design

Idea for a new goddess sculpture

ShebaMakeda Leave a comment

kali goddess2

Working on designing another (4th) goddess sculpture… I drew this on my new Wacom Bamboo drawing tablet which is SO MUCH FUN!! Not sure that I’m in love with this colour combo but it’s a happy start. I still need to design the base and a topper but so far, so good. I think by the time it’s done it should be around 8-10″ high.

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I was only sketching on paper before which was a pain since i kept changing my mind and then had to start all over again from scratch each time the idea changed… not to mention the random bits of drawn on paper trailing around the house. Digital design is definitely the way to go!

I made this clay prototype first to work out the basic size and shapes.  It’s been travelling around the house with me and has been reworked about four or five times.

Now to work on refining the colour scheme.  Next will be picking out the glass colours, checking for compatibility and then making some actual test pieces in glass – that’s the fun part!

I’ve also updated this blog’s template… what do you think?

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6th BeadSoup Blog party results!!

ShebaMakeda 37 Comments

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Once again, I’m thrilled to be part of Lori Anderson’s 6th BeadSoup Blog Party where 400 beadmakers and jewellery designers from around the world exchange blind packages to spur their creativity.  This time around my partner is Joanna Matuszczyk, a jewellery designer from Poland. This is the bead soup she sent me:

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Quite the lovely variety, huh?  I love the well-coordinated mix of all the different textures and shapes plus it’s in my favourite colour too – PURPLE!!  I’ve never worked with materials like bamboo, ribbon, copper or fabric beads (except the glass beads/gemstones), so it really took me out of my comfort zone.  Now, I tried to use everything but honestly I just could not figure out how to work those felted butterflies in… i think they will have to be separate piece… maybe a fun dangly necklace on a silver chain? We’ll see…

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First thing i decided was that i was going to use ALL of those lovely ribbons – it was such a perfect mix of colours, plus i couldn’t resist the lush effect.  Then i turned the ceramic button into the clasp and knotted the loop created from doubling the ribbon strands into the catch with a few copper jump rings (which i made!) to keep the strands in place.  Then, i lightened the edge of the bamboo tube to match the ribbons and wrapped it first with the brown crocheted ribbon (incredibly cool and retro) then with masses of copper wire to create a hook for the dangly mix of glass and gemstones.  Final touch was stuffing the knitted balls into the bamboo tube to create a fun and unusual focal.

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I’m pretty happy with this necklace, especially since when i first received the package, i had absolutely NO idea what to do with all that ribbon nor the fabric beads.  But then… that’s the point of the BSBP – to get us all to experiment with materials we normally never or rarely use and discover some new ways to invigorate our own designs… and of course to have FUN!!  

OK… I’m off to check out the other Bead Soups, grab a cup of tea and join me!  There were three reveals this time around (i’m in the 3rd)  – you can find them all here (or by clicking the picture below): http://lorianderson-beadsoupblogparty.blogspot.ca/2012/06/participants-of-6th-bead-soup-blog-party.html

BeadSoup Blog Party Results!!

ShebaMakeda 36 Comments

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I was lucky enough to be selected as one of the bloggers to participate in Lori Anderson‘s January 2012 edition of her BeadSoup Blog Party – essentially a jewellery exchange where beadmakers and jewellery designers from around the world exchange a kit of beads and must design a piece based on the kit they receive. I was partnered with Gaea Cannaday, a ceramic artist from California. We have no idea what we will receive so it’s all about working outside your comfort zone and having a bit of fun along the way.

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This is what i received (forgot to take a pic before making the necklace) – a wonderful square heart focal in soft red with some coordinating accent beads which i have yet to figure out how to use – a bracelet or earrings maybe? The ceramic beads are all made my Gaea herself and I think the copper clasp as well. I’d never worked with ceramics before so at first i was perplexed.  I considered making some coordinating beads of my own to match and was testing various colours before finally deciding NO, they would compete and it was best to design a piece that really showcased the rich colours and textures in her beads on their own.

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Soooo… i went digging through my gemstone stash to see what i could find.  At first i was leaning toward some aquamarine but in the end decided on these serpentine jade tubes with red coral and deep gold glass accents.  This necklace is so fresh and spring-like, i’m quite happy with the result!  The pale green jade really makes the coral and the glaze on the heart pop…  i love red, it’s like an instant pick me up during this long dreary winter.

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Here’s what i sent in for the exchange – an earthy goddess, a couple matching accent beads, some agate and citrine nuggets, freshwater pearls and a clasp made from shells. Unfortunately, I had one shipping snafu after another so Gaea didn’t have much time to design her pieces but i think she did a pretty stellar job – you can check out her BeadSoup post HERE to see what she did with my beads.  Can’t wait to see how she finishes one of the oval tabs she’s bezeled in copper to create a pendant…

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This is the fifth BeadSoup hosted by Lori and i can’t even imagine how much work it is to coordinate details for such a large group, so just wanted to say:  THANKS LORI!

You can check out the full list 200 participants below – grab some tea and a comfy seat, it takes a while.Image

Hostess, Lori Anderson

1.  Adlinah Kamsir (Singapore) and Hajer Waheed (Kingdom of Bahrain)
2. Adrienn Lukacs (Hungary) and Agata Grygiel (Poland)
3.  Agi Kiss (Hungary) and Carolien Muller-Genger (the Netherlands)
4.  Agnes Asztalos (Hungary) and B.R. Kuhlman
7.  Alicia Marinache (Canada) and Dita Basu
15.  Bonnie Coursolle (Canada) and Fay Wolfenden (Canada)
16.  Carmel McGinley (Australia) and Tracy Stillman (Australia)
 
21.  Cheryl Brown (Canada) and Diana Ptaszynski
22.  Christina Stofmeel (the Netherlands) and Eva Kovacs (Hungary)
24.  Cilla Watkins (Canada) and Elaine Robitaille (Canada)
25.  Sabrina Straub (Switzerland) and Kathy Combs
32.  Dee Elgie (UK) and Joanne Lockwood (UK)
33.  Dian Hierschel (Germany) and Eniko Fabian (Austria)
34.  Diane Cook and Lyn Foley
37.  Doris Stumpf (Germany) and Eszter Czibulyas (Hungary)
39.  Elke Leonhardt-Rath (Germany) and Marjolein Trewavas (UK)
41.  Erika Nooteboom (the Netherlands) and Giorgia Rossini (Italy)
42.  Erin Grant and Jean Wells
43.  Evelyn Duberry (Canada) and Gaea Cannaday  (you are here)
45.  Ginger Bishop (military, Okinawa) and Martina Nagele (Germany)
48.  Helene Goldberg (Australia) and Karen Vincent
54.  Joanna Matuszczyk (Poland) and Julianna Kis (Hungary)
55.  Joanne Tinley (UK) and Michaela Pabeschitz (Austria)
65.  Kristina Johansson (Sweden) and Penny Neville (Canada)
66.  Krisztina Erlaki-Toth (Hungary) and Nicole Keller (Germany)
76.  Lori Finney (Canada) and Marie-Noel Voyer-Cramp (Canada)
78.  Marta Kaczerowska (Poland) and Milla Starchik (Canada)
83.  Michelle Jensen and Sandra Young (Canada)
84.  Nan Emmett and Nicole Valentine-Rimmer (Canada)
89.  Rebecca Anderson (UK) and Lori Anderson
92.  Rosa Maria Cuevas (Mexico) and Tejae Floyde
93.  Sabine Dittrich (Germany) and Sally Russick
95.  Shanti Johnson and Tracy Mok (Canada)
97.  Sonya Stille and Traci Zeller (Canada)
98.  Stefanie Teufel (Germany) and Tania Hagen (New Zealand)

My first tutorial published in Soda Lime Times!

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chocolate covered strawberry

The tut is for a chocolate dipped strawberry glass bead –

i made a pile of these (and other glass truffles) as favours for a wedding last spring and demoed this bead at the Glass Shoppe Studio last September.  It received very positive feedback both times so i thought it might make a fun bead design to share  as well.

The tutorial will be published in the February 2012 issue of the Soda Lime Times, an e-zine for lampworkers.  If you’re a subscriber, you’ll receive your issue just after midnight tonite!

Try the tutorial let me know what you think!

chocolate dipped strawberry

wedding favours from last spring

The wedding gift was opened… shall we?

ShebaMakeda Leave a comment

IMG_2059Y’all remember the box right?

IMG_2081And the custom card?IMG_2080The keepsake box was decadently lined wth satin and crumpled tissue.  5689_225789180623_757255623_8229635_4669694_nEach bead came with its own organza storage bag…IMG_2063Both were wired as pendants with antiqued sterling silver findings… IMG_2070…the goddess decorated with freshwater pearls and the god with (the much more macho) hematite.  IMG_2067The pearls, hematite and glass used for their wings and armour are all beautifully irridescent – i wish it showed better in the photos… 5689_225789240623_757255623_8229639_3887945_nI also added removable antiqued chains to bind them together… 5689_225815765623_757255623_8230182_7566506_nIsn’t this a lovely picture?  This one too…IMG_2075And of course, most importantly… their reaction:

“Hi Evelyn, they were speechless and like WOW. They loved the gift.  They even thanked me 2 days later for such a unique gift, Marilyne noted that she loves and collects boxes so the packaging was great and the small skull on it Marilyne noticed right away. They said it was the the most unique thing they had ever seen. I think they were blown away by it and Shawn said, when you said you got crafted beads done, I just thought they would be traditional, this is WOW…WOW!”IMG_2042This was hands down one of the most enjoyable custom orders i have ever worked on – i had SO much fun both researching Goth culture and designing the beads and getting the packaging made for the final order.  

Thanks for your patience everyone, and I hope you all enjoyed this little adventure as much as I did.