Saturday, 31 May 2014

AJE Component of the month reveal - May

Another month and another COM reveal is ready.. it's going to be Christmas at this rate!

This month we were treated to a choice of beautiful components from Sue Kennedy of SueBeads

We could pick a glass cabochon...



Or a pretty set of glass chicklet beads...


I went for a cabochon in a stunning brown caramel glass with a tint of purple. Of course I forgot to take a photograph as I do every month!

When I picked it, I imagined it set in copper with etching, something in purple to bring out the hints of colour in the glass and a rolled bail.

I tried a different technique for resist on this piece. I use stop out fluid quite often for painting designs on to copper, but with this piece I tried stamping the design on. It's not quite as sharp as using vinyl resist, but I like the grainy effect it's given this pattern.



I took some sheet copper and etched it on both sides. That way, when the bail at the top was rolled around, the etching would show.



And the reverse would be patterned as well

The cabochon was set along with an amethyst, and it was strung on to leather with copper beads.



I used the clasp I had left over from Lesley's COM last month to finish it. 

I had loads of fun designing this, and it was great to get back to some metal working. Thanks to Susan for the wonderfully inspiring component!

If you'd like to see what the rest of the AJE team and some special guests created with their components... follow the links!

Guests


AJE Members




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Saturday, 24 May 2014

The Bead Shop Liverpool

I've been a bit quiet recently, things are getting manic here. We're doing lots of reorganising at home, which is seriously getting in the way of my making! But as part of that reorganising, I will be getting my very own studio... I'm very excited, but more about that in another post!

So shop updates won't be very regular for the next few months while I get things sorted. But if my shop's looking a little empty, and you still need a fix, you can get some blueberribeads from the Bead Shop Liverpool.

It's a great little shop on Smithdown road in Liverpool, where Vicky offers beautiful beads, findings, and tools as well as classes and lots of inspiration. I've been in there for a while now, but I thought I'd take you for a look round.



Here it is from the front. I love the architecture in Liverpool, the lines of Victorian buildings curve to the modern roads, but the actual road is much older, being mentioned in the Doomsday book in 1086. It also meets up with the famous Penny Lane junction as sung about by The Beatles!

Once inside, there's a little treasure trove of beads and other jewellery related goodies...


Seed Beads & Pearls in every colour




My little corner of ceramics


An amazing range of Czech Glass


Mmmmmm!


Findings, wire & TheaElements Bronze




Tools...


And beautiful pieces of beaded jewellery. This is Vicky's 1st place winning necklace from the British Bead Awards 2013.


And her entry to the Battle of the Beadsmith 2013. 

You can come in to the shop and learn how to make beautiful pieces like this yourself! I got my first and only lesson in here from Vicky, learning how to do bead embroidery. She's a great teacher, unfortunately though, I just don't have the patience (or the eyesight) for those annoying little seeds!


And of course you can't leave without doing a little shopping... this is my small haul from the Czech glass pick and mix... it's terrible, like sweeties!!!

Vicky's also set up a shop website, so nearly everything in the shop is available online, including some of my ceramics!

Just follow the link... http://www.thebeadshopliverpool.co.uk

If you're planning on doing some shopping online, she has a 10% discount running for the bank holiday weekend. The offer will end at 11.59pm Monday night... just use the code - bankholiday







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Saturday, 10 May 2014

Bead Soup Blog Party -The reveal!!!


Today is the big reveal for The Bead Soup Blog Party and I'm really excited to have you here!

My partner this year is the lovely Leah Curtis of Beady eyed Bunny. I was so busy with getting ready for the Flame Off, I didn't have the chance to properly introduce Leah (sorry Leah!) so before I show you what I got, I'd like to show you who it's from.

Leah makes really individual beads and components from polymer clay, gorgeous little beads like this cute pink bird.


And these beautifully coloured rustic dogwood flower beads...



You can visit her Etsy shop here, and her blog here and see what other wonderful things she creates!

So after introducing ourselves and swapping addresses, I sent off my package of beads...



And eagerly waited for what Leah sent to me. I was really excited to see what would be in my parcel, and I wasn't disappointed!



There was a beautiful sea glass focal bead with matching polymer beads and a patinated copper clasp,  all handmade by Leah, Sari silk, Czech beads, vintage crystal dangles and a piece of clay pipe. A little treasure trove of pretties!

It took me a lot of thinking to decide what to do with each of the components. I wanted to get across the ancient feel of Leah's designs. 

My first design was using the sea glass focal and clasp. 



I'd decided early on that I wanted to use copper to match the beautiful dark verdigris finish of the focal, so I teamed some ancient looking copper spacers and lava beads to make a simple necklace.


Next I decided I would make a pair of earrings. I never make earrings so I thought it was about time I did! 

I chose the Czech glass ammonites and vintage crystal dangles and paired them up with some 8 & 10mm fire polished beads. The main reason I don't really make earrings is the ear wires. It would be a shame to put nice beads on a mass produced ear wire, so I had a bash at making some myself.



Next I decided on a bracelet. A couple of weeks ago I made a collection bracelet for the AJE Component of the month with a few of my favourite beads, and really enjoyed making it, so decided to try the same idea again in green.


I chose one of the verdigris polymer beads from Leah and added in some gorgeous rough Czech glass nuggets in shades of green and gold, more fire polished cut rounds, table cut Czech beads, a great big chunk of green stone which I have no idea about, a celtic connector by Jenny Davis-Reazor and a bronze button and charm from TheaElements. 


Next, because I was really enjoying myself, I made another necklace. I picked the clay pipe to be the focal and decided that I got a beach feel from it. I can just imagine someone sitting by the shore smoking their pipe before discarding the broken pieces in the sand. I wanted to make something a bit brighter as everything so far has quite dark colours.


I chose turquoise and lilac for this design, nice and bright! With turquoise beads, more Czech glass, bronze flower spacers, handmade lamp work beads by Lighthouse Glass, seed beads and a bronze button by TheaElements.


And finally, the sari silk. I had wimped out originally with this. I love it, but never know what to do with it, but I pulled up my pants and went for it. 



The colour gives it an oriental feel (to me anyway!) So I made a lamp work lentil and painted it with silver precious metal clay in an oriental cloud design. 



This was fired on to fuse it to the glass and make it permanent. I threaded large golden seed beads on to the silk and wrapped the ends with bronze wire to attach the clasps. The little shell dangle is from Thea Elements and was pilfered from one of my bracelets as it was the only thing I could find that I liked!

I'd like to say a great big thank you to Leah for her beautiful and inspiring soup, and I can't wait to go and see what she's made with mine! And to Lori, for organising such a fantastic event!

To join me in the hop, follow the links below... 



Lori Anderson, Hostess     www.PrettyThingsBlog.com


Tina Bosh                                  http://bookbug-somanybookssolittletime.blogspot.com/
Kristina Hahn Eleniak                 www.peacockandlime.wordpress.com
Kari Asbury                               www.hippiechickdesign.blogspot.com
Kris Binsfield                             www.cherishdesigns.wordpress.com
Cheryl Gangle                            www.RockCandyJewelryDesign.blogspot.com
Amber Dawn                             www.InventiveSoul.blogspot.com
Michelle Wigginton                     http://adornedonadelaide.weebly.com/
Kayla Potega                              http://teejewelry.blogspot.com/
Becky Pancake                           www.beckypancakebeaddesigns.blogspot.com


Debbie Rogers                             http://debbiestreasuresandgems.wordpress.com/
Jenny Kyrlach                             www.anafiassa.blogspot.com
Genea Crivello-Knable                 www.geneabeads.blogspot.com
Deborah Read                             www.deborahreadcom.blogspot.com
Julianna Cannon                          http://julsbeads.blogspot.com/
Lisa Liddy                                  www.lisaliddy.wordpress.com
Debbie Rasmussen                      www.Kepirasmussen.blogspot.ca
Iveth Caruso                               www.creativeatelier.net/blog
Rana Wilson                               http://ranaleadesigns.blogspot.com/
Corrie Williams                           http://thecedarbeader.blogspot.com.au


Linda Anderson                          http://fromTheBeadBoard.blogspot.com
Miranda Ackerley                       http://blog.mirandack.com/
Andra Weber                             www.andrasjoyfuljourney.blogspot.com
Loretta Carstensen                      http://www.designsbyloretta.blogspot.com/
Penny Houghton                         www.smellynelly.blogspot.com.au
Tania Hagen                               http://pelimadesign.blogspot.co.nz/
Robin Reed                                www.willowdragon.blogspot.com
Laurie Vyselaar                           www.Lefthandjewelry.wordpress.com
Rachel Baron                              www.rbarondesigns.blogspot.com
Erin Guest                                   www.renlish.com


Emma Todd                                            www.apolymerpenchant.com
Kelly Schermerhorn                            http://meanderingwithkelly.blogspot.com/
Dana Hickey                                            http://magpieapproved.blogspot.com
Rebecca Ednie                                       http://eclecticendeavours.blogspot.com
Marybeth Rich                                       http://forestofjewels.blogspot.com/
Sherri Levinton                                      www.cuttergazette.blogspot.com
RaMona Woolson                                www.jerseygirlsbeadwork.blogspot.com
Jo-Ann Woolverton                             www.Itsabeadifulcreation.blogspot.ca
Audrey Belanger                                  http://esperianterra.blogspot.ca/
Candida Castleberry                            http://spunsugarbeadworks.blogspot.com

 Click below to read the full list...
Read more »
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Wednesday, 30 April 2014

AJE Component of the Month reveal - April

This month we were treated to one of Lesley Watt of TheaElements beautiful button clasps. They're really cute and dinky and the perfect finish to any number of designs. I decided this time to keep my ideas simple, and I've had this half brewing in my head for a while, so when the clasp arrived I knew this was the time to create it.



This was the clasp I received... a cute little ammonite!




I like beads, well... that's a bit of an understatement... I love them! I've tried making them from virtually every material you can think of, and have loved them since my Grandma introduced me to her button tin one Summer holiday. I would lay them out in order of favourites, and have hours of fun. Creating this bracelet gave me that same feeling of being a child again, and choosing things just because I like them.

This bracelet contains some of my favourite treasures and is finished off wonderfully with the addition of Lesley's clasp.


There are sterling wire wrapped beads, ceramic, glass and a fine silver urchin set with 30 cubic zirconia all made by me, Czech beads, Spotty bead & blue pear from Gaea, and a sea foam textured round by TheaElements, Glass nugget by Beads for Breakfast, fluorite and a blue stone I can't remember the name of, all finished off with a Bali silver ammonite bead and of course Lesley's button clasp. My favourite thing about the clasp is that it blends in so well to become part of the design, and it was the deciding factor on my colour scheme. I had great fun picking out the colours in it and echoing them with my found treasure.


And this month, I've also made an effort with my photography! Inspired by Keirsten's post about interesting backgrounds, I've acquired an old pallet which I think looks great! I've reimagined it as a boardwalk by the sea for my ocean inspired design!

Hope you enjoyed reading, and a big thank you to Lesley for her beautiful component! If you'd like to see what the other AJE members and guests have made... follow the links :)

Guests

Johana Nunez
Leah Curtis
Perri Jackson

AJE Team

Lesley Watt
Keirsten Giles
Caroline Dewison
Rebekah Payne
Jenny Davies-Reazor
Jen Cameron
Diana Ptaszynski
Kristen Stevens
Francesca Watson
Melissa Meman
Linda Landig
Sue Kennedy

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Friday, 18 April 2014

Spring Fever Design Challenge - The Designs

Well it's a glorious day here today. I think our Spring Fever design challenge did it!

We've been overwhelmed by the wonderful designs created with our beads and would like to say a great big Thank You to everyone who joined it, it's been wonderful looking through all the creations and different ideas that have come from the kits!

If you'd like to have a browse at everything in one place. We've created a Pinterest board with everything you made. I'm sure you'll agree, it looks amazing!

Click through to see close ups in the full version!

Follow Caroline's board BlueberriBeads & Thea Elements Spring Fever on Pinterest.
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A Brand new Blog!


You may have noticed that my blog's looking a little different today. That's because I've moved!

After battling with Wordpress, I've thrown in the towel on trying to get my posts to appear as I'd like them and not how wordpress thinks they should look. So now I'm a Blogger blogger! :)

I hope you like the new site! I will be back here soon with more posts, but for now, I've added in everything from 2014 and all of my tutorials so you have something to browse while I sort myself out :)

 Thanks for joining me! I hope you'll stick around!

 Caroline x
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Thursday, 17 April 2014

Spring Fever Design Challenge – The Reveal!

Good morning all. The day is finally here… the big reveal.

I’m so excited to visit all the blogs and see what everyone has made, but first a quick recap…
Lesley Watt, Claire Braunbarth and myself each supplied some of our goodies to put together challenge packs with a Spring Theme.



Sets were sent out to 23 participants all over the world with the challenge of creating Spring themed designs.

 I was thrilled with the set I received back after they’d all been put together, it was done blind so that none of us knew what we would be getting. As usual, I forgot to take a picture of what I got before I used it, (you think I’d have got the hang of it by now!)
There was a beautiful green ceramic focal and bead set from Lesley, as well as some small cream and rust coloured beads which you’ll see later on!

Some orange/red silk from Claire

and a bird set  by me. There was a smaller white bird and a leaf in the set, but I didn’t get round to using those!

The first piece I chose to work with was Lesley’s focal pendant. I love the green on this one. It’s not a colour I would have picked up myself to work with, but once I got going, I loved the rustic design that came through from it. The necklace is strung with leather and I created a knotted bail with the same leather and one of my lamp work urchins which matched the colours nicely. I began with a few of my ceramic beads, but seemed to have got a bit carried away as I ended up with a great big chunky statement necklace. I’m not overly sure about the sliding clasp on this one. I might change that!

Next, I chose the small ceramic beads from Lesley, and silk from Claire. I must have had a rustic mood on, as I grabbed more leather. This time it was 5mm thick. The silk was wrapped around the leather and secured with copper wire. I started out with it wound around the whole thing, but I liked the natural colour of the leather poking through.

I love the multi strand designs that are popular at the moment, so I chose some coordinating beads and attached the strands together with 5mm end caps. After trying it on, I wanted the strands to sit in a certain way, so I made a couple of large copper jump rings to hold them together and added some dangles. I am constantly fighting the urge to add everything I have to my designs, I just love beads so much! But I think the 3 added here set it off just right.

And for my final piece, I was left with my bird set. I bought some stunning flower beads from Laney (Izzybeads) at the Flame off with the intention of using them for the challenge. I played around with all sorts of designs and added bits in and ended up with most of my stash out on the worktop. This design sort of fell together out of the chaos, and is my favourite of the three.
I created a lariat with silk ribbon in three colours and 2mm leather! It was undone half a dozen times while I decided on the best placement, but I kept it simple so that the flowers were the main focus. I’m pleased with how the ribbons drape and look like tendrils sprouting from the flowers. It’s lovely and light to wear, and I think the most Spring like of the designs.
Sorry about the poor photo on this one, I went out to retake this and one of my lovely children stood on a flower and broke it :( This was the best of what I had!

I hope you’ve enjoyed looking through my designs and taking part in the challenge!

And now for my favourite part… the hop! 

Thank you to everyone who’s joined us in the challenge, we were overwhelmed by the fantastic response we got and I’m bursting to see what you’ve made!
Here are the links…
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