Swarovski Elements with Artbeads.com!

Ladies and gents, this is a very special edition of the 365-Day Make n' Tell Challenge, because I have been chosen to be part of a blogging team for the spectacular one-stop bead website, Artbeads.com!

I'm really excited about this particular Make n' Tell, because I have, in my hot little hands, some lovely Swarovski crystal pieces I've chosen from the vast catalogue available on Artbeads.com.  As soon as Nick told me at work that they'd arrived in the mail, my hands were itching for the rest of the day!

Since being chosen to be part of the blogging team, I had poured over the pages and dabbled over a few design ideas, sketching them out.  I was always hesitant to work with Swarovski crystals, hearing of their 'high-maintenance care', associating their brilliance to gaudy costume jewelry.  I could never get away from that image of Dallas-like jewelry that was just too flashy, too gaudy, and tooooo big ... at least for my taste.  I like character in my jewelry, but I had consciously tried to stay away from anything that had a literal 'sparkle'.  With that in mind, and the desire to 'expand my vision', I was really, really careful in what I picked, wanting to mix these beads with 'natural elements', like rough cut gemstones, shells and wood beads.  (Well, that was the idea at first.  You'll see what I mean later.)  I was so happy to find a rainbow and beyond of colours available, in all shapes and sizes!  It sent the little girl inside me skipping through a fantasyland of glittery trees, and sparkly flowers in windowsill, and gorgeous butterflies sparkling in a mellow yellow jonquil sun with their amethyst wings and olivine eyes fluttering through a sapphire sky ... that was fun!  You get what I mean ... but you should really see it for yourself!

Book-to-Movie Inspirations: Stephenie Meyer's 'New Moon'

"The term "new moon" refers to the phase of the moon opposite a full moon. It is when the sun is on the opposite side of the moon from us and thus the bright side of the moon is not visible from earth. This is the darkest kind of night. New Moon is the darkest period of Bella's life." -Stephenie Meyer, author

Keeping along with the vampire romance phenomenon, we've now added a werewolf to the mix! For those familiar with Stephenie Meyer's Twilight series, Bella Swan suffers the absence of her true love, 'vegetarian' vampire Edward Cullen and his 'family', after a disastrous incident at her birthday party which nearly resulted in her death. Edward decides to leave Bella, and wipe clean any existence of him in her life so that she can start anew. In the depression she suffers, she turns to childhood friend Jacob Black, unbeknownst to her that he is of a long line of 'werewolf protectors', Jacob being a direct descendant of this tribe.

Ladies and gentlemen, the 'Jacob' necklace:

Book-to-Movie Inspirations: Stephanie Meyer's 'Twilight' Saga & J.K. Rowling's 'Harry Potter' series

With two of the biggest book franchises now turned into movie blockbusters, it's hard not to deny their influence. These two pieces, inspired by the Harry Potter series and The Twilight Saga, came together because of my love and appreciation for these series of books that will most certainly stand the test of time as part of our pop culture.


 
NECKLACE NO. 1: “Hedwig” I was a late bloomer when it came to Harry Potter. I’m not saying that I was against it, or that I ever boycotted it, I just didn’t pick it up right away and read it. The first few books were more of a severe pre-teen market, but I remember it picking up pace (and interesting reviews) when it was accused of teaching children ‘witchcraft’ and possibly lured into ‘occult worship’. I think that’s what made me read these books, as well as my good friends Karen and Curtis, who are bookworms themselves, who gave good praises and recommendations.

Later in the series, darker themes are introduced as Harry reaches an age of maturity, and the perspective matched an older, more mature Harry as he faces these challenges. Here, I’ve made a necklace dedicated to his loyal pet owl, Hedwig, given to him as a gift from Reubus Hagrid, groundskeeper at Hogwart’s School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Here is where Harry will begin his legacy.