Isn't it great with generous people

This time it's Heather Powers of HumbleBeads. Head over to her blog to find out more. The beads in this collection are pretty awesome. Wish I will be the lucky winner. Or you!

I got carried away

Heather Powers just listed the umbrella pendant in her husband's Etsy shop Jess Contreras. The pendant is a collaboration between her and Jess. I saw it 3 min after she had posted on Facebook about it. OMG! What do you do when you fall in love? as Dionne Warwick sang. I saw it together with Gaea's wonderful cloud which I've been wanting to get for some time now.

So there was no reason to hold back anymore. I had to get them both. Oh, and of course a few more things ended up in my carts ...

Does this happen to you too? That you get an idea for a piece just by seeing a component? It has happened to me a few times before. It's a wonderful sensation. Like you are in flow. I mean - I already know the name of the piece ...

Have a nice weekend!

Some new things on their way

Hi Heather Powers of HumbleBeads, I recieved a bunch of wonderful beads from you yesterday. This snow owl was one of them. Look, he immediately found his place. He shall be "sitting on a stump in the woods" for the rest of his life.

He's made it all comfy with a bit of silk soft moss. He's all proud now, isn't he. And oh so cute. I am very pleased with how he has found his right surroundings.

I also though it would be fun to show you this idea for a bracelet that came up today. My dearest friend Caroline, who nowadays also work 2-3 days a week as my assistant in my home (I have an assistant 5 days a week due to my MS), was here today. We ended up chatting like crazy of course, since it was almost a week since we last saw each other. We sat in my studio and was looking at beads at the same time. I showed her these favourite ones of mine by Jen Zieger of ZBeadz. Hot Tamales Squish Jen calls them. I've had them for a while now and they are so magnificant and "strong" that I haven't known how to do them justice. I want them to stand out and draw attention to how beautiful they are. I've tried so many ideas. None of them good enough. Yet!

I need to tell you a bit about Caroline aswell, I guess. She is an extraordinary beautiful woman, both visually (she's always been a headturner, big time) and in her mind (utterly intelligent, and wise). She is soooooo funny! I most often laugh a lot in her company. She has always been there for me when I need her. She is like a sister to me really. I've known her since I was 16 and she was 17. We have always shared an interest in art and artistic activities. We ended up both of us studying art history, art and design. She took a masters degree in Textile Design and I one in Industrial Design. I am the godmother of her firstborn, she is the godmother of my firstborn. I totally respect her artistic opinions and taste, everything she does looks great. She drewls when she comes into my studio, although she isn't into beading and jewellery making herself. But she could be. Nowadays she is studying Gestalt therapy (link goes to Wikipedia).

This idea for a bracelet derrives from her and mine communal effort. Cooperation is beautiful, isn't it. 5 black thin leather strings shall be mounted with separators in between them so they keep their distance. See, they look just like note-lines. ZBeadz' beads are musical "signs" (notes) dancing on the lines playing a melody. Some extra notes and musical signs are added in form of seed beads picking up the colours of the squishy ones. I hope to make this bracelet come true soon.

Last a pendant I put together a few weeks ago. "Magic Bliss" will be the name of the necklace on which it will hang. Word beads by Diane Hawkey.

All my best,

Malin

Wishing on a Saturday instead #2. AND who took this photo?

Can't help looking at a lot of christmas tree ornaments lately. It is not like we lack any in our house really, but you know ... These Bird Cage Cushions by Olive on Etsy, are just too sweet. I am very fond of all her things.

Nancy Schindler of Round Rabbit and the RabbitMuse blog makes wonderful porcelein pieces to use in jewellery. I love the ones with many wholes in them, but I seem to always miss out on her selling sessions in her BigCartel Shop. Bummer ... I don't have any of her things yet, but soon maybe. You can buy her jewellery in her Etsy shop.

Peppercorns in a real quail egg filled with resin. Pendant by Yolk on Etsy. Pretty!

Oh, and these earrings by Heather Powers of HumbleBeads I just love.

Almost a year ago I saw this photo on a blog somewhere. I think it was someone who had been on a weekend course in this house. I just thought it was a marvellous looking building, very odd and different. So I saved the photo in my inspiration photos folder that I keep on my computer. Now I would just like to know where this is. Anyone who knows?

2 new pieces of jewellery by me

Necklace with rondelle beads by Heather Powers of Humble Beads and candy Jade. Copper findings and circular copper chain.
Earrings. Czech glass beads, cut to 3-sided, in green and two shades of turqouise and a bit of picasso finish. Brass findings and wire.

Patterns coinciding

Bead by Heather Powers of HumbleBeads. Placed on a long skirt of mine. I made it myself about ten years ago from a fabric I found in a sale basket in a fabric shop. That skirt is still one of my favourites and I still get compliments for it.

Now and then. Two continents. Different materials. But still the same feel. The colours. Of course I didn't think of that when I bought the bead from HumbleBeads. But now it's getting warmer and that skirt has come out from the cupboard. And the connection is obvious, don't you agree.

What is it that makes us fall for the same patterns again and again? I still haven't made a piece with that bead in. But soon maybe. I think probably a bracelet.

And check these ones out. Bead/pendant by Tracee Dock of Classic Bead. I bought it about a month ago. The fabric belongs to one of my summer tops bought 3 or 4 years ago here in Sweden, from a shop called Indiska. Would I wear that top with a necklace with that pendant? Probably not! But I love them both on their own. I think the pendant would look great in a necklace worn with a plain white shirt or blouse.

New bracelet and other activities

My latest design is a bracelet again. I named it "Heather" as a tribute to Heather Powers of HumbleBeads who design and made the absolutely beautiful clasp. Other materials are brass, chain, glassbeads with foil, trade glass beads, waxed linen cord and bone.Above you can see my two mini-, but maxi- and multi rascals. In the backgarden on the porch. And below is the main rascal of the family, the one it all emerges from. I have nothing to do with it at all as you very well can understand ...