REMEMBERING CHRISTMAS!

As we neared Christmas, YEP, that holiday that's just a distant memory now... I found a really fun earring pattern that I could easily color adjust to make each one an original.  The pattern is so versatile, and the earrings turned out really light and just pretty gorgeous.  I also made some brick stitch trees inbetween because I'm not great at making the same pattern too many times, so a diversion and distraction was in order.  The last pair shown was made for my mother, who's birthday is December 23 and needed to not be Christmas colors!  Plus, she wears clip on (components f/Fusion Beads), so this pattern lent itself well to that change.  The pattern on the repeat earrings was aptly called "poinsettia" and can be found on the FusionBeads.com website.  They have many fun patterns posted in their inspiration section, and these were exactly that!

 

SNOWMEN AND DUELING BRACELETS

First, some snowmen to add some smiles to this stressful time of year.  These can't help but make you grin!  Their scarves keep them warm too, don't ya know!  :)

 

 

Next, a fab, albeit very time consuming, bracelet design by Marcia Balonis named "Whistle Stop", taught by Sandy Taylor @ Bead Street.  It's a gorgeous pattern, and well worth every moment I spent beading away...  I wanted a mixed metal look, so used matt silver lentils on top/gold sb and copper/orange/redish fire polish w/reddish/brown bricks.  I don't know the exact color names of what I used, so don't you love how precise my descriptions are? Ha. This bracelet feels really nice on the wrist too - it's one of those that feels great next to the skin and it moves with you.

 

 

This is a Vezsuzsi design named Leo Bangle, also taught by Sandy Taylor at Bead Street.  I'm having a devil of a time getting a decent pic of this bracelet.  It doesn't matter if its taken inside or outside.  It wants to show more pink tones, but it's really a true beautiful red--disappointing.  It drapes beautifully around the wrist because it is designed to be a bangle, but I made it a clasp instead.  I like to be able to size it closer to my wrist size and bangles don't work so well for that.

HAPPY NEW YEAR'S EVE!

HAPPY NEW YEAR'S EVE!  I hope everyone has a safe and enjoyable entry to 2013!  I'm hoping it's a new year filled with lots of beading for me!  :)  I've been working on a few new designs, but they are all gifts, so have not been able to post much lately... but keep checking, cuz they'll be goodies once the birthdays come and go.  I have FIVE birthdays in January.  What the heck... I say, once again... what the heck!  Right after Christmas, that gives me just a tiny bit of stress, all self inflicted of course.

Here's a necklace I made for "moi" for the Holly-Days.... It's a beautiful pattern - Thank you Eileen at Bead Street - using twins.  The earrings were in process at this picture.  Love the ceramic candy cane beads. 

Tubular peyote stitch and dangles.  These really are beautiful on.  Lighting isn't perfect in this shot, so true colors aren't reflected.  They are more of a teal, w/rust, and beautiful maroon czech glass flowers and leaves, seed & 3 mm brass beads and some turquoise pieces. 

WIRE WRAPPING AND MEMORY WIRE.

If you need some great gift ideas, you live in Boise, and also have an interest in supporting local people with local products, come visit me at the Indie Made Shop for FIRST THURSDAY - December 6 - from 5-9:00 p.m. in the Old Pioneer Building @ 108 N 6th Street.   FIRST THURSDAY in downtown Boise is alot of fun, and there is always much to see and do.  Alot of the downtown stores participate and they try to make it a special evening with discounts etc.  My friend Jenny and I will be sharing a table and selling some of our wares!  Hope to see some of you there! I've posted a few "teaser" items I'll have at my table, including Christmas wrapped wreath earrings etc. Nothing to heavy... just fun stuff for the Season!

These turned out so fun!  I wrapped seed beads around premade squares.