Christmas

Hello everyone!

I wanted to let everyone know that I have introduced a Bridal Line of jewelry!  I am very excited about the possibilities!  I have just finished doing two art & craft shows where I had displayed my line.  The response was very well received!  I created a wedding dress on a smaller mannequin that I have and it looked great!
If you know of anyone that is getting married, spread the word!  I am thinking of getting into a wedding expo show.  I will have to check around to see what is involved in that.
I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! 

Hello again!  I wanted to share with you a picture or two of my black forest agate embroidered cuff.  This piece was quite the journey!  I started it and quickly became uninterested in finishing it, so I put it away and began working on other projects.  I pulled it back out and finished it!  Am I ever glad that I did!  I am proud of this piece!  This is my 2nd embroidered cuff that I have completed so don't get too close, there might just be some imperfections!

Funny how sometimes you get bored with a piece, put it away for another time, get it back out and have a new perspective on it!  Art is very mood based in my opinion.  You have to find your muse.  The old saying, "When it rains, it pours" is how my creativity flows.  I go for awhile with nothing.  Then all of a sudden I have tons of ideas!  Then I have to organize my thoughts on paper so as to not forget! 

Right now I am working on a commissioned piece.  I am going to dedicate the next couple of days to seriously working on this cuff!  What will you be doing with your weekend?  Hopefully next week I will post pictures of my commissioned piece!

Until then, have a fabulous weekend!

Summer!

Hello everyone!  

School is almost out and I can finally breath!  All these activities and running around has certainly driven my creativity almost to a halt.  Happy to report, I am back in the grove!  Yay!  I have so many ideas and projects circling around in my brain.  I have begun to assemble my floor loom, well ok, lets be honest....Scott has started to assemble it.  Not an easy task!  I am taking lessons in weaving and am very excited about the possibilities!
 
Jewelry is still my main focus, never fear!  I have added new classes to my repertoire of classes that I am teaching!  If you or a friend is interested in learning a new skill or project, please get in touch with me to set something up!

What are you going to be doing with your summer?  Learning to make jewelry does not mean that you have to do so indoors.  Grab some iced tea and a few material and go sit outside!  I hand knotted 7 feet of czech glass beads on the beach last year! 

Whatever your goals are for the summer, let your creativity stretch itself!

Until next time!

Hints, tips, and tricks

Hello all!  I hope you are all enjoying your Friday! 

From time to time I will be giving you some jewelry hints, tips, or tricks that will help you create wonderul pieces! 

If you are a seed beader and deal with long lengths of thread at one time, I have the perfect solution for those times that you need to put your project away for a time period.  Take the thread that is still attached to your project and wind it up in a bobbin.  I leave the needle hanging out.  This way you do not have a ball of thread that you will end up unknotting and causing hours of frustration.  I use one of my Kumihimo plastic bobbins.  It works great!  I do have extra in case I actually want to do a project on the Kumihimo disk.

You can find these wonderful things at most of your bead supply stores.  I can always recomend a GREAT bead store if you find yourself needing one.

Well that is my great and wonderful tip for today!  I hope it helps!  If anyone has any tips that they would like to share, please feel free to let me know!

Enjoy the weekend!

Groundhog's Day?

I for one am grateful that I do not reside in Punxsutowney, PA.  The clips that were on the news, I have to say, showed just how bizarre the whole thing really is!  Am I the only one out there who is left wondering why no one has clued in to the fact that this furry creature will ALWAYS see his shadow?  I mean, seriously he pops out of his home in the ground and is blinded by all the lights that are set up around this poor animal.  Lights, equals shadows!

If you want my advice, simply pull out a calendar and look ahead to see when the first day of Spring actually is and then go about your daily business!  Do you think that the folks get up early and head off to the groundhog hole with innocent anticipation, asking their fellow companions, "Do you really think he won't see his shadow this year?" 

The way our "winter" has been with the mild weather, I don't believe that I would put any stock into the predictions of fur ridden critter! 

Well that is my rambling for today!  Stay tuned to see what else pops into my head!  I do believe that creativity does indeed come from an overactive imagination!  Step out of the norm, look at things from a different perspective, try on a different hat so to speak!  Until next time, let your inner mind wander!  Keep a sketch pad close!  Never know what you will come up with! 

Just a thought...

I have started a pinterest page.  I have had so much fun pinning different things to my boards.  It has got me thinking, however.  Wouldn't it be a great thing if each skill or craft had their own version for reasons of going to one place to find all sorts of things that pertain to your specific craft or art form.


For instance it could be created in a similar fashion as pinterest and on the different boards could be new products, helpful hints, design ideas, inspirations, how-tos, suggestions for certain books and or videos, locations or people that teach classes, groups that get together, etc.

To be able to go to one spot to find all the answers would be so fantastic!  I know that certain bead companies out there offer such things as I am suggesting, but they are biased based on the products that they carry or want to promote.  This would be a collection of all things from many different places.

I could use my jewelry email and start this very thing perhaps on pinterest at first!  Oh, I am onto something here!  Hhhhmmmmmm!

Until the next wonderful thought (well they are to me :)) pops into my brain.....  take care and try pinning!  It is fun!

Christine

Monday

Happy Monday everyone!  I took a big step this weekend and launched the teaching side of Jewelry By Christine!  I started with my very supportive bead group, The Central Pennsylvania Bead and Jewelry Society.  I handed out a brochure that talks about all the important details on how to take a class from me or how to get a group of ladies together for a fun-filled ladies night out!  I will be keeping my fingers crossed that I get some feedback!

Well another year and another two teams have made it into the Super Bowl!  Congratulations to the NY Giants and the New England Patriots!  It is sure to be a fantastic game!  What team will you be rooting for?  I will be cheering on NY. (I guess actually, to be honest, I will be watching for the commercials and hope they don't dissapoint!)  Will you be making any jewelry to match your sporting event outfit?  Have fun with it!  Stand out! 

How was everyone's weekend?  This is an interative blog so feel free to add any comments!
Until next time!
Christine

Inspiration

Where do you get your inspiration from?  Do you find it difficult at times?  Sometimes I have the time, energy, and urge to go down to my studio and create something fabulous.  However, when I get there and sit down, I find myself staring off into space.  You can't force creativity or inspiration.  I usually find that when I first wake up in the morning and am still laying there, that is when all sorts of creative visions come into my head!  Sometimes they need to be elaborated on just a bit.

The other day, I went to pick up my kids from school.  I usually get there early due to the parking availability (which is none) but that is a different story.  I brought along my sketch pad and pencils and was prepared to  let my mind wander.  I got everything out and ready.  Just as I was about to focus on a piece that had come to me earlier, I heard an awful honking sound!  About 50 geese were flying overhead.  Ok, well they will eventually go away, seeing as though they are flying, right?  Wrong!  I'm not sure if there were different groups of geese flying through or if it was the same group flying round and round.  Nonetheless, the honking did not stop!  End creativity for that day!

Sometimes creativity hits me when I least expect it!  I get waves of visions!  Other times, nada, zilch, zip!  What gives you inspiration??????

I wanted to share with everyone a picture of my cuff. It was my very first attempt at bead embroidery. I absolutely fell in love with the technique and have so many ideas in my head. It was tough getting all the way through this one because I wanted to start another one and then another one.  I kept going and was so proud of the outcome!  I am not going to sell this one because first, I think that you should always keep the first of whatever you do as a reminder of where you started.  Second, as any other artist can relate, I see so many mistakes in it that I plan on correcting on my next piece.  As with learning new techniques, you almost have to make mistakes so that you can see your progress! 

The one I am currently working on uses black silver leaf stones.  Absolutely stunning stones!  I also have an idea for a handbag which is going to be a beach/ocean theme!  I don't think I have enough hours in a day!

I do have some exciting news!  My very dear friend and I are going to be collaborating on some pieces.  She is a lampwork artist and so I can commision certain beads, cabochons, and pendants for her to make.  This has been a long time coming and am so very anxious to get started!  I wish everyone a great day and a relaxing, creative weekend!

These are different types of jewelry making that I do. Enjoy!

This is an example of a piece of my work. It is soapstone with some copper wire work. I sold this piece this past summer.

Welcome!

Welcome to my blog!  I decided to create this blog so that I could talk and share with other people who have similar interests.  I am new to blogging so you will have to be patient with me as I navigate through all the aspects of blogging. 

My primary interest is in jewelry making, hence the title of this blog!  I tend towards seed beading, but also love all other types and avenues such as wire working, kumihimo, even stringing!  The possibilities are endless!

I plan on learning how to post pictures and maybe even some videos so you can see some of my work.

Come!  Blog with me and we can share all sorts of adventures, techniques, anecdotes, tips and tricks, and even those pesky mishaps! 

Looking forward to a fun and amazing journey!
Christine