Art Jewelry Elements July Component of the Month

Blog Hop!!

I was lucky enough to win a drawing for one of Jennifer Cameron's wonderful Nightmare Insomnia Lampwork beads. This was part of a challenge sponsored by Art Jewelry Elements. And today is the big reveal. All we had to do was use our amazing bead in a piece of jewelry. Easy right? Weeeellll, At first I didn't think so. Here is the bead I won.

It's beautiful, complex, and large. I was also involved in the Bead Soup Blog Party effort, so what was I thinking challenging myself again? And then I realized what I needed to do was go with my strength. Although I admire complex designs, I did not have to push myself that far. Because this is a pretty complex bead. Here is what Jennifer had to say about her Nightmare Insomnia beads, after first explaining that she was coping with her daughter's nightmares:

'One night, as I was torching, I was stewing about this particular issue, and suddenly my beads started growing these stylized spider end caps thingys on them before I realized what was going on. The next morning when I showed my lovely daughter, she responded with "that's really mean that you made those because of my nightmare, but also really cool." '

So in a way this is an emotionally charged bead. I suddenly knew what I wanted to do. I wanted to turn the nightmare into a sweet dream. I couldn't get wild with dangles, crystals and fiddly bits, Uh-uh, no tassels, although I was tempted. So I started looking through my stash of seed beads and came up with some coordinating colors. A trip to the discount store resulted in the purchase of some bar shaped glass beads in cool colors - two of which coordinated with the Nightmare Insomnia bead. And after quickly laying out and stringing the main part of the design, it sat for a few days. I didn't know how to finish it. Ok, a couple of cones, then what? I really like magnetic clasps, for their practicality and also their ability to blend into many designs. But I needed something a bit more assertive. I went back to the store and came back with several clasps. Some small but decorative toggles, and a little larger, fancier magnetic clasp. Then I went with my gut. Magnetic it was.   


Here is, A Daughter's Sweet Dream.

The clasp

The camera liked my concrete steps better than the black velvet, go figure. 

Please visit these talented Artists to see what they have come up with for their unique bead!

Beti Horvath: Stringing Fool

Gretchen Nation: Art Food Lodging

Karen Totten: Starry Road Studio

Kathleen Douglas: Washoe Kat's

Keirsten Giles: The Cerebral Dilettante

Kristen Stevens: My Bead Journey

Lola: Bead Lola Bead

Lori Anderson: Pretty Things

Nancy Pederson: Something Heartfelt by Nancy

Pam DeBoer: Purple Notes from the Studio

Rana Wilson: Rana Lea Designs

Shannon Chomanczuk: For My Sweet Daughter

Catching up!

Things Bloggy

Ooops! Did I forget something? I am participating in the Blog Hop For Art Jewelry Elements July Component of the Month. I already own another Jennifer Cameron piece, but I really wanted to get up close and personal with one of the Insomnia Nightmare series, And here it is. I won this gorgeous bead! 

I am already working on the necklace that this bead will star in. Stay tuned!

What else? Well, the Bead Soup first reveal is right around the corner, on July 28. I am seeing blue beads in my sleep. Here's a picture of Carolyn's lovely selection.


I hope I have done it justice!

What else? 

On August 4, the reveal for the Thrift Store Blog Hop  should be lots of fun. Some of us are finding out, however, that the $1.50 price limit is a bigger challenge then we thought! In the U.S. at least, thrift shop owners want to wring every penny out of old stuff!

Here's what I chose to work with:

It's a pair of funky '80s (?) earrings from the designer Edgar Berebi. I try to avoid messing with vintage jewelry that may have some intrinsic value in its present state but look:

If you look closely, you can see that the original posts are smushed down and probably would not last long if straightened and used as earrings. And I thought they would look good as a necklace. More later!