I Have Lampswork Headpin Addiction due to April AJE Component Challenge Reveal

 

Photo of Murrini lampwork components by Jen Cameron

This month I have the pleasure of participating the April AJE Component of the Month Reveal. Jen Cameron of Glass Addictions gave me the choice of selecting a murrini (pictured above) or spiral (pictured below) lampwork headpin component on 18g copper wire. 

Photo of Spiral lampwork components with 20 gauge copper by Jen Cameron

When making my choice I thought about the fact that the spiral (looks better from the side) and the murrini (looks better from the top).  I decided to go with the Murrini lampwork headpin.

Pink Flower earrings by BayMoonDesign available in Etsy shop

I received two murrini lampwork headpin on 18g copper wire made from Jen.   My assignment was to create something using one or both of the headpins.  Since murrini headpins look best viewed from the top, I took that into consideration when coming up with a design.  I created a pair of earrings that show off the copper headpins.

I created these handmade artisan pink flower earrings with purple highlights on copper earwires. The petals of the flowers are purple in the center and pink on the outside. They are handmade and enameled. The very center of the flowers has Jen's component made of pink and lime green glass on copper wire. The flowers hang from copper wire with what looks like a vine made from copper. Copper earwires are used. These are long earrings that are 2.5 inches from the curve at the top of the copper earwire.

 I love how these look like pretty pink flowers hanging from a long vine. I also like how easy it is to work with the 20 gauge copper wire.  I found it very pliable so making the vines was not difficult.

 Thank you Jen for your lovely components!  Please visit all of the participants of this reveal and see what they did.  I know I can't wait to visit them.


If you are looking for a handmade artisan Mother's Day gift for May 12,  please stop by my Etsy shop. From now to May 11, I am offering 12% off orders of $20 or more.  Just use the code MOM12.

Last Day to Enter My Giveaway!

I won these 3 darling bird beads by Blueberribeads.  I have decided to share 2 of them.  I gave 1 to my Bead Soup Blog Hop partner Jayne.   I am giving the second one away to a lucky person who wins a random drawing for it.  Anyone who comments on my blog can earn 1 entry.   Following my blog earns another entry.  A third entry can be made by liking my Etsy store.  Of course, I kept 1 for myself and I made it into a necklace that is  in my Etsy shop.  This necklace would make a very cute Mother's Day gift.

Like my store at: http//www.baymoondesign.etsy.com
or 

Like my Baymoondesign  facebook page.

The winner will be announced May 1, 2013 on my blog.

Bay Moon Design's Latest Earrings for AJE Earrings Challenge and Mother's Day Sale

Bright Pink Flower Earrings are available in BayMoonDesign Etsy Shop

I have been missing from action in the AJE Earring Challenge for a week or so due to the lovely weather in the Florida Keys.  It is spring here and there are lots of gorgeous flowers in bloom and the gorgeous turquoise waters are warming. Some of my latest earrings are inspired by both the water and the flowers.  

These fun, pink floral earrings are inspired by the hibiscus that are in bloom here. The artisan pink flower earrings have a beautiful bright pink bead caps by SharylsJewelry.

These bead caps surround large clear crystals.   I think you will agree that with a rich color like this and beautiful filigree brings out the clear crystals shine.  A sweet Lucite flower hangs from there. The Lucite flower has a bright pink crystal bead and green seed bead to add some additional color.

Long Pink Earrings available in my Etsy shop

These are handmade artisan pink flower earrings with purple highlights on copper earwires. The petals of the flowers are purple in the center and pink on the outside. They are handmade and enameled by MelismaticArtJewelry. The very center of the flowers has another artisan component made of pink and lime green glass on copper wire. The flowers hang from copper wire with what looks like a vine made from copper. Copper earwires are used. These are long earrings that are 2.5 inches from the curve at the top of the copper earwire.   I love how they look like pretty pink flowers hanging from a long vine.

Ivy Earrings Available for purchase in BayMoonDesign shop

These are amethyst earrings with olive green ivy leaves on brass earwires. The amethyst swarovski crystals remind me of purple flowers that are in bloom by ivy. The handmade artisan ivy leaves by GardannieBeads are enameled on both sides and are 25 x 16mm. Brass earwires and headpins are used. These are long earrings that are 2 inches from the curve at the top of the earwire.

Blue Crystal Earrings available in BayMoonDesign Etsy Shop

These earrings were inspired by my latest snorkeling trip in the Florida Keys.  There are so many different shades of blue in the water here.  They range from turquoise blue to navy blue.  Every time that I see the turquoise it amazes me and takes my breath away.

These blue earrings are made with handmade artisan dichronic glass and sparkling blue swarvoski crystals suspended on chain. Each crystal is meticulously wire wrapped. Large contemporary sterling silver earwires add to the sophisticated look of these earrings. The beautiful dichronic bead has tiny swirls of royal blue, dark blues, and black.

Barracuda and Nurse Shark at Grecian Rocks

I am all caught up with this blog hop now.  I fell behind with all of the distractions here in the beautiful Keys.   On the plus side is the fact that there are lots of inspirations from nature here.  

If you are looking for a handmade artisan Mother's Day gift for May 12,  please stop by my Etsy shop. From now to May 11, I am offering 12% off orders of $20 or more.  Just use the code MOM12.

What to do? 5th Do Over Challenge and Happy Earth Day

I think this Do Over Challenge is a wonderful challenge that ties in with Earth Day because we are recycling!

Gorgeous Coral Reef in Key Largo, Florida

South Florida has lots to celebrate on Earth Day!  I am so impressed with the gorgeous beaches, coral reef, and fish in South Florida.

Yellowtail fish and more healthy coral reef

Skyline of Miami from Crandon Park Beach

Let's see what I could recycle from this necklace.

Jeannie K Dukic's jewelry 

I try to never criticize someone's jewelry design so I will quote Jeannie K Dukic.  Jeannie said,  "I will send you an old, tried, boring piece of my jewelry for free and you will work your magic and turn it into something beautiful and amazing. The jewelry I’m sending out for this challenge are designs I made when I was new to jewelry-making and I won’t sell.   Well I could, but no one would buy them."  Enough said!  Part of the challenge included using more than half of the beads.

Vintage Faux Pearl and Crystal Bracelet Available in BayMoonDesign Etsy Store

The first thing I did was separate the crystals from the colored glass.  I had lots of clear crystals that I though would work well with some vintage white, cream, off white, and pink faux pearls of various sizes that I had on hand. Since bracelets are really hot this spring and I don't have a lot of them in my Etsy shop, I decided on making a bracelet with the crystals and pearls.  I had some gold memory wire on hand and alternated pearl with crystal and added some dangles.   I ended up with a fun bracelet! Daytime or evening, dressed up or down, you can absolutely wear this bracelet everyday. If you wear jeans or denim.   You could also wear this bracelet with a prom or wedding gown.

Faux pearl earrings available for sale in my Etsy shop

I also made these matching earrings to go with the bracelet.

I love to use nature in my jewelry.  You might ask how is this related to nature?  First of all, the crystals are recycled and and so are the faux pearls.  These vintage faux pearls are from old wedding gowns.  I try to reuse materials when I can.  The necklace below has 2 denim beads made from old blue jeans.

Blue Denim Necklace available in BayMoonDesign shop

My promised picture of a shark sighting is at the end of the blog! 

Big thanks to Jeannie K Dukic for organizing this blog hop.  Please visit all of the participants and leave a kind word or two!  Scroll to the bottom of this list to see my shark!

Beti Horvath  http://stringingfool.blogspot.com/

Charlie Jacka  http://clay-space.com/blog

Dagi http://kokopellidesign.blogspot.com/

DiYana Alcalde http://agapecreationsjewelry.blogspot.com/
Donetta Farrinton  http://simplygorgeous-donetta.blogspot.com/

Ginger Davis Allman http://thebluebottletree.com/

Jeannie K Dukic http://site.jkdjewelry.com/blog

Kathy Lindemer  http://bay-moon-design.blogspot.com/

Lynne Bowland  http://www.islandgirlsinsights.blogspot.ca/

Molly Alexander  http://beautifullybrokenme.blogspot.com/

Mary Govaars  www.mlhjewelrydesigns.com

Mowse Doyle  http://mowsemadethis.blogspot.com/

Penny Houghton  www.smellynelly.blogspot.com

Renetha Stanziano  http://lamplightcrafts.blogspot.com/

Rita Avila http://www.jewelschoolfriends.com/

Susan Delaney  www.ladyflowersbysusan.wordpress.com

Reef Shark

 Happy Earthy 2013!

Try Creating a Color Palette

"Walk in the Meadows at Argenteuil" by Claude Monet

"Walk in the Meadows at Argenteuil" by Claude Monet is a wonderful inspiration for April's Art Bead Scene Monthly Challenge, since most of us are coming out of a dreary winter to a glorious spring.   I am in the habit of following Brandi Hussey's color palette which creates for this challenge. I waited until Brandi posted this one before I started my entry to this months challenge.

What I love so much about this particular painting is that it so perfectly mimics spring where I live in Key Largo, Florida. The orange geiger (Cordia sebestena) is the most well-known, with showy, deep orange flowers that contrast nicely against the tree's coarse green leaves.
I think it the most beautiful of Florida native trees.  Actually, no one knows for sure if the geiger is a Florida native or if it was introduced long ago from Cuba or elsewhere.  It was named in the 1830's by John James Audubon after John Geiger (a harbor pilot who salvaged sunken treasure off the coast of Key West) with whom Audubon stayed and painted. There is even a Geiger Key which is a small island.

As I pulled color inspiration for my challenge piece, I decided I had to use the  yellowish green that dominates the picture, different shades of green, and peach.  These colors say spring to me.  I found those colors in a beautiful ceramic by Marsha Neal Studio.

Roseate Spoonbill  by Audubon--image from
commons.wikimedia.org

I did some research on creating a color palette because I find this is extremely helpful to me.   I wanted to see what the color palette for the Aububon picture Roseate Spoonbill is so I

used a free tool on the web called Pictulous to create the color palette below.

Another great article on the topic of color palettes is found on the Art Bead Scene blog at Art Bead Scene Blog: Studio Saturday - Color Palette Inspiration

Heather Powers did a fantastic show of how she created a color palette for her new bead collection which I am crazy about!  I hope you will give creating a color palette a try if you haven't already.  I think it is a really helpful tool.

My Underwater Adventure at Grecian Rocks Inspires Jewelry

Swimming with the fish

I went snorkeling this week to a place called Grecian Rocks, Key Largo, Florida.  This is the first time I got to dry out my new digital underwater camera.  I was surprised that my photos turned out as well as they did because I kind of had to point the camera and hope what I wanted to photograph was there.  My photos were so much better better than the underwater cameras that I used before.  My previous one were purchased in a drug store and  you had to send away to get the pictures developed.

Lots of Gorgeous Fish

I had a great conditions at Grecian Rocks--shallow water, bright sun, clear water. 

Lots of Barracudas

Personally, I think they should have called Grecian Rocks " Barracuda Rocks".  There were plenty of them there.  My husband had to make a repair to engine blade when we were there.  He had to work underwater.  At the very end he cut his hand and it started to bleed.  He got out of the water because he was getting paranoid about the blood in the water.  He was right.  When we were leaving a saw about a dozen barracudas close to the surface. 

Clear Water

Grecian Rocks is a beautiful place to snorkel.  The reef is just beautiful and in great condition.

Beautiful Reef

Beautiful Ocean Water is the inspiration for this Sea Glass Necklace

Bay Moon Design carries handmade artisan necklaces, earring,

bracelets and whimsical cards that are all meticulously made from

high quality metals, gems, and papers with great service.

My work is inspired by nature.  

I am offering an early peak at

my new spring line and I am also offering a 10% discount on all

purchases from now until April 15. This gives my online shoppers a

chance to purchase some unique gifts for you or someone special. My

jewelry and cards make special gifts for upcoming spring events such

as:

Mother''s Day
Birthdays
Anniversaries

Graduations

Weddings

I am happy to send

directly to a friend in a decorative pouch or wrapped with a gift

card enclosed. This saves you time and added expense.

Visit my shop at http://www.baymoondesign.etsy.com

Use discount code FFAWEAW -
 when you check out. (The discount code box is under the payment
buttons in the shopping cart, it''s a link that says, "Apply Shop
Coupon Code")

Stop by my blog next weekend to see what I make for the AJE Earring Challenge and see the photos of my shark sighting at Grecian Rocks!