Day 41.

Day 41.

Ingredients:

1 sterling silver bangle with 16 soldered rings.

4 pink lampwork lentil beads.

4 awesome polymer clay pillows.

16 light blue freshwater pearls.

16 sterling silver headpins.

60 minutes of The Mentalist!

Day 40.

Day 40.

Ingredients:

8 large superfaceted red glass "quartz" rondelles.

22 inches twisted sterling silver wire.

1 sterling silver toggle clasp.

21 sterling silver head pins.

35 freshwater pearls.

7 Swarovski crystals.

7 tiny sterling silver round beads.

Mexican food on the brain and 45-50 minutes for construction.

Day 39.

Day 39.

Ingredients:

1 sterling silver bangle with attached jumprings.

6 10mm opaque red Swarovski crystals.

3 lampwork flowers.

6 crimson lampwork discs.

1 lampwork ladybug.

6 other lampwork beads- solid, spots, stripes, warring state.

6 yellow freshwater pearls.

13 sterling silver head pins.

14 sterling silver beads, caps and spacers.

12 inches sterling silver wire.

60 minutes. This piece is playful to me, it's not taking itself seriously with the ladybug and the various patterns.

Day 38.

Day 38.

Ingredients:

2 lampwork beads.

3 inches copper wire.

5 copper head pins.

4 Swarovski crystals.

1 purple turquoise (oh so dyed!) cross.

5 inches copper chain.

35 minutes.

and the first time I've used copper! I like it and it will look great with some turquoise one of these days!!

Day 37.

Day 37.

Ingredients:

2 sterling silver ear wires.

2 sterling silver head pins.

5 inches sterling silver wire.

6 sterling silver 3mm beads.

4 black, white and red lampwork lentil beads.

20 minutes, and one busy Sunday!!

Day 36.

Day 36.

Ingredients:

10 deep burgundy faceted glass rondelles.

45 freshwater pearls.

9 Swarovski crystals.

27 sterling silver head pins.

23 inches sterling silver wire.

1 sterling silver toggle clasp.

60 minutes.

The colors are quite a bit richer than the photo shows. This bracelet reminds me of brocade and velvet Shakespeare costumes... and autumn in New England.

Day 35.

Day 35.

Ingredients:

16 freshwater pearls. (8 pink, 8 orange)

8 orange coral tic-tacs.

16 Swarovski crystals. (8 pink, 8 orange)

8 faceted pink jade beads.

48 sterling silver head pins.

1 sterling silver round bangle with 16 tiny loops.

40 minutes, with maybe 15 of those spent worried that I wouldn't find 8 matching beads in any cool colors!

Day 34.

Day 34.

Ingredients:

5 lampwork beads in shades of blue and grey.

4 Hilltribe silver charms.

8 Swarovski crystals.

8 freshwater pearls. (4 of which are coated and faceted)

15 inches sterling silver wire.

1 sterling silver toggle clasp.

28 sterling silver beads, caps and spacers.

15 pages of "Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth"

2 hours.

For something that was supposed to be a little unsettling and creepy it sure came out pretty!

Day 33.

Day 33.

Ingredients:

59 freshwater pearls.

10 sterling silver head pins.

4 1/2 feet sterling silver wire.

1 sterling silver toggle clasp.

Just under 2 hours.

I like the colors and how this piece turned out, however I want to do a super thick, chunky pearl bracelet- maybe tomorrow!

Day 32.

Day 32.

Ingredients:

30 freshwater pearls.

7 Swarovski crystals.

20 sterling silver head pins.

5 lampworked glass beads.

24 inches sterling silver wire. (Each focal bead is wrapped on 2 pieces of wire on this bracelet.)

1 sterling silver toggle clasp.

45 minutes.

Barbie, all grown up!

Day 31.

Day 31.

Ingredients:

6 lampwork beads. (5 grape lentils, 1 black and white round)

13 inches sterling silver wire.

20 freshwater pearls. (10 white, 10 purple)

5 Jet black Swarovski crystals.

15 sterling silver head pins.

1 sterling silver toggle clasp.

60 minutes or so. I started out going for a modern harlequin feel but then I realized it was just going to be an excuse to use green and purple together- again. (it's one of my favorite color combinations!) I decided to go with black, white and purple instead!

Day 30.

Ingredients:

4 hours of sleep.

4 hours on an airplane.

6 stunning lampwork beads in neutral colors and GOLD!

15 Swarovski crystals.

15 sterling silver head pins.

1 sterling silver toggle clasp.

14 inches sterling silver wire.

90 minutes for assembly and a general sense of happiness for finally having used these lampwork beads. (which I've been hoarding for at least 3 years!)

Day 29.

Day 29.

Ingredients:

3 hours at my high school alma mater.

1 lampwork focal bead.

1 sterling silver rose charm.

3 Swarovski crystal beads.

4 freshwater pearls.

3 sterling silver beads.

6 sterling silver head pins.

4 inches sterling silver wire.

4 1/2 inches heart shaped sterling silver chain.

1 sterling silver lobster claw clasp.

Day 28.

Day 28.

Ingredients: plentiful! on my way to the airport! will update Sunday afternoon!

Day 27.

Day 27.

Ingredients:

31 small purple freshwater pearls.

12 coin pearls. (11 green, 1 purple.)

2 Swarovski crystal beads.

1 Italian sterling silver chain with heart shaped links.

45 sterling silver headpins.

at least 90 minutes but probably more, broken up over the whole evening. More time spent being generally happy with what I do. I was going to do purple and pink but what beats purple and green? nothing!

Day 26.

Day 26.

Ingredients:

5 flattened lampwork beads in a cool animal print.

1 sterling silver toggle clasp.

16 freshwater pearls.

16 sterling silver head pins.

15 inches sterling silver wire.

60 minutes or so to make and I'll spend the next 11 months being really impressed with myself for finally using these lampwork beads in something that isn't another Safari themed cliche. go me!

Day 25.

Day 25.

Ingredients:

1 Sterling silver toggle clasp.

3 Grey freshwater pearls.

25 Inches sterling silver wire.

3 Vintage inspired charms warning of the downfall of a wicked lifestyle. (The fast track to used up old maid, at 40. Watch out ladies!)

7 Faceted red jade nuggets.

30 minutes all of them spent loving these charms!!

Day 24.

Day 24.

Yes, I'm loving this style! And thank you to my lovely hand model, Amy.

Ingredients:

5 1/2 inches sterling silver chain.

4 inches sterling silver wire.

1 GORGEOUS lampwork bead by Melanie Moertel.

3 Swarovski crystals.

5 Freshwater pearls.

1 Hilltribe silver swirly charm.

1 sterling silver spacer.

5 sterling silver head pins.

1 sterling silver lobster claw clasp.

Day 23.

Day 23.

Ingredients:

6 8mm round hematite beads.

9 inches sterling silver wire.

2 1920's vintage glass Sphinx pendants.

2 sterling silver ear wires.

20 minutes and another 20 spent agonizing over whether or not this was the right setting for these vintage pyramid pieces. I think they work here.

Day 22.

Day 22.

Ingredients:

5 inches sterling silver chain.

1 Hilltribe silver charm.

4 inches of sterling silver wire.

3 tiny bamboo coral rondelles.

4 Swarovski crystals.

1 yellow freshwater pearl.

1 square lampwork beads reminiscent of a Taxi.

1 sterling silver lobster claw clasp.

40 minutes. But the best part is this was the 2nd of what so far is a series of 9 similar bracelets, all different colors and textures of chain. I wish the picture could show you how cool this bracelet looks on the wrist, it's so sparkly and full of movement!!

Day 21.

Day 21.

Ingredients:

4 Lime green turquoise rondelles.

3 awesome lampwork glass lentil shaped beads.

15 inches of sterling silver wire.

1 sterling silver toggle clasp.

40 minutes. (most spent figuring out the bead order.)

I told you I'd be using more green!! and who can blame me? The Lampwork glass beads are too spectacular, the awful part is I've had them in my bead stash for years! How did I only just notice them?!

Day 20.

Day 20.

(I don't know if you can see it, but the image name on this one is Lucky Charms!)

Ingredients:

6 links of vintage lucite chain.

3 carved lime (reconstituted, dyed) turquoise ovals.

5 apple green round limestone beads.

2 lime green turquoise rondelles.

11 sterling silver beads or caps.

1 sterling silver toggle clasp.

4 lampwork glass beads.

30 inches of sterling silver wire.

1 hour.

To make this piece I put together all the green beads I could find that look great with this bright lime color, I have a ton left, so look out for lots more green coming up!!

Day 19.

Day 19.

Ingredients:

3 Cherry Quartz (glass) nuggets.

2 Raku frit Lampwork beads.

1 Ornate sterling silver bead.

1 Sterling silver toggle clasp.

15 Inches of sterling silver wire.

15 Sterling silver head pins.

30 Freshwater pearls.

10 Swarovski crystals in Indian Pink.

5 Tiny sterling silver beads.

90 minutes.

A wearable combination, each bead color is reflected in the Lampwork ovals , the yellow is very bright in contrast to the muted purple freshwater pearls. I called this bracelet "Not a Circus" because despite the crazy colors, it's a sophisticated, interesting, wearable piece.

Day 18.

Day 18.

Ingredients:

1 large Dichroic glass focal bead.

2 sterling silver saucer spacers.

5 inches of sterling silver wire.

10 brilliant blue pearls.

10 black onyx cubes.

3 1/2 inches of sterling silver Italian chain.

19 sterling silver head pins.

1 full episode of Hell's Kitchen. (60 minutes.)

I've been wanting to use this focal bead forever! This piece has a fun "Contempo" 80's feel. It needs a banana clip, ankle boots and the St. Elmo's Fire soundtrack!

Day 17.

Day 17.

Ingredients:

2 large sterling silver hammered rings.

3 Chrysocolla rondelles.

2 gorgeous blue turquoise barrel beads.

10 tiny sterling silver round beads.

1 sterling silver toggle clasp.

14 dark teal freshwater pearls.

35 inches of sterling silver wire. (maybe a little bit less.)

50 minutes.

1 more necklace sacrificed to a new design! I love recycling my old pieces to make new, better ones!

Day 16.

Day 16.

Ingredients:

3 Turquoise beads.

1 lampwork glass WONDER in coke bottle green with aqua flowers.

1 large aqua faceted glass bead.

4 lampwork glass discs.

12 sterling silver beads, including one spacer.

15 inches of sterling silver wire.

1 sterling silver toggle clasp.

45 minutes. And to use that light blue turquoise barrel bead I sacrificed a pre-existing necklace. It was worth it, I can't wait to use more of those beads again!!

Day 15.

Day 15, Earrings again!

Ingredients:

8 links of sterling silver chain.

6 inches of sterling silver wire.

12 4mm Swarovski crystals in Sky.

2 Swarovski crystal hearts in Chili Pepper.

4 tiny sterling silver beads.

6 sterling silver head pins.

2 sterling silver ear wires.

20 minutes and a sincere hope that I'm not going to phone it in every day this weekend!!

Day 14.

Day 14, Earrings.

Ingredients:

2 Lampwork glass beads shaped, I think, like hearts.

6 Faceted orange coral rondelles.

4 Inches of sterling silver wire.

2 Sterling silver head pins.

2 Sterling silver hook ear wires.

I've had these beads for ages, I knew they'd be earrings but didn't know what the rest of the context would be. I like them with the orange coral. It works.

Day 13.

Day 13, Bracelet.

Ingredients:

1 resin focal.

7 small Swarovski crystals.

7 orange potato pearls.

7 olive fat potato pearls.

14 sterling silver headpins.

14 inches of sterling silver wire.

1 rectangular sterling silver toggle clasp with inlaid onyx.

50 minutes.

This bracelet is pretty much an homage to every hip urban design magazine that I never bought, from the focal piece reminiscent of funky upholstery to the olive pearls the color of shag carpet. And what hip urban space would be complete without bright orange??

Exactly.

Day 12.

Day 12.

Ingredients:

45 inches of sterling silver wire.

1 sterling silver toggle clasp.

22 sterling silver beads, caps or spacers.

2 angel-skin coral tube beads.

4 artesian lampwork beads.

2 Swarovski glass pearls.

8 Swarovski crystals.

3 freshwater pearls.

Assembly time: 1 hour & 20 minutes.

Give this piece a second look! The colors actually work really well with the central lampwork bead by world famous glass artist Melanie Moertel. Admittedly I feel as if it's lacking something... but it could just be the right outfit, a redhead, or both!!

Day 11.

Day 11. Necklace!!

Ingredients:

1 Awesome new Dress Form!!

12 Massive Lime Turquoise (it's dyed, but it's awesome!) nuggets.

36 Inches of sterling silver wire.

1 Very large sterling silver toggle clasp.

45 minutes.

I've had these beads for at least a year, I knew I wanted them to be a necklace but wasn't sure anyone would actually wear it because they're HEAVY! Now that the necklace is made I can safely say that YES, someone will wear this! It's awesome! As long as you warm it up before you put it on- because man, these are some cold stones!!

Day 10.

Day 10.

Ingredients:

32 inches of sterling silver wire. (much of it was sacrificed to the frustrating task of making sure these are the same length!)

2 Handmade lampwork discs.

6 Freshwater pearls in a delicious glowing orange.

2 Sterling silver earwires.

Assembly time- 35 minutes. (much of it was sacrificed to the frustraing task of making sure these are the same length!)

Length- 3 inches.

Day 9.

Day 9.

Ingredients:

6 Large platinum Swarovski glass pearls.

1 Handmade Lampwork enameled glass bead.

1 Round dotted lampwork glass bead.

1 Sterling silver seashell.

1 Sterling silver toggle clasp.

22 Inches of sterling silver wire.

2 Sterling silver headpins.

3 Swarovski crystals.

3 Sterling silver spacers.

Assembly time: 40 minutes.

I watched Teddy Kennedy's Funeral today, somehow this piece works with how I spent my morning. It's beautiful, and the glass focal bead is so artistic with its colors of the sea and its city on a hill.

Day 8.

Day 8, Bracelet.

Ingredients.

1 8 inch Sterling silver Italian chain, with small anchor style links.

20 8mm round hematite beads.

20 6mm Swarovski crystal bicones.

1 Clear with black stringer, handmade lampwork bead.

41 Sterling silver headpins.

79: Minutes it took to put this together.

I love this piece! It's simple and petite but the beads are dark metallic. It's shiny, sparkly and it gives no indication that I might have phoned it in a little...

Day 7.

Day 7.

Ingredients:

8 Lampwork beads, one large focal, three lentils and 4 discs.

6 Bronze Swarovski glass pearls.

16 inches of sterling silver wire.

21 Butter yellow freshwater pearls.

7 6mm Swarovski crystal bicones.

7 Sterling silver spacers.

7 Vintage glass chicklets.

Assembly time: 1 hour.

This piece FLEW together, I had it finished before 9:30 this morning! The large focal in the center creates a feeling that is a little reminiscent of an Identity Bracelet but it works really nicely!

Day 6.

Day 6- Bracelet.

Ingredients:

7 Handmade lampwork beads.

28 Small yellow freshwater pearls.

21 6mm Czech Crystal bicones in Cobalt Blue.

29 Sterling silver beads and spacers.

1 Sterling silver toggle clasp.

14 inches of sterling silver wire.

21 Sterling silver headpins.

1 Day spent procrastinating.

7 minutes left to spare today.

I actually made 2 pieces today, this and another. I was torn about which one to include as today's project piece- partially because this one is so awesome and I know I could sell it before the show. But no, because there are only:

359 days until the show.

and that's not too long to wait!

Day 5.

Bracelet- Day 5.

Ingredients:

13 inches of Sterling silver wire.

20 sea foam green freshwater pearls.

15 Swarovski crystals in Rosewater Opal.

5 Translucent glass sea foam beads.

5 Large hot pink jade beads.

15 Sterling silver headpins.

11 Tiny round sterling silver beads.

1 Sterling silver toggle clasp.

Holy Miami Vice, Crockett!

I knew I wanted to design a piece with these pink jade beads, but didn't know what to put between them until the day was almost over. (I started with plastic cherries... seriously!) I decided to keep the summer colors going and chose the deco green. The translucent glass beads are from Michael's of all places. I never buy beads from there, but had to have these, and I'm so glad! They look fantastic on this piece.

Forgive the photo- I'll retake it and repost soon!!

Day 4.

Day 4- Bracelet.

Ingredients:

1 8 inch heavy sterling silver Anchor Link chain.

8 Handmade lampwork beads.

4 Handmade polymer clay roses. (2 yellow, 2 blue)

53 Sterling silver beads, caps and spacers.

3 Vintage glass beads.

11 Swarovski crystals.

28 Sterling silver headpins.

1 Freshwater pearl.

1 6mm round aventurine bead.

1 Large Czech faceted orange glass bead.

Turquoise-- blue, green and yellow. (some dyed, some stabilized, some natural.)

4 hours. At least. I took some breaks. I enjoyed making this bracelet, it's the perfect piece for the last day of Summer vacation. Hot weather, tropical colors, lots of texture, big, bold beads.

It's a heavier piece but it's comfortable- the chain is large and the headpins are strong. I wouldn't wear it playing golf or typing all day, but dancing or a fashionable day on the lake? Sure!

Day 3.

Earrings, Day 3.

Ingredients:

2 Apple Red Sponge Coral Round beads inlaid with sparkly round Cubic Zirconia.

5 Inches of practically invisible sterling silver chain.

2 Sterling silver earwires.

2 Sterling silver headpins.

30 minutes. Most of it trying to count the teeny little chain links to make sure the earrings are the same length.

Day 2.

Bracelet- Day 2.

Ingredients:

1 8 inch petite anchor link bracelet chain.

42 Sterling silver headpins.

378 Raspberry Czech glass 4mm sized round beads.

3 failed design attempts prior to putting this piece together.

4 hours.

I did not love making this piece, it was repetitive and not terribly inspiring. Luckily the end result is a flirty little number that I'm totally going to wear tonight!!

Day 1.

This is Bracelet Day 1.

Ingredients:

1 large, heavy

Italian sterling silver chain.

21 charms in copper, pink and amber.

2 handmade wooden charms, one with a closeup of Botticelli's Primavera and the other with Michelangelo's Holy Family.

Lampwork beads, including a coral pink flat swirl, a dotted round and a flowering cactus!

Gold Coral, Swarovski Crystals, hammered copper, an old key, a carved red jasper buddha, Swarovski glass pearls, a vintage tassel, a vintage rose cameo, a vintage lucite flower, a Czech glass Owl, a giant flat faceted pink opal, a One Cent Coin starring Queen Victoria from Prince Edward Island 1871, a sterling silver cross and a fairy sitting atop a glass "cherry quartz" nugget.

This piece is huge. To give you a sense of size the dark antique coin is the size of a quarter. All in all it took a day to get the parts together and about 3 hours to assemble. It is a good representation of what I would make all the time if I didn't have to worry about selling anything- it is functional collage. Every detail is unique, it sounds wonderful while it's being worn and despite the fact that there's a lot going on in it it's a surprisingly neutral, versatile piece of jewelry that isn't at all uncomfortable to wear!

Jewelry.365

Other than simple world domination and fame my short term plan is a 365 day jewelry design project. Jewelry.365.

I will make one special piece each day- I'll photograph it, describe it, and list its ingredients here.

At the end of those 365 days I'll have a giant collection of hopefully very different pieces, at which point I'll have a big show! In the meantime the pieces featured on this blog will not be offered for sale until the show next August!

Stay with me and hopefully together we will see an interesting progress of design, technique and point of view!!