Custom DecorativeTags

I have been busy working on an order for custom gift tags for Daisy Rose in Ft. Worth, TX.  These tags have many design elements and are a lot of fun to make.

I start with elements designed and cut with the Silhouette Cameo.

I also crochet each flower by hand for the embellishments.

This is how they look with all of the elements in place. 

I even create a little envelope for each tag.

New Necklaces

Here is another batch of new necklaces from Deborah.  They all feature vintage components layered onto filigrees.  Each necklace has been hand knotted between the crystals, pearls and stones.  These beauties are destined for Picadilly Frilly in Bentonville, AR.

Iron-on T-Shirt Designs

We had fun using the Cameo to create t-shirt designs for the girls.  The fireworks and triangle shirts are made with iron-on glitter and the Light Up the Sky shirt was made by cutting a stencil with the machine.  Alexandra painted the design using the stencil.  They had a great time designing their own shirts.

Decorative Gift Box

I had nice white box just sitting around, so I decided to decorate it with tissue paper.   I started with a layer of green tissue and then covered that with a decorative tissue that is ready to be colored.

Once the glue was dry, I started adding ink sprays in several colors.  I used a combination of distress spray stains, Dylusions spray ink and Heidi Swapp spray ink.  All of the colors blended into a pretty green shade, but you can still see lots of variations.  When the ink was dry, I coated the whole box with Distress Collage Medium.  The vintage color of the medium toned down the bright colors and sealed the tissue.  Now I can use this pretty box for a pretty gift.

  

Acorn Lampwork Headpins

This is the first batch of acorn headpins for the upcoming fall season.  These make great charm bracelets and earrings.  One of these acorns with an oak leaf pendant would make a great necklace.  These are in our Etsy store and I will be making lots more.

Crochet Baby Blanket

This is my latest crochet project for my granddaughter, Lillian.  I started with a super soft piece of pink fabric and edged it with seam binding (Grandma Gail gets all the credit for that step).  I tried adding the blanket stitch directly to the fabric, but it was just too fuzzy for consistent stitches.  Next, I added a blanket stitch all the way around and then started the crochet border.  I found the border in the book, The Finer Edge, by Kristin Omdahl.

Vintage Shoe Clip Necklace

Here is another beautiful necklace made by Deborah.  This vintage inspired piece features an old rhinestone shoe clip with a chandelier crystal.  The pearls and crystals have all been knotted by hand to form the necklace.  You an find this beauty at Daisy Rose in Ft. Worth, Texas.

Vintage Component Necklaces

We love incorporating vintage components into our jewelry.  I love searching for vintage treasures like brooches and clip earrings.  They combine beautifully with sparkly crystals.

Painted Pendant Necklaces

This collection of painted pendant necklaces is headed to Picadilly Frilly Boutique in Bentonville, Arkansas.  These necklaces feature the painted pendants that we offer on our website and in our Etsy store.  These unique pendants really make any piece stand out.

New Leaf Headpins

This is the latest pile of new lampwork leaf headpins.  These beauties are destined to become earrings for our next show.  I usually make these leaves in sets of 5 pieces for our etsy shop, but sometimes you just have to have some to create with.

Where Bloggers Create 2016

Welcome to the Where Bloggers Create 2016 blog tour.  It is always exciting to be a part of this group.  I love seeing the workspaces of other crafters.  My crafting area houses materials and supplies for several different crafts.  I create jewelry, I make cards, I crochet and occasionally, I sew and make needlework projects.  This year, my space is a giant mess.  Not much has changed since last year's tour, but here are a few photos of my goodies and how they are organized.  

This a a photo of the way my beads and findings are organized.  Each drawer is organized and labeled by type and color.  There is a drawer for blue glass pearls, a drawer for antique copper filigrees and the most important drawer - the current projects drawer so I can remember what I am working on.

 This is a pic of some of our beautiful beads displayed by color.  We have lots of wall space covered with color coordinated beads of all types.  Our beads and findings can be found at Dry Gulch.  Check out the Dry Gulch Beads and Jewelry blog to see more about where our jewelry pieces are created.

 

This is one of my two acrylic organizers in the card crafting area.  This display holds all of my glitter and pearl paint bottles.  Another one just like it holds the distress paints, stains and sprays.  Under this holder you can see trays of Martha Stewart punches.

 

This is my newest addition to the craft room organization.  I am thrilled to have a spinner for the ink blending tools.  These used to live in the distress in drawer, but with all of the new colors from last year, I ran out of room for these blenders.  I only need one more distress ink pad to be all caught up.  Now, to work on the distress spray stains.

 

This a sad picture of how my yarn is organized for my crochet projects.  In theory, it is sorted by yarn weight, but honestly, it is just a giant mess.  I have a different container for older yarns and a giant bag for baby yarns.  There is still another bag of yarn for the Mandala Madness project I am working on.

Well, this is a little peak at all of my craft goodness.  I really enjoy my craft room with its large table and plenty of organization.  I always think I need more space, but in reality, things fit in pretty well.  I hope you enjoy the tour and a huge thanks to Karen at My Desert Cottage for hosting this event.

Dry Gulch July Color Design Challenge

Dry Gulch July 2016 Color Design Challenge

Design with color and inspire your creativity!

Welcome to the

Dry Gulch Color Design Challenge! 

Every month Dry Gulch Beads and Jewelry will be hosting a challenge for creative artisans everywhere.  Be inspired and unleash your creative talents!  What will you create?

Color Palette #183

Use our colors to inspire your creativity!  Post your project using the color palette above.  Your design will be eligible to win either a $50 gift certificate or a $25 gift certificate to Dry Gulch Beads.
 
Anything can be created for this challenge, including;  finished jewelry pieces, headbands, wearable pendants/pins, handmade cards, lampwork beads, seed-bead art, sewing design, metal-smithing/art, paper crafting, clothing/fiber art, leather work, painting, even your favorite culinary delights (like cupcakes), etc.  Your project must be finished and created newly and specifically for our current monthly challenge.  Your project must include all the colors shown in the palette. The project may have other colors in it, but the official palette should be the main focus.  The sky is the limit!  Show us how creative you are with our color palette.
 
For this challenge, Dry Gulch is offering a $50 gift certificate to the Winner and a $25 gift certificate prize to the Runner-up.  The judges will be looking for adherence to the color palette, creativity of the project’s design and effort.  You may purchase and use Dry Gulch components in your project, but that is not a requirement to win.
 
Your judges (4 judges) will be the 3 generations of women who create at Dry Gulch Beads and Jewelry.  The judges may create and post their own visions of the monthly color palette also, but for inspiration and presentation only. 

We’ll publish each created work on Facebook and on our official Challenge page on our website.  Add your photo to our Color Design Challenge Facebook Event or email us your photo to custserv@drygulch.com.  When uploading, you may add a description of your work.  If also Facebooking and/or blogging your Dry Gulch Color Design project, please add a link to the Challenge on your page.  You may also use our official Color Challenge blog badge, which can be found on the right sidebar of our blog.
 
Entries for the Dry Gulch Color Design Challenge may be turned in from now until midnight CST, Sunday, July 31st, 2016.

Mothra Necklace Series

 

Catherine created these beautiful soldered pendant necklaces using real moth wings found on our ranch.  These wings are preserved between 2 pieces of glass and are hung from pretty beaded chain.  Nick (the youngest) likes to scout the ground for these wings every morning.  We laugh and tell people that no moths were harmed in the making of these necklaces.

Lampwork Hot Peppers

I torched a whole set of fun hot peppers and leaves for our the Art Around Town event in Bentonville, AR.  I made these fiery little peppers into a necklace and earring set.  It was a lot of fun to try something new.

Tea Charm Bracelet

This is a tea themed charm bracelet that I created for an event that we did at The Spice and Tea Exchange in Bentonville, AR.  I used lots of different tea charms like tea bags, sugar packets, spoons, tea cups and tea pots.  I also used lampwork beads that I etched to look like frosted sugar.  We had a lot of fun sharing our jewelry at the Art Around Town event.

Long Drop Headpins

Here is another batch of lampwork headpins fresh from the kiln.  These are my long drop pins and they really do make beautiful earrings.  I start by layering the glass and forming them into a ball.  Then I let the glass cool slightly before using tweezers to pull the glass into a drop shape.  Next, I add tiny dots and then make them metallic.  You can find these in our Etsy shop. 

And here is a pair of new earrings made with the long drop headpins.  So cute!

Mandala Madness Part 8

This is the latest installment of the Mandala Madness project.  This week was tough!  Each section has a group of Reeeeeaaaally long stitches and it was so great when they were all finished.  The next section is already started so stay tuned.

Fourth of July Card

This patriotic card was made by my talented sister.  She foiled the background on a dark colored paper which made the holographic design really pop.  The sentiment was foiled as well.  It was a nice surprise sice it came with a new Distress Ink!  Thanks MFS!

Birthday Tag

This is a fun and funky birthday tag for my oldest daughter.  She loves all things steampunk, so the key and the metal corner were perfect embellishments.  I used ink with a stencil and a very dimensional rose.  I also used a laser cut chipboard tag with rows of little birds on it.

Mandala Madness Part 9

I have finally complete week 9 of the Madala Madness CAL hosted by Crystals and Crochet.  This week was a breeze compared to last week, but each row certainly takes longer and longer as the blanket grows.  I have been warned that next week will be a huge challenge.

Where Bloggers Create 2016

I am excited to once again participate in the Where Bloggers Create party hosted by Karen at My Desert Cottage.  This link party has become a tradition and even though I missed last year, I am happy to be back.  This is a wonderful way to meet new bloggers and see their creative spaces.  Check back on July 15 to see where I create.

Our Jewelry at Picadilly Frilly

Picadilly Frilly Boutique is a beautiful clothing store in Bentonville, Arkansas that carries our handmade jewelry.  Denisa sent me this picture of one of our bullet necklaces paired with this fun vest and frilly tank top.  It is always so much fun to see our pieces paired with Picadilly's pretty clothing. Be sure to check out their website for new pieces.