Custom Lampwork Pieces

A couple of months ago I received 4 pretty lampwork beads from a customer of mine. She had picked them up at a local art show. She brought them to me and asked me to create something custom for her with them. Here are the results of that endeavor....

I started with the bracelet. I loved the colors of these beads...chocolate and turquoise..yum...! I picked the one I wanted to use in the necklace and set it aside. The Mocca Swarovski color was a perfect match as was the Turquoise Swarovski. I decided to use Sterling silver links instead of stringing it on beading wire. It gave the bracelet more movement and all sides of the lampwork beads can be seen. I made the necklace a little more simple, I wanted it to compliment the bracelet, not compete with it.
I love doing custom work...! It challenges my creativity and lets me design using pieces that I don't have in my vast bead stash ( the fun part). It's an awesome feeling to know that I have customers out there who trust my design ability enough to create something for them from something they love...! If you have a focal or some beads that have been collecting dust that you've been waiting for an idea about what to do with them...drop me an email, I'd be glad to help as a consultant or a designer.

Heavenly Flower Designs

People's generosity continues to amaze me. I "met" the lovely Leilani through my Starving Artsts Etsy Group a few months ago. When I mentioned Chris and the silent auction to my group, she jumped on board right away. Leilani lives in Montreal, Canada. She made this bracelet especially for the cause.

The bracelet contains 5 sterling silver charms bearing the words: trust, inspire courage, laugh and live. The faceted silver grey fiber-optic beadsare beautiful and full of light and are the color associated with brain cancer awareness. Sterling silver beads and a sterling silver safety chain finish the piece. You can see this bracelet was made with love.

This piece will be available for purchase on February 11th at the Mississippi National Golf Course through a silent auction. If you want to see more of Leilani's work you can visit her Etsy store HeavenlyFlower.

Thanks for all....!

I am starting a series featuring all the wonderful people who donated some of their gorgeous work for the silent auction. I am going to do a feature a day for the next week or so. Please check them out and give them some love. All these people have very generous hearts and creative souls and I appreciate all their help with the donations.

First up is Maryann Oberhofer. I have known Maryann for about a year and half now. She is a very talented silversmith and jewelry designer. She does things with silver I can only imagine. She lives here in Biloxi and does the craft show circuit. She hopes to have a online presence very soon. She donated this beautiful necklace and earring set. She handmade the large silver links in this piece. Isn't it beautiful...? She alternated her links with a natural green stone. If you just have to have this set, it will be available for sale on February 11th at Mississippi National Golf Course. All proceeds from this sale will go directly to support Chris Murphy. If you can't be there and are interested in Maryann and her work, I can provide you with her contact information.

As promised....the Fleur de lis earrings....!! I'm going to post these in my Etsy shop today.
First up...

Capiz Shell Fleur de lis

These are my 'ode to the New Orleans Saints' earrings. The Capiz shells make a really cool "clinking" noise when they move, very soothing. The Fleur de lis is surrounded by a 2 in silver tone circle.

And Second....

Sterling Silver Hand Cast Fleur de lis'

They are my favorite charms. They are hand cast in sterling silver by my friend Horace. I will go into the entire process in a future post. Let's suffice it to say right now, it's an awesome thing to watch. Horace has over 5000 molds he uses to create pendants, charms and rings. They aren't your typical fleur de lis which is what I love about them and probably why they are a great find. I thought the shape of the earring post worked really well with this earring. It's the last pair I have left with this particular post.