Day Four of Artist Showcase

I am in a funk.  It could be the glorious weather today (it's raining).  Plus, I need to do a tutorial that's due in a few days that I've been putting off.  I've never done one before and I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed by it.  Ugh!  

Anyway, I just wanted to remind everyone that today is the beginning of sign ups for BeadFest Wire in King of Prussia.  I'd love to meet you there if you are going.  I'll be taking "Wild Woman Bangles"  by Debora Mauser #2153 and I'd love friends to go shopping with.

Let's get going with day four of my blogging buddies creations.

The first artist today is Renate of Stregata  and she lives in Germany.  I always enjoying look at her flea market finds.  They are so interesting.  Totally different than what you'd find in the US.  She even found a hedgehog once in her yard.  So now whenever I think of her I think, "Hedgehog Whisperer".  Sorry, Renate.  I hope you don't take offense to that.  For those of you living in the US, I'm sure you remember the movie "The Horse Whisperer".

"I have had a fascination with jewelry for a very long time – I love to look at vintage and ancient pieces at the museum. In my metal work, I prefer a somewhat imperfect look; a little rustic or primitive perhaps. Currently, I am having a love affair with copper. Beads of all kinds are another passion, be it glass or gemstone.

For the exchange, I chose to combine etched bronze sheet - shaped into cones, with copper and beads of faceted turquoise (these have been colour enhanced) and matte teal glass beads. I love the archaic feel of these and the teal combined with the patinated copper/bronze. Hopefully, my exchange partner, Jeanette, will also love them."

Up next is Lisa from Lucid Moon.  Lisa is getting married very soon or maybe she already did.  Can't remember!  So wish this newlywed your best.  

Veronique wrote that she likes long earrings, prefers copper, earth tones and has sensitive ears.   I used niobium earwires which are hypo-allergenic and also a copper tone.  Then I used oxidized copper wire to wire wrap vintage pearl buttons of my late grandmother's, copper washers that I etched with a floral pattern, mossy agate teardrops and Swarovski crystals.  I made them pretty long since she said she liked long earrings, but I was afraid they might be too long.  However, Veronique said they are not, and she likes the length.  I also included some fun extra goodies for her to possibly use in future jewelry designs.  I noticed that she seems to like vintage things, and mixed media components, so I kept that in mind when choosing some
extras to send to her.

 

Cindy Wimmer from Sweet Bead Studio is next.  Cindy is one of the first artists I started blogging with.  She has a very big heart and mad wire working skills! 

"I wanted to create something to celebrate the season, so I chose autumn colors.  I knew Esther liked crystal with the AB finish so I chose a large, 8mm Swarovski crystal AB for the center.  I hammered the sterling silver wire a bit to create a frame with a coiled top section.  I made my own earwires...and I had to make a few before I was happy that the two matched up well enough!  I had fun coiling the wire and stretching out the coils as I went, adding a few Swarovski crystals here and  there for a random look.  I oxidized the earrings as we all know Esther loves a good patina!  Then I polished the earrings and was all finished!"

Last on the list today is Erin Prais-Hintz of Tesori Trovati.  Erin has very inspirational chats with her bloggers about the daily grind of life on her blog with fun photos.

"When I got the word about LeAnn Weih of Summer's Studio as my secret earring match I was so very nervous. She makes the most gorgeous components! I am not sure how I could compare. But I knew i wanted to make her something that could be dressed up or down. Her color choices were blues and green, especially with brown and that made it easy! She wanted longer earrings. So I used some antique copper chain and picked out some lovely peacock blue-green faceted pearls (I love the way the facets make them so translucent, like little stained glass windows). I also used my favorite Montana sapphire tabac bicone crystals on some longer kidney shaped ear wires. This was a really fun treat to participate in, and I thank Leslie for connecting all of us!"

 

We should be finishing up probably tomorrow with the rest of the artists.  And if the sun is shining where you're at could you please send some my way.  :(