from my studio:: speaking of inspired...

In case you missed it, I wrote a guest post yesterday over at Brandi Girl blog where I took a photograph, created a color palette, and then built an outfit around that color palette (go check it out!).

I'm thinking I need to start a similar column on my blog. But for today, since I'm still inspired by the photograph I used, I'm sharing a pair of earrings I designed using the color palette from the photo (made with artisan lampwork beads, of course!).



And yeah, I know I haven't posted as frequently as I anticipated, but I've got a few projects I'm working on behind the scenes and I'm getting ready to head to LA for a week (yay, yay, yay!), so there's much to do! I'll be back in mid-June with regular posts again, and I'm hoping to get one more post in this week before I head off for vacation. But don't forget, you can still find my iPhone photography over on Tumblr and, of course, you can chat with me on Twitter.

this past weekend:: jewelry!

Happy Tuesday, everyone! I hope you all had a fun and relaxing holiday weekend. I took a mini blogging break this weekend, but I'm back today. I may not have blogged over the weekend, but I did make some jewelry for my new Etsy shop, Sun Sugar Studio. Right now I'm in "use the supplies I've got" mode, but I did some brainstorming for some new designs and collections, and then made a few prototypes (like the one below).



This one's not in my shop yet because I can't decide if I want to keep it or sell. The business side of my brain says to sell it, but the shopping side says keep it.It's one-of-a-kind due to the nature of lampwork beads and geodes, although I could make a similar piece for myself should I choose to sell this one. So, what do you think? Keep or sell?

shopping for:: lampwork heart jewelry

So apparently Valentine's Day is coming up soon.

I'm not really a fan.

But you know what I do like? Handmade artisan lampwork jewelry. I even like handmade artisan lampwork heart jewelry since it's not all lovey-dovey, melty-smoochy, chocolate candy conversation heart, gag me with 12 dozen roses, over-the-top Valentine's Day insanity and stuff.

Did you read that, Mr. DU? If I celebrated Valentine's Day, I would want some lampwork heart jewelry.


{ 1- blue green heart earrings by natalica | 2- apatite and heart pendant by bella beads originals | 3- lampwork heart, moonstone and sterling silver necklace by loriyab | 4- glass beaded skeleton key and glass heart necklace by the venerable bead | 5- be my valentine heart of the waterfall beaded bracelet by heart of glass designs | 6- charmed love lampwork glass heart necklace by bead crazed }

from my studio // pearls, glass, lampwork and ribbon necklace

I felt like working on some jewelry this morning and I'm determined to use what I have before I go and buy more beads (way too many beads, way, way too many). The necklace below is the result of today's bead brainstorm. I'm keeping this one for myself, but I'm hoping to make more in similar styles. This one uses glass pearls, glass beads, artisan lampwork beads, and of course, a ribbon. I think I likes it.