Saturday, June 28, 2014

Just a teaser...

I love being part of the ZNet Show design team! Their products are not only pretty, but so much fun to play with. A while back we were given the opportunity to be part of the ZNet Summer Days and Nights challenge Blog hop, and while I can't show you the finished products yet,  here's a look at what they sent for me to work with.
A whole tray of cultured sea glass in a variety of colors just begging to be made into summer pretties. You'd like a closer look? Yes, that can be arranged:)
Opaque Purple sea glass barrel nugget beads
Blossom Pink cultured sea glass freeform pendant and drops
Cherry Red sea glass beads

Turquoise Bay sea glass beads and pendants
As soon as Crafty Hope has the Creative Spark magazine ready to go, we'll be all blogging about our creations, so stay tuned!

Until then, may your summer days be filled with dashes of grace and splashes of joy!

Christie

Sunday, June 1, 2014

Ocean Blog Hop

I must apologize to our hostess, Lisa Lodge of A Grateful Artist, for posting late.  There were some major difficulties this past week with all sorts of technology at my house this past week. However, most issues have been resolved and here I am!  (If you're looking for my BSBP post, it's here.)

Once again I forgot to take pictures of the beads in their original state, so I'll point out the goodies in the pictures below and keep this short and sweet.

Lisa sent me those amazing seaglass cobalt blue rounds and heishi spacers from ZNet Shows.  The color is so deep and rich, and when I realized it would pair perfectly with some flowered spacers and a pendant I had purchased from Glasswork by Susan in Tallahassee, it all came together very quickly.



Cobalt Delight

Next to be used were these sweet little blue glass beads. They wanted to play with some bigger beads in the same color and some matching crystals, which were left over from an earlier ZNet project. When a pendant from long ago joined the party, the set was complete.

Wildflower Blues

There were a couple of adorable starfish charms, and those quickly became earrings. Lisa also sent the green  crystal beads in the first pair of earrings.
Starfish dangles
Crystal Tropicale
 I found these right angle weave crystal balls hanging around my desk, and added just a little bit of sparkle and shine to these antique brass starfish.

And then there was this amazing focal from Michelle McCarthy of Firefly Design Studios. I wasn't familiar with her work, but will definitely be browsing her goodies from now on! She's also a Florida gal, and has some great ceramic beads and pendants.

Digging through my stash I found these beautiful navy blue pearls that complimented the pendant perfectly and decided to pair them all with some antique brass chains to make something a little different. Double strand necklaces aren't something I usually do, but this seemed to work out. The third strand is a separate piece that can be work with or without the focal piece- you can see all three in the first picture.

Nautical Navy
Here's a look at the third strand by itself- gotta love wire wrapping. I also used the toggle clasp that Lisa sent.


There are a few green crystals that will be paired with an antique brass pendant, and some more light blue seaglass beads that hid until after I was all done.

Thanks, Lisa, for another fun blog hop.  Hope you'll stop by and visit the other participants. Hope your day is filled with splashes and dashes of grace and joy!

Ocean Blog Hop May 31st Reveal:
Your hostess:  Lisa Lodge, A Grateful Artist
Christie Searle Murrow, Charis Designs Jewelry (you are here)
Kim Dworak, Cianci Blue
Karin Grosset Grange, Ginkgo et Coquelicot
Candida Elkins Castleberry, Spun Sugar Beadworks
Veralynne Malone, Designed by Vera
Monique Urquhart, A Half-Baked Notion
Katrina Taylor, I Wanna Go Out
Mary Ann Macri Jacobs, Trucksville Crafts
Jeanne Steck, Gems by Jeanne Marie
Ann Schroeder, Bead Love
Kathleen Breeding, 99 Bottles of Beads on the Wall
Marianne Baxter, Simply Seablime Jewelry
Terri Wlaschin, Dances in Fog
Margaret Pelech, Margaret Pelech's Ocean Blog
Jo-Ann Woolverton, It's a Beadiful Creation
Kathy Zeigler Lindemer, Bay Moon Design
Heather Richter, Desert Jewelry Designs

Andrea Glick-Zenith, ZenithJade Creations