Saturday, November 16, 2013

Lampwork and Clay Blog Hop

Time for another blog hop. I love participating in these because a) it keeps me busy, b) it keeps me challenged and c) it's just plain fun! This one is hosted by Lisa Lodge of Pine Ridge Treasures. We signed up some time ago and had our choice of either lampwork or clay beads to play with. I chose lampwork and was sent beautiful little beads by Lisa Anderson, in purple no less, which is always a delight to play with. I've been so busy getting ready for craft shows and jewelry parties ( I'm in Texas with my sister right now for an annual one) that I forgot about this until last week and went into panic mode.

**Deep breath** Then I came across a tutorial that I'd purchased off the Bead Style site some time ago that used coiling, and since I like to tackle new things with a blog hop, decided to give it a whirl ( pardon the pun). The tutorial, Razzle-dazzle Bracelet, is by Carolyn Conley, and while she used her own large lampwork beads in hers, I just decided to scale it down some and see how it worked.  I've done a little bit of coiling before but hers called for long pieces and while I love my Coiling Gizmo, it really only works well for coils up to about 7 inches. So, grabbing a thin knitting needle, I transferred the coil onto it and completed it there. It's not nearly as tight and looks slightly wonky, but at least it worked! I then fed it onto 18 gauge copper wire and recoiled it before adding a wrapped loop on each end and adding Swarovski lovelies for sparkle and shine.
Here's a look at the final product:


I need to oxidize it so the copper isn't so shiny but since my plane leaves in a couple of hours that will have to wait. Isn't it pretty? Love how the copper makes the purple lampwork the star of the show. I have two more beads left and am figuring out how to use the left over coils for earrings. If you're an Instagram person, I'd love for you to follow me on there. My user name is CharisDesigns. I've also joined the interesting world of Twitter, and am trying to figure out the ins and outs of that. I don't tweet very often, but enjoy following people and seeing things they're posting. Over there you can find me @CharisDJewelry.

Here's the list for the other blog hop peeps. Thanks again, Lisa, for hosting another hop. I'm off to play with my sister- that will fill my day with dashes, splashes and buckets of grace and joy!

Your hostess:  Lisa Lodge, A Grateful Artist
Mary Govaars, MLH Jewelry Designs
Melissa Trudinger, Bead Recipes
Kathy Zeigler Lindemer, Bay Moon Design
Laurie Vyselaar, Lefthand Jewelry
Annette Rivers, MamaOwl's Mess
Shaiha Williams,   Shaiha's Ramblings
Kay Thomerson, Kayz Kreationz
Karla Morgan, Texas Pepper Jams
Lori Jean Poppe, Lorillijean Creative Corner
Eleanor Burian Moore, The Charmed Life
Leah Mifflin Tees, My Beady Little Eyes
Terri Wlaschin, Dances in Fog
Sharyl McMillian-Nelson, Sharyl's Jewelry
Jo-Ann Woolverton, It's a Beadiful Creation
Veralynne Malone, Designed by Vera
Linda Aspenson Bergstrom, TBD
Toltec  Jewels, Jewel School Friends
Judy Turner, Silver Rains
Gloria Allen, Gloria Allen Designs
Kathleen Douglas, Washoe Kat's
Connie Tipton, TBD
Christie Searle Murrow, Charis Designs Jewelry   (you are here)
Andrea Glick-Zenith, ZenithJade Creations
Michele Dotson, Star Jewels
Chris Eisenberg, Wanderware
Jennifer Clifford, TBD
Kathleen Breeding, 99 Bottles of Beads on the Wall
Molly Alexander, Beautifully Broken Me
Carolyn Lawson, Carolyns Creations
Shirley Moore, Beads and Bread
Bonnie Coursolle, Jasper's Gems
Alice Craddick, Alice's Beads and Baubles (reveal will be delayed a few days)

12 comments:

  1. Love your Lavender Fields bracelet. Very interesting design.

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  2. As pretty as this is, I can't wait to see what it looks like after you oxidize the metal. Really cool design, and of course, gorgeous beads!
    I'm with you, I'm on twitter and instagram, but don't really have a clue yet...:)

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  3. Christie - I am glad that you "gave it a whirl"! Very beautiful bracelet. I would wear it all the time. I think it will look even more pretty after you do the oxidizing. Thanks for being in the hop!

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  4. The coiling sets off those beads beautifully. You have inspired me to give it a try. Beadutiful!

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  5. I too love the shiny....and I have a coiling gizmo...haven't used it in a while...guess I will have to get it out. Thanks for the great piece and post.

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  6. So lovely, the coil really makes this bracelet unique and eye catching.

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  7. Beautiful bracelet! I like the coiling work. It does make the lampwork beads really POP! I will have to give that a try. If you have two beads left over why not make a pair of earrings to match your beautiful bracelet!

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  8. What a gorgeous bracelet. I love the coils and they really do make the lampwork beads stand out. I've never tried coiling anything like that, but I love the way yours turned out and I may have to try it.

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  9. This is gorgeous! I like both sides of the bracelet. Like having two bracelets in one. Great job!

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  10. Very pretty! I think I want a gizmo!

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  11. This reminds me to also get out my coiling gizmo. I love the shiny as well. It makes me think of a sunny day with storm clouds coming in.

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  12. I so love the Lavander fields bracelet! It look so classy. That would be the perfect bracelet for an evening occasion. I love your designs. You are very creative and i must say that design is very interesting and eye-catching. I would love to have that bracelet.

    PacificJewelryDesigns.com

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