October Brings Changes

Some of my newest creations and a bit different from my usual fair.


This necklace was inspired by the photo of the spiral staircase which is inside of a lighthouse. Lighthouses always make me thing of solitude and waiting for someone special to return home. Hence the name, "Waiting".


My first crafting love was sewing and embellishing garments. With the days getting colder, I've been seeing artistic cuffs as so cozy and fascinating. I made this one to imitate Sally's dress from Tim Burton's "The Nightmare Before Christmas".

With my recent experimentation in needle felting and combining my other crafts of beading and sewing I plan to make more cuffs and textile jewelry. Bringing all my crafts together full circle.

Heritage Challenge

This month The BeadHive offered a challenge within the group to create something honoring our individual heritage. As I thought of the different roads and reasons that took my ancestors to America and how their posterity has grown, my thoughts kept returning to my Scottish ancestors through my maternal line.

While taking a walk along the river here in Idaho Falls last week, I took a picture of a thistle and that really got the beads rolling. The first piece I made is a beaded thistle pendant. I used seed and bugle beads and stitched each one to a felted wool bead base.





As I worked on this pendant, I was considering what I would hang it from. It could be a ceiling fan pull, a rear view mirror dangle, a long necklace or a choker. I finally settled on a choker. But, as happens when creating as I go, the choker I started with became an entire creation all it's own. I decided the pendant will have to wait for another choker. This choker is fabric and fibers, lace, beads and a vintage button. All in tribute to the long line of wonderful, strong, tenacious, classy ladies that I can look back to and admire and learn from.

Heritage Inspiration Choker


Heritage Inspiration Choker - Inside


Heritage Inspiration Choker - Side

Breezeway Beads

I'm so happy to have some of my creations included on Breezeway Beads website. I found her beads a few years ago while looking for a focal bead to match one of my skirts. At the time I was just making a few pieces to go with my new office wardrobe for a new job. But what ended up happening was a love and an addiction for lampwork, beads, and creating little wearable works or art! Jane (Breezeway Beads) was helpful in explaining some of the terminology and I purchase my first lampwork bead from her. I've been a huge fan of her work ever since. Her focal beads are perfect to frame with semi-precious stones, Czech glass and Bali silver. I've created many pieces featuring her beads and there are more to come. You can see a few pieces at her website...
Breezeway Beads - Customer Creations

She sells her focal beads at her website and on ebay and Etsy under the same name, Breezewaybeads. You can see more of my creations highlighting her beads at my Etsy shop!

It's hard for me to pick an absolute favorite when it comes to her beads. I probably have a top 10. This bracelet was created from one the top ten. I named it "Shimmering Shores". I love how her bead looks so perfect with the labradorite and freshwater pearls.

In Full Bloom

My newest bracelet. It started out with the intention of being more pink than it turned out to be. This is a very vibrant bracelet! The roses and lampwork focal bead are handworked by talented artisans.

etsyBEAD Theme Week "Stormy Weather" Sale

Another treasury from this week's etsyBEAD Theme Week sale. I was lucky to be included in this one as well. I love the Fiber Beads from EBrown2503! Click on the treasury to go to it. (Notice the expiration time though.)

Stormy Weather

EBTW Stormy Weather Listings

Living most of my life in the Seattle area and then being transplanted to SE Idaho leaves me longing for a good rainstorm and the fresh clean air it leaves in it's wake. I guess that's why I seem to make jewelry that reflects the weather everyone complains about but I miss. I have 4 listings I've marked down 15% for this two-week sale. There lower price ends on Saturday, April 5th in the evening.

EBTW SALE at GemmaBeads

A New Week - New Treasuries!

Here are three very different Etsy treasuries. I've linked the pictures back to the treasuries so you can view them more closely and click on the item links. However, treasuries only last for 3 days so the link won't last forever. Fortunately, the sellers name is below their items and titles so you can find them if you'd like to.

This first one is from Idaho Indie Works. So bright and cheery. Just what we need this time of year!

Springtime in Idaho

This next treasury is a collection of giraffe inspired items and includes a pair of my earrings...

Long Necked Blondes

And last but not least is the etsyBEAD theme week "Stormy Weather". This treasury includes my "Cloud Tears" earrings.

EBTW Stormy Weather

I have a few items on sale with this weeks theme. Click on the link to get these select items at 15% off until March 29th!

GemmaBeads' EBTW Sale - "Stormy Weather"

All etsyBead Theme Week "Stormy Weather" listings.

Treasuries...So much fun to discover

For those of you who don't know, Etsy has a super fun feature called a Treasury. It's so fun to be included in this group of twelve listings. Last week's EtsyBEAD Theme was "Spring Bouquet" and I have more than a few things that fit that idea. A pair of earrings I call "Cuties" was chosen.



EtsyBEAD is such a great group of folks and really keeps this theme thing going. I am always looking forward to the next theme. Between this group and the Bead Hive, I get a lot of inspiration and motivation.