Here's a new design that I have been working on!
Steel wire from the hardware store no less...
A new bail idea also... called a tong bail... I can see endless oportunity for uses for this one!!

 Here's a brand new pendant capture that I just made... I used black steel wire from the hardware store... & a piece of broken china..... I then waxed the whole thing with Renaissance Wax.. the steel wire is VERY Messy to work with..  gets your hands very dirty... after I clean the whole piece I use the wax. 






This pendant was constructed using the Tiffany method... copper foiled around the outside of pendant,  then soldered using LEAD  FREE  solder..

Just putting the finishing touched on pieces  for the blog hop..managed to get a necklace, earrings & bracelet  from all the beads that my partner Bonnie sent..

Here are some things that I consider when I am designing a piece of jewellery.

The Line of the piece:  How does it fit the body, where will it sit? What length will it be?
Colour: I use colour to convey & create emotion

Shape:  will the shape or style work with the beads that I have chosen?  Is it pleasing or interesting... Usually when I look at a the pieces that I have lain out I know instantly whether I like it or not...Don't ignore those little feelings of doubt.

The value  (or lightness or darkness) of the chosen beads:  how light or dark is the piece.. do all the beads work with each other?? Is there light , medium,  dark.. parts ..  crystals,  silver, gold,    create a bit of tension in the piece.

Texture:  Is there texture on the surfaces of the beads?  smooth, rough, carved, shiny, matte, or  faceted.

Of course a piece does  not have  to have all the above mentioned inclusions.. Shapes can be repeated.  Once the eye sees a shape, if the shape is repeated it makes the eye more comfortable.. I like at least 3 repeats... I most always go for the number 3 in my designs...

A focal bead is used to draw the eye in and the beads surrounding the focal showcase the focal..

Add some zing to your designs by using some decorative head pins, adding some black to the mix... I also like to add some silver colour,  by using bead caps or silver spacers

WHAT makes a  piece of jewelery work?? Here  is a  list of   components that I use to design my jewelry.  I use  a lot of the same principles of Interior Design.  both in  design elements and color elements... I like to use  these shapes: round, square, oblong, flat, these textures:  smooth, rough, shiny, matte, different sizes:

big, medium & small.  If I am using found objects then I would include something old & something new.  If I am feeling really daring I would add some sparkle to the whole piece. 

For color I usually go with an analogous color scheme..(3-6 colors adjacent to a key color with 1 color in common. I try to  use other combos such a complementary but I struggle with them..so I just stick to what I do best... I dress the same way... It is just the way it is....

Here is a little memory wire bracelet and as you can see I have used all oranges, yellows, reds and thrown in some white for contrast.  These are some lampwork beads that I have made.

Here's a photo of the bracelet that the home-schooled class made... They only had about 20 minutes to pick the beads out & assemble it.... I kept it simple and easy for little hands to make.  The stretchy cord is about 1 mm. thick & I wrapped scotch tape around 1 end to easily go thru the bead and I made a knot at the other end so the beads didn't fall off.

After the bracelet had all the beads on we centered the beads, tied a knot at each end of the beads, then tied a knot to make it into a bracelet.... This is a super easy project for little kids!!!  They were all thrilled to bits!!!

Here it is    Monday....... I am so behind....

 On Friday ..My dear husband decide to rent a JACK   HAMMER  & rip out about 50 sq. feet of tile which was very Securely  affixed to the cement base.... WELL... it took him 8 hours of hard labour... (Something like having a baby????)  to rip it all out... after about 2 hours ( I was away having FUN... giving a talk about glass to 14 home-schooled children... &  then they all made a  simple bracelet with beads)  HE  took a look at all the dust that he created & then decided to put up some plastic.... by then it was way too late.... the dust was everywhere....We have finally  finished cleaning up most of  the dust ..but we still have a few rooms...  The door was closed to these rooms so its not urgent that they be cleaned......
Today  I gave a lampwork  class and was all prepared for 2 students but ended up having 4.... some kind of mix up with the front desk......All one can do is suck it in and carry on...  Never let your students see you are a bit ruffled....It all turned out well in the end.... (Fortunately I am always prepared  with more supplies than I actually need!!!)

I have a private student tomorrow afternoon.... so my bead-soup mix will have to simmer on the back burner for a few more days....

Now I have to go  down to my studio & whip up a Valentine's Card for My dear husband!!!!

Here's the photo of the  fab  Bead Soup that I received from my partner Bonnie:  www.jasper-moon.ca
  These are some of my favorite colours... I just love putting BLACK in my designs...  The cream colour beads are actually carved bone... I have never used real bone in any of my creations... so this will definitely be something out of my comfort ZONE.... but I am up for the challenge...  The tiny black bicones are Swarovski crystal  (another of my favs... I just love anything sparkly as witnessed by all my t-shirts with sparkles & rhinestones on.    

The light green  crystal rhondelles are a fav. of mine as well.
The black faceted beads will add some weight to my design..

    Here's my Etsy Shop.....

                     WWW.FayWolfendenDesigns.Etsy.com  

I will be posting some more goodies for sale shortly!!!!!

I have been busy getting ready to give 14 home-school students a small talk
on glass... & a bead-making demo........it's taking a lot longer then I thought..
After the demo they will each make a simple bracelet!!!!!

Received my bead soup package from Bonnie yesterday.. will take some pictures & post on Friday...       doing some skiing @ the local mountain... fabulous skiing,

                                   Was a fab sunny day & not too cold

 
Here are the pics of bead soup that I sent to Bonnie

They arrived today..... Yeah!!!!! only took 1 week...

Here's the Beady Soup that I have sent my partner Bonnie...Can't wait to get hers..
   

www.jaspersgems.blogspot.com   

WOW.....just finished my bead soup package to send to my partner Bonnie.......
as usual I agonized  over my final selection.... .....I  looove   making     glass beads....fused glass pendants, plates, etc.  .. shiny,  smooth glass... some matte glass.. love the sparkly stuff too.  Hope she likes the goodies I sent!!!

These funny little birds were flying around our house the other day trying to keep warm & eating the insects around the base of the house.  I think they are red-wing black birds.. It was about 19 degrees belown zero & there was snow on the ground... so these little guys were hungry!!!

Ventured out to the post office to mail out the package...  it was   snowing again.
Looks like we are in for some snow & high winds...Will be glad when January is finally  over in another week.... it's always a let down after the Christmas holidays...  We'll be off skiing for a few days... time for some outdoor activity although we have been going for lots of walks & hikes...

Just making a few more focal beads so I can complete the set that I have in mind for my ..bead swap partner...  I have an idea of what I want to send her.

IT'S 16 below zero... (and going down to -19 tonight) that's centigrade.. that is
2 degrees in farhenheit.. it's pretty darn  COLD..  had to venture out  today
to pick up some more propane and glass rods...  all in all the roads were O.K.  & after driving in Montreal & Toronto in the winter it is a piece of cake here... especially with snow tires on... 

Am going to hunker  down tomorrow as the high is going to  be   -14...   a good time to  spend on the torch plus it adds some heat to the house... a whole   day spent in  in the studio will be fab!!!!!

I am so excited.... I won a spot on the   " Bead Soup Blog Party"  Also my partner is in Canada...so that makes it so much easier to mail my " Bead Soup Mix"


I've got some focals in mind.... just  can't decide what colour palette to go with..
Think I will make a nice sterling silver clasp to go with the beads....

Been working on making some new bead designs... I am going to call them my water-colour series.... very pretty...  white background with soft greens, turquoises, pinks, mauves, oranges.... I will take some pictures of them when the sun comes out & I can get some good shots.

Have been doing some snowshoeing (Santa brought us our very own snow shoes this Christmas) & hiking in the hills above Kelowna... We are very short of snow this year..so more hiking than snowshoeing.... We just drive about 5 minutes up the mountain in the back of us.... & there we are...miles & miles of hiking trails.... Now that the bears all are hibernating..no fear of running into them....My goal this year is to do more outdoor things.... I get busy working in my studio & it is so fab that I don't want to go out....WE are awaiting more snow on the local ski hill as there are too many rocks sticking up to try & trip me!!!

I've entered a contest..well..not really a contest... it's a bead exchange where someone sends me beads, etc.  & I send another person some beads, etc. then we all make something out of our "stash" ..post it in our blog.... & see what we all come up with.... Fantastic idea......... I am just trying to figure out how to add the

"bead soup badge" to my page here... I am going to have to get my fab. daughter

to help me....as I am somewhat techno challenged when it comes to doing anything like that....cutting, pasting, copying, etc. is a bit beyond me......looking forward to see if I get picked!!!!

In the mean time here is the  www.prettythingsblog.com/p/bead-soup-blog-party.html      for Lori's blog & all things bead-soupy!!!!

Here's wishing everyone a Very   HAPPPY NEW YEAR!!

the night before Christmas

Another year about to draw to a close... have all my baking done, presents wrapped.. time to sit back & relax....looks like it will be a green Christmas  here

here's wishing everyone    a   very    MERRY  CHRISTMAS

new bead designs

Going on a road trip to Vancouver.... It's our annual Delbrook  High School... Girls Pot Luck Dinner... actually it is the "Appy"  dinner & dessert....  We have been doing this since day 1 of our 'Grad'... I have not been to so many but in the past few years have attended... It's great to get together with   Col, Judy, Sue, Pat, Arlene, Ardath, etc...
Hope the highway is O.K... it can be very tricky... but with a new Truck & new  winter tires it should be a piece of 'cake'...
It's always nice to see Vancouver at Christmas time...very festive and of course
the shopping!!!!!  Don't get down there nearly often enough...

Just finished my Winter class schedule.... hope to be at the Rotary Centre  every Monday.

 I have added a few new classes to my schedule.... Done   some  research & developement.... and some inspirational designs came to mind....

Do check out my Web site:  www.faywolfendendesigns.com
 for more info &  samples of my work.... should be out middle of Dec.

WOW....can't believe it is December already...Got most of my Christmas shopping done...alright I admit it was pretty easy.... the  husband did it.....I am so lucky in that department..... He researches everything & then goes out, buys it, wraps it &  sends it, etc... so all I have to do is sit back & relax....O.K... I do have to make some butter tarts....

I've been doing some repairs on stained glass pieces for other people...also making some more Christmas cards.... I will post some pics.  when the light is right for taking pictures.....

The Potters & Artisan Show was another success...Thanks to everyone who dropped by!!!

The classes went well this fall...met lots of great new people!!! Now I have to get the schedule ready for 2012...Want to try out a few new ideas....

Just 6 days to go until the Potters & Artisan  Show  &  Sale.....down at the

                          ROTARY CENTRE for the ARTS

        Nov. 12...Saturday  10:00- 6:00   &   Nov. 11  Sunday   10:00 - 4:30

                            For the LOVE of ART Almighty

              ... Get all your Christmas  shopping done early!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Busy Working

Another fab day here in the beautiful Okanagan...busy working in my studio..making lots of vintage looking melted fabric flowers with bead work
in the middle for the stamens, etc.  My friend Irene gave me lots of  drapery fabric sample books so no two the same.  Have made a few fascinators as well.
Will post some pics when I can take some on the next sunny day.
Only about 8 more days until the Potters & Artsian Show & Sale @ the  Rotary Centre for the Arts.

I am working on some new stuff for the Potters & Artisan Show  & Sale
@ the Rotary Centre for the Arts...happening
                                     Nov. 12 & 13..put the dates on your calendar!!
I will have lots of up-cycled jewellery, fabric flowers (very vintage looking)!!!
so plan to come down & say hi!!

Some new flowers that I am making which involves Fire!!!    Just learned how to make these lovelies!!! A bit of beading & sewing!!!

This one is made from some bronze lame!!  Had quite a flame going here!!!

Will post some to my Etsy shop soon

Up-cycled necklace.. some black vintage buttons from Victorian
 shoes with pearlized bead, Swarovski crystal,  watch part and
 a crystal earring that was lonley!!

Things are looking up, indeed!!!  My Grandson is on the mend.. getting  around on the crutches, even went out for a hair cut & dinner.... I have just posted my first listing on  www.faywolfendendesigns.etsy.com
after having spent the better part of today trying to figure everything out.. i am by no means a computer whiz or even close.  But I figure the more I try to use my brain in these things the better off I will be!!

Here it is October already...Turkey time..no less....I haven't posted in a long time.. I have been preoccupied with worrying about my Grandson's long battle with a leg infection.... After 4 surgeries (plus getting C-Dificil while in the hospital), after  five weeks in the hospital he is finally on the mend and back home.  It will be a long recovery with lots of physio..  4 more weeks of intensive anti-biotics... Finally he is back at school.. trying to catch up now.. good thing he is a great reader....   Also great that the barista  ( formerly known as my husband & chief maker of the morning lattes) was able & willing to fly to Montreal to be the  hands 0n  guy to get everything sorted out....and back on track.... HE has been gone for about 5 weeks now, & I now know how lucky I am to have him, because he does most everything around here... I have had to learn to do all the stuff that he does.... Including draining the underground irrigation!!!

Some wire wrapped rings that I just made!! 

Finally a fab day in the sunny Okanagan....yeah!!! went out in the boat...the granddaughter did a little water skiing & tubing....the water is stilll too cold for me to go in... We had a fabulous sun-set tonight.... will post a picture of it....

Finally got all my new courses ready for listing....always dread the task but it's great when I am finished.... I will be making examples of them & taking pictures & putting them up on the web or maybe here on my blog...or maybe both.....stay tuned.

Now only if the weather would actually act like it is summer time...Had enough of this spring weather....maybe we will get summer in August & September!!!!

Busy, busy with the grandkids.... here from Montreal.... where they are at least having a summer.....

Wow...summer has finally come to the super-natural Okanagan valley....Yeah!!!!

Taking some time off to do some painting chores, etc.  No classes till August or September, but have to do up the courses for fall by the end of July....

Busy working in my studio at the moment..as usual I have left everything to the last few weeks..so am now working like crazy... finished up the art glass pieces this aft...of course it would help if I didn't have t fill sand bags, etc. to keep our dock & casita from floating way... The lake is so high & when we get the high winds, the water comes right over all of it.....

Some more pics of my steampunk jewellery

here are a few pics of my new courses... Broken China Pendants

and Steampunk jewellery...( made from bits &  pieces of  old jewellery,  watch parts, gears,  keys, etc.

Finally, a fab day...it's looking a lot like spring out there.... My magnolia tree has a ton of buds, just waiting to burst forth

Wow!!!!    it's been over a month since I last posted...had a great trip to Montreal & Toronto..picked up some awesome new coloured glass rods @ BeadFX in Toronto.. Some pinks (which are hard to get and something called kryptonite...fab shad of turquoisey-green.
Can't wait to get back to the torch & make some great beads...

the fused glass pendant is a new design that I have been working on. I am offering workshops in these... Very simple, no glass cutting necessary as I have done all the work for you....just pick out your colours.... and add some sparkly dichroic glass.















this one is also a class.... just pick out your lampwork focal bead, add a few other things like spacers, make a couple of loops and you're done!!!!

Here's some Okanagan Fruit art glass panels, these make great wedding gifts!!  No chance of a duplication...these ones went to England

"ADVENTURE"  a journey with an unknown destination

Another fabulous day here in the Okanagan...the sun is trying to shine and here I am trying to get my studio organized for the New Year...

Last days in November...where did the time go...busy..busy in the studio..have a bunch of art glass panels that I have to get done yesterday...they are going to England...I will post some pictures of them when I get finished..I don't think I have ever taken any pictures of my okanagan Fruit series...they are very popular...especially for wedding presents....not much chance of a duplication....

Can't believe it's been over a month since I last posted....have been on a road trip to California,  participated in the Pottery & Artisan Show @ the Rotary Centre and my classes have for the most part been full....Christmas is just around the corner and we have the snow to prove it.....

Took a little road  trip up to the Adams River to see the Sockeye Run...just amazing  

Been busy in the studio..getting ready for the REALLY BIG  Potters & Artisans Show & Sale..to be held at the  Rotary Centre for the Arts..
                                Nov. 13  & 14th

Come for this class on Wed. Sept. 22..drop into Studio 203 at the  Rotary Centre for the Arts..

Just finished my fall clean-up in the studio..always a good feeling to get that done..where does all that stuff come from...I am trying to go with the  'LESS is MORE'  attitude.... A good day to do it as it rained  ALL  day more or less

Fall classes are under way @ the R.C.A.    http://www.rotarycentreforthearts.com/
check out my classes listed on their site.

I am doing a fusing project Wednesday (Sept. 22)  afternoon  1:00 - 3:00 pm...
There is room for a few more people..just drop by and  make yourself a pendant or 2 for just $65.00..  These make great Christmas gifts...

BEAD....the one adornment that links ALL cultures

Can't believe the tomatoes that I'm growing..they are fabulous.....

Time to get started designing & making  for the November  13 & 14 show...Artisans' & Potters' @  the  R.C.A.  http://www.rotarycentreforthearts.com/  where o where has the summer gone...
Spent lots of time on the water teaching the grandkids to water-ski..whoo-hooo!!!

WOW where did the summer go??? Can't believe August is almost half over...the weather is really nice now..doin lots of boating...have not done much in my studio..have to give it a good cleaning and reorganizing..seems I would rather do that than actually get down to business & makestuff...LOL

A fab weekend @ the R.C.A...was the annual Artisans & Potters Show...Thanks to everyone who dropped by to visit...Despite the hot weather we had a lot of interest...Met some great people.

The next SHOW is in November..