Have you ever wondered about how an artist or crafter came up with a design, how he/she built it or the inspiration for a piece? If you have, you are in luck today because October's topic for the SATeam blog carnival is "how it came to be".
What is a blog carnival? It is when several team members write and post about the same topic at the same time.
Follow the links below to find out more about how these artists' creations came into being.
Lynne from Island Girl
Sylvia from Galadryl
Bonnie from The FamiLee Jewels
Julie (that's me) from Northern Girl Jewelry
Don't forget - the SATeam Wrist Candy Holiday Giveaway is on! You can win a fabulous flower themed charm bracelet if you enter by November 28th! Click here for more info!
Featuring artisan handmade creations by the Etsy Starving Artists jewelry team. SATeam members create handcrafted jewelry and beads. More information about our team and its current Etsy shop owner members can be found at SATEAM.etsy.com.
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Special Offers - Discounts and Free Gifts
The members of the Starving Artists Team love the holiday season. Some of the team members have collaborated to create this luscious flower-themed charm bracelet for the 2nd Annual SATeam Wrist Candy Holiday Giveaway.
As a special "thank you", everyone who makes a purchase from one of the participating shops by November 28th will be automatically entered into the draw to win this beauty.
A complete list of participating shops and all the details are available here.
In addition to the bracelet giveaway, several members have special offers that will make you holiday shopping easier.
Discounts
These shops are offering 10% off everything in their shops until November 28th.
Galadryl
Cat's Wire
Kadydid
Rambling Rose
Gift with Purchase
For a little something extra with your purchase, visit these shops.
C My Designs (free polishing cloth with purchase)
The FamiLee Jewels (free gift on orders of $40 or more)
If there is someone on your shopping list that loves jewelry, the SATeam members might have just what you seek. Happy shopping!
Featuring artisan handmade creations by the Etsy Starving Artists jewelry team. SATeam members create handcrafted jewelry and beads. More information about our team and its current Etsy shop owner members can be found at SATEAM.etsy.com.
Friday, October 29, 2010
Topaz
Meet topaz, a many-colored and often treated beauty. Hardness is excellent, but it's perfect cleavage demands some care in wearing. A sharp blow can cause your topaz to break quite cleanly in two.
Most topaz used in jewelry occurs naturally in yellow and colorless. Natural blues and pinks occur with extreme rarity. Most blues and pinks are the result of heat and radiation. In 2007, much of the blue topaz was pulled from the market when some of the material enterng the United States was found to be mildly radioactive. Since then, regulations have been put into place to monitor irradiated gemstones.
"Smokey Topaz" is actually quartz.
Imperial topaz is an amazing reddish gold color. One of my teachers at GIA was especially passionate about this, as many gem dealers will stick the descriptor "Imperial" on any slightly pinkish yellow topaz to make it sound more exotic. He took us to a museum to show us what Imperial Topaz really is. It resides in a vault within the museum.
Another way to fancy up the plentiful and inexpensive colorless topaz is to coat the pavilion with various substances. This includes Mystic Topaz and others with similar names and unnatural rainbow effects. The coating is fragile so be careful when cleaning.
For your drooling pleasure, I give you some selections from our talented Starving Artists:
From the hands of 2BellesBeads:
From jeweledblossoms:
From the bench of TJRjewellery:
Most topaz used in jewelry occurs naturally in yellow and colorless. Natural blues and pinks occur with extreme rarity. Most blues and pinks are the result of heat and radiation. In 2007, much of the blue topaz was pulled from the market when some of the material enterng the United States was found to be mildly radioactive. Since then, regulations have been put into place to monitor irradiated gemstones.
"Smokey Topaz" is actually quartz.
Imperial topaz is an amazing reddish gold color. One of my teachers at GIA was especially passionate about this, as many gem dealers will stick the descriptor "Imperial" on any slightly pinkish yellow topaz to make it sound more exotic. He took us to a museum to show us what Imperial Topaz really is. It resides in a vault within the museum.
Another way to fancy up the plentiful and inexpensive colorless topaz is to coat the pavilion with various substances. This includes Mystic Topaz and others with similar names and unnatural rainbow effects. The coating is fragile so be careful when cleaning.
For your drooling pleasure, I give you some selections from our talented Starving Artists:
From the hands of 2BellesBeads:
From jeweledblossoms:
From the bench of TJRjewellery:
Don't forget - the SATeam Wrist Candy Holiday Giveaway is on! You can win a fabulous charm bracelet if you enter by November 28th! Click here for more info!
Featuring artisan handmade creations by the Etsy Starving Artists jewelry team. SATeam members create handcrafted jewelry and beads. More information about our team and its current Etsy shop owner members can be found at SATEAM.etsy.com.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
October Challenge 2010
Written by Bonnie from The FamiLee Jewels
The October Challenge topic was inspired by the Starving Jewelry Artists' recent Ugly Bead Challenge and the September Blog Carnival topic about Recycling.
We were tasked to take a piece of jewelry that we were not satisfied with and to give it a makeover. The purpose of the challenge is not to have a competition and declare winners, but to stretch our imaginations and design abilities, making us think in new directions.
Take a look at the lovely new Swans that we have rescued from obscurity.
Galadryl was the first to post.
The October Challenge topic was inspired by the Starving Jewelry Artists' recent Ugly Bead Challenge and the September Blog Carnival topic about Recycling.
We were tasked to take a piece of jewelry that we were not satisfied with and to give it a makeover. The purpose of the challenge is not to have a competition and declare winners, but to stretch our imaginations and design abilities, making us think in new directions.
Take a look at the lovely new Swans that we have rescued from obscurity.
Galadryl was the first to post.
Her before was beautiful but unable to be reused because of the customization.
She turned it into an amazing Viking pendant to keep for herself.
Way to go Sylvia. Your makeover is complete.
Danagonia took a soldered leaf necklace 
and enhanced its beauty with the addition of a sheet metal leaf background and faceted emerald beads.
She has created a stand out necklace full of texture and visual interest.
Thanks for playing Camilla your work is always a delight to see.
The project from The FamiLee Jewels collection was one that has bothered me for a while.
It was an ocean themed necklace from early in my wire wrapping experience.
It has been separated into 2 necklaces, each one enhanced with the addition of beads and silver.
Paint by Faith jumped aboard with a very interesting transformation.
She chose part of a pendant from her scrap bucket which was ruined by overheating, and fixed it with more fire.
I think she has discovered a new technique because the result is fabulous.
VioletMoon played with earrings, turning this glitzy and glam pair into classic beauties.
Beautiful work Carina.
J3Jewelry didn't enter this piece into the competition but it was such a transformation that I pulled it out of her thread.
A commission piece wasn't going well for her so she sought advice on the forum. Look what that collaboration created.
Jeanne is happy and the client loves it. Win for everyone.
I hope everyone had a wonderful month full of creativity and inspiration. Will you consider playing along for the November exercise?
Don't forget - the SATeam Wrist Candy Holiday Giveaway is on! You can win a fabulous charm bracelet if you enter by November 28th! Click here for more info!
Featuring artisan handmade creations by the Etsy Starving Artists jewelry team. SATeam members create handcrafted jewelry and beads. More information about our team and its current Etsy shop owner members can be found at SATEAM.etsy.com.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Lampwork for Wrist Candy!
Are you drawn in by the gorgeous allure of lampwork glass? Check out these SATeam listings for handmade lampwork beads and lampwork-centric jewelry! Now featuring SATeam Wrist Candy Holiday Giveaway participating shops!
Want individual lampwork beads? We've got you covered!
How about jewelry incorporating lampwork beads? Check out these gorgeous pieces:
Don't forget - the SATeam Wrist Candy Holiday Giveaway is on! You can win a fabulous charm bracelet if you enter by November 28th! Click here for more info!
The SATeam blog features artisan handmade creations by the Etsy Starving Jewelry Artists team. SATeam members create handcrafted jewelry and beads. More information about our team and its current Etsy shop members can be found at SATEAM.etsy.com
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Yesterday or The circle of life
"“My poor flowers are quite dead,” said little Ida, “they were so pretty yesterday evening, and now all the leaves are hanging down quite withered. What do they do that for,” she asked, of the student who sat on the sofa; she liked him very much, he could tell the most amusing stories, and cut out the prettiest pictures; hearts, and ladies dancing, castles with doors that opened, as well as flowers; he was a delightful student. “Why do the flowers look so faded to-day?” she asked again, and pointed to her nosegay, which was quite withered.
By Cat's Wire
The SATeam blog features artisan handmade creations by the etsy starving artists jewelry team. SATeam members create handcrafted jewelry and beads. More information about our team and its current etsy shop owner members can be found at SATEAM.etsy.com.
Don't forget - it's the SATeam Wrist Candy Holiday Giveaway and you can win a fabulous charm bracelet (with flower charms! ;-)) if you enter until November 28th!
Click here for more info!
“Don’t you know what is the matter with them?” said the student. “The flowers were at a ball last night, and therefore, it is no wonder they hang their heads.”
“But flowers cannot dance?” cried little Ida.
“Yes indeed, they can,” replied the student. “When it grows dark, and everybody is asleep, they jump about quite merrily. They have a ball almost every night.”"
This is the beginning of Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale "Little Ida's Flowers". I love Andersen's tales. They speak of love, death, triviality, life, and this is one of my favorites. In case you don't know the tale - Ida watches the flowers dance at night and hears them telling her doll Sophy who attends the ball as well that they want to be buried in the garden, so they can wake up next summer and be more beautiful than ever. Sophy fails to give the message, but Ida remembers it, makes a little coffin from a paper box and goes out to bury the flowers together with her two cousins who give them the last tribute by firing their crossbows over the grave.
I have found flowers that won't wither in some team shops. They will dance with you, during the day or at night ... enjoy them.
Real daisy necklace - ivory/sterling silver/apatite by MC Stoneworks
Daisy chain earrings by C-My Designs
Double flower power Sterling ring by Meredith Hilt Designs
A very special thank you goes to Judy Stalus Photographs. Her beautiful photograph called "Yesterday" actually inspired me for this post.
By Cat's Wire
The SATeam blog features artisan handmade creations by the etsy starving artists jewelry team. SATeam members create handcrafted jewelry and beads. More information about our team and its current etsy shop owner members can be found at SATEAM.etsy.com.
Don't forget - it's the SATeam Wrist Candy Holiday Giveaway and you can win a fabulous charm bracelet (with flower charms! ;-)) if you enter until November 28th!
Click here for more info!
Monday, October 25, 2010
Interview with the artist - Jewlie Beads
By N Valentine Studio
Featured artist - Julie Sigmund from Jewlie Beads, Mount Olive, NC
Julie is a very talented artist, one of my favorites. She's a skilled tutorial writer as well! I wown a couple pair of her earrings and they are by far my favorite pieces of jewelry. Perfect wire wrapping and unique styles make them eye catchers whenever I wear them!
Just look at these.
How long have you been working in your medium?
I've been wire wrapping and lampworking just over 4 years now.
What drew you to this medium?
I had started lampworking first and I had a small handful of beads that I was proud of at the time. I had several pieces in different jewelry magazines that were put together using wire and that's when I created my first piece. I've been hooked ever since!
What is your favorite thing about your art?
Wire wrapping is full of surprises and I love surprises! I may have one idea in mind and end up with something totally different than expected when I'm finished.
What's your favorite piece?
I have many favorites and it's hard to pick out just one or two.
What's the hardest piece you've ever made?
My "Dragonfly Pendant"! I love dragonflies and I was determined to make a pendant with a dragonfly in my design. It took me several weeks to come up with a design that would work and lots of wasted wire before my pendant was complete. I still find poor little wire wrapped dragonflies in my scrap wire box that didn't make it. LOL!
What's the one favorite tool you cannot live without?
My "Hot Head" torch! I use my torch all the time when I'm creating something new. I fuse, lampwork and soften heavy gauge wire with it and I don't think I could live without it!
What's your favorite thing about your workspace or studio?
My favorite thing about my workspace is that it's at my home! I can work anytime of day or night and I love that.
I'm in the process of having a new studio in my husband's large shop. It will still be at my home, but away from all the distractions that my current space has and it will have more space for me to be more organized. I'm totally excited!
Who or what inspires you?
I find inspiration all over! I get inspiration from other artists, my natural surroundings, colors or patterns on fabrics, but one of my favorites is finding inspiration while walking my dogs. I'm fortunate to be surrounded by beautiful woods and lots of nature!
What's your favorite inspirational saying?
If you can dream it, you can do it. Walt Disney.
What's one thing you've never done you always wanted to do?
I would love to travel the world!
Don't forget - it's the SATeam Wrist Candy Holiday Giveaway and you can win a fabulous charm bracelet if you enter until November 28th!
Click here for more info!
The SATeam blog features artisan handmade creations by the etsy starving artists jewelry team. SATeam members create handcrafted jewelry and beads. More information about our team and its current etsy shop owner members can be found at SATEAM.etsy.com.
Featured artist - Julie Sigmund from Jewlie Beads, Mount Olive, NC
Julie is a very talented artist, one of my favorites. She's a skilled tutorial writer as well! I wown a couple pair of her earrings and they are by far my favorite pieces of jewelry. Perfect wire wrapping and unique styles make them eye catchers whenever I wear them!
Just look at these.
How long have you been working in your medium?
I've been wire wrapping and lampworking just over 4 years now.
What drew you to this medium?
I had started lampworking first and I had a small handful of beads that I was proud of at the time. I had several pieces in different jewelry magazines that were put together using wire and that's when I created my first piece. I've been hooked ever since!
What is your favorite thing about your art?
Wire wrapping is full of surprises and I love surprises! I may have one idea in mind and end up with something totally different than expected when I'm finished.
What's your favorite piece?
I have many favorites and it's hard to pick out just one or two.
What's the hardest piece you've ever made?
My "Dragonfly Pendant"! I love dragonflies and I was determined to make a pendant with a dragonfly in my design. It took me several weeks to come up with a design that would work and lots of wasted wire before my pendant was complete. I still find poor little wire wrapped dragonflies in my scrap wire box that didn't make it. LOL!
What's the one favorite tool you cannot live without?
My "Hot Head" torch! I use my torch all the time when I'm creating something new. I fuse, lampwork and soften heavy gauge wire with it and I don't think I could live without it!
What's your favorite thing about your workspace or studio?
My favorite thing about my workspace is that it's at my home! I can work anytime of day or night and I love that.
I'm in the process of having a new studio in my husband's large shop. It will still be at my home, but away from all the distractions that my current space has and it will have more space for me to be more organized. I'm totally excited!
Who or what inspires you?
I find inspiration all over! I get inspiration from other artists, my natural surroundings, colors or patterns on fabrics, but one of my favorites is finding inspiration while walking my dogs. I'm fortunate to be surrounded by beautiful woods and lots of nature!
What's your favorite inspirational saying?
If you can dream it, you can do it. Walt Disney.
What's one thing you've never done you always wanted to do?
I would love to travel the world!
Don't forget - it's the SATeam Wrist Candy Holiday Giveaway and you can win a fabulous charm bracelet if you enter until November 28th!
Click here for more info!
The SATeam blog features artisan handmade creations by the etsy starving artists jewelry team. SATeam members create handcrafted jewelry and beads. More information about our team and its current etsy shop owner members can be found at SATEAM.etsy.com.
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Tourmaline - Rainbow Gemstone
Tourmaline is the birthstone for October. I think those born in this month are perhaps the luckiest when it comes to their birthstone as it is available in such a wide range of colours. Someone born in October can pick almost any colour for his/her stone.
Tourmaline Cabochons
Ancient Egyptian lore says that as tourmaline travelled up from the middle of the earth toward the sun, it travelled along a rainbow and collected all the colours of the rainbow.
Rubellite Tourmaline Crystals
Tourmaline does come in a rainbow of colours – blue, green, yellow, pink, red, reddish purple, black, brown and clear. But what makes tourmaline so special is that different colours are often present in the same crystal. So tourmaline can be bi-coloured, tri-coloured, even multi-coloured. These incredible colour variations have made tourmaline an incredibly popular gemstone for jewelry makers and jewelry buyers.
Tri-coloured Tourmaline CrystalsThe value of tourmaline varies greatly and depends on the quality of the colour of the stone. The most expensive tourmalines are the Paraiba tourmalines (bright neon blue), indicolite tourmaline (blue), verdelite tourmaline (green) and rubellite tourmaline (pink to red).
Faceted Indicolite Tourmaline Gemstone
Tourmaline also has an interesting physical characteristic. If heated, rubbed or pressurized, a tourmaline crystal will become electrically charged, causing it to attract small objects such as dust, hair, fluff and dirt. This results in the need to clean tourmaline more often that most gemstones.
Tourmaline is often heat treated to enhance the colour. Blue tourmaline crystals are treated to lighten the colour while low grade pink and red ones are treated to intensify their colour.
Members of the Starving Artists Team also like working with tourmaline.
Featuring artisan handmade creations by the Etsy Starving Artists jewelry team. SATeam members create handcrafted jewelry and beads. More information about our team and its current Etsy shop owner members can be found at SATEAM.etsy.com.
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Special Offers - Free Shipping
We had our first snowfall of the season last night. It was a light one, and the snow has already melted, but it had me looking at the calendar a bit more closely. This had me realize that (gulp!) Christmas is only 2 months away!
Perhaps you are the type of person that is super organized and that had her holiday shopping complete by August. If you are, I am impressed and envious. If, like me, you haven't started your holiday shopping yet, or even started to think about it, you might be starting to feel a bit of pressure...
The members of the Starving Artists Team want to help relieve a bit of that pressure. The members' shops are full of a variety of items that would make fabulous gifts. You can avoid the crowds in the stores and shop at whatever time is convenient for you. Plus, several shops are offering free shipping! What more can you ask? Well, how about the opportunity to win this gorgeous, decadent charm bracelet?
Featuring artisan handmade creations by the Etsy Starving Artists Jewelry team. SATeam members create handcrafted jewelry and beads. More information about our team and its current etsy shop owner members can be found at SATEAM.etsy.com.
Perhaps you are the type of person that is super organized and that had her holiday shopping complete by August. If you are, I am impressed and envious. If, like me, you haven't started your holiday shopping yet, or even started to think about it, you might be starting to feel a bit of pressure...
The members of the Starving Artists Team want to help relieve a bit of that pressure. The members' shops are full of a variety of items that would make fabulous gifts. You can avoid the crowds in the stores and shop at whatever time is convenient for you. Plus, several shops are offering free shipping! What more can you ask? Well, how about the opportunity to win this gorgeous, decadent charm bracelet?
Yes, if you make a purchase in any of the participating shops by November 28th, you will automatically be entered into the draw to win this beautiful bracelet. It's our 2nd Annual SATeam Wrist Candy Holiday Giveaway. You can see here for all the details and the complete list of participating shops.
I know, I know, you are still wondering about that free shipping offer. Afterall, who doesn't love free shipping?
Here are the shops that have free shipping until November 28th as part of the SATeam Wrist Candy Holiday Giveaway.
Bead Sire
MC Stoneworks
Northern Girl Jewelry
Bead Origami
Mme Magpie (free shipping on orders over $20)
Melissa Beads
For You Designs
Twining Vine Designs
RFefie
Nicole Hill
Bead Up a Storm
Kadydid
Rambling Rose
MilenaS (free shipping on orders over $30)
Danagonia
Alegria Designs
The FamiLee Jewels
Featuring artisan handmade creations by the Etsy Starving Artists Jewelry team. SATeam members create handcrafted jewelry and beads. More information about our team and its current etsy shop owner members can be found at SATEAM.etsy.com.
Friday, October 22, 2010
Chrome Diopside
Who here likes green?
Memememememe!
Here's something deliciously green, consistently eye clean and affordable: chrome diposide. Sure doesn't sound sexy, but once you get past the name you'll discover a gem that can rival green garnets for color.
Chrome diopside is relatively soft, like apatite, and somewhat brittle. For longevity, limit use to earrings, pendants, and other objects that get gentle wear.
Diopside commonly occurs in kimberlite, so diamond prospectors use it as an indicator mineral when hunting.
Here's a selection of jewelry featuring this amazing gem:
Little Gems: 4mm Chrome Diopside
Envy
Become
Memememememe!
Here's something deliciously green, consistently eye clean and affordable: chrome diposide. Sure doesn't sound sexy, but once you get past the name you'll discover a gem that can rival green garnets for color.
Chrome diopside is relatively soft, like apatite, and somewhat brittle. For longevity, limit use to earrings, pendants, and other objects that get gentle wear.
Diopside commonly occurs in kimberlite, so diamond prospectors use it as an indicator mineral when hunting.
Here's a selection of jewelry featuring this amazing gem:
Little Gems: 4mm Chrome Diopside
Envy
Become
Don't forget - the SATeam Wrist Candy Holiday Giveaway is on! You can win a fabulous charm bracelet if you enter by November 28th! Click here for more info!
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