Creativity Block?

Ever have one of those day where you want to be creating something, but just aren't feeling it? Yeah that's me today. I started working on polymer clay flowers, and I really know that I should make more, but it's just not happening.

I see the clay sitting there in the container beside my desk, and it's calling my name, but nope, it's not happening. I don't know if it's that I don't know what colours I want to use or what, but at any rate it's just not happening.

So I have decided to just not make anything.  I don't want to force myself to do art. Art is in the eye of the artist, and yes jewellery is art. I don't think you can truly appreciate your work when you don't put you full heart into it.

Sometimes life just gets in the way when you are having fun.

It looks great when I'm motivated, but when you just feel down, and blah I don't think it could be anywhere as beautiful.

Maybe inspiration will come back, maybe not....all I know is that a big blanket and and PJs would be much better even on this sunny day then anything else.

Sometimes being creative just means you aren't.

-Kim

African Trade Beads

This is our new line of African Trade Beads and the Jewellery pieces that we make with them. Beads are available for sale in mixed lots or pre-strung strands. Message us for more information. We would be happy to custom make any jewellery pieces with these beads, just send us a message.  Every bead sold helps to provide a sustainable income to those in the bead making communities. 

All of these items are available on our Facebook page at
www.facebook.com/HoldenDesigns

A Day Off work, is never a Day off...

So what do you do when you have a pulled muscle in your neck, and can't do much, but sit in a comfortable chair?

Well if you are me you watch British TV on YouTube, take part in online bead supply auctions, and make Jewellery!

Boy, did I ever make a loads. Lots of fun Earrings and a couple of necklace pieces.

My favourite is this very long necklace I made. I think that if I don't sell it within a few day I will be keeping it for myself.

What do you think?

Lazy Saturday

So after a week of feeling a bit out of sorts, I finally started to feel better, so it's time to make some cute earrings I posted on Pinterest.

After a trip to Mhai o Mhai my favourite bead store and a Pandora Style Bead Sale I came up with these

After that is was time to try tassels. I've spent a lot of time focusing on earrings and I'm really enjoying making a more high end looking earring for a more affordable price.  So here are a blue "Shambala" style bead earring with tassels. I really like how it turned out!!!

Customizing

So the other day I had a call from one of the ladies from my church.  She bought a few bracelets for her grandkids after having a less than positive experience with another local bead artist.

A few months before she told me about a pair of earring she was given, and happen to be wearing at the time. They were a white mother of pearl design. Well that evening she lost the pearl off of the earring.  the hook itself was there, but the bauble itself was gone.

Thankfully she bought a pair that I made that looked similar.

To make a long story short when she bought the bracelets for her grandchildren she gave me the hooks and gave me cart blanc to do whatever I wanted. Her only thing was that she wanted to have it to wear with dark neutral colours.  I didn't go to crazy, I used some black glass pearls, but I added a couple bead caps just to fancy it up a little.

The one on the top is what I started with.

The pair on the bottom is what I finished with.... The little floral bead caps are also on top.....what do you think?

 

Bracelet made from a kit!

I have been wanting to try stitched jewelry, so I bought a kit to learn how.
The pictures below show the kit, the instructions and the end result. It took me two evenings to complete, but I think I liked the process and will be trying more of this type soon.

Tree of Life pendant

I have been making the tree of life pendants for a little while now and they are one of my most popular items.  Recently I saw a new way of using the wire from the tree roots to form the circle surrounding the branches and thought I would give it a try.  Here is my first attempt.

These pendants are available for sale on my Facebook page at www.facebook.com/HoldenDesigns for $15.00 ea.  They can be made with different semi precious stone chips or if you would like a "Family Tree of Life" pendant we have Swarovski crystals in the birthstone colours.