Deeper than the Ocean - "Yogi" Wrap Necklace

Something I'd like to share that I am very excited about.  I'm in the process of Trademarking the Name "Yogi Wrap" for this new line of jewelry.  It is the perfect name for it.  I've named it after my dog "Yogi".  Nevermind that I'm in the Yoga Studio every day.  haha  Loving it and thought you would too.

This pleated effect is something I'm going to really be practicing on.  I love the possibilities.  This necklace makes the most of the focal bead with it's handmade flower murrini (by me) and hair fine stringer work and dots.  It's simplicity is remarkable.  The two colors light and darker periwinkle combine perfectly with the leather 2mm strands.

The closure is a heavier metal magnetic closure and will hold tight under almost any circumstances.  However, when trying on clothes at my favorite department store, I pulled something over my head and it did come loose.  So I suggest taking it off lest it should fall on a tile or concrete floor and break.  (It is still glass no matter how long it has annealed in the kiln for durability).  Just a word of caution.  

It is beautiful and I hope you enjoy it.  It is one of my favorites.

"Yogi Wrap" Amazonite with Handmade Lampwork Glass Button Closure

 Amazonite Meaning – Magical Amazonite Properties

• Amazonite is excellent for balancing feminine and masculine energy
• If you are an artist, this is the must have stone for you
• Use it to increase kindness and become a more practical thinker
• Develop your sixth sense and increase psychic powers
• Build self-esteem and realize your hopes and desires

Amazonite Meaning – Amazonite Healing Powers

• Amazonite is said to have preventative energy that is good for maintaining general health
• Treat heart problems and metabolic disorders
• Increase stamina and ease cramp and stress
• Use its calming effect to correct mood swings and come to terms with grief
• Relieve tension by placing it on the back and neck

Below you’ll find more on amazonite meaning including amazonite gemstone color, amazonite chakra information, amazonite birthstone and zodiac…

Amazonite Gemstone Color

Green, Blue-Green

Amazonite Metaphysical Chakra Classification

Throat and Heart Chakra

Amazonite Gemstone Zodiac Star Sign

Aquarius

Where is Amazonite Found?

Madagascar, South-West Africa, Brazil, former Soviet Union, USA

Happy Family of Button Closures

Button Closures for "Yogi Wrap Wrist/Ankle/Necklace Wear"

Yesterday I created glass disks of various colors and shapes and headpins in order to have what I needed to make more Yogi Wrap Bracelets.  These are what happened !  I'm excited to get started making "Yogi Wrap Ankle/Wrist bracelets.   I will have the bracelets in my Etsy Shop as well as at Bikram Yoga Manhattan Beach Studio.  Tomorrow I'm headed out to the LA Bead Bazaar to purchase silver, copper, and other metal and gemstone beads.

I hope these make you happy as you share in the whimsical mood they created for me.

Hugs
Suzanne

Blue Lace Agate Ladder Bracelet

This Blue Lace Agate Bracelet is very simple, elegant and something you can wear everyday.  Just don't ever take it off.  With time, the leather becomes very supple and will form to your arm.  The glass button I made for it is two parts.  The little flower pod and the stamen are two separate pieces.  The stamen is made in the flame on the actual copper wire that is through the flower bead and bent into the wire that attaches to the bracelet making the button closure.  Amazing how the glass perfectly matches the  gemstones in the bracelet.  It is so feminine.

I like wearing the button on the front of my hand instead of to the back of my wrist.  For one thing, as glass it is safer (it will break if knocked on something hard, dropped on tile or crushed in some way or another.)  Although, it has been annealed in the kiln overnight which greatly increases durability.

Blue Lace Agate - What are the benefits of wearing this bracelet on a daily basis?

Blue-Lace Agate

This agate sings the song of the ocean, and so is associated with emotions, and shifting tides. Blue-Lace effects the throat chakra and helps you to speak calmly and effectively. It would greatly benefit writers, speakers, and singers.  Blue-lace agate can help you experience extremely high spiritual spaces, and attain inner-attunement.  Meditate with blue-lace agate to experience the qualities of flight, air, and grace.  Blue-lace agate can stimulate high frequency awareness.

Physically, blue-lace agate helps arthritis, the skeletal structure, and it benefits nervous system and capillary blocks.  The pancreas, and digestive glands are aided, as are the brain and eyes.

Blue-lace agate is associated with the throat chakra and the crown chakra.  

Bracelet/Necklace Time - Good News

Hi All,  my computer crashed earlier this week and I've been, stopped in my tracks, offline until today.  There is still something wrong with it so it will go in again and I'll be away for another little while.  The goods news is I'm staying very busy while I'm computer-less...

Also, this is so great news, my Bikram Yoga Studio in Manhattan Beach, CA, thanks to owner Tiffany Amelia Rhodes-Friedman, will be carrying my necklaces and bracelets for purchase.  She is such a cool Yogi!  I love her and this is wonderful opportunity to bring my art into a "Very Classy" spa-like space.  Thank you Tiffany !   Tiffany has definitely placed her badge of excellence on the purchase and rennovation of the Bikram Yoga Manhattan Beach Studio.  Check it out  bikramyogamb.com/  and if you live in the area - you cannot find a more superior studio to practice your Bikram Yoga than right here.  So come by and let them know you found them here on my blog. :o)

With that said, the first of the BYMB bracelet/necklaces is featured here.  I am having so much fun creating these wrap bracelets.  Each has it's own OOAK lampwork glass button closure created, of course, by me.  This bracelet is 28" long and wraps four times around your wrist.  It can also be worn as a necklace with the button closure in the front - or in the back.  Your choice.  I love them !!!  What do you think.


SOLD

This beauty is black leather cording, Silver African Trade Beads, Real Turquoise and one of a kind, handmade by me, glass, lampwork button closure.  The closure has been specifically created for this bracelet/necklace. 

The cost will vary depending on the type and number of gemstones used as well as the length of the bracelet/necklace.  

I will be creating single and double wraps too.

The gemstones are of the highest quality and specifically chosen because of their size and shape for use in the bracelets.

I hope you like them.  I wear mine everyday and it makes me feel connected to the energy and vibration of the natural stones, earthy metals and glass.  My day just seems to go better when I'm reminded of the beauty of nature and the Power of the Universe.

Hugs
Suzanne

One More For You - Sparkle Sparkle

Same bead - both sides - Sparkle Sparkle - Dichro on this one.  I love it!    kisses  off to the torch.

Unearthed -

Just love how this little bead turned out.  The bottom half is silver foiled dark ivory, you can see the little silver flecks making the bead very earthy.  The top has lots of layers of blue, red, and an yellow/orange enameled shard.  The bead just looks like it stepped out of Star Wars.  The murrini flower is my very own handpulled murrini.  I'm very happy that I am able to create much more depth as of late.  Just what I am going for.

God Bless and Have a Happy, Joy-filled Day.

Love
Suzanne

Testing New Photography Set Up

Do you like the new setup???  Seems a bit bright I know.  I like the reflection though.  The button is lampwork glass and the bracelet is copper and silver and leather.

Hugs
Suzanne

Chan Luu Inspired Bracelet

This is my very first Chan Luu inspired ladder bracelet. Chan Luu is Vietnamese and came to the US after the Vietnam War in the 60's.  She took a trip to India and found the East Indian's wearing these handmade wrap bracelets.  She brought the idea to the US and Hollywood fell in love with them.  The "Stars" are all wearing them.  Jennifer Anniston, Gisele Bunchen, etc.  They sell for anywhere from $150 for a single wrap bracelet to well over $300 for triple wrap such as mine depending upon the gemstone beads or crystals they are made with.  Chan Luu is now a multi-millionairess!  You go Chan.

I chose to be different by using various lengths of silver and copper beads.  This is a pretty heavy bracelet, which I like.  The button is lampwork glass made by me and inspired by the pods I learned to make in Sara Sally LaGrand's class a couple of months ago.  The armature is leather and the thread is blue matching the button better than the picture shows.

I'll be keeping this one for myself, because... I love it.  It feels good on my wrist and makes me feel "snazzy".  ;o)

Thanks for taking a peek at what's new in the creative zone with Suzanne.  Below is a picture of a Chan Luu bracelet just in case you have no idea what I'm going on and on about.  Her's are pretty cool.  The one below is turquoise and semi precious stones and $325.

Practice Practice Practice Implosions

HAPPY HAPPY AND A GLORIOUS EASTER TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES!!!

  

These are my latest implosion beads.  I see how important it is to have an extremely clear glass for these.  They are so much prettier if the clear is crystal clear.  But, I am practicing, so it isn't necessary to use the most expensive glass there is.  Right?  These are much more scaled down to the almost proper size for the beads.  Tiny has not been my forte up to this point.  I've been making big beads.  To scale down is very much out of my comfort zone.  But, it needed to happen.

 PPP  I'll get there yet and when I do - you'll see!

xoxox

Suzanne

Implosions - Great Fun

Sorry I've been out of the loop for so long.  I was busy buying and reading tutorials as I'd come to a stand still with myself in creating anything new with my beads.  And, I was bored.  I needed more information.  I knew just where to go to get it.  Some of my favorite artists, from time to time, share their knowledge in the form of tutorials of how they do what they do.  Someday, I believe I'll be writing tutorials too, but for now, I'll trust those who have been in this business much much longer than I and are very very successful.  No sense in trying to reinvent the wheel.  Learn from those who have gone before and gleen what you can.  Put it all together and come up with something no one has done yet - in this century anyways.  ;o)

So I'm having a go at implosions on beads.  I bought a tutorial by Sherry Bellamy because I was so intrigued by her fabulous beads which look like "other worldly" is the only way I know how to put it.  If you look closely at the clear side of the beads above you can "almost" see a flower coming from the solid side of the bead or you may see a glob of color which is the flower I am talking about.  Haha

The first couple of tries I didn't have enough clear glass on the implosions to nest it into the bead so it looks like I've used a shard.  PPP makes perfect.  Anyway, I thought you might enjoy my latest adventure in the world of bead making.

Suzanne

Curved Beads to Show You !

Finally I can show you some of the beads I made during the Curved Bead Workshop last weekend.  I am extremely happy with this one and the one below which I am wearing right now !

I very simply strung it on silk cording and used a matching bead as a button closure.  I love this one too.

Below is the blue one that I think turned out stunning as well.  Thank goodness for great glass colors.  This one is an alabaster blue (which I'd never worked with before)  I did have to burn off some soot in a more oxidizing flame because I naturally tried to boil it to death before realizing it doesn't have to be THAT hot Suzanne.  Despite me, it came out of the kiln alive and kickin' it.

I think I'll have a great time making many more of these in the future.  It was a fun class.  I also learned to make a puffy bead (hollow bead) with a blow hose and hollow mandrel with a hole in it.  A new technique to me as well.  Show you more of those later.

Hugs - gonna hit the hay... xoxox

Suzanne

New Depth - Focusing on 3D

I'm focusing on depth in my beads these days.  These are a few of the results.  I think it's getting better.  I'm happier with them at any rate.  The clear one was an experiment with silvered glass murrini and the yellow an experiment with a ribbon technique I'm working on as the result of a tutorial by Michael Barley.  The murrini is the result of a tutorial from Astrid Reidel.

I hope you enjoy my experiments.  Thank you for stopping by.  xoxox

Suzanne

Beads for class tomorrow - ;o)

Tomorrow, Sunday, is my one day workshop at "The Mandrel" with Laurie Nessel, to learn to bend beads.  I made these to have something to bend.  It was harder than I thought to actually make beads this long.  Each is approximately 3" in different thicknesses.  I'll be really happy if they all bend like they are suppose to.  I'll post them again once they are bent and we'll see which are the favorites.  

Cross your fingers for me.  ;o)

xoxox

Suzanne

Zebra Finch Rescued by Suzanne and Yogi !

Yogi and I rescued a Zebra Finch yesterday after he mistook our window for a portal. Sat with him until he regained his composure - prayed for him "don't die little bird ! don't die".  After about 15 minutes, he was knocked out cold,  he flew to a nearby tree to sit for a while longer before he carried on with his day. His coloring was absolutely beautiful !

Leaf Set - Remember to B R E A T H.

I've had this pattern in my mind for quite some time.  All but the little border on the bottom of the focal bead.  It seemed to be the finishing touch for the design.   I'm working on the stringers to become even slimmer and slimmer.  As it is - the second I begin to lay the black stringers down on the hot glass I start holding my breath.  I suppose I could eventually pass out.  I'd better put my yoga into the equation and remember to B R E A T H !  Just   B R E A T H !  After all, It's just a bead...right?

Hugs
Suzanne

Yesterday's Work - Astrid Riedel and Michael Barley techniques

 Yesterday's work

I ordered Astrid Riedel's murrini tutorial and had a go of it yesterday.  Her lentil beads are always so extravagantly gorgeous.  I think it went pretty well.  I also had another go at the ribboning technique I learned from Michael Barley which Astrid also uses magnificently as well.  Thank you both for so generously sharing through your tutorials.

So, what do you think?

Hugs and Kisses
Enjoy
Suzanne

Sets - Matching the XLarge Lentils Multi-Colored L Lentils

Yesterday I concentrated on making a multi-colored smaller yet still pretty large lentils that would incorporate into any of the XLarge Lentil Focals that are being sold separately in my Etsy Store.

The smaller lentils are very festive as a multi-colored set.  Each is equally valid as a focal as well.

The transparent gray and white XLarge lentil above is very interesting in that the pattern is showing through on the opposite side of the bead.  I like it.

Thanks for peeking.

Hugs and much love to you today.
Suzanne

Collage Friday's Work - Enjoy !

I can really see this pattern developing in to something quite fabulous.  I've been searching for my inner truth in my artwork on the beads.  This just may be the beginning of it.  I can't wait to get to the torch now everyday to see what pattern will develop with the use of my new design.

I think Batikadoodle!  Enjoy !

Smile a lot today.  Make somebody else feel the love. You will receive back 100 times what you give away.

Hugs
Suzanne

Batik Series - Suzanne's Art Glass

Good Morning everyone !  What a beautiful day in Sunny California.  Sun shinning brightly already at 8:30am and new beads out of the kiln.

This is a new design I'm working on called Batik.  I'm very excited about it because I've not seen it on anyone else' beads.  I'm going to continue working on it getting the lines thinner and thinner so it looks very delicate.  The WOW factor!

Yes!  I'm working on the WOW factor...Yay!  Hope you like them.  Going back to the torch and practice practice practice.  PPP

Thank you for stopping by and please leave a comment.  I love to hear from you on this journey to becoming a master bead maker.  I'm dreaming big and living on purpose !  ;o)

Love and Hugs
Suzanne

This song sent me into a joyful tizzie !

Enjoy and have a great day !

Just for You today !

Love

Suzanne

More Lentil Shaped Beads !

These came out of the kiln this morning. How fun. But, the most exciting thing of all is that I've learned more about my camera in one day than in the five years I've had it. To get crystal clear pictures of my beads without having to photo shop them is just amazing. I learned about setting the white balance, the ISO and tons of other things I knew my camera would do but me and manuals just have never been friends.

I'm the type of person who learns by watching someone else do it. Gabe (my darling son) took the time to point some things out to me so that I would be able to check my settings every time I sit down to photograph my beads. Thank you Gabe. That got me on the website of my camera and able to understand what in the heck the manual was talking about.

Viola! I think these pictures are the best I've ever taken. Adding my name to the photo and trying to think up a name for each bead were the most difficult things I had to do. Yay !!!

Thanks for looking and let me know what you think of my improved photo skills. Love you.

Hugs

Suzanne

Lentils Collage - Saturday's Work

I'm totally hooked, probably for at least a couple of more days on these large lentil shaped beads. There is just so much you can do with them. I had no idea what I was missing. They are measuring about 1 1/2 inches across for a fantastic focal beads for a necklace.

I hope you like them. I figured out how to make a collage out of the photos! Yay Me...

Hugs and many kisses! Enjoy... Suzanne