southwestern simplicity turquoise, Czech glass, copper -

beautiful southwestern vibe -turquoise, Czech glass, copper wire beads surround a gorgeous turquoise opal rust colored nugget; the necklace has a hand forged copper clasp, length is 20"

last photo shows it layered with ...

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coral, bone, Hill Tribe sterling silver bracelet - $60.00

coral, Indonesian glass, bone, Hill Tribe sterling silver beads multi strand bracelet with sterling and pewter charm dangles, adjustable length (fits average wrist 7" to much larger) with pretty easy-to-latch pewter flower lobster clasp

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Starting a new book

I'm getting ready to start the third book by Felicia Sanzari Chernesky. PICK A CIRCLE just arrived in bookstores and CHEERS FOR A DOZEN EARS will be out in the spring. Here's the title page and a spread from CHEERS. Can you guess that it's all about counting?

I call this digital collage or digital cut paper. I scan in lots of hand painted papers and real textures and objects and add digital painting to it all.

rusty orange travertine, turquoise earrings - $39.00

rusty orange travertine Czech tri oval beads tucked into leafy antique copper caps and are surrounded by dangles of turquoise picasso faceted bicone beads; ear wires are copper - length is about 2 1/2"

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turquoise, neckpiece wrapped with tiny beads - $76.00

mix of beads on copper wire, wrapped around hand forged copper neck piece with wire beads and hanging from the center hand wrapped turquoise sticks and tear drop shaped pendant and dangles of jasper and glass, hand formed clasp; I like it worn close to the hollow of the throat but the chain makes it adjustable to 20 1/2" so that you have options

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rocks and rhinestones bracelet - my favorite colors all together

orange travertine, coral pink picasso and turquoise firepolished czech beads, pipestone, copper green patina rounds and turquoise heishi are accented with sparkly rhinestone rondels and antique green patina copper chain; a turquoise marbled stone centers one of the strands and they all are linked together with a lovely comfortable copper wire work clasp - depending on whether you latch as shown in the next to the las...

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chrysoprase slabs, turquoise sticks, Kazuri focal - $90.00

gorgeous chrysoprase slabs, turquoise sticks strung together with a lovely Kazuri focal bead; bone heishi interspersed with crackly green heart trade beads that are at least 50-100 years old finish off the strand - the necklace hooks with a hand forged sterling silver 's' clasp - the slabs are expensive but the look is phenomenal - It is 24" long and

similar to this necklace but less expensive b...

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two gorgeous paper bead summer necklaces to layer - $76.00

two necklaces to wear individually or layered together, both necklaces have three strands each - one necklace is braided; both have soft silk string cords to tie to the length you wish - lots of summer color and very light weight - they are made of paper beads, ceramic cubes, turquoise howlite, glass trade beads, resin disks -

my paper beads have several protective coats of glaze so you needn't worry abou...

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more polymer clay play

just discovered that these little speckled ceramic beads that I've been holding on to are perfect with my clay roses - this is a necklace in the making, some spots of these beautiful orange travertine Czech glass will add just the right amount of color punch

pretty rocks

some new necklaces soon to be listed in my etsy shop rocksandpaperswans

Chicken close-up

 Here's a closeup of my chickens just because

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new obsession

 polymer flower

 and rustic polymer beads combined with other chunky stones

I recently bought a couple of really fun tutorials that sent me off in a new direction in my jewelry making. I have piles of rustic polymer clay beads inspired by THEBLUEBOTTLETREE's tute Tutorial Rustic Beads and Components from Polymer Clay and RIVERVALLEYDESIGN's  Polymer clay tutorial - Create a Faux carved bone look using polymer clay, and acrylics 

Since I am all about color and textures these methods are perfect for me and the beads and components I've been making have the added perk of being light weight so I can add chunky things to earrings and necklaces without worrying about dragging the wearer down.

Now I have to find time to put all these together into fab new pieces to add to the shop (www.rocksandpaperswans.etsy.com). The temptation is just to keep experimenting and creating beads but the studio can't hold any more beads and partially completed projects.

 

And I keep adjusting things that I thought were finished just a day ago.

Like this necklace: I changed the pendant to one of the new polymer flowers and now I'm thinking I'll remove the lava beads at the ends of the string and replace with light weight polymer, or maybe leather would feel better on the neck, or maybe seed beads would be light, feel good, and be pretty.  I don't know, I shall have to mull it over for a while.

 

here's a closeup of some of the polymer mixed with carved agate, jasper, quartz, Czech glass, etc. I'm crazy about the contrast in textures.

chunky light weight wood-look necklace - $42.00

light weight discs that look like they could be made of wood - they are made of corrugated paper that I have sealed with acrylic for durability and wrapped in my handmade spiral copper caps; total length is about 24", the leather cord does not have a clasp - it just slips easily over the head - this carefree chunky statement necklace is perfect for summer

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Pick a Circle

Just found a big box of my copies of PICK A CIRCLE, GATHER SQUARES at the front door. I love seeing a big stack of just published books, especially when the memory of all the hard work involved has faded a bit. I think kids will really love this one. Here are a couple of my favorite spreads. I love any excuse to include chickens!

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southwest colors cross necklace -

turquoise blues/greens and earthy pink/rust/brown Czech glass and seed beads contrast in color and texture with gorgeous richly colored paper beads in rusty orange reds; bone and copper bead accents, hammered copper cross sits on one side of one of the strands; lobster clasp, length 25" - wonderful as a special first anniversary gift



my paper beads have several protective coats of glaze so you nee...

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