Christmas Project Review...

Ahhh, the Christmas rush is over.  That's a good feeling... oh, wait... until I realize I have about 10 birthdays coming up in the next couple of months... and then I start dreaming about all those projects I have yet to start.  It's a good dream though... so I keep telling myself, no worries.  Okay, I digress... for right now, these projects are COMPLETE and gifted to my darlin daughters-in-law, so I need to enjoy the moment.  These leather wrap bracelets are so popular, and pretty comfortable to wear, and the options are truly endless.  Here are two versions in differing color combos.  That's where I started with both sets - bracelets first, then earrings, then necklaces. 

 

This sun pendant has a clay-like under color with turquoise and other multi colors over the top from Fusion Beads.  I love the hearts all the way around the sun, which I didn't even notice when I saw it on-line.  I love hearts, so that was an unknown bonus!

This pendant is from The Classic Bead.  Tracee Dock does wonderful work and I've purchased many of her ceramic pendants over the last few years.  I'm never disappointed with what I see on-line and what I receive in the mail. 

 

READYING FOR CHRISTMAS!

There's just not enough time during the month of December, and each year I cram all those things in that I should have been methodically completing all year long.  But, alas, that's not how it happens.  So, there hasn't been much to post lately relative to my artistry... mostly because it has been in varying stages of completion, but also because I've been working on gifts, so I can't let those out of the bag before they are unwrapped!  I can show a couple of the bracelets I made in classes at Bead Street in November - a beautiful pattern by Nicole Starman called "Promenade" and another by Vezsuzsi called Rizomizo.  Both delightful and substantial on the wrist.

 

 Vezsuzsi pattern

Nicole's pattern below - love it.  It's a cuff, which I don't usually wear because they are too big, but this is "just right".

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!  Have a wonderful and joyous time with family and friends.  I will post pictures of "those gifts" once I have them available.  Thanks for following me this past year.  CHEERS!

 

HOLIDAY BLOSSOMS BRACELET

My second bracelet using the Dainty Blossoms pattern from my 11/8/13 post.  Marcia Balomis' original pattern, with my version being pared down with fewer flower petals ...  (3) shades of red petals, gold bricks, 15.0's around each petal and 15.0's and 11.0's down the side to hide the stitch pattern.  I also used 15.0 metallic green around the pearl in middle of each flower, which I think really helps to hide the thread.  These bracelets really live up to their given name.  I'm still struggling with the petals not breaking after completion - something is cutting through the fireline, and I'm not sure if it's the seed beads or the petals, but I'm determined to figure this out.  They are just so adorable, truly dainty, and very photogenic!!!!  Stay tuned... 

Tagua Nut Inspiration/ Leather Wrapping Project

Necklace, earrings and wrap bracelet for a special birthday girl!.  My friend Aimee, who is the very talented girl who got me started beading, oh so many million beads and $$ ago....just celebrated her day.  So, here's what I made for her.  My inspiration started with the necklace, using tagua nut rounds, leather strapping and a wood art tile pendant from J-Lynn Jewels.  J-Lynn does lovely tiles in wonderful color combinations, and her pendants are so light and easy to wear.  Then I made the earrings to match, and these are just "so Aimee"!!!!  I randomly thought to insert the etched silver plate rounds inside the tagua nut circle to dress them up, and voila - it worked... perfectly I think!

And, arent these colors gorgeous together?  8mm fire polish, silver spacers, wood oblongs, wood multi angle cut spacers and lots of needle pricks in my fingers later...  I wanted to toss this bracelet across the room a couple of times.  The thread I chose was thicker than I thought, and it did not want to go through most of the beads twice, so I struggled each time.  Ahhh, at least the end result was worth the swearing, sore fingers and bleeding... :)  I learned to make my first leather wrap bracelet at where else?  Bead Street of course!

 

 

 





Here's the necklace.  I was having trouble getting a good picture in the right light.  One is overexposed and the other is a little dark, but you get the gist... A really simple idea, but goes with anything and easy to wear with a magnet closure.


The earrings are tagua nut rounds, silver plate etched rounds inserted in the middle of the tagua nut centers, 8mm fire polish and 4 mm pearls and czech glass rondelles


 

DAINTY BLOSSOMS BRACELET

This dainty, beautiful pattern is a design by Marcia Balonis, 2013 Starman Trendsetter designer, called Burgeoning Blossoms. Class taught by Sandy at my favorite shop, BeadStreet.  I started a bracelet in class and just didn't feel like it was my best work, so came home and tore it down and started over.  I actually did things a little differently the second time around.  I went through each of the bricks twice as I made the base, then spaced the flower petals out over the bracelet (using half as many) so I could see the Czechmates bricks underneath.  The brick beads are beautiful in their own right, and while they provide a sturdy base for the petals, I wanted to showcase them as well.  I also did a trim of 15.0 and 11.0 sb's along the outer edge on both sides to cover my stitch pattern, and while the pattern uses 11.0 seed beads to wrap around each flower, I used 15.0 sb's and also inserted 15.0's around the pearl in the center of the flower.  This design is very dainty around the flowers, and I found I had to really be careful (I stitch very tight!) as I wrapped them underneath, or the flower would disintegrate before my eyes.  That's when I started crying... LOUDLY!

Love the milky colorations and specks of color on these 8mm Czech petals.  I used three different colors, all from BeadStreet

I added a brass flower button for my closure with peyote stitch loop (of course)!

The bricks show nicely underneath, and enough through the top to give that added pop of color.

 
This shot better shows the braided effect of the 15.0/11.0 sb trim down the sides of the bracelet.

LENTILLE BRACELET, two versions of the same pattern . . .

MY FALL COLORS adorn this wonderful pattern.  A class at Bead Street taught by Sandy, using an Adele Kimpell pattern, "Lentille Bracelet".  This was my second bracelet - my first is below.  On this version I took it down a slightly different path, using both two hole Czechmate lentils in the shiny bronze, and  a variety of fall colored super duos.  It's yummy if I don't say so myself.  The herringbone tube-like pattern was very fun, and since I had struggled with this stitch on a previous project, I had it down this time!  I used a multi-mix tube of matte 11.0 seed beads in copper/yellow tones and shiny gold (permanent finish) 11.0's down the center for a little pop.

My closure is a leather button with peyote stitched loop.

Here's the FIRST bracelet I made, below.  I wanted to try something slightly different and even though I'm in a fall color mode, I chose cooler colors for this project, starting with the purple metallic (permanent) 11.0's, and the metallic purple/blue mix lentils.  The whole time I was working this bracelet I wasn't sure I liked the combo until near the end.  I wanted to try a different closure, so transitioned from the herringbone to peyote stitch, then used a button and peyote stitched loop.  I must say, I had to tear out this small section over and over and yes, over again, because it wouldn't lay right.  It was a challenge, but in the end... yes, I love this one too.  Isn't the button oh so cute?

AN OWL, A BIRD and FREE FORM WIRE WRAPPING AND STRINGING!

A dear friend of mine is celebrating her birthday today (Happy Birthday Susan!) and she kept giving me hints that she likes "mismatched" jewelry, which is a difficult thing for a girl like me who likes to "match"!  But, alas, I thought, "it's her birthday, so give it a try"!  And try I did.  I think I can... I think I can... I think I can...  I'm very happy with the way this turned out and hope she is too!  

 

The owl and bird are both ceramic, along with a little feather chain and tagua nut rounds in three colors, and two holed lentels with sead beads up the left side and two different chain links on the right side.  The owls on the earrings are different as well... It was a fun project!

 

         And, last but never least, two ADORABLE grandsons on a wonderful carousel!