Secret Song Designs

New style

2011-11-27T10:16:00.000-08:00

A couple of years ago when I was in Israel over the summer I picked up some semi-precious beads on the streets of the Old City in Jerusalem. I haven't done much with them, but I decided to pull out this one and create something for a friend who generally has a different aesthetic than I do. This is a long piece that just slips over the head. I was really pleased with how it came out and the combination of the wooden ring with the brass leaves and chain and malachite.

Bead Soup Blog Party Reveal!

2011-09-17T00:32:00.000-07:00

It was down to the wire, but I turned this:

Into this:

The bead soup at the top came from the very talented Tammy Powley. You can see all of her work at her blog and specifically what she created with what I sent her here. She sent me some great stuff and I tried to incorporate as much of it as I could. I'm looking forward to playing with the pieces I didn't get to use in time for this reveal in the future.

There were beaders from five continents who participated in this bead soup party and huge thanks go to Lori Anderson for organizing the event. You can find the whole list of participants and blogs on her website. I'm looking forward to checking out all of them over the next few weeks.

I really loved the focal bead that I was sent and the way one of the clasps picked up some of the colors in the multicolored bead. I don't often make really colorful pieces but I really wanted to use the seed beads I was sent plus extra beads from my own collection to capture how multicolored the focal bead was.

A Present

2011-09-13T20:01:00.000-07:00

I put together this little set a couple of weeks ago for a friend who was getting married. We celebrated her bachelorette party the night before Hurricane Irene hit and it unfortunately disrupted the wedding plans a bit, but she managed to reschedule for the next week and have a beautiful wedding. I'd wanted to put together something special for her so I created something based around some turquoise beads that I had gotten in the Old City in Jerusalem last summer. I wish her and her new husband all the best for the future!

Where have I been keeping myself?

2011-09-10T09:00:00.000-07:00

It's been a long while since I've worked on anything new when it comes to beadwork.
Back in December while I was doing some cross training for the half marathon I ran in January I started to feel some sharp pain in my wrist when I would do a push up. I figured I'd hurt the muscles a bit and if I just laid off it would be fine. As I am sure you can imagine it really wasn't a hardship to not do any more pushups at the time. For a couple of months everything seemed to be ok, but then the pain in my right wrist started to get worse. After a couple of doctor's visits and an x-ray that revealed nothing the doctor decided it was tendonitis an sent me for physical therapy in April. I've spent a long summer of PT and the wrist is now nearly all better (plus I have the best upper body strength I've had in years!). I can't speak highly enough of how wonderful my therapy experience has been. I didn't think it would really help or fix the problem, but though the process is slow, I haven't felt real pain in months. It has meant that beading took a bit of a back seat as I was trying to avoid doing too much handwork.

However, now that I am feeling better, I though I'd start by participating in Lori Anderson's Bead Soup Blog Party.

A few weeks back I got this beautiful assortment of beads from bead party partner Tammy Powley. I'm excited to show you next week what I've come up with!

In the meantime you can check out the other blog project I started - Disney Diversions!

New things in the Etsy Store!

2011-02-10T18:14:00.000-08:00

Need a last minute Valentine's Gift? Check these out. Purchase here!

Ornament and a craft fair!

2010-12-06T20:11:00.000-08:00

It has been a long time since I've updated with anything as most of my beading has had to be on hiatus due to the pressures of grad school, but I made this ornament the other day and wanted to share. I'm hoping to put some more together as I'll be selling at the new Astoria Market this Sunday, December 12th. Come by and check it out!

Sorcerer Mickey hat neclace

2010-08-22T07:47:00.000-07:00

I love Disney World. This comes as no surprise to everyone who knows me. I just came back a week ago from a family trip there. As I was feeling a little sad to no longer be on vacation I decided to finally do something with some of the Disney charms I picked up on a trip a few years ago. Disney markets charm bracelets to little girls and several Disney stores both in Florida as well as the one that used to be here in Manhattan have a giant display of various charms. I picked up a few with the intention of making something more fun than a charm bracelet. This is a simple necklace using a sorcerer Mickey hat charm with blue stars on it.

Another vase for a present

2010-07-28T20:16:00.000-07:00

I made this vase in pink, white and silver for my grandmother in Israel to match her bedroom. I had to carry it in my hand luggage because I was afraid it might break, but luckily it made it safe and in one piece.

A summer gift

2010-07-28T05:36:00.000-07:00

I've had the black and lavender beaded portion of this necklace done for months now but hadn't bothered to actually get around to finishing it until I went away to Israel and gave it as a present. I also added earrings. I like the combination of the lavender glass beads with the slightly darker purple seed beads and the interlocking hematite.

New Design - Marina

2010-06-10T17:26:00.000-07:00

In keeping with my naming theme of Shakespearean women, I'm calling this new design variations "Marina". This one I made to match a dress I have, but I'm hoping to put one or two in a different color combination in the Etsy store soon so stay tuned. It's a variation on a design I've done earlier but I like that this one can function as either a choker or sit a bit lower around the throat.

A commission...

2010-06-04T19:12:00.000-07:00

A co-worker asked me to create a pair of earrings and bracelet based on an older design I've done before. This was the first time I'd ever done a bracelet and I didn't really have much of an idea what it would look like when I started, but I ended up with something I really liked and that had a bit of dimension to it which I think works really well for a bracelet.

Happy Mother's Day!

2010-05-09T10:00:00.000-07:00

I sent this to my mother:

Make sure you've called your mother and reminded her how wonderful she is.

Use the Muse IV

2010-05-08T17:38:00.000-07:00

The big reveal over at The Beader's Muse happened this week.
Everyone's work is really impressive and so different. Each time I'm amazed by the different designs everyone comes up with, but this time I think the neutral colors of the kit really lent themselves to pushing people in very different directions. You can see the gallery of all the participants, including me, here.

My piece for Use the Muse IV:

"Harbingers of Spring"

Vase Again!

2010-05-04T18:28:00.000-07:00

I went up to Maine to visit family this past weekend and snapped a picture of a vase I made in its natural habitat:

Use the Muse IV Sneak Peak

2010-04-11T18:18:00.000-07:00

It's taken me until the last minute, but I've just completed by submission for Use the Muse IV which is sponsored by Art Beads. I really liked the Muse this time around and decided to continue to play with asymmetrical design. Although it uses many elements of designs that I've done in the past, it is by far the most different thing I've done and I'm pleased with how it has turned out. The mostly neutral colored kit was fun to branch out from although I kept in a lot of the neutral browns because I could use something in those colors. Several components from the kit are things I'd like to use in the future.

A What Not To Do

2010-04-09T18:27:00.000-07:00

Today I learned why it is perhaps not a good idea to use your teeth to pull a needle through a tough seed bead. In addition to the occasional broken seed bead, you can also break the needle. Having that little tip in your mouth is most assuredly not a good idea.

I'll stick to using pliers from now on.

New Items on Etsy

2010-02-28T20:16:00.000-08:00

I put up two finished pieces in the Etsy store. Go take a look and encourage your friends to take a look!

Vases!

2010-02-21T16:28:00.000-08:00

I've been experimenting with some more beaded netting on glass vases. I have a bunch of ideas to expand on this basic and someday when I have time again it will happen. I like the simplicity of this one and I think the neutral colors would make it work well with a lot of decor. I might add some to my Etsy store as I think they would make good hostess gifts.

Birthday present!

2010-02-10T20:37:00.000-08:00

Nothing much to say as life has been busy, but here is a pair of earrings I made for a friend's birthday this past weekend.

Custom Order

2010-01-27T18:38:00.000-08:00

A friend at work asked me to make a pair of earrings to match a bracelet that she had. It took me a while to find beads to match but I'm happy with the result.

The results:

Works in Progress

2010-01-23T18:24:00.000-08:00

I've started experimenting with some new kinds of beads for me. I like the way they are coming together. I think they may make nice bracelets.

New Items on Etsy

2010-01-16T10:20:00.001-08:00

I added a pair of earrings and a new necklace style up on Etsy today.

Check them out!

Name me please!

2010-01-04T17:55:00.001-08:00

Sometimes by crazy random happenstance you end up with the strangest things that are actually the things you really needed. Today's case in point is my new torso:

She was rescued along with several others (male and female) from a dumpster by a co-worker.
The original intent was for some sort of prank but she never quite made it for that. Instead I brought her home to be my new jewelry model.

I've decided that she needs a name so I'm inviting all my readers (still few enough to count on my fingers I'm sure) to chime in with what you think is a good name for this new piece of plastic who is destined to become an important part of my jewelry photography.

Happy New Year!

2009-12-31T13:24:00.000-08:00

I made this to go with a New Year's Eve dress. The dress is almost the exact shade of the blue beads. I'm very pleased with how it came out and how it sits. I've had trouble in the past with netting type of necklaces not falling correctly when worn, but this worked out well. Earrings to match are on their way.

From Silver Class

2009-12-29T19:40:00.000-08:00

I made this about a year ago as the first chain project for a silver class I was taking.
I gave it to my mother as a present and only just now got around to taking a picture of it. I spent hours redoing the chain parts which kept getting accidentally soldered together. I had to replace quite a few pieces before it actually moved freely and was fully soldered. The next chain I did was much easier though!

Use the Muse III

2009-12-26T19:27:00.000-08:00

The winners and galleries for Use the Muse III are up. I'm really impressed with everyone's pieces.

Here are a couple of photos of my finished hair piece.

Presents!

2009-12-25T19:23:00.001-08:00

I made several presents for this year's Winter Gift Giving Holidays. Here's a small assortment - a couple of pairs of earrings and a simple vase. I'm really pleased with how the vase turned out and I'm working on some more ideas for other vase types.

Lists

2009-12-17T19:34:00.000-08:00

The end of the year approaches and that inevitably brings a time to reflect on the past year. I will inevitably spend the next few weeks reading everyone else's end of year lists, but in keeping with Use the Muse's encouragement I'm offering my beading goals for the next year.

1. Experiment with headbands and more hair combs.
I had started some of these a few years ago and kept putting them down. Literally, in the case of the hair combs I made. I kept forgetting them places. While I may not be designed to wear them without losing them, I think they are pretty and fun and can be great accessories. I do however promise to not jump on the feathered headband bandwagon.

2. Home goods
I've started experimenting with some netted beadwork on vases as holiday presents and I'm liking the look.

3. Reorganize the bead collections
After putting everything away for a couple of months so the apartment could be exterminated it is in need of some reorganization. Plus I have a whole bunch of new things that need homes. There's also a bag of clasps that has gone missing that I would dearly love to find.

4. Beaded Cabochons
I've never tried to make these and I would like to maybe incorporate them into some designs.

5. Get the personal website up and fully functional.
It is so close. It's totally going to happen. Soon.

Thoughts on Beading in General

2009-12-17T19:24:00.000-08:00

"How has expressing your creativity through beading enriched your life?"

This sounds like a question I'd be asked to answer on an application for design school as a jewelry designer, but it is an interesting thing to think about if difficult to pinpoint.

I learned to bead when I was very young from a friend of my father's and did it for a number of years and then stopped. After graduating from college I found myself in my first non-directly artistic job in the theater. I craved an artistic outlet so I started making beaded lampshades. It was a short lived return, but about three years later I decided to create some beaded Christmas ornaments as presents and rediscovered my love of beading. It was a stressful period in my life and I found that the concentration that beading took was one of the most soothing things I could do with my down time. Beading allowed me to create beautiful finished products in the short periods of free time I had.

Beading has continued to be a source of stress relief, and while I enjoy selling the occasional piece, that aspect has remained the most important to me. It continues to provide me with an artistic outlet that is entirely mine, based on the patterns and designs that are in my head. Unlike other aspects of my life, there is never a need for artistic compromise. I can choose to create anything so long as I have the patience for it. Allowing my artistic energy to funnel into my beadwork helps keep the rest of my life in balance.

Use the Muse Thoughts

2009-12-16T19:18:00.000-08:00

The big reveal for the third Use the Muse contest is happening tomorrow and Scarlett Lanson over at The Beader's Muse is doing a number of giveaways in preparation. I'm going to take the next couple of posts to answer them starting with what my favorite part in taking part in Use the Muse is.

For me, Use the Muse is first and foremost an opportunity to experiment with new things. Therefore one of the est things about the contest is the excitement I get when I see the box with the new kit and muse in the mail. It's a chance to work with beads, colors, and materials I might otherwise have ignored in the bead store. The challenge of creating something with new materials helps push me into new styles and techniques. In both the Use the Muse contests I have participated in the focal pieces has been something I never would have considered using. This has allowed me to expand on the types of pieces and styles I create and that is my favorite part of this type of contest.

Etsy Store

2009-12-01T21:12:00.001-08:00

At long last I've finally uploaded some things to my Etsy store. Personal website is still to come, but getting there. It's just in time for the holidays too!
Visit my store at Secret Song D esigns!

Currently featuring (among others) with more to come:

A day of beading

2009-11-29T18:19:00.001-08:00

I worked on finishing up a bunch of pieces that have been hanging around today. Most of them are pieces I'm hoping to put up on Etsy in the next week or so. I spent a good portion of the day searching for clasps that apparently have gone permanently missing in the Great Bed Bug of Event of 2009, so some of the pieces will have to wait until my new order comes in.

New piece for me

2009-11-10T17:42:00.000-08:00

I got these cool crescent moon interlocking beads a few months ago and finally used them to make something. I paired them with some greenish teal beads surrounded by seed beads and pale green beads. I'm still trying to come up with a good name for this style. In general I'm having trouble naming jewelry designs. As I'm getting ready to think about selling things more regularly, I figure I need to address that. I think I need to come up with a particular theme and go with that. Maybe Shakespearean? Or maybe something in Hebrew.
I think the camera set up for this one turned out pretty well though and that makes me happy.

More about the muse

2009-11-07T18:05:00.000-08:00

I've finished my muse project and am working on taking suitable pictures, but I'd like to post this detail hint. You can't see the actual muse piece, and I'll wait until the big reveal to show the whole thing, but I'm excited to have done something very different than I've done before and that my original vision worked out well.

A couple more things from my personal stock

2009-11-01T17:51:00.000-08:00

This was made to match a lavender skirt with a pale blue pattern.

This I made to wear for my birthday a year and a half ago. There's a hair comb that matches, and it must be a lucky one because its one of the few hair combs I've made that I haven't lost the first day I wore it.

For a friend

2009-10-19T18:02:00.000-07:00

I made this for my friend Marci quite a while ago, finally snapped a picture of it on her while waiting for Shakespeare in the Park back in June...

Some netting experimentation

2009-10-15T18:43:00.000-07:00

I signed up for the third Beader's Muse competition and the kit is made up of gorgeous fall colors. I've added a couple of colors of seed beads and a beautiful rust colored bugle bead. While I can't reveal the muse yet, I've been inspired to try something new. I'm also experimenting with symmetrical and asymmetrical netting. I spent the past couple of days playing around with the beads to create some different netting patterns. I don't have access to the rest of my beads at the moment due to the great bed bug extermination (you can read about it on my all things domestic blog Duchy of Domesticity), but I'm having a good time with what is in the kit and my little additions. I'm still not quite sure what the end result is going to be but I offer these two bits of work in progress, complete with threads still attached:.

Birthday present!

2009-08-17T21:46:00.000-07:00

My friend Katie had a birthday party Saturday night and I see friend's birthdays as a time to give pretty things as gifts. So in honor of Katie's birth I made the following:

Use the Muse

2009-08-15T15:30:00.000-07:00

Back in June I ordered a kit for the second "Use the Muse" beading competition and the big reveal of the "muse" just happened over at The Beader's Muse. There are some amazing pieces in the galleries over there and I'm really glad I did this.

It was fun putting together something based around a large focal piece. That's not the way I usually design things I'm working on but I'm trying to get better at it. I'm pretty happy with how the piece I made turned out and if you've seen me lately it is very likely I've been wearing it.

It's entitled "Clouds of Blue" and is the first piece of jewelry I've made that I've ever had to name. I'm still trying to decide how I feel about that.

I experimented with making some of the seed bead circles I've used in the past three dimensional and I was really excited by how they came out. I think they'll work really well in earrings in the future.

New Silver Project

2009-07-26T18:29:00.000-07:00

At long last I finished what was supposed to be a simple chain project for my silver class. In fact the chain portion I finished very quickly. Unfortunately the bezel wire I had was too wide for the stones so it took a lot of work to sand them down.

The chain is made of 16g sterling silver round wire with the smaller links of 20g. The base of the crescent moon pieces are 22g sheet.

Some pieces from my personal stash

2009-06-26T20:59:00.000-07:00

Just an assortment of personal stuff now that I have a new camera so I can share.

A couple of presents

2009-06-22T17:30:00.000-07:00

My mother requested a couple of bat mitzvah presents and as always I'm happy to oblige.

older pieces

2008-12-16T14:18:00.000-08:00

2008-12-16T14:11:00.000-08:00