“If one cannot enjoy reading a book over and over again,
there is no use in reading it at all.”
—Oscar Wilde
there is no use in reading it at all.”
—Oscar Wilde
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| Unexpected Findings: 50+ Clever Jewelry Designs Featuring Everyday Components |
It is no secret that I have always wanted to write a book of my own. And one day, dammit, I am going to do just that. But until that time, it is really gratifying to be selected by someone you admire in the industry and asked to join in a stellar cast of jewelry characters to come up with new creative ideas. Plus it gives me a bit of a glimpse inside the workings of a book project. Thank YOU, Miss Michelle! Seeing my name on the pages of this book is indeed a great honor. But to be in the company of some of the finest talent in the jewelry universe is even better! I sometimes have to pinch myself to believe it is real.
I was very intrigued by the opportunity to let these workhorses of the jewelry trade come into their own light. In the beginning of the book, there is a very comprehensive section of all the different findings there are. Some are completely new to me! In some of the pieces, I had a hard time figuring out what the unexpected finding was, it was that well integrated into a design! And after looking at all the creative and dynamic ideas in this book, I will never look at that jump ring, glue-on bail, ball chain connector, ribbon end or spacer bar as just a thing to be neglected. They can be the star of the show!
After perusing the digital version of this book, I cannot wait to get a real copy! There is nothing better than sitting down with a new beading book. I own almost all that are out there. Some I look at initially and then shelve them. But I know that this one will be on my most-referenced shelf to be readily accessible for reading and re-reading (i.e., the floor next to my beading table!). And the best part is it is like sitting down with some awesome friends, because that is what I consider all the people in this book.
So here are just a few of the pieces that I made. See if you can figure out what unexpected finding is featured in each of these! If you leave a comment on this post what the three featured findings are, I will enter you in a drawing for a package of mystery findings just from me!
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| I Dream of the Sea |
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| Rings Around the Monarch |
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| Wish Me Luck |
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What's a party without party favors? Miss Michelle has some great prizes up for grabs (see below). Leave comments on my post, or any of the contributors book tour posts this week to be entered to win the following prizes:Grand Prize $50 (Fifty Dollars) Etsy Gift Card (1 prize) You can spend this on anything offered at the many individual shops on Etsy. This could be fabulous art beads, cool jewelry findings, a hand painted coffee mug, a knitted scarf ... whatever you want. (Note: Not all Etsy shops accept gift cards, so if you win, you may want to do a search for those that do.)  |
First Prize
Fun with Findings Kit (2 prizes)
You can win some of the exact findings used in the book, plus a bunch of other findings that I thought were cool. (I ran out of room to add all the page numbers to the photo!) Prize packs include everything pictured here: jump rings, head pins (handmade by Miss Fickle Media and C-Koop), filigree links, clasps (hook-and-eye, ball chain, lobster), bead caps, cord ends, and more!
Second Prize (3 prizes)
To play off the "unexpected" in my book title, three winners will receive a small mystery pack of findings (valued at $8). No photo or preview ahead of time. It will be a surprise!
Rules
This giveaway is open to all visitors except the book's contributors and author (me). Contributors are welcome (and encouraged!) to comment, but won't be entered in the drawing.
One comment per person per blog post for a maximum of eight chances to win if you visit and comment on all eight book-related posts during the September 15-19, 2014 period.
We'd love for you to help us spread the word on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest. No extra entries, but lots of good karma!
Michelle will contact the winners by email this weekend (Sept. 20-21) and post the winners here next week (Sept. 23). Remember when you comment that we'll need an email address to contact you if you win.
Blog Tour Schedule - September 15-19, 2014
Have a good time hopping around the participants posts this week, here are the links and dates!
Monday, Sept. 15
Tuesday, Sept. 16
Wednesday, Sept. 17
Thursday, Sept. 18
Friday, Sept. 19
Disclosure: If you purchase the book via the links I have included in this post, I will receive a small amount of Interweave affiliate credit. Thank you for your support!
Special Savings going on in the Interweave house Sept 17-19th! Woot!
Click here to buy your copy now!
Special Savings going on in the Interweave house Sept 17-19th! Woot!
Click here to buy your copy now!
54 comments:
Very pretty and clever designs, Erin (not even going to attempt to put names to the components LOL)
Well I think I can see some of your favourite jumprings as crimp covers in one design ;-) I am so looking forward to getting my hands on this book. Like you I know it is going to be a regular browse. (melissa_trudinger at yahoo dot com)
well miss Erin you have been very clever hiding those findings amongst the beads and baubles. ButI I see lots of jump rings used as love knots; what looks like an earring loop as a bail; and in the last necklace that fab pendant looks like an upside down chandelier finding , a great use for the one single component we have left over.
beautiful necklaces . can't wait to see the book in person.
deb4tin at gmail dot com
This looks like such a fun book. Some of the samples you all have shown are so clever. Can't wait to see the book.
Looks like some wonderful new ideas! I'm always inspired by new books This is a great addition to my library!
I am looking forward to this book.
I'm so not surprised you're in this terrific book! Your work is always terrific. Thanks for the contest! Mitzie@ NeedfulLuxuries. Com
Congratulations on your contribution to this fabulous book! Your pieces are all beautiful.
As for the findings, my old eyes make it difficult to see well but I'm seeing maybe an earring finding one the first piece, a clasp in the second piece and jump rings on the third piece.
Thanks for the chance to win!
I am so excited for this book! Your pieces are amazing. I had to squint on my ipad, but I think I see an earring post in the first necklace. In the second, are you using jump rings on the leather? That is awesome! And, in the third, I love the jump rings over crimps and in the center of the necklace. (I'll be curious to see if all of the guesses are right.)
I'm also pulling for you to do a book. I can only imagine the inspiration you could draw for such a project. You have such a way with color and with harmonizing components.
I have a feeling this book is going to sell very, very well based on what I've seen on blogs so far. Such beautiful work! I love your Rings Around the Monarch necklace - the name too. It's lovely and a great combination of colors. I always enjoy your work Erin.
Congrats on your contributions, they are all so pretty! I really love your 'Wish Me Luck' necklace - wow! I see jump rings as 'rose' links and crimp covers, and on the the last one your pendant is created from what looks like a connector (fabulous focal pendant!!)
I agree, Erin. I was very impressed with how all of the contributing designers were able to use their given finding in such a clever way AND integrate it so well to their jewelry design that no one could ever tell that component was intended for a different purpose.
The one design that you did not share here is a stunning knock-out and may, in fact be my absolute favorite design in the whole book!
I love all your designs! I am really excited to see this book. Thanks for sharing!
Gorgeous designs Erin! You have used findings so artistically and cleverly that I can barely spot them! I do see multiple jump rings linked beautifully around the silk cord-I thought it was wire wrapped around it at first! Using jump rings instead of crimp covers and spacers has always been one of my favorite "unexpected" use of findings. I also see what looks like an end cap holding a teardrop in place on your "wish me luck" piece. Did I guess that one correctly? Your first piece, "I dream of the sea" has me stumped though. The only finding I can see is a starfish shaped toggle from a clasp set. Maybe that is the unexpected finding that you used!
I am really looking forward to this book!
Great necklaces. I love the starfish one, so pretty.
Would love to win a copy of this book. I like how findings are used in different ways, it makes looking at your bead stash in a whole new way. Congratulations and thanks for the chance to win a copy.
I know what you mean about sitting down with a new beading book, and this one looks innovative and cool. I love all of your work, Erin., and this is a creative group of contributing designers. Can't wait. Thanks for the giveaway!
I just love all three necklaces and look forward to seeing all the wonderful designs in this exciting new book. I think it's the starfish toggle used as a charm in the first one, jump rings turned into love knots and around the silk in the second, and a connector turned into a pendant surround/pendant in the third. This was a fun guessing game! Lynn Carling :) (lecarling@verizon.net)
Thank you, Erin! Your findings are so cleverly hidden--this will be a good challenge for everyone! You have such a great eye for color, too. :)
Erin, Your pieces are all so lovely! My guesses: 1/ starfish toggle, pendant bale hanging as a charm; 2/ the spiral clasp in front, jump rings covering crimps, your logo tag as a charm in the hanging front tassel; 3/ jump rings covering crimps and used as the bale, the spacer frame as a pendant. Congrats! - can't wait to add this one to my library. (Yes, write that book!!)
Beautiful pieces!! And I really had to look hard to find the unexpected findings! I think I see a toggle in the first piece, the 2nd piece with the butterfly is hard! Perhaps a connector? And how about a bunch of jump rings in the 3rd? Love all your pieces! Thanks for the chance to win some great prizes!
Looks beautiful. Adding this book to my Christmas list!
Karenra1@cox.net
In the first piece it looks like you used a starfish toggle as a charm, and maybe used earring hoops strung with peanut beads for links. In the second design, it appears that you grouped jump rings to make links, and it looks like you may have strung beads on jump rings in the tassel. In the 3rd piece (my favorite), I think that you used jump rings clustered together as spacers, and a bezel component as the pendant. Thank you for being part of the giveaway, and congrats on being a part of such an exciting book!
Beautiful and clever designs Erin! The book seems so wonderful...want to hold it, feel it and study it.
I'm having difficulty finding the findings in your pieces, but what is not difficult is knowing that all your pieces are beautifully unique - i love them all. thanks for sharing.
What a wonderful book! I can't wait to explore all the wonderful ideas that you have all shared. Thanks so much for the giveaway! Debra - djdesign@triad.rr.com
Miss Erin you have beautiful designs and great imagination when focusing on Unexpected Findings. At first glance they are difficult to find, but giving it a closer look, I see the artistic mind at work.
I am very much looking forward to this book. I'm sure it will become one of my favorites.
I also loved the quote by Oscar Wilde that you used in your opening statement. Love that one!!!
Congratulations to all of you!
I think it's a starfish toggle for #1, the beaded large rings or the hook for #2, and the large triangular-ish focal for three is also a toggle? Maybe? I must say I love the overlapping jump rings... or is that just wire? (kmp133@yahoo.com)
Love your designs, Erin! (No shocker there.) In the first design I think I see the ring part of a Green Girl clasp used as a charm, mixed metal jumprings as lover's knot spacers in the second, and some sort of connector or frame as part of your pendant. At least those are my guesses. :) Congrats on being part of what looks like an exciting book!
I've always admired your designs and your use of materials in creative ways, so you were a natural for this book! I am not at all sure what findings are in these three pieces - the only thing I can potentially identify in all three is the use of jump rings. As a matter of fact, I have used a tip of yours I read elsewhere to use jump rings to cover crimp connections. I love it! Thank you for sharing your expertise.
Lovely designs! I can't wait to see the book :)
Wow! What beautiful pieces you made. This book is going to be so great!
I see what looks like a starfish toggle in the first necklace.
In the second one there are lots of jump rings used as mobius flowers, around the leather crimps and as part of the pendant dangle (with lots of see beads on them) plus the clasp is there front and centre in all its twirly gloriousness.
The last necklace what looks like a pendant bail wire wrapped with little beads, an end cap on the dangling quartz (crystal?) at the bottom
Really awesome jewelry that you have made! These are my guesses for the findings used : #1 - the sea star end of a clasp used as a charm? , #2 - something to do with how the leather is connected with the beaded portion of the necklace? And #3 - the upside down pendant, looks like it is for an earring. Very tricky!
Wonderful pieces. I have absutely no clue what "hidden" finding you used in the first piece... Cannot even see the clasp. Wow! Others I see jump rings, earring finding or link, s-link. Looking forward to what inspires you and the other contributing artists. Am sure this will be a great and informative read. Congrats!
cevans.designs@yahoo.com
Hi Miss Erin, Your pieces are wonderful and they fit this book perfectly. I am excited to add this one to my library and I am sure it will be a go to reference. Necklace #1 has a pinch bail used as a charm and possibly a starfish toggle ring as a charm #2 has seed beads on earring hoops and #3 has jumprings covering crimps and a connector used as a pendant. Thanks for a chance to win.
I love all of these pieces and have no idea what findings you used. I'm going to have to spend some time studying the new book!Seeing what everyone has shown from the book guarantees that I will buy it. Thanks for sharing your creations and giving us a sneak peek at the book.
Erin, I was eager to see your beautiful contributions to Michelle's book from the very beginning when I learned you were a contributor. I knew you would add such a beautiful complexity with your distinct design style. "I Dream of the Sea" and "Wish me Luck" are a couple of my favorites.... and is there ever an incredible selection of designs in this book! I can't wait to get a hold of the hard copy too - this will be such a well-worn and loved source of inspiration! :-)
As I've been hopping, I've been trying to play the game of identifying the findings and have had a really hard time. But for you, I'll try. . .Your first picture looks like the starfish is part of a toggle clasp. The second one um, maybe colored jump rings. The third. . .a connector that you used as the focal. Well, those are my guesses. Thanks for the fun! Oh, and your designs are so great too!!
CraftyHope at gmail dot com
I see jump rings and spacers and I think on the leather ends, and earring findings. So pretty and clever!
What a fun book idea! Love your clever tricks and I'm sure this is full of them! (jillimarsh at gmail dot com)
Erin-your designs are wonderful. Thanks for sharing them. I would so love to win this book.
Sadly I am not eligible for any prizes, but I'm going to comment anyway, because that's how I roll. I find it annoying that all of your projects are way better than all of my projects in the book. pffft.
Erin 2.0
All of these ides are so creative. Cannot wait to get this book.
Such beautiful projects Erin! Love watching your body of work grow and change (can easily see your getting a book deal!) :)
Your contributions to this book are beautiful, as I fully expected from you. Nice work!
Just love these pieces. Great work (as usual). :)
Tricky on picking out the findings. I would guess the toggle, the jump rings and the metal frame/connector.
sarahocreations@gmail.com
Beautiful!! I'm always in awe of your talent. :)
Erin, I love your pieces! Since I've read the book already, I won't hazard a guess here. :) I wanted to let you know that one of my favorite parts of reading the book was going through a first pass and seeing if I could identify the designer before I saw her name. I've worked with and also admired so many of the contributor's work that I feel relatively familiar with their styles, and I was able to come up with yours as YOURS. You have such a sweet style, slightly nostalgic and definitely inspiring, usually with a message and some awesome color choices. I'm so excited to be included with you and the rest of the amazing designers for this book!
Have a lovely day, Ms. Erin!
Molly
Love this new book and can't wait to get my hands on it! Lots of my fav bead designers are featured and you guys are so CREATIVE!
I would love to get my hands on this book, seems wonderful. Erin, you delivered! Your pieces are gorgeous:)
Erin, all three are gorgeous designs in their different styles. About being published, I'm sure one day you're going to write your own book.
Ana
acbeads at gmail dot com
Hi, I love your designs! In the first one, I *think* I see a sea star toggle used as a charm. #2: lots of jump ring rosettes, and the hook and loop closure at the front. # 3: jump rings used as spacers and a connector used as part of the focal. I'm really liking the look of this book.
Just saw this as I've been preparing for my son's wedding, but I've been waiting for this book. I think the first one is a starfish toggle, the second one is some jump rings and the third one is the triangle thing that may be a clasp of some king, but not sure. Can't wait till I get a copy.
I know the giveaway is over I just wanted to tell you how beautiful all the projects look.
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