Wire Wrapped Pendant

This is my first attempt at wire wrapping - I thought it turned out pretty well! 

I used all sterling silver wire with a coin pearl center and two freshwater pearl dangles. I oxidized the silver to give it an antique finish. Measures approx. 1" wide and 1 & 3/4" tall.

The wire wrapping was definitely fun to do - and more tiring on the hands than I expected! But now I'm inspired to try out some more wire projects.

For this piece I used:

 24g sterling silver wire 
two sterling silver headpins
coin pearls

  small freshwater pearl beads 
misc small silver beads

  

What do you think?

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

Ukrainian Easter Eggs: Happy Easter!

My father first taught me the craft of making pysanka - Ukrainian Easter eggs - when I was very young. 

Over the years and with lots of practice, I think I've finally got to the point where they are presentable! 

I made the eggs in this photo with regular extra large chicken eggs. I work on four or five eggs at a time, each being in a different stage of completion. 

The eggs are created with a wax-relief method, similar to batik. 

Beginning with a white egg, the designs are drawn on in hot beeswax with a tool called a kistka. Then the eggs are dipped into a dye bath. More wax is applied and the process is repeated until the design is complete and all desired dye colors have been used. When the egg is finished, the wax is removed and the inside of the egg is emptied.

If you're interested in learning how to make your own Ukrainian Easter eggs, check out my other blog post: 

How To Make Ukrainian Easter Eggs

There are also a few good books on the subject, which are great resources for designs and tips and techniques!


What do you think?

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

Limited Edition Designs

I'm Kind Of A Big Deal...

artwork and photo copyright Laura Beth Love

I'm excited to offer a new  category for Limited Edition Art Jewelry on my website. This category encompasses those one of a kind creations that don't quite fit in any of my other categories and in a nutshell can be described as a little bit of this and a little bit of that! 

Here is where you will find unique and unusual jewelry designs that incorporate vintage photos as well as some vintage advertising art, plus some mixed media and altered art jewelry. Some of the items included in this section are early designs that I made a while back but never had the time to photograph until now! Be sure to stop in and take a peek!

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

China Mosaic Skulls

I spent most of yesterday working on my china mosaic skulls...

These are so relaxing to make, and I think they're pretty cute too!

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

Dishfunctional Designs on Great Green Goods

If you are looking for a recycled or green gift, be sure to check out Great Green Goods. I was thrilled to recently have my broken china jewelry featured by them on their site, which features eco-friendly products that are made by creative minds with recycled materials. You can read their review of my jewelry here:

Dishfunctional Designs - Makes you want to Break your Plates

From Pennsylvania artist, Laura Love, gorgeous pendants, bracelets, charms and earrings created from recycled broken dishware. The necklaces with the added accent of recycled vintage flatware are my favorite. If you’re the type who can’t bear to toss Great Aunt Mabel’s cracked and chipped tea cup, you can send it to Laura since custom work is available.
Priced around $50.00 for necklace and $60.00 for bracelet at Dishfunctional Designs.

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

Cupcake!

Boy do I have lots of sweet new goodies for spring! This winter I took some time away from my regular line of broken china jewelry to create some exciting new designs with some fabulous vintage materials...I dove into my collection of vintage photos, reproduced some of them, then had a ball adding some fun text to them and incorporating them into some fresh new designs. (I knew I was collecting those vintage photos for a reason!)

How cute is she?!

artwork & photos copyright 2009

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

Happy March

I was hoping for some spring-like weather come March, but in lieu of sunshine a full-blown snow day will always suffice! There's nothing like a blizzardy day to stir up my creative juices. Seeing that going outside was not an option, I opted to work on some new, (and kinda silly) designs for spring. I love the way this necklace turned out! What a vixen! ~ This was made from a vintage photo that I reproduced. I added some original fun text, placed her behind glass, soldered her up with silver solder, and topped her off with a hand-carved onyx bead. (available Spring '09)

all designs & images copyright 2009

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

Springtime Inspiration

Vintage Lace Pendants by Laura Beth Love

all arwork & images copyright Laura Beth Love 2009


Thank goodness springtime is right around the corner! The change of seasons always seems to offer just the right gentle push I need to leave behind the old and begin some new projects. I look forward to the refreshing & soft palette of spring - and to the longer days it affords! I created these pendants with pieces of antique lace & glass. Enjoy!
Laura

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

Happy Presidents Day

What better way to celebrate Presidents Day than with this dashing vintage photo pendant of Abraham Lincoln?

artwork & image copyright 2009

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

Be My Valentine

If ever there was a day for chocolate and goodies, today's that day! Today we celebrate love ~ some with kisses and hugs, others with cards and candy. What's not to love about the heart itself? Here are some mosaic hearts I designed and created using shards of vintage broken china and vintage images. Like each one of us, these mosaic hearts each have their own unique personalities. Happy Valentine's Day to you! Enjoy, and remember to tell someone that you love them!

~ Find Peace ~

~ Hot Stuff! ~

~ Dream Big ~

all designs & artwork copyright 2009

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

The Valentine Box

What fun it's been this week at our house, making Valentine's Day boxes with my daughters. Finding just the right shoe box and then gathering the pretty papers, ribbons and glitter (and paper doilies of course!) to help them create their masterpieces. I'll admit it, I think my excitement matched theirs when the note was brought home from school with instructions for this project! Children are such a phenomenal inspiration...

reade more... Résuméabuiyad