The Low Down,....

The 'emotions' roller-coaster was in full swing last week. 

From sad things to happy things, here's a little run down and also a gesture of appreciation for you at the end of this post!

 

 

• A childhood friend was laid to rest.  (this was the sad/sucky part!)

RIP My Friend - See Ya On The Other Side!

• Had a bead magazine ask for an article from me for publication in 2013! (Woo-Hoo!!)
• Found out some various designs I submitted were accepted by a couple of bead magazines (double woo-hoo!)
• Saved a turtle who decided to venture out of 'lake-land' into the "asphalt jungle". (feel good kind of thing!)

 

He's cute, isn't he?!

 

• Created Jewelry to submit to more magazines and to put in a boutique. (fun part - but I can't show you anything yet!)
 
• Listened to the adventures the Hubby and Son had while camping this weekend: torrential rains, held baby horny toads, almost broke a bridge by crossing it, chased by a swarm of bees and stung (hubby!), hit a tree head on,...with his motorbike and his head (again - Hubby!), heard bears, found gorgeous crystals and fossilized shells, helped a stranded motorist, returned some one's lost phone, saw a gorgeous rainbow, and got pictures of none of the above! (they ARE the reason I have so many wrinkles and why I twirl my hair with both hands at the same time!! Actually - more Hubby than Son - Son's the responsible one!)

 

Partner's in Crime!

 

 

• Had an awesome massage!(Thanks Debbie!)
• Cleaned the house, did laundry, got groceries. (nothing new there!)
• Stopped by Creative U and got my Creative Fix (and some supplies!) and chatted with friends!

 

Hanging with Jen @ Creative U

 

• Filled orders and shipped stuff (thank you to all my wonderful clients - you rock!)

There's lots of other things too, but this is plenty to list for now!

 

I wanted to spread some love around by having a sale over on my MiShel Designs Etsy site from now until September 7th, 2012.  

 

 

 

 

 

When you use coupon code ENDOFSUMMER45 upon check out with Etsy, you will save 45% off your total order!

 

The reason I'm having a sale this huge is because I'm clearing out my inventory to make room for some new jewelry designs coming in October.

 

The other reason for the sale is that I'll be shutting down both of my shops from the 8th of September thru the 30th of September while I'm away on vacation (more details on that later next week!).

 

Hint: There's a Roman Aqueduct where I'm going!

 

The sale is only good in my MiShel Designs shop, not my Shel's Jewelry Supplies shop.(Sorry about that, but I've got my findings priced as low as I can possibly go right now.)

 

So, what kinds of things have been going on in your life lately?  Any stories to share?

I'm going to be having a little give-a-way, sharing some jewelry pics and putting up another little tutorial here on the blog this week.  (At least that's the plan anyway - wish me luck!)

So, stay tuned and have a great Monday!!
 

 

Until Next Time,

Peace, Love and Hair Twirling!

Cheers,

~Shel~

Jumping Through Hoops!

Hoop earrings are always in style and if you practice making several sizes and embellishing them in different ways, then you’ll always have this essential earring staple to complete your wardrobe no matter what the current trends may be.

Here's a simple tutorial for creating some basic hoop style earrings.

Flush cut two (2) pieces of 20g wire to your desired length. Your length will depend on how large or small you wish your hoops to be.  For these photos I cut two, 5 inch pieces of wire.

Make a simple loop on one end of each of your pieces of wire.

To form the hoop portion, you will need a mandrel.

This can be a fat marker, an actual ring mandrel, a nail polish bottle, a film canister or your looping or wrap-n-tap pliers.

Wrap each piece of wire  around the mandrel you've selected to form a round shape.

To keep the shape you’ve created, you will want to lightly tap each ear-hoop with your plastic or rawhide mallet, either on your bench block or while it’s around your mandrel.

Neither the plastic or rawhide mallet with flatten your wire, but it will work harden it enough so that your hoops will keep their shape.

Take your jewelry file and smooth out the straight part of the hoop.  This portion will go into your ear so you want to make sure it is smooth and won't scratch your ear.

Grasp the straight part of the wire you just filed with your chain nose pliers,  about 2 to 3 cm up, and bend it to a 90 angle to form the ‘hook’ that will fit into the loop portion of your hoops to close them.

Lay your hoops on your bench block and hammer the bottom of the hoop portion to flatten it a bit. This not only gives it some strength, but some style as well.

And, if you're planning on wire wrapping some lovely little gemstones or beads on to your hoops, this will help the wire from spinning around while you're wrapping!

And remember, your hoops don't have to be round.  Oval hoops are quite fun and stylish, too!

Now for the fun part! 

You can leave your hoops they way they are right now - simple and stylish - or you can embellish your hoops with bead dangles, wire wrap them with a different metal for a mixed metal look or you can wire wrap some fun beads on them to add color and texture.  

 

You can even wrap ribbons, leather or cord around them with wire or add charms or other beads for a truly unique and textured look!

Whatever you do, have fun and Hoop It Up!

Until Next Time,

Peace, Love and Hoopty-Do!!

Cheers,

~Shel~

Video Tutorials

Here's a question for everyone: 

What media do you use for your video tutorials?

Do you just have a flip share camera video you download or a regular camera on a tripod,...your computer camera?

What forms of video and editing do you find the easiest for you or the best as far as quality and funtions? 

I'm a complete techno-idiot,

so the word EASY really interests me. 

But, being a bit of an anal perfectionist

(not always a good thing!),

I want to make sure the quality is good enough

for people to see clearly.

I'm asking because I've had people tell me they would like to see a video tutorial of a few of the earring wire styles

that I create and have for sale over on my

Shel's Jewelry Supplies Etsy site.

After you answer my questions about the types of video you use and download, what types of earring wire styles or other jewelry tutorials would you want to see?

I've seen so many really good jewelry videos but a couple of the one's that stand out for me are the ones by

B'Sue's Boutiques and the ones on Beaducation. 

I also like the ones that Szarka Carter 

with Magpie Gemstones does, too. 

All are completely different kinds of videos as far as the settings they are in and how they approach each subect - but they are all packed with excellent information, great techniques and loads of helpful hints and tips.

Click on the names above to go to a few of their videos and check them out - you'll be glad you did!

Have fun creating this week and be sure to give me some feedback - what you like, what you've tried, what you don't like, etc.

Any info or feedback at all is greatly appreciated!!

Until Next Time,

Peace, Love and Learning New Things!

Cheers,

~Shel~

SNAP Your Way To Great Photography!

I've been struggling with taking better

photos of my jewelry for quite some time. 

Once in a while I get a couple

of good shots off, but on a continual basis,

I'm due for some major improvement. 

This will become a thing of the past
(the so-so photo - not the clasp!)

 

I have been searching for a class to take here in the Valley

similar to the one I participated in a few years back,

but didn't turn up anything that fit my schedule 

or that wasn't clear across town.  

So, imagine how excited I was when I was reading

Erin Siegel's blog last week and she mentioned that

Kerry Bogert's Snaptastic class

was now available as an E-Course? 

(insert image of Shelly jumping up and down with joy here!) 

"Woo Hoo!" 

Totally Twisted by Kerry Bogert

Aside from drooling over Kerry's

deliciously colorful beads she creates

and enjoying her fun book, Totally Twisted:

 Innovative Wire Work + Art Glass Jewelry,

I had seen her photographs on her blog and thought,

"Wow, this chic knows how to take some photos!"  

I hope you'll join me over the next five weeks

as I share some of the photos I will be taking

while attending Kerry's class and

let me know what you think.

I cannot WAIT to improve on pictures like this one!

This is gonna be a fun ride folks and I really think

you should go check out

Kerry's Snaptastic E-Course

 and if you jump on it (Today's the first day of class!!) 

you can join me on this fun adventure and

take your own photography skills to new heights!! 

What do ya say?  Are you up for it?!! 

Until Next Time,

Peace, Love and Great Photography is on the Horizon!

Cheers,

~Shel~

Bead Table Wednesday

Okay - so 'everyone' (and I really mean literally almost everyone on the planet!)

participates in BTW - Bead Table Wednesday -  so I thought I'd

share with you what's on my bead table today.

So, here goes:

Earring Wire and Findings Orders to Fill
I love the "Bronze" earring wires - so Autumn like!

Here's a bunch of orders from my Shel's Jewelry Supplies Etsy Shop 

that I'm getting ready to pop into the tumbler. 

She's gonna be a busy tumbler today because

I don't mix my metals and these orders are only half finished!

Brass, Bronze, Copper - Yummy! 
Clasps and Earring Wirese Ready for the Tumbler!

Bead Table Wednesday - All Sorts of Stuff Today!

Then, there's these things over here on this table,....

a bracelet I keep taking various pieces of Sari Silk off of because

it's just not looking right at all.

There's all those goodies I won from Kristi Bowman with Dreamsome,......oh yeah, baby!!

I've been looking at those for a couple of weeks now,...nothing seems good enough for them.

Yet, anyway!

And yes, that's a skull bead on a bracelet you see sticking out way over to the upper left corner of the pic.  I do love skull beads,...although you've probably never seen them in any of my designs (unless you're a family member who's received some or seen my bead stash!)

And, there's the left over Bead Soup Mix from the big Bead Soup Blog Party

that happened this weekend.

What?!???

You didn't hear about it?

Just click on the button at the top of my blog here that says

"Bead Soup 2011" and go check it all out.

There's even links to everyone who participated - over 360 peeps - so you can check out all their lovely designs!

So, that's what's on my bead table today,...and for the rest of the week!

What's on yours? 

Head on over to the Flickr group and check out everyone else's BTW!

Until Next Time,

Peace, Love and BTW!

Cheers,

~Shel~

Bead Soup Blog Party is TOMORROW!!

It's Tomorrow,....It's Tomorrow!! 

Can you STAND it?!!

Oh, the excitement!

Peeps are taking pics and pre-posting like crazy today,

getting ready for the big reveal tomorrow!

(Me, too,...me, too!!)

Visit Saturday, the 17th and check out all the glorious

EYE CANDY from everyone's

Bead Soup Creations!!

Until Tormorrow!

Peace, Love and Great Anticipation!!

Cheers,

~Shel~

MiShel Designs Keshi Pearl Dangle Earrings in the latest issue of BeadStyle Magazine!

Thank you BeadStyle Magazine for making my Keshi Pearl Dangle Earrings look so amazing!  (And for including them on the front cover - you ROCK!!)

Grab the July issue of BeadStyle Magazine which hits new stands on May 31st and you can see my Keshi Pearl Dangle Earrings on Page 80!

Also, I'm really lovin' the Pearl Necklace for the June Birthstone section on page 20 by DonnaMarie Bates - Gorgeous!!

I'm also fascinated with the "Tiny Treasures Eearrings" by Lori Mendenhall on page 34 - she makes me want to pour resin over some of my pearls!!

And, you gotta see the "Newfangled Bangle" project on page 44 by Sherri Haab - Simply YUMMY!! 

Okay - go check out BeadStyle magazine yourself for all the cool projects and designs they've got jam packed into the July issue! 

Until Next Time,

Peace, Love and Happy Summer Beading!!

Cheers,

~Shel~