Artisan Whimsy 5x5 Product Test Team Uses Znet Sea Glass

ZnetShows Beach Glass Beads that BayMoonDesign was sent

I was really lucky to have been selected to be in the Artisan Whimsy 5x5  Product Test Team for July because beach glass beads was the product.  I love sea glass and have a large stash of brown, green, and white sea glass I have collected on various beaches.  My BayMoonDesign store on Etsy has several necklaces that I made with some of my sea glass.  

ZNetshows graciously sent a group of members from Artisan Whimsey a 5 pack of beach glass beads to design with!  ZnetShows sells retail but mostly wholesale beads. They have a wide selection and great prices. There are pendants, beads, the usual and some unusual finds to be had. 

A focal that I made for my necklace

I needed a focal piece to begin.  I could have used one of the large pieces that I was sent but I wanted to add something with texture to the necklace.  I had been saving a piece of patterned white sea glass that I found for an occasion like this.  Since it had no hole drilled in it (big disadvantage of natural sea glass),   I had to wire wrap it with sterling silver. 

My First Attempt

I have to admit that the color of dark red through me off.   I rarely use red and I never worked with red sea glass before.  I considered using blue or white beads with the red.  White beads won in the end.  I had some white beads that look like shells and I got out my round sterling silver beads to use as spacers. Since I tend to make ocean themed jewelry, I had some seahorse clasps that I thought would help make the necklace even more beachy.   I took the necklace apart 3 times before I came up with a bead arrangement that suited me.    

Final Product

I love the wide variety of colors and shapes of beach glass beads that are available through ZnetShows.  The range of colors allows jewelry designers more flexibility.  What are the chances that you would find  red sea glass in nature?  Also, the shapes that are available like mini conch shells, triangles, spikes etc. are great to work with.  A huge advantage is the fact that the beach glass beads has wholes already drilled.

A great necklace for the 4th of July

Don't you agree that this necklace needs a bracelet and earrings.   I had another seahorse clasp on hand so that choice was a given.  I attached it to 7 inches of sterling silver chain and used some matching white shell beads and more of the red beach glass beads to create this bracelet.

Matching red and white bracelet

These mini Conch shells are slightly larger than a penny.

I considered using black Irish waxed thread and kidney shaped oxidized silver earwires.  I quickly ruled that out and came back to sterling silver.  I love how the silver looks paired to the dark red.

Materials used with Red Conch Shell Earrings

Matching Red Conch Earrings

Materials used to create some long pink sea glass earrings

It was love at first sight!  I love the color and shape of the rectangular beach glass beads.  Once again I paired the beach glass beads with silver.  I had these really cute sterling silver bubble charms in my bead stash.  Amazingly they fit on top of the pink glass perfectly.  I also had some sterling silver french earwires that I wanted to use because of their size. 

These pink seaglass earrings are my personal favorite.

 Pink Sea Glass Earrings Available for purchase in my BayMoonDesign Etsy store

I love how these earrings are all shinny and gorgeous with the large rectangular pink beach glass beads and sterling silver bubble charms layered on top. This pair hang on sterling silver french ear wires. These are stunning and fun earrings.  They scream summer and fun.