Vote for your favorite Lunar Obsession!

Time to VOTE for your favorite Lunar Obsession. This months challenge was to be inspired by the moon. Many great works from talented artists. Be sure to check them all out!

 

My entry is #23, La Bella Luna.

You can read more about my necklace and view more photos HERE.

EBWC Lunar Obsession

Tonight will be a Blue Moon, rumored to be very auspicious. What perfect timing to list my entry, La Bella Luna, for the Etsy Bead Weavers September challenge, Lunar Obsession. You can view the actual listing HERE.

Often when perusing local bead shops I will purchase beady things that are ugly or weird, just because I like things that are unusual. The focal of my necklace, a grey resin cabochon, is just that. It caught my eye because I have never seen anything like it. I picked it up on a whim, not having any idea of what I would do with it. When I got it home and looked it over a second time, I thought I would never use it, that it was a little too ugly for jewelry use, and would join my overwhelming stash of going nowhere soon beady “stuff” that waits patiently for its birth.

 

For this challenge we were to be inspired by the moon. I often look to the moon; wondering, awed, captivated. Cloaked in darkness and full of mystery, constantly changing and often lacking symmetry. When viewing the moon even from such a great distance you see craters, shadows, texture, the beauty of light reflecting off of its surface.

 

The focal is representative of the moon’s surface. Also used in this piece were Picasso and metallic finish peanut beads, textured metal sequins, Hematite beads, matte cube beads, a cat eye cabochon, bugle beads, matte & opaque seed beads, and a gunmetal tube bead, backed with Ultrasuede, and finished with a gunmetal toggle closure.

 

Please be sure to visit our team blog, between the 9th and the 15th of September to see all the entries from the wonderfully talented artists in this team and vote for your favorite entry!

*Enjoy your holiday weekend and be sure to look up tonight and behold the Blue Moon!*

Pinterest

If you're not on Pinterest, now is the time to join since you no longer have to wait for an invite! Open registration was anounced yesterday. You can advertise your items for sale, find a new recipe, collect your favorite photos/websites/blogs, learn how to make a new craft, shop, or make new friends. Beware, it is addicting!

You can check out & follow my Pinterest boards here.

New beady things

Some new beads and cabochons I picked up recently and look forward to playing with...

Vintage German glass, resin cabochon, and glass beads...

New glass spikes & twin hole beads...

These make me think of Summer melons...

Love these cabochons!...

I also started a new beauty/nail art blog. If anyone would like to check it out or follow, you can do so here.

Another heat wave!

Wow, we are under yet another heat advisory with triple digit temps and high heat indexes. Boo hiss!

I guess I've been taking an unofficial break from beading and have been spending alot of time with family and doing fun outdoor activities. We've been to the Boerner Botanical Gardens, Chicago Botanic Gardens, Old World Wisconsin, House on the Rock, a few art fairs, and to the lake front. My husband and I have been walking every morning for a few miles before the sun and heat of the day. I've also been reading, playing with nail art, visiting the outdoor market, cooking, and (still) decorating our new home.

I've always been into nail art, and have recently been trying out some tutorials and using some of the cool new designs & polishes. I have an entire Pinterest board dedicated to nails if anyone cares to take a peek...Manicures. While I am not as proficient as some of the artists there, I have been practicing and here are a few manicures I did recently-

My first attempt at a gradient featuring Sally Hansen Sorbet & Sweet Sunrise, Wet n Wild Black Creme, and FingerPaints Purple Palette with Cheeky-m70...

My husband said this one was his favorite, and reminds him of Mehndi/Henna designs. I used two colors from the Hunger Games collection; Dress Me Up & Foie Gras with bm-314...

Finally got my hands on a holographic nail polish, which the picture really does not do it justice. I used Hi-Res & Black Creme with xl-E...

I visited a few local bead shops and picked up some more lucite cabs and other cool finds. I sketched a new necklace idea this morning and hope to make time to bead soon. Now that I am all unpacked and put away, I have no idea where anything is (yikes)!

TGIF!

Still in the very tedious process of unpacking, sorting, and organizing my studio stash.
I am deeply missing my bead time, Etsy participation, and the like, but Spring is here my friends and what I love about living where I do in the Midwest is the parks are gorgeous, the (many) festivals are beginning, the outdoor harbor market opens this month, and nature is calling my soul. Must get outdoors ASAP!
Some photos from 2 weekends ago taken at our local Botanic Gardens...

Happy Spring!

Treasuries

*Reopened my Etsy shop today!*
I'm about halfway done setting up my new studio. I have a new design idea/sketch for a beadwoven necklace that I am excited to get started on. Hoping to be back in the swing of things soon.

A few gorgeous treasuries that feel like Spring to me...