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!!!

Second Place Is Great!!!

Who ever said that second place is only second best!  I beg to differ - I'm ecstatic!  Thanks to some VERY great friends who I know were rooting for me, I made second place in the popular vote!  For my first-ever contest entry, this is more than I hoped for!

I want to thank everyone for going to the Etsy Beadweaver's Blog & letting them know you like my Lions & Tigers Beadwoven Tile Bracelet!!!!!

P.S. I'm sure I'll be entering more of these contests in the future, so stay tuned!!!

Sincerely,

Terah ;-)
TerahClassyCreations.etsy.com

A Bracelet In Design Stages

Here's a behind-the-scenes look at how my creative process goes sometimes.  This bracelet started from the colors I found at the bead shop - specifically the little 3 millimeter magatamas.  Their color and shape reminded me of the bubbles and froth that come up on the seashore (a refreshing transparent blue that hint of sandy undertones)  - so from there the ideas flowed.

I got home and went through my beads and found another color for the deep-blue portion of my ocean, the lighter portion for the shallows, and the beautiful shimmery satin sandy color for the beach.






Yet another day I was sitting in the car waiting for a friend and found a friendly napkin on which to doodle my design - very official really.  :-)

So here's just a little sneak peek . . . I'll post the bracelet when it's finished.  (We'll see if it resembles the sketch at all  -  sometimes I just let the beads lead me and go with the flow, depending on what ends up being best at the time.)

Something Simple

Every once in a while it's nice to make something that doesn't take me days to create.  It kind of changes things up a bit.  So I broke out some of my shells and pearls and did some stringing with them.




This is what I came up with.  The name of it is the Coral Shell & Pearl Bracelet.  I also made some matching earrings.  The whole set will be off to Studio 12 Urban Day Spa in Modesto!





This is also to show everyone how I'm packaging my jewelry right now.  Since each piece I make is different, I make a custom card for each piece.  Bigger things like necklaces will come in boxes.  What do you think?  Any more packaging ideas out there?

Just A Reminder

Hi!

It's me again. . . . Just wanted to remind everyone to visit the Etsy Beadweaver's Blog  (September 9 - 15, 2011) to let them know which piece you like best for the September Challenge.

Don't worry, you don't have to pick my bracelet (psst . . ., it's the Lions & Tigers Beadwoven Tile Bracelet).
I promise I won't hunt you down . . . at least not this time!  :-)

I'm In Beadwork Magazine!!!!

EEEeeeek!!!  That's about what I did today when I went to my mailbox!!  You see, I received my issue of the October/November 2011 issue of Beadwork today!

I usually like getting it, but this time I was especially excited because my version of the Brilliant Buckle Bracelet was featured in their W.O.R.D. (What Our Readers Did) section.  I was so excited, I just had to share!!  If you're wondering what I'm talking about, here's the link to the original post about this bracelet when I first made it!  (And this is the VERY picture that appears in their magazine!! :->)

http://terahsclassiccreations.blogspot.com/2011/02/buckle-bracelet.html

So go out and look in the October/November issue of Beadwork, on page 10 & you'll see what I mean!!  You can say you saw it here first!!  :-)

Now it's time for me to do the dance of joy!!!

'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!!