The Gossiping Goddess Giveaway and Blog Hop

A while back I told you about a giveaway that Lesley Watt did on her blog The Gossiping Goddess.  I was one of the lucky winners of some adorable lampwork glass beads handmade by Kaz Baildon.

I showed a sneak peek of what I received in this post and, of course, I forgot to take pictures of the beads Lesley sent me before I started playing with them.  I  had lots of ideas for using these triangular beads but I went back to my first thought when I saw them which was earrings, they just scream earrings don't they?  

The colors of the beads are teal and baby blue, I paired this with an opaque blush pink and dark cranberry.  I think they look Christmas-ee, in a Dr. Suess kinda way...don't you?

Thanks Lesley for hosting this fun giveaway and blog hop.  I also received 4 spacer beads in the same teal color that I will be using soon! 

Maybe I will use some Christmas money and get myself one of Lesleys gorgeous textured metal clay components to go with them!

I am going to go see what everyone else made...come with me and check out these great artists!  Don't forget to leave a comment below, I love to hear from you.

Lesley Watt - http://www.thegossipinggoddess.blogspot.co.uk/

Cory Tompkins - http://tealwaterdesigns.blogspot.co.uk/ (You are HERE)

Rebecca Anderson - http://songbeads.blogspot.co.uk/

Marie Cramp - http://skyejewels.blogspot.co.uk/

Claire Braunbarth - http://smittenbeads.blogspot.co.uk/

Heidi Post - http://expostfactojewelry.blogspot.co.uk/

Tiffany Smith - http://southerngalsdesign.blogspot.co.uk/

Sharyl Macmillan-Nelson - http://sharylsjewelry.blogspot.co.uk/

Ailsa Cordner - http://www.bramalfiebeadsetc.co.uk/

Linda Landig - http://lindalandig.wordpress.com/

Caroline Dewison - http://blueberribeads.co.uk/

Renetha - http://www.lamplightcrafts.blogspot.co.uk

Kari Asbury - http://hippiechickdesign.blogspot.co.uk/

Niky Sayers - http://silverniknats.blogspot.com

Purple Cobwebs - http://www.purplecobwebs.blogspot.co.uk/

Cilla Watkins - http://www.tellyourgirlfriends.com/

Therese Frank - www.theresestreasures59.blogspot.com

Claire Ennis - http://clairescrystalclassics.blogspot.co.uk/

Emma - http://apolymerpenchant.blogspot.co.uk/

Kathy Lindemer - http://bay-moon-design.blogspot.co.uk/

Alicia - http://www.allprettythings.ca/

Sandy Huntress - http://keepsakecrafts.net/blog/

Lori Bowring Michaud - http://artfullyornamental.blogspot.co.uk/

Amy - http://copperdiem.blogspot.co.uk/

Katherine Gale - http://terrabeadworks.blogspot.co.uk/

Thanks!
Cory

Reveal Day - 2012 Challenge of Color

Here is the challenge...I was given a choice of two color palettes to work with.  Here is the one I chose. 

 I just love anything in the "berry" family. 

Add caption

I am always drawn to greens and blues in my designs.

The printed version of the USGS photo has different colors than the version on my computer screen which made it even more of a challenge!  

I started and stopped several times before I came up with these three designs. 

 What did I learn?
1.  I need more beads!
2.  Don't wait so long to get started.
3.  Erin is awesome...I already knew that!

Hope you like what I made...please share your comments with me below.  

Also, enjoy the rest of the wonderfully talented artists in this challenge...

Erin Prais-Hintz
Brandi Hussey
  Rebecca Anderson

Kris Auderer  

Chrizette Bayman

Lori Bowring Michaud  

 Courtney Breul 

Lynsey Brooks 
Stephanie Buss 

Iveth Caruso 
Shannon Chomanczuk
Lisa Cone
Cece Cormier

Lori Dorrington
Dawn Doucette
Jeannie Dukic    (life threw her a curveball, spread some sunshine to her anyway!)
Kim Dworak
Beth Emery
Janice Everett
Pam Farren
Donetta Farrington
Gloria Ferrer

Cherrie Fick
Therese Frank 
Patty Gasparino
Tanya Goodwin
Ambra Gostoli
Jess Green
Denielle Hagerman
Mary Harding
Karla Hartzog 
Kim Hora
Emanda Johnson
Jennifer Justman
Sue Kennedy

Ema Kilroy
Lee Koopman
Linda Landig
Kirsi Luostarinen
Cynthia Machata
Alicia Marinache
Beth McCord
Mary K McGraw
Karen Mitchell
Cheri Mitchell-Reed
Aimee Moisa
Karla Morgan
Penny Neville
Becky Pancake
Kashmira Patel
Alice Peterson
Kayla Potega 
Debbie Price
Bobbie Rafferty
Caron Reid
Nicole Rennell
Cynthia Riggs
Andrea Ross
Sally Russick
Annie Scherz
Pam Sears
Renetha Stanziano
Sandra Stein
Kristen Stevens  (her Muse is on vacation - hop over and give her Muse a nudge ;-)
Tracy Stillman   (hard to bead with a wrist injury, send healing thoughts)
Sherri Stokey
Lola Survillo
Kay Thomerson
Jo Tinley
Emma Todd
Cory Tompkins (ME!!)
Pam Traub
Melissa Trudinger
Michelle Tucker
Shelley Graham Turner
Monique Urquhart
Rachel Van-Walsh  
Patti Vanderbloemen
Lesley Watt
Lynn White
Joan Williams

Custom Made Jewelry

I am about to ship another custom design I just finished.  I have been blessed to be able to work with some fabulous people who really know what they want in a piece of jewelry.  I love when someone contacts me and asks...can you make me a (enter type of jewelry) that is (enter color) with (enter bead types)? 


Custom made pearl and crystal bridal jewelry set

Sometimes they will describe it in words, other times they will send pictures of design elements they like.  Of course, it is up to me to interpret what they want into my own design (copying someone else's designs is a big no-no!).

Handmade Bridal Jewelry

For this set I made a few samples and sent pictures to the bride.  She picked the one she liked best.  Then I sent her a sample piece (about 3 inches of the bracelet so she could see if the colors worked with her dresses).  I am so glad I did that too because the purple crystals in the sample were not the right color.  I had added two additional crystals in other shades in the package that I sent to the bride and one of them worked perfectly.

Lately I have made several pieces worn by brides which makes it even more special.  It would be so great to be able meet each person and sit down for a cup of coffee and lots of beads in front of us to work on a design.  Somehow we seem to make it work through emails and Etsy convos though.

My Very First Wedding



Genuine Swarovski Pearls and Crystals handwoven necklace

This past Saturday a necklace I made was worn in a wedding.  This was such a special moment for me as a jewelry designer. 

Although I did not design this necklace I did make it, weaving each Swarovski crystal and pearl along with glass seed beads and string.


Swarovski Pearl and Crystal Bridal Necklace

I was so flattered that my husbands cousin trusted me enough to buy a piece of jewelry from me for her daughter to wear in her wedding.  I also made the earrings she wore.

This same necklace design will be worn by another bride in June but I made that one with white instead of cream pearls. 



Pearl necklace

Hopefully this is a glimpse of things to come.  I will be working on more of my own wedding designs and sharing them here soon. 

What is your favorite wedding jewelry?