A sneak peek...

I thought I'd give a sneak peek at the components for my "Inspiration" necklace. I'm working out final details of the design in my head still, so it may be a few weeks before I get to work on it, but I thought you would all like to see what I had in mind!

Stay tuned...

I have a LOT of new ideas for the spring floating around in my head, including my INSPIRATION necklace! I know I've already put some new stuff on Etsy, but I'm really excited by MORE new ideas!

I found this wonderful new supply website that sells free trade beads, which I think is pretty cool. I ordered some crocheted beads that were handcrafted by a small community of families living outside Java, Indonesia, so my purchase will actually BENEFIT those families! I also ordered some African Trade beads, which were beads used as currency in the mid-20th century in various African nations. I also ordered 4 strands of gemstone beads (citrine, peridot, and amethyst chips, and Moukaite). I like that the owners of this particular shop actually travel to a lot of the places where they buy these beads instead of purchasing through a wholesaler.

I'll post some pictures of my supplies when I get the rest of them...

Inspiration winner

Using the random integer generator from random.org, the winner was number 1 - Steph! Congratulations, and enjoy shopping!

Inspiration

One of my favorite online bead suppliers recently ran a contest where they asked the entrants to submit a photo of their inspiration, and then a photo of what piece of jewelry they created based on that. I didn't enter because it occurred to me that I'm not inspired like that. I'm inspired by more abstract things, or by materials themselves. I find inspiration in clothing, and in trying to think of a piece of jewelry that will look nice with a certain type of outfit. Or I often see a piece of jewelry in a store or ON someone, and try to think of how I could put my own spin on it.

Take, for example, this necklace:

I saw those long, painted wood beads, and thought they seemed African, or tribal. Then I had to think of what I had that would go with them, after I decided what I wanted the piece of jewelry to be.

This next necklace was inspired by the materials as well. I REALLY wanted to make something with those Kumbara Jasper nuggets, and they looked really nice with the Garnet. Nothing too exciting about my creative process with that one, I guess!


I'd really been wanting to make a set of stackable bracelets, and these materials just sort of fell into my lap! I picked up the red and green squares at my local bead shop, with no real purpose in mind for them - I just thought they were pretty! The larger glass pearls were leftover from another project, and I just happened to see them next to each other, and decided that it was the perfect combination for a set of 3!


This necklace was actually inspired by a clay technique. It was my first attempt at it, and as I was working, I thought that it would look really nice with navy blue, as a pendant!

Ok, so this bracelet wasn't completely inspired by the materials, but by a sweater. I was itching to make... SOMETHING, and as I was pawing through my beads, my mixed strand of agate looked just lovely against my gray sweater. I thought a "sweater" bracelet shouldn't be something TOO intricate, so this is what I came up with!


So, here's my problem:
Ok, it's not a problem, exactly. It is a gorgeous, HUGE, sterling silver toggle clasp. It is obviously too large to be for a bracelet, so it will be for a necklace. I really want to use it, but, my inspiration is COMPLETELY lacking. I just have NO idea what to do! I could really use your help with this one!

SO, here's where the contest comes in! I need help. Leave me a comment telling me how you think I should use this clasp. If you have more than one idea, leave more than one comment! I may or may not use an idea I see here, or one may inspire me towards my finished product. I will choose the winning comment via random.org on Sunday night (11/12), and the winner will get a $7 credit in my shop, good on anything $10 or more!