Mixed Mayhem Studios

Store Updates & New Tutorial!

I am very excited to announce all the nifty new changes I've made to my blog and my store. A lot of those things are rather minute and would probably only be noticeable to me. The rest are a little more obvious!

Like for instance, check out those new buttons on the navigation panel! Heck yes! New things! I also stopped being lazy and went ahead and re-updated my rollover images. So fancy. Now the "Buy Jewelry" links directly to my jewelry store, and the "Buy Artwork" will link to where you can buy artwork. There's not any artwork available just at this moment, but oh man is my jewelry store looking shiny. I've recently updated it with several items to include my necklace from the ZNetShows' Spring Glossi!

The earrings have already sold, but the necklace is still available. ♥

But wait! There's more! There is now a Tutorials button. That's right. I have been meaning to make jewelry tutorials for a lonnnng time. Well. I finally got started. What prompted it was an innocent question posed by my current BSBP partner, Dhea Powers.

Here's what I sent her:

Silk ribbon, Czech glass, Serpentine "Peridot Jasper", Chinese Crystal, and Parawire in Antique Bronze 22ga

In the past, I think my Bead Soup that I've sent to my partners, while lovely, has been a bit watered down when it came to my own personality. This stuff? Very, very me. Rocks, wire, and crystal. Oh yeah!

Anyhow, my charming partner does not work with wire, and was a little intimidated by that adorable little spool of wire (It's actually a thread bobbin! So cute!). To help her out, I sent her links to some tutorials, and showed her some examples of what I like to do with wire that's pretty basic. I also sent this picture:

  

I was using that little link in the center as an example of how I make pieces and then connect them all together with jumprings, etc. She replied saying she wanted to know how I wire wrapped the briolette next to the connector piece.

Thus, I have made my first jewelry making tutorial, which you may download for free on my tutorials page. I'll be updating that page with more tutorials in the future, which I am very excited about. It's something I've been meaning to do, but have seriously procrastinated on. Big thanks to Dhea for the inspiration to get started!

I hope you all enjoy the tutorial, too. There will be more on the way, and soon there will be proper eBooks for purchase as well. Enjoy the tutorial, and feel free to share it around!  :D

Much love,

BSBP Soup Arrival!

I received my soup for this round of the Bead Soup Blog Party from my partner Dhea Powers on Monday, and oh man am I feeling terribly spoiled. She sent me some seriously beautiful things to work with. And not only that, she sent me two different batches of soup; one as a challenge, and one for comfort of things I am more familiar with.

Here's her challenge to me:

Artisan polymer clay beads & matching pendant, vintage crystals, plus Tiara & Swarovski crystals in black.

And let's not forget that three stand clasp! Pink isn't usually my color, but I so love the combination with the earthy beige and black.

Still in awe at how pretty those polymer clay beads are. Dhea mentioned that she loves those beige vintage crystals. I am inclined to agree!

Next, she sent me a batch of soup with ingredients she thought I would feel most comfortable with. Such a sweet gesture! I really like the idea of "comfort soup." That totally needs to be a thing I do next time around.

Dhea sent me gemstones, bone, natural seeds, two toggles clasps, and some vintage lucite!

Bone feathers, red aventurine, agate rounds, agate toggle clasp, vintage lucite, and look at that big silver clasp! There's a signature on the back of it, so I'm willing to bet it's PMC/artisan made.  :)

Those big seeds are going to be such a challenge! I work with mostly tiny things. Really love that turquoise magnesite slab and matching beads.

This batch has a very southwest / Native American feel to me, and I love it!

Aren't these beads divine? I'm already busy dreaming up all sorts of beautiful things, and I'm certainly looking forward to the challenge of working with some of these chunkier beads. I'm excited, and I hope you are, too!

Also, don't forget to check out Dhea's blog so see the beads I sent her.  :)

Much love,

Creative Spark Spring Glossi for ZnetShows

Woohoo! The Spring glossi is out and ready for viewing! Remember my recent post about the beautiful beads that ZNetShows sent me? The designs I created from those beads are featured in this issue. Check it out:

Click to view Creative Spark - Spring 2014 on GLOSSI.COM

/static/js/lib/glossy/embed/cover/entry.js?glossiId=33732&eb=CreativeSpark&height=573&width=450&tkn=

The glossi is full of fantastic jewelry from other fellow artisans, beautiful spring color palettes for your own design inspiration, and other awesome beading tips. I'm really loving this new issue, and I will most definitely be using a couple of those aforementioned color palettes in the near future for my own design work. Go take a peek and get a little spring inspiration for yourself!

Much love!

Guess What Time It Is?

Bead Soup Blog Party time!

I know, I know, I'm a bit late on joining in on the party due to work and other such responsibilities that inhibit all my fun. ;)

The actual party and reveal day isn't until May 3rd, but today was the deadline for mailing goodies out to your partner. Speaking of, my lovely new partner for 5th BSBP (oohhh mmmmm geeee... five times?! Time where have you gone???), is the lovely Dhea Powers of Java Bead.

My very first partner was a lampwork bead artist, so I'm pretty excited to have come circle with that. It was such a challenge, and I have no doubt Dhea will send me something amazing. I've really enjoyed getting to know her, and I'd like you lovelies to meet her, too.

Dhea's design from her 1st BSBP reveal. Such fun colors!

You can check out her blog here, and you can ogle her hubby's fantastic lampwork glass beads and the jewelry she designs here.

Looking forward to more Soup!

Much love,

The Bead Market @ OKC

So, I'm in Oklahoma visiting family currently, and this past weekend I went to The Bead Market with my auntie. I've been to this show a couple of times before in Fort Worth, TX, but it was fun to visit with my auntie and check it out in a new location. I spotted some familiar vendors (one of which was even from the Richardson area where I spent most of my time as a kiddo in Texas), and some new ones. The show was a little smaller than the one I'm used to, but that didn't hurt my feelings. It's almost kind of overwhelming looking at the rows upon rows of sparkly beads. 

Anyhow, here's all the fun stuff I picked up at the show:

Some very vibrant crystal beads. I was recently sent some yellow beads on two different occasions recently, so I was on the lookout for something yellow since it's an uncommon color in my collection.  :)

Kind of wish it wasn't so darn cold outside to better show off the vibrancy of these beads. That red is actually closer to a garnet color and it is lovely! ♥

Neon rubberized glass! Such a strange, interesting texture. And the colors! Woah. This photo doesn't do them justice.

Ohh. These quartz points. I am in love. They're a natural quartz with a soft, smokey blue coating. So lovely!

And of course, there were fun magnesite shapes all over the place. I couldn't pass up these teensy skulls.

Aren't these beads fantastic? I am so excited! I had been wanting some neon stuff for quite a while, and those quartz points are divine. I got them 70% off the retail price, too. Bonus!

That's it for now!

Much love,