard-won" and I've always deeply valued each person following and sharing  your comments.  I always intended this to be a very interactive space.  


I must admit that in the first few years of blogging,  I was more creative in my writing, more engaging, and certainly more frequent.    The heavy use of Facebook to share ideas and new items, and the ever-increasing use of mobile technology to read messages seems to have shrunk blog participation and comments.   Posting messages and getting no response was disheartening, and I got to where I mostly posted about sales in my stores.   (Boring, and a self-fulfilling cycle which left little incentive to want to read my blog!)

Blogging today...

Recently, I announced that the blog had it's 175th member, and we celebrated that with a gift to the participant and a give-away winner.   I decided to briefly highlight those involved in that event on my blog today!

Val of Miss Val's Creations was the 175th member.  I wanted to show you these classy earrings I found in her store.   The ear wires are such a fantastic shape!

hematite sterling silver dangle earrings

Catherine of Shadow Dog Designs won the random drawing.  Catherine's store is on  Artfire.  I think these pearls and the amazing pendant go perfectly together!

Handmade Tree Pendant Necklace Rustic Green Pearls Bali Beaded Jewelry

Since then, we've gained one more member.   And so, in the original spirit of this blog, I'd like to welcome our most recent follower, Meridy Migchelbrink of Two Trees Studio.   Among her always-impressive designing techniques, Meridy creates many of her earthy looking pieces using waxed Irish linen thread.  Take a peak:

The Word for World Is Forest: Petite, lightweight artisan ceramic earrings, with an earthy, rustic, foresty vibe

Now that I've given you a small sample of each of these artist's work, I hope you'll go look at the rest of their collections!   I'm so honored to have these three jewelry artists, as well as all the rest of you talented people, following my blog!

Looking forward...

I hope you'll come around again!  I'm planning more features, focus sessions on other bead and jewelry designers, discussions on techniques, business matters, and more!   I'll be here, writing away, just like in the beginning, hoping someone drops in and leaves me a note!  

Wishing a very Happy New Year 2015 to all!  

Sharyl

P.S.  Just as I'm about to post this entry, I've received 2 pieces of good news to share today!  I'll hold it until next time.  Expect another post soon!  

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Image Credits:

All jewelry photos taken by the jewelry artists are copyrighted and used here by permission.

Clipart is from wpclipart.com

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"Pine Ridge Treasure's Clay and Metal Blog Hop" Reveal! - Update!

Update: To Lisa and Participants-- I THINK I've been around to all the blogs now, and I'm SO touched by your kind words and impressed by all the designs! I'll be making the rounds again once more, so if I missed one, I'll catch it next time. I'll be posting your designs on my Pinterest page showing the work of designers using my components. If anyone would prefer I not do this, please contact me. I'll post this note in several places, in hopes you all will see it. 

My sincere thanks to Lisa and to all of you! I feel I've been given a lovely gift!  -Sharyl

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Hurray!

Lisa Lodge's 

Pine Ridge Treasure's 

Clay and Metal Blog Hop 

is now underway!  

Please hop around the participant blogs and see all the interesting creations:

**Lisa Lodge, A Grateful Artist     (Hostess)

**Be sure to leave a comment on Lisa's blog to register for one of the two free prizes (one from Lisa and one from me)!

Melissa Trudinger, Bead Recipes

Jo-Ann Woolverton, It's a Beadiful Creation

Carolyn Lawson, Carolyn's Creations

Shaiha Williams,   Shaiha's Ramblings

Toltec  Jewels, Jewel School Friends

Heather Richter, Desert Jewelry Designs

Marybeth Rich, 

   A Few Words from within the Pines

Kim Dworak, Cianci Blue

Karen Grosset Grange, Ginkgo et Coquelicot

Ann Schroeder, Bead Love

Lisa Prewitt Knappenberger, LiRaysa Designs

Carol Briody, A Beads Life

Miranda Ackerley, MirandAck

Kari Asbury, Hippie Chick Design

Susan Anderson, La Main Tresor

LeAnne Loftus, First Impression Design

Leithleach Seodra, Alainn Jewelry

My thanks again to Lisa for hosting this event, for her kind words, and her support of me through the years.     Please visit Lisa in the following places:

Lisa's blog,  A Grateful Artist
Pine Ridge Treasures on Facebook
Pine Ridge Treasures Jewelry on Zibbet


And thank you to all the participants!   I'm so excited, I'm going to go begin "hopping!" 

With joy and gratitude for this honor,

Sharyl

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Graphic Credits:
Event graphic by Lisa Lodge.

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Reminder, you can get to all 3 of my stores from the menu bar at the top of my blog page!     


Join my blog or FB page to keep current on sales and events!



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What's New at Metapolies™?

Wondering what's new at Metapolies (ACM/Etsy) and Sharyl's Jewelry (Artfire)?  
Plenty!  



1)   Last Sat. was the Grand Opening Event of the Artisan Component Marketplace.  Thanks to all of you who visited, shopped, and participated in all sorts of ways!   And thanks to Marla James for organizing ACM and the event!

The winner of the random prize drawing from Metapolies was....

Marybeth Rich!

Marybeth is the owner and designer at Forest of Jewels on Etsy.

You can find her store's page on Facebook too!

* * * * *

2)  Marybeth and many others (click here for list) will be participating in the Pine Ridge Treasure's Clay and Metal Blog Hop this Saturday organized and sponsored by Lisa Lodge!   While the designers are using packets featuring polymer clay and metal components from my stores, this is all Lisa's doing, and I'm so honored by it!   Over the past year, Lisa has collected the components for her unique designer packets.   (I don't even know what the packets look like!)

The fun part is that I just get to sit back and admire the designers' work.  I'm so looking forward to it!   

My sincere gratitude to Lisa for hosting this event and her support of me through the years.   Lisa is well-known for her blog hops, but be sure to look her up if you haven't already!

Where you can find Lisa online:

Lisa's blog,  A Grateful Artist
Pine Ridge Treasures on Facebook
Pine Ridge Treasures Jewelry on Zibbet

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3) A couple of weeks back, a few of us Kansas City area artisans hosted booths at the Holiday Treasures Craft Festival in Shawnee, KS.

I was there, of course, taking the photos!

Tanya Goodwin, my lovely friend from
A Work in Progress,
brought fun new chain maille necklaces,

bracelets,...

....as well as some of her lovely,
intricate bead work!

I love sharing a booth with Tanya!  

(This was our 3rd year of doing this event together!)

She's helpful, friendly, and really makes the day pass in such a pleasant way!

Thank you, Tanya!

Next to us this year, for the first time ever, was the Bagomag.com team of Mike and Carol.

Mike Flint is a lampwork
and stained glass artist.
And to support his efforts,
Carol made jewelry
to help show off some of his great holiday beads!

Friend, Patti B (not shown), even brought some of her handmade paper bead
jewelry pieces
and demonstrated her skills
in making paper beads for intrigued passers-by!

The stained glass fronts Mike makes for instruments drew much attention too!

Fisherman Banjo

Abstract Violin

TY, Jenna & Kevin!

We had a great day and enjoyed seeing our family and friends who came out to see us and lend a helping hand.  We were glad to meet lots of new folks too!  


Our thanks to all who support us, in so many ways!  Best wishes until we meet again!  ~Sharyl

* * * * *

Image Credits:

Pine Ridge Blog Hop Event Logo by Lisa Lodge

All other photos by  Sharyl, Oct/Nov. 2014

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Shai's a winner in so many ways!

Congrats to Shaiha Williams, winner of the Sharyl's Jewelry shopping bag from the Back-to-School give-away drawing last weekend!  

...And this seems a great time to mention that Shaiha has just opened a new store!  I've been watching her design pieces for quite a while, and I'm so excited to now see her designs appearing in her own store!  

Spring Green Pearls
Shaiha Designs

There are some lovely, eye-catching, unique pieces of jewelry there!  Please pay her a visit at:

Shaiha Designs     http://shaihadesigns.storenvy.com/

Shaiha Ramblings     (a truly delightful blog!)  http://shaihasramblings.blogspot.com/

Shaiha Designs on Facebook     https://www.facebook.com/ShaihaDesigns?ref=hl

Thanks and congrats again to Shai!  Our best wishes go with you!

~Sharyl

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Photo of necklace by Shaiha Williams.

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Personal Favorites & Catching up with Louise Goodchild

Some time ago, May 10, 2012 to be specific, I invited the very uniquely talented...

Louise Goodchild 

...to be a guest on this blog.   We displayed some of her pieces and thoroughly enjoyed her visit!  To see that blog post, click here:   "The Wearable Wire Art of Louise Goodchild Designs"

"Moorland Sunset"
currently for sale at Louie's Etsy store.
(Note the sweet sheep by the cottage!)

Since then, I've continued to follow Louise's artful endeavors with her wire pendants and other creative jewelry and I always find them delightful!



She was recently asked which one was her favorite.   She replies in her blog with a brief history of her art and shows a few of the pendants that remain special to her. 

 

I encourage  you to visit that post:  

"My favourite piece?"

(I love that it includes a photo of the first wire pendant she made!)

I have some additional favorites from Louise's work which include a series of custom-order  goddesses:

...as well has her fairy door series:

This "Seashore Fairy Door" pendant 

is currently available in her Etsy store!

I'm including a link to her blog, "Louise Goodchild:  Adventures in Wire,"  her Etsy store, Louise Goodchild Designs, and Facebook link so you can see more!

My thanks to Louise for continuing to delight us!

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The question Louise was asked has made me wonder... 

...what would each of YOU say is the favorite piece of jewelry, beads, (or other art) you've created!   I hope you will tell us about it or show us with a link to a photo in the comments section!   

Edit:  Think I'll add photos from your comments here so it's quicker/easier for all to see!   

This one is from 
Natalie Pappas. 
"This bead (which sold a long long time ago) is one of my favorites that I've ever made...

I had gone to a store with lots of Asian pottery and came home completely inspired and painted this bead. I have tried and failed many times trying to duplicate it."




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I've been working on some new items that I think are my current favorites too.   I'll show you next time!  

Wishing you a happy day!

Sharyl

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Enjoy free shipping through Sunday, July 27, at Sharyl's Jewelry!

Sharyl's Jewelry on ArtFire

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Images:

All wire-pendants on this page were made by Louise Goodchild.  Photographs by Louise used by permission here.

Sharyl's Jewelry components, photographs, and ad by Sharyl.  

Arrow:  http://www.wpclipart.com/signs_symbol/arrows/arrow_comic/index.html

Person wondering:   http://www.wpclipart.com/phps.php?q=question&submit=Search

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Meeting friends and making new ones!

Last week, I had the good fortune to meet up with some Facebook pals and make some other new jewelry friends too!   It all happened a couple of days apart!

I took this photo of Kate
during her visit!

I had met Kate McCullough on Facebook well over a year ago and we have kept up since!   She special-ordered a bracelet which I made for her.   At the time, she was making jewelry too and had an Etsy store.  Later she expanded to selling some of her  knitted items too. She sent me a gift of some fingerless mitts, and I liked them so much, I special ordered pairs for all my family (plus an extra set for myself) for the holidays!  I love those mitts so much, I keep a pair in my office here for when my hands get cold while typing and a pair in my car.   I don't think I'll ever go without a pair ever again! 

(Kate's photo again!)

Anyway, Kate has been in art school and now makes wonderful drawings and paintings and sculptures!   When we met in person last week, she presented me with a beautiful bird painting which promptly went on my dining room wall when I got home, just above a favorite antique chest.   It's just perfect for the spot! 

It's too dark tonight to take a photo
of the framed painting as Kate presented it.
Hopefully she won't mind that
I've "borrowed" this one from her FB page! 

Kate and her daughter came to Kansas City for a knitting conference.   So not only did I get to meet both of them, they also took me on a tour of the conference knitting exhibitions.    Like a new jewelry-maker not knowing about art beads, I was brand new to the knitting world!  I never imagined there could be so many types of yarns, so many colors, that wool could be so soft, ...or that a skein of yarn could be so expensive!   But hand-made, hand-dyed, hand-spun is art too! It's beautiful and well worth it!   I had a great day that Saturday and hope they did too!   

____________

Tanya's entry & photo

On the Tuesday following, I met up with my friend, Tanya Goodwin, author of the blog, "A Work in Progress."   (By the way, Tanya just hosted her first blog hop and it was a hit!  If you missed my last blog post visit Tanya's blog to see all the wonderful entries featuring Shibori Ribbon!)  

WPClipart

Tanya and I have done several craft fair events together and this day we spent some time eating and chatting and planning what events we might like to do this year!   We discussed the pros and cons and expenses and challenges and rewards of doing outdoor events!  (That gave us a lot to think about!)  

Tanya was wearing the most gorgeous jewelry, all made by her own hands. Her necklace included a wonderful pendant made by Staci Louise Smith's SLArtisanAccents store.   (The envy that inspired!)  She also had on earrings with components from yours truly and an amazing chain maille bracelet!  All pieces were in a luscious shade of purple!  I wish I had taken a photo of Tanya that day, but alas, I didn't take the camera...

_____________

Valorie's photo--
yep swiping photos again!

That same evening, I had the chance to meet Valorie Tate, who I had met on Facebook more recently.  What fun to meet her in person too!   Valorie recently opened a Zibbet store called "StudioDelaine."  I bet she might appreciate a "Like" and "follow" to her StudioDelaine Facebook page too!   (Remember, on Facebook, whatever you "Like" also "Follow!")

Valorie had invited me to dinner and a meeting with the Kansas City Polymer Clay Guild, where I made even more new friends!   They were a delightful, talented group of artists and it was wonderful to meet with them.   Though the meetings are on a night when I usually work, I hope I can attend again in the future!  (Did I take my camera?  Of course not!   But trust me, we were there!) 

_______________

I had such a great time meeting with jewelry friends last week, and I hope I have a chance to meet more of you in the future!  

Best wishes!

Sharyl

_____________

Photo credits go to the following:

Kate McCullough

Tanya Goodwin

Valorie Tate

Sorry and thank you!

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Tues last day to buy blog hop packets!

Looking for the "Pearls!" Blog Hop?  --->  Click here!

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Tomorrow, Tues, Sept. 17, is the last day to for the original 10 participants to purchase your "Seed Bead & Metal Blog Hop" packets. There are still 3  2 packets unsold.   

I've attempted to reach everyone individually and through blog postings. One email has been returned to me, so I'm concerned that someone may miss out just because they haven't seen the message(s).  I'm trying one more time to make sure everyone in the group is aware they were selected and that they need to purchase their packets by Tuesday night.  Those remaining are: Mary, Sonya, and Angi.    **To purchase your packet, please click here.

I know things change and if it's no longer a good time for you to join in, I understand.  But I do hope everyone gets the message and can participate who wants to!

We do have one waiting to get in.  (Toltec Jewels) After Tues night, I will reopen the event to others who might also be interested if the packets are not claimed.  If you missed getting in and would like to participate, please leave a comment on this blog post.   If we have openings, I will notify you Wed.

If you've purchased your packet already,...  it should be speeding its way toward you!   I've marked the date your package was mailed on this page.   Please let me know if you have any questions!   

Many thanks and wishing a good week to all!

~Sharyl

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