Stash up shots

I got some beads. The following are among the loverlies that I brought home to sort, and pair and take pretty pictures of for your purchasing and creating pleasure. The stash doesn't fit in the lightbox very well so these are not the best photos, but trust me, they sparkle!
Lots of requests for mystic quartz in all shapes and sizes, bring just that. Cubes, onions, hearts, pears, coins, cushions, and squares (and barrels and step faceted twists and rondelles).

Chalcedony, a favorite among many for their colors. I try and try to find the deep saturated ones but it's not easy. I got some hot pinks though!
Rutilated quartz, Tourmalinated quartz, peridot (in small and itty bitty), garnets, labradorite and topaz.

That's just a taste. I have lots of work ahead of me to sort the stash and get organized enough to sell. If you see something you "must have now", let me know and I will start the strand. I'll be doing more full strands for sale as well if you see something you need/want.

A loverly weekend to you all!

Congratulations to the winner!

The winner of the $50 credit to my gemstone and jewelry supply store is Kathy with the Etsy store KatDesignsNYC and Moonstruckmagic Bath & Body

CONGRATULATIONS KATHY!

Thanks to everyone for participating and guiding me toward a more sparkling shop. Welcome to all the new followers on Facebook, Twitter and the Newsletter! This was fun, keep your ears on for the next event (November).

Did you miss the fun? Don't miss the fun!
SUBSCRIBE to the Vault Newsletter
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Enter to win a $50 gift certificate to my jewelry supply store!

This Drawing has ended, thanks to all the participants! Stay tuned!





This giveaway is going on at the same time
as my 20% off sale at LiciaBeads Vault on Etsy.

The winner will receive a $50 credit to my Gemstone and Jewelry supply shop. Each entry will correspond to a number and the number will be selected using Random.org

The drawing ends on June 24th (midnight Eastern), just before the gem show so the winner can also take advantage of the new stock and sale.

There are many ways to put your hat in the ring and get an entry!

• Leave a comment below with a link to your favorite listing from my Vault shop
• Subscribe to the Vault Newsletter which will give you an entry link (and a little something else ;)
  
• Twitter - follow me on twitter and tell me you want to enter using @liciabeads #enterme for the $50 gem and jewelry supply giveaway
  
• Twitter - (up to one entry per day) tweet about the sale using @liciabeads #GemVault20% http://www.etsy.com/shop/liciabeadsvault
  
• Twitter - (up to one entry per day) tweet about the giveaway using @liciabeads #GemGiveaway$50 http://tinyurl.com/25e4wyq
  
• Facebook - "Like" me on Facebook and leave me a note on my wall that you want to enter
  
• Blog - Blog about the sale or giveaway and leave your blog link in a comment below
• Refer a friend for two entries! Have your friend/s post a comment below with your name and you get 2 entries! They get an entry for their comment as well.
  

So there are lots of ways to enter and lots of ways to keep entering (up to two times daily using the twitter methods). BE SURE that there is a way for me to contact you if you leave your comment to this blog posting. Facebook, Twitter and newsletter subscriptions all allow contact links of some sort but anonymous comments will not work for obvious reasons, so be sure there is a way to contact you (leave your Etsy shop name, or twitter address if you don't want to expose an e-mail).

Thanks to everyone for their support and comments! Feel free to let me know if you have any questions or special requests at Vault (at) LiciaBeads (dot) com

Have a delightful Summer!

$50 Giveaway, Summer Sale, and gem show restock!

For those who are interested in all things beady, there are some wonderful things about to happen in my Jewelry and Gemstone Supply shop on Etsy. All the great details will be available in my Vault Newsletter!

I encourage you to subscribe for the best benefits, and you could win $50 worth of free beads!

Click here to subscribe!



Thanks!

Sterling Wire wrapping project (#3)

The main portion of the necklace is coming along. I have decided to include some Spessartite Garnets that I have been hoarding. They are a delicious sparkling bright orange. I'm still not quite sure what to put with them...

I put the beads on a separate wire than the wrapping one because I want them all to face with the faceting forward rather than wrap them directly in with the work. If you have wrapped before, or looked around at work, this will probably make more sense to you. There are so many ways to do things that sometimes it gets complicated. :)

This is where I am so far... and I can feel myself getting stuck. It's natural that along the way the inspiration slows because I don't want to "try something" and mess it up. There is a little more wrapping to be done to get it stable to the point that it can handle being worn and the additional stones that will go onto it. I have to figure out what kind of chain to make too. I want it to look rather substantial and have enough visual weight to balance out the central pendant.

Have a lovey weekend all, I'll get back to it!

Breaking down walls - office construction

This is the big hole in the ceiling (one of them) that a smart kitty could get into if she tried. So, the door is to remain closed while the non kitty portions of the house are accessible.

There he is with the saw that makes lots of noise. Our wall is almost gone! Yay! It's much brighter in there too, which should be great for photos :)

Sterling Wire wrapping project (#2)

The progress is coming along with the wire wrapping. One of the things I notice with my work is that the wire wrapped portion tends to look more like a pendant. I'm working on trying to incorporate it into the necklace so that everything fits together onto the necklace itself.

I've done some additional sketches that include a full scale "traced" original. You can see my progress on the actual work in the photo also. I tend to change things and work it out as I go along, for me it's a fluid process.

I've chosen a preliminary selection of Peridot, Phrenite, and Spessartite Garnet for the gemstones, but might change that up too. :)

Sterling Wire wrapping project

My favorite pieces of jewelry always tend to be the wire wrapped bits. I like the intricate details that can be created with very fine wire. I recently did a few little spirals for earrings but the ones that draw the most attention tend to be the unique shapes and intricate weaves with gemstones.

This one to the right is among my most viewed. It sports :) a collection of colorful faceted gemstones and is hand wrapped in sterling silver wire on a sterling base.

I wanted to do another free form shape so the first step is getting out the sketch pad (handmade by nightowlcraftworks) and drawing some shapes. I'm a fan of filigree and wrought iron and like to get some intricate patterning involved in the wrapping so I basically have to draw it out first. Sterling is expensive, and I attempt not to waste it on mistakes.

The initial drawing looks like this. With some modifications, I decided to go with the one on the left. I sometimes make changes while I am in progress depending on fluidity of shapes, how the wire fits together, and inspiration.

After some forming, and hammering for structure, I put the pieces side by side to make sure they will fit the way I want.

Then I think about adding components like chain and gemstones. It all comes together slowly as each component is added. I find it important to make sure things fit the way I want. Sometimes that means testing it out with copper wire too since I may not want to mess with the actual piece or potentially waste precious wire.

So this is where I am. Stay tuned for the choosing of gemstones, and components.