I love summer. Summer means time in Mammoth Lakes California. We have a small cabin in the woods and summer is the only time we can use it. We try spend as much time as we can. I love the smell of the mountains and the quiet. I bring my beads and a lot of my jewelry supplies so I can work on pieces when I am not hiking or just chilling out. What happens when I am back in San Diego is bead production and working at Studio 9 in Balboa Park. I also love to make beads so this going back and forth to the cabin is hard on bead making. Tough life I have! LOL!
Summer also means the Pasadena Bead and Design Show July 25th through July 28th and the San Diego Bead Society Annual Bead Bazaar August 3rd and 4th. These are great shows for me to sell and shop! To find out about the Pasadena show click here. To find out about the San Diego Bead Bazaar click here. (There is a $2 off coupon for entrance to the bazaar.)
I have been having fun with red glass. This glass is transparent and a beautiful blue red. Sorry the photo doesn't do them justice. I made small and large focal, hollow beads and my regular small beads.
I have been missing a turquoise color in my "torch fired enamel" beads. I use turquoise often in glass beads but the blues I use in the "torch fired enamel" beads didn't go with them. So here I am introducing my new color. I love it! I can't wait to use it in a design.
Also, I am introducing some new shapes. Large and small leaves; small domed flowers; round drain disks; and a large filigree pendant. How can they be used you ask?
I have used the large leaf as a focal in a necklace. It is so nice and light! Actually all of the "torch fired enamel" beads are very light. They add texture and color to designs.
The small leaf is great to add to the end of a necklace or as a dangle. It adds a pop of color.
I use the small flowers all the time as caps for beads.
So far I have only made earrings with the round drain disks. I call them drain disks cause it reminds me of a sink drain.
I haven't had a chance to make a piece of jewelry with the filigree pendant yet. Maybe I will have something to show you at the Pasadena Bead and Design Show or at the SD Bead Bazaar. My thought it to use it as a pendant/bail and hang pieces from it. Or to use it as an element in a necklace. Also, I have formed some of the pendants over my wrist so I can use it in a bracelet.
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| Spring Blossoms |
This is a good example of how I use the small leaves. Also, the wire worked elements are made with aluminum! Ask me about it!
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| Mexican Days |
In this design I used the large leaf as my pendant along with copper beads by Patricia Healy. Patricia will be at the Pasadena Bead and Design Show and the SD Bead Bazaar. She designs all of the beads and has them made in Mexico.
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| Cathedral Earrings |
Another new shape! It felt like I was forgetting something when I took the photo of the new shapes and color. This was my accident shape that I discovered when I ran over a bead with my car! Now I my grand kids make them for me. They love hammering! Of course you can use them for other things than just earrings like for an element in a necklace. For some reason I always think of earrings first!
I have many more examples of how my beads can be used. Come to one of the shows and I will give you all of the details. You can also see the samples at my retail studio, Studio 9, Spanish Village Art Center in Balboa Park. Directions and location is listed at the link at the top of page.
If you have any questions about my beads or how I have used them, don't hesitate to ask. I am willing to share!
Thanks for stopping! Hope to see you soon!
Jan
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| Lake George and Lake Mary on trail to Crystal Lake Mammoth Lakes, CA |
