Antiqued Brass Chain with Crackle Glass

I really like crackle glass beads, although I can't always find it.  It is round smooth glass beads in which you can see crackles, like ice.  I believe it is made using temperature changes which make the crackles appear.  In these pieces, I've used icy white, teal, and sunny yellow crackle beads.

I also like the "antiqued" colors of metal, such as antiqued silver, antiqued copper, and in this case antiqued brass, er, antiqued gold, er, oh what is it?   Depending on where you buy it, sometimes antiqued brass looks like antiqued gold, and of course there is a vintage brass which is known by a similar brand name.  Some stores sell something called gunmetal, which may or may not look like gunmetal grey, but sometimes looks like antiqued brass.  Ah!  I lost the tag to this bulk chain, so I do not know what the vendor was calling this.   It was more golden than vintage brass, but browner than antiqued gold. 

Anyway, it was pretty, whatever it is called.

Black Friday Sale

Happy Thanksgiving!  The time of year for eating and shopping (but then, when isn't it?).  I have put everything in my Etsy shop on sale, at 10% off.  The items will read "Black Friday Sale" in their description with the reduced price.  Some items may not read that way, which means they fell off the "Etsy on Sale" application boat, a story with which I shall not bore you.  Nevertheless, if the items are not showing the 10% discount, I shall merely credit back the discount to the purchaser.  There is undoubtedly a less confusing way to communicate this, but I am feeling fatigued.  And, I am still adding items to my shop.  The sale will continue on to Thanksgiving Day, Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Sloppy Sunday, and Cyber Monday.  I made up the Sloppy Sunday name, as I'm not sure if it has a handle yet.  Keep checking the shop!  I must have added at least 20 more earrings in the past 48 hours, I have about another dozen bracelets to add, and haven't even checked out the necklace inventory updates.

You Can Never Have Too Much Blue

You might remember my post on this necklace back in the Spring.  I bought more of the same beads and made coordinating earrings and bracelets.  The clasp and connectors are pewter, which I think looks really nice with these blue beads.  These pieces always make me think of running water.

Coral Nuggets on Gunmetal Chain



These are coral nuggets that I have put on a gunmetal chain.  The color of gunmetal is somewhere between silver and black.  I made the round connectors from stainless steel wire.  It was my first endeavor with stainless steel wire, which is quite stiffer than other wires I have used.  The color of the wire is greyer, or darker, than silver wire, so I thought it would match the gunmetal chain.

Things Thursday

The latest catalog supplement for Rings and Things shows many nice items.  The first one to catch my eye was this Red Creek Jasper.  Above you see them in large puffed ovals.  I love the warm colors of brick, green, and grey, and the way they have those stripes or hash marks.  I think these would look great paired with silver or gunmetal colored wire.  Small transparent olive crystals would make great spacer beads.  These beads also come in other interesting shapes, too.

Yellow Turquoise Not

This necklace features various types of jasper, shell, and glass.  The focal stones are labeled as "yellow turquoise", so that is what I am calling them.  However, yellow turquoise is not turquoise that is yellow.  Apparently, it is a type of jasper.  Who comes up with these names?

I've used an antiqued silver S-clasp on this necklace.  I don't usually use these, since it makes me wonder why there need to be two hooks on either end, when only one would do.  Between that and wondering why they call it yellow turquoise, oh my!  On the other hand, I basically design upon the "ooh pretty!" rationale, so this fits the bill.