DonnaBarnako.com

Fantasy Fiber Necklace

I have been having so much fun making and  teaching how to construct these colorful beads.  Feels like I'm in grade school art class with the glue, paint and scissors making a huge mess.  

I taught an overflow class in October at Star's Beads in Vienna, and will do it again on Saturday, April 3.  Contact Star's at 703 938 7018 for information and to register.  Meanwhile, check out my finished pieces at The Artisans in Mclean (Langley Shopping Center, 703 506 0158). 

There are several necklaces and as of 10 days ago, a dynamite pair of earrings with a half dozen handmade beads dangling on a chain for each earring.  I use beautiful batik fabric as well as starting from scratch with white silk, paints and fantastico rubber stamps.  My newer pieces have funky handmade findings from MyElements (www.myelements.com).

Come to the Gala. Win jewelery!

Only a few weeks until the ART NIGHT OUT Gala to benefit the Great Falls School of Art. 

The benefit is Friday, November 20, 7:30pm to 10pm.  It's a lovely affair for a good cause:  to establish a Center for the Arts in Great Falls with classrooms, working studios and a gallery to view artwork and host receptions. Tickets are $50 per person (half is tax deductible). 

As in last year's Gala, there will be many pieces of art for bidding in a silent auction.  I have donated three necklaces including Five Not-So-Easy Pieces (see below) and two pairs of earrings and hope you will be there to support a very worthy cause.

The Gala will take place at the Artists' Atelier, 1144 Walker Road, Suite G in Great Falls (just next to Dante Restaurant).  Here's a Google Maps link. For further information, please e-mail Gala Chairperson Anjanette Murphy, anjmurphy@yahoo.com   

Five Not So Easy Pieces

• Necklace is a Sterling S-Shaped "Collar" from which the pieces dangle.

• Sterling silver wire wrapping with freshwater pearls by Donna Barnako.
  
  
• Guaranteed to cause comments whenever worn.

Directionless

An oriental weather vane with a dog bone? 

Whatever. 

It’s abstract jewelry art … etched copper and brass riveted together with a hammered Sterling and wireworked rod above. 

All on a 24” silver chain with copper and Sterling “S” clasp.  $125.

Happy Go Lucky

These are the words I’ve etched into Sterling pieces which are riveted to a larger copper medallion. 

I’ve also etched some stars and hearts on the copper. 

On a 22” copper ball chain.  $125.

The last Teddy Bear

A fanciful copper and Sterling pendant with an adorable and detailed Sterling teddy bear charm dangling from it. 

I’ve hammered, forged and torched the copper to give it an interesting patina. 

Hangs from a 30” long silver chain.  $135.

Go fly a kite

Part of my metalwork series. 

First, I acid-etched a piece of copper sheeting, then cut it out with a jeweler’s saw.

Then I stitched it together with some gold wire and hung a chain with a cute little metal bow, which I also cut out. 

The piece is finished off with a gold-plated decorative chain and a 14 karat gold filled toggle clasp.  $135.

Journey

A friend brought me these wonderful Carnelian seed beads when she visited India awhile ago. 

They are cool to the touch as all stones should be, and uneven in texture, not like smooth Czech or Japanese seed beads. 

I’ve strung nine strands of them and then added four wonderful Bali Sterling cones and large embellished bead caps encircling the center Carnelian focal bead. 

A complementary Sterling toggle finishes off this 25” very exotic necklace.  $175.

Queen of Hearts

One of my favorite pieces.  Eight of Joan Miller's handmade porcelain beads were the inspiration for this necklace.  Each one is in different  colors of  old rose, ivory and black.

There are tiny Swiss dots, swirls, stripes and miniature hearts and for whatever reason, they remind me of the Mad Hatter.  

I’ve teamed them with an ebony square focal bead for the very center, rose resin round beads with lovely filigreed silver bead caps and a Sterling toggle that adjusts to three lengths. 

The piece is 20 ½“ long and comes with matching earrings.  $165.

Ocean's Away

This handsome Ocean Agate and Sterling necklace can go anywhere. 

It’s 30” of decorative link Sterling chain interspersed with freshwater cultured pearls and three of the inch-square semi precious ocean agate stones. 

They look like they’re tiny fossils encased in stone. 

Topped off by a Sterling toggle clasp.  $135.

Papoose

A really special and unusual necklace that would enhance your little black dress. 

The focal beads are vintage amber Lucite “Papooses” which I’ve filled with tiny bronze Swarovski crystal beads and which also separate the faceted black beads which make up the necklace. 

The closure is a decorative 14K gold-filled toggle that looks (and is) very rich, indeed. 

This 17 ½" necklace also includes matching black and gold earrings.  $150.