Look what I'll be getting in the mail soon!!!

Lorelei made this beauty just for me and I'm ready to swoon! Read all about it on her blog - Inside the Studio . If you'd like to see more, take a look here in Lorelei's etsy shop: Handmade Jewelry by Lorelei.

Lucky, lucky me........

Featured Designer: Lorelei

Take a look at Lorelei's blog Inside the Studio today. Lorelei treats us with new, beautiful pieces and as always - she makes me look sooooo good. Then click on to Lorelei's etsy shop and get a head start on your holiday shopping. I bet there is someone you love who needs a new piece of art to wear. They'd look great donning one of these with all the lovely fall colors.

Thanks Lorelei!

Featured Designer: Ishita Ghosh

Ishita Ghosh was featured at The Art Bead Scene last month - take a look at these beautiful earring she has made. I love the way the accent beads highlight the color of the clay at the top of the cones. This is one of my favorite glazes - Golden Earth Cascade. What a perfect way to celebrate Earth Day!



Thanks for stopping by,

Elaine

Ornament Thursday Links of Love

On my first day of participating in Ornament Thursday I'd like to share Links of Love with you. This idea has been pacing about in my head for over a year and Ornament Thursday was just the boost I needed to set it free. As you can see the links do not hang perfectly, but as I moved around it didn't matter - only when I stood still and took the picture was it evident.


Supplies:
10 Heart Connectors
1 Diamond Slice bead (or other accent bead)
1 Round Disk bead (used as accent at end of chain - not shown in picture)
44 9mm jump rings
28 6mm jump rings
12 inches chain
1 lobster claw clasp
wire

Instructions:
After attempting several times to write out the pattern in a understandable manner - I gave up and instead give you this chart:

Large circles = 9mm jump rings
Small circles = 6mm jump rings
Triangles = Heart Connectors

After connecting all the jump rings and Heart Connectors in this pattern, add Diamond Slice bead to bottom 9mm jump ring using your favorite wire wrapping technique. Now add 5 inches of chain to the 6mm jump ring on the left of the top row and add 7 inches of chain to the 6mm jump ring on the right of the top row. Finish 5 inch piece of chain with lobster claw. Finish 7 inch piece of chain with Round Disk bead using your favorite wire wrapping technique. When wearing this necklace, the lobster claw can be clipped anywhere along the chain, providing for an adjustable necklace length.



This is another version of Links of Love - using just 6 Heart Connectors and 12mm jump rings in place of the 9mm jump rings.

Thanks for sharing Ornament Thursday with me. I'd like to make a short amendment to my post....You are welcome to reproduce Links of Love for resale or for your own use. Just keep in mind that other participants in Ornament Thursday have made a different request.

*** As posted on Ornament Thursday Blog:*****
Please note that all of these designs we've created are under copyright laws and none may be used directly or as derivative works for more than your personal enjoyment. You can not sell them as finished goods or to a magazine as a project. Be inspired by our ideas to make your own wonderfully unique creations, this is our gift to you.

Collaboration: Artist Donna Sloma

This beauty was created with my good friend Donna Sloma. Donna made the pendant from an actual domino game piece! The black ring beads are some I made - all combined with other beads and chain I picked up at Ornamentea. (You can get the ring beads there also.) I love this necklace, great for the fall season, but I'll wear it all year.

Donna is one of those people that can take a pile of stuff that looks roughly like the floor of a kindergarten classroom and make something wonderful out of it. She designs pendants, pins, altered books and a huge variety of other things. You can get in on this talent by attending a class taught by Donna at Artists' Oasis in Apex, NC. Click on this link: Artists' Oasis classes .

You can meet Donna and purchase your own pendants at:

Artists' Oasis Open House
1000 N. Salem Street
Apex, NC
(919) 367-9933
November 11th

Christmas Carousel
NC State Fairgrounds
November 23rd - 25th

St. Mary Magdalene
Santa's Village
Magdala Place
Apex, NC


If you have the opportunity to meet Donna tell her I said Hi!

Featured Designers: Monkeyshines

Here is a lovely new pair of earrings that Jen of Monkeyshines made. The faceted teardrop shapes are iolite stones, which Jen explains that in gem lore is said to have spiritual properties: opening the soul and enhancing psychic experiences. Wow! All that and they will make you look great too!

Thanks Jen for sharing your treasure with us.

- Elaine

New sidewalk at The Bead Parlor

Wow - take a look at this!!!


Shelley Nybakke from The Bead Parlor in Bloomington, Illinois wrote to me with this news and picture. They had a new sidewalk installed in front of her store and Shelley had the great idea to put beads in the sidewalk right by the door to greet customers. I'm mixed in with a little Vintaj, turquoise, coral and a few crystals - makes me feel immortal! Thanks Shelley for letting me contribute to your pretty sidewalk!!!

Featured designer: Jordana Thompson

Jordana Thompson and Donnaleta Twist own and operate Elementality - both as a brick and mortar store and as an online store. Their web site explains: .Our desire is to offer beautiful gifts, one of a kind handmade jewelry, photography, and other home decor items at fair and affordable prices to the growing population of those who care about the future of this planet and their fellow human beings....


At their site, you are guided through photos that reflect the elements of fire, water, earth and air. As I surfed through Elementality online I found myself on a visually calming trip that I didn't want to end. The land location of Elementality is in the Asheville Mall in Asheville, North Carolina. From the looks of the posted pictures, shopping in this store must be a treat all in itself.



Shown here are two necklaces Jordana made highlighting my toggles. These are stunning pieces that are such a wonderful blend of wood and clay - what better way could there be to represent earth elements! If you ever get the opportunity to visit Asheville, make sure to stop by Elementality and tell them Elaine says Hello!

New Items at The Bead Parlor

If you are anywhere close to Bloomington Illinois, make sure to stop by The Bead Parlor and take a look around. I just sent a new shipment to Shelley and she has it out and on the floor already. Here is a peek at what is there:


While you are at The Bead Parlor, take a look at the large selection of metal seed beads they carry in the store and online at: http://www.thebeadparlor.com

Here are some sample ideas of what you can make with those beauties!



I have never worked with metal seed beads, but given that metal and clay are both naturally occurring on our earth, I bet they would look great together!

If you see Shelley or Diane at The Bead Parlor, tell them I said Hi!

- Elaine

Featured Designer: Bethany Chaney

Bethany Chaney


Take a look at what Bethany Chaney has done with some ceramic Elaine Ray "shards" and doughnut. Aren't these lovely!!! You can see more examples and purchase her work at Grace Farm Studios. Take a peek - Bethany made these amazing pieces using North Carolina's homegrown Longleaf Pine Needles. This is a very old traditional way of weaving baskets - one that takes great care and even more time! Hats off to you Bethany for helping to support one of North Carolina's historical crafts.



Bethany can be reached at: chaneyb2 at nc.rr.com .

Andy Velletri

Andy came to meet me during a trunk show at Ornamentea and showed me some of his wire wrapping projects. Wow, that man can wrap!!!! Notice in the picture that Andy not only wire wrapped his focal point, but also wire wrapped a hand made clasp for the back of the necklace. I really like the way Andy worked in some 7 mm cubes I made. They blend so well with the stone chips - a very nice compliment for the copper wire.



This necklace show cases Andy's hand made bamboo beads. Andy once explained it to me and it is a many step process to get that bamboo looking so good. The blue beads in this necklace are some 9 mm rounds I made. The earthy tones of the glazed clay and bamboo are a wonderful visual match.

Andy teaches classes at Bead Delite in Raleigh, NC. His gallery of work can be seen here. Click away for a real eye treat!

Thanks for looking!

- Elaine

Tracy Thomasson

Hi - Well Tracy Thomasson has been at it again. She aways makes my pieces look so good! I'm not sure how these double cord necklaces were made but I am really loving them!

The spacer looking beads in the middle of the 3 sets of beads in this photo are a new design I am trying out. this is a great way to "fasten" a necklace. No clasp needed and you don't need to fiddle with a clasp behind your neck.

Last, but obviously not least, another version of the "Tangle" shape. I especially like the way Tracy wrapped the cord ends right above the Tangle. Blue is my favorite color so I am really loving this one! You can see more of her creations on her Flickr account.

Thanks again to Tracy Thomasson for making this earth a more beautiful place to be!

- Elaine

Sherri Mains

Well - it is always fun to search my own name and look at what I found on Flickr.



Aren't these remarkable! I love the way Sherri Mains has used chain to highlight the brown clay color. This is always a great combination. Make sure to take a look at Sherri's etsy shop for more lovely ideas.

For those of you around the Raleigh, NC area, Sherri has items at SuzAnna's Antiques.

Feel free to send me any pictures you have that you'd like to share! Send them to: ElaineRayBeads at gmail.com

Featured Designer: Emily Violette

Emily Violette takes an inovative approach to her work. Each piece is a work of art in its own right. I love all how all the strands direct my eye from place to place, leading me on a journey around the whole picture. I bet these pieces look tantalizing from the back also!




Look at the various ways this necklace can be worn. You could change configuration to go with almost any outfit or neck size.






Here Emily used an interesting closure. You may need to enlarge the picture to see the details, but it looks like a great way to display any of your favorite art beads or pendants. Ornamentea has this pendant in their online shop.








Thank you Emily for sharing these beauties with us!

- Elaine

Lindsay Haedt, Beadstyle - Under 1 hour

A couple of days ago Shelley Nybakke, owner of The Bead Parlor in Bloomington, Illinois, (www.thebeadparlor.com) mentioned that she had seen some of my beads in BeadStyle's June Special Issue, Under 1 Hour. Well as you can guess, I jumped into my car and headed right for the store. This necklace made by Lindsey Haedt is just wonderful. She dressed my beads up to look like a pearl necklace for Mother Earth.

I'll be honest and admit I really only bought the magazine because of Lindsay's necklace, but after I showed the necklace to anyone who would look, I read the rest of the magazine. Lots of quick and easy designs. I'm going to keep it around for those times when I want a new piece of jewelry to wear, have the beads and other components but not the time to think of something new. Also, this is embarrassing to admit, but I had never thought to use the stringing method shown as the "editor's tip". Reminds me of the threaders my kids use to floss around their braces. I have often struggled to thread my own beads onto certain types of cord - never again! Now I'll just run up and get a threader or make one of these handy things.


Thanks Lindsay for making me look so good!

http://www.beadstylemag.com/

Mood Swing Studio

Kristen from Mood Swing Studios gets the credit for making these spunky necklaces. You can see more of her work at: http://www.moodswingstudio.com . For you bird lovers, Kristen even has a whole page labeled "The Aviary".

It was a couple of years ago when I originally found these images on Flicker when randomly "googling" my name. It was one of the first times finding images of my beads or pendants on the web. I still remember the excitement I felt and the speed at which I called my family to come look at the computer screen and called my sister on the phone. In all reality, I still get that excited with I find an image with my beads, I'm not sure it is something I will ever out grow!

Roz Heiko

This great necklace was made by a long time friend Rosalind Heiko, using one of Tangerine Cascade toggles. Roz is one of those multi-talented people. Not only can she make beautiful jewelry, she is also a therapist specializing in working with children and adults who have been traumatized, have emotional adjustment difficulties, or who have experienced medical or chronic pain challenges. Go to the web site: to find out more about Roz. After you enter the site, look for her name along the left hand side. It is a calm and peaceful site to see - just like Roz.

Tracey Thomasson

Take a look at this rockin necklace Tracey Thomasson made with one of my Tangle pieces. Tracey used this piece in a totally upside down way that I originally imagined its use. This highlights the aspect of original art beads that I love the most: So many creative minds out there - the variety of handcrafted jewelry is tremendous - giving us the freedom to adorn our bodies with bits and pieces of wearable art!