Where does the time go? My thoughts late last night...

Last night I was thinking about the events of the week and saying prayers for the families in Oklahoma.
I found it hard to go to sleep and decided to catch up on my blog and realized a whole month has gone by so quickly. What am I saying this whole year is flying by. My goodness it is Memorial day weekend.  I never quite believe how fast each year seems to fly by like are all in a crazy race for time.

This spring Mike and I have been spending every possible working hour on our jewelry business from every angle this year. It seems there are so many more parts than just design. The list is long, and I makes jokes our lists have lists.  I dream of a day when we could get some help. For now we wear every hat, sometimes more than one at a time.

Our current task is preparing for our first big show this year....

We will be in Novato Art and Wine in Marin County for the first time June 8-9 along with our newest collections and we have quite a few new changes to our booth which evolves every year.

Mike is designing jewelry......

He will be introducing a brand new collection of hand forged bracelets and bronze clay PMC earrings that are stunning. He designs everything beginning with an original sketch, molds and sculpts  the metal clay into the design, fires it and adds his special touches to these amazing pieces. He is meticulous in the details and it shows in beautiful wearable art. Look for new pieces in his hand forged sterling and copper earrings collection which he introduced last show season.

My new collections include, beach, nature and boho chic .....

New designs include short casual necklaces,  longer necklaces, chunky bracelets, several different styles of earrings with lots of color choices. Most everything features art beads from talented American
artists who have become my friends.  Lots of coordinating pieces, all ready for the perfect outfit. You will see all sorts of mixed metals and fibers that bring my beads to life.  A collection of water color patina-ed metals I am very happy with and made into colorful casual necklaces and earrings.

Our new website....

Mike  has also been working on our new website we plan to launch in the next week or so. The idea is a website "Designs in the Light" with each of us featuring our collections as a husband and wife design team.  We will share our journey in at this stage of our lives as working artists. We have been lucky enough to work together on and off most of our married life. We have each brought our unique inspiration and gifts to several other businesses including, interior design, fashion photography, and our family construction company.

The website will feature Mikes jewelry collections and possibly some of his photography. I will eventually include my published designs and some more complex art beads pieces on this site. I am planning to maintain my Etsy site pretty much as it is, always listing new designs in each week.

Please keep an eye out for the launch of our new website at www.designsinthelight.co

and also the new address for this blog will be linked back from that site. Stop by my shop and see whats new and as always please leave me a comment. I love to hear from you. 

My new Watercolor Collection

My inspiration comes from reflecting back 10 years ago to my painting days.  

I dabbled in impressionist style painting. My medium was acrylic on canvas. I loved this style because I was not skilled at detail. I could use my brushes to create landscapes that were inspired by some of the pages in my art books mainly Monet. I was able to let myself go into my own little world. I took some classes and by the end I created this painting that hangs in my studio.  Most of my work was inspired by photographs but this one came from of my imagination after yearly trips to the beautiful state of Tennessee. I used to pack my paints and spent hours at my in laws cottage deck painting. I love the colors in this one. Someday I would love to pick up a brush and canvas again but for now all of my art is in learning techniques and designing artisan jewelry.

I was first introduced to altered metals by my friend Amanda Austin. For a little over a year or so I have worked to find  my own style of altered and embossed metals, brass and copper, embossing, inks and patina's. I have been playing and here is a sneak peak at several of my designs. If you caught my Bead Soup blog post I mentioned I had one necklace I was not including. I think I needed another reason to invite you back.

                       Notice the beaded link? 

This necklace was designed with these metals, patina chain, the magnesite wire wrapped link my Bead Soup partner Tania Spivey sent me, lamp work drop and sari silk in two pretty colors. It's hard to capture it perfectly but it is a peachy orange and teal. 

 I love the way these are turning out so watch for more of these designs in my Etsy shop. 

If you live in the Bay area of Northern California you can find many of these designs at the fabulous new ladies boutique, In the Mix. They feature the most amazing collection of ladies fashion, jewelry and accessories. Darci  and Judy can help you put an outfit together for any occasion. 

In the Mix also carries En La Lumie're collections featuring my handcrafted embossed metals, and 

artisan lamp work earrings and summer bracelets.  We also offer custom services if you don't see the perfect design for your new In the Mix ensemble. Be sure and check it out. 

"In the Mix"  at 11 Town Square, Downtown Vacaville

Our shows will be starting up soon and you can see our designs on May 4th,  just one week before Mothers Day at 

Trezhers Gifts at their Spring Stop and Shop event. 10 am to 4 pm at 3214 Riverside Blvd. Sacramento CA 

Our next two day weekend show will be at Novato Art and Wine June 8th and 9th. More about this show later. 

Thanks for stopping by an as always I love hearing your comments. 

You can find some of these designs in my Etsy shop at www.enlalumiere.etsy.com

It's Bead Trends time again!!

April Bead Trends 2013.............

This is an exiting month for me to share with you. My friend Marie Noel Voyer-Cramp has a beautiful bracelet on the cover this month. "Early Night Sky" is a perfect for spring and Easter.  She chose beads from one of our favorite bead makers, Gaea, and a handmade clasp I would love a closer look at from the very talented designer Leslie Watt. 

April 2013 Bead Trends

Marie, has faced one of the toughest challenges this year in fighting breast cancer. She has 4 beautiful children and everything to live for, as her fight continues this is a wonderful way to celebrate the completion of her therapy. 

Marie and Amanda Cargil Austin encouraged me to submit to Bead Trends several years ago and it has been very special for all of us to see our designs featured in this magazine. Making the cover is a thrill all three of us have experienced. Congratulations Marie, this was a very special month for you. 

My friend Kristin Oppold is the featured Designer Highlight on pages 49-63. Kristin has an amazing design style. She has a way with taking you on a journey with her textures and pieces of stone and other components.  Its fair to say she will capture your imagination. Her work has recently made the television series "The Vampire Diaries".  I think my favorite this month is "Beach Urchin" on page 50-51. Read all about Kristin and check her shop out at YaY jewelry on Etsy. Love that name, YaY!! Kristin lost her mom this past year to cancer and I know she is smiling down on your success my friend. 

Cindy Cima Edwards "Turquoise dream" on page 76-77.  My favorite summer color combo. I love the toggle on this one. Cindy has been featured  in every spring beading magazine I have seen this year. Congratulations to Cindy, that is quite an accomplishment!! 
Patti Pruhs " Ooh LaLa...Paris, p. 78-79 a great little romantic Paris necklace. Patti is a new designer to me. 
Kari Asbury "Woodland Daisies p. 88-89 This is a neat treatment with the daisy connector. 
Wench Brennbakk "Golden Crystals" p. 112- 113. This one has the wow factor. Very elegant, and a gorgeous clasp. 

My design this month 

Rushing Spring River

My Rushing Spring River on page 14-15 was photographed really beautifully this month. A special thank you to the staff at Bead Trends for always making our designs shine. 

The pendant cobalt, teal and peach leaves in the water. This is designed by the very talented Lisa Boucher of Clayworks NH on Etsy. I believe this is my 2nd Bead Trends design featuring Lisa's pendant. I accented this piece with ceramic beads by Gaea, and Golem designs. Miss Fickle Media patina ring for the focal, chain and the toggle clasp. Many of you know I love working with art beads and components and these lovely ladies, well they inspire me and my designs every day.  

I also love being inspired by nature. Naming my jewelry does not always come easy to me. The name for this necklace came as I designed around this pendant and thought of our childhood trips to the mountains in southern CA and crisp rivers rushing by from the snow melt. 

Mark your calendar for Saturday March 13th. I am participating in Lori Anderson's 7th Bead Soup Blog Party. I received a large soup mix from my partner Tania Spivey and I designed a whole collection over the course of the last month. I am excited to share with you how many ways I became inspired by just keeping the ingredients in a little tray right beside my work area. I added many of my own beads and it was an interesting process so please stop by and comment. Everything will be listed in my shop that  Saturday as well. 

There will be all sorts of inspiration with a list of all the other artists blogs to visit. So grab your beverage of choice and join us. 

Thanks so much for stopping by, I always love your comments and I know how busy we all can be so it means a lot to me. This necklace will be listed in my shop soon. I have been busy working on several collections for my shop and summer shows and will be listing many new items in the coming weeks. So many ideas so many hours in the day.....