Christmas Project Review...

Ahhh, the Christmas rush is over.  That's a good feeling... oh, wait... until I realize I have about 10 birthdays coming up in the next couple of months... and then I start dreaming about all those projects I have yet to start.  It's a good dream though... so I keep telling myself, no worries.  Okay, I digress... for right now, these projects are COMPLETE and gifted to my darlin daughters-in-law, so I need to enjoy the moment.  These leather wrap bracelets are so popular, and pretty comfortable to wear, and the options are truly endless.  Here are two versions in differing color combos.  That's where I started with both sets - bracelets first, then earrings, then necklaces. 

 

This sun pendant has a clay-like under color with turquoise and other multi colors over the top from Fusion Beads.  I love the hearts all the way around the sun, which I didn't even notice when I saw it on-line.  I love hearts, so that was an unknown bonus!

This pendant is from The Classic Bead.  Tracee Dock does wonderful work and I've purchased many of her ceramic pendants over the last few years.  I'm never disappointed with what I see on-line and what I receive in the mail. 

 

Tagua Nut Inspiration/ Leather Wrapping Project

Necklace, earrings and wrap bracelet for a special birthday girl!.  My friend Aimee, who is the very talented girl who got me started beading, oh so many million beads and $$ ago....just celebrated her day.  So, here's what I made for her.  My inspiration started with the necklace, using tagua nut rounds, leather strapping and a wood art tile pendant from J-Lynn Jewels.  J-Lynn does lovely tiles in wonderful color combinations, and her pendants are so light and easy to wear.  Then I made the earrings to match, and these are just "so Aimee"!!!!  I randomly thought to insert the etched silver plate rounds inside the tagua nut circle to dress them up, and voila - it worked... perfectly I think!

And, arent these colors gorgeous together?  8mm fire polish, silver spacers, wood oblongs, wood multi angle cut spacers and lots of needle pricks in my fingers later...  I wanted to toss this bracelet across the room a couple of times.  The thread I chose was thicker than I thought, and it did not want to go through most of the beads twice, so I struggled each time.  Ahhh, at least the end result was worth the swearing, sore fingers and bleeding... :)  I learned to make my first leather wrap bracelet at where else?  Bead Street of course!

 

 

 





Here's the necklace.  I was having trouble getting a good picture in the right light.  One is overexposed and the other is a little dark, but you get the gist... A really simple idea, but goes with anything and easy to wear with a magnet closure.


The earrings are tagua nut rounds, silver plate etched rounds inserted in the middle of the tagua nut centers, 8mm fire polish and 4 mm pearls and czech glass rondelles