Weekly Challenge 3: Use Tila Beads

Tila Beads are these square beads with two holes running through them.  When I saw the challenge, my first thought was to skip it.  I know, not very challenging!  Then, I decided to go ahead and give it a try.  I ordered these wonderful Transparent Sea Foam Luster Tila beads and a Size 6 Silver Lined Opal Pastel Yellow Round Seed Bead for an accent.  I ordered smaller yellow beads, but they were too "gold" for the Sea Foam Luster Tila's!

I have never actually "bead weaved" before.  I always try to use wire or something firm and substantial.  With Tila's, they are thin and fragile.  The wire just was not working the way I wanted it to and I was breaking many of the beads.  I had a design in mind.  I have never actually "bead weaved" before, but decided to give it a try.  

It worked, but there is a lot of movement between the beads.  In one way, I like the organic nature the beads hang.  But then, the anal-retentive part of me thinks they should lay perfect at all times.

What do you think?  I love the color the combo!

So, I used a product I have never used before and a technique I have never used before!
How wonderful is that?!?

Filigree and Swarovski Button Earrings

This morning I sat down at my design table and just sat there.  Nothing in mind.  I started thinking about filigree and the few components I had on hand.  Then, I knew I had these small Swarovski Sew on Stones that I though would make easy earrings.  The bad thing about the stones was, the back of them was coated gray.  That is not good for a free dangling earring.  Sparkle side -- blah gray side....  But if I attached them to filigree, then you wouldn't notice the gray side as much.  I took out the single pieces of filigree and realized that the stones were too small of scale to go with them.  Then I saw a filigree ring that I had flattened.  I don't know why or when I had flattened it.... it was just there.  I liked the shape of the ends of the "ring". 

I took a picture of earrings I already made and an unflattened ring.

I then took the ring and with a simple pair of scissors, I cut the filigree in the shape was appealing to me.  

 I took apart the original pair of earrings and reused all the components and added one 

                                jump ring to attach

 the Swarovski stone to the filigree. 

I am really happy that the filigree helps cover and hide the icky gray side of the stone.  I am also ecstatic that I was finally able to figure out a different use for the filigree rings.  

I have really wanted to work with and experiment with filigree, but always allowed myself get stumped.  I was afraid.  I don't know why I would be afraid!  In jewelry making (and most things crafty) usually you can always re-use and re-purpose projects that don't come out "just right".  

30 DAY 30 ITEM VIDEO WRAP UP

I decided to make my 30 Day- 30 Item Challenge Wrap-up more fun!  

I created an awesome slide show showing the 12 items I did get created, photographed and listed!

Free slideshow design generated with Smilebox

Please watch and share!  I love Smilebox!  I am debating getting a subscription for the collage options!

As far as the number of listings, I am a little disappointed that I did not get at least 15 completed.

That would have brought my shop to 101 items.  

Between my "day job", household, kiddo's..... sometimes a game of CandyLand is more important.

30 Items in 30 Days Challenge - Item 2

This is what is going on.... I want to get 30 new items in my Etsy Shop in 30 Days. 
It is late.  I have been up since 5 AM and I have to work late shift tomorrow.  Being a mom of two toddlers = no sleeping in.  So here is Item #2....

Item #2:  Black Million Flower Dangle Earrings

$7 www.kabbeading.etsy.com

Supplies used:  ear wire, jump rings, head pins, silver toned beads, glass beads.

Goals accomplished: 

1.  New item listed

2.  Item no longer just sitting in my "completed" box

I made these earrings, probably last summer.  I never had time to get them in to my shop.  I forgot about them.  When I did an inventory after the holidays, I put them in my plastic pencil box that I have labeled "Need Photos."  I took and edited the photos around Easter and then, they just sat.  I rediscovered the earrings yesterday.  This design has always done well in my Etsy shop.  I offer them in three colors:  Clear with multicolored flowers, Red and Black.

****I started this post at 11:30 pm on 5/6/2012.  A storm came in an wiped out my DSL line, so I had to finish this morning.