A little bit of pretty

I’ve managed to tap into a little bit of creativity during the holidays. Nothing major, but at least a few new pieces. Earrings with amethyst, pink rutile and sapphire, and a pair with gorgeous aquamarine drops. Also, a double-strand bracelet with pearls and pink chalcedony, and one with really smooth nuggets of labradorite.

Where’s the inspiration?

So, if I can’t show you anything I’ve made lately, at least I can show you what my kitchen table has looked like that last couple of days!!!

After the Bead Show

So, nobody had any Thai silver for sale. That was the only reason I went to the bead show! However, I didn’t want to make the whole trip a total waste, so I bought a few beads … from left to right: green onyx in matrix, aquamarine, aquamarine, kyanite, aquamarine and ruby. Guess I had a thing for aquamarines today, huh?! As you can see, they are all different, though. From translucent to opaque.


And look at these two handmade glass beads, aren’t they just fabulous? I’ve never seen anything like them before! And if you enlarge the pictures, you can really see all the wrinkles in my hand. Ha, ha!

Big fat liar!!!

That’s what I am! I’m not sure how long “a while” is (see previous post filled with lofty assurances), but traditionally, when it comes to bead shopping, one should hope that it is more than two weeks. Not so, dear friend! Not in my case, apparently. I REALLY just went to my local bead store to use up the store credit I had there. You know, $17 just sitting there, when I could have $17 worth of beads at home instead. Well, I had no idea they were having a trunk show!!! I believe I am in serous need of help!


Pictured from top to bottom of my pile of obsession are: green garnet (or grossular garnet, for those of us who have a serious addiction to gems!) impression jasper, aquamarine (these are luscious ... mm!), gorgeous polished chunks of labradorite, lava, white turquoise, pink tourmaline chunks, and lapidalite jasper.

I’m making no more promises of frugality. Nope! I’m sure I’ll be buying more beads in the next couple of weeks.

A little bit of creativity

I had envisioned lots of beading for this weekend, but my beading session started out with me just staring at all my new beads and finding myself completely out of ideas!! Figures! When I finally took the pressure off myself to just sit down and make even just one pair of earrings, the creative juices sort of came back—and then I ran out of time. Ha, ha! Well, despite my lack of time, I did manage to finish these two bracelets; one with kyanite—my favorite—and oxidized silver, the other with gorgeous chunks of citrine—appropriate for November and my personal birthstone.

And please, no comments on the amount of wrinkles on my hands and arms, OK? OK! Thank you!