RIVETING DESIGN!

Rivette Pendant, an incredible design by Patrick Duggan in the December 2015/January 2016 special issue of Beadwork's Holiday Gifts absolutely caught my eye.  It was so different than other designs and it truly is an eye catcher piece up close and personal-like!  And, bead size DOES matter in this design.  All beads need to be uniform, or the top will not lay as nicely - the fit just won't be there.  Luckily in this first version, I chose wisely.  However, on my second pendant, I didn't and it made a difference once I stitched my way to the top - the triangles did not lay as flat... it's still a great piece, don't get me wrong, but not worthy of selling or gift giving.  Darn, what a great excuse to keep for myself!  :)  Here's the first pendant, along with earrings I made to go with.  The earrings are taken from a design I saw on FusionBeads site.  I tweaked to my own liking of course.  Awesome set, if I don't say so myself!

This is the underside view of the pendant.  I think it's pretty great as well!  It gives a better picture of what the building block beads are for the structure.

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.

DRESS EM UP OR DRESS EM DOWN!

This is a piece meant to be worn by that special person - fit to wear when all dressed up, or in levis and boots!  It always takes me awhile to get all the pieces and parts of any project assembly out on my table in view so I can complete my visualization... sometimes several different combinations of pieces and parts - and, this piece was no exception - although, once I had that "aha" moment, I was so pleased with my JDreams Design.  Plus, this piece was designed with a very wonderful BFF in mind, so I let my Lu Lu vibes fill my heart, and that was that! 

 

The beaded bead design from Vezsuzsi (shown in a previous post) lent itself well to my overall design!  The initial beaded bead colors I owe to Irene at Bead Street, as I probably would not have put this combo of colors together on the first bead (lowest on the necklace).  Once I had that bead complete, I reversed the colors somewhat on the next version - the one on top w/more turquoise colored seed beads.  It's just a rich looking piece I think...

RINGS 'N' THINGS...

A wonderful new design--you can make one segment of the pattern for a ring--make several for a bracelet--a few for a necklace, or double up and make a complete beaded bead!  This is a versatile, fun design.  It's called "Cortez", designed by Vezsuzsi, taught by Sandy Taylor at Bead Street.  I stitched a ring using only one segment of the pattern and I think it's pretty gorgeous.  Sizing the ring to fit is the hard part.  I thought I was making it for my ring finger, but it ended up fitting my pinky.  Looks great there too... but this sizing thing... it ain't that easy!  The pattern uses Rullas (altho I've also used bricks and they work well), 8mm FP, 3mm FP and 11/0 and 15/0 sb. 

 

This is the backside of the ring strap.  I used RAW to stitch the two sides together and that worked pretty darn well.

Another new ring of my own JDreams design.  Used 8/0 sb in even peyote stitch and then used a block stitch, kind of, on the outer rim to cover all the thread on the sides (8/0 and 15/0 in different colors).  Added my own embellishment of two Czech glass leaves, o rings, and an 8 mm FP.  These colors are so great for fall.  And peyote just feels good on the finger!

 

And, here's a quick shot of a pair of earrings I stitched using the new design from Vezsuzsi.  More to come, including the necklace that goes with it . . . but, are these gorgeous or what?

 

 

VARIED COLORS CHANGE THE LOOK!

 A varied version of Svetlana Einy's design from my last post.  I think my choice of colors on this bracelet makes it look more Native American with the turquoise, mustard and dark coral/copper.  I did alter the pattern ever so slightly by inserting a few dark coral / turqoise bricks inbetween the triangles, which kind of gives a hinge look. I finished it off with button/peyote loop closure. 

 

 

A side by side comparison of my two versions of the same pattern - color can certainly change the look!

 

 

2-HOLE BRICKS - SWITCHING GEARS TO A TONED-DOWN, MODULAR DESIGN

It just seemed like the right time to try colors I wouldn't normally choose, and this selection (thank you Sandy Taylor!) fit the bill.  This combination is wonderful with denim, which I happened to be wearing that day to class!  This is a design from artist and Starman Trendsetter Svetlana Einy, called "Shadow Valley".  A fun pattern using 2-hole bricks, coupled with two colors of 2-hole triangles, 11.0 and 15.0 seed beads.   This bracelet feels great on the wrist - light, flat and airy!  At first glance, the directions in the pattern are truly daunting, but it really comes together very well, as long as you pay attention to the direction of your beading, left or right.  If you forget, say... on one row, you might just have your triangles going down under instead of upright!  Ha ha ... Not that I would know anything about that.

 

 

My closure is a button/loop.  I embellished the brass flower with a Czech glass star flower and 11.0 and 15.0 sb.

New Beaded Bracelet For Valentine's Day!



A new pattern by Starman Trendsetter Nicole Starman called "Rondell Revolution".  It's a wonderfully creative pattern, as all of Nicole's are, especially when you add all the required beads, as I did in my second version - the multi-green/cooper version below!   I made the red/silver bracelet in a test class at Bead Street, and rushed home to immediately try and make the pattern CORRECTLY.  Best part is how forgiving it is, so, like me, if you make a mistake all the way down one side, it still comes together beautifully.  Very very lucky for me!  Thanks Sandy Taylor for dealing with all of us "test beaders" during class...


This pattern uses CzechMate 2-hole lentils, 11.0 sb and CzechMate bricks, with 6mm fire polish.  I used the red/grey lentils and really love the look.  Also, Sandy made a bracelet with tiny drops in the center in lieu of an 11.0 sb and I liked the look, so have done that same thing.  Translucent red drops - which I also added to my button clasp closure to tie them in.

I love the colors in this bracelet - two different strands of green FP and copper 11.0 sbs, with two different colors of lentils and translucent green drops - it's subtle but gorgeous!

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...