Do you have a favorite bead?

Do you have a favorite bead? One that you just want to look at and hold against the light and watch how it sparkles and shimmers? Well, it's hard for me to narrow my collection down to just one particular bead, but (for today anyway) I have one. I cannot get enough of these blue/teal Jablonex firepolish rondelle beads that I bought from Fire Mountain Gems. They are truly expensive looking with a gem-like quality.

When designing a new jewelry piece, I was tempted to string them into one long necklace and just roll them around in my fingers all day long but, I'm afraid their individual beauty would become lost. So, I went through my collection in search of other teal beads that would complement the rondelles.

Now, my beads are separated into boxes by colors. I have some beads in the teal-colored realm, but what are they really? Are they blue? Green? Apparently, I'm not very clear on the subject as I found a box of teal 6/0 Dynamite beads in my blue box and a container of teal-lined amber beads in my green box. I bought the teal-lined beads at Cloud Nine in Nags Head about a year ago and they have just been sitting ever since, waiting patiently for their opportunity.

I decided to use the Dynamites and teal-lined beads to make three beaded beads. I plan to combine them with the Jablonex rondelle beads and design a new bracelet. As soon as it's complete, I'll post the bracelet in "This week's featured jewelry" at Jewels of the OBX, www.jewelsoftheobx.com. What's exciting to me is the fact that there are plenty of the gorgeous rondelle beads (today's favorite!) still left for future projects! If only I could decide which color box to keep them in.

Take care!

Sea Turtle Pin!

I really enjoyed creating this cute little Sea Turtle Pin with bead embroidery, who is approximately 2 inches long. Silver-lined rootbeer cylinder beads were used to outline seven Outer Banks shells that define his shell. Silver-lined cream cylinder beads were used for his head and front and rear flippers. I used gold luster Rocailles to finish the edges, which was probably the most time consuming part of this piece, but the most rewarding as it provides a nice feel and gives it body. The backing is smooth and luxurious dark brown Ultrasuede.

Although the Outer Banks is in the sea turtle's northernmost range, I haven't seen one on the beach ... yet! If I do, you can bet I'll be right here telling you all about it! There's a great website at www.nestonline.org that provides pictures by those who have been lucky enough to see them, along with helpful information and a brochure that can be downloaded and printed. All sea turtles are either endangered or threatened so it's great to see there are people willing to help protect them.

Please check out my pin at www.jewelsoftheobx.com when you get a chance and don't forget I'm offering free earrings with your holiday purchase!

Take care.

Taylor Christian Richard Smith makes his arrival!

We're so happy to announce the much-anticipated arrival of our grandson, Taylor Christian Richard Smith! Born November 30, 2009, 7 lbs., 14 ozs. and 21" long! Emily and Chris are as happy and proud as they can be! Harry and I, Aunt Jamie, Cousin Aiden and Angel will all be travelling to visit within the week ... so you just know there's more pictures to come!

Free earrings with your holiday purchase!

You'll find so many fun and festive activities on the Outer Banks during the holidays. At Jewels of the OBX, you'll also find beautiful jewelry gifts for your friends and family, especially those who love the OBX! Give them a thoughtful gift that will remind them of their favorite place, during the holidays or any time! As always, each jewelry purchase is gift boxed and now through December 21, 2009, you will receive a FREE pair of my "Pearl Elegance" earrings. You can give them as a present or you may decide to keep them for yourself. I chose these earrings as the free gift because I think they appeal to many different jewelry tastes. There's nothing to do, you will automatically receive your free pair of earrings with your order. Please visit my website for more details. (One free pair per household). http://www.jewelsoftheobx.com/

Cottage Row Bracelets

A fun thing to do while visiting the Outer Banks is riding along the beach and looking at all the beautiful oceanfront cottages. There are miles and miles of eye candy … the spectacular multi-million dollar homes, the “mini-hotels,” the lovely quaint cottages and the classic “old Nags Head” homes. Some rows of homes were built mirror images of each other but painted in different colors. Beautiful corals, blues, and greens. These were the inspiration for my new line of bracelets called “Cottage Row.” Each is a reflection of the other but in different colors and with different components making each unique and one-of-a-kind, just like all of my jewelry. The bracelet shown, Cottage Row Blue, is the first of the Cottage Row series. It features five beautiful frosted beads with Swarovski Crystals and a silver-plated toggle clasp. Check them out at the Jewels of the OBX website!http://www.jewelsoftheobx.com/

Black Gold

We returned from our trip to Virginia on Monday - 804 total miles in 5 days! It was wonderful seeing our kids and their families but there's just nothing like being able to sleep in your own bed.

The first night, we spent with our daughter, Jamie, and the remainder was in Blacksburg with our son, Chris, and his wife, Emily, and daughter, Jade. Chris and Emily live in a lovely, quiet townhome that they share with their two dogs, Sparky and Sadie. They are expecting a boy in November and we enjoyed watching him on ultrasound DVDs - definitely a boy! They've taken in another addition to their nest, a cute little kitten that showed up on their doorstep with infected eyes. They took her in, nursed her back to health, named her "Polka Dot" for the black dots on her back and she's just as happy as could be. Who can blame her?

Emily, who is a very talented knitter, made a beautiful little sweater and hat set for the baby. Looks like it fits!

I didn't spend very much time beading on the trip. It was nice just to enjoy the ride and the scenery. The leaves are just starting to turn, I would guess in two to three weeks will be the peak time. I did finish the bracelet I started working on, and am pretty happy with the results although I can't seem to get a photo of it that I'm happy with, probably because of the darker colors in the beads and stones. As with most jewelry, it looks better on than sitting in a box! Do you recognize the shell I used from my last post? I loved its colors of black, gold and white - I could imagine it with these stones as soon as I found it on the beach! Check "Black Gold" out on my website for more pictures at: http://www.jewelsoftheobx.com/

I called the gallery I had left my jewelry entry and portfolio for the juried gallery committee and unfortunately, they already have several other jewelers and do not have any additional room. Like I said, I was trying not to get too excited about it but I was a little disappointed. I guess everyone starting out has to pay their dues and keep plugging away. There are so many other galleries I will need to visit but today, I went to the Dare County Arts Council ("DCAC") to apply for membership. Members are able to show their work at the DCAC gallery in Manteo, have a write up in their Art magazine and will be notified of upcoming events. Now, that truly IS exciting and I can't wait to be contacted by them to see what's next!

This week, I've also been working on new earrings that I've called "Blue Harbour," made with blue cupolini coral and bicone beads that you'll find under the Surf & Sky collection on my website at http://www.jewelsoftheobx.embarqspace.com/. The plan is to extend the Blue Harbour theme with the blue cupolini coral, that I just adore, with matching bracelets and necklaces.

As you know, I love to ride our Harley with my husband, Harry, and I'm going to work on a line of jewelry called "Sandy Gears" (get it?!?) that goes well with all that leather and chrome! Check out my website for the first Sandy Gear necklace at http://www.jewelsoftheobx.embarqspace.com/ and as always, let me know what you think!

Take care!

The first Monday of the month ...

It was an important day on my calendar. I finally finished my artist's portfolio and prepared a presentation of an example of my work. Decided on the necklace and earring set, "Twists and Terns."

I think it's probably the most representative of the work that I do. I put the necklace and earrings in separate jewelry boxes and put them both in a really pretty silver foil that both fit perfectly in (I couldn't believe my luck when I found it!). I think it will be a really nice presentation. So, this morning I dropped them off at a gallery that may be interested in selling my jewelry. They accept new applications on the first Monday of the month. They already have several other jewelers so I'm trying not to get too hopeful but, even if I don't get in, it has really been fun preparing for it. There hopefully will be other galleries to pursue and now at least my portfolio will be ready to go ... from now on, all I have to do is just remember to add to it as I finish jewelry pieces!



After leaving the gallery, I finally had my "Certificate of Assumed Name" notarized and took it to the Registar of Deeds at the Dare County Courthouse. "Jewels of the OBX" will be official and in the deed books soon! Who knew there was so much paperwork involved in making jewelry?! Once I got back home, I actually was able to bead and started on a new bracelet.



Here's my little collection on shells I found on the beach last week which has been sitting patiently on my desk.


I've had my eye on one particular piece and have decided to make a bracelet with it. I started on it today and if it goes well, I'll show you how it progresses.
We're leaving this week to go visit our daughter and then our son who both live in Virginia. I'll put the new project in an old Kaboodles box (oh, you had one, too!) that I use to put my beading in when we travel. Except for the huge mirror under the lid that reflects too many wrinkles, the box works really great. I can sit it on my lap and bead when it's Harry turn to drive. Maybe the leaves are starting to turn up in the mountains and we'll get to see some colors! I'll take pictures!

Well, I hope your first Monday of the month was good one.

Take care!

Welcome!

Welcome to the Jewels of the OBX blog! Yippee! Fall is finally here on the Outer Banks, along with the much anticipated "off season" ! On Monday, we went to Coquina Beach for the afternoon and it was so wonderful to see the crowd thinned out again. If you know what "sandblasting" is, then Monday was it, with a steady southeast wind. The ocean was beautiful with the wind spraying water off the tops of the rolling waves. We hunkered over by the dune line which helped keep the sand out of the pitcher of our "Leaving Las Vegas" somewhat. Not much in the way of shells, mainly picked up a few quahog pieces I'm collecting for "charms."

The ramp is back open at Coquina and it was great to see the hopefuls out there with their lines in the water. We need to renew our fishing licenses, which expired in July, before we can join them.

Tuesday, my husband, Harry and I rode the Harley to Elizabeth City to check out the moving sale for the Outer Banks Harley Davidson shop. They are moving their shop to the larger location already in place in Harbinger, the "Kitty Hawk" store, which will be replaced by a new location (actually in Kitty Hawk), sometime in April. Just in time for Outer Banks Bike Week! It was a still a little windy but it was clear and a beautiful ride, made even better by the 70% off sale on practically EVERYTHING in the store. Sorry, not the Harleys, though. Harry checked. We bought an embroidered Harley leather vest, two pair of Harley riding gloves (mine has fringe, thank you!), a ladies Harley bag and a chaps extender for $120 bucks! They'll be open through this weekend, for the Outer Bikes Fall Bikefest, so hurry on in if you can!

Now, I need to stop goofing off this week and finish the artist portfolio I'm working on. I want to use it to present to galleries who may be interested in my work and plan to use it for the first time on Monday. Wish me luck! I'll keep you posted on how that goes. Hope you'll enjoy reading my blog and come back often. Don't forget to check out my website, http://www.jewelsoftheobx.com/ and also check out the October drawing for the FREE beaded starfish earrings.

Take care!