It's a Long Story

Well not really, just trying to think of a clever way to use the word Long to represent these 2 new pair of earrings. At 2.5" each they are definitely long!

The first pair is just listed on Etsy. I found these great unusual Etched Glass Tubes in Friday Harbor this weekend at Vital Elements. They didn't have many and I bought 2 sets. They are so cool, rough and rustic just how I like it! I think the little sun charms look cute dangling off the bottom.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/75123847/etched-glass-tube-and-copper-sun-charm

These next earrings were a special order. I made the SnakeSkin components to sell but somebody asked me to create a pair of long earrings for them. I had something in mind already and planned on making more SnakeSkin for myself so I was very happy to oblige this request. I do have an even longer pair of SnakeSkin components available on Etsy.

Here is what I created, I dangled beautiful Seafoam Recycled Glass discs off the end and wrapped lots of copper wire all the way up the SnakeSkin.

I love these and will definitely have to play with SnakeSkin again!

Kristi

http://dreamsome.etsy.com/

http://www.artfire.com/users/KristiBowmanDesign

I Heart Macro

One more picture from my weekend in Birch Bay, not a very good picture but the color of this flower is so striking I just had to share it. I actually took it with my 55-200 lens because for all of the other photos I was taking that's what I needed and I didn't carry another lens with me. So I'm several feet away trying to take a macro type shot.

Kristi

http://dreamsome.etsy.com/

http://www.artfire.com/users/KristiBowmanDesign

Copper In the House!!

I've slowly been working on this batch of copper over the last few weeks. Life has been challenging lately so I'm just trying to work my way through it. Copper makes me happy, I'm glad to have a batch ready to fire.

Trying to change things up a big, a few new shapes, some of our favorite textures changed up a bit plus a few special orders. As always if you like something and want to reserve it just let me know. Will be in the kiln shortly and hopefully I'll have a couple of pieces ready to list tonight.

Kristi
http://dreamsome.etsy.com/
http://www.artfire.com/users/KristiBowmanDesign

Birch Bay Wildlife and more

Last weekend we went Birch Bay, I was very excited to see a Baldy within minutes of arriving. The first thing we did was walk down the main drag to see what shops and restaurants were close by and there he was at the top of this tree. He was there for a long long time, in spite of being harassed quite strongly by a crow, I was hoping to catch him taking off but one minute he was there and the next he wasn't.

Numerous times thoughout the 3 days we were there I saw Blue Heron (I believe that's what they are, please correct me if I'm wrong) fishing in this inlet off the beach. I was lucky enough to catch one right after take off, they are amazing!

This Seagull was posing for me atop this piling at the end of an old pier so I just had to take his picture, a typical seabird shot.

We walked through a Wetland area across these paths that had been constructed, I couldn't take many pictures because I really had to pay attention to where I was walking. This quick shot is not of the branch which is what was in focus but of the pathway partially under water. We got to the point where the water was too deep coming across so we turned around. None of us were prepared to walk in deep water.

I also got some beautiful shots of Mount Baker! At one point we climbed up a big viewing tower and I got a couple pics from up there, but it was a beautiful clear day and I got just as many great pictures from the ground. I love seeing the shadow on the mountain of the big cluster of clouds passing over.

Kristi

Glass and more Glass

 Here are some of the gorgeous Glass Beads I've collected over the last month or so, hard to choose a favorite.



Ammonite Glass Beads by MyLampworkGarden



Raku Black and Gold by CottageCove





Secret Powers by CatalinaGlass




Dragons Breath by CatalinaGlass





Etched Turquoise by FerrariOriginalBeads





3 sets of Orphans by SilverFishDesigns



Gorgeous set all the way from Spain by MruMru

2 pair, also by MruMru
I was very lucky shipping time was just over 2 weeks!



These aren't glass but I had to share them,
Carved Floral Woodland Bone Beads from SharonUnlimited



Look for these amazing beauties in future designs!

Kristi
http://dreamsome.etsy.com/
http://www.artfire.com/users/KristiBowmanDesign

 

How about some Silver!

It's been a long time since I've created anything using Silver. The price has just been too crazy and fortunately I really love Copper and Bronze. But when I received these beautiful Southwest Lampwork Glass beads from Canyon Echoes in gorgeous shades of Purple and Turquoise I knew I had to dig out some of my Silver components to pair them with.

I have considered selling some Silver components but they would be so much more expensive I'm not sure they would sell, but I guess I should put them out there and see.

Without further blabbing from me, here they are!

Listed in my Etsy Shop CLICK HERE!

Kristi

http://dreamsome.etsy.com/

http://www.artfire.com/users/KristiBowmanDesign

I Heart Macro Really Late!!

I have been quiet lately, nothing since BTW on Wednesday. I've been in Birch Bay for the last few days, we even had a couple of nice days. I got some gorgous close up shots I wanted to post yesterday but just didn't have the energy so here they are a day late!

I also got a couple of great Eagle and Heron shots I'll share later this week!

Kristi

http://dreamsome.etsy.com/

http://www.artfire.com/users/KristiBowmanDesign

Bead Table Wednesday

Had pretty much accepted the fact that I was gonna miss this weeks BTW, was closing down my computer and about to leave for work when I spotted the sun shining through the window on to the table I had to take a minute to photogragh it and post it. Makes me long to stay home and sit in the sun and play.

Lots O Copper!

All the pieces I hope to fire tonight, I've got lots of cleaning to do when I get home.

Kristi

ABS May Challenge

This months Art Bead Scene Challenge inspiration is a beautiful piece by Berthe Morisot. This wonderful piece is an Oil on Canvas, 18 1/4" x 21 3/4" called Cache-cache (Hide-and-Seek). It's lovely soft feminine beauty is a wonderful inspiration.

I chose to pull out the little red flowers in the tree as my focal and include the soft muted greens of the grass and surrounding area and add little bits of subtle color all around.



A wonderful Red Flower by Mary Harding Jewelry
 is the focal with a bail of silk ribbon in shades of green.




A couple of gorgeous Lampwork beads by Karen at LibelulaDesigns.




Lovely Copper Beads from Rings &Things




And wonderful faceted Agate in that lovely pale green,
 with glass beads in greens and reds and a handmade Copper Clasp to pull it all together.
 I just had to add a couple of little silk ribbon accents as well.



As always this was a fun challenge, take a look at all the other wonderful entries for this month on the

 ABS album on Flickr.

Kristi

I Heart Macro - Rainy Morning in the PNW

One thing about rain, it gives you the opportunity to catch droplets of rain on newly spring growth, like this...

Shop Update

Pretty good size shop update, last night and today and probably more to come tonight and/or tomorrow.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/74088641/ammonite-squares-in-copper-earring

http://www.etsy.com/listing/74072383/ammonite-squares-in-copper-earring

http://www.etsy.com/listing/74089681/copper-victoriana-rounds-with-large-hole

http://www.etsy.com/listing/74089137/copper-victoriana-square

http://www.etsy.com/listing/72357865/handmade-copper-leaf-earring-component

http://www.etsy.com/listing/72359651/mesmerize-me-handmade-copper-earrings

http://www.etsy.com/listing/74011855/copper-spiral-shell

http://www.etsy.com/listing/74050382/copper-flower-pendant-or-charm

http://www.etsy.com/listing/74090871/square-copper-sun-flower-charms

http://www.etsy.com/listing/74090871/square-copper-sun-flower-charms

Watch for these, not yet listed! I call them Snakeskin and talk about unusual. The texture is so cool, pulled from a Sputnik Sea Urchin. I'll list them this weekend for sure.

There's lots more in the DIY (Design It Yourself) Section in my Etsy Shop and there's always a page link at the top of my blog!

Kristi
http://dreamsome.etsy.com/
http://www.artfire.com/users/KristiBowmanDesign