Bead Peeps Swap'N Hop '23 Reveal

BayMoonDesign is part of the Bead Peeps Swap'n Hop '23. I love the swapping beads and getting inspiration from a new assortment. In my previous blog, I credited Linda Anderson of Cherry on the Top Design for organizing this event.  I also introduced my partner who sent me a focal, clasp, and some bead soup is Terry Jean Lynch Carter. She goes by the name TappingflamingoBingo. She is from Louisiana by way of Florida. Terry has a boho style and is drawn to the beach boho look. She surprised me with a southwestern selection of ingredients. 

 

The rules of this bead exchange require the participants to use a focal, clasp and some of the beads in the design of the necklace that were sent. This is the focal that I received and it determined the style of my design. It had to be southwestern.

Terry sent me 2 clasps.  I selected the hook clasp that she made.  How could I not use a handmade artisan component!

I then pulled all of the earthy beige and brown round agate beads, and selected copper crystals.  From my stash of beads I added some rectangular blue crazy agate and silver spacers.  Now it is time to reveal what I made!

                                                   
This is the 24 inch southwest style necklace that I designed.  I love the blues in the crazy blue lace agate and the earthy desert colors of the beige and brown agate with it. The blues remind me of the popular gemstone turquoise found in the southwest.

Terry also gave me some of the ingredients for some western earrings which I designed to go with this necklace.  I just had to add the silver jump rings and ear wires.  

I appreciate your looking at my designs.  Please leave a comment with your thoughts.  Also, stop by to see Terry's jewelry which can be found on her YouTube channel under the name tapping flamingo. She also is on Instagram and TikTok. TappingflamingoBingo is the name of her Etsy Shop. 

If you are interested in purchasing this necklace and earrings it can be purchased in my Baymoondesign Etsy shop.

Bead Peeps Swap and Hop '23

BayMoonDesign is participating in Bead Peeps Swap'n Hop '23.  It is hard to believe that the last time was in the 2020.  I love the opportunity to swap beads and get inspiration from a new assortment of them.  This is an event where the organizer Linda Anderson of Cherry on the Top Design pairs participants with other beaders around the world to swap beads and then post the creations made with them.  The reveal of our new handmade jewelry is on April 17, 2023.  

This is a great way to meet other designers and see what they create. My partner is Terry Jean Lynch Carter.  She is from Louisiana by way of Florida.  Terry has a boho style and is drawn to the beach boho look in particular.  Copper, antique bronze and silver are favorite metals which she likes to mix in her jewelry.  She loves working with sea shells that she finds on the beaches well as recycling finds like guitar strings, paper, and fabric. Terry embraces color in her designs.

Her jewelry can be found on her YouTube channel under the name tapping flamingo. She also is on Instagram and TikTok. TappingflamingoBingo is the name of her Etsy Shop. When I looked at her shop two pieces of her jewelry caught my eyes immediately. I love blue starburst pattern glass cylinder beads that she used in both the featured necklace and earrings.

                                                Celestial Bar Necklace by TappingflamingoBling

Terry made this wonderful bar necklace using beautiful starburst pattern glass cylinder beads, antique brass chain and wire, and and mixture of silver tone and antique brass bead caps for a mixed metal piece you can wear with other pieces of your jewelry.

Celestial Star earrings by TappinflamingoBling

The matching earrings are made using the steel blue glass English cut crystals, blue star burst pattern glass cylinder beads, silver and brass bead caps and antique colored wire to create these celestial style earrings.

I can see why Linda Anderson paired me with Terry. We both have a boho style and used mixed metals. We also both have a fondness for the beach and that love shows in our jewelry. We even use burlap and coral reef in our photos of our jewelry!

BayMoonDesign has lots of beach inspired pieces of jewelry also. Thanks for stopping by and seeing what I have been up to. All of my handmade greeting cards and jewelry can be purchased in my online BayMoonDesign shop.

Spring in the Mid Atlantic

                                  Photo by Sean Oulashin on Unsplash

It looks like summer is finally headed to the northeast at long last.  It feels like it has been a long and cold spring with lots of wind on the east coast.  Enough is enough.  The hot weather has arrived and my thoughts are turning to all things summer.  After updating my summer clothes and sandals, my thoughts are now turning to designing summer earrings and necklaces. I like to use some of my new pieces of clothing and nature to inspire my original, one of a kind jewelry designs.

I just updated my shop with 3 summer earrings.

                                             pastel blue fish bone earrings by BayMoonDesign

Swim into summer with these pastel blue fish bone earrings. These statement earrings are pale aqua and white ceramics with sterling silver ear wires and amazonite chips. I love the color of amazonite. Its color reminds me of tropical waters. Amazonite is also associated with money, luck and overall success. Bone fish remind me of past family trips to Jamaica where I saw them.

                                        

                                                        Photo by Jakob Owens on Unsplash

I know a number of fisherwomen. I am not but I do love watching fish swimming in the ocean.  I have been fortunate to have been on some wonderful snorkeling trips in the Keys and Caribbean so I have spotted some really scary and beautiful fish and sea shells over the years. These adventures inspire lots of my jewelry.  

 

                                                   Seashell Earrings by BayMoonDesign

These sterling silver seashell earrings are made with mint Czech glass beads that remind me of seashells.  I  combined them with faux sea glass.  I also added a vintage white Swarovski crystal to each. These beads are meticulously wire wrapped with sterling silver wire on large sterling ear wires. 

                                         Photo by Linus Nylund on Unsplash

Who doesn't find the shape of the starfish fascinating. Starfish are also referred to as sea stars because of their star-shaped appearance. They aren't fish. They are related to sand dollars, sea urchins, and sea cucumbers and are found in nearly all marine habitats. I love to use this shape in my designs.

                                        starfish earrings by BayMoonDesign

These sterling silver green starfish earrings are large but light in weight. The handmade turquoise beach earrings dangle below a green accent bead that is attached to hand wrapped sterling silver dangles. These ocean inspired earrings are 2.75 inches long. I love how the blue and green color looks with silver.

I have lots of very unique pieces of jewelry in my online store. You can see additional earrings in my shop by visiting https://www.etsy.com/shop/BayMoonDesign.

Thanks for stopping by and seeing what Spring inspired me to make. All of my cards and jewelry can be purchased in my online BayMoonDesign shop.

Very Peri:: Pantone Color of 2022

                                                   Pantone Color of the Year 2020- -Very Peri

My February 2022 blog is about the Pantone Color of the Year --Very Peri. Pantone said that this year marks the first time it has created an entirely new color instead of choosing one from its roster. Very Peri can be described as a periwinkle blue hue with a violet red undertone.   Pantone said Very Peri is the “happiest and warmest of all the blue hues”   It is a fusion of a dynamic peri (winkle) blue and a vivid violet-red undertone. The color creates a new shade or purple. It is meant to symbolize transition and new possibilities.  

Since Pantone just released this new color, you may not be able to find items in the exact shade yet.  Since I love purple, I have a pair of earrings that I feel hit the mark.

                                                   Very Peri Earrings by BayMoonDesign

These round purple earrings have textured ceramics that give them a modern geometric look. A lilac crystal sits on top the Pantone color of the Year Very Peri colored ceramics. I used sterling silver in my wire wrapping. The ear wires are sterling as well. I love how the color of the boho ceramics looks with silver. These earrings are 2 inches and are light and comfortable to wear.

The artisan ceramics are made by Marsha Neal Studio.

These make a great handmade and artisan gift to yourself or a fashionista friend.

What do you think of the color? I would love to read your comments.