The newest necklaces

So hopefully you aren't getting tired of seeing jewelry, cause we have just barely started here!  We have a bunch of new pieces made, all ready to show everyone.  It's been an interesting discipline to be on such a tight schedule with making the jewerly.  It definitely takes away my ability to rethink designs, or should I say, overthink designs.  I also find myself repeating a single basic design in many different bead combos, which makes the necklaces very different from each other, even though the base idea is the same.  Hopefully, at the end of all of this, I will be an even more proficient beader.  You never know how much you can do until you endeavor to do it.
     Now I have some beading to do..... (fun fun fun!)

Freshwater Pearls with Crystals

Czech glass with Crystal

Czech glass with Freshwater Pearls

Pink Chalcedony with Lampwork bead

Crystal Quartz with Freshwater Pearls

Etched Agate with Freshwater Pearls

Assorted Czech glass with Freshwater Pearls

Etched Agate, Magnesite, Fire Agate and Freshwater Pearls

Etched Agate with Magnesite and Freshwater Pearls

"Mosaic" Magnesite with Freshwater Pearls

"Mosaic" Magnesite with Agate and Freshwater Pearls

Czech glass with Freshwater Pearls

Czech glass with Freshwater Pearls, Lampwork bead by Lisa Fletcher

Magnesite with Etched agate, Fire Agate and Freshwater Pearls

Bamboo Coral with Magnesite and Freshwater Pearls

Coin Freshwater Pearls with Czech glass and Freshwater Pearls

Agate barrels with Green Aventurine and Freshwater Pearls

The latest group of necklaces that are ready for the 1000 necklace project/challenge.  Really not sure at this point whether to call it a project (which it is) or a challenge (which it really is).  We have started putting some of the necklaces up in the window of the shop.  It's difficult to get a shot of them since there's so much else going on, but you get the idea below.

A constant challenge for us is getting enough beads to do this.  While a lot of it is being funded personally, we have had a couple of big sponsors donate to us.  We are very thankful for Starman Inc. for the amazing box of Czech glass goodies that they sent us.  They really are a great company, a joy to work with, and best of all, they have heart.

On an individual level, Kristine Buchanan has donated two big bags of beads to the project, and while she IS my mother, she is also very generous with her beads.  Thanks Mom!  If you know of anyone who has some nice beads that they don't want anymore, or if you know of anyone who is wanting to unload some money for a good cause, we're willing to help out!

  Have a great weekend everybody!  

(Kim made all of the necklaces in this group) =)

The window... gonna need more suction cups!

So we're gaining speed, getting up to speed, where we need to be to get all these necklaces done in time!  Here are a few more that are all done.  It's a lot of work, but knowing that it's going to a good cause and to help others makes it all worth it.  We're getting a press release together, but we would love you to tell a few people, then they'll tell a few people, then they'll.... well, you get the idea.

Amethyst with Baltic Amber

Shell Pearls with Glass beads

Crystal with Czech Glass and Coin Freshwater Pearls

Glass with Chinese Crystals

Black Labradorite with Freshwater Pearls

Impression Jasper with Freshwater Pearls

Green Sediment Jasper with Crystals

Agate with Freshwater Pearls

Freshwater Pearls and beaded bead made by Kristine Buchanan

Freshwater pearls with lampwork beads by Della Armstrong

Glass beads with dyed agate beads

Composite Magnesite with Freshwater Pearls and German Silver beads

Freshwater Pearls with Nickel and Lead Free pewter beads

Blue Goldstone Pi with Moss Agate and Czech glass

Moss Agate with Freshwater Pearls

Banded Agate with Freshwater Pearls and Czech glass

Trapezoid shaped Rhyolite with Citrine 

Serpentine with Czech glass and Freshwater Pearls

Metal beads with Freshwater Pearls

We are going to start to put the necklaces up in the window to the hallway at Piece of Mind.  That way, we get to look at them, and so does everyone else.    So what do you think so far?  Like seeing the necklaces ahead of time?  We will be posting more that were made by Kim in a couple of days.

Enjoy and tell a few friends about this!

Ok, so I started making necklaces a little earlier than I'd planned on.  I couldn't help myself.  With a deadline looming, it seemed counterproductive to wait.  Here's a few of what I've done so far.

Chinese Crystal with Freshwater Pearls

Irridescent Mother of Pearl with Freshwater Pearls

Dark Agate "curves" with Czech glass and Freshwater Pearls around the back.

Natural Aquamarine with Freshwater Pearls

Chinese Crystals with Freshwater Pearls

Tiger Eye with Czech glass and Freshwater Pearls

Lampwork bead by Lisa Fletcher, vintage brass fluted beads and pale yellow glass

Felted wool beads with Chinese Crystals

We're at the beginning of a wonderful journey!

I think we all would love to make a difference in the world.  We can't all save the world, but we can make a difference, because even a small gesture can make the world of difference to someone in need.  The beading world is a wonderful world to be a part of, and I'm thrilled to say I've been a part of it for almost 30 years.  There are some amazing and interesting people in it, and we are all very different, but as a whole, a very generous and giving group.

The project is a take off of the very successful “1,000 Bowls to Feed the Hungry”.  We are making 1,000 necklaces, beginning in August, and by early December, we will distribute them to the galleries that will be selling them for us.  They will be sold as an event during Sacramento’s very well attended “Second Saturday Art Walk”.  Thousands of people come out and visit multiple galleries in Downtown Sacramento to be a part of the amazing art scene that is alive and well here in Sacramento.

There will be at least 10 different people making the jewelry, but the primary body of work will be created by Gretchen Schueller and Kim Osibin.  The price points on the necklaces will be reasonable, to assure we make them affordable for everyone.  As of today, the price points for the necklaces will be $25, $50 and $100 each.  Several bead distributors are donating supplies so that we can keep costs down.  The net profits will be donated to several charities, including Blessings In a Backpack.   Blessingsinabackpack.org  They are a wonderful organization that helps feed school children that are on free or subsidized lunches at school, and often do not get to eat over the weekends.  This could possibly change since we just found out that a local food bank is already doing this on a local level.  We'll keep you posted.

Since not all of our supplies will be donated to us, we will begin making the necklaces at the beginning of August, regardless of donations.  Since we are making a hefty amount of jewelry, we will need 1,000 clasps, at least 2,000 crimp beads, spacers, design components, as well as a terrific amount of beads of all kinds.  The more we get donated, the more profit goes to our charity.  If you know of anyone or any company that you think would be good for us to ask for a donation, please let us know.  We have a couple of sponsors in place, and will talk about them in a later post.

We are hoping to get some attention from the bead community through social media as well as some of the bead magazines.  We have already had one other bead shop/gallery say that when we get this going, they will match our 1,000 necklaces in their community as well.  We hope this will inspire other communities to do similar projects.  If you want to do some good, start at home.