MY FIRST COLLAR...

Stitching a collar design and having it lay flatly around the neck (without buckling) ... hmmm... a quandry for a tight beader like myself!  This is really a fun pattern (a design by TrendSetter Yasmin Sarfati) and has so many color combination possibilities - it's like a rainbow of color around my neck.  This was my first attempt at a collar, and I feel like I need to try it again - right away - so I can try to bead softer with less pull.  The problem I noticed as I was beading was the thread showing in-between.  Not a look I love.  On the very top row of RAW, I went back through, adding 8 sb in-between the 3mm fp.  That seemed to work, but the subsequent rows buckle slightly.  So, if someone knows the secret, please share! 

COLOR OF SPRING AROUND YOUR WRIST!

Here's a color variation on the Thorny Twig (Preciosa) design from an earlier post using the wonderful new Chilli beads .  I do love color, which you already know... and these colors shout S P R I N G! And, the button - isn't it a great final addition?  Can't even say where I might have gotten it, but when I saw it, I knew immediately it was the finishing touch for this piece. And, then I added Czech dragon scale beads around the loop for interest.

SUMMER/FALL COLORED MULTI-PETAL DAGGER PROJECT COMPLETE

Here's my completed project, using one of the wonderful flowers from my last post.  I found these incredible pink/orange/tan agate rondelles, and strung them with copper filigree rounds in varying sizes (4mm, 6mm and 8mm), some copper fire polish, a few pink and orange coral chunks, and finished with chunky copper chain so it's adjustable.  I think this may be my new favorite!  I attached the flower to the necklace with two different versions of peyote stitch, which kind of came to me after I strung the necklace.  It just didn't come together until I added those last pieces to complete the look.

These daisy earrings turned out fun, but these aren't even the final version... you get the idea - bright copper charms, along with the agate rondelle and bright copper spacer - I then added another link of the pink & orange coral after the picture was taken.

MULTI PETAL DAGGER DESIGN

Who doesn't love flowers in any design?  Anything goes with this pattern and the fun part is you can layer the petals in any color you choose!  You're really only held back by the colors of daggers and rizos in your stash.  It's a pattern taught by Susan Weber at Bead Street, which she aptly named "Dagger Daisy".  It uses Rizos, 1 and 2-hole daggers.   I'm still playing with my colors - and I used 8.0 sb, but you can also use 11.0 sb, which brings things in a little closer.  As my eyes age, I'm likin' those bigger beads I must admit.  Ha!  A completed project coming, so check back in a few days.