July 2, 2014 by bahamadawn

Octopus Obsession

Looking back thru the recent pictures of my work, it seems I am a little obsessed with the octopus!

One of the things I love about being an artist is getting a design idea and working it into as many different pieces and mediums as possible.

Octopus Pendants

It all started with these simple octopus on a barrel pendants.

Which then led to putting an octopus on one of my glass buttons.

Handmade glass buttons

Then along came the hand painted silk pillow.

Hand Painted Silk Pillow

The inspiration then came to do more with the octopus charm, so I made simple, round beads to match a charm and created a necklace on sterling silver chain.

Octopus Necklace

My latest completed project as been a journal cover, but this won’t be the last octopus you see from me. The ideas are flowing now. The biggest decision is which idea to work on next!

Quilted Octopus Journal Cover

I used one of my glass buttons as a closure on this journal cover.

Close up of glass button closure

It’s the legs on these guys that I love so much. So much fun to work with and twirl around into a design.

Quilted Octopus Journal, detail

The journal covers fit a Mead Composition Book, so when your journal is full you can replace it with another Composition Book. They wash really well also, so don’t worry about getting it dirty!

Quilted Octopus Journal Cover

Can anyone guess where the octopus will appear next?

Happy Hump Day! Let your creative juices flow this week!

January 6, 2012 by bahamadawn

Recycled Glass Jewelry

Happy Friday everyone!

Over the last few weeks I have been working on and off with making glass beads out of used bottles, that would have otherwise been trash.

The beads aren’t perfect because I am not working with a rod, the glass isnt perfect, but I think the imperfections add to the uniqueness of the pieces.

Sometimes pieces break or crack, but I am pretty happy with the finished jewelry pieces that have been created as a result of this glass that could have been garbage.

I still have more photos to upload and edit, but wanted to show a couple of the most popular pieces.
Have great weekend!

June 22, 2011 by bahamadawn

Bead Table Wednesday ~ getting somewhere

Remember those components that had me artistically stuck?

Well I am getting somewhere with them this week.

There is also a heart bezel that is filled with goodies and resin which is drying on the side.

I am having a busy week – both emotionally and physically – but being able to create is my solace. I always seem to be beaming with ideas at times like this.

Happy Bead Table Wednesday!

June 15, 2011 by bahamadawn

~Bead Table Wednesday~

It’s been a busy week here with workmen in and out of the house. I am surprised I was able to do anything creative. Two weeks ago, in this post, I showed you a variety of components I was working with. I am really struggling with getting these to come together right.
BUT…..I was successful with this pendant…..
I love making those fused silver rings, hammering them FLAT…..very therapeutic…..and then stamping them for some texture.

I had a headpin leftover, and it was lonely, so made this simple pendant for myself……….

I have also had my hands in clay and glaze again……

Cant wait to glaze these and fire them. I love that owl towards the bottom right…..he’s gonna be a cutie 🙂
Right next to him is a bezel box that I cant wait to fill with goodies and resin.
Here are a few glazed beads waiting for something creative to happen to them….

I think they may grow up to be pendants.
Be sure to go the Flickr group, Bead Table Wednesday, and check out what other jewelry artists are up to.
Happy Bead Table Wednesday!!!
What is happening on your bead table?

June 8, 2011 by bahamadawn

B.T.W.

Personally I think a messy work table shows that work is getting done!!!

Right??????

It is a little embarrassing to show this photo, but when I am in a bead making frenzy this is what happens!

And I think most artists are capable of making a real good MESS!!! I just hate myself when I have to clean it up, and that time is soon coming!
Very soon I will be upgrading to a mixed gas torch and I cannot wait!! I am just waiting for all the items to get to me 🙂

I am still working with the findings I showed you last BTW.

Here are a few beads that will go with that mix.

What is on your creative table today?
Go here and check out what others are doing on Bead Table Wednesday!

April 20, 2011 by bahamadawn

Something Finished

In one of my posts at the end of December I had a whole long list of unfinished projects that needed my attention. This week I managed to get another one of those UFO’s DONE!!

My very first crocheted pillow!!!! All for me 🙂

I love the scalloped trim.

This is the back…….and this is what took sooooooooo long!!! Rows and rows and rows of single crochet!!! What was I thinking? I am glad I persevered and did it thought because it has a cool look.

The buttons for the closure was a bit of a challenge also, but it is DONE!!

I am now trying to decided which pattern I will use for my next pillow.

I also wanted to show you some new glass that I got in last week.

I’ll soon be showing you some new beads and jewelry pieces from these yummy colors!

Today I broke down and ordered a bead annealer. The kind you put the beads in as soon as you have made them. Right now I am making them, then putting them in the kiln later on. I also can’t get PMC and enameling off my brain and I have the materials…..I just need to do it!

Hope you all have a very Happy Easter 🙂

April 16, 2011 by bahamadawn

Bracelet Blog Hop for The Global Genes Project

The Global Genes Project is a campaign to raise awareness to rare disease in children.

One of my blogging friends, Lori Anderson, is hosting this blog hop. She too, is affected by a rare disease.

Jewelry artists were asked to make a bracelet with the predominate color being blue.

The bracelets will be given to one of the 7000 families that have a child with a rare disease to show them love, hope and support.

Here is the bracelet that i made…..

I used one of my lamp worked glass beads, a hand stamped tag *wish*, and several blue glass shell beads.

The shells, for me, represent unfolding mysteries. I wish for these families that the mystery of their child’s rare disease can be solved.

I had a hard time getting a good picture of the hand stamped tag.

Go and check out all the bracelets that others have made here on Lori’s blog.

Scroll down to the bottom to see the list of blog participants and check out all the wonderful bracelets.

I hope I am not posting this too early, but I am getting ready to leave for an art show so I needed to get this posted before I left.

February 28, 2011 by bahamadawn

Creative Project #28 ~ last day of the creative challenge.

I am kinda sad that this creative challenge is over. It has kept me so inspired throughout this month! Although like I told you in a previous post I joined a new group called “Creative Everyday”. I wont be posting every single day about what I have made, instead weekly, but I still will be creating everyday!

Some days were a crunch to get something creative done, but it was well worth the effort to make the time to do it.

So today I made some more beads. I am hooked on making headpins. Here are a few of the batch I made. You will have to wait and see the rest when they are in a piece of jewelry. I have lots of ideas for these little gems.

I got hooked on making these pins when Cassie Donlen, of the Glass Beadle, had a giveaway on her Facebook page for some headpins that she made.

I WON THE GIVEAWAY!!! WOOHOO!!!

Cassie is an amazing glass bead maker, and has a great video out if anyone is interested.

Cassie then asked on her Facebook page how others made their glass headpins. She made hers on the end of the mandrel then attached the wire with epoxy. I wrote in and told her I made mine on high temp wire, but then I wanted to try her method since the wire can be tricky if it isnt completely straight.

The last couple of days I have been making them on the mandrel and kind of like that way.

Here are the awesome headpins that Cassie made, and I won….

I got to pick out the four I preferred.

I cant wait to use them with one of her toggles I bought last year.

Have a great week!

February 28, 2011 by bahamadawn

Creative Project #27 ~ a beady kind of day

Today was a day of catching up on some rest as well as melting some glass. I go into another zone when I make glass beads. It is like my own little zen.

Here are a few of the batch I made today….

I also designed a new necklace to go with this ceramic pendant that I got out of the kiln on Friday…..

and have started to make some of the components.

The day ended with several rewarding hours of agility training with our agility club and my wonderful potcake, Trixi.

It has been a fun and busy weekend…..I love it!

February 18, 2011 by bahamadawn

Creative Project #17 ~ when supplies are low

I have let myself get dangerously low on my fine silver wire supply, and the urge to create jewelry hit me today so I had to turn to copper. One of my favorite sayings (I am not sure who’s quote) is “Do what you can with what you have”.

So that is what I set out to do with my creative challenge today.

I learned how to make the coiled circles from an issue of Step by Step Wire Jewelry. In the magazine they were on a silver necklace as spacers, but the copper worked just as well.