blog

I've been busy this month, so I've taken a bit of a break from beading and just made these few items. The fossils in the yellow-tan stone form little flower petal shapes. I am also in love with the fire agate in the double strand necklace - I might add another piece of turquoise to the necklace as well.

Every year, graphic designer Nick Felton prepares a booklet detailing the statistics of his past year. I've been inspired by it the past couple years, and have just started using the daily personal stat site he made, which is quite fun. I'm tracking the pages I read by genre, what I eat for dinner, how many pieces of jewelry I make and post on Etsy, my daily method of commute, and free time activities (top entry so far: napping). I know I could set this up in excel, but daytum is easier and generates pretty graphics for me.

Continuing on the projects theme, I've laid out a detailed plan of 2010 goals and quarterly "action items" to achieve them (since I seem to have failed at completing my 2009 goals since my last 'goal check-in'). I tried to follow all that advice about making goals specific and quantifiable (e.g. 'drop a pant size by June' instead of 'lose weight'). A few goals I'm excited about: backpack from Snoqualmie Pass to Stevens Pass in August, compete in an orienteering meet this fall, earn $1000 profit through etsy, and create a seasonal recipe database. So far this year I've mostly tackled other goals (improve naturalist skills, manage my $ for retirement and specific purchases, expand my graphic design portfolio to include 10+ solid pieces), but now it's February it's time to step up the pace.

Labels: jewelry, news, weekly

Back from Hawaii - pictures to come! For now, a peek at a few of the pieces I made in December:

Labels: jewelry

I went to the international gem and bead show in Seattle this weekend, and exchanged many hours worth of money for many hours worth of beads!

Some of the beads: agate, unpolished agate, fire agate, wonder agate, onyx, freshwater pearl coins and sticks, brass spacers and chain, turquoise, crystal, geodes, etc.

So, I made a couple new pieces of jewelry last night too!

Labels: jewelry

I can't get enough of turquoise with this soft coral color!


It's like a two-tone bar! I modeled it with Robin's awesomezor vase thing that I used upside down cause I'm a terrible, I mean creative person ;D

Labels: jewelry

I've been so busy trying to get stuff ready and posted for my new etsy shop that I've done only a little bit of beading this month! Here are a couple new pieces:


Vaguely steampunk brass and pearl earrings - I love the brass rounds-they're like an accordian tucked in on itself, with a touch of texture.


I LOVE this light teal/aqua color. Dyed jade, brass filigree, and faux pearls for this one.

Labels: jewelry

Today's the day - I launched my Etsy shop! Check it out http://kaeldra.etsy.com!

I've been having fun modeling stuff for the shop:

Labels: jewelry, news, project

I've never done any logo design, but in preparation for the launch of my etsy shop, I needed a logo / identity!

The jewelry I make ranges from fun and modern to old-fashioned Victorian & Steampunk, but I feel it's all quite original, so I wanted something that would reflect that range.

My favorite color combination is hot pink and yellow, so I thought that would pull in the fun feeling of my jewelry. I tried to imply 'classic' in a couple different ways - creating an old style initial 'stamp' with cursive K, using a beautiful serif and traditional quatrefoil shape. (The first option below didn't quite get there, although of the three I feel it's the strongest mark.)


The first option was vetoed because hearts aren't really my thing and the 'k' didn't fit. The third option was vetoed because (as Robin rightly pointed out) it evokes quilting. The second option, though flawed, had the feel I wanted.

For revisions, I needed to revise the design to work at small sizes as well as the current large size. I liked the text from the first option above best, so I pulled that in. Moving the text off the quatrefoil made it feel like it was missing something. I came up with this:


Although this would reproduce well at small sizes, it feels too chunky to me, and most of the things I make are more feminine. I also thought that for printing purposes I should make something flat / cut the gradient. I started playing around and came up with something completely different:


I played around some more and came up with a wide version that I think I prefer:

Labels: design, in_progress, jewelry, project

For the past month, I've been working on getting ready to sell my jewelry on etsy! That means I've been making jewelry, reading tons of articles, writing policies, greetings, and descriptions, and setting up a component inventory tracking spreadsheet. Whew, this is a lot of work. The goal is to start putting items up before October, and I'm on track. Here's a preview of some new stuff!


My favorite!!!! I may keep this... ;D


I also adore this one. Lately I've been using a lot of cameos.


Another (Victoriana) cameo piece.


At first I didn't really like this but the pretty delicacy has grown on me.


I've been starting to work with gunmetal (the black colored metal) too.


Onyx is so beautiful! I also couldn't resist the lucite hourglasses.


I ordered a shitload more of these plastic flowers!


Jade, brass, and glass.


Czech fire-polished turquoise glass with faux cream pearls for an old-fashioned bracelet.

Labels: jewelry, project

Necklaces

I got this ammonite from The Bone Room.


I went into this aiming to use my new bead cones and with the thought, "Scarlett with a ray gun in the observatory." Along the way she lost the ray gun.


I've had these carnelian(?) pieces floating around forever.

Earrings

I took a three-saturday beginning jewelry-making class, learning to solder, shape metal, polish, etc. I was slightly overambitious and didn't quite finish these earrings in two days. Turquoise and onyx set in fine silver bezels on sterling backing. (Ouch, silver's pricey! Huzzah for base metal...)


I thought of using the chevrons double stacked the moment I saw them at the store, and am happy with how these came out. They remind me of pagodas.


<3 these beads!


I felt like it had been a while since I made really long earrings.

Other

Playing with bobby pins.


Bees are so cute!

Labels: jewelry

Beading is kind of my life right now.

Bracelets

Generally I hate sets, but these beads are just too awesome.


This happily, inadvertently matches a long vintage opera length necklace.


Dyed jade, fake pearls, and silver!


I call these dork pearls - they rock.

Earrings

The gears on the watch part still spin, fun. Another attempt at steampunk.


I've been experimenting with bending wire, having fun.




Green jade, dyed blue jade, and silver.


More dork pearls and wire experimentation.


I totally love these, I may have to make another pair! The first pair screamed Robin though ;D




I wish I remembered what kind of stone this was. I accidentally ordered this copper chain and have been playing a lot with it. This is a choker.


I can't resist buying any seahorse charm I see, but almost never do anything with them. But I love lariats too - this one has no clasp, just tie it in a simple knot.

Labels: jewelry

I made this last summer and intended to put something in the empty frame, but at this point I kind of like it how it is.


Last summer? Old, anyway.


New!


My new favorite - half the beads were pass-alongs someone else didn't like. Score!


A few months ago - don't think I've worn it - but I've always wanted a lariat.


I bought a bunch of bobby pins with pads, which works out well for my recent obsession with buying cabochons but having nothing to do with them.

Labels: jewelry

I experimented with these new lava rock beads I got, pairing them with fake pearls and silver. Unfortunately the lava rock catches on sweaters, so I'm not sure the bracelet's entirely successful.




I'll probably take these apart since I'm not a huge fan and the turquoise pieces were like 2.50 each... although I do like the color of the copper with the turquoise.






Though these are simple, I love the bumblebee charms with these orange swirly stones/beads (can't remember).

Labels: jewelry

Steampunk and Victoriana

These are my favorites of the bunch.


Yay for keys and gears. Actually I'm not a huge fan of gears, but I'm-a-gonna try and sell this on etsy I think.


This bracelet was a present for Hannah.


Not exactly steampunky, reminds me of one of those fancy pull tassels.


I'd wear these with a ball gown and a shitload of pearls if I got to eat dinner with Captain Nemo. But really they were Robin's bday present!

More Modern Danglies

These remind me of atoms.




For the coquettish days.

Labels: jewelry

Classy

These should probably go in 'Victoriana' but I forgot to photograph them! I'll move them later maybe.


I've had these beads since I was 12ish, and have been waiting for the proper application - I think I found it!


These wrapped freshwater pearl earrings are for my Secret Santa.




I didn't make this but I wanted to show off my awesome antique mall find!

Labels: jewelry

Eclectic

The long-nosed one is a weevil, the other is a stag beetle. These are my favorite earrings!


It's fun to mix pretty, classy metal components with funky plastic crap.


I love how this chain looks, but the squares are kind of scratchy! Maybe my neck is just tender.


These saucer wooden beads I've had for ages.


Chain is the latest medium I've attempted to add. I can't do anything with that "rope" chain (no holes) but maybe I'll get there. Baby steps.

Labels: jewelry

I've phased into jewelry making as a main hobby. I get so tired staring at the computer all day at work that when I get home I don't want to even see my monitor. That certainly has cut into my digital drawing. But boy, someone keep me and my wallet away from the bead store! I've been having a blast.

Mod!

Sadly these are somewhat reminiscent of eyeballs.


I wore these today!


This was wire-wrapping practice and will probably need to be redone.

Brass!

Ah yes, victoriana, steampunk, what would you be without brass?


The crown jewel...the pendant is vintage lucite with a print by my favorite artist, Alphons Mucha.

Labels: jewelry