Beaded Sunshine

Above: These are long and slender and light-weight, 6 inches long  Friends and family have made up cool names for the new colors of beads I am working with: river rock and swamp water are two.

Below: These sunnies are made with the African stripe beads and a warm beige color that I like. 

Above: These pairs both have the warm beige and the orange stripers.  They are smaller and shorter- 4 inches long.  The pair at left was a very "me" pair, and very "southwest" at right. 

Below is a pair with navy blue and long red sparkly bugles.

Lucid Dreaming White and Monkstone Earrings

Here are two sets of earrings.  The first set is with what I am calling lucid dreaming white because the beads have a beautiful luminance.  They also have the striped African beads and the second pair has bronze colored beads. 

The next set, also just two pairs, is made with monkstone beads.  This sparkly brown stone is more widely known as goldstone.  These earrings have an Egyptian inspiration.

Carrie's Cozies

 

As I post this I am hoping none of the gift recipients are following the blog!  Highly unlikely, I'd say.  Above we have a really cute gift idea: these little cozy covered jars are going to be made into smoothie sippy cups for kids.  Below are the cozies for the VOSS water bottle.  Fall colors camo with handle came out beautifully.  Thanks goes to Carrie for her creative and fun order.

Shaman Hat

Here is a very exciting hat that I have been wanting to make for a while.  It was originally inspired by the amazing hats worn by the indians in Peru.  They are brightly colored with peaks and tassles and earflaps and sometimes beaded- definately a lot of time goes into them and they are very special. They are often worn by guides and shamans.  This one was inspired by my friend who is a long time hat fancier and always picks out the cream of the crop.  This time he put in a request and here is the result.  He admired the yellow ribbon from the white earflap hat as seen in an earlier post.  This hat has neon orange and gold ribbon which is from Peru.  The other countries of origin for the materials are: Mexico, Brazil and Guatemala.  I could say much more about it but I will leave it at that. 

Below: I love how the metallic threads from Guatemala are on bamboo spools.

Winter Handwarmers

 Here is the newest batch of handwarmers.  Flowers and sparklies.  Solid dark blue and solid black for the guys.  Gold rings and rasta stripes.  

 Above: gold and silver made with metalic gold and silver thread in the flowers.  Below: yes, it is true, Valentine's day is coming up!  Those are with irradecent sparkly white flowers. 

Maasai-Inspired Beaded Loop Earrings

 These new earrings were inspired by the jewelry of the Maasai- a colorful people of Kenya, Africa.  The earrings are made with bronze cones and seed beads, some of which are striped wich is something I see often in African beads.  I aslo created a striped effect by alternating black and white beads. 

New Back-to-School Beanies

Brown and beige and grey and red, with pom-pom and ribbed edge.

Blessingway Flower Crowns

Here is Catherine (above) and Lori (below), expecting mothers. We have parties to bless them and their babies.  One of the rituals is crowning them with a beautiful headress of fresh flowers.  I feel so inspired when I am making the crowns and so proud of the finished result!  They are made with: lion's sage, white sage, mexican sage, roses, hibiscus, lavender, eucaliptus, pine, redwood, fern, peruvian lilies, honeysuckle, mallow, passionflower and rue to name most of the plants.  With my horticultural background and artistic ability, I know I could be a great florist.

San Diego + New Loops and Stars Earrings

 Here I am with the hats and earrings at the boardwalk in Pacific Beach.  Below is La Jolla Cove, beautiful source of inspiration and my favorite place to swim with the seals and the fishes.  Look how clear that water is!

 Above is a new pair of loop earrings with aqua bugle beads, gold cones, and what I call "African beads", striped beads.  Below is another pair of new loops with dark blue bugle beads and bronze colored beads as well as bronze cones.  The little stars are with faceted black beads and bronze colored beads.

Organic Cotton Beanies

 

I'm pleased by the interest people have shown in the organic cotton beanies because working with this material is a delight.  It is soft and natural and a healthy alternative for humans and the environment.  Here I have three colors: cream, rust brown, and grey brown.  Or, as the yarn company calls them: macadamia, walnut, and peacan!