Beadwork is a Wonderful Art

As you know, I’m a jewelry designer (among several other arts) and this past year I’ve been learning beadworking.  It is amazing how relaxing it can be.  I love doing all of the stitches and watching how each piece turns out.  It is time consuming, but worth all that you put into it.

For those who want to start beadworking, I suggest getting a subscription to the magazines “Beadwork” and “Bead and Button.”  These publications are a font of beadworking knowledge.  You can learn the stitches and create the projects.

The bracelet shown is my bracelet that I made for the Lake Shore Artists group annual May Exhibit.  It won second place to my surprise.

Since I’m learning beadworking, I will add it to my list of creative things to do.  I will post my projects as I go along.

Thanks for stopping by  🙂

Red Crystal Earrings….loving these fire polished beads….

These are my newest creation, listed on etsy http://www.etsy.com/listing/89765821/earrings-red-creamy-faceted-ab-fire .

They are made on a sterling silver headpin and are wire wrapped on handmade sterling silver spiraled earwires.  I especially liked the new fire-polished crystal beads that I ordered and used.  I’ve never tried them before and I have to say that they are lovely colored and faceted nicely….sparkling lovely colors when you hold them to any light.  For an added finish, I added sterling silver bali-style daisy spacers and a couple of tiny seed beads.

To see these and other artisan crafted jewelry, visit my Etsy shop at http://www.etsy.com/shop/BohemianIce

 

Want to know more about God and how He can work in your life?  http://www.settledinheaven.wordpress.com  and

http://www.youtube.com/settledinheaven

New Line of Hammered Metal Earrings and Pendants

I recently listed these new copper earrings on my BohemianIce etsy.  I am starting a new line of hammered metal earrings and pendants in copper, sterling silver and brass.  I really enjoy working with metal…the bending, twisting, hammering, wrapping….to me, it’s all fun.  This pair is made in a zigzag shape….these and most of my earwires are handmade (I have a few manufactured ones left, but I like making my own).  I wire wrapped Swarovski Crystal Rivoli’s on this pair and hammered the copper for texture and sparkle.

To get a better view of these earrings, click here  http://www.etsy.com/listing/70853479/contemporary-styled-copper-earrings-with

Anyone interested in special ordering or wholesale for shops, contact me at bohemianice@gmail.com

Bohemian Ice Jewelry…Gold Spiral Wirewrapped Bracelet…please VOTE for my bracelet :D

Hey, all my peeps….I need a favor….I belong to a great group called “On Fire for Handmade.”  This group has a poll each week on a website called, “Made For Me By Oaklie.”  My  Gold Spiral Bracelet,  pictured here,  has been featured in this poll this week and I would LOVE to win.   The winner gets free advertising.  I can use the promotion.

The name of the poll is “Midas Touch.”  Please go to this page, madeformebyoaklie.com/greatfinds.html, scroll way down until you see my bracelet on the left titled “Bohemian Ice,” and you will see to the left of the picture a list of the participants.  Go to “Bohemian Ice,” I think it’s 6th from the bottom of the list, and click on the little dot to the left of the name….then go to the bottom of the list and click on “submit vote.”

I really appreciate your votes everyone!  You’re all the BEST! 😀

You can see more information on this bracelet and more of my jewelry at Bohemian Ice Jewelry Shop on Etsy. 

Here’s a shout out for my peeps and the sites:

Made For Me By Oaklie FB page  http://www.facebook.com/pages/Made-for-Me-by-Oaklie/102558979013?__a=1

Etsy Promo Love http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=128270993863622

Madeformebyoaklie etsy http://www.etsy.com/shop/madeformebyoaklie

Feb. 4, 2011 UPDATE   Thank you everyone for voting for me.  I did win. YAY.  I appreciate your votes  😀

Valentine’s Day on it’s way

If you have a loved one, you probably love Valentine’s Day.  What a nice day to put all of that hustle bustle on hold and bring out the romance.  Everyone has their own ideas about what romance should be.  To me, it doesn’t have to be a big fancy thing, like dinner or some special event.  I just love having my sweet husband look into my eyes and tell me he loves me and just snuggling up together and spending some special time with each other.  Although, not necessary, flowers are always wonderful to me….I just love flowers.  I’m one of those sweet, sappy romantics. 

For those who like to show their love through getting a gift for their woman, the love of their life, jewelry is always something most women love to receive.  That special sparkle, the thing that a woman can wear that makes her think of her sweetheart. 

I as an artist, enjoy creating jewelry that may be that special piece.  I love working with pearls, crystal, gemstones, wire….the materials used to make that one special piece. 

Please take a minute and look at the special pieces that I picked for Valentine’s Day.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/BohemianIce?section_id=7692497

If you’re interested in the sterling silver vintage upcycled heart in the picture, here is the link.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/66450687/beautifully-romantic-sterling-silver

Vintage Pearls & Swarovski Crystal…a couple of my favorite things in jewelry design

First of all, sorry for being gone so long from writing in this blog.  With that said…in this post, I will tell you about my expansion into designing and making jewelry that has vintage elements added.  I have a lot of old vintage jewelry past down through my family…and it occured to me that I would enjoy taking these vintage items apart and cleaning them to re-use and upcycle into new jewelry…I love doing this. 

This beautiful necklace is approx. 18 in. / 46 cm long.
Being upcycled, I took the original vintage necklace and cleaned and restrung the graduated creamy vintage faux pearls with durable flexible jewelry wire (coated with nylon). I added tiny silver lined opal czech glass beads in between each pearl. In the front where the pearls are largest, I added 4 (4mm)Swarovski silver crystal bicones to give that final sparkly touch. Finally, I re-added the original vintage sterling silver clasp. The findings that I used were sterling silver also.
You can see this necklace here  http://www.etsy.com/listing/66568783/romantic-upcycled-vintage-pearl-necklace

This necklace would make a lovely Valentine’s Day or Mother’s Day gift or would be great for a wedding for the bride or bridesmaid.

Wedding Jewelry

I love to do custom orders….it’s so rewarding to make something for someone and have it turn out just the way that they want it.  This photo is just part of an order that I had for an upcoming wedding.  This necklace and earring set was made for the bride.  I used freshwater pearls in white and cranberry….the white pearls had Swarovski crystals embedded in them…what sparkle!  I used Swarovski crystals to accent the pearls also, and an awesome rose clasp with crystals. 

I also did the bridesmaids jewelry, the flower girls jewelry, and the mothers of the couple.  Anyone interested in having their perfect piece hand-crafted by an artisan, I would love the opportunity to oblige.  Check out my other jewelry at Bohemian Ice or email at bohemianice@gmail.com.