Jewelry Photos- Fun with FALL Props

by Genea C-K

Hello friends!

Yeah, it's late. It's a Sunday night, strange time to post a blog except I just had a TON of fun with this new program Pic Monkey. It's fall, my FAVORITE time of year! Yesterday I got to enjoy creating inside while a thunderstorm rumbled on through out the day. It was WONDERFUL! 

Here is the view from my studio window. When I lampwork this is what I get to enjoy seeing :D

Here is the view out of my other window that was taken today when it was sunny. The weather was a windy 68 and sunny. Perfect for taking some photos.

Here is one of the photos that really made me swoon.

These earrings are by Pink Poppy Studio. Aren't they absolutely GORGEOUS? The beads are so beautiful, but you add a gorgeous fall colored leaf and the piece just comes ALIVE!

So I went out in the sun today to photograph some beads and jewelry for my shop updates this week. It was  very windy and leaves were blowing all over. As I snapped a few pics I reached over and picked up a beautifully colored red leaf.

WOW! You see how this is working? You take  some gorgeous jewelry, add a nice prop and VOILA! You have just created an environment for your piece! I must say I was a little unsure about starting to use some props. I had had a mentor help me with my Etsy shop and she just stressed having plain photos of JUST your work. I knew how much I loved seeing these type of photos and decided to jump in! Clay dings and spacers by Karen Totten. Enameled hoops and lampwork beads by me.

Mmmm gorgeous, huh?! Clay by Marsha Neal Studio, patinated hoops by Karen Totten, weeny dings by me,  Rubber o's by My ELEMENTS,.

Isn't this amazing?! Clay beads by Marsha Neal Studio, Rubber o's by My ELEMENTS, Weeny dings and enameled hoops by me.

All beads by me.

Isn't this photo so beautiful with this red leaf?! I love it! Heart by Staci, clasp, connector and rings by Karen Totten, recycled glass spiral bead and wing dings by me.

Want to know how to really make your photos look pretty?

Hop on over to Pic Monkey(it's free!) upload your photos and create one of these collages!  Hooray for jewelry and fall!

Enjoy!

xo Genea

Inspiration, Unexpected Collaboration! Eleanore Thomas of Spin Culture

blog by Genea C-K

Are you ever inspired? Are you ever inspired by someone elses work? Does that inspiration turn into an unexpected collaboration?! Well that is what happened with Eleanore(Nellie) and us! You might have been introduced to Nellie through her mom's(Karen Totten) post on AJE called Fiber Wire and a Fiber Wire Studio Tour. Nellie is the owner of Spin Culture. She creates hand dyed fibers with which she creates bats to be spun into incredible yarn! 

I have had the extreme pleasure of getting to know Nellie pretty well from our late night chats on facebook :) During some of our chats and through the release of our limited edition collaboration , Nellie was very inspired by our color palettes! She jumped right in and created these wonderful bats from which fiber wire would be created! 

Here is the set that Nellie used for her color inspiration.

Here is an image of the fibers she chose to match on the drum carder.

Here is the finished bat.

and HERE is the INCREDIBLE "Autumn Harvest" fiber wire! 

Here are some of the limited edition collaboration sets that are still AVAILABLE!

"Autumn Heart 1"

"Autumn Heart 2"

"Harvest Heart 2"

Remember, once these sets are gone, they are GONE, so hop on over and grab one before you miss out! ;)

Here are some beautiful designs other artists have been creating with their fiber wire to give you some inspiration!

Necklace by Lorelei Eurto.

Earrings by Staci.

Necklace by Lesley Watt.

Thanks for stopping by!

xo Genea

Welcome to Inspiration & Collaboration; The Social Artist! The Inner Workings of Collaborations and Limited Edition GIVEAWAY announcement!

Hello friends!

I can't even explain just how incredibly excited I am to be writing our FIRST blog here on Inspiration & Collaboration; The Social Artist! Staci is the mastermind behind this special blog, but together we have had the pleasure of putting our creative minds together for a collaboration!

So what is a collaboration? A collaboration is the coming together of artists to creatively invent a work of art  using each of  their adept skills. When I met Staci through the Bead Soup Blog Party, I had no idea that our friendship and love of beads would lead us here. How exciting huh?! I can't tell you how many times I have been inspired by Staci's work and where we have "volleyed" ideas back and forth to each other.

Here is just one of the many examples. From left to right: my "Vortex Flower", Staci's "Swirl Flower", and my "Vortex Anemone Flower". 

You know every good bead needs to be created into an equally beautiful piece of jewelry, right?! 

Here is a GORGEOUS bracelet Staci created using her lichen bead, hoop and spiral "s" clasp along with my recycled bottle glass beads.

I just LOVE this one she created with her bronze donut and my "Ancient Pebble" focal.

Sometimes when you design things just JUMP together! Check out this incredible design with art beads by: Staci, Karen and me.

.... and THEN you can make a design just DRIPPING with art beads!

Creativity has no limits!  So jump into your bead box and start designing something fabulous!

GIVEAWAY for our LIMITED EDITION COLLABORATION SETS- MONDAY(9-10-12)

Well friends, it's FINALLY time to release our special LIMITED EDITION COLLABORATION SETS! Can you believe it?! This has been months in the making and it's time to BUST out the BEADS!

I know it's been awhile, so let me re-fresh your memory of what is in store....

Do you love those limes, teals, and yellows?

Maybe you dig those gorgeous "turning leaves" fall colors.

... or maybe you like some "every day" wear neutrals. Whatever the case may be...

Yes, friends, ONE of these amazing sets will be YOURS! 

So hop back to our blog on Monday for details about how to snag your LIMITED EDITION COLLAB set before anyone else gets one! Yep, our lucky winner will be the FIRST one to not only get ONE of the 25 sets, we have, but they will have it an entire week before they are released to the general public!!

We can't WAIT to see you on Monday!

xo Genea