5/28/2015

A RIBBON OF A DRAPE!

The June 2015 issue of Bead & Button showcased this beautiful pattern on the cover and I could not resist making it my own.  The pendant is designed by Wendy Speare, and I'm loving the possibilities of the underbelly superduos.  I don't usually work with delica sb, but did in this version because I wanted to make the first like the pattern, and I'm really liking the combination and the look of the square against the round 15/0 sb.  Of course, it all starts with a beautiful Swarovski crystal.  How can you go wrong?  And, I added a purple ribbon to finish it off.  Lovely...






5/27/2015

KHEOPS WEAVE OOH LA LA!

Had a lovely class on Saturday, and then another on Monday, so it was a fun couple days, spending some quality time with my beading buddies!  We do have a great time playing with our beads.  Thank you Sandy for teaching this pattern @ Bead Street - designed by Ella Des aptly named Kheops Weave.  The sheen and color combination on these silky angled beads I chose (purchased at Bead Street of course!) is so incredible.  They are so versatile, and take on a different color dependent on the lighting, and the other beads surrounding them.




5/21/2015

OREGON COAST CORAL OH MY...

My daughter-in-law bought me some beautiful beads on the Oregon Coast, so I got busy and designed one piece, making perfect use of each special bead.  The long orange coral pieces at the bottom were the start - I wire wrapped (I worked hard at making my wraps more the "messy" look, which wasn't easy for me!) them to a 3-hole connector and built the necklace up from there.  I wasn't even sure how the coral pieces would lay, but they each find their own space and it works!  The middle bead is an incredible mermaid - her tail surrounds the bead - and the top spinner is a paper bead.  Such a wonderful, unusual grouping, don't you think?  The necklace is wire wrapped pieces of coral (I had those pieces in my stash - how lucky was that?) and I also added a couple tagua rounds to the mix.  Love this statement piece!  Thanks, Teegan! 







5/20/2015

THE THRILL OF WIRE!



I do quite a bit of wire wrapping, but there is ALWAYS so much more to learn.  New ways to do things, new tools to use, etc.  So, I had a free Saturday and Beth Routhier was teaching a dainty wire wrap "Floating Infinity" design class @ Bead Street so I joined the group!  It was definitely a learning curve for me, just holding the pliers so as not to mar the thicker wire took some time - I bead tight - but it was oh so fun and I did learn so much.  I learned about bail making pliers, and how to patina.  I've wanted to know that technique for so long, and now I know (really, enough to be dangerous!)  Love this pattern - thank you Beth!  I went home and finished the hook closure, even though I originally thought that type of closure would be too difficult for me to connect on my wrist, but it was a cinch!  I also made some darlin' butterfly earrings to match.  As time permitted over the weekend I made a second bracelet in blue hues.  I'm now hooked on using 16 and 18 gauge wire (I usually work with 20-24 gauge), and using these bail making pliers in differing sizes.  PLUS the patina process - love how it makes the copper wire look, without having to wait so long for the natural aging process.
  







5/15/2015

MOM'S DAY SETS

Two darlin Mom's Day sets for my girls, (daughters-in-law).  The pendants are so special, from BoHulley Beads in the UK.  Bo has a flair for detailed designs, and they are eye catchers all by themselves.  So, I strung necklaces and earrings (w/birds and butterflies) to compliment what was the focal.  I think these are pretty perfect for spring/summer wear and my girls were very happy, which always makes me happy!