Revamp. Still wrong.

I decided to revamp the rainbow bracelet since it was really tiny and didn't fit anyone's wrist. I realized that I did the bracelet by length and did not take into account the "chunkiness" of the piece.

So, revamp I did and now... TOO LONG! Agghhh. One more time and then I give up! :) It is so frustrating to get it wrong more than once. Here is another picture of the longer version... again, it's a HORRID picture, but you'll get the idea.

Busy Busy as a Bee

I had a bunch of time (meaning more than 1 hour) to myself the other night (WOOHOO!) and I was able to get some serious studio time in. I decided that I would create a bracelet to fit into a contest theme for an Ebay group that I am a member of (Tranquil Beading Oasis) AND I made a ring for my best friend.

The bracelet (this picture really sucks) is a "rainbow" bracelet featuring handmade beads made from swarovski crystals. I put it all together and added black onyx andsterling silver to balance the vibrant colors.

The ring is based off of a sterling ring I made with the same design. She wanted it made in copper so I used black seed beads, green aventurine, lapis lazuli, and tiger eye beads.

Basta La Pearls

FINALLY! Wow, it took several hours, but I love the way this necklace turned out. I see it as a bridal (or bridesmaid) piece, but I can also see it as a casual dinner piece as well. Each individual pearl has a wrapped loop on each end and I linked them to each other and some jump rings to create the chandelier parts.

A break from pearls

I had to take a break from that friggin' necklace! It is SO time consuming, but it is almost done AND it is GORGEOUS! I can't wait to share pictures of the completed piece.

But yesterday, I had to take a break so I decided to work on another project. I received a request from a client for 40 thank you cards. She wanted simple designs, not too expensive, colorful, and she also wanted 4 different designs.

Well, after some time in the studio I produced the following four designs...

This first one (above) is a simple stamp embellished with mulberry flowers and rhinestones. The scallopped and punched edge was added and the card was complete!

The next card and I have a love / hate relationship right now. I love the simplicity and the embossed "Thank You" but I am thinking that the embossed letters need a highlight in a different color. I don't know what it is, but I adore this one. It was so simple to make, but it looks so unique and complicated. The bouquet of flowers was fashioned out of Jolee's flowers, raffia, and mulberry paper. I simple background enhances the bouquet and a stamped thank you was then added.

This one is very simple, not too complicated and cute! I think the only thing that I would change is the stamp. I am not liking this particular Thank You design.

Today a necklace, tomorrow the WORLD!

No really, not the world, just part of it! For the last couple of days I have been working on a pearl necklace that I imagine would look beautiful on a bride, or bridesmaid. I am using sterling silver 26 guage wire, 3mm fresh water pearls and 6mm fresh water pearls. Every single pearl is individually wire-wrapped and put together in what I do hope is a pleasing arrangement.

The inspiration (yet again) comes from an article in a beading magazine that I ran across one day. Most of my inspiration occurs this way, which I guess is more of a "AH HA" moment than real inspiration, but none-the-less, I saw a similiar idea in a magazine and I took it and made it mine.

Jewelry is definately my "thing" right now. I have a sketch book full of ideas (real ones! that are mine!) and I have a ton of projects lined up in front of me.

Oh yeah, and I got these done the other day. I was fooling around with an idea so I did them in copper, but I like them! The beads are 2mm amethyst rounds.

Meet the Nut

Yep, I'm talking about me. I'm Truly (yes, that is my name... no, my last name is NOT Scrumptious) and I am the crafty nut. Some would call me a mixed media artist, others a scrapbooker, and still others a jewelry designer. All of it is true, yet none of it is.

I love to craft. I am interested in and learn tons of different crafts in tons of different mediums because I have not really found my "niche" yet. I own my own company (http://www.truniquedesigns.com/) and I am a mother, wife, sister, daughter, and friend. I have a LOT on my plate... (are you understanding the encumbered part yet?).

I decide (through my vast library of crafting knowledge) what I like to look at and then I decide (because I think I am a crafting goddess) that I can do that! Yep, it's pricey, it's time consuming, and it's chaotic, but I like to think that I dabble in just about any craft out there.

Anyway, my point is, WELCOME to the mind of a semi-psychotic, extremely creative, overly encumbered artist. Come with me as I take my creative journey.