Back Again!

It's been so long since I blogged last that I don't even recognize the Blogger format! Everything has changed! It's incredible to me how fast time flies anymore. I would like to say you will be hearing from me more regularly, but unfortunately I can't make any promises. My full-time job is so much more demanding on my time, and it has been crazy hectic there lately. We also decided to put our house up for sale recently, so we have been busy cleaning it out and getting it in "model" condition. If we sell our house and don't have another one to move into, I may be without a studio for who knows how long. Hopefully everything will work out fine. For now I am trying not to worry about it and just go with the flow! There are lots of things I would like to catch you up on, but I am going to try to stay focused on the reason for this particular post. 

I was chosen to be this month's blog partner for Chinook Jewelry! I received a pretty heart charm and a flowery pendant. I immediately envisioned a necklace for the flower pendant and a bracelet for the heart charm. The necklace took quite awhile to create because I kept changing it, but I am happy with the final result. I like the color combination, although it was a bit out of my comfort zone. The color palette gives it an ethnic feel.

I used copper wire, dragon's blood jasper ovals, purple recycled glass rounds, fuchsia pearls, a copper filigree bead, purple faceted Czech rondelles, yellow opal rice beads, copper chain, a green faceted clay bead and a disc shaped clay bead from Spirited Earth, and the flower pendant from Chinook Jewelry.

Detail of pendant by Chinook Jewelry

Detail of hand forged copper hook clasp

The second design I made was quick and easy. I was glad it came together pretty effortlessly. I really like the colors too.

I used faceted cherry quartz ovals, another clay faceted round by Spirited Earth, pink and blue seed beads, vintage speckled porcelain rounds, blue pearly glass discs, sterling silver toggle and the flower/heart charm from Chinook Jewelry.

Detail of heart charm by Chinook Jewelry

I am not sure who the other blog partners are, so you will have to visit Mellisa's blog to find out. It was an honor to be a blog partner, and I really enjoyed designing with these great components. Be sure to check out Chinook Jewelry for some awesome  ceramic pendants and artisan jewelry!