Inspiration can be found in many ways. One inspiration for me is happening this weekend in Louisville, KY.
The first Saturday of May, every year, is the KY Derby and this year will be the 138th 'Run for the Roses'.
Growing up in Louisville, the home of the KY Derby, the derby was every where and participating in the festivities are a must.
One of the highlights of the KY Derby every year is the fashion. There are all day televised shows with highlights in 'Millionaire Row' at the Churchill Downs to the local parties and the visiting celebrities. So fashion was a must and the focal accessory are the hats.
Even if you aren't going to Millionaire's Row, hats are still the top hot fashion for women.
Local parties around Louisville may incorporate hats as part of the derby party theme. There may be a 'best derby hat', 'silliest derby hat', 'most creative hat' contest at the local parties. Or there maybe free admission to a party with a hat or wearing a hat may be necessary just to protect yourself from the hot sun for the day.
Regardless hats are the top accessories and enhancing that accessory isn't too far behind.
Jewelry, necklaces, earrings or bracelets are needed to finish off your outfit.
I have shared here a few inspirations I have created over the years. These are the only ones that I've actually taken pictures of.
I hope you enjoy my journal of derby jewelry to get your creative juices going.
Feel free to leave a comment if you have inspirations to share.
If you are not familiar with the KY Derby each of these charms represent a significant event that takes place during the derby festivities.
When I lived in Louisville the derby festivities were only one week and started the Saturday before with a Balloon Race. That's been 20 years ago and now the derby festivities start 2 weeks before race day.
Some of the festivities that I favored were the steam boat race and the Pegasus parade. Louisville's city icon is the fleur-de-lis, the mint leaf represents the icon drink 'mint julep' for the derby.
These are the 'Run for the Roses' earrings.
This is another charmed bracelet for the events associated with the KY Derby. The hat for the main focal fashion accessory that defines Derby fashion. The Pegasus for the Pegasus parade on the Thursday before the main race day. Ships wheel for the steam boat race between the 'Belle of Louisville' and the visiting 'Delta Queen'. The balloon for the great Balloon race is weather permits. The horse head with a ring of roses around the neck for the 'Running of the Roses' and then a rose charm to finish it off.
I hope you enjoyed my little trip down memory lane and if you have not experienced the KY Derby maybe one day you may venture to it just for a taste of southern charm that Louisville renders it's guest this time of year.
Thanks for stopping for a visit and ya'll come back now, ya hear!
Hello Beading Buddies; Have you gotten your recent issue of 'BeadStyle'? The November issue is now on the stands. I always look forward to the new issues of this publication.
Beadstyle is a beading publication that is focused on the beginning beader. Those that are just starting out and trying to get their footing to understand all of what goes into learning to make jewelry.
There are always lots of easy projects to explore. All projects have a list of supplies and step by step instruction to complete the jewelry.
If you would like to subscribe to BeadStyle I have provided a link. By clicking on the BeadStyle picture, you can purchase your subscription through Amazon.com or visit your local craft store to pick up a magazine and send in a subscription card you will find within the pages of this fun magazine.
Seasonal jewelry is a fun time to explore may ways to create new looks with old icons. Here is a favorite icon I love using when creating Halloween jewelry, the candy corn. (although I must admit I do not like to eat candy corn)
Don't limit yourself to icons either. Each season has a pallette of colors to choose from.
Allow your creativity to flow from the color schemes of the season. Can you think of any other time you can wear orange, yellow and white with out fear of looking like a candy corn?
Have fun with seasonal jewelry using either icons or color schemes, what ever you choose to use let your creatvity flow and then come back here and share it with us. We want to hear from you.
Before we continue talking about how to store our beading supplies let's take a look at some of the supplies that will be stored.
We know there will be beads and tools, but what else is there?
Let's focus on the basic jewelry findings to have on hand for a beginner to complete our projects.
What is a finding?
Beading and jewelry findings are the basic components that complete a beading project. Findings hold your jewelry together and can also be incorporated into the design of most pieces of jewelry.
Let's look at a quick list of what I suggest to have on hand:
For bracelets, necklaces and anklets you will need a spool of beading wire, spool of elastic, crimps, clasp and seed beads are optional.
For earrings you will need ear wires, head pins or eye pins.
Then for general use I recommend to have jump rings or spring rings on hand.
These are not the only findiings you will be using or needing but this is the minimum of the basic findings needed. We'll talk more about other findings as we learn and develop our techniques.
And let me stress, if you don't learn anything else from me learn this. What I find to be the most important part of learning to make jewelry is to learn the techniques first. That is laying the foundation, getting your footing to build on your new knowledge. Get yourself familiar with the techniques, get to a comfort zone or at the least close to it and then learning about all the many components and materials you will be using to create your designs will come so much easier.
Now, back to the jewelry findings. You may be asking, so what are all of these findings and what do they look like? That's a good question and one I ask myself every time I learn a new component.
I have covered this thoroughly in an article titled 'Bead Findings for the Beginner'.
Let's explore more and understand these basic findings so that you will have a better understanding of how to store your supplies.
As always, Happy Beading!!
This is your new blog post. Click here and start typing, or drag in elements from the top bar.
Let's talk a bit about how to store your beading supplies. Let's talk bead containers.
Containers, just as most things, come in lots of shapes, sizes, styles and colors.
First, ask yourself these two questions, "What supplies am I storing?" and "Where am I going to store my supplies?".
Once you answer these, it will help narrow your selection of containers.
Let's look at a few options that may be considered and then let's look at some storage solutions.
Options of Supplies: Beads; tools; magazines, books and catalogs; spools of wire; findings and the list goes on, you fill in the rest.
Options of storage space: Closet; Drawers; Cabinets; Shelves.
Closet - Bags and Hooks; Peg Board
Drawers - Stackables; flat divided containers with closing lid
Cabinets - toolbox
Shelves - Boxes; Beadboards
Theses are just a few options and solutions to storing your beads and beading supplies. I will follow up on this particular topic to give more thought in depth. For now answer the two questions posed to you above and see what solutions you come up with.
I would invite you to post your comments and suggestions of what you are doing for storage to help give beginning beading enthusiast ideas to pull from.
Beaded Blessings.
RSS Feed