A new necklace

 I have been working this last week to make some new jewelry to take with me to Stitches South.

 I finished up this necklace and earrings to match just yesterday in time to take some pictures to show it off before heading for Nashville.

 This one does not have a name yet but some how seems to belong in my Suessology Series.  I think it  is the black with the bright colors that makes me think this.

With a big necklace I usually just make some little earrings and these cuties are all of about an inch long.

More from the Prehistoric series.

 Of course the Prehistoric series had to have some barnacle encrusted flower spikes.

 These are the same shapes I use in my Alice's Garden series but colors and etching to make you think of age.

Of course there had to be some big etched bell flower shapes to go with the spiky pieces.

More Alice's Garden Flower Pieces

 Big bright bell shaped flower pieces that look to me like fairy skirts and...........

.......lots of spikes. If you would like to see one piece I made using these you can go here to see the necklace called Ten Feet Tall   http://tanyamcguire.blogspot.com/2012/01/challenge-piece.html

I have been working on my Alice's Garden Flowers...

 ...as well, so I had to make a batch of the large and small cones to fill the tray.

I love the tiny cones because they can be used as bead caps and tassel tops as well.

I won an award.

In September when we were at the Sidewalk Art Festival in Sioux Falls South Dakota I won an award for this piece.  It is called "Jabberwocky" and is part of my Alice's Garden Series.

The award was just an Honorable Mention but it made me feel great because there are about 125 artists and not that many awards.  Each artist is only allowed to enter one piece and I always seem to be scrambling to decide which piece to enter.  This year I had no problem deciding.  Hands down this was it. 

I have to also say that this piece found a new home while we were at the show in DesMoines IA last month.  A fabulous customer fell in love with it and I am sure she will have fun wearing it. 

Sorry that I haven't found time to tell you all this news before, we have just been busy, busy.  Now I get to think about what I might work on next.  What the new big piece will be. 

My fabulous customers.......

..........are at it again.  The last couple of weeks several people have sent me pictures of their lovely work that includes my beads.  I just have to show some of it off here on my blog.  Please make sure you go and check out their other work.  I have included links where I have them.

This first bracelet is from Fran Norris of lilicharms on Etsy.  She sent me links to several of her pieces that had my beads and they were all so pretty I had trouble deciding which one to show off.  Do make sure you look around her shop.  (I just found out the other beads in this creation were made by amie3 on Etsy.)

This lovely necklace and earrings is from Luann Gilliland  at LZG Beaded Designs on Facebook.  I love the red and gray together and the mix of textures adds even more interest.

This piece comes from Beth Kennedy and as you all know I love the bright colors.  These are some of my Alice's Garden flowers and she has worked in the great detail of the loops of seed beads.  Just so much fun.  Beth does not have a store but says  "It's a real hit and I love wearing it!"

That is all for today but I  have another piece I still have to show you.  Have to save a little for another day. :-) As always if you make something with my beads I would love to see it an show it off for you. 

There are certain beads...............

 ...........that I hate trying to photograph.  These Alice's Garden cone shaped flowers are one of them. 

 When you have them standing up this way they look fine but don't really give the person the idea of how big they are or really what shape they are.  They look really fun in person and I love the way they look in a piece of jewelry. (You can see one piece here.)

But when you try to show the shape or that the bead is a cone, the photos just really do not look the way I want them too.  I have tried to figure out what it is that I am doing that I am not happy with and can not seem to find the solution.

Now the Alice's Garden spiky beads you can tell just what they are and how they will hang with one picture. 

If anybody has some suggestions about working with the cone flowers I sure would love to hear them.

New Necklace

 Another fun necklace using some of my Alice's Garden beads.  The beads in this piece hang like a pendant from a chain. 

 It sits at the base of the neck and make a real statement.

And I love the little fringe pieces that look like the flower stamens.