Star Agate, My Beader's Muse IV Entry

May 6 was the Big Reveal day for the Use the Muse IV contest. So now I can show you my entry. I struggled to create something using the Muse. This contest is one in which you pay a fee and receive a kit of components with the only requirement being that you use the muse and not reveal it until the contest promoter does.


This is the second contest I have entered in and both times the muse did not seem to suit my style of jewelry. Since I have joined the etsy beadweavers where we have monthly themed challenges that produce high quality items, I will probably not enter this contest again. But we can still enjoy the results. Check out http://www.usethemuse.com

Sorry the top two photos are dark. You can always check it out on my shop www.etsy.com/listing/46360370

Pictures of a Peridot Crystal Bracelet

I promised pictures, so you have four views of the same bracelet. It is peridot Swarovski crystals in two sizes connected with a random mix of blues, purples, and limey green tiny seed beads. It has three strands that connect to each other forming a chevron (v) shape. This is the same stitch as the peaches and cream bracelets I wrote about last week, except those were two strands, and I varied the beads on each side of the core bead to make a symmetrical bracelet rather than three of the same on each side of the core beads. I have earrings I made to coordinate but will have to locate them. They are the same style as the violet ab ones in my shop.

I have an excel spreadsheet for my inventory of completed items. I will be able to tell if I have taken a photo yet and when; also I will have an idea of where physically the earrings are located. I think I have not yet photographed them. I still have a lot of photos to do.

So enjoy the photos, the week ahead, and right now. I plan to add items to my shop that can coordinate with the earrings I listed in April even though I didn't make the earrings for any specific bracelet or necklace.

Thursday should be the BIG REVEAL for the Use the Muse IV contest.

Mother's Day Showcase & Earrings Promotion

The photos are of additions to my shop today. The left side is my final pair of earrings in the April promotion. Since I have a Mother's Day Showcase slot, I decided to keep the prices promotional for one more day.

The right side is a cream pearl and crystal ab bicone bead bracelet in right angle weave. I use gold with cream. It is a classic bracelet style I enjoy making that's under $200 and have sold through the Illinois Artisan shop in Chicago. It can be made with any beads; these are Swarovski.

I worked on my challenge item for the Etsy Beadweavers Team today. The theme is colors imbeded in insects. I chose the damselfly. Materials include different finishes on the delicas and two turquoise, orange and lime green colors. Like I'm ready for the islands. So far it is a combination of a couple of stitches and free form. It will be listed on Wednesday.

The Big Reveal for the Use the Muse contest is Thursday, May 6 according to Artbeads.

Earrings

I did some photo editing tonight as I was running out of images to post for the April earring promotion. I think these are lovely for spring and summer as they are light in color--crystals are Swarovski black diamond ab and the corrugated round sterling silver bead seems to resist tarnish nicely. I'm liking the black diamond ab color, so next time I order beads, I'll have to make something with them. Maybe I should add the three strand flat spiral bracelet to my shop, but I think it has black charlottes connecting the crystals.

Today is the first day of voting for the etsy beadweavers April challenge. http://etsy-beadweavers.blogspot.com/ My entry is number 30, Dancing with the Sky. Scroll beneath the group photo to find the listing by number where you can click on the item and go to the shop to see and read the details. This is my first time participating, so I am just happy to have created a lovely bracelet in time to enter. Voting continues thru April 15, so you have time--anyone can vote. Being from the Chicago suburbs I'm not sure if you can vote more than once

I have also worked on my Use the Muse entry which is due Monday. I'm not liking the components in the kit and think I have only used size 15 black seed beads from it so far. The Muse is required. The style is different for me--a choker with dangles from it.