Welcome to the Enchanted Beads Blog!

Friday, November 22, 2019

Midnight Mermaid






"Nature and technology can be compatible". 
*To create this fictional creature I followed the Perlen Poesie 2017 contest instructions stating that nature and technology can be compatible.

I created this beautiful "Midnight Mermaid" pendant using several vintage and natural elements:
- a found acrylic woman's face
- acrylic mini flowers
- two symmetrical Iridescent shells
- a 30 mm x 30 mm vintage silver color Bulova USA watch mechanism
- a ammonite fossil with hypnotic spiral
- genuine pearls
- fire polished glass crystals
- vintage beads and spacers
- genuine amethyst beads
- size 15 Miyuki seed beads, by the hundreds, sewn one at the time
- sterling silver chain for the tassel

Total length, 6 inch or 15 cm.
On a 24 inch necklace made with genuine pearls, rhinestone spacers and Austrian crystals. Vintage clasp.
Dimensions
Necklace length: 24 Inches; Pendant height: 6 Inches; Pendant width: 3 Inches
Technical Explanation:
peyote stitch, modified peyote, lace, picot, stringing, bead embroidery  

Review by Nancy Berg:

Ileana, OH dear Ileana...that necklace...that amazing, superb, magnificent, masterpiece Mermaid necklace💖. I honestly do not think I have EVER been so impressed by a piece of jewelry I've purchased. Your attention to detail shows all over the necklace, front AND back. For example, features such as the deep red crystals within the two large shells, the sweet leaves, the white flowers with the yellow centers that match the mermaid's hair that you added to the tasseled ball drop at the bottom of the necklace, I could go on and on with all of the perfect touches you included throughout this Mermaid masterpiece❣️ Taking such care with finishing details all over the pendent especially, reveals what an outstanding artist you are as well as the time and effort you dedicated to it!!! The shells, face, watch body, and lower shell are all so secured-and with such beautiful beadwork. Even the watch stem has its own beading! Your time, creativity, energy, and effort beam throughout the necklace.

Oh my gosh, I'm telling you about your OWN creation😅. Of course you already know how perfectly proportioned it is, how the colors compliment wonderfully, how playful yet precise it is. Please. please, please do also know Ileana how much I am in love with this necklace, how I will cherish and care for it, and how I will one day pass it on to one of my dear grandchildren. I am actually very humbled to own it. It is truly a masterpiece.

Most Sincerely,
Nancy Berg

My response:

Dear Nancy, what wonderful words! Thank you! You are talking in such detail about my work, I don't remember anybody taking so much time to open their heart with such generosity!
I am enjoying my creativity and my work and I am so happy that I could convey all my passion through my necklace. I hope it will always bring you joy and happiness!

Best regards,

Ileana

Other Reviews:

Midnight Mermaid -




"Nature and technology can be compatible".

I created this beautiful "Midnight Mermaid" pendant using several vintage and natural elements:
- a found acrylic woman's face
- acrylic mini flowers
- two symmetrical Iridescent shells
- a 30 mm x 30 mm vintage silver color Bulova USA watch mechanism
- a ammonite fossil with hypnotic spiral
- genuine pearls
- fire polished glass crystals
- vintage beads and spacers
- genuine amethyst beads
- size 15 Miyuki seed beads, by the hundreds, sewn one at the time
- sterling silver chain for the tassel

Total length, 6 inch or 15 cm.
On a 24 inch necklace made with genuine pearls, rhinestone spacers and Austrian crystals. Vintage clasp.
Dimensions
Necklace length: 24 Inches; Pendant height: 6 Inches; Pendant width: 3 Inches
*To create this fictional creature I followed the Perlen Poesie 2017 contest instructions stating that nature and technology can be compatible.

Technical Explanation:
peyote stitch, modified peyote, lace, picot, stringing, bead embroidery







Review by Nancy Berg
Ileana, OH dear Ileana...that necklace...that amazing, superb, magnificent, masterpiece Mermaid necklace💖. I honestly do not think I have EVER been so impressed by a piece of jewelry I've purchased. Your attention to detail shows all over the necklace, front AND back. For example, features such as the deep red crystals within the two large shells, the sweet leaves, the white flowers with the yellow centers that match the mermaid's hair that you added to the tasseled ball drop at the bottom of the necklace, I could go on and on with all of the perfect touches you included throughout this Mermaid masterpiece❣️ Taking such care with finishing details all over the pendent especially, reveals what an outstanding artist you are as well as the time and effort you dedicated to it!!! The shells, face, watch body, and lower shell are all so secured-and with such beautiful beadwork. Even the watch stem has its own beading! Your time, creativity, energy, and effort beam throughout the necklace.

Oh my gosh, I'm telling you about your OWN creation😅. Of course you already know how perfectly proportioned it is, how the colors compliment wonderfully, how playful yet precise it is. Please. please, please do also know Ileana how much I am in love with this necklace, how I will cherish and care for it, and how I will one day pass it on to one of my dear grandchildren. I am actually very humbled to own it. It is truly a masterpiece.

Most Sincerely,
Nancy Berg

My Reply
Dear Nancy, what wonderful words! Thank you! You are talking in such detail about my work, I don't remember anybody taking so much time to open their heart with such generosity!
I am enjoying my creativity and my work and I am so happy that I could convey all my passion through my necklace. I hope it will always bring you joy and happiness!

Best regards,

Ileana

Read more Reviews here:



Wednesday, February 28, 2018

Erika Sandor, Face to Face


Thank you so much, Erika, for your brilliant presentation! I am happy and honored to be one of the jewelry designers featured in your Blog!

Febr 19, 2018
"Life is unpredictable and takes many unexpected turns. The wind can blow us through half of the globe until we settle down again. However, we always carry something with us from our previous adventures in a different location. It’s not about the luggage! That something is inside us, and travels with us all the time.
Whenever I look at the art of Ileana Munteanu, something reminds me of the rich traditions of the beautiful mountainous country she was born in and which I was lucky to spend some time at during my university studies – in the same city and the same school where Ileana studied, too! I can’t explain it with the colours or shapes she uses. It’s something more and something deeper then that".
                                                                                                                                       Erika Sandor

https://www.thestorytellingjeweller.com/face-face-meet-ileana-munteanu-enchanted-beads/

 



Tuesday, January 02, 2018

2017 in Review

It's been a while...I neglected my Blog.
Nevertheless 2017 was a busy year, rich in accomplishments.

Today I would like to talk to you a little about my Handmade at Amazon Shop. It's been there for a while and little by little I filled it with pretty pieces of Jewelry and I sold some of them.

https://www.amazon.com/handmade/EnchantedBeads?ref

I am trying to list there a large variety of pieces: necklaces, bracelets, brooches, earrings. You can visit the Shop for more choices.
Here are a few examples:

Necklaces:


 
 

Bracelets:






Earrings 


 

Friday, November 18, 2016

Animal and Plant Themed Jewelry




On Fire for Handmade invited me to list on their Great Finds Hunt page some Pet Themed items listed on my Etsy shop. Animal world is always fascinating, it stirs imagination and opens new horizons. It inspired me to create many beautiful, unusual pieces, featuring creatures from the sea world, wild animals, domestic pets, birds, even unusual plants resembling to animals.

Here are some examples of my animal themed creations.
https://www.etsy.com/shop/enchantedbeads? 




                                          1.Sea World
                                          2. Pearl World
                                         3. Turtle
                                              4. Owl and Moon

                                          5. Cats
                                          6. Bunny

7. Fish
8. Spider
9. Peacock
 10. Owl   
                                    



12, 13, 14, 15  Anemone Flowers



Please visit  https://www.etsy.com/shop/enchantedbeads?  for detailed description

Sunday, November 13, 2016

Art Festival, Timisoara, Romania, October 22, 2016



Before the summer of 2016  I decided to participate in the Jewelry competition, in Timisoara, Romania. The competition is organized by Marisha Zaporojan (the event planner) and Ana Zaporojan, (bead jewelry artist and coordinator), two enthusiasts of handmade jewelry. The International event is in its fourth year. It gathers both well known jewelry designers as well as younger artists from all over the world.



I gathered my 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 BOTB necklaces and I sent them via USPS to Romania.

Battle of the BeadSmith is a annual International Competition "a celebration of Bead Artistry around the World" which became a Facebook sensation, due both to the leader, Steven Weiss who organized and coordinated BOTB and to the very talented bead artists who had the opportunity and the courage to compete. I participated every year in this competition starting with 2012.

Visit BOTB:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/909085782545395/




                                                              CONSTELATIONS - 2013

                                                 

                                                              
MYSTERIOUS GARDEN - 2014


                                                                                                                            

                                                            
                                                            UNTAMED DREAMS - 2015




                                                       MERMAID FAIRY TALES - 2016


Many thanks to the artist Photographer Adela Rusu, from Oradea, Romania for the beautiful pictures and Photo/Concept. Thank you Model Roxana Grigoraş, Make-up artist Antonia Lestyán, Hair stylist Sanda Ianosdan and Fashion Designer Iulia Filip Schreier



CONSTELATIONS - 2013


MYSTERIOUS GARDEN- 2014





                                                           UNTAMED DREAMS -2015



MERMAID FAIRY TALES - 2016


  
                                                        

                                                                 BRIDAL NECKLACE



                                     Catwalk on the Red carpet: Models wearing my necklaces

                                   

                                                             End of Show Festivity

I was thrilled to find out I was placed SECOND in the competition! I received a 100 RO Voucher from http://www.corilo.ro/





Irina Sasaki from Japan was placed FIRST. Congratulations, Irina! She won a seven day Vacation at Straja- Platoul Soarelui, Romania www.platoulsoarelui.ro