Kumihimo Necklace

Finished Kumihimo Necklace

Plus

 

 

 

Remember the unfinished Kumihimo necklace that I thought matched the Neiman-Marcus purse?

 

 

Well, I did finish the necklace and made more. I told you I was on a Kumihimo kick.

 

 

You can see more pictures and information on the website.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I had several kits of fiber cords that I had purchased awhile ago and when I pulled them out and matched them to some of the pendants I had, I made this one.

 

These fibers are in a collection called "Vegetation". Not a bad name but somehow, doesn't seem to fit a necklace. I changed it to "Green Moss" but I don't think that is any better.

I need suggestions, please.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You can see more pictures and information on the website.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Until this Friday's special

 

Bev

 

Birthday Present

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Normally we do not give birthday presents in our family but every once in awhile there is a good exception. This is one of those years for my oldest daughter. I won't say what makes it special. ;-)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As you may have noticed, I've been making a lot of Kumihimo pieces lately. Also, you may remember the beautiful Michael Harrington beads I purchased at my last bead show?  

 

 

 

 

 

 

After several trips to my local bead stores I came up with the above design. I found two large hole Bali type beads to frame Michael's focal bead. The large holes allow room for the cords in the Kumihimo braid. (Trip one)

 

 

 

 

 

Then I must have looked over every single seed bead in the store to find the right color to go with the focal bead. After I found one, I noticed that I had chosen Emerald. Which just happens to be the gemstone for the month of May. (Trip two)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Making the Kumihimo braid is often the easiest part of the whole design. The ends usually present a dilemma in finishing. End caps come in so many different sizes and shapes. I think we tried every end cap in the store and finally decided on these. (Trip three)

 

 

All of this is part of the jewelry designing process and I just love doing it. Especially with a nice result like this one. Any time you have design in mind you would like to see, just ask and we can usually come up with a great design.

 

 

I'm still working on last week's necklace. Haven't been able to find the end caps I like yet. But there is a bead show coming up this weekend and I plan to be there. No telling if I'll find anything but I'll be looking.

 

 

Until this Friday's special and next week,

 

 

Bev

 

website:http://ringbyringdesigns.com

 

Glass Dome Pendants

New Video

 

 

 

Since I started making Glass Dome Pendants, I've been looking for new designs.

I've found lots. Some are good and some, not so much.

I decided it would be good to make a video of the ones I like and have featured on the website.

 

 

 

I had the most fun making some Kaleidoscope designs with some free ware I found on line.

Effectively, you can upload a picture and click "Kaleidoscope", the number of points and voila. It makes a Kaleidoscope design. Then with a little more adjusting I had some nice round designs for the pendants.

 

 

 

 

 

 

This one is made from the three rings in the Ring by Ring Designs logo

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This one is from the picture of Michael Harrington's Beads that Bounce bead. You can see the original bead picture by clicking on the link above.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

While you look at the video, see if you can figure out where I got the rest of the Kaleidoscope designs. Hint: look at the names. (Just the Kaleidoscope designs)

 

You can see the video of the Glass Dome Pendants on You Tube here:

 

 

 

Click on link above or on the Lily to see the video.

 

 

Enjoy your look at the Flowers, Japanese Calligraphy, Sea Shells, Kaleidoscope Designs, Mandala Designs, Quilt Designs and the various others.

 

Remember, I can always make something special, too. Right now I'm working on a design for a graduation present representing the graduates' college.

 

Enjoy the video.

 

 

Until this Friday's special and next week,

 

Bev

 

website:http://ringbyringdesigns.com

 

Email:info@ringbyringdesigns.com

or       bevcarlson@comcast.net

 

Also find Ring by Ring Designs on Facebook http://facebook.com/ringbyring

and Twitter http://twitter.com/#!ringbyring

Boston Marathon

Boston Marathon

next Monday 4/16/2012

 

 

 

 

For the last 5 years, my friend, Melanie Horris, has run the Boston Marathon in honor of her patient partner, Lexie Williams. Each year Melanie has said (after the race) "This is the last one!"

 

And, yes she has already said that this year. (I'm thinking she may really mean it this year)

It is a grueling 26+ miles over hills and dales. Just the training would be more than I could take!

 

However, she has raised a lot of money each year from her donors in support of both Melanie, Lexie and the Dana Farber Cancer Research Institute. Her goal this year is $10,000)

 

 

 

 

 

In 2007, Melanie approached me with the idea of making a meaningful bracelet to help raise money for her Boston Marathon run and the Dana Farber. We put our heads together and involved Lexie too.

 

Our first piece was Lexie's bracelet. It is made with five different colors of Swarovski Pearls and Bali Silver spacers. It is 7 ½ inches long and has a lobster claw clasp and a 2 inch extender for easy fit. The meaning of the colors in Lexie's Bracelet were chosen by Lexie.  (Click on the link above to see more)

 

 

 

The success of the first Lexie Bracelet and its extended pieces (earrings, necklace etc) was wonderful. We raised over $4,000 for cancer research.

 

 

Each year, together, we have designed a piece of jewelry in Lexie's honor. A portion of the proceeds has gone to the Dana-Farber. This year's piece is Wings of Hope.

 

 

 

The white Swarovski Pearls used, have the same meaning of HOPE as in the original bracelet.

 

The pendant is strung on an 18 inch silver plate Snake chain. (It is also available on a 20 inch chain)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Not only does she run but she sells the jewelry too. Keeps me busy!

 

This year we accidentally found another piece to add. The Hancock Husky. You've seen the Glass Dome Pendants? Well, this is a blue paw print representing the Hancock Huskies. (The school where Melanie teaches) The kids at the Hancock school love them and with their purchases, they are, also, supporting the Dana Farber and Melanie's run.

 

I love it when a (non) plan comes together!

 

 

 

 

(The Glass Dome pendants are ready for any fundraiser events you may need or know about. Many designs can be made)

 

 

Her bib number for this year's race is 21385. If you would like to follow her progress year, you can go to her page where you can read about her reasons for running.

 

 

All of the pieces in the Lexie Line of jewelry can be purchased by contacting me, Melanie or on the Ring by Ring Designs website.

 

We all appreciate your past support!

 

 

Until this Friday's special and next week,

 

Bev

 

website:http://ringbyringdesigns.com

Bead Show Trip

and the beautiful "finds"

 

 

 

 

I've been to lots of bead shows. Some are good, some not so much. I really don't have a list when I go. If you do, you usually won't find what you are looking for any how.

 

So, I was pleased to find some beautiful Black/white swirl hand made tear drop beads - at a reasonable price. At the same vendor there were some purple ones, also.

 

 

 

 

But since I never purchase on the first go round, I was off to the next vendor. Nothing special. So, I went on until I found the table of Michael Harrington and his "Beads that Bounce" What a find that was. He not only was an extremely interesting person but had some great beads.

 

He almost had the banter of a carnie salesman but what he had to say about his beads was fascinating.

 

As you might guess from the name of his beads: "Beads that Bounce" the first thing he did was bounce the glass like beads on a steel surface. They did not break as glass or Lampwork beads would. Then he asked me to hold his bead and a similar looking glass bead. His bead was very light. But he wasn't finished with the show.

 

 

The beads are made from recycled eye glass lenses. His method is proprietary and he wasn't sharing when another lady pushed for more information. Further, the process does not require heat as Lampworked beads do. (A torch, yet) He did say the process uses optical resin in many layers with things added as he proceeds with the layers. And his last "surprise" piece of information was to say what was inside the beads I purchased. Look close (Sorry, I know the picture isn't very clear) Can you see what is in the middle?  Let me know what your guess is.   I'll let you know next week what the surprise is.

 

 

 

 

Be sure to read Michael's biography. He has had a fascinating life. (An Opera Singer, movies - he has an IMDb file - worked with NASA etc)

 

 

 

 

 

The other beads I found were beautiful but lack the "story" of Michael's beads.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now comes the fun part!  What to do with these beads? The are nice enough to just string on a nice chain. But what fun is that? Well, we will see!

 

Let me know what you think of Michael and these beads. Do you have a favorite?

 

 

Until this Friday's special and next week,

 

Bev

 

website:http://ringbyringdesigns.com

 

Email:info@ringbyringdesigns.com

or       bevcarlson@comcast.net

 

Also find Ring by Ring Designs on Facebook http://facebook.com/ringbyring

and Twitter http://twitter.com/#!ringbyring

 

Science with a Mission

Science with a Mission

Quilt Show

 

 

 

 

One of my first Fundraiser projects was for Science with a Mission, a non-profit organization started by my friend, Alynne MacLean. Half of the sell price for this bracelet went to Science with a Mission.

 

I've listened to Alynne talk about how this all started and her journey to start SMI many times. It never gets old.

 

SMI recently reached the point where they have sent over 200,000 test kits to the needy in over 62 countries all over the world.

 

But the best way to know Alynne is to listen to this video that was on a local TV station recently.

 

 

 

 

Please take time to listen to this video

 

 

Alynne is a member of our local church, Covenant Congregational Church of North Easton. The church and many of the members, even me, come up with various ways to help Alynne and SMI raise money. We have a Live auction in May and now, this Saturday, March 24, we have a Quilt Show. This is the 7th year for the Quilt Show and it is amazing to see over 50 quilts spread out over all the pews in the church. For the 7 years, none of the quilts have been repeated.

 

In one of Alynne's recent newsletters she shows how anyone, of any age, can help. Alynne patiently teaches anyone who wants to learn, how to help make the tests for SMI

 

 

This year Ring by Ring Designs will be donating several of our pieces to the Quilt Show and the Auction being held Saturday, May 5 at 6:30 PM at the Covenant Congregational Church of North Easton.

 

This is a picture of some of the many quilts desplayed last year.

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you have any questions about SMI, you can go to their website www.sciencewithamission.org or ask me. I'll find out if I don't  know.

 

 

 

Until this Friday's special and next week,

 

Bev

 

website:http://ringbyringdesigns.com

 

Email:info@ringbyringdesigns.com

or       bevcarlson@comcast.net

 

Also find Ring by Ring Designs on Facebook http://facebook.com/ringbyring

and Twitter http://twitter.com/#!ringbyring

Wings of Hope Pin

Wings of Hope

(a new Pin)

 

 

 

 

 

Finally, the new "Wings of Hope Pin" is available. The newest piece in Lexie's Jewelry.

 

You remember Lexie, she is a fourteen year old girl with brain cancer. She was first diagnosed when she was only 3 1/2 months old.

 

Very fortunately, her tumor and its effects have been stable recently.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here is the view from the back. The pin is attached with a "tie tac" type finding. I works best on a thicker material such as in a jacket or coat. I have it on my rain coat.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Wings of Hope Pin joins the Wings of Hope Pendant. Also, you can have a Wings of Hope pair of earrings. One of my customers made a request and voila, Wings of Hope earrings were born. Send me an email as it is not on the website.

 

 

 

The white Swarovski Pearls used, have the same meaning of HOPE as in the original Lexie bracelet.

 

The pendant is strung on an 18 inch silver plate Snake chain. (It is also available on a 20 inch chain)

 

 

 

 

 

 

The "Wings of Hope" pendant and Pin are available on the website: "Wings of Hope"

 

 

Until this Friday's special and next week,

 

Bev

 

website:http://ringbyringdesigns.com

More New Pendants

(See some new choices)

 

 

 

The curtain is lifted and more designs have been added to Ring by Ring Designs' Glass Dome Pendants. I've added them to the web site so you see them in the Ring by Ring shop

 

The "Parkview Panda" had been popular. It really is cute, isn't it? The price is reasonable at $15.00 each.

 

I'm also offering any design(s) as fundraisers to any one interested. Email me for information if you are interested.   bevcarlson@comcast.net

 

 

 

 

  

One of the new categories available is Japanese Calligraphy, with meanings. Very stylish.

 

Included are Happiness, Dream, Family and Peace.

 

(Note: the picture is not shown in the pendant so it can be seen better)  That is my excuse and I'm sticking to it! Really, it isn't square.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One of my favorite new categories is "Love Letters and Flowers".

 

So far,  Lily, Dahlia, Violet and Red Begonia are available.  I will be adding more beautiful flowers as time  goes on.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Later this week, I plan to add a new category for Sea Shells.

 

I'm not good about knowing the names of sea shells. Scallop is included (I do know that one) but the others have names like: yellow shell etc. Maybe I'll have time to look them up on Google.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Click here to purchase

 

 

Drop me a note, please, with any comments.  bevcarlson@comcast.net

 

 

Thanks!

 

 

website:http://ringbyringdesigns.com

 

Email:info@ringbyringdesigns.com

or       bevcarlson@comcast.net

 

Also find Ring by Ring Designs on Facebook http://facebook.com/ringbyring

and Twitter http://twitter.com/#!ringbyring

and now on Pinterest  http://pinterest.com/bevcarlson/