Copper Earth-Tone Bracelet

I've used green jasper, taupe sea glass, and ivory natural pearls here with copper wire to make a bracelet.

Copper is such a pretty color.  I don't know why I don't use it more.

Brown Medallion Necklace

This is a long necklace made of tiger's eye with golden cylindrical beads.  I made the pendant from resin, in a mold I made from a found item.   I think it looks like an antique or at least part of a space ship.

I colored the resin during the mixing, plus painted and rubbed it after curing.  

Jade Buddha Head

I picked up a strand of antique jade Buddha head beads at a bead show a while back. I liked them, but then had a difficult time deciding what to do with them.  They are a bit large and heavy, so they don't lend themselves to earrings.

 I eventually made a necklace with one bead as a pendant, using organza ribbon.  I think I was in a "ribbon phase" at the time.  I combined it with some pewter beads.

The bead is also too large and awkward for bracelets.  I might attempt a different design with chain or cord.  I don't want it to be paired with anything heavy, because then it would make for a really heavy necklace.  I'll continue to muse over this for a while.  I still really like the beads.

White Pearls on Antiqued Brass Chain

I made this necklace some time ago.  The chain is brass, with an antiqued finish.  It has a "rough" look to it.  I thought it would display the soft sheen of pearls nicely.

I like putting opposites together.  The matte brown of the brass is nice with pearls.

Blue Mother of Pearl Bracelet

I like the colored mother of pearl nuggets quite a bit.  These are in a pretty aqua color.

I've paired them with pastel aqua crystal pearls, and then accented them with chocolate brown seed beads.

Farewell to Autumn

We are losing the autumn colors now, and changing into a black and white palette.  I've seen a lot of gray in the skies lately, so I thought I'd bring out some photos from only a few weeks ago.

Carved Jade with Carnelian

I picked up carved antique jade beads and faceted carnelian briolettes at two different occasions at two different shops.  It took me a while to decide what to do with them, but you see I have put them together into earrings.

I like these two colors together -- the brown and the orange.  I also think the shapes of square and teardrop look nice together also.

Brown Lampwork Focal

I thought this brown lampwork bead was really nice.  It has a foiled core, and splashes of color, such as yellow, green and red.  I placed it on golden crinkle wire, which is permanently crinkled stainless steel flexible wire, and set it off with green, red, and yellow beads which echo the color splashes.  It is a nice clean look which brings the eye immediately to the focal bead.

Brown Purple Hair Fascinator with Flower and Feathers

A fascinator is somewhere between a barrette and a hat.  At least, that's how I describe it.  They have become more popular lately.  I have made a few and plan to make more.  I need to use some different vendors, which has been a research task.

This piece is mostly in neutrals, but it needed a bit of a "punch", so I added a blue/purple feather to the other brown tones.

Working on the fascinators brings back pleasant memories of my great aunt Leila, who owned a millinery store in Santa Cruz, California.  She might be pleased to know the netting is back in style now also!  I remember playing in her store and looking at all those colorful hats!

Heart of Clay - Polymer

I started working with polymer clay a little bit, right before my accident.  Here is a necklace with a clay heart pendant.  I used green and brown colors, and accented it with glitter and a ribbon. 

I put a little glaze on it to give it a sheen.  Then I strung it with a seed bead pattern that picks up the colors in the heart.

And THEN, added the antiqued bronze chain.

In that fanciful time of my imagination, when I have time for all things, I will get back to making some more clay items. 

Pearl Color Comparison - Browns and Tans

I'm a big fan of colored glass pearls, and I have always found a great selection at Auntie's Beads .  I am always curious how the colors will look in real life, despite reading their descriptive names and looking at the web site photos.  Today I'm doing a color comparison for some of their pearls in brown and tan shades.  This may help the prospective buyer, or just some eye candy for the rest of you!

First, of course, would be pearls with the name of chocolate.  Who can't resist that?  These have a nice milk chocolate color and look positively scrumptious!

Next is the Vintage Rose.  Although there is a small bit of pink or mauve in this color, it is dusty and muted enough that I am including it in the "tan" category.  This is a very pretty color and could really be outstanding in a vintage-inspired design.

The next two are the problem children.  Not that I don't love them, and they certainly are beautiful!  It's just that I would give them different names.  These are the pearls with the name of "Champagne."

I have never drunk champagne that color.  If anything, it looks like sherry.  There is definitely a golden tan color here.  Pretty, but champagne?  Here is a necklace with the SHERRY colored pearls.

Next are the Golden Bronze pearls.  I will not go so far as to say these look like they could be called champagne, no I will not say it. 

The Golden Bronze are not nearly as golden as the Champagne.  Actually, I would rename the Golden Bronze as Almondine, since they are closer to the color of Marconi almonds. 

The photo above shows all four colors together so you can see the comparison.  The smallest are the "Champagne".  Next smallest is the "Vintage Rose".  These all look wonderfully pearly and have a weight similar to a genuine pearl.  Colored glass pearls are great because they have such a uniformity and usually have a slightly bigger hole for stringing than the ones nature made.  I can't wait to use more of these in my designs!



Brown Shell Earrings

I used large flat discs of brown shell for these earrings, and added a dangle of red glass and brown metallic crystal on the bottom.   I think this is a nice color combination, especially for the fall and winter.

Chris

This is a two-strand necklace using colors that are earthy and woodsy in character.  Green, coppery brown, olive and tan beads combine with clear quartz nuggets combine in a look that is both delicate and earthy at the same time.  It is finished with a pretty square pewter toggle clasp.