"Morgiana Sitting Pretty"

photo by my friend Rose--but there is something (or someone) missing! Wait and see!

Artbeads is an impressively massive (yet easy to use) online store with one of the most unique, constantly updated selections of beads, components and items for making jewelry that I know of.
It also has some of the sweetest people working there whom I have met in this business (yes I mean YOU, Duchess)!
When I approached them recently and asked if I might have some components and rhinestone flatbacks to make some jewelry which will be appearing in a special section of my column in Australian Beading magazine in the big December issue, they said "yes".
I was so excited! All of my work in the past few years has been heavier on the writing, and lighter on the actual beading, as we here at home cannot afford all the beautiful beads which I see, love and want. Hey! It is OK! --Things will change, I  know, for the better, and of course we are not alone. We are in the same boat as many people right now. However I wish to thank Artbeads for their generosity toward me, as at times I come up with some special ideas, and I didn't even try to explain to them ahead of time what I was planning for this-- in my opinion-- smashing, project! It would have been too confusing!

Incidentally, it will look different for Australian Beading, so it is OK to post this preview on my blog now.
I wish to say here, that, in addition to Artbeads, I could not have done this project without my friend, Rose.
I am EXTREMELY proud to have worked with Rose on this. All of these photos you see of the twin dolls (Blythe Cherry Berry and Blythe Very Cherry Berry), Rose took. She took both the large photos (including Morgianna, above) and the ones in the pendant/earring frames which I made using Artbeads components.

Note here from jean: Do not let anyone kid you into thinking it is your camera which is your problem when taking photos. I am ALWAYS thinking it is my camera. Well it isn't, I still have a long way to go, learning to take photos. I admit it.
However Rose is an artist and could take a great photo with a vintage box camera, while standing on her head.
Imagine what she did here: she took the little pictures, sized and sent them to me. I made the jewelry, and sent it back to her. She dressed the dolls (who are the exact same dolls as in the jewelry!), and then she took their pictures again!
I think this idea is fabulous and shows the beauty of Artbeads components and flatbacks off in a super fun way. If you notice you will  see that the earrings are different, which I did just for the enjoyment of it!
Rose and I share a passion for Blythe dolls which is limitless. We LOVE Blythes!


                                                        "Nars and Morgiana on Steps"

By the way, if you prefer to make your jewelry for real humans, the ear wires and the components are just as suitable and great to wear for your own self and for your friends (these make super, inexpensive Holiday gifts--and that time of year is already here, believe it or not!) as for your dolls to dress up in.

Here are a few more of the photos Rose took yesterday of Nars and Morgiana, the twins, all dressed up in their gorgeous jewelry:



                                                                  "Inside Outside"   (this is my favorite photo--jean)

"Berry Sisters"-- a good photo of the jewelry sets -- so pretty!

The Artbeads pendants can be found here: http://www.artbeads.com/mixed-media-collage-pendants.html
and they have the ear wires (and jump rings for the pendants as well). Just be sure to order TWO ear wires for each set of earrings you make, because Artbeads usually sells ear wires individually.
The Artbeads flatbacks can be found here: http://www.artbeads.com/swarovski-flatbacks-rhinestones.html
I used grey pearl, red siam, and rose to enhance the golden frames and to pick up the colors in the tiny photos Rose had sent to me.

Now, why did I title this entry "Artbeads gift to me delights me in small ways and in very large ways as well"?

The small ways were that I got to work on a small scale, and also with a dear friend.
The large ways have to do with the fact that I cannot wait until all those Australians get to see the photo I took for December's issue of Australian Beading magazine!

Thank you SO MUCH, Artbeads, and thank you SO MUCH, Rose!

with love, jean!