A great opportunity to play!!

This month I received an invitation to play....

This is what arrived in my mailbox. 

A collection of sea glass, 3 strands of crystals, glass pearls, and a pack of copper crabs and spacers. 

Play with these gorgeous cultured sea glass beads for an opportunity to be part of a design team for Znetshows.   In preparation for the Tucson show in February they are working with several designers to find finished jewelry featuring their sea glass, crystals, and glass pearls. Each designer is submitting the finished designs with the hopes of making the show. Their specialty is faux beach glass made out of recycled glass. There are all sorts of colors besides the ones I received and the possibilities are endless. 

The process is shown on their website and it is very interesting. www.znetshows.com

Like a kid in a candy store I immediately knew the color palette they sent me would be perfect for a tropical beach collection. Most everyone who knows me,  will know the beach is my favorite place on earth. It is funny because I am west coast beach girl having lived in CA and Oregon most of my life. These colors are a little more tropical and although I have never been to the Caribbean or Mexico 

 I can get into the mood given the right opportunity. 

I began with the earrings and designed three pair. 

The Earrings

 This lime green glass is accented with beaded chain in a jewel tone and a wire wrapped head pin drop by Havana Beads.

These two blue free form pieces are not perfectly shaped alike but that is the beauty of it. I added their crystal for bling with hammered Vintaj Brass ear wire.

This pair is a pretty aqua glass and the pearls they sent. I added a textured brass ring and a Patina-ed teal ring from Miss Fickle Media.

The Beach Bracelet

 This bracelet features a double strand with alternating crystals and Czech glass on one side. The other side has sea glass in several shapes, a lamp work glass bead from Havana Beads that adds sparkle and all the colors, and a lamp work bead my friend Amanda brought me from Tucson last year in a bright yellow and a aqua starfish in the same blue as the sea glass. I used the copper spacers they sent and a copper crab charm along with an amber bead and lamp work drop from Havana beads as charms. The handmade copper clasp is Miss Fickle Media and there is just a touch of copper chain.

Sunny Starfish Bracelet

The Necklaces

The necklaces include this sassy one with beach glass and 2 colors of crystals,  hand tied with waxed linen and a silk ribbon and is connected to wrap the neckline and be tied at the desired length. It can have the bow at the back or on the side of the neck showing from the front. 

 This one has a beautiful shell, it is hard to photograph the details, and daggers, and several pieces of sea glass in odd shapes. Two colors of crystals and a sage waxed  linen and  2 more Czech glass beads. 

I loved this fun little casual beach necklace.
It features 3 wave shaped pieces of beach glass in aqua, teal and blue for the focal and 2 aqua ovals for the connectors. I simply tied a hand washed patterned silk ribbon around the neckline and it can be tied through the ring at the desired length. Perfect for the beach!

This long sexy necklace is very special. I used many techniques in this piece. It features some amazing art beads, Czech glass and copper to show off the colors in the beach glass, pearls and crystals.

 I used two blue oval links and wire wrapped them. I alternated the direction of the wire wrapped ends and position is staggered in the necklace. I wire wrapped the glass pearls, I strung the crystals. I added a gorgeous green oval Czech glass I had been saving for the perfect piece, this is it! I used copper round link chain and a copper Miss Fickle Media toggle on the left side. I made a custom copper wire wrapped bale on a borosilicate glass bead from Sea Shore Glass. The lamp work glass flowers and leaves are wire wrapped and 3 more crystals add to the focal for sparkle.

You can find more information here. http://www.znetshows.com/gemshow/retail/sea_glass_beads.asp

If your lucky enough to go to Tucson be sure to stop by and see Bill. 

Tucson 2013 GLW Gem Mall Booth 1411 February 2-15 and see their newest cultured sea glass. 

I would love to hear from you, please leave comments and keep your fingers crossed some of my designs make the team. Thanks for stopping by. 

Please have a look at all the designers who participated. I am sure you will be ready to order the sea glass for yourself. 

Anitra - LeeLu Creations 

Becky - Becky Pancake Bead Designs

Bobbie - Beadsong Jewelry

 Charlie - Clay Space

Cherrie - En La Lumière

Christina - Wings N Scales

 Christine - Sweet Girl Design

 Cindy - Live to Design

Donetta - Simply Gorgeous

 Gretchen - Gretchen Nation Collection

Heather -  The Crafthopper

 Heidi - Heidi Kingman Jewelry

Hope - CraftyHope

Kay - KayzKreationz

Kelly - Traveling SideShow 

Klaudette -  Only Road

 Mimi - Beads, Baubles, Other Curiosities

Pam - Crazy Creative Corner 

Rachel - R. Baron Designs 

Sandi - Do Be Do Bead Do

Suzette - Ellie's Bijoux