Sequinmania!

I joined the Sequintastic September on a whim.  Years ago, I took a pair of dressy black slacks and put a stripe of sequins up the sides, and it made them just pop.  I wore those slacks until they began to droop, and then retired them with full honors.  Remembering those slacks, I thought a sequin project could be great fun.  Sorry my post is a little late this morning, but I fell asleep last night, and didn't put it up then.

I first thought about using sequins for wild gypsy earrings, but then I remembered the 60's and 70's and I knew those had been done a lot back then.  And then it hit me.  Mardi Gras is a great time to wear sequins, on your clothes, on your skin, on jewelry and anything else, really.  Sequins shout Mardi Gras!  So, without further fanfare, because Mardi Gras is always over the top, I give you Mardi Gras Mambo.  It is a bracelet that reflects music notes, parade routes, random soft wandering under the moon.  I miss New Orleans, but it's always in my heart.

Mardi Gras Mambo

Another View

One More to make it a party!

Ok, now for more party action, visit these blogs and see what all the fabulous Sequin folk are up to.  BIG thanks to Sarah of Saturday Sequins for her cool blog hop!

Host: Sarah... http://saturdaysequins.com

Dita... http://alankarshilpa.blogspot.com

Ambra... http://chicandfrog.wordpress.com

Audrey... http://hotpinkquilts.blogspot.com

Stacy... http://iridalsattic.blogspot.co.uk

Karen W...  http://baublicious.blogspot.com

Lori...  http://www.prettythingsblog.com

Lisa... http://lisabinkley.typepad.com

Carmi... http://resincrafts.blogspot.com

Dawn Marie...  http://designsbydawnmarie.blogspot.com  <---- it's her birthday today!!!

Jeannie... http://site.jkdjewelry.com/blog 

Shirlee... http://www.shirleestuff.blogspot.com

Linda... http://www.lilysofthevalleyjewerly.blogspot.com 

Corrine... http://www.sparkledaysstudio.com

Gutukas... http://atradimutakeliais.blogspot.com

Shannon... http://uptwnsh-fallingintothesky.blogspot.com

Mallory... http://rosebud101-fortheloveofbeads.blogspot.com

Cyndi... http://www.beading-arts.com

Maneki... http://wildrosesandblackberries.blogspot.com 

Maryanne... http://zingalasworkshop.blogspot.com

Ine... http://jewelsbyine.blogspot.com

Karen... http://www.overthemoon-design.com

Kepi... http://kepirasmussen.blogspot.com

Jennifer... http://jenniferstumpf.blogspot.com

Misty...  http://thejollyfatelf.blogspot.com

Dot... http://speediebeadie.blogspot.com

Hope... http://craftyhope.blogspot.com

Cynthia... http://antiquitytravelers.blogspot.com

Micheladas... http://www.micheladasmusings.blogspot.com

Shirley...  http://www.beadsandbread.blogspot.com

Karla... http://texaspepperjams.blogspot.com

Eleanor... http://eleanorpigman.blogspot.com

Therese... http://theresestreasures59.blogspot.com

Rita... http://www.toltecjewels.blogspot.com 

Robyn... http://rcponders.wordpress.com

Stepha... http://skwds.blogspot.com

Sue... http://suebeads.blogspot.com

Cate... http://fulgorine.wordpress.com

Amy... http://Loraamyjames.com

Lorelei Eurto's Beadin Path Challenge Blog Hop

When I joined this hop, I must have been totally out of my mind, because big beads scare me, and, although I have some lucite around here, I never know what to do with it.  Oh, well, on to the outcome of my insanity.  This challenge was great fun, and I fell in love with the components immediately.  Here are the kit beads (picture blatantly ripped off from Lorelei's blog.)

Awesome, eh?

So, I used this challenge as an opportunity to try weaving ribbon into chain.  I had seen several tutorials online, and just decided it would work in a bold and chunky necklace,  then I made lots of wire wrapped dangles out of the lucite beads and leftover gold-tone components and headpins.  I love totally costume-y jewelry sometimes.  I even made a lucite chunk necklace once that came out looking like a Wilma Flintstone designer number.  So, here is my latest brave foray into lucite.  I was kind of surprised that, as bold as I wanted it to be, it came out kind of girly with the little dangles.  All the bright shades and the chunky chain, however,  definitely say BOLD!

Bold and Spicy!

Check out Lorelei's blog to see some more lucite madness!  Thanks, dear lady, for your sponsorship of the fun fun fun challenge!  thanks, also, to the Beadin Path for their great beads and components.  The buttons made me really happy (one is used for the clasp.)

A Ladder to the Sky

So, a while ago, on Jean A Wells blog http://jeanawells.blogspot.com/ , I learned of a challenge she was sponsoring using the amazing Barbara Hanselman's http://www.etsy.com/shop/bhclaysmith focal components.  I was awestruck by the pieces, so of course I had to participate.  Go on over to Jean's blog to see all of the other lovely art, including pieces by Jean herself.  My deepest thanks to Jean and Barb for this fun and truly challenging design fest!

This was a fun challenge, because, like some of the other artists, I had to let the focal sit awhile on my bead board, sitting on a shelf next to where I work, and just ruminate on what the piece wanted from me.  I finally decided that multiple components were the way to go, since the focal was comprised of multiple colors, textures and shapes.  So, this is the result of the challenge, and be sure to visit Jean's blog to see all the others.

More fun on my vacation!

Well, here are the other three items I made while taking a blog break.  I did post them on Facebook already, so please ignore if this is a double post.  Enjoy!

This one is called Shannon's Dragon.  There are several other versions of this that I've made in different colorways, different configurations, and I'm sure there will be more, LOL!

I called this one Caught a Falling Star (another Jean Power Star.)  It hangs asymmetrically with the dangles balanced by the turquoise dangles on the other side.

These two rings are from patterns by Kate McKinnon in anticipation of her new book!

Some of what I did on my summer vacation.

Ok, I've been kind of absent for a little over a month.  I've been working on projects that I have wanted to do forever and just never did them.  So, over the next few days, I'll share them with you.  The first three were great fun for me.

turquoise fringe

I made this one using the gorgeous cab in the middle (from Heart of Stone http://www.heartofstonestudio.com/), and I just bead embroidered around it, turning it into an arrow then added a collar of turquoise net.  It's so dramatic!

Mexican tile stars

Next, I have been in possession of Jean Power's http://www.jeanpower.com/ fabulous star patterns for a long while.  It was one of those things I told myself I would get to someday.  Well today's the day I reveal them.  These are the earrings, and I saved a necklace for later in the week, too!  Jean Power rocks!  I made them in anticipation of the book Contemporary Geometric Beadwork she and Kate McKinnon are putting together with a little help from their friends.

Lastly, I got this cool little sign from Melanie at Earthen Alternative on Etsy http://www.etsy.com/shop/EarthenAlternative?ref=seller_info.  So I made a simple herringbone curly black necklace to hold the sign.  It also has some of the colors of the sign worked into the pattern, but they're hard to see, even up close in real life.  This one came out a little blurry, and I'm going to re-take it and post later.

believe in change

So, just check back, and I'll be adding more goodies to the blog, before I become completely involved in a big ol' bunch of blog hops later in the month and all month next month.  Yay!