Baking Beads in the Keys: jewelry

What happens when you give 37 jewelry artists a mystery stash of beads and tell them to create something? Find out by hopping along.

My lovely mystery stash came from Shelley Graham-Turner of Tori Sophia, who has a lot of scrumptious beads in her store. I do not work a lot in this particular shade of blue, I was nonetheless determined and excited to step out of my usual color box.

Wireworked and beadweaved statement necklaces are two of my latest passions so I knew I was going to create my design using one of those techniques. About 2 weeks ago, I decided it would have to be wireworking and I wanted brass pieces to be part of it. I thought I would create a lighter version of my usual statement necklace. Here is "Denim Treasure."

I added brass pieces from my collection and a ceramic piece (in front) from Round Rabbit, which I glued onto a brass piece. All the beads are attached to 2 separate wire crocheted backing that I wired together. Was a good use of some "scrap" pieces I had.

To keep it simple, I hammered and attached a rounded length of 18 gauge wire to create the neckwire. Was fun to play with my textured hammer that I have not used in a long while.

Thanks to Lisa Lodge of Pine Ridge Treasures for sponsoring this. Other participating artists are listed below. Hop Along. Go on. Go!

Mary Govaars, MLH Jewelry Designs

Melissa Trudinger, Bead Recipes

Kathy Zeigler Lindemer, Bay Moon Design

Laurie Vyselaar, Lefthand Jewelry

Annette Rivers, MamaOwl's Mess

Karin King, The Sparkle Things Blog

Shaiha Williams, Shaiha's Ramblings

Mimi Gardner, Baubles, Beads and Other Curiosities

Dee Alcalde, Agape Creations Jewelry

Kay Thomerson, Kayz Kreationz

Karla Morgan, Texas Pepper Jams

Lori Jean Poppe, Lorillijean Creative Corner

Eleanor Burian Moore, The Charmed Life