WATCH OUT! She's at it again...

If you know me or have read my bio on the website, you know that Sunshine INdustries got its start when I made a beaded watch. I couldn't stop. I started to make necklaces and earrings and bracelets. I made anklets. I made more watches. My bead buying began to take the place of my shoe/clothes buying. I knew right then that this "hobby" wouldn't go away quietly. Nearly 4 years later, I'm still creating. Many people still consider my watches to be my best product.

I haven't been creating them for awhile. Guess we all need a break from time to time.

While taking a break from them, I seem to have gathered a nice stash of lampwork and glass beads perfect for some really unique pieces. I opened the lampwork bin for a peak about two weeks ago and inspiration spilled out!!

I've been concentrating on metal clay a bit more lately, forgetting how much fun it is to string together COLOUR and TEXTURE... With the Art Market coming up this Saturday, I decided to create just a few watches. After all, people seem to like them.

It turns out that I do, too! Ask my husband. I've been up late, trying to keep up with the flow of inspiration that seems to be
calling me from the lampwork bead bin...

I'm almost out of watch faces and still, the pull is there! I don't think that the watch obsession is ready to let me go just yet.

Part of the reason that so much inspiration has come from my glass bead bin is that I have found some seriously talented lampwork artists.

Pam Dansie of Wild Sage Lampwork creates a great variety of gorgeous beads. My favorites from Pam are her lentil shaped beads - see the ivory and turquoise coloured square bead in this watch as an example.

Elly Peters of Elly Lou Creations has become a favorite both for her personality and her beads! She's Canadian - always a plus. Look for her specialty bead - the winged goddesses. They don't work well for watches, but they are so cute! Elly created the "Evil Eye" beads and the focal bead in this watch.

Yvonne Kurpjuweit, who is my selling partner at the Art Market, a fellow Middle Years teacher and most importantly, a friend, is my favorite source of lampwork beads. I hate to bother her for any as she creates her own jewelry line, but I have been lucky enough to purchase a few from her. They tend to be bright colours with beautiful light coming from them. You can see her beads and jewelry at http://www.creativeadornments.ca.

Early on, I was inspired by Yvonne's work to actually try to learn lampworking. I took a short course in Invermere. I learned that I am nowhere near patient enough for that! I much prefer to pound and melt metal... However, while in Invermere, I met a very talented bead artistan at Bliss Beads. Sandra takes the art to a new level. These stunning pink swirl beads and the focal bead are from Bliss.

Of course, some of my beads come from retail stores like WalMart or Michaels. I mix these amongst sterling, gemstones, shell, artisan beads - whatever looks good together. I let the inspiration and the art guide me in choosing components for each watch. I try to create watches of all price points so that everyone can enjoy a one-of-a-kind artisan watch.

Come out and see these watches in person and say hi to Yvonne & I at the Streetscapes Art Market:

Saturday, June 12th

Atrium Centre

10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

May the Bling be with You!

Dawn

TREND WATCH

I watched the Golden Globes tonight along with a bizillion other people, most of whom were watching for a glimpse of the actors or actresses and to see whether their movies and TV shows were worthy of a Golden Globe award. I was watching for the fashions and the jewelry. Sad, I know. But I am what I am.

Trends I noticed:

*off the shoulder clothing

*bare necks

*huge stone earrings

*long chandelier or drop earrings

*cuff bracelets

Some actresses, such as Kate Winslet, had stunning smaller drop earrings that accented her form-fitting black & white gown. She was the exception. Drew Barrymore wore HUGE diamond studs that I noticed despite the odd textural element on her shoulder. Julian Moore wore emerald teardrop earrings the size of Montana and Courtney Cox wore HONKIN' smokey topaz teardrops. Kate Hudson wore stoneless silver-coloured (white gold?) tassle drop earrings. Meryl Streep wore a gold version of the stoneless tassle drop earrings. Talk about classic!

There were very few necklaces in the room, but the exceptions were mostly small and modest. Notable exceptions were Sophia Loren's diamond choker and Julia Robert's large Bohemian inspired necklace. Sophia's was beyond classy. Julia's... well, it was kind of the "elephant in the room". She seemed sadly underdressed in comparison to the rest of the room.

There were many cuff bracelets or multiple bracelets to accent the wrist to make up for the naked necks. There were also some notable large rings where there were no bracelets. The odd woman opted for hair jewelry or a broach on their hip instead of bracelets or rings.

Now we all won't be wearing the same kind of bling that the crowd at the Golden Globes adorned themselves with, but the message I take away from them is that earrings will be large and dangly. Necklaces will be small or non-existent this season. Bracelets and large rings will be important.

Oh, and since Avatar won the best picture, look for tribal-inspired jewelry as well.

May the Bling be With You!

Dawn

More of the Latest...

This necklace, "Midnight in Siam" is really just a teaser... It was a special order and is sold. It is a mix of gorgeous Bali style sterling beads mixed with firepolish jet glass. I imagine it being worn out to black tie affairs...

Ok, so this isn't jewelry, but I had to share. This was a week of MAJOR finds for my studio/store! I found two of these metal/glass shelves on wheels on a garage sale group on Facebook. Love them! They are inspiring. I just want to fill them up with shiny things! Best of all, they come apart for easy movement to trade shows...

Speaking of shiny things, here are some new earrings.

#09-176 - Lemon Drop Earrings

(Click on the title to purchase or for more info.)

These earrings feature handcrafted sterling hoops with lemon calcite drops. The hoops are about 1 1/2" in diameter. The entire length of both hoop and drop is about 2". They are not heavy, but they make quite a statement! Yellow is very in this season. These are not bright yellow, so they would also go nicely with neutrals. Money saving hint - purchase these, then go to the Mix n' Match Earrings area of the website and buy more drops to interchange as needed! Ta Da! Earrings for any outfit.

This porcelain cross was another great find at ReStore this week. I love shopping there! It's not antique, but it definitely has a vintage flair.

On it hangs the Ocean Breeze series - the necklace, bracelet and earrings. They would make great Christmas gifts for the gal who loves turquoise or the ocean...

Speaking of the ocean, these new jade earrings are part of the Among the Kelp series. Click here to see the necklace and here to see the bracelet. All are made with sterling silver and new jade stones. The necklace and bracelet also incorporate some pewter elements - the seahorse and the starfish.

These earrings are on handcrafted sterling wires that are about 3/4" in diameter. The total length is about 1 3/4". The soft light green goes with any neutral/natural and give just enough of a colour pop to be noticed without shouting.

I also created several Mommy Bling & Baby Bling items, but until they are given as gifts, I can't give away their identities!

If you would like a Mommy Bling item or any special order item for a Christmas gift, it's best to order now. My order book is filling up quickly! Thanks to all who have already ordered.

May the Bling Be With You...

Dawn

Mix n' Match Earrings! Oh yah.

Remember mixing and matching tops & bottoms to create a bikini? Well... this is just like that - pick a top - an ear wire:

and a bottom - a stone or glass drop:
And TA DA! You have your very own personalized earrings.

All of the ear wires are handcrafted in 20 gauge sterling silver wire. No plated metal here!! All of the drops are stones or glass on sterling headpins with sterling accents.

Make YOUR earrings today at http://www.sunshineindustries.ca.