A Femme Production

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 does it again! Her latest Our Flag Means Death ( ) themed batch, which includes the challenging 40 Orange Glaze Cake, i...
09/05/2022

does it again! Her latest Our Flag Means Death ( ) themed batch, which includes the challenging 40 Orange Glaze Cake, is a fun update. This set, A Rare Find, is a depiction of a Dryocampa rubicunda, a moth that Stede ( ) discovers on an adventure for treasure.
This piece is a sort of Frankenstein's monster:
The cream round beads were originally purchased for the orange cake piece, leaving behind just enough for it by, like, two.
The gold lined rondels were miniature versions of what's in the Jeff piece that I haven't posted yet. (Can't wait to share it!)
The bow beads resembling the moth perfectly, clear and pink, were originally used in a women of Wizard of Oz piece, which is still in process. I need to learn how to stitch beaded fringe with Karen at . The tiny, pink firepolish beads were also cast offs from that project.
It's funny because I didn't think I'd even get this set. I was really in love with the Oranges and The Lovers (check them out on 's Instagram), but I knew I'd regret not getting them. Funny enough, they were the easiest to create for. It helps that The Lovers already match an existing set.
The entire set is made of pressed glass on flexwire with gold filled findings. The pink beads are vintage German glass. I've begun making earrings that match the themed sets in case I don't want to be totally pirated out. It's an extra bit of fun.
ADJ

Not a complete original, but it was fun. I lost this necklace for ages, but it's finally come back into my life (on one ...
09/02/2022

Not a complete original, but it was fun. I lost this necklace for ages, but it's finally come back into my life (on one of my new display necks!).
With some big modifications and additions, I'm really happy with it. The balance is interesting, both physically and visually. I am learning to flirt with asymmetry and I'm enjoying it. Finally.
It started as a multi strand, "antique" brass necklace from Claire's covered in trinkets and whatnots. I moved the key from the center and added a giant mirror pendant I had found in the clearance aisle of Michaels back when steampunk was huge instead. It messed with the balance in such as perfect way.
The buck switched sides, the scarab moved a few links down, and I had a broken flower necklace turn into two pendants. The strands down the left side were there already, so I decided to add the broken necklace to a chain on the right side for just a hint of symmetry.
It was a fun little project and I can't wait to wear it again. Swipe left for a portrait of the artist.
ADJ

Sometimes things look really cool, come out just like the vision, but then you wear it and... something isn't right.This...
08/31/2022

Sometimes things look really cool, come out just like the vision, but then you wear it and... something isn't right.
This necklace and earrings set was designed when I found a strand of these oval mother of pearl coins dyed golden yellow at . I saw lemons, my obsession. I used green vintage Italian glass leaves, every single one they had in that color at BI, and silver lined emerald green peanut beads with sterling silver findings to complete the vision. It was all there, but it was not right.
Specifically, it was stabbing me.
The leaves are fragile, as demonstrated in the first set of photos with one missing, but they are also very pointy. They are lightweight, so they flip inward, sharp knives into my neck as the leaves went all the way around, over my shoulders, almost to the back of my neck. I would wear the set, it would make me uncomfortable, I'd put it away for a while, and then pull it out again, forgetting just how bad it felt the time before. Something needed to change.
This is where the second set of photos comes in. I took the necklace apart, and, when I put it back together, made it more comfortable. I measured the front of my neck, collarbone to collarbone, and made that how wide the "lemons" and their leaves should be. No more sharp pokes in the crook of my neck, just smooth and beautiful peanut beads. Luckily, the earrings were always comfortable.
Finally, the piece is wearable with the bonus of no broken parts. I've always had hang ups about taking pieces apart to use for a new project or to just redo. Sometimes, it's for the better.
ADJ

Garnet and sunstone heishi disks from   a long time ago. One of my favorite pieces, especially to layer with all my othe...
08/29/2022

Garnet and sunstone heishi disks from a long time ago. One of my favorite pieces, especially to layer with all my other sunstone, garnet, and moonstone pieces. It's a closer up, not quite a choker, necklace with a matching bracelet and earrings.
When making it, I had to be careful about the way it bends. The shape of the beads, since there are no spacers (I didn't want to interrupt the stripes), prevents the piece from being very flexible, so getting the tension right was very important. Luckily, it fits around my neck perfectly with no gaps and low pressure on the stones.
The sunstone is tongue pink, meant for "male enlightenment" and work with the masculine; the garnet, used for s*x and creativity, is blood red. The symbolism inspires my writing, making sure my characters are the best men they can be, good or bad (but I prefer a deep down goodness).
This is one of many pieces that use sunstone and garnet, frequently mixed with moonstone, in so many variations. Those are my favorite stones, so it's easy to want to work with them all the time. My project bag has a huge section just for those three. I should get back to looking at that...
ADJ

Been drawing again. Looks nothing like the reference, but it looks like a person and both eyes are looking in the same d...
08/01/2022

Been drawing again. Looks nothing like the reference, but it looks like a person and both eyes are looking in the same direction. I call that a win! I've never worked with black paper like this before. I'm pretty proud of my first try. I'm still be to these nupastels too. Just trying to learn new things with things I already have messed I can't always buy more beads. It keeps me fingers and brain fresh. I need variety.
I'll make a custom pair of earrings for whoever gets the reference right lol...

What is that supposed to be... had a recent drop restock and I got an order for these 40 orange glazes (among a couple o...
08/01/2022

What is that supposed to be...
had a recent drop restock and I got an order for these 40 orange glazes (among a couple others). I had been thinking about these since she revealed them, like, a month ago, and I already had the ingredients for the matching necklace in my hold bin over at . Just need to make sure the colors match in real life and then it's onto design. I already have some ideas...

Izzy, Izzy, Izzy... what a little bastard. I think  made the right choice boiling him down to just two middle fingers. T...
06/27/2022

Izzy, Izzy, Izzy... what a little bastard. I think made the right choice boiling him down to just two middle fingers. This is another piece in my series of inspired pieces, specifically inspired by the cutest line of earrings by .
Izzy, played by .con , is all leather and anger, but I knew it wasn't shiny leather. It's dulled and worn. I used lava rock rounds to get that effect with added gunmetal rounds and black faceted cube India metals. I replicated the red blood drops with red pressed glass disks scattered throughout. The chain is a matte black powder coated rolo chain with powder coated clasp and oxidized sterling silver findings, all on flexwire. All supplies procured from

It's time for Buttons and Karl from  ! I love this pair of earrings. It's so cute and I think it was the best way to cap...
06/26/2022

It's time for Buttons and Karl from ! I love this pair of earrings. It's so cute and I think it was the best way to capture the both of them. They are by and so well done. The expression on is perfect.
When I was walking around getting supplies, I already had some of these vintage textured white feather beads in my collection for something else. Once I found the blue bugle beads, I knew what I needed to do. I saw in my mind a two strand necklace and I saw wings. The search was then to find the perfect orange accent for Karl's feet and beak. I almost put too much orange, but the alternating pattern helped keep it balanced.
The beads are all glass (bugles and pressed) with sterling silver findings on flexwire.

Another matchy matching set! I love this dress. The colors are unusual. The temperatures are a little off, the brightnes...
06/25/2022

Another matchy matching set! I love this dress. The colors are unusual. The temperatures are a little off, the brightnesses. I own another dress like this in orange tulips with navy blue, but I think I might favor this one. The orange one I got from a friend, while she cleaned out her closet. When I was wearing it at work a woman that I vaguely knew from working at another shop downtown went, "I love that dress on you! I have something for you in my car." She disappeared and came back with this dress. She explained that she had a box for Good Will in her car and knew we were the same size. When I wear this, I'm always reminded how weird, but good weird, customers can be.
The entire necklace is faceted pressed glass on flexwire with sterling silver findings. All supplies purchases at

Another day, another  inspired piece. Finished this one last night and got to wear it today. I was able to get some in p...
06/24/2022

Another day, another inspired piece. Finished this one last night and got to wear it today. I was able to get some in process shots, which is hard for me to remember because I get in the zone from start to finish.
The basis for this set were these lovely Blackbeard's Bar and Grill earrings by . Using wooden rounds with circles burnt into them, 2 sizes of brass rondels, small sandalwood rounds, a large fish carved from bone, and brass and gold filled findings, this came together in a way that was challenging and satisfying. The technical bits were fun. I really love the back where it all comes together. I especially love the clasp. Well, I especially, especially love the fish.
I like to hide little symbolic meanings to the design madness. There are four strands because of the four signs hanging, the third with the fish corresponding to the Fishing Equipment sign. The pattern of the beads (one, three, one, etc) is also symbolic of that, with the gift shop line as the single bead as if it is an afterthought.
I hope you like the way my brain is inspired by others. It's a fun way to be.

Matching colors is my favorite challenge when creating. I love finding the exact shade of everything and make it a game ...
02/25/2022

Matching colors is my favorite challenge when creating. I love finding the exact shade of everything and make it a game most of the time. I collected paint swatches from the hardware store as a kid and I still have the little box somewhere. I've always loved color. But how do you match to multiple colors at once? Patterns are a challenge too, next level matching.
This loud shirt is one of my favorites. It has golds, browns, teals, and bright pinks. Of all the colors, the perfect temperature of pink was impossible to find. The teal was easy and I was set on it immediately: 4mm blue zircon Swarovski crystal bicones. The golden pressed glass was next, followed by the teal and golden lamp glass on the elastic bracelet and earrings. The pink was killer. I looked at every shape, every material, and then I found it in a mixed baggie: wood. They were the perfect pink rondels in two sizes, then a couple of larger rounds for the bracelet. It was a relief when this set was complete. I felt strange mixing wood and Swarovski crystals but it worked, at least I think so. Let me know what you, think!

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Iowa City, IA
52240

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