It all started with the jewelry team smooshed in an elevator that would take us to where the artists and musicians were meeting (actually, it all started when Beadalon called to see if I would teach jewelry making for them on the Country Music Cruise alongside Jewelry Television’s Jewel School team).  I was extra excited to hear that Katie Hacker would be my Beadalon Design Team buddy and roommate on the cruise.

We piled onto buses that would then take us to this huge ship.  Behold…..The Eurodam.

 Now I’ve never been on a cruise before so I went with no expectations (which is something I’m striving for more of in 2014).

Within an hour, I had embraced cruise life.  Fully.  Sold.  I’m in.
We set sail and the rest is history…  Ok really, we prepped tools for class and I got a touch woozy from the boat rocking.
Day 1:  I was on deck (literally).  I taught some of the gals on board how to make these earrings!

I called them “Eye of the Sea” earrings with Swarovski crystals and Beadalon’s Quick Links.  Pretty n’ sassy.  Just the way I like my jewelry.

A few of the lovely ladies in the class!  (I have more pictures on my facebook page). We taught four classes while at sea and everyone helped with each other’s class.  That’s Christiane and Julie from Jewel School and Katie in the middle.  It was a great Beadalon/Jewel School collaboration!

This is Nancy who won the Jewel School cruise giveaway.  She was really sweet and fun and made super cool jewelry from all kinds of materials!  We liked her.  A lot.

And that’s Katie holding the instruction set Wyatt at Beadalon made for each jewelry kit.  He goes all out by making beautiful, detailed handouts because we love our jewelry making students!

Now, because I love you–I’m giving away a finished set of earrings from the cruise (unless you prefer yours unfinished to make yourself).  Enter below for your chance to win some sparkle!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Show love. Give love.  Be love.

AND

Know that you are loved.

Your friend,

Candie

And here we are thinking about Valentine’s Day already!!    I’ve been traveling since January 10th so I’m still putting away Christmas decor.  Sigh.  It’ll get done….someday.  I leave Friday for the Tucson Gem show and am prepping for that.  SO EXCITED!!!

Today’s post is sponsored by Craft Attitude!  The people that make a magical, transparent film that you can decorate everything with!  Tonight, I de-stressed with an easy bracelet project.Before we really get rolling, envision my dog Rocker and myself smooshed into a big yellow corduroy chair with me holding my leg just right so as not to disturb his head that’s propped on my calf.  This is a mother’s guilt at it’s finest–I’ve been gone and he’s got my number.  I didn’t want to feel my calf anyway.

To make this little ditty, I grabbed some Magnet Attitude (the reason in a moment), a 1″ hole punch, a pre-made stretchy bracelet with 1″ silver beads, and a free collage sheet from the Graphics Fairy.  I printed the collage sheet onto the Craft Attitude film and set to punching out the circles with the 1″ punch.  Back to the reason for Magnet Attitude—the collage sheet has lots of extra sweet shapes on it that would be perfect for making tiny magnets with.  Include them with your Valentine’s this year?!  I’m just sayin.  Back to the bracelet…Once you have all the circles punched out, apply glue to the printed side.Flip over the circle piece and stick onto the bead, removing the paper backing and smoothing out the film.  One done, a dozen more to go!  Good thing because there are lots of cute images to choose from.How about a close up?  Nice, right?  I love how the Craft Attitude film highlights the texture of the surface it’s on.  Whoa-oh-oh, it’s maa-gic!!  You know!!  Ok, I’ll stop here because I’m really talented at making up words to songs (that make absolutely no sense).  Don’t be jealous, Napoleon.  (I’m also really good at quoting movies).  Did I mention I’m for hire?The glue will dry clear and smooth.My mom is going to see this and want it.  I already know it.

It only takes about fifteen minutes to make this delicious little piece.  And that’s good, because I’ve got Christmas decorations that need to come down and bags to pack.  Trust me people, I’ve been that person that’s blurred the lines of Easter and Christmas and I don’t want to go back to that place.  Pastels look terrible with red and green.

Check out some more projects with Attitude here:

I’m excited to say I’ll be back at the Craft and Hobby Show in the Plaid Crafts booth January 11th-14th.  Plaid makes all kinds of magical DIY supplies including Mod Podge, Folk Art Paints, and fabulous jewelry lines including Inspired Classics, Select Strands and more.  This year, I’m showing the crafty universe their new Monogram Collection.This line has two different styles of monograms that are so pretty!  I love how classy they look.  See the ‘M’ above?  The charms look like you stamped the metal with a wax seal stamp.  Elegant.  Personal.  Pretty.  Three of my favorite words sum up this line.This is what it usually looks like at my station.  Women love jewelry.  I love teaching them how to make jewelry.  It’s a match made in crafty heaven.  This year show-goers like these lovely ladies (and a few men) will get to make their own bracelet (or for their wife) with the Monogram Collection and beads from Select Strands.  It’s a ton of fun!

It was an honor to be invited to serve as a panelist in a discussion that covers “working with manufacturers” this year too.  If you are attending the show, it’s Monday 10Am to 11Am.  I always get nervous at these sort of things so please, if you’re coming to the show, come sit next to me and hold my hand (in other words,  I would love, love, love to meet you)!

You’ll also find my crafty friends, Cathie Filian, Steve Piacenza, Ed Roth, and Rachel Faucett demonstrating in the Plaid booth as well as Jen from Something Turquoise  (who I’ve not met, but am very excited to meet!).  On that note, I’ve got a long list waiting for me so I can actually make it to Cali including pack my suitcase and one more load of laundry.  I wish I could put you guys in my suitcase and bring you along to the show (in a non-creepy way, of course!).

Booth #1401—Stop by and say howdy!

Nothin’ but love!

Candie

This is a post that’s been on my mind lately and I think it’s time to share. It’s my latest philosophy on wearing and making jewelry and goes like this: make it go together, but not perfectly. When I was in my 20s, I refused to wear a set of jewelry.  Matchy McMatcherson is NOT my middle name. I liked (and still do) contrast. These days I find myself designing jewelry that goes together….but doesn’t. Does that make sense? A similar stone, flower motif, nature theme used throughout the pieces can tie the collection all together in a sweet little package, making accessorizing a lot easier. Does that mean I’m getting older because I’m thinking about easy accessorizing?  Don’t answer that. Plus, I’ve found the people who buy my jewelry love pieces that go together (but don’t) and I like making them happy. I’m not getting old. I’m a people pleaser.

If your bracelet is busy, you can balance it by  wearing a simple necklace like this one with an easy, sparkly beaded bail.  I’m not saying I follow this rule.  Just look at my get-up in the video below!  It happens….  For a variety of reasons…..  Your inner gypsy called.  You liked both necklaces and couldn’t say no to yourself.  You thought the bracelet was the perfect complimentary color to your green sweater giving yourself another green light for more jewelry.  More is more.  Sleep deprivation.

How about a closer look at that bail?!?   For people that are new to jewelry making, a “bail” is what connects the pendant to the necklace.  They can come soldered onto the pendant or you can make your own with wire, beads, string, a twist tie…  I don’t recommend the twist tie, but I was on a roll.

This bracelet carries out the subtle set look with the bird beads matching the rose pendant.  The flower motif on the shell beads is so pretty!  I love them.  You can find them as well as the leaf charms and birds at AC Moore.  The pendant and clasp are from JoAnn Fabrics.  All are made by Plaid and they aren’t paying me to tell you this, but I want you to be able to find the supplies easily.  See the little sparkly gold beads used throughout?  Those are the same ones I used for the beaded bail.  They look totally different when peppered in a design versus strung in a row.  I loved creating these pieces for the video below.  It’s my Jewelry Making 101 crash course I made for Plaid (and they did pay me to film that (grins)).  I  hope you find it helpful with all the techniques and tips!  So that’s my two cents on creating a set of jewelry.  How do you feel about sets?  What other techniques are you working on or curious about?  I hesitate to ask you questions for fear that no one will raise their hand, so I’m counting on you to chime in via the comments section.  Now, let’s make some more jewelry!

<3  Candie