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...

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.

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! 

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.
  

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!