Calling All Jewelry Designers!

Cousin ANNOUNCES CALL FOR APPLICANTS FOR CREATIVE CIRCLE Ambassador Program

Five New Ambassadors To Be Selected To Join The Inaugural Group

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

LARGO, Fl., May 10, 2013 – Cousin Corporation of America is pleased to announce a call for applicants for the Cousin Creative Circle™ Ambassador program for the 2013-14 term. Cousin is a premier manufacturer of jewelry making components that supplies products to craft stores, retail chain stores and professional jewelry makers all over the world.

The Cousin Creative Circle™ is a diverse group of talented jewelry makers who have a strong commitment to the craft of jewelry making and who use Cousin products because they are the best in the industry. These brand ambassadors have a platform to share ideas with the product development team, receive Cousin products to incorporate into their work and attend a team building retreat at Cousin Headquarters in Florida.

"Our Creative Circle program has absolutely surpassed our expectations," said Jeff Cousin, President. “We want to keep the craft of jewelry making relevant and maintain it as a growing art. The Ambassadors have shown thousands of people that jewelry making is accessible and rewarding, and as a result we have introduced those people to the Cousin brand.”

The selection committee will choose five additional Creative Circle Ambassadors to join the original members chosen last year. To be considered for the Cousin Creative Circle™, each applicant must complete a comprehensive application form and submit at least 3 images of their work. The deadline for submissions is Monday, June 17, 2013 at 11:59 p.m. EST. To apply, please visit www.cousin.com/CCC.

About Cousin

Cousin Corporation of America is a family-owned company founded in 1970 as Enterprise Art, a retail craft store in Largo, Florida. Today we are a premier wholesaler of jewelry making supplies. Our focus is to design, manufacture and provide quality jewelry making products at an exceptional value to customers who are inspired by the craft of jewelry making. For more information about Cousin Corporation of America, please visit www.cousin.com.

Prima Bead - Bead and Button Show Project - Part One!

In early February, I posted about a new project for Cousin which would be our "biggest assignment to date."  I'm super excited and super nervous about being able to create something that will be displayed at such a prestigious event.

While I sorted my supplies, I ran into a problem.  The color of some of the pearls were off.  I had ordered dark blue/navy and what I received was dark teal/green color.  Turns out I had a mislabeled batch.  Oops.... I reached out to one of my contacts there at Cousin/Prima Bead and he quickly sprang into action to make sure the other pearls were labeled correctly for other customers and find me a perfect match for what I wanted.  Within a few days, I received my new goodies.  But the fact I had off colored items didn't stop me from creating a beautiful piece from the pearls.  So now I have two necklaces for Cousin to choose from.  Below are the progression of each necklace from idea conception to finished beauty.

The beginning of the first one:

This was the focal design I came up with and the rest of the necklace flowed around it.  Sterling Silver fancy head pin, filigree heart connector and eye pins were used with a 10x8mm Crystazzi Dark Sapphire teardrop bead, huge 20 mm glass pearl and a 6x8mm Crystazzi Light Sapphire rondelle.

I came up with a pattern using 6mm deep teal, light turquoise, and white glass pearls.  I knew I wanted to use a collar style necklace as the base for this piece to give it a Victorian feel.

I used Beadalon's WildFire Thermally Bonded Bead Weaving Thread in Frost 10 lb., 15mm with a #12 beading needle.

I created a Right Angle Weave using a base ring of four pearls then adding in three at a time until I reached the desired length.  I then went back in and added 4mm round A/B finished Swarovski clear crystals and 4mm bicone Crystazzi Light Sapphire crystals.








I added in dangles along the sides using 10x8mm Crystazzi Dark Sapphire and Clear A/B tear drops accented with 4mm bicone Crystazzi Light Sapphire crystals and 4mm bicone A/B clear crystals. I draped a Sterling Silver link chain from the Elegance Metal line in the design.

Bit by bit, it all came together.  I continued to add in various colored glass pearls, crystals, and even some Jewelry Basics acrylic beads.

 

New Project!

Okay...I received my February/March project information on Friday, February 1st.  This is going to be the Creative Circle's "Biggest project to date" as our contact at Cousin told us in our email.

This is the exact quote from the email detailing what this project is about. 

We want to feature YOU at our Prima Booth at the Bead & Button Show in June!!!!!!!!!!!  Each necklace will be a major focal point of the booth complete with a name plate of the designer!

Assignment:

-Create a show-stopping Necklace that will be featured at the Prima Booth at the Bead and Button show.  We want something that will WOW them and grab everyone’s attention!

-The piece must retail between $300-$500

-No earrings or bracelets it must be a Necklace.

-Once you have completed the necklace we will send you a call tag to ship it to Cousin headquarters

-The assignment will be due on April 1^st

After the initial panic wore off and I composed myself, I researched some trends and decided to create something blue. My next step was to requisition the materials I was going to need from Prima Bead and wait for them to come in.  Today my goodie box came!  I was so excited.  I must have looked like a kid at Christmas when the UPS driver arrived at my door.

As the project progresses, I will post photos.

November Project

For our November project, we were to create something from the new box of goodies we received from Cousin.  They have introduced a new line of jewelry components called Second Skin.  Second Skin is focused on the look and feel of exotic snake skin. This new line features luxurious jewel tones and metal accents. This line is available at Jo-Ann and Prima Bead's website.

My box of goodies arrived on Monday, October 29th.

 So I got started early and cranked out four pieces the day I received my box.  I am chomping at the bit to create more things.  Taking a little break at the moment, but I'm sure I will burn the midnight oil making more beautiful designs with these amazing products.

My first creation from the box was a mixed media cuff bracelet. I had a blank copper cuff bracelet laying around that I never did anything with.  I was planning so much for it, but it never materialized.  So when my box came in, I discovered these amazing metal slider beads.

 As soon as I saw them, my creative wheels started turning. 

I flattened out my cuff and laid these beauties on it.  I ended up using only three of the four.  I had some scrap dyed and embossed leather laying around that I picked up at a yard sale very cheap and decided to make use of some of that too.  There was this piece of lovely snakeskin looking tangerine stuff that I felt went with the copper very well.  I measured out where I wanted the sliders to be on the bracelet and then cut the leather to fit in between the sliders. I torch soldered the sliders to the cuff blank.  I then glued the leather pieces down to the blank.  I had to use BeadFix since I couldn't find my E-6000.  Still worked.  I then cleaned, sanded, and polished the exposed copper. I coated the leather pieces with Mod Podge in Matte. I used Environ-Tex's two part Jewelry Resin to cover the leather pieces.  After it was all set, I reformed the bracelet on my mandrel. I touched up the silver plating on the sliders with a Krylon Silver Leafing pen you can get at most craft stores. I touched up the places where the solder was showing on the copper with some Ranger Alcohol Inks. I used Watermelon and Citrus from the Tim Holtz line.

 

My second piece was a simple pair of earrings.  I found these lovely connector/pendant things that just screamed ready made earrings. I added a 6mm gray Crystazzi crystal pearl and a 3mm jet black Crystazzi crystal on head pins and connected them to the top of these and then to silver plated copper ear wires.

They turned out very pretty and classy looking.  I just love them. They are definitely on trend for this fall.

My third creation was an amazing tribal looking necklace.  I found this lovely metal connector in my box.  It has a center piece that consists of black and white faux snakeskin and an olive green acrylic gem setting.  I used some transparent faceted green glass beads from the Second Skin collection as well as some more of the gray Crystazzi crystal pearls. There was some lovely large double link textured chain in my box as well that I decided to use in conjunction with this focal pendant.  It worked out great.  The texture of the chain resembles the texture of the faux snakeskin on this piece.

My third piece was another tribal piece.  It reminded me of something Egyptian.  The focal piece was a three strand connector that had three sections of brown/tan/cream faux snakeskin and two black enameled triangle sections.  This piece was very intriguing to me.  This one I set on very thing figure eight chain from the same line and made a strand of bead connectors of 6mm opaque black round beads and 8mm matte metallic brown beads from the Jewelry Basics line and, 6mm matte light rose Crystazzi pearls.  I strung the beads on 20 gauge steel plated copper craft wire.  I found a lovely large faceted black resin pendant in my box that fit the look I was going for.  I wire wrapped it on the same 20 gauge craft wire and added some of the Jewelry Basics 6mm opaque black beads.  The end result is a necklace fit for a queen for sure.

All product photos are from the Prima Bead website.  All finished piece photos are property of Raziela Designs.

Second Halloween Project

I posted earlier about Cousin sending all of us ambassadors a lovely box of goodies for us to create a Halloween themed project for the month of October.  I ended up making two different items.  Below is the second item I created.  It's a lovely black and red, Goth style necklace.  Make sure to visit the Cousin website to see all of the ambassadors' amazing designs for this month's project.  Complete instructions for this piece can be found on their site and below.

Supply List

Jewelry Basics

34713087 – Glass Beads: 85 pc 6mm Round Red

34708423 – Metal Beads: 3 pc Metal Bead Black Lace Spacer

34718004 – 100 inch Small Oval Chain in Black

37450212 – 17 inch Black Metal Filigree Connectors

36127150 – 9" Clear/Black Glass Ovals

34719103 – Findings 145 pc Starter Pack in Black

Tool List:

Round Nose Pliers

Chain Nose/Needle Nose/Flat Nose Pliers

Parrot Beak Memory Wire Cutters (for cutting chain)

Instructions for Necklace:  Make all your connectors and dangles at the same time. Cut all the chain at the same time. Disassemble the filigree strand.  We are only using the filigrees not the beads.  You will be using the smallest jump rings from the Starter pack as well as the extender chain.

Cut the following sections of chain:

Ten 12 link sections

Two 15 link sections

Two 17 inch sections

Two 40 link sections (5 inches each)

One 79 link section (10 inches)

One 3 inch section from the extender chain

Make 11 Red Bead Connectors: (will be referred to as RB Connectors)

Thread a red bead onto an eye pin. Bend the pin to form a right angle. Cut the pin approximately 1/4 inch beyond the bead. Use the round end of your pliers to grasp the end of the pin and curve the pin by using a rolling motion to fold it over a single round prong. You may need to release the pin and continue the rolling motion again.

Make 2 Red Bead Dangles: (will be referred to as RB dangles)

Thread a red bead onto a head pin. Bend the pin to form a right angle. Cut the pin approximately 1/4 inch beyond the bead. Use the round end of your pliers to grasp the end of the pin and curve the pin by using a rolling motion to fold it over a single round prong. You may need to release the pin and continue the rolling motion again.

Make 2 Red Bead & Clear/Black Oval Bead Connectors:  (will be referred to as RB/CB connectors)

Thread a red bead, a clear/black oval bead and another red bead onto an eye pin. Bend the pin to form a right angle. Cut the pin approximately 1/4 inch beyond the bead. Use the round end of your pliers to grasp the end of the pin and curve the pin by using a rolling motion to fold it over a single round prong. You may need to release the pin and continue the rolling motion again.

Make 3 Red Bead & Black Lace Spacer Connectors:  (will be referred to as RB/BL connectors)

Thread a red bead on to a eye pin.  Thread the eye pin through one hole of the spacer and then add another red bead. Bend the pin to form a right angle. Cut the pin approximately 1/4 inch beyond the bead. Use the round end of your pliers to grasp the end of the pin and curve the pin by using a rolling motion to fold it over a single round prong. You may need to release the pin and continue the rolling motion again.  Repeat for the second hole of the spacer.

Construct 3 Red Bead and Filigree Connectors: (will be referred to as RBF connectors)

Take two RB connectors and attach to each end of a metal filigree connector by opening one loop of the RB connector and threading the filigree connector onto the pin.  Close loop.  Repeat for opposite side.

Construct 1 Red Bead and Filigree Dangle: (will be referred to as RBF dangle)

Take one RB connectors and attach to one end of a metal filigree connector by opening one loop of the RB connector and threading the filigree connector onto the pin.  Close loop.  Attach an RB dangle to the opposite end of filigree.  Set aside.

Using the smallest jump rings from the Starter pack, connect the RB/BL connectors together forming a strand. Note:  Use a side to side twist motion to open the jump ring and to close it back.  It's easiest to use two pairs of needle nose pliers. If you have one pair, you can hold one side with your fingers. If there is a gap, close it by moving the sides up and down pressing gently together. The ends should overlap then snap together tightly so the tension of the metal will hold the gap closed.

Attach one section of 12 links to each free loop of the RB/BL connector strand at both ends via jump rings.  Attach a RB connector to both sections of chain by opening the loop from side to side. String on another 12 link section and close the loop. Open the free loop of the RB Connector and attach another 12 link section of chain. Thread on one 40 link section of chain and close loop of RB connector. Open free loop of the RB connector just added and attach one 15 link section. Repeat on opposite side of RB/BL connector strand.

Use a jump ring to attach a lobster claw clasp from the starter pack to one end of the chain.  On opposite side, attach using a jump ring, the extender chain.  Attach one RB dangle at the end of the extender chain by opening the loop from the side and threading the pin through the last link of the extender chain. Close the loop.

At the end of one of the free 12 link sections, attach one of the RBF connectors and another 12 link section of chain. Add another RBF connector and another section of chain. Connect the free chain and the chain just added with the last RBF connector.

At one end of the 40 link section of chain, attach a RB/CB connector. At the free loop of the RB/CB connector, attach one end of the 79 link section and a 17 link section of chain. Attach another RB/CB connector and the next 17 link section of chain. Connect the 17 link chain to the last RB/CB connector and other end of the 79 link piece. Then connect the free loop of the RB/CB connector to the end of the other free 40 link section of chain.

Find the center point of the 79 link section. Open top loop of the RBF Dangle and thread it through the center link of the chain. Close loop.

Main body of necklace should fit snuggly to the neck like a collar.

Earring Instructions: Use ear wires from Starter pack and smallest jump rings.  Using the instructions from above, make 2 Red Bead Connectors, 2 Red Bead Dangles. Construct 2 Red Bead & Filigree Dangles. At top loop of RBF connector, attach a jump ring. Thread loop of ear wire onto the jump ring and close the ring.  Repeat for other earring.

First Project

For our first project as Cousin Creative Circle Ambassadors, we were asked to create something that was Florida in theme.  We were also asked to use only the Cousin Corporation of America's brand products in our creation. We could use charms, beads, wire, etc. in creating our piece.

As I thought about this project, the only thing coming to mind were the beautiful colors I have seen while visiting the Fort Walton Beach/Destin area: emerald waters with silver crests lapping against beautiful sugar sand beaches that reflect the warm yellow glow of the sun and the most beautiful soft turquoise blue skies you will ever see.  At sunset, the waters reflects a burnished gold and the sky lights up a brilliant bronze color.

I went bead shopping on my birthday and found the perfect beads at Walmart. The colors of the beads I purchased spoke of the colors I mentioned.

I mixed some very pretty green swirl acrylic beads that were strung with antiqued silver beads and a deep green crackle bead with strands of yellow glass linked beads with antiqued gold accents.  I found some very petite strands of turquoise colored glass beads that were wire wrapped together on thin silver wire.  I already had the antiqued gold chain left over from a Crystazzi kit.  All the findings were pulled out of my box of goodies Cousin sent me as part of my ambassadorship. 

Here are the pictures of my finished piece.  Leave a comment on how you think I did.

Here is the full view of the necklace

What the necklace looks like on a neck form.

Close up of the right side of the necklace

Close up of the left side of necklace

Back of necklace

I had enough left over beads to make these pretty earrings too

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