Hot and not bothered: Moving to Atlanta!

The heat has been over the top here in Maryland!  It has been a busy month for me as I prepare to relocate to the Atlanta area (Marietta, to be precise).  Nothing like cleaning out the basement you've been avoiding and dragging out way too many heavy boxes with a 107 degree heat index.  Who needs a sauna?  My skin looks fabulous :)  I am very excited about the clothing, books, and other household items that have been donated.  I also shredded a metric ton of paper.  It feels liberating to scale down a bit.

Things will be a little slow in my shops during August as we settle in to our new place.  I've been busy creating 100 necklaces that will be gifted to the celebrities attending the GBK Gift Lounge for The Primetime Emmys. Thanks to The Artisan Group, my jewelry will be on display at the gift lounge and swag bags received by those attending.

Here is a peek at the bronze and carnelian necklace I am making for the swag bags:

Bronze and carnelian necklace

Carnelian has been called "The Artists Stone" because of its association with creativity, confidence, and increased energy.  It has been associated with protection from negative emotions.

I am thrilled about this gifting opportunity and about moving!  It is beautiful in western Maryland, and I have meet some wonderful people here, but I miss city life.  Okay, suburban life-- near a big city :)  I am looking forward to new adventures!

Thanks for reading.  I will be updating soon with some exciting changes for Kathryn Designs!

Photo by Crystal Lynn Photography

Goddess Bracelets for celebrity mothers, Mother's Day 2013

Goddess Bracelet with amazonite, Swarovski crystals, gold filled beads, and metal clay charm

In keeping with my love of Goldie Bronze metal clay, I created these lovely bracelets using some amazing Amazonite beads.  I love the summery, fresh shade of blue in these beads!  The Goddess Athena charms were created using metal clay.  These bracelets were gifting to so many fabulous celebrity moms via The Artisan Group, I can barely believe it!  I am so excited about this opportunity and I hope to see my bracelet out and about in Hollywood, or anywhere for that matter :)

Celebrities are: ROW (1) Vanessa Lachey, Snooki, Shakira, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Sara Rue, Penelope Cruz, Megan Fox. ROW (2) Maya Rudolph, Malin Ackerman, Lisa Ling, Kristin Cavallari, Kristen Bell, Kim Kardashian, Jessica Simpson. ROW (3) Jennifer Nettles, Jenna Dewan, Holly Madison. ROW (4) Giuliana Rancic, Gisele Bündchen, Fergie. ROW (5) Claire Danes, Busy Phillips, Anna Faris. ROW (6) Evan Rachel Wood, Hillary Scott.

Goddess Bracelet by Kathryn Designs Art Jewelry

Kathryn Designs: Return of the Blog, Gifting Renee Zellweger

Catching up! My last post was in February and here is is almost June already. I've been happily trekking along in my adventures with metal clay and somehow got lost in the basement with my kiln.  No time to post!

A few months ago, I gifted the beautiful and talented Renee Zellweger two of my new metal clay creations, via The Artisan Group.

Renee Zellweger: Photo by David Shankbone

I chose to create delicate pieces, as I noted that she seems to favor understated jewelry. Both pieces were created with Goldie Bronze metal clay.  The bangle has four pink CZ stones, and the initial necklace is a simple, classic style that I thought she might like.  

I was so excited when the founder of The Artisan Group shared with us the lovely handwritten thank you note she received from Rene! Her thoughtfulness and consideration was a beautiful surprise. 

I have added several new metal clay designs to my website, and have been honored at the great response from my customers!  Click on the link beneath the photo to visit my website and check out some of my creations.  

Metal Clay Jewelry at KathrynDesignsJewelry.com

Kathryn Designs Jewelry: Gifted on The Wendy Williams Show

Once again, The Artisan Group has opened up a huge door for Kathryn Designs!
My { No Time For} Fool's Gold necklace will be making the trip to The Wendy Williams Show for a special segment and Oscars Swag giveaway episode on February 22nd.

If you have a Pinterest addiction, like me, you will probably love The Artisan Group's board of all the amazing handcrafted creations that will be gifted on the show!  You will find everything from bath and body products, jewelry, stationery, scarves, hair accessories, and even a gorgeous clutch handbag.

Inspired by the gold faceted polymer beads I created last month, I decided to make some beautiful bling-ed out statement necklaces using small and large versions of the beads, crystal beads, and crystal rondelles.  I hope Wendy loves the necklace!

{No Time For} Fool's Gold Necklace

Kathryn Designs: Now obsessed with metal clay and some exciting press

It is hard to believe that it is already February.  Between the holidays, a bout of the flu, and lots of creative irons in the fire, I have been a blog slacker!

I was so honored to have my business and my "story" featured in WomanScope NewsMagazine.  Thank you to Jewel McFadden for writing such a beautiful article about my business and the inspiration behind my work.

 I am also thrilled to share a link to my faceted gold bead tutorial as featured in the February/ March issue of The Maryland Women's Journal.  If you click the link and visit the site, you can download a PDF of the full issue, which will include photos of the project.  The necklaces I created using these beads are headed to the set of a talk show, to be gifted to the host of the show and the executive producer in a special segment about Oscars Swag Bags.  More details to come soon about this great opportunity via The Artisan Group!!

{No Time for} Fool's Gold Necklace

Kathryn Designs "Fabulous Facets" polymer clay beads

I have also been busy cooking up some new jewelry made with "Goldie Bronze" metal clay.  I have to say, I LOVE this clay! I just listed a few pieces in my shop and have several more on the way.  I have decided to add a whole new line of bronze clay, white bronze clay, and silver clay jewelry to my collection.  Could this be my new obsession? 

Goldie Bronze metal clay pendant with lab ruby cabochon

Kathryn Designs at the GBK Gift Lounge for the American Music Awards

After all the excitement for The 46th Annual CMA Awards, I am thrilled to have another great gifting opportunity so soon!  Via The Artisan Group, my Gemstone Teardrop necklaces will be gifted to celebrities attending the GBK Gift Lounge for The 40th American Music Awards.  The gift lounge will be held in Los Angeles on November 16th and 17th.  The award show airs on ABC on Sunday, November 18th.

Gemstone Teardrop Necklace

In shopping news.....Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday are fast approaching.  I will be offering some great deals on my Kathryn Designs Website.  In the meantime, check out some amazing offers via The Artisan Group Deals page.  My gemstone flower cuff is currently on sale for 60.00 (normally 80.00) until November 18th!

Gemstone Flower Cuff

Feeling grateful and blessed for all the wonderful, supportive people in my life.
My heart goes out to those who are still suffering the after effects of Hurricane Sandy.
<3kathryn

Be a wrap star this holiday season: Beaded wrap bracelet tutorial

A preview of my bracelet tutorial, as featured in the upcoming November/ December issue of the Maryland Women's Journal, Montgomery County Edition.

We all know the holiday season can become stressful and hectic. Based on my background as an Art Therapist, I cherish the process of creating as a way to relax, recharge, and restore a sense of playfulness to my life.  As a full time jewelry designer, I fell in love with these chic and easy to create wrap bracelets.  Try this simple project to add a little rejuvenating sparkle to your holidays.  Memory wire makes these bracelets versatile, as they will adjust to fit any wrist.  

Tools and Supplies:

• Heavy duty wire clippers (do not use delicate jewelry clippers with memory wire)
• Round nose or chain nose pliers
• One package bracelet sized memory wire
• An assortment of beads.  Use beads of the same color family in different shades and styles for a fun Boho-Chic look.  
• (Optional) Hollow rubber or velour tubing, cut into various lengths. 

To assemble the bracelet:

• Decide how wide you want your bracelet.  For the pieces pictured, I used between 5 and 8 loops of coiled memory wire. Cut the wire slightly longer than the finished piece will be.
• Use the pliers to curl or loop back one end of the bracelet.  Hold the wire firmly in one hand, and use the pliers to curl back the tip of the wire, against the direction of the curve in the wire.
• Start beading the wire, using either a repeated pattern, or have fun using random placement.  For one bracelet, I used various lengths of velour tubing with crystal and turquoise beads in symmetrical groupings.  For the next two, I used a random selection of blue or black and gray beads.
• To avoid tangles in the coiled memory wire, hold the wire perpendicular at the end that is not looped, and allow the beads to travel down the coil to the looped end.
• When you have completed beading the bracelet, cut the wire just short of 1/2" from the last bead.  Make sure the beads are pushed tightly together, then create another wire loop.
• Voila! Your bracelet is complete.  If you are like me, you will want to create another! 
• Add some beaded dangles and charms to the end loops for some added punch :)

Note: Wear protective goggles when cutting memory wire, as small pieces of cut wire could cause injury. 

Use pliers to curl back the tip of the wire by going against the direction of the curve in the wire.

Wrap bracelets and rings now available in my shop too..http://www.kathryndesignsjewelry.com

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