Artisans In The Courtyard!!!!

It is less than 12 hours before Artisans In The Courtyard is open for business!  One day only!  May 11, 2013, 11 am - 7 p.m. (PST) local artists will be showing their work.  So if you love original art, handcrafted jewelry, home decor, bags, gifts, and more - stop by!  It's going to be up to 12 vendors in a homey, boutique-like setting. 

It's going to be fun with drawings for goody bags throughout the day, and bags will be given to the first 20 who walk through the door.  Don't miss out!  I've seen the goody bag contents, and they're great!  I'm really excited to be participating in this event.

So if you're interested, here are the links to more information:  https://www.facebook.com/artisansinthecourtyard#!/events/141425226028291/?fref=ts

https://smore.com/d7au

Hope to see you there!!!!!!

Sincerely,

Terah
TerahClassyCreations.etsy.com
TerahsClassicCreations.blogspot.com
Facebook.com/TerahsClassicCreationsStudio

January 2013 Etsy Beadweaver's Challenge

Well here it is.  It's time to look at all the beautiful beadwork entered for this month's challenge!  There are so many talented artists on this team and I want to share their work.  Here's a picture of all the entries:

(Mine is number five this time.  To hear the story about the inspiration behind it, visit my previous post, http://terahsclassiccreations.blogspot.com/2012/12/its-funny-how-things-develop.html.)

To see an even better picture of all the entries, visit: http://etsy-beadweavers.blogspot.com/2013/01/voting-for-january-rising-star-challenge.html?m=0.  You can even vote for your favorite between the 9th and 15th of January!!!

What I love about it, is if you click on the picture once you get to the EtsyBeadweaver's Blog site, it will conntect you to each piece's listings.  That way you can see more pictures of the piece!  If you love beadwoven art, this will be a favorite spot for you!

Have fun!

Terah
TerahClassyCreations.etsy.com, a.k.a.,
TerahsClassicCreations.blogspot.com

It's funny how things develop.  Sometimes I just let my projects make themselves.  Here's what I mean.  I started working on a beading project - it was going to have a geometric element to it - that's all I knew.  So I started to make an open-beaded square.  But then one side ended up shorter than the other, but it was kind of interesting!  So I decided to repeat it again - accomplished.  That's when the ideas started flowing.

I got out of my stash some cubic zirconium pieces that I've had a while.  I positioned the off-sided squares on either side of a pear-shaped cubic zirconium, and viola!!!  It looked like a bow!

And that's where the idea for this necklace came from!

As you probably know, I've also been intrigued with viking knit.  So I made the supporting structure of the necklace in a sturdy 22-gauge wire which I formed into a viking knit rope.

At this point in writing, I have yet to finish it.  The viking knit rope is done, I've worked the custom clasp.  Now it's time to assemble.  The moment of truth!!!!

Here's the finished product!!!!!!!  (I love these beads - so shimmery.  Not too over the top, they almost look vintage to me.  Kind of a nice shimmer.

I love the look so much that I actually will tough through the technical issues with them, i.e., bead breakage while working with them, and their ability to cut through average beading line with their edges.  So it takes a while to work with them in an especially sturdy, fray resistant material.  Also, it takes lots of patience to make sure the delicate beads don't break.  But the good news is if the beads can stand the pressure they get while beading, they will stand the wear afterwards!  And their absolutely stunning!  (I also made my Calla Lily Necklace and Earrings with these type of beads.  I love this finish!!!)

Well, I plan on entering this necklace into the Etsy Beadweavers Challenge for January.  So if anyone wants to drop by and take a look, here's their site:  http://www.etsy-beadweavers.blogspot.com/.  (Between 9 - 15th of January 2013 you can vote for your favorite entry.)  I don't mind if you feel like voting for my entry either!!!  :-D

P.S.  This will be available in my shop - if you'd like to visit it, see the link below!!!  :-D

Until next time, have fun!!!

Terah
TerahClassyCreations.etsy.com

Brought Back by Diamond Buckles!

Sometimes life gets in the way.  I've been very busy learning a new language.  It's exciting, and I'm looking forward to becoming more fluent.  It may just open up many more opportunities - a whole other world of people to talk to.  Anyway, I've been pouring myself into that and haven't had much time to create lately.  Here in California it already feels like spring and I found myself sitting at my keyboard justing playing and enjoying the bright, cheerful sunlight streaming through the window.  Ahhh, so nice.  Well, with all my blabber aside, I haven't been completely bereft of creating lately.  I just haven't had many chances to share them with you.  Here are some examples:

This bracelet is actually thanks to a customer who specifically asked for this diamond shaped design!  I'm so grateful for inspiring people like her!  It really keeps me going!  The earrings (bottom picture) were actually a product of making the diamond buckle just a little too small at first.  So instead of scrapping the work, I decided to create some bold, geometric earrings!  Thanks again for the wonderful ideas!  I am working on another design right now that uses a different shaped buckle. . . . So stay tuned for that one!  :-D

Thanks again for the wonderful inspiration and input from everyone!

Sincerely,

Terah

(If you'd like to see more, visit my shop at http://www.terahclassycreations.etsy.com/.)

Peacock Power!

I have really been intrigued by the peacock feathers I've seen in fashion, and jewelry lately.  Recently, while my sister was visiting from out of state, we went to Old Sacramento and had a really fun day.  When passing by a shop, I noticed a pretty top that had peacock feathers on it and little rhinestones.  Not overdone at all, but fun looking!  So after some well needed coaxing from my mom and sister, I ended up buying it.  Little did I realize that it had made a bigger impression than I thought.

Just The Feather So Far. . 

One day I sat at my beading table and thought, "I wonder if I could somehow make a free-form beaded version of a peacock feather?"  So I Googled some images of peacock feathers to see which ones I would like to use as my color inspiration.  They were ALL so beautiful.  Nature is always the best in the way of inspiration!  No wonder - It comes from the hands of the best artist!

So after playing around with color combinations from beads in my stash, and combining a few stitches, such as herringbone, St. Petersburg chain, and brick stitch, I had my feather!  It was so much fun and such a challenge at the same time!  The rest of the necklace was woven in herringbone and then surface embellished with dark colored gold-stone chips (a beautiful man-made stone).

Incidentally, I also made it for the December 2011 Challenge for Etsy Beadweaver's - Arabesque Style.  This style usually includes paisley patterns, interlocking vines, and motifs.  Granted, the style of this necklace is much less busy-looking than most Arabesque-style artwork, but I positioned the peacock feather in such a way as to evoke the image of a paisley pattern as well as attaching the crystal encrusted pendant which is in the shape of a paisley.  Additionally, the clasp reminded me of a curling vine that interlocks with the loop side when attached.  If you'd like see other bead artist's rendition of this style, go to Etsy-Beadweavers.blogspot.com between December 9 - 15, 2011.

So here's the final result - The Peacock Necklace.

 

The clasp is positioned on the side, with my tag - a new addition which I am pretty excited about!

The Whole Set!

Now every time I look at this necklace I will think fondly of the time I spent in Old Sacramento with my family - especially my sister!

Coming Soon. . .

Coming soon . . . to an etsy shop near you!   TerahClassyCreations.etsy.com, that is!

When I first started this blog I talked about my Victorian Panorama Purse.  Of course I was extremely excited about it because it took me so long to create!  Truly a tour de force!  At that time I decided to keep it around a while just so I could admire my handiwork a little longer.  (Actually, you'd think that after spending 4 - 6 months on it I wouldn't ever want to see it again, but it had the opposite effect!)

 

Something with that much heart, soul, and so much hard work invested in it is hard to part with!! 

So after much adieu I have finally decided to put it in my shop!!!  I hope it will go to someone who loves it as much as I!!!

Sincerely,

Terah

Introducing the Beach Bracelet!!!

Finished!!! 

 A couple of weeks ago, I gave you a sneak peek into my creative process in the post, A Bracelet In Design Stages.  Well, things went pretty well.  Along the way I toyed with the idea of using actual shells for the button loop closure, but that didn't quite work out.  But I think the end result is even better.  I went to my local bead shop and found this BEAUTIFUL Swarovski crystal button in a soft golden color.




  It was absolutely perfect!!!  The swish of the wave of bubbly beads around the crystal button acts as the closure, but also mimics the movement of a curling wave in the ocean!!!

(Technical info:  Because of the difference in size from the blue beads to the sand-colored beads, I had to work some blue rows in two-drop herringbone while the "sand" stayed one-drop herringbone.  Happily, It made a nice curve that fits the natural shape of the wrist/arm.)

 Also, I am absolutely enthralled with the satin-silk finish in Delicas.  They truly make any piece extra special, and I am in love.  In this piece they are reminiscent of the shimmering of the sands and the dance of  light on the ocean.

 I almost feel like I can hear the rushing of the surf against my heels, the cry of the seagulls and smell the fresh sea air!!!  Ahhhh!!!

This bracelet will be available in my shop very soon!!!

'Lions and Tigers' Beadwoven Tile Bracelet

A while ago I posted 10 Ways To Break A Creative Slump.  Since then I realized there's another great way to get inspired. . . . 

Join some sort of a group that is into creative challenges!  For example, I'm part of a group called Etsy Beadweavers.  To be part of this group we have to enter one of their 12 creative challenges per year.  I hadn't been able to enter it yet, because of my own time constraints.  But the challenge for September is "Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh My!  - a throw-back to The Wizard of Oz!  This really got the ideas flowing!  Just the name is very indicative of the piece I chose to make.

I'm calling it "'Lions and Tigers' Beadwoven Tile Bracelet."  

 Can you see why I called it that?

Any guesses?

.

I decided to make a "fabric" square (or tile) of beaded tiger stripes, and then chose a swirly gold pattern to represent the lion.  Ironically the tile containing the swirls also could represent the "twister" that picked Dorothy up and took her to the land of Oz!  I love that it has a double-meaning!  The gold frames on each of the beaded tiles and the gold-tone metal connectors represent the yellow-brick road.  (Incidentally, the bracelet itself could represent the road, since it looks like a path of stepping stones leading you somewhere!)

If you look closely you will notice the faceted red crystals that connect the "tiles" of beaded fabric mimic the  color of Dorothy's ruby slippers.  Finally, I chose to use two tiny, box clasps in the shape of bows to finish it, just like the bows on her iconic, sparkly ruby slippers.

So this will be my first submission to an Etsy Beadweaver's Challenge!!!  This will be fun!!  So don't forget to take a look at the Etsy Beadweavers blog!  It shows all the entries, and from September 9 -15, you can put your two cents in, and let them know which piece is your favorite!!

Bubbly Blue Beadwork Adventure Necklace

Who doesn't love electric blue?  Even better when it's electric, capri blue!

But I digress - This one began with a little adventure!  You see, at the last minute, my boss asked me to take a little road trip (only about 2 hours away) to do an errand for the office.  (Which, if you know me, is an adventure in itself because I am a little directionally challenged.  Thank goodness for G.P.S!)  Well, when I found myself in Sacramento, and at lunch-time to boot, I could not help myself!  I had to visit this awesome bead shop, U Bead It!!!  I've only been able to go there a few times, but it is definitely BEAD PARADISE!  So I quickly gobbled up my lunch and spent the rest of my lunch hour excitedly and hurriedly doing some bead shopping!!! Yay!!!

I found these beautiful capri-blue, long Magatamas that I've been wanting to try for SOOO long!  You see, my local bead shops don't carry these, so I thought I'd try just one little vial-full.  MISTAKE!!  I should have bought at least two or more - oh well!!!  And this is where the necklace escapade began . . .

I thought, okay, I will make some earrings.  I finished one and started on the other, but realized I didn't have enough Magatamas to finish the second earring!!!  That is the moment this became a necklace!!  I attached the second unfinished "earring" to the top of the first, added some crystal rondelles and bugle beads, and commenced the actual necklace portion using my favorite stitch, twisted herringbone (or Ndebele).  

The difference between bead sizes in the herringbone rope and the tension used, created this great little zig-zag sway in the necklace!  

To finish I used one of the ideas from the video I blogged about a while back: "Architecting A Clasp."  I hid a magnetic clasp in the back, so that you can create more of a twist or less of a twist simply by how much each side is rotated before the magnets are connected!!  

I think the electric-capri-blue, the spiky Magatamas, and the waviness of the necklace as a whole capture the last-minute excitement of that quick trip to Sacramento!!  (Sometimes it really is fun when there's a hitch in the creative-road and you find a way to go around it and make something completely different from what you'd planned!!)

Have you ever started in one creative direction, and ended in another?  I'd love to hear your stories too!!!

Lemon Drop Earrings - variation 1

Tah dah!!!  Here they are!!  The simple, yet bold accompaniment to my Lemon Drop Necklace!!  This is only 1 variation.  The others are soon to come!!!

Name Quest - One Week To Go!

Okay. . I've finished the bracelet.  Here it is!!  I love the Satin Silk Delicas -  I used them in the buckle portion exclusively and more sparingly in the band.  They shimmer so beautifully!  This one is like the Swirly Buckle Bracelet but in a little different color scheme.

It is more evocative of evening-wear -  more shimmery and decadent while the band is more subdued.  It finishes with a copper swirl that fits around a red, faceted crystal.

Maybe the above description will help get everyones imaginations going.  Because remember, the "Name Quest" still goes on . . . for one more week!  Your last chance to comment and enter the contest is Sunday, May 29, 2011 (by 11:59 p.m. PST). 

So brainstorm and let me know your name - amazing, funny, descriptive, catchy, etcetera, etcetera. . . . I'm open to suggestions! Thank you so much to those who have already commented and entered this contest! So far the suggestions I have are: Jungle Buckle or Safari Swirl.

The winner gets their choice of a 25% DISCOUNT off my etsy shop OR a FREE peyote pattern (designed by me) for the band portion of this bracelet (in PDF format). 

I will announce the winner on Monday, May 30th.  So keep up the great work!  You can comment directly on this blog, e-mail me through the blog, or comment on my Facebook page!