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Wednesday, March 30, 2016

Mandala Crochet-A-Long


This is my newest crochet project.  I recently discovered crochet-a-longs which seem to be pretty popular with lot of crocheters.  The idea is that everyone completes the same pattern that is released weekly (depending on the project).  For this mandala, the weekly pattern comes out on Thursdays and can be found at the Crystals and Crochet website.  I have already learned several new stitches from this project.  I chose Silky Wool yarn that I found at The Rabbit's Lair in Rogers, AR.  These aren't my normal colors, but they look pretty good together.  This is the week 1 project and I have already started on week 2.  This will be a circular blanket when it is finished.  This crochet-a-long lasts 18 weeks.

Tuesday, March 29, 2016

Flower Bud Lampwork Bracelet



This is my latest dangle bracelet.  I used my flower bud headpins that I torched just yesterday.  This color is very rich - the glass is called leaky pen.  I love the deep teal color.  I chose a fancy solid copper chain and added Swarovski crystal dangles.  The clasp is a flame patinaed copper toggle.  This bracelet is headed to our Bead Market Show in Oklahoma City, OK April 1-2.  I will bring lots of lampwork headpins.  If you leave nearby, be sure to stop by and say hello.

Monday, March 28, 2016

Butterfly Earrings



These beautiful butterfly earrings were made by Deborah of the Dry Gulch gals.  She layered patinaed filigrees and added a crystallized center made with Swarovski crystals.  These earrings are very dimensional and loaded with color.  These beauties are headed to Posh Alley in Rogers, AR.

Sunday, March 27, 2016

Gear Tag



I needed a masculine birthday card, so I decided on a gear tag.  I added a vintage ticket strip that I punched with a border design along the bottom.  The largest gear is from a Tim Holtz die.  I colored it with metallic distress paint.  The ruler is a piece of wood that gives the piece a little stability.  The metal gears are heavy as well so I glued a second tag on the back to make it even more sturdy.  I hope Doug likes it!

Thursday, March 24, 2016

Lampworking Frit


These magnificent little lids are filled with glass frit.  I use this frit when I make beads and headpins with the torch.  Frit is crushed up glass that can be used to decorate beads.  The glass has to be very hot (almost dripping), then you roll the bead in the frit, and melt it in.  I like to keep tons of colors all over the workspace so I have choices.  I really don't think it is possible to have too much frit.


Here is an example of pretty leaf headpins that my 14 year-old daughter, Victoria, made.  She has become quite the lampwork artist.  We have lots more available in our Etsy shop.

Wednesday, March 23, 2016

"Crusty" Beads and Charms


This is a snapshot of bowls of goodness at our latest Bead Market show in Tulsa, OK.  These bowls are filled with what we call "crusty" beads and charms.  Deborah makes them look vintage and old fashioned by applying a series of patinas including the Ver-Day Patina Kit.  These beads, findings and jewelry are part of our Ancient Alchemy line.  These make the coolest vintage-y jewelry.

 


Monday, March 21, 2016

2 Friends & Junk Show


In December, we participated in a vintage style show called 2 Friends & Junk.  The show was held in Tulsa, OK and we had a great time.  Our setup for a vintage show is very different that for the bead shows that we do regularly.  we bring lots of finished jewelry and vintage baubles.  The best part is that we get to use all kinds of vintage displays like this refurbished dresser and the wire lampshade form that is sitting on it.  Since this show was close to Christmas, we brought lots of Christmas decorations.  We enjoyed meeting new friends (like gals from the FB group Homesteading) and seeing old friends too.  




Sunday, March 20, 2016

Crochet Baby Hat and Booties


I recently crocheted this cute little baby set.  The pattern was found at allfreecrochet.com.  I love the hat design.  The yarn was pretty small which made the set even cuter.  You are supposed to add pearls to the hat,but that seems like a choking hazard.  The booties are topped with a row of dragon stitches.  Love it!

Saturday, March 19, 2016

New Necklaces


These are two of my latest necklace designs.  The feather necklace has a cluster of resin trumpet flowers with crystal centers.  The feather pendant was painted by Catherine of Dry Gulch.  You can find these pretty pendants in our Etsy shop.  The golden flower necklace has several layers of filigrees with a carved turquoise bead dangling from the bottom.  Both necklaces use chain found at our website, Dry Gulch Beads.  These necklaces can be found at Posh Alley Boutique in Rogers,AR.

Friday, March 18, 2016

New Lampwork Earrings


Yesterday I made time to create a few pairs of earrings.  Each of these pairs feature my lampwork in them.  The earrings on the left have green iridescent leaves at the bottom under pretty blue Czech glass squares. The pair in the center has 2 of my daisy flower headpins.  I bent the wire at the back of the flower and added the green Czech glass ovals and brass connectors.  The earrings on the right have pink bell flower headpins with antiqued silver cones on the top.  These earrings will be in our Etsy shop soon.

"Hobo" Gloves


Lampwork - Glass Rods


Look at these beautiful glass lampworking rods.  This is what I make the beads and headpins from.  I melt these rods with a torch to form these leaves. 


Thursday, March 17, 2016

Large Hole Lampwork Sprocket Beads


Here are some of my sprocket lampwork beads.  These make great earrings and links in necklaces.   I have a special mandrel that I use to make the hole so large.



Wednesday, March 16, 2016

Summer Fun Leather Bracelets


These fun bracelets are an example of the jewelry that we make at Dry Gulch. My daughter Catherine made these octopus bracelets for a customer.  She hand stamps the sentiment and rivets it and the octopus onto the leather bracelet.  Each one is unique and she can stamp any message you like. 

Tuesday, March 15, 2016

Crocheted Hat


This is my latest crochet project.  This hat was made with Japanese yarn that I found at The Rabbit's Lair in Rogers AR. If you are in the area, this store is an incredible fiber store.  They carry fabric, yarn, hand dyed threads, felt and more.  The pattern is called Bonita and can be found on Ravelry.  Some of my pieces will be available in a new Etsy store soon. 

Friday, March 11, 2016

Beaded Beads



These beaded beads are a blast to make.  They use SuperDuo two-hole beads and Swarovski crystals.  I made several sets of these for earrings and necklaces.  You can find SuperDuo beads on our website, www.drygulch.com.

Thursday, March 10, 2016

Medallion Ribbons



I created these pretty embellishments with elements from the Bravo Making Memories line, ribbons and lace and silk flowers.  These medallions make great package decorations and card toppers.

Tuesday, March 8, 2016

More Bell Flower Headpins





These are my newest bell flower headpins.  I melt the glass with a torch to form these cute little flowers.  These make great earrings.  Just bend the wire into a loop and dangle from anything.  Available in our Etsy shop.

Crochet Socks- A First!



I wanted to share my first pair of crochet socks.  These were very challenging and they just might be my last pair of socks.  I have to admit that this was a great project for learning many stitches.  The secret to great socks is to use yarn with stretch.  These are cotton with a tiny bit of stretchy material in them.  I hope Deborah enjoys them!

Monday, March 7, 2016

Flower Card



I created this pretty card this morning for our partner, Christina Hickman, in the 2016 Bead Peeps Swap N Hop.  This is an exciting bead swap for Dry Gulch Beads and I needed a pretty card to include with the beads we sent. I embossed an antique brass filigree and layered it over the foiled background.  The leaves are French seed beaded leaves that I created.  The gilded bird is a vintage German Dresden piece - these are very hard to find.  The lace is vintage, of course.

Sunday, March 6, 2016

New Flower Bud Headpins



Here is my latest batch of flower bud headpins.  These are prefect for necklaces and bracelets.  These are available in sets of 5 and can be found in our Etsy shop.  Here is a pair of earrings made by our customer and friend, Carla Rickman She used the flower buds and leaves.  Beautiful!





Leaf Lampwork Headpins



We have been busy at the torch this week.  This the latest batch of leaf headpins.  You can find them in our Etsy shop.

Dry Gulch March 2016 Color 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?


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 created newly and specifically for our current monthly challenge.  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 here on this challenge page.  Add your photo in the comments on 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 this page to the right.
 
Entries for the Dry Gulch Color Design Challenge may be turned in from now until midnight CST, Thursday, March 31st, 2016.

Thank You Card




This pretty little thank you card was made for a friend who taught me how to tat.  I wanted to learn tatting for a long time and it was a wonderful lesson by Mary Jo in Richardson, TX.  Mary Jo runs the tatting group, Tuesday Tatters.   I know she will appreciate the vintage lace I added to this card.

Saturday, March 5, 2016

New Lampwork Headpins


These cute little bell flower headpins are the newest addition to my lampwork headpins.  I recently bought a new flower press and have been working on different combinations of flower colors.  The transparent ones are my favorites, but I have had special orders for opaque flowers already.  My daughter, Victoria has been making them as well. She is becoming an accomplished lampworker.

Here is a necklace I created using the bell flower headpins (which can be found in our Etsy store).


Thursday, March 3, 2016

Return to Blog Land



Hello, my fellow crafters!  It has been awhile since I have shared my creative projects here.  I have decided to expand my blog to include all of the other creative things that I do.  I love to crochet, make jewelry and I also create lampwork.

I recently went crazy at Michael's and brought home a ton of yarn.  I plan to crochet baby hats and booties, neck warmers and more. Stay tuned for more crafts!