What I’ve been up to lately, Covid-19 edition.

As so many blog post start, “sorry I haven’t posted in awhile”, so begins this one. Most of my non crafting energy, since my last post has gone into building my website, which I hope you’ve had a chance to look at www.RichardBradleyDesigns.com . Meanwhile, during this new era of Covid-19, I haven’t been doing any craft shows and I’m learning to make my business more “virtual”. So, in the spirit of virtual marketing, I present to you my first self made fashion video.

An Update To My Creative Challenge

So my 12 week creative challenge is moving along at a steady pace, I’ve been concentrating on more elaborate pieces which take more than a day to complete, that’s why I no longer post every day now.  For today though, I thought I’d share these two pieces that are coming together quite nicely.

I’m calling this the “Warrior Angel” tiara.  I may add a few elements to it still and there are some tiny rings soldered every here and there for hanging beads from, I like my jewelry to have moving elements.  I’ve been wanting to use these cobalt blue stones and spiral beads for quite some time, there’s many old stones and beads hanging around my studio just waiting to be used in just the right design, some of them I’ve had for more than thirty years.  I think I’ll have this gold-plated, if the stones stand out too much after plating, maybe I’ll enamel the leaves like I did in this mask. 

The other piece I’d like to share is a brooch that will be part of a necklace.

This one is a commission based on this piece. 

The customer wants something more colorful, with a biological theme and in a silver plate.  I hope she likes it!

#MyPinkPlanet

Day Nineteen Of My Twelve Week Creative Challenge

For today, the 19th day of my 12 week creative challenge, I took an old rooster head brooch I’d made back in the 1980’s, added some charms, beads, a swag and converted it into a pendant necklace.

I may still add to it but for today I’m satisfied.

#MyPinkPlanet

 

Days Nine And Ten Of My Twelve Week Creative Challenge

Although my intention was to make something each day of my twelve week creative challenge, for these two days my creative energy went into the setup and presentation of a very successful holiday craft show. Here’s some photos of my booth…

It’s pretty much the same setup as most of the shows I do, but this time I added a little side table with some specialty items.

In doing a show like this I find the full review of my recent and past work coupled with customer input to be a great exercise and I ended the day with a good amount of inspiration.  I probably won’t have a post for day eleven due to the exhaustion I feel at the end of this amazing event.

#MyPinkPlanet

Day Seven Of My Twelve Week Challenge

Today was a real struggle to get into my studio, I have a show coming up on Saturday so my primary focus has been on getting ready for that.  But I did start on this necklace which goes with my series called Linear Compositions.

Hopefully tomorrow I’ll finish this piece so as not to interrupt my Twelve Week Challenge. Meanwhile, if you happen to be in Providence RI this Saturday, December 10, 2016, check out the RISD Holiday Alumni Sale, my booth number is 324.

#MyPinkPlanet

Days Three And Four Of My Twelve Week Challenge

It was only the third day of my Twelve Week Challenge and I fell short.  I had to go to the emergency room and deal with a kidney stone so my creative side just wasn’t at it’s best.  However, the purpose of this project is for self encouragement and I will not be discouraged.

So for day four I have this brooch…

 

 

 

 

 

 

#MyPinkPlanet

My Twelve Week Creative Challenge

It seems these days that I’ve got so much going on, freelance work, family, maintaining the house and so on, that my creative endeavors have not been the focus they should be.  As of today I am challenging myself to make something each day for the next twelve weeks. I’m not going to pressure myself, in fact my goal is to relieve myself of the anxiety I’ve been feeling for not expressing myself creatively.

Of course, it’s always hard to know where to begin, so today I’m going with what’s familiar. I’ve done a simple single crystal butterfly as a brooch in the past, but now I think I’ll expand on this and do something big with multiple butterflies.  Stay tuned!

#MyPinkPlanet

Group Show at ArtProv Gallery

I’ve been very busy these days, since my invitation to take part in the ArtProv Gallery “Girls Night Out” event.  I plan to come up with a lot of new styles just for this very special evening.

I’ll be posting many of the new pieces as I produce them so follow closely.  Meanwhile, why not have a look at my shop?  CLICK

Hey, I’m On Instagram!

So, if you have a chance, have a look.  click

I’m kind of new to this so any advise is most welcome.  And, if you follow me, It will give me a chance to see what you’ve been up to as well.

A Few Favorites

As I’m preparing for some upcoming shows I thought I’d share some of my favorite designs from this past year…

The pendant can be taken off the beaded, rosary style, chain and worn as a brooch.

(Learn More)

Here we have three owls for wisdom, a wishbone for fortune, and a tiny bumble bee for prosperity.  (Learn More)

This bold necklace, made from hand laid Austrian crystal, seems to get all the attention at my shows.  (Learn More)

     

I really enjoy these two necklaces because they can be worn with anything at any time and will add such Wimsey to an outfit.  I call this line “Linear Compositions”. (Learn More)

And finally, I’m bringing this back into the line.  I call it the “Enduring Heart”.  I designed the first one of this series when I was in recovery from a nasty battle with cancer, a battle to which I was the victor.  The idea is that ones inner strength is dispersed from the heart, like the seeds from a fertile pod, and no matter how hard a beating or how much one must endure, there’s still beauty and value in ones survival.  (Learn More)

I hope you enjoyed this post, and that you’ll check out my online shop (Here).  Please keep in mind that all items shown in this article may be subject to prior sale, but don’t worry I’ll always make more items of wonder.

~Richard