Copper.

Why do I love copper so much? It is warm to look at and cool to touch. You can beat it with a hammer and it gets even better! Throw some liver of sulphur on it and it is darkened to a beautiful chocolate. Rub that patina and it just POPS! Love. Love. Love.

It makes friends with every medium. Glass. Ceramic. Gems. Paper.... I think it would be friendly with an old shoe.

Bohemian Dream! Bohemian Inspired Jewelry Is Here!

I have been a fan of Lorelei Eurto and Erin Siegel for a few years and was so excited for them when I heard about their new book! Alas, patience is not my strong suit and waiting for what seems like an eternity for Bohemian Inspired Jewelry to arrive was just about the end of me! Luckily it was so worth the wait! A few select guest designers are featured, including Denise Yezbak Moore, Mary Jane Dodd, and Tracy Statler. The book design is lush and the projects are inviting! It is always exciting to add a few new techniques to your design tool belt and there are many I am excited to try like the half-hitch knot and the half-hitch knotted loop! I had a chance to play with a few design ideas in the bohemian theme....

Thank you post person!

Inspiring designs from Tracy Statler and Denise Yezbak Moore!

So many ideas!

You can find links to other blogs sharing their Bohemian Inspired Jewelry designs at the Beading Daily Blog.

The book is being offered at a discount here http://www.interweavestore.com/Jewelry-Making/Books/Bohemian-Inspired-Jewelry.html

Or you can find the ebook here http://www.interweavestore.com/Jewelry-Making/Books/Bohemian-Inspired-Jewelry-eBook.html

Happy designing!

Gemified!

This studio would be decorated with sparkly gems from floor to celling if I had my way! It was mothers day so my lovely family indulged me with a trip to Gem Fair! I was looking for pinks for a necklace for my mom... I found a lot more!

A few things that have helped me at Gem Fair...

Take a camera. Take photos of booths and items that you might want to contact or look at after the show.
Even photograph what you purchased so if you want more you can send the vendor a photo list for easy reorders.

Make a list of colors you need or bring photos of items you want to color match that way you don't loose the original item.

Buy something not on your list. Even if I have a list, buying at least one thing that is out of my usual comfort zone will inspire creativity. Of course I don't want to blow my budget on things that will not be useful, but a $5 item usually will not break the bank.

It never hurts to ask. Even if the price says "50% off", ask for an additional discount, you never know what kind of deal you might get if you don't ask!

Bring the BIG purse.

If you have a shopping tip, please share!

Obsessed!

It looks like this style of bracelet is pretty popular! And rightly so! I found this fantastic tutorial for the ladder stitch over at Lima Beads and have been happily creating bundles just for this project. So far I haven't been able to part with the three I've created. Such a fun technique...

Art Bead Scene: Studio Saturday with Gaea Cannaday

I am so pleased and honored to be a contributor for the Art Bead Scene Blog. Today is my day to share a bit about my studio....

You can spend a day, in and out of the studio, with me! Project included!

Art Bead Scene Blog 

Thank YOU!

Truth be told, I am NOT a summer person. I am not looking forward to hotter days and sticking to the upholstery. I am not looking forward to temps in the 100's. I am not looking forward to strategic time planning for turning on the kiln. But... I am looking forward to trying some of the rituals you shared. I am looking forward to more time with my kids. Thank you for all the wonderful ideas for summer. This was, after all, a big "thank you" so lets get to the thanking part...

The randomly comments numbers are... (Taken from 51 individual comments)

Please send me your address through Facebook!

You can see the oddly loud video at Facebook too!

XO Gaea

The "Summer's Almost Here!" Giveaway

This year is going by so fast and we are quickly approaching summer! I have visions of days at the beach with the kids, bead supplies in hand, lathered in sun block! In honor of this new season and all the lovely changes it will bring I am offering up a few bead sets in celebration! Leave a comment letting us know your favorite summer ritual and click the "Like" link at the top of my etsy page and you will be entered to win one of the three sets! Easy peasy!

Please comment by Monday, May 29th. Three names will be chosen randomly on Tuesday afternoon!

Have a great loooooong weekend!

New Publications...

There are many wonderful benefits to having your work published. Copyrights. Published work is copyrighted work. Awesome! Bragging rights for mom. Being able to put something up on the fridge with your kids work. "Hey Mom! You worked hard too!" Gold star for mom! Interweave has a lovely series of ebooks. I just found out that several of my projects have been republished in their series...

http://www.interweavestore.com/Jewelry-Making/Books/10-Easy-Chain-Jewelry-Projects-eBook.html?SessionThemeID=20

http://www.interweavestore.com/Beading/Books/10-Handmade-Leather-Bracelet-Projects.html

Art Bead Scene - Lucky Mom Bracelet - Free Project

I love the saying, "There is one perfect child. Every mother has one." I am pretty sure I have two. When my little ones ask "What was it like when you were my age?", It just melts my heart and I feel so lucky to be able to answer them. My grandmother had a charm bracelet that would mesmerize me. When I asked, sometimes the charm had a special story "We were on vacation in Mexico..." or "Your mother picked that out with grandpa for my birthday." Other times the memory was not so clear...

The memory of that bracelet made me think how lucky I am as a mom. The little sweet thing our children say and do, tinkle and shine like little charms in our hearts.

As a parent, I am far from perfect, but I am perfectly lucky.

Lucky Mom Bracelet

Supplies:

Lucky pewter charm

Ceramic bird charm

3 ceramic heart charms

Kiss charm

7 polymer spacer beads

16 ceramic mini beads

6 jump/split rings

2 crimp beads

2 crimp covers

Stringing wire

Copper hook and ring

Tools:

Wire cutters

Crimp tool

Love

1. Add jump/split rings to charms and arrange your beads and charms into a balanced design.

2. Attach stringing wire to copper hook with a crimp bead. Cover crimp with crimp cover.

3. String beads and charms onto wire and add copper ring after final bead.

4. Close with crimp bead and cover.

Lucky charm: http://www.greengirlstudios.com/

Bird charm: http://www.earthenwoodstudio.com/

Polymer spacer beads: http://www.humblebeads.etsy.com/

Ceramic beads and charms: http://www.gaea.cc/

I am lucky to have many special memories with my mom and grand mother. What special jewelry memories do you have with yours?

Bead Star 2012: Vote Now!

http://www.beadingdaily.com/media/p/162367.aspx

I am so excited to say that my "Love Is Grand" necklace made it to the voting round for Bead Star 2012!

Jessica Stoops beautiful piece made it too as did Lorelei Eurto's lovely design!

New Butterfly!

This is another situation where I offer something that hasn't technically be made yet. Some kind person took it on faith that this particular un-photographed butterfly pendant would be to their liking. So fingers crossed, they enjoy it. I'm rather pleased!

 Style 1.

 Style 2.

You wouldn't thing that a chocolate tone lotus would work... Maybe it's just me!

Bead Star 2012

I sort of knew but had put it to the back of my mind that the Bead Star 2012 entries were coming up. But then the lovely Jessica reminded me! She is working on a great coffee design. I had two that could go in either metal or ceramics. I think I may have switched them. I forgot to read the requirements and my computer is going super slow so I may get disqualified for entering the wrong category! Well... for better or worse... here they are! (fingers crossed)

If you haven't entered... scamper over and enter! www.beadingdaily.com

Leapt Before I Looked

Sometimes I get so excited about a pendant design that I just jump in with both feet, listing various color combinations that I am sure will be just fantastic if I ever get around to trying them! I have had several hand painted options available for my Lotus pendant but only had 2 of them realized and photographed....

Until today! Yay to getting that checked off my to do list!

 Spring Lotus

Fire Lotus 

 Autumn Lotus

 Dream Lotus

Moon Lotus

Summer? Fired Up!

Well.... We went from thunder and lightning and cold to 100. Can't we ever just easy into a season?

A few weeks ago we invested in a gently used Cress Kiln. It needed a few minor repairs that Robert was kind enough to do. We are not sure how old the elements are so I did a test firing with a few open heart bowls. Everything looked good so I fired a full load yesterday and I'm sitting on my hands, waiting to open it! This is our second Cress in the same model and it has taken me a while to get used to loading a round shaped kiln. The boxy Amaco kiln is much easier for me to figure out for stacking and spacing. Live and learn...

Here are the small bowls/dishes that came out. Only one out of the 10 fired had a crack but that was because I accidentally folded some air into the clay! Doh.

Hello!

Have you been swallowed by the tax monster like I have?! I have been in a blogless stupor for the last few weeks and trying to get a package off to Lima Beads. Here are a few of the new items that will see there way to there.... 

 Twister beads in "warm", "cool", and "rainbow" themes!

 Chocolate Bunny sets.

 Earthy Rainbow sets.

 Sugar Skull sets.

 Sky's the Limit sets.

There are a few others on their way too! What has been keeping you busy?

P.S. Have a great evening!