PLAY DATE Artist: Shirley Moore of Beads and Bread

 

Play Date artist (PDa) is a new feature here on my blog. I send out a package to my playmate which includes some of my handmade components (beads, charms and/or focals) along with a few coordinating beads and findings. My playmate and I will both create a piece of jewelry using those same select components plus some of our own stash.

This week's playdate is Shirley Moore of Bread and Beads!

Shirley Moore is a fabulous beadweaver. I am in awe of the work that goes into the pieces she creates. The imagination, the workmanship, the patience that goes into each of her pieces - it just blows my mind.  With Shirley being a beadweaver I wondered what she would come up with in using the beads I sent to her.

 

As is the usual drill we both started with the same little package of beads and bits. Our mix included a few of my new beads, Fall Remnants.

Remember we didn't HAVE to use all of the pieces in the pack, just these focus beads,  Fall Remnants. These beads were made with translucent polymer clay which has been textured and then coated with inks, chalks and liquid sculpey.

I decided to attempt a necklace. If you follow my journey in jewelry making you know it is one of my least favorite things to make. But I attempted it, and GUESS WHAT? I actually like what I ended up with. I started last evening (yup, my MO is procrastination!) but didn't feel well so I ended up going to bed at like 7:30 pm. I got up this morning at 5:30 and got back to work. I guess that was a good idea because once I began this morning the creativity just flowed! 

 Here some more eye candy!

The lampwork bead is by Johanna Stephenson of CanyonEchos - it's sooo beautiful.

 

 

So you want to see what Shirley created? Of course you do! Let's go on over to HER BLOG and see.

See more of her work by clicking HERE!


Thanks for coming by and be sure to tune in for my next episode!

PLAY DATE artist: Susan Kennedy of SueBeads!

Play Date artist (PDa) is a new feature here on my blog. I send out a package to my playmate which includes some of my handmade components (beads, charms and/or focals) along with a few coordinating beads and findings. My playmate and I will both create a piece of jewelry using those same select components plus some of our own stash.

This week's playdate is Susan Kennedy of SueBeads!

Susan Kennedy is a glass artist working in lampworking and enameling. She hails from Pittsburgh, PA. She works from her home studio,  which her "sweetie" created for her. It sounds like a happy space! Her work is awesome so I was excited to see what she would create using my beads.




 As is the usual drill we both started with the same little package of beads and bits. Our mix included a few of my new beads, Ethnic Textured Beads.












Remember we didn't HAVE to use all of the pieces in the pack, just these focus beads, Ethnic Textured Beads. These are available in many colors, this time we are using the deep red colored ones.
 

Available at TORI SOPHIA Etsy Shop

I love the look and feel of these beads. I texture them with dental tools, which I LOVE.  The tools were provided by my oldest daughter, Melanie, who is a dental assistant. 

 

When it came down to creating a piece of jewelry using my beads I fell back on my old favorite - the bracelet!

 

 

 

 

 So you want to see what Sue created?  Of course you do! Let's go on over to HER BLOG and see.

Visit Sue's website by clicking HERE or SHOP in her Etsy Shop!


Thanks for coming by and be sure to tune in  for my next episode!


PS... Don't forget to VOTE!!

 

PLAY DATE artist: Heather Otto of Made in Mama's Craft Room

Play Date artist (PDa) is a new feature here on my blog. I send out a package to my playmate which includes some of my handmade components (beads, charms and/or focals) along with a few coordinating beads and findings. My playmate and I will both create a piece of jewelry using those same select components plus some of our own stash.

This week's playdate is HEATHER OTTO of Mama's Craft Room!

Heather is such a crafty girl, hopping from craft to craft AND doing them all with LOVE ! Heather is a happy girl, a VERY loving mama, and just an all-around doll! That's why I am giggling-happy to be playing with her this week, always nice to have company that you truly enjoy being around.   Find out more about Heather  by clicking HERE.

We both started with this little package which included one of my new beads, OLIVEr with a TWIST –

Remember we didn't HAVE to use all of the pieces in the pack, just these focus beads, OLIVEr with a TWIST.

My "OLIVEr with a TWIST" beads

I tried something new this time, stringing! Well, what I refer to as stringing. I don't know what the true definition of stringing is but to me it means no wire loops or chains, JUST wire and beads! I also don't usually do necklaces, just don't think it’s my thing. I never know what to do to fill all those spaces in between beads! Sort of like a conversation, I never was good at small talk. I babble when I get nervous, AND for some reason, silence makes me nervous.

So here are a few photos of what I came up with…

I tried to add a little nature and texture by adding wooden pieces – they ended up making the necklace have a little more texture than I wanted due to the way they just wouldn't lay flat. BUT the more I looked at it, the more it grew on me. I kind of like the way it changes the shape of the necklace- not just ‘hanging there’. What do you think?

So, I wonder what Heather did with her OLIVEr with a TWIST beads? LET’s go take a peek, shall we?  CLICK HERE!

Thanks for coming by and be sure to tune in next week for our next episode!



PLAY DATE artist: Sherri Stokey of Knot Just Macrame

Play Date artist (PDa) is a new feature here on my blog. I send out a package to my playmate which includes some of my handmade components (beads, charms and/or focals) along with a few coordinating beads and findings. My playmate and I will both create a piece of jewelry using those same select components plus some of our own stash. 

Today I am having a beady play date with one of my favorite Facebook friends, Sherri Hartman Stokey, of Knot Just Macrame.

Sherri is a fabulous micro-macrame artist. I won't even TRY to play in her macrame world because my work would be a total embarrassment compared to her mastery. I mean when I say she is good, I mean she is GOOD!!

Look at one of her Dragon bracelets...

Look at that detail! The craftmanship is excellent!

  

I decided to send Sherri one of my newest pieces, the Asian Coin. I created this one with gold clay and antiqued it after baking. Next I added copper pigment mixed with liquid polymer clay and hit it up with a heat gun to set the colors. Turning up the heat ended up adding a little more texture to the piece. I love how it turned out.

I added a shank to the back of the focal bead, Asian Coin, because this is the type piece Sherri normally uses in her jewelry.

I put together this soup with a few coordinating bits and pieces, one for Sherri and one for me.

Now we don't have to use all these in our jewelry pieces, and we can use our own stash, but we do have to use the focal piece, my Asian Coin.

So here is a few pictures of a bracelet I created - 

The colors look a little different when placed on a different background.  I don't really like the way the shank button sits so I will probably replace it with one that sits flat and connects on each side of the focal bead -

Here is a closeup of the seed beads and pearls which were interwoven into the copper chain using 7-strand stringing wire. 



So now you know what I did with my beads..

      NOW, what did Sherri do with hers? LET'S go and SEE!  CLICK HERE!!

READ my BFF feature about Sherri Stokey by CLICKING HERE.

Thanks for coming by and be sure to tune in next week for our next episode! 

PLAY DATE artist : Rita of Toltec Jewels

 

 

Today is my first play date! Today's playmate is Rita of Toltec Jewels. 

 

Play Date artist (PDa) is a new feature here on my blog.  I send out a package to my playmate which includes some of my handmade components (beads, charms and/or focals) along with a few coordinating beads and findings. My playmate and I will both create a piece of jewelry using those same select components plus some of our own stash.

Here's what I sent to Rita -

 

 

The palette I sent is one I absolutely love, purple and lime green. I love how the colors pop when placed side by side (in fact, I am painting my new studio space with these colors!) The larger purple polymer beads are part of my SILLY RABBIT series.

 

I make them in vivid colors and they remind me of one of my favorite childhood cereals - TWIX! 

My "Silly Rabbit" Beads


 

I like to make bracelets so I set off to try a technique I haven't tried before - a triple row beaded wrap bracelet. I really like the way it turned out!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now a little about my playmate, Rita of Toltec Jewels. Rita is an encourager and an inspiration. She's just one of those people who always finds a way to offer a kind word and put a positive spin on a situation. THAT is a gift! I feel blessed to call Rita a friend.

 

So come with me and see what Rita did with her bead mix - CLICK HERE!
 

READ Rita also took part in our Holiday Bling Blog Hop as well as What's in a Name Blog Hop! We are getting verrrry chummy!

 

Please be sure to tune in next time for another episode of PDa! 

 

 

 

 

 

PDA: I’m a WEIRDO, and I admit it…

 

 

         I am an artist. I love color, texture and working with my hands.

I like accounting and math too! I love structure, rules and deadline!

I guess that’s why I love challenges so much. When working at a challenge I can get creative but with some rules and a deadline. I have found that I need that discipline; otherwise I don’t always venture into my studio and get work done as I should. So that’s why I think I gravitate to all the challenges and blog hops.

Unfortunately the challenges seem to come in bunches. I might have two in a week and then not another one for a couple more weeks. I need MORE structure!

So I am instituting my own structure, but I need some company. Do you want to join me for a play date?

PDA, or  “Play Date Artist”,  will appear as a biweekly post on my blog. I will feature my “play date” friend and his/her work plus write a small blurb with the artist’s contact information (similar to BFF*).

* BFF is BeadingFriend Friday. It is my weekly interview-type blog post featuring some of my favorite artists. It has been a weekly feature here on Fabric of My Life.

Should you want to come play, here is how it will work:

1.   I will send off to you a package of my handmade components (beads, charms and/or focals) along with a few coordinating beads and findings.

2.   You and I will both create a piece of jewelry using those same select components plus some of our own stash. You do NOT have to use the all the pieces I send but just the focal bead/charm(s).

 

3.   On a set date (about two weeks later) we will both show off our designs on our blogs, with links to the other’s post.

So, do you want to play? If so, just leave a comment below!