Almost Wordless Wednesday - Back to Our Regularly Scheduled Programming!

~My Niece Violet in Her Custom Tiara~

I am SO sorry for the unexpected absence the last few days - we were up at my in-laws visiting family (and my 5 month old niece, above, for the first time) and though I had blog posts planned, I never got around to doing them :(
However, the visit was fantastic, the drive much faster than usual (3-1/2 hours instead of 4-1/2), and the weather just divine.
I made my niece a custom tiara to fit her little head (it will fit an infant as a headband, but will fit anyone as a mini tiara very nicely). I used a gold-plate headband, Swarovski crystal pearls in white and rose pink and attached them with 14karat gold filled wire. It was a hit, everyone loved it, including Violet!
I hope you have a great day, with warmth, happiness and sunshine.

Broach the Subject of....Brooches!

~These Earrings Will Shortly Be Available on Fireseed's Etsy Store~

~Brooch Number 1~

~Brooch Number 2~

I haven't made brooches in a while and a few people who shall remain nameless (MOM!!) have been giving me grief over it. So, armed with a few of Fireseed's beautiful beads, some gold wire and Swarovski crystals, I went to work. These are the beautiful results! I love doing freestyle brooches, though I do have some more ideas for Celtic-styled and less freestyle pieces. Now that I've made these - one will be going on My Etsy Store, and one will be going on Fireseed's Etsy Store as these are collaborative pieces - I think I really should make some more. Now I just need more beautiful beads...*ahem*.... calling Louise!! ;)
That is all for now, I may be less active over the Thanksgiving weekend, so stay safe, have fun, and be thankful! We are all so blessed!
Meghann

Interchangeable Lamp Work Glass Earrings

~14Karat Gold Filled Wire, Gold Plate Beads, and Lamp Work Glass Beads~

In my quest for new, exciting, unique earrings, I consulted my new partner-in-crime, Louise Ingram of Fireseed. She's making a lot of the beads I am using in my new creations, and has some great ideas on what to do with them. She loves my Arrow Leaf Earrings, but thought that we could make them a bit more curved at the top so that we could slip beads on and off at will, making them truly interchangeable.
Just like my arrow leaf earrings, I hammer the bottom of the wire, but then I add a gold plate bead on the bottom, then a lamp work glass bead, and then top it off with another gold plate bead for symmetry. To change them, just slide the beads over the top and replace with another bead - too easy and beautiful! I'll be listing these shortly on my Etsy Store, so be sure to check them out there!
More to come soon! Be sure to enter my monthly blog contest!
Meghann

Our Charity of the Month is a Winner!

~The Bracelet with the Brooch in the Center~

Well, as I posted in an earlier post from this month, the Rideau Valley Wildlife Sanctuary is the Charity of the Month. Instead of getting 10% of the total sales, I am donating a framed photo, as well as this beautiful bracelet and brooch set. The lamp work glass beads were made by glass artist Louise Ingram of Fireseed, and I put the pieces together with 14karat gold filled wire and findings, Swarovski crystals, and gold plated beads and jump rings. This piece will be part of the sanctuary's fund raising auction in November. For more information, visit their website: http://www.rideauwildlife.org/home.
I hope you like this piece, and keep checking back for more beautiful, affordable items for sale on my Etsy Store!
Don't forget about our contest - see the main blog page for details.
Meghann

Check This Out!

~A New Bracelet I Call My "Impressionist Lampwork Bracelet"~

I am so fortunate to have just met the wonderful lampwork bead maker Louise Ingram who lives near me (see her Etsy page and her Website). She made me some gorgeous beads earlier this month (they are still waiting for just the right silver beads to be assembled into something fantastic) and we had talked back and forth about doing some trades so I could get beads and she could get jewellery findings made by me. I am so lucky that she came over yesterday, as she brought her "unique design" beads (beads that turned out differently from her original intentions) to show me. The beads in the bracelet above were actually in this pile and I couldn't believe my luck when I found enough of them to make this gorgeous bracelet! We had a lovely afternoon chatting about beading ideas, she got some ear wires made by me and I got a whack-load of gorgeous glass goodies! I'll keep you posted on the other fantastic creations I make with these beads. Visit her website for even more incredible creations!
I created this bracelet by combining these beads (I think they look like an impressionist painting - Monet eat your heart out! If he could have made glass beads this was what he would have created!) with beautiful clear Swarovski crystals, gold plate beads and jump rings, gold filled beads and lobster clasp. I finished it off with a dangle of one of the beads I had left over (you can't just leave the little guy homeless) for a little extra sparkle. This is just stunning and ONE OF A KIND!!! Get it while you can! I'll be listing this little gem on my Etsy store today, so check it out - www.littlestudiojewels.etsy.com The 20% off sale still applies!!
Also check out a new section soon to come where I'll be selling hand crafted findings and beads that I haven't used in a little bit but are still fabulous to use.
That's all for now, see you later!
Meghann

Bookmarks and Bracelets and Rings - Oh My!

~A Few of the Items I Made This Week~

Well, this has been a busy week: I made the items you see above (plus a few more), as well as stocked my Etsy store with a few others from my website; I also got a few more reference books to inspire me to make some new pieces (keep checking back - they are going to floor you!); plus I made my best friend Stephanie a beautiful bracelet that I will have to make again to show you - it's gorgeous!
I made some great simple rings with sterling silver wire and Czech glass beads, as well as similar ones in gold filled wire. I also made a beautiful spiral ring with amber and Czech glass in 14karat gold filled wire. I made a nice bracelet with memory wire and rhodonite stones with agate and Czech glass beads. I also made a stunning bookmark with a gold plate bookmark, and beautiful patterns of Czech glass beads in lilac, gold and natural pink, and leaves of green. I made so much more, but I don't want to ruin the surprise!
I have so much more to show you, but I have to get these new rings, bracelets, earrings, a cell fob and a bookmark on the Etsy site tomorrow. Check it out! These are high quality pieces at great deals!
Have a great day,
Meghann

Blue Glass with Gold Foil and Firepolish Bracelet

~Blue Glass Beads with Gold Foil, Czech Firepolish beads and Gold-Filled Bracelet~

So here is the bracelet I promised you in the Gold Spiral, Blue Glass and Swarovski Crystal Necklace page. I used the same blue glass beads (though I didn't put spirals of gold wire on each bead as they would catch too easily on things) and capped them with gold-plated daisy spacers and round beads, and spaced them with Czech Firepolish glass beads in "Topaz" to really bring out the sparkling gold foil in the blue beads. I then finished it with a 14karat gold-filled toggle clasp for security and style. I made it about 7-3/4" long so it has some movement on the wrist, but I can adjust it if need be. This is a really fun, stylish and summery piece - it evokes sun, sand and surf all in one, and does it with such class.

This bracelet is now available for sale on the website at: www.littlestudio.ca

I have just created some great rings, which I'll try and get on here soon too!

Happy drooling!

Meghann