Kristi Bowman Design

Sunday, January 16, 2011

January Art Bead Scene Challenge Necklace

And what a challenge it was for me. I love doing these challenges especially when they push me to something completely new. Using the Sari fabric was definitely that and it was not easy, but I couldn't be happier with the resulting necklace. Thanks to the help of Linda at BurntOfferings on Etsy I was able to get just the right combination of fabrics to use as my necklace. I sent her the inspiration photo and she picked a couple of bundles for me to choose from and I think we did good!!!

I tried to create somewhat of a tuturial for this blog post, I took pictures along the way of most of the steps in creating my Gypsy Princess Necklace. I am working on creating earrings using the fabrics as well which I will share in a future post.

First of all I'll share the inspiration photo from the
Art Bead Scene Blog!

Brown River by Wayne Thiebaud

An amazingly beautiful piece with lots of bright colors!

In the beginning, there was the Bronze Focal piece,
Faceted Mookait rounds,
Small lampwork beads from Radiant Mind,
Tiny Faceted Iolite Heishi.
I was unable to use those gorgeous
chunky Yellow Chalcedony Nuggets because the holes are too small.

I chose the fabrics I wanted to include
and looped them through the hole of the focal
I added some Antique Bronze chain so I'd have something
to anchor the beads I wanted to attach along the necklace.

I wire wrapped the colorful little beads I wanted to use
and added them along the bottom of the pendant.

Wire wrapped a few more little beads and added them up the chain,
some of these beads had to be moved as it all got twisted around and wrapped together.

I wrapped the ends with wire
and looped them over then secured them to create the loops for the clasp.
Clipped off the extra fabric leaving nice tails,
pulled on the fabrid to create the frayed rough finish to the ends.
Most of the wire I used was Copper that I used
MissFickleMedia solution to give them lovely green verdigris.

Here is my finished Gypsy Princess Necklace

Thank you everybody at Art Bead Scene Blog for giving us these wonderful challenges every month!

Kristi

http://dreamsome.etsy.com/

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

I had to add the earrings I made to go with this necklace.

I have lots of Sari fabric to use so I'll be making more.

These earrings are now listed on Artfire.

Friday, January 14, 2011

Etsy and Artfire Updates

Here are a couple of newly listed items.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/65951807/bronze-leaf-rainforest-agate-greek

I used Missfickle Media solutions to verdigris these bits of copper, I love the color!

http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&op=listing&product_id=2747703

And a batch of Bronzclay right out of the kiln!!

Look at that color!!!! To die for!!!

Watch for these to be listed later this weekend.

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

Thursday, January 13, 2011

Movie Night

When we both sit on the couch to watch a movie or tv and the girls join us we have always called it "movie night". Sometimes we're all covered in blankets having snacks, sometimes we're mean and clip their nails while they are comatose.

Here are the girls enjoying some dad time,

they really love "movie night"!

Shasta and Ginger

Shasta in the zone, you think she's happy?
Daddy is rubbing her belly, what could be better than that?!?

Kristi

http://dreamsome.etsy.com/

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

Monday, January 10, 2011

Soup's on!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

http://lorianderson.blogspot.com/p/bead-soup-blog-party.html

This is my first time and I'm really looking forward to it.

Come join us, we're gonna have a blast!!

Kristi

http://dreamsome.etsy.com/

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

Saturday, January 8, 2011

Stone Age

Yesterday I received more incredible Vintage Ceramic beads from Embroidered Soul on Etsy. Some time ago I received some awesome Beach Stone components from AllyBead. As soon as I saw these particular dark gray and blue Vintage Ceramic beads I knew I wanted to try to use some Beach Stone, and I wanted to try putting it all together with leather cord AND I wanted use the excellent Heart Charm from Artisan Clay. Sometimes things just flow in your brain, you know?!?

Now that you know all the players lets have a look at everything used in this bracelet.

They look so cool just put in to piles like that don't they?!?!?

I look forward to using all of these in other designs.

Here is the finished bracelet just listed on Artfire.

Here are coordinating earrings.

http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&op=listing&product_id=2720299

Here are a few other recently listed items...

http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&op=listing&product_id=2717895

http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&op=listing&product_id=2717834

Kristi

http://dreamsome.etsy.com/

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

Thursday, January 6, 2011

Old African Carnelian

A new creation, I tried using a new material this time. Rubber tubing!!!

I went through several design changes before I finally hit it just right!!!

It all started with this beautiful piece of Old African Carnelian I found at a local bead store. I used short pieces of Rubber Tubing wrapped around a Bone Ring and wound bronze wire around the ends. Then I added tiny little Natural Bone Beads, Turquoise Squares, Faceted Carnelian Nuggets and one of my favorite Antique Bronze Chains. It hangs nice and long which is also something I rarely do.

This necklace is listed in my Artfire Studio along with some wonderful Red Leaf Jasper earrings that go very nicely with it.

Old African Carnelian Necklace

Faceted Red Leaf Jasper Earrings

Thank you to my wonderful friend Memoree who has been kind enough to agree to do some modeling

for me. So much easier to take photos of somebody else wearing jewelry.

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

Sunday, January 2, 2011

Thank you 2010

2010 was very good to me! Although I didn't even come close to my sales goals in just about every other way I couldn't be more excited about all the happenings in 2010!!! Long and lots of pictures, I hope you enjoy!

In no particular order...

I got a new Nikon DSLR camera for Christmas and I'll be taking a photography class soon!!

I had fun setting up my new camera and waiting
not too patiently to get a humming bird picture.
I'm all bundled up in my jammies lol!!

Got the little nipper having some breakfast!!

Got married in June in Las Vegas, just had our 6 month anniversary lol!

I've been working hard on my beaded jewelry and opened a new Artfire Studio, having lots of fun with Ceramic beads and pendants, beads and stones, making more of my own components.

Started entering blog challenges...