Forbidden love

 

The most forbidden of loves is not that of a mortal for an immortal (basically, just a special-needs human, nothing forbidden about that).

 

It's not that of two people from familes who don't like each other.

 

It's not the cheerleader and the captain of the chess club or whatever (yes, I read a lot of junior chick lit).

 

The most forbidden of loves is that which you don't allow yourself to have.

 

Made for HeartToHearts' 'Forbidden Love' contest, reflecting the theme 'Forbidden Love'. A hand-dyed silk ribbon is hand-embellished with tiny gunmetal glass beads, supporting a pewter bead, artisan-made from Green Girl Studios. It's a heart-shaped bead, looks like it's been covered with riveted steel plates all over. One side reads 'Unbreakable'. The unbeaded portion ties around the neck as a necklace.

Julishland's leather jewelry giveaway!

Leather jewelry artist Julishland is doing a giveaway of three pieces of her leather jewelry! To see the entry rules, go to her contest blog entry about it. And while you're at it, take a look at her Etsy shop Julishland  or her DeviantArt gallery.

lucky thirteen!

DeviantArt user Jayetta has woven copper jumprings into a clever setting for a genuine jade cabochon. someday I hope to be able to do something half as clever!

The twelfth entry is...

A beaded cover for the Nokia 751 cell phone with beaded charm by DeviantArt member Koshanez. My face lit up when I saw this--such a clever idea!

The eleventh entry is...

'Out of Africa' beaded cuff by Etsy artist Debger. The patience it requires just to do a pendant with bead embroidery is impressive, and she's done an entire cuff! The variety of finishes give the safari colour scheme nice depth.

The tenth entry is...

 

'Fingal Frolics' by Karyn. This is definitely a different kind of design! She says "I made all of the glass fused cabochons myself in my microwave kiln and the piece was stitched using a variety of seed beads and Swarovski crystals."

The ninth contest entry

 

'Lacy' by JewelryTales' Cynthia Newcomer showcases the artist's talent with manipulating beadwork's form into intricate filigree-like designs, far surpassing my own ability with the technique. One never runs out of new things to learn.

The ninth entry is...

 

Forest Twilight II wire art pendant by DeviantArt user BlackCurrantJewelry  

Not only does she demonstrate beautiful control of the wire, she lets it lead the way, and incorporates little organic elements like the butterflies and dragonflies at the base and top.

The eighth entry is...

 

The 'Copper Canyon Sunrise' necklace by Etsy seller SalamanderHouse.

Her stitchwork is flawless, incorporating multiple agate cabochons with bead embroidery, peyote and spiral stitch. This must indeed be a labor of love!

And the seventh contest entry is...

Labradorite Bezel Necklace by DeviantArt user Annie-Jewelry

Her work is very precise, from the looping of the wire, to the bezel setting and 'antique-look' oxidization of the pendant.

The sixth contest entry is...

Dryad's Sanctuary by DeviantArt user SkyeTrinity. Her bead-embroidered piece skillfully incorporates a stunning handmade focal cabochon by DeviantArt user Sleetwealth , and effectively uses bead embroidery and seed bead stitching to evoke the feeling of twilight in the forest.

fifth contest entry is...

Medusa's Child ring by DeviantArt user Sylva

I am in admiration of her wiring skills; the perfect control with which she manipulates the wire coils around the netted cabochon to evoke Medusa's mane of serpents.

Fourth contest entry...

The Butterfly Wing Necklace by DeviantArt user UniquelyYours

What a way to combine the delicacy and sheen of butterfly wings, with the gleam and durability of glass? And then all that metalwork. This necklace is an achievement, to be sure.

The third contest entry is...

Midnight Champagne by DeviantArt user Ellygator  , incorporating a Shimmerstone in the 'Alethiometer' shade. This is only a small taste of the wonders in this woman's gallery!

And the second contest entry is...

This approach to filigree is new and different, by Etsy seller FuchsiaBloomStudio!

And the first entry in the contest is...

 

'Danu' by DeviantArt user SzilviaBead

Her dexterity and inventiveness with wire (how does she DO that?) is to be admired! 

Ah Crazy Times

Lately I've been insanely busy, while feeling like I haven't been getting much done. Argh. The Fire Mountain Gems contest pieces have been keeping me busy, but man I have never run into quite so many hang-ups in a row before; either I have some design question and need to confer with my design partner, who lives far away, or there is some kind of bead that I need that no local shop carries, or I just can't get to the shop that does, or the focal bead has a hole going in the wrong direction and oh dear what do we do now... So many things that can't be foreseen. But I'll manage; I always do. Though I might have to cut an entry this year.

One piece of good news: one of the pieces is finished! yay! It's big and grand and black and turquoise, and believe me I'd post a picture if I had one. When I do, I'll post it. Showing my stuff off is one of the funnest things about making jewelry, even though I never quite know what to say when people gush about my work. Someday I'll figure it out, I guess.

Another piece of good news: I got me some learnin', and snagged a spot in the Etsy Treasury! Making lists is one of my favourite things to do, so being able to make a list with pictures, and furthermore post it, is a step beyond! The theme for my first ever Treasury is 'I Heart My Geek'. I picked out fan stuff for various geeky things I like.

Someday I'll even learn how to get a picture of the whole Treasury, and not have the pictures cut off at the top and bottom. :) In the meantime, here's a link so you can get a good look yourself. http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=33671