Czech Bead Soup

Playing with beads again... My sis is hosting an open house featuring my jewelry creations this coming weekend,  and I'm adding a few jewelry items to my inventory.

When I don't know where to start, I just browse through my bead inventory.  Mixes of Czech glass beads drew my attention and these colors are perfect for spring and summer.

Pictured above are eye glass lanyards, but they can be converted to a badge lanyard if desired.  I also assembled some memory wire bracelets from the same mixes.  Memory wire is so easy to wear, but a very time consuming product to string.

Lots more to do... Thanks for looking.

Tourmaline Eye Candy

 Today I've been reviewing some of my past jewelry designs as I prepare to make some new pieces.
This lovely piece is one of my favorites.  Doesn't the multicolored tourmaline make you think of a nice juicy piece of watermelon?

I added the gooseberry green shade of grossular garnet and magenta colored stick pearls along with some sterling silver and Swarovski crystals.  This lovely is available for purchase along with matching earrings.

Thanks for the well wishes for the Linn Creek Art Fest last month.  It was beastly hot, but we were blessed with a shady spot again this year.  The turn out was wonderful and I had a very good day.  The only down side for me was waking up quite sick with heat exhaustion the next day.  I learned that staying hydrated wasn't enough for me when spending a very long day with temps in the high 90's.

We are finally getting some rain in our parched drought-stricken area.  Even the birds seem happier!

New Jewelry to Premiere at Linn Creek Arts Festival this Sunday

 I've been busy creating new jewelry with some of my favorite beads.  You can see these and much more in Marshalltown at the Fisher Community Center this coming Sunday at the Linn Creek Arts Festival from 10:00-5:00.

This set was inspired by a gorgeous set of polymer beads created by Chris.  Her artistry and workmanship are top notch.  I found gorgeous orange garnets to coordinate with the polymer focal bead.  Red tiger eye and gold fill beads were added for accents.

It doesn't show on the photo, but the dark background on the floral beads has a hint of sparkle.  The white spots are reflections from my spot light.

Freshwater stick pearls were the inspiration for this triple strand necklace.  They're a beautiful shade of red-violet that perfectly complements the tourmaline and grossular (green) garnet beads.  Sterling silver and Swarovski crystal elements were used as neutral accents on this beauty.  The necklace is finished with a sterling silver clasp.

These earrings match the triple strand necklace.  You can see the fun texture of the freshwater stick pearls on this shot.  Sterling silver and Swarovski crystal elements complete the design.

Jasper comes in many varieties.  This necklace features a Fossil Coral Jasper pendant.  Picture Jasper and sterling silver accent the denim blue sodalite necklace.  The sterling silver toggle clasp closes in the front for an added design feature and ease of wearing.

More Fossil Coral Jasper... this time in marquis shaped beads.  I added Brazilian Petrified Wood beads and sterling silver to make a versatile necklace that can be worn extra long as one strand or wrapped to make a comfortable double strand necklace.  The matching bracelet closes with a beautiful toggle clasp.

I hope to see you Sunday at the festival. I'll be in booth #45. 

Art at Snus Hill Winery on April 30th

I've been making some new earrings to prepare for the upcoming art sale at Snus Hill Winery this coming Saturday.  The event is part of a multi-community celebration in honor of the High Trestle Trail.  Read more here.
This grouping features different stones and sterling silver.  I've been shaping and hammering sterling wire.  That's lots of fun.
So is hanging out with fellow art lovers.  I hope you'll come out this Saturday and see us at Snus Hill Winery.
We'll be there from 10-5.


Turquoise and Sterling Silver Earrings



African Chrysocolla and Sterling Silver Earrings



Just a few of my earring creations.

Art & Jewelry at I Scallon Gallery

Linda Scallon, owner of I Scallon Gallery with one of the famous Ackley dummies.

If you are driving across Iowa on Highway 20, you will see signs that advertise Ackley.  It's just minutes north of the highway.  Ackley made the national news when CBS did a story on the dummies that are found seated on benches up and down Main Street.



Main Street Ackley has plenty of charm.

Be sure to stop in at I Scallon Gallery and  Art Studio.  A variety of artists are represented and I am pleased to say that I am one of them.  I met Linda Scallon, the owner, while exhibiting at the Linn Creek Art Fest this past summer.  She invited me to bring my art and jewelry to her gallery.

Scene from my booth at Linn Creek Art Fest where I met Linda Scallon.

Linda runs a working studio in half of the building where she teaches and creates her own art.  She has a very fun water color technique that involves painting with evergreen branches.  Stop in sometime to meet Linda and see all the art.

Etsy Treasury: Grape Expectations

What a treat! Tonight I found out that one of my bracelets was chosen for an Etsy Treasury.

(I removed the link because the treasury has expired, but you can still go shopping in my Etsy Store. www.rgrdesigns.etsy.com)

My heart is not black, but THIS one is!

New in my Etsy shop! Check out this Black Onyx and Sterling Silver Necklace.

Matching earrings are available in a separate listing.These onyx beads are interesting because they have varying amounts of opacity and translucency.

I've been experimenting with some different photography props. The necklace is laid on a mirror for the shot in this post. I have mixed feelings about the image. The mirror aided in showing the stones' translucency. The reflected image may be confusing. I included other images in my Etsy post that did not use the mirror.

It's a challenge to create clear images for Etsy that will draw attention. My latest jewelry designs have been mostly neutral colors, which adds to the challenge.

Do you have any thoughts on the subject?

And one last thing - a new Picture Jasper Bracelet that is also in my RGR Designs Etsy Store.

Card Party Charm Bracelet & News

As promised, I added a few items to my Etsy store today. I will be adding more this coming week.

I also promised to make an announcement this week. Thanks for your reminders in the comments some of you left. I almost forgot my promise. My mind has been elsewhere this week. We said our final goodbye to a very dear friend who has gone on to Heaven. Our thoughts have been with her family.

So - what was I holding back on? A couple of things -

1. My painting "Golden Harvest" will be displayed at the Iowa State Fair in the Fine Arts competition. I am THRILLED! We are looking into making prints.

2. I am closing in on my 200th blog post and the 2nd anniversary of this blog. Keep your eyes on this blog for give aways in the upcoming days/weeks. I added a follower button that you can see on the right hand column. Have you signed up yet?

Jasper, Onyx, Pearls, Amethyst, Swarovski Crystal, Sterling Silver Inspiration

Onyx, Sirated Agate and Sterling Silver Necklace

These are just a few more of my new jewelry creations. I hope they are whetting your appetite for an art festival. Tomorrow (Sunday, July 19th) is THE day. I've got packing and organizing left to finish. There are paintings to insert into frames. The weather forecast is good - 70's and clear.

Artist Jasper, Blackstone, Red Tiger Eye & Sterling Silver

Following is a collage of some of the earrings that will be for sale. Have a great weekend where ever you are. If you can make it to Marshalltown from 10-4, I'd love to see you.

PS - I'll be making an announcement here in my blog this coming week, so come back for more. ;)

Picture Jasper and Sodalite Necklace

This is one of the newest necklaces that I created in preparation for the Linn Creek Art Fest. It has a lovely sterling silver toggle clasp in the front that doubles as a bail for this gorgeous sodalite pendant. I hope to see you at the festival on Sunday!

New Stone Bracelets!

Poppy Jasper, Blackstone and Sterling Silver Bracelet

Blue Goldstone and Sterling Silver Bracelet


Ocean Jasper, Pietersite and Sterling Silver Bracelet

Garnet, Swarovski Crystal and Sterling Silver Bracelet.

Just one more week until the Linn Creek Arts Festival (July 19, 2009) in Marshalltown, Iowa. I've been making new jewelry. It's been a while since I made stone bracelets. I love the variation of color in the different Jasper stones.

Listening to Michael Card while I work.... so inspiring and uplifting! I was blessed to win a set of his CD's while at his concert in late May.

Winter Landscape & Snowman Earrings AEDM2008

This is a quick post before I leave for the office. Yes, I do have a nice part-time job.

As promised, here's the landscape I started last night. I think I'll tweak it a bit tonight. It's acrylic on canvas (11 x 14).

Also posted are a pair of the new earrrings I made last night using glass pearls. I hope to get them in my Etsy store tonight.

Have a blessed day.

Black & White & Red All Over!

Remember that silly riddle from days gone by:

WHAT'S BLACK & WHITE & RED ALL OVER?

This fun charm bracelet is my answer to the riddle.
I started with a sterling silver chain, and added
lampwork (American artist made) and Swarovski crystals.

It's a classic color combination. Maybe it's your school colors.


So.... what else is black & white & red all over?
A newspaper or(hold your nose for this one) skunk road kill

Do you have another answer to the riddle?

Too Busy To Blog

YIKES! It's been a month since my last blog entry. Some of the things I've done include selling jewelry at a wine & art fest, demonstrating watercolor painting at Swinging Bridge Studio, designing cards for an upcoming activity at church, and working on the house project. This past week I made the jewelry shown in this post using some of the beads I found at the Treasures show I attended in Des Moines a couple weeks ago.

Chris made the polymer clay focal I used for the necklace. Her beads are fantastic. I was thinking about making something for breast cancer awareness when I picked up the bead. This past weekend I found out there will be a fundraiser for a family friend who is being treated for breast cancer. So this necklace and earrings are being donated to the cause. If you are interested in purchasing this set, contact me.

I found some really cute lampwork pumpkins & snowmen to make earrings. I plan to take them to Swinging Bridge Studio, but you can contact me if you are interested in them. I could not resist the lampwork snow-person faces. I think they look like girls. They were created by Jimmye.

I hope to get some new items in my Etsy store this week. The weather forecast is favorable for us to get more work done on our siding project, so that is our priority. We're starting to see the light at the end of this tunnel.

Amazonite Challenge

Since I've been recouperating from getting my wisdom teeth removed last Friday, I'm taking it easy. Working at my jewelry design board was just the thing to take my mind off the pain for a while. This month's gemstone challenge is Amazonite at The Beadhive (BHV), a jewelry and bead designing group I belong to at Etsy & Ebay. I just happened to pick up some Amazonite coins at a show last Spring.

I used Paua Shell, Labradorite, and Kiwi Jasper along with glass seed beads for this 40 inch long necklace. Wear it singly, or wrap it for a double strand look. Matching earrings come with the necklace. I named it Minty Breeze for it's summery look and light appearance and feeling. Minty Breeze will be up for sale in my Etsy store.

Central Iowa Art Fair Coming Soon!

On Sunday, July 20th, I will be exhibiting my work at the Central Iowa Art Fair in Marshalltown, Iowa. The show runs from 11-4. There is art, music, food & wine. What more do you need?
I like the casual atmosphere of this art fair. This will be my first time to participate, and it will be only the 2nd time I'm setting up outdoors. I'm praying for good weather.
Last year at this show I met Brandie, a talented and sweet artist, whose collages attracted both my husband and me. She has become a valued friend. She inspired me to carry through with my thoughts of starting this blog. Be sure to check out her "Little Pieces of Art" blog and Etsy store. We are hoping to be neighbors at the art fest this year.

At this show most of the space in my booth will be devoted to my jewelry designs. I have some beautiful pieces that are shown to their best in person. In the meantime, here's a sweet charm bracelet that features Czech glass flowers and Swarovski crystals on a Sterling Silver base. You can contact me if you are interested in purchasing Rosy Garden.

New Etsy Listing Venetian Glass Earrings

One of my goals is to regularly add new listings to my Etsy shop, but I let other projects distract me too often. Tonight I added a pair of Venetian Glass Earrings to my shop.
What are Venetian Glass Beads? Authentic Venetian Glass Beads are made in Italy following ancient traditional methods. The glass is formed around a copper wire which is later dissolved with acid when the bead is completed. Imitation or copy-cats are massed produced on a wire coated with bead release. If you see chalky residue in the bead hole, it is not authentic Venetian Glass. You can read more about Venetian Glass here.
I hand selected this pair of beads. It was so hard to narrow down my selections, because there were so many beautiful designs to choose from. The pattern on these beads make me think of Van Gogh's iris painting - in a very abstract way. (On a side note, hubby & I saw this painting in 2003 when we traveled to Amsterdam. The Van Gogh Museum is one of the world's most popular museums, and it is well worth the trip!)
You can find another selection featuring Venetian Glass in my Etsy store. I hope you'll take a look. Be sure to contact me if you have any questions.