Nov. 16 lampwork

Lampwork in the center of this purple and gold necklace draws attention to Sharyl's Jewelry focal

This blog hop showcases lampwork beads by artisans.  Lisa Lodge organized it and sent everyone different lampwork beads to use.  For this blog I received 3 different sized, smooth, round purple ceramics by Shazzazz and a pair of purple floral ceramics by Suebeads.

I used 2 of the smooth,  round purple ceramics to suspend focals in the necklace above and below.  The purple and gold necklace above has a handmade brass artisan focal suspended from one of the smooth, purple lampwork beads. The purple lampwork is surrounded by lovely pieces of citrine.

Owl Necklace by Bay Moon Design $39

The second of the three smooth, round lampwork beads is used to suspend the owl focal.  I use large and very cute handmade ceramic owl by blueberribeads as a focal.

The last of the smooth, purple focals is found in a cuff bracelet that features a bracelet bar by Humblebeads.  The purple beads is on the right of the bracelet bar and is the same color of purple as in the polymer clay.

Purple Firefly Bracelet is available for $35.

I also got a pair of beautiful, matching purple floral ceramics by Suebeads .  I think they are perfect for earrings.  These  purple floral earrings have over a dozen petite cream colored pearls. The artisan ceramics have cream colored swirls or floral design on them.

Purple Floral  Earrings are available for purchase

Thank you Lisa for the beautiful ceramics and organizing this blog hop.  I was able to create some unique pieces with them.  Please visit all of the participants to see what they created.

Hostess:  Lisa Lodge, A Grateful Artist

Mary Govaars, MLH Jewelry Designs

Melissa Trudinger, Bead Recipes

Kathy Zeigler Lindemer, Bay Moon Design

Laurie Vyselaar, Lefthand Jewelry

Annette Rivers, MamaOwl's Mess

Karin King, The Sparkle Things Blog

Shaiha Williams,   Shaiha's Ramblings

Mimi Gardner, Baubles, Beads and Other Curiosities

Dee Alcalde, Agape Creations Jewelry

Kay Thomerson, Kayz Kreationz

Karla Morgan, Texas Pepper Jams

Lori Jean Poppe, Lorillijean Creative Corner

Eleanor Burian Moore, The Charmed Life

Leah Mifflin Tees, My Beady Little Eyes

Terri Wlaschin, Dances in Fog

Sharyl McMillian-Nelson, Sharyl's Jewelry

Jo-Ann Woolverton, It's a Beadiful Creation

Veralynne Malone, Designed by Vera

Linda Aspenson Bergstrom, TBD

Toltec  Jewels, Jewel School Friends

Judy Turner, Silver Rains

Gloria Allen, Gloria Allen Designs

Kathleen Douglas, Washoe Kat's

Connie Tipton, TBD

Christie Searle Murrow, Charis Designs Jewelry

Andrea Glick-Zenith, ZenithJade Creations

Michele Dotson, Star Jewels

Chris Eisenberg, Wanderware

Jennifer Clifford, TBD

Kathleen Breeding, 99 Bottles of Beads on the Wall

Molly Alexander, Beautifully Broken Me

Loretta, Loretta's Boutique

Carolyn Lawson, Carolyns Creations

Shirley Moore, Beads and Bread

Bonnie Coursolle, Jasper's Gems

Alice Craddick, Alice's Beads and Baubles
To thank you for visiting everyone, I am offering  a special in my Etsy shop for the month of November--Free U.S. Shipping on all orders of $20 or more with coupon FREEUS in November !
Happy Holiday shopping!

AJE Earring Challenge Reveal 21

Red reindeer earrings by Bay Moon Design

 

 

With getting ready for holiday craft fairs, it is difficult keeping up with the AJE Earrings Challenge.  I am a little late but I had to get these reindeer earrings ready for my craft fair at Baywood Golf and Country Club in Millsboro, Delaware.  It is on Saturday, November 16 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.  If you are in the area, please stop by.  It has over 35 vendors with handmade and collectable items.

As soon as I spotted the reindeer ceramics in the above earrings, I new I had to make them for this craft fair. These red reindeer earrings are made with handmade artisan ceramics by Mary Harding.  They are combined with gold glass pearls from Znetshows. The red color of the ceramics reminds me of Christmas red.  These earrings make great holiday earrings that can be worn all winter long. They are very cute. Don't you think?

Cream and Brown Earrings by Bay Moon Design are available for purchase

I always like to have some neutral colored earrings available and Marsha Neal's ceramics are very popular in Delaware since she is a local Delaware artisan.  These cream colored earrings are shaped like ovals and are earthy looking when combines with antique copper kidney ear wires. The antique copper kidney ear wires go great with the colors in the ceramics and give them an edgy look. Simple, lovely, go with almost anything!

Wish me luck!  Don't forget to stop by my Etsy store.  I am offering Free U.S. Shipping on all orders of $20 or more with coupon FREEUS in November !
Happy Holiday shopping!

Znetshows Pearls and Crystals Used in a Holiday Set and Giveway Offer

Znetshows Pearls in Silver, Gold, and White, Crystal, and Morning Glory clasp

Being a design partner with Znetshows I was able to select some of their pearls, crystals, and findings for some holiday bling.  I love the components that I got from Znetshows.  I picked out 10 mm gold, silver, and white pearls and was confident that I made a good decision.  I knew exactly the size and colors that I wanted to work with.  The necklace, bracelet, and earrings are an early Christmas present for my daughter.  She has several dressy holiday parties this year as well as several weddings this spring.  All occasions that call for some pretty jewelry.  In addition to special events, I had some personal considerations for my selections.  Being tall, she can wear larger beads than a tiny, petite woman.  Gold, silver, and white go with just about everything so I hope she will be able to wear the jewelry frequently.. 

Selecting the strand of crystals was a bit of a shot in the dark.  It is hard to get an idea of the size of irregular shaped beads and colors are sometimes difficult to judge.  I couldn't have been more excited when I saw the crystals I picked in person.  The gold, silver, and white pearls were exactly the same as what I had selected.  The tiny crystals were gold and the larger crystals had lots of sparkle.  I was tempted to use the strand of crystal in the exact order that they came, but I knew there were too many and I wanted to use some of the crystals in a matching bracelet and earrings.

When making a necklace, I figure out the length of it first.  My daughter wanted a 20 inch necklace so that decision was easy.  I cut  25 inches of wire.   I then put on a crimp bead, threaded the wire through a wire protector and put half of the Znetshows morning glory clasp on.  I used Beadalon 49 strand wire  because the pearls and crystals have some weight; it is a fairly long necklace and my daughter is hard on her jewelry.   I laid the pearls and crystals on a bead board to work with the design.  I wanted to use crystal between the pearls so I pulled a pack of 48 Swarovski crystal bicone Xilion 4mm black diamond AB beads from my stash.  You can never have too much sparkle!

Steps 1 through 4 in making the necklace are pictured above

In step 1 as pictured above I started string the beads from the back of the design to the middle after attaching half of the clasp along with a wire protector and crimp bead.  You can see in my photos that I used a pattern of color.  When I got to step 2 which is the middle of the necklace, I wondered why I selected a smaller crystal than one that I had put aside for a bracelet.  Step 3 shows I decided to use the larger crystal in the center.   I find that for some reason I often change a design when I start stringing it.  Step 4 shows the end of the necklace where the other half of the clasp, wire protector and crimp are attached.   I let it sit overnight without putting on the other half of the clasp.  I did this to make sure that when I had afresh eyes the next morning, all of the beads are in the correct order and pattern. I also wanted to email my daughter a photo of the necklace and see if she liked it.  I knew she would.

Pearl and Crystal Necklace by Bay Moon Design

This necklace is fairly inexpensive to make, put it looks like it cost a fortune! 
In addition to the beading wire and 48 Swarovski crystal bicone Xilion 4mm black diamond AB beads which cost $4.28, the materials that I go from Znetshows cost as follows:
BD1620-14S  golden pearls $2.00
BDS1620-22  off white pearls $2.00
BDS1620-08  gray pearls $2.00  
ZMX-56-02  chinese crystal designer glass Beads faceted,Caramel Mix  $6.00
M0314-AS M pkg. of 5 antique silver tone morning glory vine toggle clasps $1.50
Add a couple of crimp beads and wire protectors and you have a matching set of a necklace, bracelet, and earrings for under $20.

Matching Pearl and Crystal Bracelet by Bay Moon Design

I had plenty of materials left to make a matching bracelet and earrings.

White Pearl and Crystal Earrings by Bay Moon Design

I still have pearls left which makes me happy and my daughter is thrilled with her special jewelry for all of her upcoming special events and holiday occasions.

Keep Znetshows in mind when you are creating jewelry.  The company has great prices and beautiful beads.  Most importantly, as a customer Znetshows is wonderful to work.

Znetshows Morning Glory Clasps

I am giving away a package of 5 Znetshows Morning Glory clasps to a lucky person who wins a random drawing for it.  Anyone who comments on my blog can earn an entry.   Following my blog earns another entry.

The winner will be announced Thanksgiving Day 2013 on my blog.

Another bonus for my readers!  I am offering Free U.S. Shipping in my Baymoondesign etsy shop on all orders of $20 or more.   Just use the coupon FREEUS in November when checking out!
Happy Holiday shopping!

Znetshows and Bay Moon Design Partner to Contribute to 7000 Bracelets of Hope

Blue-themed bracelet donated to 7,000 Bracelets of Hope by Bay Moon Design

Cause bracelets have been available for breast cancer and heart disease but there has never been a unifying symbol, color or bracelet that represents the rare and genetic disease community.  That’s why the 7,000 Bracelets for Hope™ campaign was launched in 2010 by Global Genes.

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Global Genes is an advocacy organization for individuals with rare and genetic diseases. Their symbol is a denim ribbon, a play on genes=jeans. You can find more about the Global Genes project on their website (https://globalgenes.org/). This organization started the 7000 Bracelets of Hope initiative to provide blue-themed bracelets to families fighting rare and genetic diseases. The idea is that these bracelets give support and a little hope to these families. As well, the unifying blue theme may help spread awareness.

Znetshows offered their designers a chance to create some bracelets for this cause with their beads.  I jumped at the chance and searched their website by for cultured sea glass by color and found that I liked the light sapphire color for this project.  I then  selected cultured sea glass with double holes 16x8mm rectangular beads with spacers in light sapphire and cultured sea glass ring beads 16mm in light sapphire bottle-neck style rings from the choices in that color.

For the first bracelet which is pictured at the top of this page I used the cultured sea glass ring beads 16mm in light sapphire bottle-neck style rings.   I used Irish waxed linen thread in denim blue and a few white and blue beads that I had in my stash.  I purchased the thread from White Clover Kiln.  This Etsy shop offers a large selection of colors in this thread.

Rectangular shaped beads with multicolored spacers by Bay Moon Design

For the second bracelet I used Znetshow's rectangular shaped beads with multicolored spacers from my stash.  I combined the two rows of beads with Stretch Magic.  This type of cord is generally used to make beaded rings, bracelets and necklaces.  The slippery, stretchy nature of the cord can pose a problem; knots typically slide out very easily.   Knowing a technique to tie the knots can make all the difference in the success of your Stretch Magic project.

Tips for using Stretch Magic:

1.  Choose more than double the length of stretch magic cord that you need for your project.
2.   Add the beads. When you finish, there should be two or three inches of cord at either end with the beads in the middle.
3.  Bring both ends together, so that they are parallel to one another. Place one end perpendicular to the other one. The two ends should now be crossed, forming an "x." Holding the two ends in this position, take strand that is positioned on top of the "x" and bend it away from you. Allow the tip of this same strand to move down and toward you, back through the "o" that has now been created. Instead of pulling the ends taut (as one would normally do), repeat the over and through loop once more with the same strand. Now pull the ends tight, closing the loop and creating a knot.

4.  Add a drop of hypo cement glue to the knot. Pull the final bead over it. The glue will help to secure the bead over the knot and prevent your work from coming apart. 

 5.   Cut any protruding ends of the cord 1/4-inch away from the knot. Place a drop of glue at either side of the securing bead in each opening. Allow the glue to dry before wearing the jewelry.

 

Blue memory wire bracelet by Bay Moon Design

 I wanted to add a third bracelet to the cause so I decided to make a memory wire bracelet with some blue beads from my stash and I added a piece of denim colored fairy ribbon that I had left from another project. 

On each bracelet, I attached a card with a favorite quote of mine by Christopher Reeve--"Once you choose hope, anything's possible."

Tomorrow the three bracelet will be mailed to:

Global Genes

c/o  7000 Bracelets of Hope

28 Argonaut, Suite 150
Aliso Viejo, CA 92656

I hope you will consider helping this cause in any way that you can.   More information can found at https://globalgenes.org/.  If you are a beader, consider using Znetshows beads.  They are reasonable in price and the company is great to work with!  I love their light sapphire colored beads for this project.  In my mind, they are the perfect color.