Oct 2, 2013

Celebrating Autumn with THEA Elements and BlueberriBeads

(My Seed Bead & Metal Blog Hop Reveal is Upcoming ASAP. My apologies. I've been ill )


Welcome






Autumn


Today we are creating with beautiful components by 
Lesley Watt of THEA Elements and Caroline Dewison of BlueberriBeads




Each handcrafted component is the finest.
From BlueBerriBeads: teal branches focal, 
midnight blue, matte & metallic ceramic beads --
From THEA Elements: brass and midnight blue 
bracelet component, floral etched brass focal.



So beautiful are each individual works of Lesley's and Caroline's art, I created an abundance of fall jewelry.







Autumn came to life, blooming from my garden flowers,
warmed by the sunny days of Orlando, Florida


Art beads came together with gems, 
and I had such a lovely time creating.

Along with the art beads for the hop, 
I included gifts from friends. 
The autumn  jewelry became even more treasured.


Silver Birch





Patti Vanderbloemen gifted me a very special Donna Millard lampwork owl last week! 



 Adding Greek ceramic like birch wood & lampwork 
 by Crazy Lady Glass, I strung onyx and jasper
 heishi beads, and faceted black spinel. 



The owl snuggles between Caroline's ceramic bead
 and Lesley's brass focal. I love how the matte ceramic 
and metal brass look together, 



I add carved onyx leaves and an Australian crystal 
18k flower I've been saving for years. 




More beads gifted were added to Silver Birch: ceramics from Margot Potter, a sterling silver onyx box clasp. 









Cornflower






 I'd been creating brass links and coloring them with
Sapphire Color Me This patina, when my spouse found
 gorgeous chainmaille rings in twisted brass.



  
I fell in love with the rings, and created 
soft golden flowers to compliment the ornate
scrolling brass bracelet connector by Lesley.  


Looking at my photos, I realize now I forgot the carved
 sapphire flowers. I'll attach them to the component rings.








Marigold




I adore the soft teal focal by Carol. 
The image of tree branches powerfully grace
 the green turquoise ceramic.


 My mind and spirit 
touch upon nuances of turning trees in fall, 
leaves dancing away in the cool wind. 
The light copper tassel chain moves softly.


Again, more objects d'art and gifted beads:
polymer beads by Tree Wings Studio, Swarovski 
beads from Margot Potter and a Goddess ceramic
heart from my friend Christine of beadfreaky.






l handcut, textured, and tumbled rings from copper 
 to compliment the rich Mexican fire opal rondelles 
and soft green opal from Peru.








 The ceramics seem to belong together. 
The Goddess and branches ceramics radiate bliss.







Scilla





With the two blue ceramic beads by Caroline,
another fun jewelry piece to shape with gifts from friends! 
I was inspired to use my mystical kyanite stick, 
gifted to me by Lennis Carrier of Windbent,
 as a perch for an owl by Jenny Davies-Reazor. 


 Lennis' silver Czech leaves grace the ethereal blue quartz 
gifted from my friend Mags Saari of Finland (and in our hop today!). Vintaj chain and a sweet polymer nest by Leah Curtis
of Beady Eyed Bunny make a woodland evening sing.









 Arriving just as I finished the necklace, the 
lampwork flower by Lea Avroch jumps right 
into the fall forest party. 









Candytuft




 With one last ceramic BlueberriBead left to create with,
 I made autumn jewelry reflecting Orlando's fall. 



 





Here, fall has blooming roses, hibiscus, 
and tropical flowers galore -- I was happy to 
add carved rose quartz and pink tourmaline leaves. 


Creating rosary jewelry, the copper coins have a 
rose motif was a lovely representation of our Lady. 
Arriving to add a touch of beauty: an exquisite 
pink lampwork flower by Lea Avroch.


I'm delighted with the pretty warm shades of copper, 
the sweet gem and art flowers of the rosary necklace. 






Lesley and Caroline, your art was a delight
to create with! Art beads and gems fell
into place, and the jewelry seemed to
naturally come together in honor of fall. 
Creating for autumn has been a great joy.
Thank you both for the magic of design, 
for the gift of 
possibilities.





Fly Well




 Bonus

 The Heliotrope fairy says,
"Check out the lilac button beads





The Pine Tree Fairy says
"check out the pine cones at THEA Elements!" 








Caroline Dewison – http://blueberribeads.co.uk
Melissa Trudinger – http://beadrecipes.wordpress.com/
Madeline Bunyan – http://madelinebunyan.com/mlj/
                                                                Sue Rennie - http://moonandsevenstars.blogspot.co.uk











Toltec Jewels is an author by day, jewelry maker by night. Her literary work is housed by the San Francisco MOMA and is published internationally in popular magazines, literary quarterlies, and university publications. She has won a number of awards for literary and jewelry arts. She is happiest making handcrafted jewelry with her entire family, snuggling with her doggies and grandkids, sewing, singing, reading, and learning more jewelry techniques.Join her for fundraising for Beads of Courage, jewelry making challenges, blog hops, and give-a-ways -- and of course, cool art beads and jewelry!

24 comments:

  1. Oh my goodness what a fantastic post and what a brilliant job you did with your beads...I don't Think I can pick a favourite! I'm glad we were able to inspire you with our beads - thank you very much for taking part and rising to the challenge with such style.

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  2. Wow Rita! I'm blown away by all your beautiful designs, they're stunning every one of them! Thank you for taking part, it's been a joy to read through your reveal x

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  3. You sure made a lot with your beads! Everything is very autumny - and the Donna Millard owl just makes that first necklace extra great. Love your color schemes and how they relate to all the flowers. Good job :)

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  4. Oh Rita, not only do you design beautiful jewelry, but to read your blog post is a delight to all the senses. I love all the stories that accompany the pieces. You truly created beautiful music with this challenge!

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  5. Love your beautiful pieces Rita, your bracelet turned out really neat with all the chain maille flowers.

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  6. Rita-dear! I knew you would blow up my mind, once again! I don't know anyone else who makes such thoughtful and grately spiritual and beautiful pieces of jewelry - I love your work truly so much!

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  7. Wow, you made so much! All the designs are beautiful - but I think

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  8. Wow, you made so much and they are all beautiful. I think Silver Birch is my favourite but it was hard to choose! I love how you've written your blog post too.

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  9. Wow, your necklaces are GORGEOUS!!! All of them!! It would be impossible to chose just one favorite, I would take them all ;-)!!! I'm really impressed and I'll be coming back to admire them for sure ...

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  10. I'm speechless. All your designs are fabulous. Love them all!!!!

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  11. All very very pretty I would find it hard to choose a favourite but the owl necklace with blues spoke to me!

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  12. Oh, Rita! This is a wonderful reveal. I love what you've done and the story you tell. I have to say my favorite is the owl necklace in blue and copper; one of my favorite color combinations. I'm so glad to see one of my beads in your beautiful designs!

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  13. Wow, love the addition of the many floral and fairy pics. The chain maille bracelet is my fav!

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  14. WOOOWWW.....all are wonderful..!
    I really loveee them all so much..!! :)

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  15. Holy smokes Rita! You certainly created a bevy of beauties with these awesome beads! You have such a creative talent! I love the stories your creations tell, my friend! I have to say, I am partial to the Owl Necklace made with Donna's sweet bead! :)

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  16. Rita, this looks like the work of 10 people rather than one! The jewelry is beyond beautiful, and so is your post! It's all a lovely experience just to look at! Thanks so very much! ~Sharyl

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  17. Oh my godness Rita, your post is fantasitc! The descriptions and the pictures are superb!
    All the pieces are a masterwork, but I love Scilla the best.

    I am impressed.

    Ambra

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  18. So many wonderful pieces,and all so befitting of fall! I enjoyed reading about each and every one. Thanks also for sharing photos of your garden and the lovely fairies.

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  19. Your posts are always such a visual joy. You put them together with as much care and thought as your beautiful jewellery.
    The beautiful fairy illustrations take me back to childhood.

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  20. Sharyl said exactly what I was thinking. Wow is all I can add! Beautiful jewelry that came from a beautiful soul, Rita.

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  21. Wow, I loved reading this post. Stunning pieces of jewellery beautifully presented.

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  22. Rita what a wonderful post, and your pieces are fantastic! so earthy and with so much movement to the designs!

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  23. No wonder you have no time for yoga! Your jewelry is so intricate and detailed that you must spend a great deal of time thinking about all of your combinations of beads. I spend a lot of time studying what you are doing. I just llove how you overlay chain on top of a bead. It makes it so interesting. You combine different leaves to create wonderful details. Thanks for sharing your work! I certainly enjoy it.

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  24. Wow Rita! What a wonderful post & fabulous "creations"! I just love the owl necklace Silver Birch necklace! You always have such interesting posts & wonderful pictures. Thanks for sharing!

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Gracias for your comments and for visiting! I appreciate every word :)
Namaste --
Rita