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! 

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.

SNAKESKIN BRACELET DESIGN

Another new bracelet design (by StarMan TrendSetter Svetlana Einy) class taught at Bead Street, by Sandy Taylor.  I really wasn't sure I was going to like this pattern, but as usual, FELL IN LOVE as I worked the beads.  Color options are unlimited, as long as the beads haven't already flown out of Eileen's store.  I took the second offering (or maybe third) of this class, and felt very lucky to do so.  I'm enjoying my choice of colors on this one - kind of unusual for me - the blue daggers are two-tone with black, and then I added black, metalic black and a milky white opal color.  Since denim is a staple in my after-hours and weekend wardrobe, I thought it was time to go blue with some pizazz thrown in!  This pattern is just as pretty on the backside as it is on the topside.  Very unsual and fun!

My second version - multi colors mix.