Summer Vacation XXV
Summer Vacation XXIV
I hope you can click through on your screen to see a large version of this.
Summer Vacation XXIII
Jasper & Love
At last! I saw these jasper beads in one of my favorite NYC shops earlier this summer, and made a necklace. But it simply wasn't right. So this past week I remade it, double the length, so that it works as a necklace *or* as a wrap bracelet. Ahhhh, perfect :) If you look closely, you'll see that I use 2mm and 3mm beads, which along with the color varigation give the piece its interest and texture.
Another at-long-last piece. I bought two of these dalmatian jasper beads in Portland ME earlier this summer. Then got home, and promptly realized that I needed four beads, not just the two. After much to do, I ordered more and received them this week - twenty, just in case I need more later :) Pleased with the end result, though I don't think these photos do the piece justice. I need a model in a black dress, maybe...
Yes! I recently discovered an online vendor with great prices (and a Labor Day weekend sale, fun!) and great inventory. So these were one of my first purchases. These were more difficult to place than you'd think - the sparkle inherent in colored faceted beads didn't fit well with the matte aesthetic of most of my recent work. But - on their own, these beads can shine. I look forward to finding other ways to make use of them soon :)
And finally, "Moxie". I took process photos for these, and may include them in a later post so you can see the drafts I go through in a normal brainstorming process. You may recognize the metallic faceted beads here - I use them often. You might also recognize the center bead - it's part of a set of pearly beads that surprise me often with their usefulness. The third element is a new faceted bead from my lastest shop discover a mere block from my day job office. The best part of these beads though, is the gestalt - as a whole they achieve a neutral champagne color that could go with many outfits, yet speaks as a statement piece.
So overall, you could say recent weeks have brought great new vendors to light, which will be foundational to any sustainable business model I hope will grow from this hobby. Pleased with my progress, but eager as always for more-faster-better. Onward!
Summer Vacation XXII
I promise I'll try to finish posting these by fall :)
Summer Vacation XXI
Summer Vacation XX
Summer Vacation XIX
We've made it to day 5 of a 9 day trip - and behold, the light has decided to improve. I like the images a lot more from here on out.
What's that? Are those people digging up mussels at 5 in the morning? Why yes, yes indeed.
Summer Vacation XVIII
This was my pity sunset stop - I wanted good light and the first option was completely blocked by woods. While this is lovely, the clouds still obscure what you can tell, by looking really heard, would have been some great shades of peachy-pink.
Summer Vacation XVII
Summer Vacation XVI
Summer Vacation XV
Jasper & Love
Another lovely week for creating new jewelry - and new product photos! I've been using much more morning light, as the evening hours of good light are nearing their end for 2016. This pair, "SOL", was a double lucky find. I accidentally found a new bead store one block from my office. (One block!) Better yet, it sells individual beads - many places only offer packs, so any choice is a larger investment that you'd really want to make. So I picked out the red and mango colored beads, as I'd been wanting some darker warm tones to work with, and the different shapes complemented each other. Then - then I found these turquoise-y green discs that look like globes and said MUST HAVE. In my rush, I didn't write down what they were called. Next time... :)
Now you can see - now you can see why jasper is one of my love languages. Oh! These are ocean jasper, like the last in today's series, so take a second to compare how different they are. Wow! But these strong deep colors and distinctive patterns are brilliant, and since I used all four this week I expect to buy more next week. (Ok, or tomorrow.) While I love the glass beads above the stone, what makes this pair work, I think, is the chain beneath. Only one question outstanding - do we like 2 dangling chains, or do we prefer 3? I may try three next time, or try adding some embellishment to the chain, to see if that enhances or detracts from the gestalt.
Sea glass! Alright, I only remember these are glass and am not 100% sure that they are sea glass. Something to ask my vendor when/if I reorder these. I adore this color, and adore even more how well it photographs. Look at the difference in color across these images! Aren't you so glad you have multiple images with multiple lighting sources, so you can get a feel for how these look? Me too.
Ah, and the second pair of ocean jasper, alongside glass beads and a surprise guest, a plastic bead! I don't normally buy plastic beads - no good reason, I'm just too stuff for plastic. But these caught my eye before I knew what they were made of, and I took them home anyway. Do an experiment for me - pretend the bright blue plastic bead isn't there. Do you still like these earrings? I do. But *with* the bright - and perfectly sized - blue-green, these really come alive. I also like how the darker bits of the stone talk to the darker findings. It will be interesting to see if I can find some similar stones, then pair them with matte navy beads. Onward!
Summer Vacation XIV
Summer Vacation XIII
This is a second day of images from Jordan Pond in Acadia National Park. I love the abstract lines in water, especially the 3rd and 5th here. Reminds me of a photographer's work I saw while traveling in January, who had shot reeds and their reflections in a way that made them look Kalder-esque. Amazing!
Summer Vacation XII
Summer Vacation XI
Summer Vacation X
Jasper and Love
For now, I'm calling these "Cora II", just as the first fossil coral earrings I made were "Cora". We'll see if I need to get more creative, or if that will help me memorize all these names. I have a penchant for naming inanimate objects, so it's easier to remember than you'd think :)
Wow. I'll be honest, I wasn't sure the selfie product shot would work. But the lighting! The dress near-matching the wall! (Ok, not really in real life, but with this light - excellent!) These "Citra" earrings are *so* simple but still pack a punch.
By far my favorite. This asymmetrical composition is lovely - I can see myself using it again in future. But the colors too! Playing both sides of the gold tone, darker with the faceted small bead and lighter with the creamy yellow one... and same with the pink. A mottled salmon below, and a faded salmon above. Love these shapes, and the light in these images definitely worked in my favor.
These are one of the few one-of-a-kind earrings I expect to make. But who knows! I found these stones at a rock shop in Maine, and while there were a handful of others I really wanted, it was these that I simply couldn't say "no" to.
Next up - besides just making more work and exploring more materials, I also want to get this glass product shot right. You'll see that some of these are different from before. The earrings are actually hooked onto a plastic vase, and a glass vase is behind it to further abstract the background. I like this method, but need some windex to make both vases spotless. Projects!