Audubon's Kingfisher

Audubon's Kingfisher

Wednesday, February 10, 2016

Bead Peeps Swap N Hop - Info for my partner and other ramblings

I am so excited!

I got my partner this week - Catherine (Cat) La Vite of Dry Gulch Beads! She works with her family at their bead store - they have an  Etsy Store and a fantastic Blog! Please check them out!

And here are my answers for the Partner Intro

1. Why or how did you get started making Jewelry? - I got started as a youngster (11 or 12ish) as a means to get me to keep still for long periods of time while going through medical procedures. It started with putting seed beads on strings. Now its a pretty much full time obsession. I also love hoarding things so - match made in heaven!

2. What style(s) of jewelry do you like to make? I like incorporating nature as much as I can into my beadwork. My style varies though depending on my mood. I like to make things that go with something I am going to be wearing or things for special events (Holiday parties, the Renaissance Faire, etc.) I love just about everything vintage (Art Nouveau, Art Deco, Victorian, Edwardian) and historical (especially Ancient Egypt and Rome and the Renaissance.)

Here are a few examples (these are my favorite pieces to date)

The Porcelain Snowy owl is by Artist Laura Mears. This was a struggle for me since it is only shades of black, white and gray. No "colors" at all.


I made this bracelet last year for the Endless Sky Challenge, it is the one I wear the most
The owl clasp is from Green Girl Studios.



I made these earrings last year for the Festival Lights Challenge, I even helped a friend make a similar pair (in her favorite colors, not pictured)


And I really am enjoying the necklace I am making with the Cloud Bridge Challenge beads...its not done yet, however, I will post them when it is :)

3. What materials do you prefer to use (and which ones do you avoid)? I love using vintage beads and findings, gemstones and natural beads, czech glass, swarovski crystals, Vintaj Brass, Copper, Arte Metal and Pewter, silk ribbons, leather, and patina paints. I don't like plastic unless it is vintage lucite. I prefer smaller beads (10mm or less), I have a hard time figuring out chunky beads.

4. What techniques do you prefer (and are there any you don't like)? I like stringing, wirework, and bead embroidery. I can't weave beads or figure out kumihimo to save my life - I will leave those to the experts out there!

5. What colors do you use most and which do you run screaming from? I love earth and jewel tones (brown, emerald, blue, aqua, purple, burgundy), not a fan of brights or pastels (warming up to pastels...still a little afraid of them) and I run screaming from Red, Orange, and Yellow (learning to love them in very small tiny itty bitty increments.)

And other random things...
I love to read. I am a birder, I love hiking, fishing, and camping. I live in the Pacific Northwest and I am inspired by the awesome natural areas here. We have 2 major mountain ranges (Cascades and Olympics), the Sound, the Ocean and Eastern Wa which is desert.

A few of my favorite places here in Washington:

Coal Creek Falls, Issaquah WA


Yakima River Valley, Yakima WA


Rock formations, Umptanum trail. Yakima WA


Fort Casey Lighthouse, Whidbey Island, WA


Doe and Fawn, Whidbey Island, WA


I am super new to using Facebook but it has become a fun place to meet fellow beaders. I am super happy I came across the Swap N Hop! Thank you Linda Anderson for allowing me to join your group :)

2 comments:

  1. Lovely designs! That owl necklace and sky blue bracelet are wonderful. Very glad to have you as our partner this year!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I'm in LOVE with the owl clasp bracelet. You did an INCREDIBLE job with it. (if you ever need a place to donate it, you just lemme know ;) ) Absolutely STUNNING!

    SO glad to have you in Bead Peeps! And can't tell you how excited I was to see that you hadn't done a swap before - just made my heart sing! =)

    Can't wait to see what y'all make!

    ReplyDelete