Star Bright

Hello!  

Over the past couple of years, I've been very attracted to pink during the holidays.  I love a mid-century color palette but I suppose these aren't quite that.  Would you go for mid-century tribal?!! lol  It really doesn't matter what you call them...nope... blending and mixing is exciting and the eye likes what the eye likes :)

The "sugar beads" at the top are lucite with a coating of tiny glass beads. They were made in the '60s and are loaded with texture and catch the light.    I think the tiny bit of sparkle looks great with the light flecks in the enamel charms below.  It just goes together so beautifully.

The artisan enamel charms were made by Spurwink River Arts.  I adore the freeform star design with the pop of stripe and red in the center on a beautiful grey background.  So organic and lovely.

♡

Thank you for having a look at my worktable today!  I'll be back in a couple of weeks!

Loralee xo

www.loraleekolton.etsy.com

Openwork

Hello, hello!!  I'll be on my way to the Bead & Button Show in Milwaukee, WI in a few hours!  It's such a thrill to be around other people who also share the same passion.  You'll see no eye-rolling...or hear, "Omg, is she talking about beads, again?"  Without a doubt, everyone at B&B is as crazy in love with beads as you are ~ and cheers to that!

While I'm there, one of my missions will be hunting for the unusual.  I love looking for interesting shapes and textures.  Here are a couple of cool pieces that I felt were just wonderful together.

The top beads are vintage, circa 1950.  They are made of glass in a rare beehive openwork pattern.  I paired them with some newly created enameled charms, also in a openwork pattern, made  by Marie Demicco of Spurwink River Arts.  Although the enamel work is not vintage they share a wonderful old soul that works beautifully. 

So, I'm off to go hunting now ~ Wisconsin here I come!   Along with shopping, I'm also taking a slightly more advanced (then my last) metalwork class.  I'm pretty excited about that, too!

Thank you for stopping by! 

Until next time, hopefully with new goodies to show and tell -  xoxo . 

Loralee :)))

Loralee Kolton ~artful in beads

I'll Follow The Sun...

These completely knock me out of the winter doldrums! Stunning enamel charms by Cathleen Zaring of Blue Hare Art Wear.  I wanted to set that color off to its fullest, so I went with all black as the companion piece.  Extra fuzzy fabric beads by SagaHus  gave me the impact I was looking for....bold but still soft.  All you would need is a black top and you'd have an outfit!

☀

Hot enamel spikes by Spurwink River Arts!  I wanted to add more pattern but it keep a modern clean line, so I went with a nice thin black and white stripe with a pop of red on the top.  They have a nice tribal vibe.

I'm looking out the window as snow flurries whirl around a grey sky in Chicago.  However, it's nice and sunny inside :D  Hope I've brightened your day, too! 

Loralee xo

☀

Loralee Kolton ~ artful in beads