Sunday, January 31, 2010

Sneak Peek at New Projects





I have been busy this week completing and starting new projects. My piece that I will list this week is a peyote bracelet with a twist. It is a black, white and blue piece featuring triangles. The second piece in my "Dare to Be Different" series, this latest piece has some minor embelishment. I have added a relief to the central triangle of the bracelet (see photo) in addition to a "different" color for one of the triangles. Please let me know if you like this new addition. I have also used a new clasp for this bracelet and would like any feedback.



My treasury for this week is a T-West. I have chosen to feature pastel pieces and they are all lovely! Please take a look at http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list_west.php?room_id=85179
I feature some very talented artists and you will be glad you took some time to view their work.

Finally, I would like to share my latest works in progress. This piece was created to highlight a fantastic stone that I stumbled across. I created a bezel for it using Delica beads and struggled to come up with a necklace to support it. I think I have finally decided to use a spiral herringbone in matching colors. I will remove the gray piece at the end of the necklace and hang the pendant from the spiral necklace. What do you think? How should I hang the pendant?

This final piece is a lariat in the making. I have assembled all of the necessary pieces and just need to do the final assembly. My dilema is how long should I make this? It is my first lariat and I am torn between a short piece to be worn as a necklace and a longer multifunctional piece. What do you think?







Sunday, January 17, 2010

A New Listing, Treasury, and Wedding

This is my year for setting goals and I have met all of them so far. My goal for next week it to set Mary T Designs up on Facebook. I am technologically challenged, so stay tuned for the result of this endeavor. I will report on my progress next week.

My treasury for this week was entitled "Goin' to the Zoo". It includes some fun pieces, all animal related. There are EBW members included as always! Please take time to check it out and to visit some of the shops of the very talented artists featured. You won't be disappointed!!




The piece that I have chosen to list this week is the bracelet that I created to go with the Onyx and Swarovski necklace that I listed last week. I am getting more adventurous in experimenting with different techniques and beads and this bracelet is my first piece containing bugle beads. It is also made with hex beads and bicone Swarovski crystals. If you are interested in this piece, check my shop (http://marytdesigns.etsy.com/) later this week when it will be listed for sale.
Special thanks to Jacquie of AngelqueCreations (http://angelquecreations.etsy.com/) for promoting my last week's necklace on our facebook page. As a result, it was sold!!! Thanks Jacquie:))

As I mentioned in an earlier blog, I made the jewelery and beaded the veil for my Son and Daughter-in-Law's wedding. The jewelery was strung, not woven which I prefer. Here is a picture of the Bride's jewelery. I did both the necklace and earrings. Below is a picture of the veil. I beaded around the outside of the entire thing and made a beadwoven piece for the comb. It was very beautiful, as was the entire day!


















Sunday, January 10, 2010

Week 1 Success








Hello everyone! This past week has been and extreme challenge for me. First, it is my busiest work week of the year, since I am an accountant. My work week was very ful. On top of being very busy, I got very ill. Some sort of flu bug I guess. It was bad. But I pushed through and am now on my way to recovery and looking forward to week 2 of my new year.


As I prevously stated, my plan for the year is to set and acheive goals. This week I will add one goal to my weekly to-do list. I will do one treasury every week. It is a great way to get to know fellow ETSY sellers and their shops. This weeks treasury theme was "Tropical Paradise". Please stop by and browse these wonderful shops! http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=105168

My previous goal was to list one new item per week. This week I will list a necklace that I made to wear to my son's wedding. It is my favorite creation to date. I used an Onyx cabuchon along with round onyx beads. It is accented with swarovski crystals and is finished with a beaded toggle clasp. I hope you like it as much as I do.










Sunday, January 3, 2010

Back in the Swing of Beadweaving


As you probably have noticed, I have been conspicuously absent. Although I have no good excuse (I have no use for excuses!), I do have a great explaination! My son got married on December 27 right in the middle of the holiday season. I have had people in and out of my house for the past two weeks. All is back to normal now and I expect that I will transition into my normal routine. On top of the chaos, I made all of the jewelry for the bridal party including the bride. I also beaded her veil. I will post pictures as soon as we get them.




I have resolved that 2010 will be the year for me to concentrate on building my beadweaving business. It is my dream to be able to afford to beadweave
full time, but I have a long way to go financially before that can happen. In an effort to make my dream come true, I will be setting goals throughout the year and tracking my progress. I would love it if you would follow along. My first commitment is to list at least one new piece per week. This necklace will be my first new listing. I would like to list my pieces at the time when it will get the most attention. Does anyone know what days are best for listing??? Any help would be appreciated.