Friday, January 21, 2011

Fusion Beads Reader Challenge: Blog Hop




Hello all! Welcome! Where do I begin with these? To say that I have been itching to reveal these designs is an understatement!

Right before Christmas Lorelei Eurto posted THIS blog post. I jumped at the chance to join and began shopping right away! The only component that I could not get was the lucite walnut leaf charms. I did find some on Etsy in a chocolate brown and ordered them....but, alas, I could NOT wait to start on my designs, so they never made it in the finale!

The RULES: "For this challenge, you may create whatever you'd like. A necklace, a bracelet, earrings, whatever! Feel free to add in as many components as you want, your own focal, beads from your stash, but just make sure to try to use these components in your final piece."

This picture was the first piece I made. The necklace started with the Green Girl Studios clasp as my focal. It was to be a clasp as well, but, I am sure you all know about "the best laid plans of mice and men often go astray". No matter how well you plan something, always expect the unexpected! I added Ruby Fuschite and Picture Jasper gemstone ovals, tiny Bali Silver nugget spacers, and I used a silver Hill Tribes clasp bar to the side to finish it up. My all time favorite about the design? I am now in LOVE with drop seed beads!! They lay great!!

The bracelets came to me as I was drinking my morning coffee one Sunday, and skimming through a People Magazine my mom had left behind. There was a picture of Taylor Swift with an arm FULL of wooded bead bracelets...all layered upon each other! My brain screamed ELASTIC BRACELETS!!! And off I went! My coffee got cold :(
I am not a bead shopper at our local Wal-Mart. To be blunt....most are crap! Sorry Wal-Mart! Buuuut, I did find some great olive green suede cord and gunmetal findings, you know...just in case in could use them in my designs! I used the green suede and the leather cord Lorelei chose to tie the set of elastic bracelets together. I then made a single, drop seed bead, strand bracelet, with another GGS owl clasp to layer on top of the elastic set. Voila!
Lastly, we have the earrings. You know I am not much into making matching sets, but that Lorelei.....she picked some FANTASTIC beads! The earrings were inspired by Michelle Mach's Under the Midnight Sky earrings that were showcased in January's issue of Bead Trends.

The earrings are made using beads from the challenge, gunmetal findings, bali silver beadcaps, and a set of GGS small owl charms.

Thank you all for stopping in! Thank you SO much to Lorelei Eurto for hosting this fantastic challenge! Hop on over to the other challenge members' blogs to see their designs. I KNOW I will there reading, looking, drooling, oooing and ahhhing!

http://lorelei1141.blogspot.com/
http://erinsiegeljewelry.blogspot.com/

http://beadingbymalindekoning.blogspot.com/
http://beadhappytoday.blogspot.com/

http://thebeaddreamer.com/blog
http://dreamsomedesigns.blogspot.com/
http://fryestyle.blogspot.com/
http://www.madmaggiedesigns.blogspot.com/ You are Here!!!
http://reginaswritings.blogspot.com/


http://www.mylifeunderthebus.typepad.com/
http://jennibead.blogspot.com/
http://maryhardingjewelrybeadblog.blogspot.com/
http://silverrosedesigns.blogspot.com/
http://lindalandig.wordpress.com/


http://fireflymyst.blogspot.com/
http://www.awishandacloud.blogspot.com/
http://spiritrattles.blogspot.com/
http://formysweetdaughter.blogspot.com/


http://songbeads.blogspot.com/
http://beautifullybrokenme.blogspot.com/
http://threeredbeads.blogspot.com/
http://christinec3.blogspot.com/

post signature

25 comments:

Lorelei Eurto said...

HI L! These are awesome! I love the bracelet and wish I had done a bracelet too. Next time next time.

I now have the updated blog list on the blog, feel free to copy and paste it into your post.

Thanks so much for participating!

Marcie Abney Carroll said...

This is great, but ya' know what I like the best? The little bracelet in your title pic! I love making those little simple wheel thingies and yours are awesome!

My Life Under the Bus said...

Fantastic set - I can see why you were itching to intro duce them to the world : ) Great Job! Happy Blog Hopping!!!

Mary Harding said...

Your bracelet is sumptous. I love it. And those tiny drop beads, I had not thought of using them that way. You are right though, it seems however you use them they lie just right. Gorgeous. So glad I stopped by.

KristiBowmanDesign said...

WOW, I LOVE the combination of Ruby Fuschite and Picture Jasper!!!! Bracelets are awesome, thought about doing elastic and I think I might have to! The earrings are beautiful as well. Very nice work!!

Rosanne said...

Love all the of these pieces - especially the earrings.

beautifullybrokenme said...

What a beautiful set! I love the extra beads you added, and the layered bracelet is fantastic!

Holly said...

Okay, I'm in awe of how much stuff you put together for this challenge! Wow...

And totally in love with them all, but those earrings are just spectacular! Awesome job :)

Emma said...

Aren't blog hops great... ! found your blog :0) Although I didn't participate in this challenge I'm so enjoying spending time looking at all the creations. I'm in love with all your designs, especially the bracelet... fantastic :0)

Lisa Godfrey said...

All three pieces are gorgeous but I am in LOVE with that bracelet! So pretty!

Malin de Koning said...

All gorgeous! I especially like the bracelet and the earrings. Beautiful!

TesoriTrovati said...

Really beautiful! I love those Green Girl owl charms. Never seen those! And your bracelet is so wonderful. I always struggle with bracelets. Thank you for sharing your inspiration!
Enjoy the day.
Erin

Leslie Gidden said...

Hello everyone! Thank you ALL SO much for the wonderful comments! I LOVE getting comments on here! I appreciate you all stopping in more than you know! A huge thank you to Lorelei again for this fantastic challenge! Enjoy and have a great day! Thanks again! :)

Warmly,
Leslie

Shannon Chomanczuk said...

I am in love with your bracelet!
Too cool.

Michelle Mach said...

Lovely work! I saw your earrings and thought they were vaguely familiar but didn't know why until I saw your comment about the Bead Trends inspiration. Would you mind if I posted a copy of those earrings on my blog with a link back to your website?

Charlene said...

All your pieces are just gorgeous, but the use of the leather with the bracelet is so intriguing - lovely job!

Christine'sCreations said...

I love the whole set. Those earings are great.

Cillaw said...

Hi Leslie,
I love your set but especially the earrings and the way you used the seed beads. I love your banner too.
Can't wait to visit your store.
Cilla

fireflymyst said...

Wonderful set! I love the earrings with the owls!

Leslie Gidden said...

Thank you all so much! Michelle, feel free to post and link all you want, and thank you for such great earrings for inspiration! :)

Regina said...

Wow! Love how you have added natural stones to the mix and results are spectacular. And so are the bracelet and earrings... especially those darling earrings. Great work, great pieces.

Jennifer Cameron said...

I love all the designs (and they aren't too matchy matchy you know...) the breacelet is my fave! Love it!

Anna Lear said...

Very nice collection! The earrings are so sweet, and I love how they echo the owl theme. Sweet!

Betty S. said...

Great work! Love how you tied it all together. Agree those earrings are adorable!

Mari said...

the bracelet is perfect!!! and the necklace awesome!!!

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