Saturday, May 5, 2012

Blog Buddy Beads

Ok, ok, ok...I know I have been extremely lax in my posts to the blog, but it has been somewhat boring around here. School, school and more school has taken up all of my time again. I will be so glad when this term is over and summer will be here. Conversion to semesters will finally happen in the fall and hopefully I will have that all under control.

Anyway, on to the main point of tonight's blog post. As I posted on Facebook earlier in the week, I won Magpie Gemstones Blog Buddy Bead Giveaway. Szarka Carter is the proprietor of Magpie and also a wonderful jewelry artist. You can see her work at Szarka's Artisan Couture Jewelry. I have "virtually" known Szarka for awhile now because we belong to several online jewelry artisan groups. I purchase some of my supplies, in particular gemstone beads, from Magpie and the quality is wonderful. For my jewelry making friends, I highly recommend Magpie, and I am happy to do this promotion. For my friends who love jewelry, please go check out Szarka's page. There are tons of lovely things to see.

Now on to what I did with my beads. If you checked out my Facebook page earlier in the week, you saw that I received what is in the picture on the right. First, is an abalone mosaic heart pendant and along with it is 2 strands of laboradorite beads. I wish my camera was better so you could see all of the wonderful colors in the pendant and beads. (For any family members who might read this money for my birthday to contribute to my camera fun would be great! Hint, hint. lol)

So, these all screamed out for sterling silver filled wire. First, I wrapped the pendant (no no, you don't get to see that yet). It needed to be hung on black suede cord, but you know me its not just plain black suede cord. Once I finished the necklace, I made a pair of matching heart earrings. Hearts made out of dark annealed wire with sterling and laboradite accents.

So here is the necklace on its embellished cord.

And, here is a close up of the cord.

Here is the set together.

I hope I did justice to these wonderful beads. Thanks Magpie Gemstones for picking me!