Getting Stuck

I find sometimes I fall in love and buy beads without thinking the whole thing through; the result is sitting (hoarding) beads until I find something that will compliment and suit the project. I have held on to things sometimes for years. I have in the worst cases lost interest and decided to do a destash.
A Beader's destash is defined as having so many beads one must literally let go of some of the hoard or stash. Some choose to sell them, gift them, or donate them. I know last year I sold over 30 pounds of beads ( if it was that easy to lose 30 pounds from my body I would be tiny ). It's a good feeling I tell you, freeing up the work space and allowing more space for things that won't pose for such a difficult task. I really love working with odd things.
Last year I started really trying to find unique items often handmade and working with them. I felt like anything that was unusual would sell well. Be easy to work with, I was wrong; most bead creators don't often take in whether or no their work will compliment other beads and often times do not sell them in kits of beads but singles or small 3-5 piece sets. This posed for a difficult challenge I had never faced before. Shopping online also I didn't always check the millimeters of what the dimensions were, often finding myself stuck with petite beads or even worse, giant oversized beads that will be hard for me to pair anything with. I am not one for Baubles, nor am I one to do intricate detailed projects that require small petite beads.
I have some beads I have been saving from this first initial collecting, I am still sorting through them. Some colors still don't want to match any of the beads I have, which means  I am really going to have to pull a rabbit out of the hat (so to speak). Here are a few designs I have finally got around to. I will say if you love a bead or a finding, don't give up. It might just be that the right complementing beads have not shown themselves to you just yet.
The ever creative mess,
Nova Leigh

These key charms I held on to for over a year...... worth it

This pendant and complimenting beads had to be reworked twice before I made my final decision on this as the final product.....

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Fever for the Blues

Lately I have been in this strange blue mood. It's like I had forgotten how much I loved this color up until recently. I find it to be so calming; although I have a deep rooted passion toward browns, and rusty colors.
Here are some of the hues I have been working on and attracted to lately!

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                                                         I call these "Mermaid Thorns"

                                                                    "Kindred Spirit"

                                       These hoops are more of a periwinkle color but still so pretty

Everyone Must Start Somewhere....

 I wanted to take some time this morning to talk a little about how I got started creating the jewelry that I do. First of all, I am self taught, now I don't know exactly what that pertains to when other artist peg this term but for me I had zero help figuring this world of art out. I was very creative as a child right from the start but making jewelry was not a strong suit of mine.  
 Upon dating my what was then boyfriend (now husband) he turned me on to the world of macrame and I really enjoyed sitting in the floor weaving beads into hemp. I felt it was so relaxing. That being said when it came time for my interests to flourish I decided to go to AC Moore and see what they had in the jewelry making section. Back then jewelry making was not a huge fad so the section only offered so much in the way of mediums. I paced up and down the isle, not really ready to invest in tools or expensive beads so I settled with some clearance acrylics and elastics. I also purchased some ear wires and since I had no clue what headpins were; I used elastic in its place. I literally strung the beads right to the ear wires!! I loved the tied off look but as all things elastic they had a lifespan.
 It has taken time to master my skills and after 10 years of design I am starting to get the hang of things. Don't ever let not knowing a skill hold you back. Mistakes are teaching us to be better, to hone in on what we are good at and finding ourselves in a most powerful way. I feel much more confidant in the art jewelry I create now. I wanted to share some of my earlier works so you may see where I started my steps and where I finally left off. Have a beautiful day <3 
-Nova Leigh

                      One of the first creations

This piece was created with a simple melding of plastic beads, lamp work glass, and an enameled key chain charm. I call it, "Super Pop Art Hero" it must have eight knots in the back to keep it secure! I had no clue what a crimp bead was! Learning has indeed been fun!

This is a piece I created last summer! See how much time can develop skills!? Don't give up. And if you ever feel discouraged use this mantra:

You can see my collection here:
https://www.etsy.com/shop/NovaLeighs?ref=hdr_shop_menu

Windows of the Past

I am an artisan jewelry maker, it is something I caught the passion for a little over 10 years ago. All beads are interesting to me, I love to work with fine art beads that are handcrafted but I can also find beauty in acrylic beads with character. Something that caught my attention about 5 years ago was being introduced to Czech Glass beads, its a nice transition between learning and starting out and the next step up. Czech beads have a lot of character to them.
Last year I purchased several lots of bead soups (bead soups- random collections of varied beads that either are themed or literally so random that they can't be made sense of) luckily the ones I get are a little sorted (at least by colors and hues) so as to make the job a little easier. I have been holding on to these particular beads for quite some time. I wanted to do something super special with them, they are petite alone, but adding them with larger beads took away from what made them special to me.
You see these green beads reminded me of something magical from my childhood, I tend to want to work with things that rustle up my memories, I don't want to forget what special things happened to me.
My grandparents in the summer time would visit some of their special friends, Jackie and Gwen, they lived in what I found out later was an allegedly haunted house. This place was the stuff of childhood dreams. Americana at it finest, all vintage stuff, you know, old crank phones, glasses, tea carts rooms and rooms with the most glorious "old book" smell. I fell in love with this house. It was old, and beautiful. Their was one window that was different than all the other regular pane glass window in the house. It was this vivid green, mottled with spirals and when the light hit it, a calming aura was cast across the floor. These earrings remind me of my beloved childhood and the window I may never see again. I wish I understood time better as a child, I would have lavished my time taking in all the house instead of hurrying through everything. These earrings make me want to take more time with life, with each spring, all the flowers planted around the house so fragrant. I remember the cool of the grass, the bunnies in the grass hiding. I hope my children can find magic in their childhood like I once did in mine. Sorry for the rambling. Have a beautiful day <3

Windows of the Past

by Nova Leigh

Sun Dance - A memorial

Some one so special that her work was even blessed with peace. https://www.etsy.com/listing/249142458/reserved-sun-dancer-necklace

I really connected with this art piece so much I didn't halfway want to sell it. Now I wish that I hadn't. I will miss her greatly. An artist is a magical think and when one passes its like losing a muse, or a fairy. I just hope she knows how many lives she has touched with her beautiful art <3

-Nova Leigh