Sizzling summer!

So far, half way into summer (ALREADY!) The temps haven't been sizzling - at least not until today - but boy, has my show schedule!  AND my sales!  WHAHOOO!
I am really nervous and excited about the Williamston ArtFest on the River on Saturday. 

 Not only is it a prestigious area show, but I found out today that people get to VOTE on their favorite booths!  I don't think any of my local peeps will be attending, everyone is just so darn busy - so I probably won't get many.  But if you're local.  And you're planning to stop by - VOTE FOR ME!   I will have LOTS of the Enlightened Denim pieces, as well as many of the really arty pieces that I don't take just everywhere.  The denim pieces are really popular with my local friends though - seems like every time I post a photo of a new piece on FB, it's GONE!   Not a bad problem to have - I KNOW!  :)

Here are just a few of the latest pieces I've done.  I've also completed a couple of custom ones - those are really fun too - working in just the right special parts and beads to suit the person that it's made for.  So far I think I'm doing them justice.  The hardest part is getting the right fit.  As with all bracelets and wrists - you just never know.  That's why I think the charm ones will be fun - still denim.  No fit.  No worries!  And those - well, those kinda happened by accident.  I wanted to do a simple single size bracelet,  not a wrap - and miscalculated the length.  So I cut off one end, which already had the ring and clip on it, as well as some bling.  And well - you see the result of the rest.... I've made a few more, just to see how they do.  ONE of those didn't even make it to a show.  You guessed it!  Snatched up by a friend!  LOVE YOU GUYS!

So much fun creating these!  I hope I sell MANY - cuz that means I get to make MORE!  And this morning I found an entire box full of HALLOWEEN THEME beads and charms - so hmmm.  Maybe some spooky Enlightened Denim?  BOO!  LOL!
Hope your summer has been happy and fun.  We've not had much of a chance to travel - having two dogs to find care for is expensive just in itself - but hope to do a day trip SOMEWHERE soon.  Michigan is so beautiful - all year round.

 THANK YOU for putting up with - and reading ALL - of my babbling "ME" blog.   I appreciate it - whether you choose to leave a comment or not.  Google makes that difficult sometimes - tell me.  I KNOW.    Just glad you came....

Peaceful beading,
TTFN

ZNet Reveal part TWO

 if you're just reaching this blog to HOP - the post JUST BELOW this is the REVEAL post.

I couldn't wait to blog again about all the other great challenge participants pieces!

I just finished 'hopping' through ALL of the blogs of the other designers.  A.MAZ.ING.  If I didn't comment on your blog - it's cuz Wordpress hates me, or some other wonky reason.  Otherwise, I expressed my awe at every one!  

I noticed that MOST of the other girls also included photos of the pieces that were in the Creative Spark EMag.  So just in case you don't want to - or couldn't access it for some reason - here are the pieces that were included in the current issue of Creative Spark:

These are my 'Daytime Casual' pieces - more of my "Enlightened Denim" line that I'm addicted to creating!  Another wrap bracelet - I used elements of copper and leaves as well - because Michigan beaches include those elements, along with waves, wind and beautiful shores.  The earrings?  BELT LOOPS!   SO fun!  I'm scouring garage sales and RAIDING CLOSETS for just the right denim to play with for these.  FUN!

I wish I would have noticed how bad this photo was - I may have to do something a little better and repost later, because these are so much prettier in person.  These are my 'nighttime dressy' pieces - "White Sand Beaches" - a bridal set - this is the WEDDING portion of the necklace.  A little more subdued, sedate, and a bit vintage, but still that pop of sparkle - sunset style.  If you remember from the reveal post, this bottom portion is removable at the s hook/links - so the sparkle can be added for the after party!    And by the way - those purple barrels were my faves - and I will be ordering MORE from ZNETSHOWS to use again and again!
So there you have it.
My ZNetShows summer design challenge.

Can't wait for the next one!  I'm DEFINITELY IN!  

Peaceful beading,
TTFN

ZNET CHALLENGE REVEAL!

Helllllo ZNetShows Summer Sea Glass Challenge Reveal!   WHEW!   That’s a mouthful! 
This challenge was a really different one for me.  I have only done just one other ZNet challenge in the past, and it featured more crystal than sea glass – girl gotta love the sparkle!   But this one – this one is ALL about the sea glass, something I haven’t really worked with that much in the past. ZNetShows has a huge and beautiful assortment of seaglass – all sorts of shapes and sizes.   When we were contacted a few months back about doing another challenge, we were asked to create a daytime casual SET, and also a nighttime DRESSY set – SOME of which would appear in the magazine, and some which we would reveal in a really fun blog hop - and that’s why you’re here!  We did get to have a little bit of say in what colors we received – but once again – ZnetShows far outweighed my expectations with the assortment that they sent!  
So without further ado – since I’m sure you would like me to stop teasing and get on with it, HERE is the link to the newest issue of Creative Spark for ZNet Shows:

http://joom.ag/55Cb

  

You’ll find each artists best challenge pieces featured in this beautiful publication, and some extra bonus fun things too.    ALONG WITH those pieces – there were other pieces created as well – and those are being revealed here on the blog.  First – here’s a second daytime casual piece – this was actually the very FIRST thing I created – and I got a little carried away with the seaglass!  I love it though – very casual (you can’t be much more casual than denim!), and very ‘beachy’.   This is “Wave Length” – a trendy multiple wrap bracelet using the most fun thing I’ve ever used in jewelry making yet – upcycled denim!

 “Enlightened Denim© - denim made better! – is a fun concept I came up with in hopes of participating in an art fair later this year that is solely devoted to artists who use recycled/upcycled/reusable materials in their artwork.  Still don’t have the details of that event yet – but I’m not waiting!   These are turning out very cool – and selling like hotcakes!    The Creative Spark feature contains yet another Enlightened Denim© Bracelet, as well as earrings to match – made from denim BELT LOOPS!  FUN!

The second part of our challenge was a nighttime dressy set – for which I chose the theme of a sunset beach wedding, followed by a dance party reception full of sparkle!   The necklace portion of the piece is perfect for just such an occasion – the portion revealed in Creative Spark can be changed  - the bottom portion of the necklace is removed from the S shaped hooks along the side, and is replaced with big time night time sparkle!    How cool is that!??
HERE is the big sparkly  blog reveal portion of “White Sand Beaches”:  

A big, firey colored Swarovski Drop pendant, accented with the same colors and style as the more subdued, and somewhat vintage looking piece she wore for the big I Do’s. 
This was a really fun challenge – and I hope I’m asked to participate again at some point.  Now it’s time to go “hop” over to the other girls blogs, and see how they challenged themselves with their selection of ZNetShows seaglass beads.   Here’s the list:  

Amy Severino

Andrea Trank

BeckyPancake

BobbieRafferty

BR Kuhlman

CharlieJacka

ChristieMurrow

ChristinaMiles

ChristineStonefield

CynthiaMachata

CynthiaRiggs

DonettaFarrington

HopeSmitherman

KashmiraPatel

KathyLindemer

Kay Thomerson

KellyPatterson

KlaudeteKoon

Lee Koopman

Lisa Lodge

RenethaStanziano

SandraWashington 

Shaiha Williams

StephanieHaussler

TammieEverly

HAVE FUN!   Peaceful beading,
TTFN

Reveal date ALMOST HERE!

THIS WEEKEND!   I hope you can plan to take time out from your busy holiday weekend, stop, grab a cool one (beer, wine, lemonade, whatever) and hit our ZNetShows Summer Challenge reveal!
We were 'challenged' with creating two distinctly different designs using the absolutely AWESOME sea glass sent to us from ZNetShows.  We DID get to give them input about what we wanted - but YOWZA!  So much better than what I imagined.  So just a tease - here's what they sent me to play with:

I managed to create two pieces for each 'theme' - daytime casual and night time DRESSY.  And then some!

I can't wait to show you what I created - and then be able to let those babies shine at my shows this summer!

See you on Saturday!  And by the way -  ALL NEW ITEMS are being added to the Facebook album in "Alabama General Store" this week - so search for them, LIKE them, and then look for Cool Moon Creations unique beaded jewelry.  Enlightened Denim, embroidered pieces, simple pieces.  Something for everyone!

Peaceful beading,
TTFN

The lure of the bead

Do your beads call to you?  Do you just get sucked in by the energies of the semi-precious stones, the feel of the different finishes and shapes?  The trays.  The drawers.  The boxes.... It's the lure of the bead.....

It happened to me this morning.  Instead of my usual quiet time with hazelnut coffee and a book or puzzle, I found myself being called to the bead table - not just to put together a project for my afternoon bead date, but for MORE.  For sorting, and digging, and finding all kinds of wonderful surprises.  THIS is just one result of my morning bead time:

"Rouge Wrap"

These were pieces and parts left over from last winter's "LaFleur Rouge" Necklace, my Downton Abbey vintage inspired piece.  The sections were done with bits and parts of Nancy Dale's "Summertime Wrap" bracelet - my very favorite tutorial EVER!  (I intended to link you Nancy's website, but there seems to be an issue with it right now), and also some freeform peyote leaves.  I ultimately decided they didn't work in the necklace, so into the 'leftover' box they went.

Today, I started to tear the strands apart, to return them to idea making stage.  BUT - the pieces had another idea in mind.  They ended up laid end to end on my table - which gave them the look of a really long, sleek bracelet.  LIGHTBULBS!   

 (Yes, these are Christmas bulbs.  But you get the IDEA).  :)

Just a few added silver 15's, a button (just so happens the same button that had been in the project box to be used with the piece that I had already put away), and Voila!   It fits MY wrist perfectly, so I may need to keep this unintended cool piece for myself.  But since I don't really wear a lot of red (ok, really only during holidays of Christmas and Valentines) I'd rather it find a new wrist to call home.
SO - it, along with "La Fleur Rouge" will be available in the Alabama General Store come July.  I'm getting things organized, watermarked, and inventoried.  Look for brand new pieces early next week!

I also completed another cool "Enlightened Denim" set just for AGS:

Denim and Paisley.  You'll have to check Alabama General Store for the price and details!

I may add a piece or two to the blog Jewelry page here, too at some point - so be sure you check for occasional changes and additions.

Well.  Off to play with more surprise finds from this morning, and looking forward to my bead date with my friend Sharon Erwine this afternoon.  She was a part of my start on my bead store journey, and although I no longer have the store, we've remained friends since that time.  She learned to LOVE the seed bead as much as I, (as you can see by the beautiful kits and patterns available on her website), but she really is an accomplished knitter, so we still get together when we can - she knits.  I bead.  She's moving away from me permanently soon.  My little beady world is getting just a bit smaller...and sadder.  sniff. sniff.

Go hug your beads, girls.  And a beady friend too, if you have one.  Life. Is. Short.
Peaceful beading,
TTFN 

HELLLLO summer!

Hey there!  Did you miss me?  So sorry I haven't made more of a presence here on the blog - I plan to fix that and hope to get back to at LEAST weekly blogging very soon.  You will notice that I'm again ADDING a page of jewelry items that ARE for sale - you can either pay by PayPal, or contact me regarding other options.  I will include email information on the jewelry page.
So.  Now that business is out of the way - how's tricks, kids?  I hope everyone is having a grand summer.   My yard is simply magical this year - hummingbirds, dragonflies, unexpected blossoming.  Here's a bit of eye candy - beauty that I get to observe every day!  How can anyone have a bad day when looking at this?

Pretty awesome, huh?

It's hard to be inside concentrating on new designs when there is such beauty just outside my door....

 But I HAVE been concentrating, especially on the new Enlightened Denim pieces.  They haven't been wildly popular at SHOWS yet - but my local peeps and awesome relatives have been eating them up!  I will be creating a few more  (rain rain, you don't have to go away today), some that will be specifically for THIS blog's jewelry page, and some for my Alabama General Store album.  If you haven't check it out - head over to Facebook, search for "Alabama General Store", and then look in the jewelry section for Cool Moon Creations.  BRAND new items will be added beginning end of this week - so it's worth a look!  AND a purchase!

I also hope to be able to blog SOON about our ZNetShows Summer Challenge!  I really want to be able to show them off - and then add them to my summer inventory!  SO COOL!
My show schedule is hot and heavy this summer too!  I've got two under my belt (not counting the two I did in March and April), and now have a few weeks to relax and enjoy summer before I do THREE in a row!  Glutton for punishment, I KNOW!  And the next one is going to be my most prestigious show so far -  Williamston Art in the Park on July 26.  Very high end, juried show in a VERY high price area.  Always wanted to do it.  This is my year.  I've also always attended - but never even thought I could do the Grand Ledge Island Art fair.  It's the very NEXT weekend - the application fee has been mailed.  With a second Sunday market date in between those two - can you say WHEEEEW?!  I will need a vacation!  And hopefully to create LOTS of new inventory!

Here's what my table looked like at LAST Sunday's market, our first of the season:

It was a BEAUTIFUL day - great temps, no breeze (which can sometimes wreak havoc with a nice display), and LOTS of customers.  I was a happy camper!

Hope your summer is filled with magic and fun!
Be sure to check out the jewelry page - I'll try to add a few more photos regularly.  Hard to do with so many show coming up - so I guess that means I just have to make NEW!  LOL!
Peaceful beading,
TTFN

Show and TELL!

Drum roll, please!  I got word about this time last week from Fire Mountain Gems that my seed bead finalist piece had indeed been selected for a magazine ad!  YAY!   So here is the magazine - a UK publication, and one I haven't been able to find around town here anywhere, yet.  They were kind enough to send me a copy - but I had hoped to have a second one to keep clean and pristine.  Maybe one of my FB or blog followers from the UK can help me out!

But anyway, without further ado.... here's the mag cover:

It's the June Wedding Special Issue of Bead and Jewellery magazine!  (Don't you just love the way they express things in the UK?  So much prettier, with all those extra consonants and fancy wording.)

And here's what the AD looks like - a little blurry - taken with my phone camera.... it's also a close up - the original ad includes the beautiful focal butterfly section as well:

   Normally, as many of you know, FMG ads appear on the BACK of bead related publications.  But not this one, which in my personal opinion - is a good thing. In this one -  It's the FIRST thing you see when you open the front cover.  Now, when I look at magazines, I'm much more likely to look through them cover to cover more than once, but probably NOT glance at the back more than once.  So this puts ME in front of way more eyes, way more times!  HOORAY!
So I hope you forgive me the horn tooting and back slapping - I am proud of this accomplishment - followed by excitement at being a part of the ZNetShows design team. (great segue, don't you think?  :) We're getting closer to the reveal date - which won't be until JULY sometime.  I've sent all the pertinent photos and details off to Hope - and now we WAAAAIIIT!   It's so hard!  I will be sure to 'reveal' all just as soon as she says GO!

So this may be the last blog for a bit again - hopefully not til challenge reveal, but we shall see....
My first BIG summer show of the season is SATURDAY.  This will be the first show that I have done that has had SPONSORS, which means ADVERTISING.  In a BIG, BIG way.  Radio ads, TV ads, there is signage all over Okemos, we girls are spreading the word like wildfire all over the web, and hanging posters up all over town.  It's also different in that it doesn't BEGIN until 2 in the afternoon.  So I don't have to get up EARLY (YAY) to set up, BUT -  I will be setting up in the heat of the day, which, depending on where I'm located, may NOT be so YAY.  I may also be taking things down in the dark. Could be interesting, but either way,  it's going to be a BLAST!

One could only hope to sell out of all of one's creations.  But then, what would I sell at the show I have NEXT weekend - my beloved Art Market.   What a dilemma to have!  LOL!

Hope you are all having a terrific summer, and it's full of blooming beauty.  Mine sure is:

Peaceful beading,
TTFN