Color Block Friday: Let the Sun Shine! - 2008.05.23

In honor of the coming big Memorial Day weekend and, in my opinion, the official start of summer, I am excited to showcase some new colors for the coming hot season! I am so excited about the combinations I have created and the new colors I've discovered...

Of course, we like to associate Summer with fiery colors like red, orange, yellow. I actually think of the many trips I had taken in summers past to New Mexico and Arizona . I envision the beautiful scenes of the Grand Canyon at sunset and the trip I took to L.A. during the heavy months of September when the warmth of the setting sun makes everything golden.

In honor of some of my favorite Summertime destinations, I have created two new color combos:

The first selection is 4-Corners. I still have visions of the Southwest and absolutely fell in love with the canyons and vistas, in my travels there. The beautiful blue skies and the fantastic rain storms of June. The sky is so beautiful in its stormy splendor - dark and foreboding with the rain hitting the earth so hard it bounces back up and create a layer of steam. The red rocks of the earth, the adobe homes, and stunning town plazas.

This new color story includes a new favorite color of mine called Flame. I love the way it can look very red or every-so-slightly red-orange as in this combination: tourmaline, turquoise, sandstone, tangerine, cinnamon, flame.


My other selection is called Sunset Boulevard. Inspired by the views and landmarks along the way: the neon, the setting sun, and of course all the beautiful people. This famous road winds its way through the heart of Los Angeles County, cutting through Hollywood Blvd - where dreams are developed (or dashed in some cases). It works its way past famous landmarks, such as The Roxy, The Whiskey a Go-Go and The Laugh Factory where Robin Williams performed and also The Rainbow Bar & Grill (aka. The Rainbow Room) where Marilyn Monroe had a blind date with Joe DiMaggio. This particular section is know as Sunset Strip. Further on it travels through Beverly Hills, Bel-Air and finally ends near Malibu at the Pacific Ocean.

In this color story I wanted to create a sense of strong contrasts in beautiful feminine shades - here's the line up: lemonade, root beer, peony, raspberry, honey, clementine - come together in this summertime collection. The two new colors in this collection - Raspberry is a shade of red with strong pink highlights and a matte and slightly iridescent finish - really beautiful. Clementine is also one of my new favorites - this is a truly fantastic summer color - a must have!

Summer is a time for dreaming. It's a time to decide "What else is out there... what am I missing?" I'm looking forward to a few travels this year... even if I may go broke (or stranded) from the price of gas. I'm looking forward to new inspirations... how 'bout you?

- Pink

fractionalstop = f/stop

I think that many of you know by now that I love not only making my beads and jewelry but, I also LOVE photography. It has been my pleasure to create photography that projects beautiful imagery as well as providing functionality (I hope)... Many of you respond so well to my product photos that I have now made this a part-time job!

Starting this last March, Trillium Artisans hired me to take all their product photos for their website and Etsy Store. I was flattered and thrilled to take on this challenge of course! This has now developed into not only a photography job but, I also teach photo workshops on how to better photograph your products for your Etsy Stores. I try to make these workshops a fun, challenging adventure you take with yourself and your camera - helping others discover that there is always more than one way of seeing what is in front of you. I also try to give ideas of how they can develop their store with whatever it is they make - to keep it fresh and draw in buyers with original imagery.

Looking at the world through your viewer is an amazing way to see things. You look at things at such different angles - ways you would never normally look with just your eyes... and sometimes at maximum magnification.

So, in light of my new found (part-time) job, I want to invite all of you to view my photo blog: fractionalstop. I created this blog in early April of this year and perhaps some of you have already noticed the link to the right for my new blog. (I call this photo: "Time Tunnel") I have taken up photography, not only as a means to convey my jewelry story but, also as a way to refresh my creativity. Making beads is my No.1 love but, it is always nice to have a fresh "focus" to keep from burning out that "love". With my new blog, I will post images - NOT jewelry related but, hopefully inspiring for all those out there that need a new vision every-now-and-then.

Also, my latest entry talks about the details of my newest photo adventure with JPG Magazine. If you love photography you MUST check out this website/magazine if you haven't already. I have submitted three new photos to their "Publishable Themes: Creatures, Street Fashion, and Favorite Hangouts". If you like any of them go ahead and sign up and vote on them! Believe me it is quite addicting once you start browsing all the fantastic photos - you'll want to keep voting and voting and voting and voting... you get the idea!

Anyway, I know that it has been awhile since my last Color Block Friday and any posting for that matter (Mother's Day kept me busier than I anticipated). I do plan on having a Color Block for May in order to feature some of the new Summer Colors...

Thank you so much to all my loyal supporters of me and my work... You are so appreciated all of you whether you buy, read, or send a friendly email, it is all welcomed and beloved:)

- Pink

TQB Designs Fashion Show - Part I - 2008.04.18

I promised you images of my work being worn and I have finally posted them or you here (with much tension due to the fact that Blogger went down an hour before the 5pm reveal)! I have also included some images of the squares (officially on sale April 23rd in my Etsy Store). I hope you enjoy the show. There will be another in a couple of months with more of my work. (*And, be sure to click on each image to make them bigger - you can see more details on each piece.) You can also view these images as a slide show by clicking HERE takes you to my Flickr! account. I think it's a much more fun way to see everything:) Carry on...

This first item is showcasing one of the beaded square beads. I actually began beading squares long before I started beading rounds. Funny, I know, but I just thought that rounds were so conventional and I wanted my work to stand out. Well, realizing how wrong I was, I dived into the round world and left behind the cubical delight. Having not made squares for many years I decided to bring them back in a limited quantity. They definitely take longer to make and I have a stock of square cores that won't last forever. So I decided to feature new work with squares through the month of May. I would like to do this annually. Think of it as a Mother's Day treat!

I have featured here the "Slide Bracelet" priced at $62.00 in beautiful Summer colors of Crimson, Strawberry & Bubbles. My favorite way to wear this piece is with one of my "Knotted Dots Bracelets" priced at $148.00. I have it paired with one in the same color story of "Strawberry Fields".

Next I wanted to feature a series of earrings in my most popular designs and range of sized as well as prices. The first pair of earrings are in one of my new colors for Spring & Summer (and will be featured in the April Friday Color Block, along with a new color combination).

Earrings:

Lucky Shoes Earring - Watermelon $38.00. This earring is made up of my handmade & hammered tiny horseshoe and ear wires. The beaded round measures 8mm (.25"). Made up of all oxidized sterling silver parts with a finished length of 1.5".

Bead Dot Coil Earring - Mulberry $38.00. This earring is made up of my hand-coiled stem and finished with my handmade ear wires. The beaded round measures 11mm (7/16" or just shy of .50"). Made up of all oxidized sterling silver parts with a finished length of 2.5"




Pin Dot Earring - Faded Denim $44.00. This earring design was an inspiration. I love the sculptural effect while wearing them! They are all totally hand fabricated and I even named the ear wire "hair pin curl". The beaded round measures 9mm (3/8"). Made from all sterling silver, the finished length on these beauties is 2.75".

Feather Earrings - Chartreuse, Cilantro $74.00. I'm not really good at picking favorites with my designs but, I have to say these are at the top of my list. They are funky, different and definitely make a statement! Fashioned with my handmade ear wires and hammered "feather", two large links suspend dual color beaded rounds, each at 11mm (7/16" or just shy of .50"). I love paring these greens together! Made from all oxidized sterling silver parts, the finished length on these 3".

So, I of course, wanted to also show you a few of my more popular necklaces and in a range of sized and prices. I hope that it gives you the perspective you need on the size of each bead I use with an image close in and one with a little more distance - enjoy!

Necklaces:

Darling Shoe Necklace - Faded Denim $38.00. Similar to the lucky shoes earrings, my handmade & hammered little horseshoe frames a small beaded round. This necklace is actually one step larger than the earrings with the bead measuring 9mm (3/8") and the pendant length of 1" & width of 5/8" (just over .50"). It is made up of all sterling silver parts with the clasp accented with real freshwater pearls. This necklace comes in your choice of length up to 18" at this price.

Sphere Necklace - Ocean $46.00. This design was inspired by the world globes that used to be in every classroom. They rotate on a base and I was alway fascinated by other places and the colors that made up the globe. I know that these are fast becoming obsolete but, I love mine and love to daydream about where I want to go. This delicate wishbone encapsulates one of my beaded rounds of 13mm (.50"). This gives a pendant length of 1.25" and width of 5/8". It is made up of all sterling silver parts with real freshwater pearls accenting the claps. This comes in your choice of length up to 18" at this price.

Beaded Round on Chain 16mm - Sweet Pea $38.00. This is a statement necklace for sure. Beautiful and simple is comes floating on a bead chain. This bead measures 16mm (5/8") across and takes me about 1 hour to weave. Since I do use commercial chain on this that isn't adjustable I only offer it in length so of 16" or 18" for this price. I do have available 20" and 24" at an additional cost, if interested. You can also get this sterling silver chain either bright brush finished or oxidized.

Feather Necklace - City Centre $78.00. Again, it is hard to pick favorites but, much like the earrings of the same name, I LOVE this necklace.. I think it's the gypsy in me. With beautiful beaded round charms in 5 shades, as well as two large links and my handmade "feather" this pendant hangs from dual-textured chain. Made up of all sterling silver parts and the clasp accented with gorgeous freshwater pearls, each beaded round measures 8mm (.25"). I like to wear this necklace long at 18" but, you can get in in any length up to 18" at this price. Of course additional lengths are available for an added cost.

More Squares sneak peek:

I have to say I really do love rounds - but, every now and then I do get a hankerin' for a cube. The squares I make are 11mm (7/16") in size (the same size as the beads on my feather earrings). I love to pair them with the round beads to give a piece interest and non-conformity. These are some of the new designs I have created just for the square shape - and of course, I will make a few with some of my existing desings - but, I do think that these lend more to the cube rather than the sphere - Enjoy!

Square Stem Necklace - Crimson $42.00. A square is slipped onto this hammered bar to give a balance of strength with the delicate nature of the beaded cube. I love to convey a sense of deliberate substance with the chunky silver running through the middle of the woven bead. Then finished with the reflective, delicate beaded chain. All parts are oxidized sterling silver and the chain lengths available at this price are 16" & 18".

Square Drops Earrings - Crimson $45.00. This is a little different than the pendant - instead of the bar running through the bead I have it gently suspended from the end. I wanted the square bead to have a bit of round added to it - so I have the large round headpin at the bottom to attach it to the oxidized silver bar above. These earrings, with my handmade ear wires, measure 2.5" in length - very dramatic in the crimson red.

I will have the Square Stem Necklace available in many of my colors in either a bright brushed finish or in the darkened brushed oxidized. I have a collection of them shown here in the blue shades of: Faded Denim, Ocean, and Peacock.

Photo Blog Ring is Official!

Okay for all those camera crazy individuals, such a myself, it is time now to share this obsession with the rest of the world. Littleputbooks has put together a fantastic idea on her blog, for a great way to express the visual world (with a tiny bit of help from myself in the way of themes). Please join our photo group. You don't have to be a professional, or an Etsy artist. You just have to love phototgraphy.

Photo Blog Ring Home/Join | List | Next | Previous | Random alt-webring.com

Here's the words officially according to Ryan of Littleputbooks:

Join the Photo Blog Hunt!

Welcome to the photo blog ring where each week we scour our worlds for theme based photographs.

All are welcome to join. You can join at any time and leave when you like, to opt in please post your blog link Here or hit the back button to add it on the original post.

You'll need a few things to get started and we have a few simple guidelines we ask members to follow.

What you'll need to play:

1. A camera, digital is probably a good suggestions.
2. A blog. This blog should be set up for the sole purpose of joining the ring. Business & personal blog links can be included on your photo blog but the content should be about your pictures.

A few guidelines:

1. Upload at least one photo per theme, more if you can. Less once in a while is okay too but in general we would like to see at no fewer than one photo per hunt.
2. Tag, Title or Describe your photo in a way which lets everyone know which theme it belongs to.
3. No offensive, racist, degrading, or vulgar nudity. Images containing illegal acts are also not permitted.
4. Photos of crafts or things your business is permitted if it fits the theme however blatant self promotion is discouraged.
5. Please include the blog ring link on your blog (coming soon!)
6. We reserve the right to remove blogs from the ring at any time.

A few other things:
1. Everyone is welcome to join & everyone is welcome to view, please keep your comments positive when viewing others photos.
2. You may & can post these guidelines or a link to these guidelines on your blog, in forums or other groups you belong to.
3. You may & can post the calendar or a link to these guidelines on your blog, in forums or other groups you belong to.
4. Everyone is encouraged to come up with ideas for the weekly hunts. You can post these HERE.

Invite your friends, invite your family, come and play :D

Photo of the Day - Everything is Temporary

Handmade paper flower bouquet made especially for me by a very special young lady - xoxo

Color Block Friday: What's in a Word? - 2008.03.28

Now, since I've been making these beads the most common likeness people use is berries. I love this, mainly because I could exist on berries everyday for the rest of my life! Okay, well... maybe not everyday but, you know what I mean. Organics, things in nature, etc... inspire me in what I do and how I work. Even the smallest phrase; collection of words, can bring about a different point of view with what I do. I take words very seriously...

For instance, take my newest color story "Bryant Park". I think of a big city with all its diversions. Cement, trees, colors of purple and gold - like royalty. This was my inspiration for this particular color story. Earlier this month I highlighted one of my newest colors "Crocus" in a gorgeous flowery shade of purple. I wanted to stay on the purple path and continue with Bryant Park by highlighting the other purple in that series: Mulberry.

This brings us back to the berry likeness. I can remember my earliest memory of my beads and how someone wanted me to make a bowl full and eat them like berries. Of course, in the early days, I didn't see this. Now, I wish I could remember who it was that gave me this image of organic delight. I now see my beads hanging from every tree, shrub and exotic plant. They are little pods, berries, and seeds. Droplets of water that glisten. Or, honey ladened buds of gold.

Next month I will have a new color story featuring some shades not yet used. 1st Friday in April... check it out!

xo - Pink

Photo of The Day - Snowing Petals & Steel

Portland Waterfront Park & the Steel Bridge - City of Roses 2008.03.28