Signs of the Times: Woolen Mills, Blarney Castle, and Metapolies!

I took this photo in Ireland, 

and wish I could add one more sign pointing to MY store!  

Metapolies™ SALE!  

Come celebrate!

 Get 17% OFF  

with code:  IRISH.   

Good on all items through 3/17/17.

 Come celebrate a bit of Ireland with us!

(From garden at Blarney Castle)

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All photos by Sharyl McMillian-Nelson

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Super Jewelry Sale Ends Today!

      Take note!



My Super "Back-to-school" Jewelry Sale ends today, Wed., 8/19/15!  


Even new Summer/Fall 2015 designs are reduced! For other pieces, it's the last chance before I withdraw them from the store. Look for  "low as I can go" prices!

    

    
     

All these and more!  Prices as low as $20!  

 Treat yourself or treat a friend!

Metapolies™

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Clip art from wpclipart.com

Photos and jewelry by Sharyl

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Treat Yourself! Treat Another! -- Back-to-School Jewelry Super Sale!

Metapolies™

Back-to-School Jewelry Super Sale 

in progress!

All JEWELRY items are on sale, 

most drastically reduced! 

Just because "Back-to-school" time has always been one of my very favorite times of the year, from grade-school through university, I couldn't help celebrating with all of you this Fall! 

• Even new Summer/Fall 2015 designs are reduced! 
• For other pieces, it's the last chance before I withdraw them from the store. 
• These are my "low as I can go" prices!

Prices shown are the sale prices. You will typically find the original price in the description.  No coupon code needed this time!

Treat yourself or treat another to a special piece of one-of-a-kind artisan-made jewelry!

Enjoy!

~Sharyl

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Photos and jewelry by Sharyl
Graphics from wpclipart.com
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Memorial Day Sale, Mon-Tue.

I've been working much of the day, so I'm very late in posting this on my blog, but will do so quickly now.  Sale continues Tues, 5/26, so there is still time to save!

Wishing each of you a very safe and 

happy Memorial Day weekend.

Link to store here!

I've been adding new jewelry and components recently, 

not shown in this photo. 

I encourage you to take a look!

In the meantime...

Here is a previous Memorial Day entry you might enjoy. (Just beware that the sale info is from 2 years ago and that code won't work!)



Link to:   
Memories of Peonies 


 Best wishes to you and your loved ones,

~Sharyl

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Color and Flower Inspired Works!

In my last blog entry, I discussed how colors and flowers frequently inspired my jewelry and bead making. I invited feedback from my readers, and I'm thrilled to have some responses to share!  (Keep them coming!)

Shirley Jones Moore makes intriguing components from seed beads!   She mentioned in her comments from the last post that she was very inspired by color.

Sparkle Berry Cubes

Galaxy Bead

 

And sure enough, just look at these fabulous colors for Spring and  Summer!   You can find more of Shirley's components at:

Shirley Moore Designs (ACM)

There is lots more to see, 

including this red/white Peppermint Twister pair!

Great color and delightful photography!

From Natalie Pappas, creator of fabulously unique pottery beads, we have this lovely bead inspired by flowers!

Peach Rose Porcelain Bead

NKP Designs (Etsy)

Also check out Natalie's other store and blog on her website:

NKPDesigns.com

To see more of Natalie's flower-themed beads,
click:   Here!

And finally, I've included a couple of my own most recent flower-inspired pieces of jewelry.  

Fresh Flowers and Relic Necklace with artisan-made pottery beads and copper accents

Metapolies™ (Etsy)

<Includes artisan-made pottery beads by Natalie Pappas (NKP Designs), Marti Conrad (Marti's Buttons-n-Beads), and Jenny Gholson-Morris (EclecticPrairie). Focal flower bead is by Tracee Dock (Classic Bead).>

Daisy-in-heart necklace, pottery pendant, lampwork beads, hand-made, artisan beads, OOAK

Metapolies™ (Etsy)< Ceramic focal by Suzieqbeads.  Polka dot lampwork beads from Crazy Lady Glass.>


To see more of my flower items
just click:   here! 

Listing Motivation!

I've been making (but not listing) much jewelry this past year.  (Nor am I wearing it, because... well, because I'm saving it to list!)   So lately I'm thinking, "How ridiculous is this?!"

So, it seems to be time I stop/slow down on some other activities and get some of these items out in my store!

    

To commit myself to doing it, I'm posting a "sneak preview" of a few of the listings here, just to keep me honest! 

Let's see how this works!  ;-)

(I don't know that listing items in online stores is anyone's favorite activity!  What do you do to make it faster/easier/less painful/more enjoyable?   Please, drop us a comment!)

Have a good week, whatever your tasks are!   

~Sharyl

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Super Spring Fling Sale at both Metapolies™ stores!

(For Give-Away offer, click here!)

Go to my Metapolies.com site for more details and links to the stores.  (You can also link from my Blog menu above, but you might miss out on Shipping Savings offer!)  

For Sterling Silver "Matchstick" Dangles Give-Away, click here!

If you are celebrating Easter this weekend, happy holiday to you!    And Happy Spring to us all!

~Sharyl

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Image Credits:

Photos and sale ad by Sharyl
Flower graphic from wpclipart.com
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Good intentions, bad timing

It didn't take me long to blow my blogging trend, did it?   Well, my intentions were good, but I caught an ugly germ and that knocked me out good for a couple of weeks.   And now that I'm just getting back to normal, I'm going to be away for a little while again.  

When I last wrote, it was was early in January, and I was so happy that it was starting out so well!   I had several really lucky things happen in a row that I wanted to share with you.  It's a bit late now, but I'll share anyway!  

First, I had some of my polymer clay beads included in two Etsy treasuries, both curated by Chris P. from DunroaminFarmDesign:

Country Charm

'Round Here

The next big thing that happened to me was that I entered the ABS Dec. challenge.   Not only did the necklace sell to one of my "new good friends" overseas... 

..but I won a random drawing for a $50 gift certificate donated by Stone Designs by Sheila!

Lucky me!  I had been admiring Sheila's work and was so pleased to go for a spending spree in her shop!   I couldn't decide what to get though, and spent a couple of days trying to make up my mind!   In the end, I added just a little bit more to Sheila's extremely generous gift and got these awesome beads!

I photographed them together with her lovely cards, but to fully appreciate these beads you must see each one close-up!

My sincere thanks to Sheila and to ABS for making the start of my 2015 such a good one!

While I'm still on the topic of Art Bead Scene, I'm so excited about the January challenge!   I hope some of you will participate!

I had beads already made I hoped to put in my stores that I thought would be great for this challenge!   But alas, my good luck ran a bit short.   First the germ, and now I need to take some time away for a week or two.   

Here is my plan for the stores:

Metapolies on ACM will be closed with expected reopening Jan. 30.

The other 2 stores are open for sales, but shipping may not occur until Jan. 30. If I can ship and/or reopen sooner, I will.   

For links and the most current updates please visit Metapolies.com.

Best wishes to each of you for the coming weeks! I hope they are good ones for you!

~Sharyl

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photos by sharyl

Clipart by wpclipart.com

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ABS Monthly Challenge: Dec. 2014 Cathedral Arches in Polymer

It may be hard to imagine how a painting of a nearly empty building could inspire in so many ways.   But when I first saw the latest piece of art for the monthly Art Bead Scene challenge, I was immediately drawn in!   It's no ordinary "empty hallway."  It's a painting of an amazing piece of architecture, full of history, with interesting shapes, and many variations on the color gray!

Some of you know, I used to frequently participate in the ABS monthly challenges, but have taken a self-imposed break from blog hops for a while.  Then I saw this, and couldn't stay away!

Choir of Sint-Bavokerk, Haarlem" 1635
by Pieter Jansz Saenedam
Read more about this painting on the ABS page.

Once I saw the photo, I couldn't get it out of my head!  It reminded me of some of the  architecture we saw this Spring in Europe! 

Notably terrible photography on this one,
but look at the similarities!

So I immediately went to work on a design!

I'd like to claim that I made each of these beads just for this challenge, but it's not true.   I've been into a "gray" mood lately and making lots of polymer clay beads in shades of gray and a granite-like glittery gray.   Some I leave as is, some I paint with metallic acrylic paints, then seal.    I made this batch and more just before seeing this month's Art Bead Scene Challenge photo.

I had intended them for pairs of earring charms, but looked at them all spread out on my counter and started picking the ones that reminded me of the curves in the architecture, the arches, the round pillars, and the multiple shades of gray.

 

I strung the beads on gray Irish waxed linen thread (from WhiteCloverKiln, Mary Hubbard), some with antiqued brass jump rings. There are dark metallic seed beads used as spacers.  Then I added a bit of antiqued brass chain in the front.    

A lovely soft bit of gray Sari ribbon for the back.   (The ribbon crosses through another handmade polymer bead in granite working as a tube bead so that the length is adjustable, and can be tied to keep in place.)  This lovely soft Sari ribbon comes from TheJewelleryQuarter (Anne Betenson, Cardiff, Wales, UK). 

I used Wooly Wire by Eleanor Thomas on the pendant and at the rings where the ribbon loops through the large jump rings. Wooly Wire is also in shades of gray and serves a practical as well as ornamental purpose.   

I just loved this month's challenge and also that's it's now posted on Pinterest too!   It's inspiring and so much easier now to share our creations!  Thanks to all involved with ABS!   

I made this pair of earrings too,
using many of the same beads and materials.
It doesn't have the "sleek lines" of the painting,
but could be worn with the necklace!

I am proud to say that I think this is the first challenge where
I've made all the beads myself!

Listed in my Metapolies™ store on Etsy!

UPDATE 12/31/14:
Challenge recap and video now on
ABS page!

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Beads, jewelry design, and photos by Sharyl McMillian-Nelson, Metapolies™, Dec. 2014.

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