MY LOVE FOR COLOR!

"Yummers" says it all for me on this piece.  I worked and worked and re-worked the colors to come up with a final combination on the 2-hole triangles that spoke to me.  This combination sang loudly - and I had my aha moment!  Love those times when you just know, cuz you feel it, see it and hear it!  A pattern designed by Agnieszka Watts, a Starman Trendsetter, from Bead and Button, with my own design for the closure, adding in some 3mm fire polish for adventure.  A fun new look for a button closure.

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.

NEW TWIST ON SPIRAL DESIGN

The spiral design has long been one of my favorites.  I don't need to pull out a pattern, because I have this one down in my memory banks.  But, this new version called "Briar Rose", designed by TrendSetter Emi Yamada, taught by Sandy Taylor at Bead Street, was slightly different.  (Thanks for your patience with us, Sandy!) It took a few minutes to figure out how the triangles fit into the design, making sure which hole to go through on the first pass, in the right direction, and then connecting them to the center of 8/0 sbs to start the spiral twist. The 2-hole triangles really make it fun - especially when you can add in any color trio you want.  You could probably even add more triangles if you chose.  I used a beautiful size 8/0 sb in a copper/reddish permanent finish to make the center pop, which I think it did, and I think the purples and multi colored 11/0 sbs are more visible because of the center.

 And, earrings made to match.  The Czech table cut glass flowers are so wonderful.  I have to order these from the UK!

PIGGY BEAD VERSION #2

These newly discovered piggy beads are so much fun.  I couldn't wait to make another color combo.  Gold/brown/green toned version was from my last post - Scroll down for more of version #2.  Spring versus Fall so to speak -- I've put them side by side in this first shot so you can see the difference color makes!

Plus, earrings to match of course...beaded puff beads using 2-hole super duos.  These were from my March, 2014 posts.  Love this pattern from SashaSi.  It uses many beads, but the earrings are still light enough not to weight down your ear.  Splash of color!  They look beautiful on you Krissy!!!

 

LOVELY ENSEMBLE FOR A FRIEND

It's September, and the start of the season of making gifts for friends and family, plus getting ready for the Hollydaze... well, hold on, not quite ready to start looking at only red and green quite yet!  Ha.  But, the beginning of cooler weather and fall very close by, gives me a different perspective for sure on what I choose to make and what colors I choose to coordinate.  Tis the season of wonderful fall leaves and earthy tones!  It's really my favorite time of year - must be because I'm a Libra!  So, here's one of my latest creations for a dear dear friend.  Hope you love and will wear this ensemble with joy, Ms. Sherrie!  Hope the earrings are light enough for your ears too.  This was adapted from Marcia Balonis' Spring Loaded design.

 

NATIVE LOOKING EARRINGS/NEW BRACELET DESIGNS USING O-BEADS

I couldn't resist trying these drop earrings from the design in my July 1 post - the Marcia Balonis Spring Loaded design -- the pattern is so versatile, you can make as many components as you would like I made two components for these earrings and I think they are pretty perfect.  Any more might be too heavy.

 

 

A new design called "J-O-sef" by Vezsuzsi, taught by Sandy Taylor at Bead Street using superduos, rizo beads, o-beads and 11.0 sb.  I added the pearl/Czech glass beads down the middle just to add a bit of splash and they also help the rizos stand up like little petals.  

 

This is another version of my July 14 post, showing totally different colors using the "O bead" design by Marcia Balonis.  The colors just meld in this bracelet.  I have gathered beads from wherever I travel, and so I started looking in my stash... imagine that!  Using beads I already have... totally new concept!  But, I digress...  The peachy fire polish beads I used from my stash were perfect with the turquoise and greens and darker reds - I found them in a little store in Helena, MT.  The finished color combo looks very Santa Fe-ish!  :) 

SPRING LOADED TRIANGLES

A new design by TrendSetter Marcia Balonis aptly named "Spring Loaded", learned in a class taught by Sandy Taylor @ Bead Street.  Dang it, my photos came out slightly overexposed - it was pretty bright out this morning when I took the pics.  But, you can still get the idea of how incredible the blues and  the turquoise colors mesh in this design.  The dark blue pearls are absolutely incredible -- really a warm shade.  I actually changed the design slightly and added the Czech flowers in the center, instead of round button beads as in the original design - you really can use anything that's 10mm without having to alter the number of 11.0's you use.  I'm in the process of completing this set with earrings and a necklace.  Will post when finished.  Thanks Eileen for providing such wonderful beads so we can all make beautiful jewelry!!!!  Couldn't do it without you!

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 TRIANGLE AND LENTIL BRACELETS

Here are a couple new pieces I learned at  Bead Street recently, using the two-hole triangles, which are the newest addition to my bead stash.  There are many new patterns being tested right now, and several are still in the testing phase as I mentioned in my last blog - those I won't be able to post for awhile.  But, these two patterns are out of the testing phase.  They use these awesome CzechMate beads, wich are so fun to work with!  The first design is "Cupids Crown", taught by Sue, adapted from a pattern designed by Nicole Starman and it uses 2 different colors of 2-hole  triangles, along with lentils, FP and 11.0 sb.  The class was to make a bracelet, but I thought it would be fun as a necklace... so I intermingled and reversed the colors in the crowns , using the same FP on each as the constant.  As with all these designs, the color combinations are only limited by the colors of the two-hole beads available.

Next, a design by Adele Kimpell perfectly named "Crystal Windows", taught by Sandy Taylor.  This pattern uses 11.0 seed beads, and is embellished with small crystal montees.  It's peyote stitch with RAW and picots for the centerpieces.  I'm trying the same pattern with 8.0 seed beads, and it's looking great so far.  Haven't decided what I'll put in the middle of the RAW--it'll be something other than the montees.