Praise for Designers

by D'Arsie Manzella


I thought I'd give a big "You're fantastic" to all the talented designers who create art jewelry! Besides constantly producing new and innovative arrangements, you are skilled in multiple techniques and are able to form a style all your own with your creations. I am in awe of your patience and devotion to making the world a more beautiful and meaningful place through personal adornment. When you use handmade beads and components - well that is just the cherry on top!

All this appreciation for jewelry designers has been brought about as I sit at my shipping table (notice I didn't say beading table) and struggle with color, wire, and placement to exercise my skill at jewelry design. My muscles are aching! I am a bead designer by trade but in joining this group I have been inspired~

Here are some of my resulting efforts...


Antique copper findings, beads and crazy cool dyed agate found at Michael's. I know there are no art beads here, but wait! There's more...



Here I start incorporating my art beads! A variation on the same theme featuring beautiful enameled rounds from GardanneBeads and rings filled with antique glass seed beads that I found long ago in an excellent thrift store score.

I'm so excited to be able to use some ceramic sparklers made by our very own MaryAnn Carroll!
I love the way they look like small pools of ocean with a drop of sunshine underneath. The white wire was an experiment, I'm totally in love with it! So fresh...


And something earthy made for myself. I cut out the leather, scratched the lines in with my triangular file and rubbed it all with olive oil which darkened all the exposed leather underneath.
I completely winged these, as I've not done a lot with leather before.
A trip to the local fabric shop had me digging in a giant bin like an overeager prairie dog to find all the pretty leather scraps. I was thinking of the Call to Create challenge for this month when I worked on these. The song inspiration is the Shaker hymn "Simple Gifts".

Since it is such a thought provoking challenge, I think I will be making more than one piece within the theme.


Have a fantastic spring day!

Inside the Beadworks

by D'Arsie Manzella

Usually when I invite someone into my studio my heart rate goes up and I start chattering on like a wild raving metal enthusiast explaining the workings of my machinery, the mold making process and even the composition of my metal alloy.

This will happen no matter the guest's vocation or interest. I just can't contain myself. I will inevitably treat their visit as a college course they are not sure they signed up for. My friend will nod, smile and even exclaim "Oh!" or "Wow!" no doubt thinking that they have stumbled into the wrong classroom. The one with the crazy little animated professor.

But my blog reading friends, I will spare you the lecture, I will remain calm and try not to hop around with excitement while giving you a small peek into my beadworks.

This is my workstation.
You see my molds stacked to the right,
my sweet sisters on the left
and the pile of work before me right now!
The Count helps me keep track of inventory.

Working here on a large order for Chautauqua Institution.
These are Bell Towers and Hall of Philosophy Pendants.
I grew up in this place and am so
honored to be able to do this project.

Inventory awaiting the grinding and the tumbling.


And me, myself in my super hot safety goggles.
Hey, safety is sexy.

I hope you're having a wonderful and
productive day in your own sacred studio space!

final day

mary jane dodd

to win these wonderful earrings by our own d'arsie manzella... please make sure to leave a comment here ... 


d'arsie makes the most wonderful mini sculptures - and i have turned to her work when i needed something very meaningful and special... 


this piece is one of my most powerful amulets... her wise mama  sits at the soft spot in my throat, allowing me to speak my truth when i feel vulnerable...

(and, yes, i would love this tattoo!)

mary ann posed some interesting questions to our readers - because we really want to talk about what you want to hear about! it helps us to develop a better relationship with you - we love the idea of community and want this to be a place where collectively we share and learn... we know that artistic minded people are often isolated - i know i am so grateful to blogger for allowing me to meet so many wonderful individuals... 


drawing for d'arsie's earrings will be tomorrow!

LMAJ Giveaway...

Have you heard of Mamacita Beadworks?

Well, if not... just look at what you have been missing.

These were donated by D'Arsie Manzella, a very, very talented artist.

Visit D'Arsie's shop for some other fabulous work.

Minnow Earrings

Hand cast pewter minnows displayed in front of hand crafted Raku tiles.

Ear wires are silver plated copper.

Thank-you, D'Arsie for the very cool donation!

And, what do you need to do to enter this giveaway?

Since our blog is still in its infancy, we have been discussing updating with some new and innovative ideas. With that said, who better to ask the following question of, but our current readers.

What types of posts do you like when you read a group blog?

Do you like human interest stories with a personal twist related to beads and jewelry?

Do you like tutorials?

Are you a fan of challenges?

Is there something else that keeps you returning to read group blogs?

Please leave a comment letting us know what types of posts keep you coming back.

Also...if you are the "hard-to-get-ahold of" type...

please leave us an email where you can be contacted.

We will announce the winner on Monday, March 21st.

~creating handmade with handmade~

Button Button

By D'Arsie Manzella

Buttons aren't just for fastening anymore.
Here are some designs showing Mamacita's buttons doing
un-buttony things:

Buttons Partying...

Buttons on Vacation...





and Buttons Debuting
Hot out of the Beadworks
for your spring fling:



What un-buttony things are your buttons doing?

~Greetings and Salutations~

My name is D'Arsie Manzella and I am the female force behind Mamacita Beadworks.
I hand cast beads, buttons and pendants in fine lead free pewter. I am so
delighted to be part of Love My Art Jewelry.

I see many things in my future here at LMAJ. Exciting chance encounters, spiritual revelations, and of course beautiful, heartfelt designs.

I'm a mother, a wife and a full time artist. I work in and around piles of toys, before and after meals and occasionally in peace and quiet.
I've been sculpting my own bead designs for eighteen years. After my soul sister and I discovered polymer clay as girls, my creative world exploded. I studied ceramics at Fredonia State University in Western NY where the clay dictated my daily life. Yet it wasn't until after I married and moved to Asheville, NC in 2000, that I found the focus I needed and the teachers to inspire me to create seriously and market my beads.


My first business was Curvy Sasha Beadworks. I created small Goddess focal beads inspired by the Venus of Willendorf and celebrating the beauty of the female spirit . They sold locally and frequently and although I loved the freedom of polymer clay, I desired to work in metal. I wanted it with my whole heart. Events unfolded and I was smiled upon by the metal gods. I found myself hip deep in heavy machinery learning to cast pewter from Dr. Neon himself.
All the planets aligned.

Mamacita Beadworks was born.

For the past five years I have fallen head over heals with my casting equipment. I still sculpt in polymer clay to create my originals. I then create a reusable rubber mold which I pop into my spin casting machine. A ladle full of molten metal goes in and when I remove the mold and crack it open there's a radiant sun of pewter sprues with all my tiny creations at the ends!

It's a little like dancing, and a little like wrestling with a bear some days, getting the equipment to preform just right. I am still learning and hope to never stop.


I can't wait to share with you what goes on behind my Beadworks, to contribute what knowledge I can and to see where this cyber path leads. Thank you to all who create with my beads, buttons and pendants. I am honored by you all~ And thanks again to the bombastic women who are part of Love My Art Jewelry!!

kiss kiss,
Mamacita
(AKA D'Arsie Manzella)

P.S.
My parents were creative with their children's names. I am not exotic. I am mostly french. My name is pronounced "DAR-c" but you can call me Mamacita.