Baywood Gulf and County Club is Venue for Craft Fair this Sat. Nov. 7, 2015

Gorgeous fall plantings from last year at Baywood

If you are looking for the perfect gift and are in Delaware this Saturday, November 7, 2015, the Baywood Country Club  is the scene for a terrific annual fall craft fair.   There are over 40 local artisans and vendors with handmade gifts ready for you to purchase. Some items for sale include:
• HOLIDAY GIFTS
• GIFTS FOR ANY OCCASION
• PHOTOGRAPHY
• POTTERY
• WOOD WORK
• JEWELRY
• FINE ART
• PILLOWS and QUILTS
• TOYS
• And much, much more

The event takes place in the Clubhouse ballroom from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.  My Bay Moon Design line of jewelry and handmade cards will be there.

View from Baywood  Clubhouse ballroom

• There will be a drawing for dinner for 2 at Baywood Greens Restaurant, $100 Value
•  Drawing for 2 rounds of golf at Baywood Greens, $240 Value
• 50/50 Drawing Beneficiaries are Sussex County Habitat for Humanity and    Delaware Hospice
• Coupon for 15% off Lunch or Dinner at Baywood Greens Restaurant just for attending the Fair

If you attend, please stop by my table and say hi!

Brave Angel Challenge

Andrew Thornton created Brave Angel blog hop to call attention to breast cancer because he believes in the importance of raising awareness for breast cancer prevention and supporting innovations in treatment and advances in research.

 If you're not familiar with the challenges, they are a fun way to push yourself creatively and create from an assortment of pre-selected components.

The KIt

I received lots of beads in the color pink.  I got some Japanese Miyuki seed beads, Toho seed beads, Japanese Matsuno seed beads, vintage Czech seed beads, freshwater pearls, glass pearls, Czech glass (both old and new), rose quartz, wood, stone, vintage sequins, German glass, vintage plastic, Swarovski crystals, vintage Japanese glass, Javanese glass, and vintage lucite.   The kit also included  a special handmade component made by Thornton.  

Violet and Green Handmade Ceramic Earrings by Bay Moon Design

Sometimes all you need are a few beads to complete a design. That is true of these earrings.  I have been waiting for just the perfect beads to go with these handmade ceramic beads.  I knew I wanted to pick up the green in the beads with forest green Irish waxed linen thread.  I had the tiny flowers but I needed some other small beads and Thornton's kit supplied them.  

Modern Pink earrings by Bay Moon Design

The same was true for this pair of pink earrings. I had the large, pink round faux seaglass, but I needed 2 beads to go with it.  I added some silver bead caps on the top and bottom and sterling circle links and the earrings are completed and for sale HERE.

Pink and Gray Statement Necklace by Bay Moon Design

Thornton's pink beads were perfect for this pink and gray necklace. The beads were selected by color and finish.  I used bleached and pearlescent blush acrylic beads and matte rosy coral stone from the kit.  The pink and rosy coral ceramic is by Marsha Neal and has blush and rosy coral in it.  To contrast with the pink. I used a few of my sage green pearls. 

I used gunmetal spacers and gray leather as well as base metal findings to pull in the gray color.  I also selected a Tierra Cast antique silver button that has a circular pattern like the focal and has a pattern of  flower to use as a clasp.  It works with the gray colors.  The necklace is about 18 inches around with the ceramic hanging about 1.5 inches.  It is available HERE for purchase.
 
I still have tons of the beads left!  I am looking forward to using them.

If you want to see what others have done. checkout Thornton's blog.

Art on the Quiet and Creative Side of the Smokies

Townsend Artisan Guild 

While taking a walk on a gorgeous fall day just outside the Smokey National Park in Townsend, Tennessee, U.S.A., I stumbled across Townsend Artisan Guild.   The Townsend Artisan Guild was founded in 2007 for fine artists and fine crafts persons from East Tennessee to promote education, exploration, awareness, and development of arts.

 The group strives to promote community interest in and appreciation of the arts through participation in events, demonstrations, classes, festivals, and workshops.  I noticed the sign and several Halloween displays outside.  This eye catching witch from the Wizard of Oz was created by a local 3rd grade class and a perfect example of their community outreach.

Artistic expression of local 3rd class

another part of inside of artisan guild

Once inside, I was welcomed by one of the artists. We chatted about our backgrounds.  I mentioned that I made beads and jewelry and she made art with paper mache.  I was invited to take a behind the scenes tour.  I was warned that they were only opened recently and everything was not on display yet or ready for public view.  I snapped at the opportunity. 

Artisit's dogs

Lots of us have studio pets.  I for one have 3 cats.

Artist working with paints and wax.

The next artist that I met was working with paint and wax and she had her 2 dogs / studio pets at her feet.   I love how she has tin buckets of brushes on the shelving in back of her.  I was surprised that her work area was so neat. Beaders like myself usually have piles of beads on their work table and lots of stuff spilling all over.  I would never let anyone see my work area without extensive advance notice.  They would be certain I was a crazy cat lady.

Felted jacket being worked on

I was delighted to see there were numerous fiber artists there. Even though I am not a fiber artist,  I frequent fiber artist Sandra Sapienza's NeedleArts Adventure Retreats which are held twice a year and attended by many well know fiber artists.  I am always amazed at what these artists create.  

More fiber art 

Isn't this a beauty!

Work area of Silk Scarf Painter

Again, I am amazed at how neat and organized these talented artists are.  Maybe there is a lesson here for beaders like myself.  This work area is used by an artist that paints on silk.  I took notice of the paints for the silks lined up together in one spot and how tidy everything is.  The scarves were breath taking.  I loved the vibrant colors and scenes on them.

I couldn't leave without buying something.  I loved it all but what would a beader buy but a necklace!  I just had to have a bear necklace made by my tour guide and paper mache artist Sharon Webb.

Of course, I have 2 bear necklaces for sale in my Etsy store.  

Chunky Bear Necklace by Bay Moon Design

This turquoise bear necklace has a very handsome and strong looking ceramic bear focal by ceramic artist Moriah Betterly. I created a leather and chain necklace using turquoise Irish waxed linen thread to add to the Southwest colors in the bear. The long necklace is 28 inches around and the bear is 2 inches long and 3 inches wide and is available for purchasse HERE.

Brown Bear Necklace by Bay Moon Design

This brown bear necklace is a one of a kind handmade chunky wood statement necklace. This necklace has a very handsome and strong looking ceramic bear focal by ceramic artist Moriah Betterly. I created a multi strand necklace with one strand made with large linked natural brass chain and the other with red Irish waxed linen thread. The brownish red and subtle yellow beads are vintage chunky wood beads. Reddish green Greek ceramic beads were added to give the wooden necklace more color. I added a bronze leaf clasp to add to the woodsy theme of the animal totem necklace. It is also available for purchase HERE.

If you are in the area next Sat. Oct. 24, 2015, stop by Cades Cove Winery in Townsend, TN for the Townsend Artisan Guild  exhibit where lots of these goodies will be on sale.  Also, sample some Cades  Cove Wines.  Blackberry is my favorite.


By the way, I spotted 2 bears in Cades Cove!

October Earrings Everyday Challenge Is to Design a Pair of Earrings with Fall 2015 Fashion in Mind

aubergine collection for Fall 2015

The October Earrings Everday challenge is to select one of the looks from these fashion collections and create a pair of earrings to accessorize it.  The aubergine hued dresses above are from designer Monique Lhuillier. I love the deep, saturated eggplant colors... the mix of patterns with lace... the layering effect... all of these make this Fall 2015 collection from her luscious. She is known for her corseted looks, her dreamy romantic wedding ensembles, and stunning red carpet gowns, so the above collection is a bit of a departure for her.

Purple fall 2105 collection

The second collection that we could choose from had more of a purple palette of colors.  It is amazing that the same model has such different looks. From young and hip to stylishly classic. It was such fun picking the one look from these pictures and design earrings to go with it. 

My choice of dress to design earrings for

I couldn't resist selecting the above dress, after all I had once purchased one similar to this. I even had a similar purse to go with it. I decided to design some earrings that I would wear with it. I love freshwater pearls and I was able to locate a stunning pair of 10 mm eggplant freshwater pearl earrings. Each matched pearl has grade as AAA, gem quality. I topped each with a rich looking silver cap. At the bottom of each there is a tiny silver bead. These earrings are 1 1/4 inches (3 cm), measured from the top of the earring wire. Simple and elegant, the earrings will be suitable for all seasons and occasions. They are especially suitable for this dress because they don't distract from the dress and the model is wearing her hair up and these earrings could be seen easily. Both earrings and dress have a elegant and classic look together.  These earrings are available for purchase HERE.

Eggplant Freshwater Pearl Earrings by Bay Moon Design

What a fun challenge! What would you have designed?