Yellow! Yes, Yellow!

For the past year or so I've been attempting to broaden my color horizons, both in my personal wardrobe and in the jewelry that I make to sell. Yellow is a color that I really struggle with. I use it as an accent sometimes, but in general I am not a big fan of it. Bohemian Summer Crystal Bracelet is my attempt to embrace yellow! I've accented the Swarovski crystals with some of those exciting new hybrid seed beads (Japanese seed beads with Czech coatings/effects on them) in brown-mottled turquoise green. I've seen a lot of this yellow and turquoise combo lately and I'm surprised by how much I like it!

I'm really happy to see boho styles maintaining popularity, too. Living in a hot climate, I really like to wear lightweight, flowing garments during the Summer, and the boho prints really go well with my collection of tribal jewelry and my long hair. Hanging out with a lot of belly dancers, I see a lot of creative ways of combining clothes that are in style, bits and bobs from our costume collections, and unique jewelry -- especially after a gig, when we've changed out of our costumes but we still have a few accessories hanging around!

More Red and Black

 I just listed The Hidden Heart on Etsy today. This necklace takes the popular red and black color combination and adds a bit of white for extra contrast. It's a gorgeous Gothic necklace that is ready to accompany you on a night at the club.

 If the focal pieces look familiar it's because I posted about them a while back as they were part of the package I received to use in the Earthenwood Studios Design Team. I knew that I wanted to use them for this necklace, it just took me a ridiculous amount of time to sit down and actually make it. I'm so happy with how it turned out, so I really wish I had made it sooner.

Speaking of things that are ridiculous, I am really surprised that Spiral Journey is still in my Etsy shop! Last week I made another anklet similar to it, but in black and blue instead, as a custom order. It's up to 34 admirers, so I know it's only a matter of time until someone makes it their own -- or asks me to make another custom version in different colors :)

Red and Black!

 This week is all about the Red and Black! I'll be listing some new items in this dramatic color scheme, and highlighting some old items, too. Today we have the recently-listed Vampire Blood crystal bracelet. I love the floral pattern on the button!

Bohemian Nightstalker ankle bracelet is a little Goth and a little Boho. The silver chain really makes the red and black bead dangles stand out.

Return of the Destash

Many members of FAETeam are working on tackling our supply stash this year. Whether it's using things up or selling them off, we'd all like a tidier work area and maybe more money to spend on new supplies (it's a vicious cycle). As such I am working on restock the Destash Beads section of my shop. Etsy has made it easier by now charging only 1 listing fee for multiples of an item, so I currently have three strands of these fun Czech Glass Spiral Beads available in my shop. Hopefully later this week I'll also get more leaf beads listed. I've never met a leaf beads that I didn't like, and I used to buy them by the hankful from Raven's Journey because I really, really wanted specific styles and colors.

Anyway, so far the destashing is not going amazingly. I have been making things with the beads I already have, but then I had all this trade credit from Beyond Beadery and they had new mini-spike beads. As if that wasn't bad enough, one day I went to Michael's when I was bored, just looking for some crystals to glue onto my face for belly dance, and I came out with $40 worth of miscellaneous bead stuff because there was a sale going on. I have a problem!

Orchid Rose

The other night I felt like making a new spiral rope bracelet. I decided to go for purple so I could use more of those gorgeous matte iridescent purple seed beads (which I previously used in the purple beetle for MZ). I also added some Cyclamen Opal Swarovski crystals, but most of them are hidden in this picture. Note to self: more crystals next time! I call it Orchid Rose, because the colors remind me of orchids, but the clasp is a rose carved from a shell. It's quite lovely and feminine!

Anklets!

Every year when the weather gets warmer, I start thinking about anklets. I make new ones, and I promote them all over the place, and no one buys them. This year I've been busy with beetles for MZ and bracelets for Kate, and I admittedly neglected my Etsy shop a bit. I was not promoting anklets or anything else. Naturally, those anklets started selling themselves when I wasn't looking.

Today I not only listed this Lime Blossoms Anklet but I also put all of the ankle bracelets* into their own Handmade Anklets section in my shop, so you no longer have to browse all of the sections to find them. I hope to make some more new ones this week, too, so keep your eyes open.

*I always call them anklets, but a lot of people search for ankle bracelet instead, or even anklet bracelet. Whatever name you use, I have 'em!