Sun, Spring, and Magazine Tutorial Release!

Hello friends!

Spring is finally here in the Midwest! I couldn't be more happy to be outside enjoying the GORGEOUS Sunny weather! It's amazing just how much warmer temps have really awoken my spirit. You can really see that inspiration in my latest work. I am really loving pulling out all of those gorgeous pastel colors and stone textured beachy style beads. 

I created some lovely gifts for 2 of my friends using my new "Sugar Beach Rainbows" beads and some mouth watering Wooly Wire.

I also finished up the last of the "Sugar Beach Rainbow" series of beads with my "Rainbow Sugar Cubes".  I don't usually make this shape so I thought it might be fun to work it into this design. After making this style bead I remember why... getting the bead out of the press bends the EVER LOVING HELL out of my mandrels! We all know how much fun it is to make beads on wonky mandrels :/ Well maybe we all don't, but trust me, it sucks. Lol. 

So pretty, aren't they? There is something so soothing about that calm pale aqua blue. It's like rain, or ocean, or tear drops. I dunno, but I just love it! Clear is really gorgeous stone textured as well. Add some ivory and you've really got a winner ;) 

How about a little taste of the beach? These colors remind me of that gorgeous green sea glass. Mostly that gorgeous color comes from things like coca cola bottles. Believe it or not, the bottle glass is actually green, not clear ;) 

While we are into that green, why not make some headpins too?

If you aren't really into all that water, you can always hit the desert with it's warm caramel hues with kisses of rainbow.

Do you ever go back and re-work some of your old designs? I had the opportunity to work on a new and improved design for my friend, Amanda's necklace. On the left you will see the original necklace. On the right you will see the NEW and IMPROVED "INDESTRUCTIbail" design. Amanda's son, Adam reached for her pendant and gave it a yank stretching out the entire pendant. So to remedy that problem I created my "Indestructibail" design for her instead. Just look at how GORGEOUS it turned out! I must say it sure was hard to give her this necklace back without wanting to keep it for myself! I really love the shifts of color you can see using longer lengths of Wooly Wire.  You can find my "Mystic Moon and Sister Sun" focal bead here.

Here is a close-up of the bail. OMG isn't is SO PRETTY?! This is one of my favorite colorway's of Wooly Wire called, "Sunrise". 

If you love this color too, keep an eye out for it in the shop soon! I will also be releasing our "Sunshine Peach" Spiral Earth Stone earring pairs as soon .  Our "Sunshine Lotus Ray's" earrings will be featured in the Wirework Magazine Spring 2015. Subscribers can expect to see it in their mailboxes as soon as the first week in April! 

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Happy Spring!

xo Genea

New Beads in the Shop and creativity at the C-K House.

Hello friends!

Are you tired from holiday prep already? I am already feeling the fatigue myself. It feels like there is so much to do and the days are FLYING by! Some of the newest beads managed to make it to the Etsy shop(YAY!), but don't delay! There is no telling how long they will be in there ;)  Want to see the new arrivals?

Here is the Q&D for you all that want a quick glimpse ;)

Beach Stones "Painted Desert"- Did you ever have those upcoming projects and you weren't sure what you were going to make, but you just decided to make a bunch just in case? Well that is what these spacers were. I guess I am over due for this combo. It's pretty nifty!

Beach Stones "Sea Glass Green"- YUM! I don't think I can ever fall out of love with this color. I only managed to make one set, but that is how "bead free stylin" goes. You make a little bit of whatever pops into your head ;)

Beach Stones "Yellow Lime blush"- You know how I love me some collections so what better to fit a collection than spacers?! 

Earth Stone Droplets "Desert at Dusk"- Boo! Only ONE? Yes.. that is how it goes. I had some singles, but only one pair. I ran out of baking soda by the time I got here. Something about using the stuff sitting on your table versus fresh out of the box. Go figure *shrug*

Earth Stone Droplets- "Painted Desert"- MMMm yes, ivory is always the answer. Add in some rainbows and you have a masterpiece!

"Sacred Om Lotus"(front)- I managed to make some more. This little baby will be featured in one of my upcoming magazine tutorials. You can expect to see it in March/April 2014! 

 "Sacred Om Lotus"(back)

Spiral Earth Stones "Yellow Lime Blush"- Hellz yeah! You know when you have a focal size, spacers, and headpins, you need to have a set as well. I love these rainbows on this vivid canvas! 

CREATIVITY IN THE C-K HOUSE...

Do you make art? Do you have other areas where you excel besides your main medium. Well I do too! With the holidays fast approaching, Ricky and I have been busily creating things. It's nice to step outside of your normal creative area and do something different. I am always amazed at my well roundedness in art. It's pretty exciting :D

Like our studio, I mean kitchen?! You wouldn't believe the other piles. 2 creative people sure do make a hellacious mess! 

Here is my budding little artist at work. Normally Ricky spends his creative energy creating edible masterpieces in the kitchen. Who knew that he would get into mixed-media?! I won't lie, I have always dreamed of dating an artist or photographer. Who knew I had married one? *beams*

Here is one of his latest pieces. He wasn't really happy with it in the beginning and he is still working on it, but it really came together! You can't totally tell from the photo, but he learned this amazing layering technique. You use matte medium and tissue paper to create see through layers! It's SO amazing! I loved it so much I even used in in all of the pieces I have done! We went craft shopping and he had to check every place we went for cool tissue! Lol, so awesome that now he knows what it's like to be on the hunt for your favorite supply! 

Here is his other piece that is still being created. He started like 3 projects at a time. I was a little worried for him, but he proudly stated that in the videos he has been watching "they" tell you to work on more than one piece. Look at him "schooling" me on how to do art! 

Did you know the last art class Ricky had was in 8th grade?! He didn't get to take any art classes in highschool or college. What a bummer! Aren't you so impressed with his intuitive skills? I sure am! 

Here is his other piece. I really love this one! This is just the bottom layer.

Here is the finished piece! It's SO awesome! There are so many layers and texture. Some of the stars are even textured with some kind spackling paste! He is learning so much from these mixed-media you tube videos he has been watching.

Ricky's new work will be added to his Stache Art Etsy shop in time for holiday shopping! He will even be announcing his Black Friday plans soon. You can hear all about it on his facebook page.

Here are the projects on which I have been working. 

I started out with layers of torn up newspaper text. I wanted a nice base for my work.

Next I did drips of water colors and glued on crayons. I was inspired by the gagillion diy tutorials on melted crayons! 

Here is my melted crayon. I love that you can see the water color drips underneath as well :D 

I added a few of those tissue layers and I'm still not done. I have been building this piece in my mind and working on it slowly :)

For this second piece you can see I did the newspaper and tissue layering again as my base. You can see the text through the purple tissue.

I was inspired by this image I saw on Pinterest and decided to take that idea and put my "Genea Spin" on it.  Here you can see I added some other elements and raised all of my designs with some foam sticky tape. I love the glittery paper and jewels I found as well! 

Here is the finished piece! I am SO in love with it! It's hanging in my kitchen right now so I can admire it :)

What creative projects have you been making for the holidays? Are you anywhere near done or have you not even started yet?

xo Genea

Etsy Shop Update!

Hello friends!

Well I decided to list today so that I could crash in town tonight and stay in town on Saturday(Kansas City). Ricky talked about going into town to hang out with friends tonight and he works early so staying in town is really convenient. SOOOO... that is why I listed today instead of tomorrow. So early listings, YAY!

So this will just be a quick "here's what's in the shop" with quick links for ya ;)

Earth Droplets "Olive" Recycled Wine Bottle glass headpins.

Ocean Urchin Egg "Teal Tide"

"Slate Silver"

"Solar Flare"

Beach Stone "Sand Dollars"

Thanks so much for stopping by to check out the new listings!

Have a wonderful weekend!

xo Genea

SNEAK PEEK- Mini Mixed sets $23-$28!

Hello friends!

It always seems to take me more days to get there than I planned, but I am still early! In case you didn't see the sneak peek on Monday on my facebook page you get to see it here and now. So really what I am saying is that by seeing it here first you only have to wait one day instead of 4 like everyone else ;) You're welcome :D

Here is what I have in store for you in the shop for tomorrow! A sweet little sampling of "little bits". The awesome thing about these mini sets is that you get a fun little mix and they are easy on the budget too! Sets range from $23-$28! Yay! I thought it might be fun to give these mini sets a try since spring is right around the corner. 

New ideas for a new time of year. The snow is melting and we are supposed to hit 62 by the weekend. Is spring really coming? No one really knows, but we will take it ;) I have been busily working on some "busy" projects in the studio over the last 2 days. I am even contemplating doing a tutorial on them. It felt really good to just make stuff. They were quick, beautiful, practical, and fun to make. You can't beat that when making new things! Well that is all of the hint I will give you for now. 

See you tomorrow!

xo Genea