Can't get enough of those fall colors!

This was a really fun project. Carnelian beads in rounds and ovals accented with tiny Citrine rondelles and bronze seed beads. The frame is anti-tarnish brass, and the beads are wired on with anti-tarnish copper. With a warm metal palette and fiery orange palette, you can tel what's on my mind -- that's right, autumn!! Boy it's soooo good to have a cooling off here in Florida. It's been a scorching hot summer. This "Tree of Life" pendant, though it's done in Fall colors, and, yeah, I know the tree of life is always alive, never loses it's leaves, etc., but I just had to render this one in the beautiful fall colors that the mountains are bathed in this time of year.


When I lived in South Carolina, we would see the glorious changing of the leaves, and go for day trips into the mountains. I haven't done that in years! Sadly, my oldest has never seen the mountains. I'm going to remedy that, and hopefully soon. Meanwhile, I can make pretty "joolry" to make up for this loss.



This necklace set is gone....picked up first thing at the Mandarin United Methodist Church Fall Festival last weekend. I'll be re-visiting this topic again, as soon as I catch up on my custom work, and finish some sets for a model shoot this weekend here in Jacksonville. It's too hot a combo to let go, at least while I still have the beads!!

On my Beading Table Today....

Continuing on the theme of fall colors, I hit my local bead show really hard yesterday, and came home with this juicy combination, among other treasures. Yellow jaspers and red and orange aventurine reflect the glorious fall colors reminiscent of the Blue Ridge mountains in the fall. Paired with copper spacers and the extraordinary copper-dipped Maple leaf I'd already purchased from Etsy sellers, my next project will be a 3 strand collar, similar to the previous carnelian one I posted. I think I will also add some brown goldstone, which should pick up and carry the sparkle from the leaf all the way around the necklace. Time to get the Round Tuit out again, and get this thing assembled!!


My favorite bead show sellers were these, with their fabulous selection, as usual, and I picked up some lava rock rounds and barrels, some blister pearls, pink and red coral buttons and rounds, and some larger red coral nuggets. I also found some carnelian rondelles and barrels. I could have broken the bank with all of the beautiful beads I found yesterday! This time, though, I was able to control myself. Maybe having my three-year-old there with me was a good thing, because by the time I got my treasures purchased I'd only hit two tables and he was ready to go. Next time he'll stay home!!

Autumnal Equinox Carnelian and copper necklace with real copper-dipped Maple Leaf

I like to sit back and admire this necklace. Three strands of carnelian and copper alternate and join at a glorious copper-dipped Maple leaf. Handmade wire clasp is hidden under Maple leaf. The detail and color of this leaf is mesmerizing. Delicate and bold at the same time, a rainbow of irridescence glistens. When you look at it really close, you can see the fibrous detail of the veins and structures in the leaf. Breathtaking! Expect many compliments when you show off this beautiful fall ornament.

The necklace measures 16 inches (40.64 cm); I'm making earrings to match. I'll use a copper leaf charm on each, and more of these lovely carnelian beads.These are available for purchase in quantities, as I can acquire more of these gorgeous leaves. Chunkier beads would produce an equally glorious but different look.

****UPDATE!! Mary, on her blog "Living with Walls: Flourishing behind the Walls of Multiple Sclerosis" has featured my Maple leaf necklace as the illustration for a beautiful poem "What is it About Leaves?" I was moved by her poem, and by the recognition. If you're a fan of autumn, like I am, you might want to go take a look, and contemplate her poem. She has incredible talent!!

Mother's Day GIVEAWAY!! Etsy Jewelry Design and Supply Shops

One Etsy Street Team of incredibly talented Artsians, Etsy Jewelry Design & Supply Shops, is holding a Mother's Day Giveaway to promote their member's shops for you Mother's Day shopping fun. A handful of winners will win multiple prizes each. I'm giving away a white turquoise and carnelian earring set...like in this photo...

Check out the details of the promotion, under "how to enter" here.

In short, all you have to do is visit the team blog, click on 10 different shops listed, (including mine, of course!) and look in the featured items (i.e. the top 3 photos in each shop). Our mom's first names are placed inside one of the photos. Write down the name of the shop and the mom's name, then email the promotion leader at the email address provided on the team blog page in the "how to enter" section. While you're browsing, make sure you take a look at the awesome talent represented by the EJDSS street team. That's it! Hope you win!

Fossilized coral -- with tiger-eye and carnelian!

The distributor had this labeled as "flower stone." How odd. It's really fossilized coral, and it's gorgeous, isn't it? The cabochon was free-form wire-wrapped in silver, and wired onto a beaded necklace, strung with carnelian, tiger eye and silver spacers. I'm very excited about this piece! I have another piece of coral, already wire-wrapped, ready to go, and will finish it in a few days. The earrings have the same square coral pillow beads, tiger eye, and carnelian. Eye-popping, and elegant.

How about a Bloggy Giveaway?

We were having a discussion about Etsy on Etsy's forums this morning, and sharing our observations that out of everyone we talk to on a daily basis, not enough people know about Etsy. Now, I know this isn't the case as much in the blogosphere, because you can hardly go anywhere without running into an Etsy seller trying to promote their shop. We tossed around the idea that WE have to be responsible for marketing Etsy, since it is US (and the customers, too) who directly benefit from it.

So I've decided to run a contest. How'd you like to win this cute pair of earrings? The dangles are 1 1/2" for a total length of 2". The stones are white turquoise, carnelian and more white turquoise, and the ear wires and spacers are copper. Guys, you can win them too. They're perfect for gift-giving. It's the season to shop for the ladies in your life!!

Here are the rules: You must do three out of four to qualify for the giveaway: Contest runs until November 15.

1. Click this link to sign up for Etsy. http://www.etsy.com/register.php?referral=LauraStaley if you are not already a member. (10 entries) (It is so quick and easy!)

2.) heart my shop (as a buyer, click "add to my favorites"). You'll need to have your favorites set to "public" in order to do this. (5 entries) I'll confirm your signup date (if and heart for your entries.

3.) comment this post and tell me your Etsy user name, and I'll heart you back! (5 entries)

4.) Tell me your favorite item in my shop (5 entries). (Awwww, thanks!)

For the duration of the contest I'll offer another free gift -- a free pair of earrings -- with any purchase, when you mention "bloggy contest" in the notes to seller.

Ready, set....join Etsy! It's super easy, and you won't regret it. While you're browsing, check out your local Etsy Artisans by clicking "Buy" in the header next to the orange "Etsy" on the front page and then clicking "shop local", or take a peek at the "Treasuries"...which are hot, hot, hot in the Etsy community! OR, click on guides and browse items handpicked by the Etsy staff.

Or you could just spend the whole time in my shop. That's just fine by me.

all of the normal disclaimer stuff applies. You get the pair of earrings advertised as being the prize. I'll change to sterling or gold-filled at an extra charge. I guarantee the workmanship, and will give you every measurement I know to make sure you'll like them. Everything else is subjective and I'll do my best to help you. please be patient!