Creating Colorways

 Creating unique colorways for jewelry is simple when looking to nature for inspiration. Colors found in nature are harmonious, the key factor in color theory, as they engage us as viewers and create an inner sense of order. 

Nature's colors are neither boring nor chaotic, and thus you can always look to nature for colorways in jewelry designs. Nature's colors do not have to be analogous, or side by side on the color wheel, in order to bring a sense of unity -- nor must they be  complimentary (directly opposite each other on the color wheel) in order to be are harmonious. Nature is the perfect and expert artist at creating a sense of interest and serenity with color.


One way to explore color in nature is through photography. An excellent program for uploading digital pictures to create colorways is Css Drive, a color palette generator that produces a complete color palette and three 7 color palettes in light, medium and dark. Additionally, Css Drive provides html codes for each shade in all the colorways, making web design harmonious and interesting also.


I uploaded the photo above, and was surprised to see within the color palettes numerous shades of green (analogous) and far more lavender (complimentary) than I expected because I initially saw the flower as white. This is another factor in color theory: color context. 


Color behaves in relation to other colors and shapes. A color against a black background appears more brilliant and a color against a white background appears somewhat duller. Likewise, a single color can look like two colors in different contexts. For example, this photo hows how the same color appears different in two backgrounds:

Photo by Color Voodoo Publications

Believe it or not, both shades of purple inside the boxes are the exact same color. So, just as I perceived my flower to be white and garnet, my perception may not accurately allow me to design with color or photograph my jewelry at its best. By using the CSS drive, I can study colorways in nature and more accurately create jewelry that will be pleasing and intriguing.




Big Hugs, TJ




Toltec Jewels is an author by day and jewelry artist by night. Her literary work is housed by the San Fransisco MOMA in a permanent collection of mixed media art and is published internationally in popular magazines, literary quarterlies, and university publications. A gemstone collector and jewelry lover, her store offers gemstone beads and she is happiest when creating handcrafted jewelry with her entire family. She has won a number of awards for both her literary and jewelry art.

She is also the creator of Jewel School Friends, a community of expert and emerging jewelry artisans taking inspiration from each other, Jewel School, and jewelry art culture by featuring jewelry designers and bead artists and supporting entrepreneurship for independent artisans. Join her at Jewel School Friends on Facebook for tutorials, community events, challenges, and fundraisers.

Bead Soup Blog Hop Party Goodies!

Treat yourself or your blog hop partner to Bead Soup Blog Party t-shirts, totes, journals & more!

Lori Anderson's 6th Bead Soup Blog Hop Party is underway and to celebrate the fun, Lori has some very cool party favors. Shop Bead Soup Party t-shirts, totes, and custom bead soup mixes -- and pre-order Lori's book, "Bead Soup: 32 Projects Show What Happens When 26 Beaders Swap Their Stash" for 3 bonus tutorials and savings on shipping. 

With 400 participants, and 3 reveal dates, the Bead Soup Blog Party 6 is sure to be a blast! Lori has some awesome Bead Soup Party goodies for party participants at Cafe Press:

There are many styles of t-shirts available, like this cool raglan t-shirt available in several colors.

And this cute jersey t-shirt!  

 

There's even a Bead Soup Blog Party apron -- perfect for those messy bead projects and fab jewelry artists!

Bead Soup Blog Party participants have much to choose from, including mouse pads, totes, water bottles, and journals that come with four choices of paper. 

And for the creative designer, Lori also offers custom Bead Soup kits at the Bead Soup Party blog store.  

You may choose an Imperial gemstone soup with a fire agate focal, filigree findings, jade, rhyolite rounds, amethyst and jasper. Or choose from multiple clasp kits, all tested by Lori herself.

For the lucite lover, how about a deluxe bead soup of vintage lucite?

With 400 participants, and 3 reveal dates, the Bead Soup Blog Party 6 is sure to be a blast! So Swap Explore Create away!

50 Stars, 50 States, 50 Stones: What's Your State Gem?

 Independence Day! Fireworks, fun, apple pie, stars and stripes. 
50 stars, 50 states, 50 stones.

Each of United State of America has an official stone, gem, or mineral to represent their state. Thirty-five states have chosen a official state gemstone. Do you know any state stones? 

One of the first state gems I ever learned about was Florida's state stone. The Sunshine State's official gemstone is moonstone. Florida designated moonstone as the official state gem in 1970 to memorialize the American astronauts spaceflight and moon landing in 1969 from the Kennedy Space Center. 

Moonstone, a form of the mineral feldspar, is not found naturally in Florida. However our state stone, agatized coral, is found naturally in the state. 
Coral is the outside skeleton of tiny ocean animals which live in colonies attached to hard underwater surfaces. The tiny ocean animals, polyps, form a lime-stone like substance -- coral -- when their carbon dioxide combines with warm seawater. Agatized coral is 20-30 million years old. 

Florida's official tree is the beautiful Sabal palm, which grows everywhere in the state.The sabal palm tree has wonderful uses in landscaping, medicine, and food, and is the palm tree on our state seal. 

 We have awesome state flowers, butterflies and shells too. And our cool state animals include manatees, dolphins, and panthers!

And guess what the official drink of Florida is? Yes, orange juice of course!
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To celebrate the 4th of July, I thought it would be fun to explore the 50 state's minerals, gems, and stones. Some states only have an official mineral, while other states have all an official mineral, stone, and gemstone. The following state listings are from  Geology at About.com. Check the "List of Official Gemstones" for links to images of the state gems.





Alabama: Star Blue Quartz (1990)
Alaska: Jade 
Arizona: turquoise
Arkansas: Diamond
California: Benitoite
Colorado: Aquamarine
Connecticut: Garnet
Delaware: Sillimanite
Florida: Moonstone
Georgia: Quartz
Hawaii: Black coral
Idaho: Star Garnet
Illinois: Fluorite
Indiana: Limestone
Iowa: Geode
Kansas: none
Kentucky: Freshwater pearl
Louisiana: Agate
Maine: Tourmaline
Maryland: River Stone
Massachusetts: Rhodonite
Michigan: Chlorastrolite
Minnosota: Lake Superior Agate
Mississsippi: Petrified Wood
Missouri: Montana Agate and Sapphire
Nebraska: Chalcedony blue agate
Nevada: Black Fire Opal, Turquoise, Sandstone
New Hampshire: Smoky Quartz and Beryl
New Jersey: none
New Mexico: Turquoise
New York: Garnet
North Carolina: Emerald
North Dakota: none
Ohio: Ohio form of quartz
Oklahoma: Rose Rock
Oregon: Sunstone
Pennslvania: none
Rhode Island: Bowenite
South Carolina: Amethyst
South Dakota: Rose Quartz, Black Hills Gold
Tennessee: Tennessee Pearl, Agate
Texas: Blue Topaz, silver
Utah: Topaz, copper
Vermont: Grossular garnet
Virginia: none
Washington: Petrified Wood
West Virginia: Chalcedony
Wisconsin: Red Granite
Wyoming: Jade

 

The 52 Pairs of Earrings In A Year Challenge

My Frida Kahlo Chainmaille Earrings: Lucite, bone, copper & Swarovski

52 Earrings in a Year is an amazing jewelry making challenge on Flickr, designed by artist Anke Humpert. Artisans can join at any time of the year, as long as they agree to do their best to create earrings each week and share in discussions. There is an emphasis on polymer clay arts, but it is not required of your earring designs. 

The Flickr group pool for the challenge is a rich, beautiful collection of over 1,300 design contributions! Occasionally, there are themes for the weekly challenges, such as the Frida Kahlo theme for week #23, my first week in the challenge. 

This is an empowering, motivating jewelry challenge that will not only give you a reason to create earrings consistently, it's as lovely as it is fun. Here's Anke Humpert's information on joining the group and the challenge:

"About 52 pairs of earrings a year : In 2012 I will challenge myself: I will make more art - regularily! To stick to it, I will make a pair of earrings each week (mostly polymer clay, but not exclusivly!). So 2012 is going to be a year of 52 pairs of earrings for me....! Earrings are relatively small and who does not like to have more earrings, right?Like to join the challenge?? Just come in and show what you have made each week! Is it too late to join now ? ....of course not!!! You can jump in any time you like! You do not have to start the first week of the year! Your week one will not be the same as my week one, but that does not really matter. The important thing about this project is to be inspired and to work consitently..... so please come join us! Please only post earrings you made for the 52 earrings project....;-))"

Anke Humpert's Flickr Group Challenge

 

The Forecast Calls For ... Give-a-Ways!

The current forecast calls for Nimbus clouds -- the perfect weather for jewelry photography! And predictions for July look like summer fun is on the way as Jewel School Friends explores the ins and outs of creating online jewelry businesses, with helpful give-a-ways for Christmas in July! Photography domes, business software, and earring stands are all in store for the blue skies of summer.

Now through June 22, the Nimbus photography dome is available at a special "kickstarter" cost of $60 with free shipping, $19 less than the retail price. Brought to the market by the makers of the Cloud Dome, the Nimbus is a compact dome designed to work with smart phones in order to make jewelry photography a breeze. 

Check out the Nimbus dome in action as two jewelry artists take 50 pictures each in under 15 minutes, with great results:

The Cloud Dome

Previously an exclusive product of Rio Grande, the "Cloud Dome" is now available at Jewel School for artisans looking to create fine quality photos of their handcrafted jewelry for publication, sales, and contests. Both the Cloud dome and the Nimbus dome create ambient light for macro photography, similar to the natural light of an overcast day, producing soft shadows and ideal lighting, even at night. 

The Cloud Dome Earring Stand

Additionally, the makers of the Cloud Dome have created an easy, professional way to take excellent photos of the most challenging type of jewelry to photograph: earrings. The product uses the reflection of free hanging earrings for the perfect shot. The Cloud Dome earring stand works with the Cloud dome, or your tripod and camera, for an awesome price of $40 at the Facebook shopping mall. 

Smilde's real Nimbus clouds in empty gallery spaces in Amsterdam

I'm delighted to offer this sneak peek into the current Nimbus dome special pricing and look at the forecast for fun during July's upcoming events and hot prizes. Like artist Berndnaut Smilde, you may find you control the weather -- with a Nimbus cloud in your living room! ;)