And more earrings

A new Stacked Earrings Challenge reveal is coming up soon. This time the beads (really lovely ones) are picked by Claire Lockwood. The date isn't decided yet, but until then I am still making even more earrings on the side of the challenge. The reason why I am not making any other types of jewelry lately is basically that my studio and my work table is so unbelievably and incredibly messy, so there is literally no space for me to work on. Hence the smallest jewelry objects are the ones I can at least manage to still put together. In all that mess there are both necklaces and bracelets just waiting for that final touch before they are ready. I really really must clean up in there any day soon.

Anyway, here are a three new earrings:

I really like the mix/meeting of the rustic and the sparkly in these ones.

• Green ceramic pods on wire (head pins) by Marsha Neal
• Vintage Swarovsky celadon green rounds (there is lovely luxurious sparkle to them which is not quite captured on this photo)
• Beaded beads by myself
• Sterling silver ear wires, heavily oxidized

I call these ones Arabian Nights. I come to think of a belly dancer in an Arabian night club from some old movie.

• Turquoise, brass color and black polymer clay beads by GracefulWillowBeads
• Facetted black glass
• Brass and silvery beads, findings and ear hooks

These ones I made a couple or so months ago. A very fruity feeling to them don't you agree.

• Yellow faceted pods by Barbara Bechtel of SecondSurf (one of my absolute favorite Art Bead makers)
• Beaded beads by myself
• Copper findings and ear hooks

All three pairs are for sale. Please contact me if you are interested. malindekoning[at]hotmail.com

All my best,
Malin

Celebrate Love

Two new necklaces, just in time for Valentine's day. But I personally think you can celebrate love on just any day of the year. These were made about a month ago, but I haven't gotten around to take any photos until now.

Find Love, ceramic raku focal by Jubilee.

Red heart toggle Clasp by MissFickleMedia

Red Erudite facetted polymer clay bead by SecondSurf

All my best,

Malin

Two new Earrings

Pearls, glass trade beads, Vintaj brass links, silk cord. Vintaj brass ear hooks.




Polymer clay faceted chunky beads by Barbara Bechtel of Floridity or Second Surf. Oxidized copper wire. Oxidized copper ear hooks.


All my best,
Malin

Barbara Bechtel on Polymer Clay

I just have to share this with you! Today I saw the first lesson/vlog in a coming series by my friend Barbara Bechtel. On the blog Love My Art Jewelry she will be sharing her knowledge and personal tips on good ways to work with polymer clay. Lesson one promises a great great general approach by Barbara. And further more great stuff to come with lots of good hints and advice.

"You have to get inside the head/the mind of the material you work with. Like a psychologist or therapist."

(Quoted freely by me)

I love that. It is so true.

Here's the direct link to the post with Barbara's first lesson.

Besides making great tutorials Barbara makes the most wonderful work in polymer clay. Beads I personally can't resist to buy. And beads that I love to use in my own work. Barbara is a true original artist. She has created many new styles and concepts. Styles I have seen copied by other bead makers at times. But Barbara is the original. And if you are looking for top quality you don't have to look further.

It is a good idea to go check her shop Floridity on Etsy often, because she updates with new beads and new styles kind of irregularly. I was lucky to get my hands on all of these beauties above just the other day. Oh, I am greedy, I know ;-). Now I am impatiently waiting for them to arrive in my mail box. All the way from Florida, over the Atlantic ocean they will travel. And end up in one of my jewelry pieces in a not too far future. And hopefully finally be sitting on some cool person walking the streets of Stockholm. Isn't that a truly beautiful collaboration over boundaries?

And here's another little tip from me to you. I like to look into the section of what's already been sold in a shop on Etsy. Because there you can get an idea of more things that might be available again in the future. It's not always what you see for sale in the shop, at the current time, that will show you the full capability of that particular artist. It's likely that the most unique or awesome pieces of a bead artist will sell quickly, because there is a fair bunch of people out there who are just as obsessive about art beads as I am. ;-)

Finally, here are a few of my own pieces that include beads by Barbara.

All my best,

Malin

Floridity Give Away on Pretty Thing's Blog

Can you believe it! Just the other day I was looking at these beads in Floridity's shop on Etsy. I marked them as favourites, to hopefully be able to purchase when I get in to some money. And now Lori Andersson of Pretty Things has a give away for these beauties. Go to Lori's blog and find out what you should do to have a chance to win. Floridity is Barbara Bechtel, and her blog is called Second Surf.