Tin Moon Madness

Hello, my Beady Friends!

Happy September!  My workshop is in full Halloween mode now!

    I happened to find this Chocolate tin from at least 20 years ago in one of my nightstand drawers.  It was given to me long before I started making jewelry, so until a few days ago, it was just a cute tin box.  But now, I'm looking at through new eyes!

 

I put my disc cutter to work and began to punch out as many discs as possible, not wasting one bit of this adorable tin.  For this design, I'll just be using the large stripe discs and will save the spooky eyes for another day.

The lovely enameled bats are by Israeli bead artist, Pearly Karpel. 

Thanks for stopping by to see what's happing on my worktable today!  I'm excited about Autumn and looking forward to digging deep into all kinds of Halloween designs for the next couple of months!

 Loralee xo

www.loraleekolton.etsy.com

Finally Spring

Hello. I do hope this finds all of you well. 

With sunny days and temps reaching aaaaaallllll the way to 55F -- yeah, I know, but it's all we have!! -- Spring has finally come to Southeastern Lower Michigan. Spring is such a rejuvenating time of year. Truth be told, Fall is my favorite, but I'd never turn my back on a lovely Spring day. It seems to be all about renewal. That's a good feeling.

I have two pairs of earrings to show you today, both made when Spring was still an abstract thought, with snow on the ground in April. 🙂 All just a memory now. 

Flower Bobble Earrings

The first started with Petra Carpreau's Bobble Flower Drops in an "Oriential Princess" glaze. I paired them with columns cut from rusted tin tiles and given a bit of a "whitewash" with hints of pink. Green translucent glass beads and oxidized brass accents are strung on waxed Irish linen and hang from soldered brass metal rings. The backs of the tin are felted to give them a bit more substance and a nice finish. 

The second pair includes ceramics by Andrea Salkowe of JosephineBeads. Floral decals with a retro feel are paired with Natural Stones of Peach Moonstone, Rustic Blue Watermelon Tourmaline and rondelles of "Nephrite Jade." Small blue glass beads accompany the semi-precious stones, all wrapped with handmade oxidized copper ball-tip headpins. Simple but not. . . . they're really beautiful. 

As an aside, I think ball-tip headpins were one of the things I learned to make that really changed things when I first started making jewelry. Very easy, cost effective, and great design elements. 😉

Flowers & Stones

Thank you all so much for popping in today to give us a read. I hope you are all enjoying the best Spring ever, and that your Summer will be much of the same, filled with Creativity and Joy!

Thank you!
Norbel Marolla
She Flies Again

Edgy Slices

I cannot tell you what a thrill it is to get your hands on the works of Kimberly Rogers at Numinosity Beads.  The only disappointment was the fact that I didn't order more, what the heck was I thinking!!!!  I could have sold these over and over again.  However, the slices did go like hotcakes, so I was lucky girl to get my hands on a few.

One of my favorite color combinations is blues and greens, so I felt that tiny tubes of turquoise were most appropriate followed with Ethiopian copper spacers.  These have a 2 hole connection at the top. A little bit more challenging in my opinion, so I went with some rusty rings to bring it all together.  Perfectly balanced, bursting and unique ♥

This second pair is also a HUGE favorite.  I adore the colors of rusts, oranges and burgundies. 

I call this my romantic~rustic look.

The glass discs are from Terry Turner of Silverish Designs.  Another impeccable artists who;s work is hard to get your hands on these days. They accent Kim's charms like a match made in heaven. I must say, these were hard to let go.  

Thanks for taking a peek friends, see you again in two weeks, Lynn Ferro

My ETSY Shop- Yucca Bloom

Time for Tin

One of my most favorite earrings to make are simple tin drops.  I've been hankering to make some more of these again as they are super light and the shapes are endless. Not to mention I have a draw jam packed with collected pieces.

I recommend getting some stencil patterns or make your own from cardboard for tracing, this assures your designs are more accurately matched, trust me, I've tried to wing it and it just doesn't work, at least not for me.  

A pair of metal cutters work great, but I find that stainless steel curved nail scissors work the best. Their small and go around corners like butter.

I'm particularly fond of this pair on the left.  If I'm feeling extra creative, I hand paint portions here and there to give them a little more depth and color.  It's pretty simple since the patterns are already there for you.

When making my cut, I make the upper portion just a tad skinnier so I can roll over the tops, a simple jump ring slides through perfectly so you can add your ear wires. 

Gives them a little added character, ☺

This pair has hammered dots along the bottom with distressing to bring out the silver underneath with added beads up top.  

Great Colors!!

So next time your at a thrift store or garage sale, keep an eye out for tins, people are always getting rid of them.  You know what they say, someones trash is another's treasure, ♥

Thanks for visiting friends, see you again in two weeks!! 

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