BIRDS OF A FEATHER . . .

Projects that began with a beautiful bird by Heather at Humblebeads.  Add a tiny perch, some dangles, some ribbon and badda bing, badda bang!!  :)  These birds are so much fun -- I confess I have several I've been hoarding.  But, alas, these two flew the coup.  Hope they are happy in their new homes!!!

I didn't get a great picture of this next set, so I feel bad about that.  Sometimes there isn't enough time, or the light will not cooperate in the time I do have.  But, this was also a wonderful combination.  Pattern credits for the earrings were in my "Remembering Christmas" post.

CHAINON Addiction and some added bling!

Hi, my name is Janet and I'm an Eileen Barker "Chainon" pattern addict! HA HA! True story!  It's an awfully fun stitch!  Here's another of my latest versions and really, my camera just doesn't seem to be picking up the beautiful beads to show how awesome the shades are together, but I guess this will have to do.  I added 8.0 sb in between the super duos for a slight alteration of the pattern, and added a 6mm bead inside the center bump to provide a little more stability for long-term wear.  The earrings were kind of an afterthought, but aren't they pretty with the bracelet?

THE STARS ARE OUT!

I was looking for a pattern using czechmates 2-hole superduos and found this star by Deb Roberti - Deb is so generous in periodically providing free patterns.  And, her patterns are very detailed and easy for this ol' gal to follow.  Thanks, Deb!  I have several people in my life who are true stars in my eyes... so this pattern spoke to me.  I'm on a roll now, so you'll see more of these as I try different color combinations.  Here's my first one.  

TURQUOISE AND BUTTERFLIES

A darlin' BUTTERFLY bracelet pattern by Vezsuzsi.  I had to remake this twice as the first time it was way too tight and wouldn't bend to go around my wrist.  I wasn't the only one in my beading group... several of us had the same difficulty.  I must say though, that the original pattern is for a bangle, and we were making ours for a clasp, which does change the bend requirements.  So after slightly altering the pattern and adding an extra 15/0 or an extra 11/0 here and there, it softened up and had more flex to go around my wrist.  I love the colors I used... bright and cheery for sure!  It's dainty, so caution will need to be taken when worn.

 

And, next this wonderful turquoise wrist eye catcher.  My beading sistah Judy had made one and I LOVED it, so I asked if I could copy her idea using the turquoise and make my own version.  I used a base of ladder stitch with 4mm cubes.  You could use any kind of chips ... or truly... anything else.  You are limited only by your own imagination.  I'm going to give it another whirl with something less expensive than turquoise.  But, isn't this fun?  I love my owl button too.  Kind of finished it off for me.

DESERT DIAMONDS!

A FUN design by Shae Wilhite, which she appropriately named Desert Diamonds.  In a group with my beading sistahs, as I like to call our close beading ensemble - we tackled this lovely pattern, which was published in Beadwork back in October/November 2014.  I do not remember seeing this wonderful pattern.  Sharon used some beautiful colors in her version of the design, which we all fell in love with.  I used very similar shades, but changed it up just ever so slightly.  The colors are hard to describe, but probably more to the pinky/peachy side of coral with a darker shade of rose/coral, and some turquoise.  The 11s that attach the triangles around the outer edge truly make this pattern flow wonderfully.  The only thing I didn't love is that the thread shows around the diamonds and the superduos, and there doesn't seem to be any way around that.  But, I'll be making more of this design.  I did also love that my Indian chief button fit the design perfectly, as it's one of my favorites...

AN OWL FOR ALL SEASONS!

Another New Year creation, which started with the beaded beads (using superduos) in black/brown/brushed gold.  I saw the pattern for a bracelet in Bead&Button, Feb 2014, (Michelle McEnroe) and knew individual beads would be awesome in a special piece.  And, the pendant (Golem Design) was too adorable, and went perfectly with my color choices. Love this owl and the look of the whole piece.  I'm getting more and more confident in my wire wrappings.  I really enjoy the contrast between, and the combining of, wire, stitched beading, ceramics and anything else I can find to incorporate.

LIGHT, DELICATE EARRINGS

These earrings are SO light and flowing -- really easy to wear -- I don't even know I have them on.  The pattern is called "Duo Drop Earrings" designed by 2015 Designers of the Year for Beadwork Magazine: Barbara Falkowitz and Amy Haftkowycz.  This pattern is showcased in the June/July 2015 magazine and I was excited to try them because it incorporates both wire working and stitching.  What's better than that?  Color combos are endless, of course! The first pictures below are outside in bright afternoon light - the next two are also outside, but in the morning light, one with a flash.  Proof that lighting changes the way your colors reflect! P.S.  The pattern called for half-hard wire, which I didn't have, so I used soft, plus I used what I had in beads, which were not all as the pattern suggested.  But, truly, that's the fun part, isn't it?  Making it your own!

BLOOMING BUDS DESIGN

 A beautiful new "any season" pattern; very versatile for earrings, bracelet, necklace, etc., in any combination of "bud" connector colors.  Designed by Renee Kovnesky and taught by Sandy Taylor @ Bead Street. This work-in-progress has now been completed.  Yeah!  I wasn't happy with a couple of my bud connections, so I had to go back and disassemble and redo.  It's the small things that make a difference in a completed piece...

The metallic permanent finish purple 11/0 sbs are so gorgeous in person.  They really make the piggy bead/pearl/superduo combinations pop.

FIRE LINE CAN MAKE -- OR -- BREAK -- A PROJECT!

Oh, fireline... how I hate thee sometimes!  I made this beautiful new pendant,  designed by Vezsuzsi, and as I got ready to put on the last few 15/0 sb, I started to bend it oh so gradually, to look at those little 3 mm fp which kind of get hidden in the pattern, and it paid me back for that bend, by gradually disintegrating before my tearful eyes!  You can see at the top of this blue beauty that the layer is coming away from the center.  So, basically, fireline is perfect, until it's not.  I think those cute little fp I used may have been sharp at the drilled opening, but I can't be sure.  There are several other beads in this piece that could have assisted with the disintegration, but if fireline can catch a fish without breaking, why oh why can't it string a dang pendant?  It can, right? Catch a fish that is?  But, alas, since I will not allow myself to be discouraged for long, I started once again, using a different color palette, and I was cautious and conscientious about my tension on every round!  Tension, tension, tension, and sharp beads, make the diff I guess.  Thank you, Sandy, for letting me quietly sob.... kidding...  Thanks for a great class!  No matter what happens in my learning cycle, I always enjoy that creating time with my beading sistahs at Bead Street.