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!
