This 'n That

More beautiful jewelry from a fellow jewelry designer!

Kandi-o Designs.. creations by Kandace… truly unique and a style of their own! Kandace also has a shop called Cap It! More unique designs for you!
You can find Kandace At:

Shop URL
Etsy Shop
2nd Shop URL
Madeitmyself Shop
Website URL
Blog URL

Aubrey Baby Blue Hand Painted Wall Letters $18.00 These beautiful letters will add that special touch to your little ones room. Hand painted to order with your child's name.You canalsochoose a coordinating [Read more] Dwell Baby 4 Piece Dots Chocolate Crib Set $384.00 The Dots Chocolate Crib Set is part of dwellbaby's renowned collection of stylish bedding and accessories. Crib set includes play blanket, bumper, fitted sheet, and crib sk... [Read more] Sweet Baby Pink Frame $32.00 This adorable 7x 7 wood frame is hand painted and accented with a bow. Holds a 4x4 pic. [Read more]

This week it’s my turn to be the featured artisan in the “Share the Love… Blogger’s Unite”!  Each week, the participating bloggers feature a different handmade artist.  I’m so happy to be the one this week!

Shop URL
http://juhutch.artfire.com
2nd Shop URL
http://www.bonanzle.com/booths/juliahutchinsdesigns
3rd Shop URL
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=18953
Website URL
http://www.juliahutchins.com
Blog URL
http://www.juliahutchins.com/blog1

Aubrey Baby Blue Hand Painted Wall Letters $18.00 These beautiful letters will add that special touch to your little ones room. Hand painted to order with your child's name.You canalsochoose a coordinating [Read more] Dwell Baby 4 Piece Dots Chocolate Crib Set $384.00 The Dots Chocolate Crib Set is part of dwellbaby's renowned collection of stylish bedding and accessories. Crib set includes play blanket, bumper, fitted sheet, and crib sk... [Read more] Sweet Baby Pink Frame $32.00 This adorable 7x 7 wood frame is hand painted and accented with a bow. Holds a 4x4 pic. [Read more]

This week’s “Share the Love – Blogger’s Unite” featured artisan is Julie from “Creations with Heart”.  Please stop by and visit her shop for some gorgeous handmade jewelry!

This weeks Featured Artisan is Julie from Creations with Heart! Beautiful creations made by a beautiful lady! You can find Creations with Heart at:

http://creationswithheart.artfire.com
http://creationswithheart.etsy.com
http://creationswithheart.com
http://creationswithheart.blogspot.com

Aubrey Baby Blue Hand Painted Wall Letters $18.00 These beautiful letters will add that special touch to your little ones room. Hand painted to order with your child's name.You canalsochoose a coordinating [Read more] Dwell Baby 4 Piece Dots Chocolate Crib Set $384.00 The Dots Chocolate Crib Set is part of dwellbaby's renowned collection of stylish bedding and accessories. Crib set includes play blanket, bumper, fitted sheet, and crib sk... [Read more] Sweet Baby Pink Frame $32.00 This adorable 7x 7 wood frame is hand painted and accented with a bow. Holds a 4x4 pic. [Read more]

This weeks featured artisan is Cathy – owner of Caty Ann’s Creations. Cathy lives in NW Ohio. She has been creating jewelry for about 6 years for herself and family members. Each of her pieces are unique. Stop by and see them all! You can find Caty Ann’s Creations here:

Artfire Shop – http://catyann.artfire.com
Ecrater Shop – http://.catyanns.ecrater.com
Zibbet Shop – http://.zibbet.com/catyann

Caty Ann’s Blog – http://catyannscreations.blogspot.com

Aubrey Baby Blue Hand Painted Wall Letters $18.00 These beautiful letters will add that special touch to your little ones room. Hand painted to order with your child's name.You canalsochoose a coordinating [Read more] Dwell Baby 4 Piece Dots Chocolate Crib Set $384.00 The Dots Chocolate Crib Set is part of dwellbaby's renowned collection of stylish bedding and accessories. Crib set includes play blanket, bumper, fitted sheet, and crib sk... [Read more] Sweet Baby Pink Frame $32.00 This adorable 7x 7 wood frame is hand painted and accented with a bow. Holds a 4x4 pic. [Read more]

This “Moonlight at Midnight” bracelet is one of my newest designs. I just love glass beads, and for this piece I chose an exquisite black with beige free style Kalera Bead for the focal component. I then looked for some glass and silver beads to compliment the focal bead. I found exactly what I needed with some 8mm Matte Glass Roundel Beads from Artbeads. I chose three different colors – Montana, Topaz and Jet. The blue, black and topaz compliment the colors in the Kalera bead beautifully!

Then on to my choice for the silver beads… I wanted something that I hadn’t tried before, so I browsed through Artbeads selection of Hill Tribe silver beads. Hill Tribe Silver beads from Thailand are made by the Karen Hill Tribe in northern Thailand using traditional tribal methods passed down from generation to generation. Purchasing these silver items helps sustain a traditional craft and provides the Karen people with a reliable source of income. The silver content in Hill Tribes silver beads and pendants is typically 95-99%, even higher than sterling (92.5%).

I found some wonderful Striated leaf beads from Hill Tribe that I thought would look great with the other beads that I used – they are unusual and have a very organic style. I also found a really nice Hill Tribe toggle clasp that I chose – Hill Tribe Silver Rounded Square Toggle. Now all I needed was some little sterling silver beads to use as spacers between the glass roundel beads. I found the perfect ones – 3mm Bright Sterling Silver Roundel Beads. I use these beads often, as they are so versatile and work great to add silver accents to pieces.

Here is a photo of my finished bracelet. I think it turned out great, and hope you like it also! I found everything to make it at Artbeads, my favorite beading vendor!

Kalera Glass Bracelet with Hill Tribe Silver

Kalera Glass Bracelet with Hill Tribe Silver

Disclosure: I have received the components used for this design from Artbeads free of charge. I am posting an honest review of said products and have not been paid to endorse said products.

Aubrey Baby Blue Hand Painted Wall Letters $18.00 These beautiful letters will add that special touch to your little ones room. Hand painted to order with your child's name.You canalsochoose a coordinating [Read more] Dwell Baby 4 Piece Dots Chocolate Crib Set $384.00 The Dots Chocolate Crib Set is part of dwellbaby's renowned collection of stylish bedding and accessories. Crib set includes play blanket, bumper, fitted sheet, and crib sk... [Read more] Sweet Baby Pink Frame $32.00 This adorable 7x 7 wood frame is hand painted and accented with a bow. Holds a 4x4 pic. [Read more]

A few ArtFire studios are having a “Spooky Deals” promotion today through Sunday (10/2 – 10/4)!  Each studio is offering a special coupon during this sale.  I am participating in the promotion, and am offering a 20% discount on all of my ArtFire items!  Use code “SPOOKY DEALS” at checkout to receive your discount

Aubrey Baby Blue Hand Painted Wall Letters $18.00 These beautiful letters will add that special touch to your little ones room. Hand painted to order with your child's name.You canalsochoose a coordinating [Read more] Dwell Baby 4 Piece Dots Chocolate Crib Set $384.00 The Dots Chocolate Crib Set is part of dwellbaby's renowned collection of stylish bedding and accessories. Crib set includes play blanket, bumper, fitted sheet, and crib sk... [Read more] Sweet Baby Pink Frame $32.00 This adorable 7x 7 wood frame is hand painted and accented with a bow. Holds a 4x4 pic. [Read more]

I decided to try something new last week.  I had a few different components that I wanted to use in a jewelry design, but needed something else for the design.  I had recently received some gorgeous sapphire or teal colored copper wire that I wanted to use in a necklace for myself.  I also had a fun Scrabble tile pendant that had a black cat with a moon – I didn’t want to just hang this handmade pendant on a chain, I wanted to make a special necklace for it.  That’s where Swarovski crystals from Artbeads come in…

I decided to order some gorgeous Swarovski crystals from ArtBeads. They had been featuring Swarovski all month, with some great specials offered.  I chose a variety of crystals in various shapes and colors.  I wanted to try some new types of Swarovski components – some that I don’t use every day and some that I had never used before.  I chose crystals in blues, greens, bronze/gold and black.  Here’s a photo of the crystals that I ordered – look at all the luscious colors!

Some of the new shapes that I ordered were the Triangle Ring and the Keystone Bead.

Swarovski Triangle Ring

Swarovski Keystone Bead

I also ordered some Swarovski asymmetrical crystal pearls in Antique Brass and some Polygon crystals in Olivine, plus some round, bicone and helix shapes.

After I received the crystals, I started playing around with the copper wire and crystals – just letting the design take shape as I worked with the wire and crystals.  I ended up with a very free form necklace that works great with the Scrabble tile cat pendant.  It’s completely different than any of my other pieces, but I think I like it.   I still have some of the crystals left, and I’ll probably use those for some earrings!

Aubrey Baby Blue Hand Painted Wall Letters $18.00 These beautiful letters will add that special touch to your little ones room. Hand painted to order with your child's name.You canalsochoose a coordinating [Read more] Dwell Baby 4 Piece Dots Chocolate Crib Set $384.00 The Dots Chocolate Crib Set is part of dwellbaby's renowned collection of stylish bedding and accessories. Crib set includes play blanket, bumper, fitted sheet, and crib sk... [Read more] Sweet Baby Pink Frame $32.00 This adorable 7x 7 wood frame is hand painted and accented with a bow. Holds a 4x4 pic. [Read more]

It has been a very busy week for me, but also an exciting one!  I’m getting ready for the Whimmydiddle arts & crafts fair in Scott City, Kansas this Saturday.  I’ve made so many new pieces of jewelry this week, but haven’t had time to photograph any of them.   It’s a good thing I’ve been stocking up on gemstones, beads and findings over the summer, because I’m using many new components in my pieces!  I’m really looking forward to the weekend, as this is an event that draws a large crowd every year.  It’s also the first time I’ve ever had my jewelry at an arts & crafts fair.  I set up at the Whimmydiddle 30 years ago, when I was oil painting, but I’ve only sold my jewelry online.  It will be interesting to see how this goes!

More exciting news this week… a pair of my earrings are in a contest over on “Made for me by Oaklie’s” blog on her “Great Finds” contest.   Please visit her site and cast your vote for your favorite “Beeutiful Great Finds” contest.  Contest entries had to be either black, yellow or white, or a combination of any or all.  I didn’t have anything black and yellow, and all of my black jewelry has sold out, so I used a pair of white freshwater pearl earrings.

Another exciting piece of news was the news that I would be featured on a couple of blogs this week, and I’m also the featured artist on another Ning network.  I’ve been asked to  the Foxy Findings “Designer Spotlight interview” on Saturday.  Foxy Findings is a supplier of beads and findings that I’ve just recently started using as one of my suppliers.  They have a great selection and prices, and they offer all kinds of fun contests on Facebook and Twitter.  I won a spool of their Foxy Flex blue sapphire copper beading wire from them last month, and am just getting ready to use this beautiful wire in one of my newest pieces (this piece is going to be fore me!).  I’m very excited to have been asked to be interviewed for their blog, and I’m looking forward to it!

I’m also going to be featured tomorrow (Thursday) on VA Beach Quilters blog.  She does such a great job at promoting fellow handmade arts & crafts people!  Please be sure to check out her blog.

If that wasn’t enough excitement for the week, I’m also the featured artisan of the week on the On Fire for Handmade network on Ning.  Anne also does a wonderful job of promoting shops that sell handmade goods.  If you are an artist or crafts person, I highly recommend joining this Ning network!  Lots of great support and friendship over there.

Well, I’ve gotta go now.  Still need to make several more pieces of jewelry before this weekend!  Have a great Thursday!

Aubrey Baby Blue Hand Painted Wall Letters $18.00 These beautiful letters will add that special touch to your little ones room. Hand painted to order with your child's name.You canalsochoose a coordinating [Read more] Dwell Baby 4 Piece Dots Chocolate Crib Set $384.00 The Dots Chocolate Crib Set is part of dwellbaby's renowned collection of stylish bedding and accessories. Crib set includes play blanket, bumper, fitted sheet, and crib sk... [Read more] Sweet Baby Pink Frame $32.00 This adorable 7x 7 wood frame is hand painted and accented with a bow. Holds a 4x4 pic. [Read more]

I first used Polyvore this week to enter a contest that one of my suppliers is having this month.  Before that, I had never heard of Polyvore.  Have you???

Well let me tell you, I’m having fun over there now!  It’s a fun thing to do when I need a break.  What is Polyvore?  It’s a website where you can pick items (clothes, accessories, backgrounds, music, letters and more) that you like, and then drag the photos of your items to a blank page to create your own “online collage”.  I used to love making collages when I was younger, and this is a fun, less messy way to make them online!  You can mix & match products from your favorite stores and shop for items you like right from Polyvore!

So, as I was saying… I first tried them because I wanted to enter Foxy Findings blog contest this month.   So I created my first Polyvore, using items that I found there,  plus two items from Foxy Findings (requirement of contest).   This was my first set…

Hello Autumn”" Bye Summer” ;( by ♫♥Ale♥♫join my group;) featuring GAP

This one used my Amber Coil Bracelet again…

It’s cold but not too cold out there by EmilyTheStrange28 featuring Rebecca Taylor

Aren’t they beautiful?  Creative people out there!  If you haven’t yet tried Polyvore, you ought to!  It can get addicting, but at least you are creating something of beauty!

Don’t forget my Labor Day sale in my Artfire studio!  25% off everything this weekend only.  Sale ends Monday, September 7th at midnight

Have a safe and fun Labor day weekend!

Aubrey Baby Blue Hand Painted Wall Letters $18.00 These beautiful letters will add that special touch to your little ones room. Hand painted to order with your child's name.You canalsochoose a coordinating [Read more] Dwell Baby 4 Piece Dots Chocolate Crib Set $384.00 The Dots Chocolate Crib Set is part of dwellbaby's renowned collection of stylish bedding and accessories. Crib set includes play blanket, bumper, fitted sheet, and crib sk... [Read more] Sweet Baby Pink Frame $32.00 This adorable 7x 7 wood frame is hand painted and accented with a bow. Holds a 4x4 pic. [Read more]