SPRUCING UP BLACK FOR A FRIEND!

I don't usually bead black... I'm more about c o l o r... as you know if you follow my posts, but for this friend, on this birthday of hers, well... I decided "it IS her birthday" afterall.  And, she LOVES black.  But, of course, I couldn't go totally black, so added in the copper and silver and man oh man.  I might be able to do black with this combo.  Beautiful pattern by Vezsuzsi, taught by Sandy at Bead Street.  The picture does not do the earrings justice - they are that wonderful puffed bead designed by SashaSi, which I posted in blue on March 17.  They really look awesome on. 

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AIMEE!!!!

CLOSURE FINISHED -- "ALONG THE SEINE"

As promised in my last post, here's the completed bracelet showing the final closure.  The super duo rounds as the closure have kind of become my added "interpretation" of this design since I can't seem to make one that is long enough to fit me - I tell myself to quit stitching so dang tight, but to no avail... so I end up having to add on. All because of an original design by Eileen, owner of Bead Street.  
 

Here are the completed bracelets, side by side.  The color combinations for this pattern are only limited by the colors of the super duos - isn't the herringbone pattern down the center an eye-catcher?  I also used peanut beads on the outside of the melon red version, instead of 11.0 sb - I think it gives a bit more depth to the outer edge.  This time for the closure I added a darlin copper button.

SPICE BRACELET DESIGN

A Saturday bead class at Bead Street was just the medicine needed for my swirling emotions these days.  Still in the midst of our 2-yr old grandson's short-term health prognosis, I needed to just sit and bead and try to get my "diversion" groove back... it worked!  Thanks so much Sandy Taylor!  This bracelet is a lovely design by Linda Roberts, taught by Sandy.  Time consuming because every RAW unit needs to be reinforced twice (and the RAW portion of this pattern was a challenge at first!), to cinch it up a bit, but well worth the time and effort.  I think my version looks very southwestern.  Love the matte finish blue/gold multi colored SuperDuos I chose, along with the brighter purple, mixed with the SuperUnos I interchanged on the outer edge - every other one. See what you think.

 

Showcasing an Agate

A lovely piece made with lots of birthday love for my work-sistah and dear friend Kriss - who I have mentioned in the past as one of my most avid supporters.  She both purchases my pieces and then markets them, simply by putting them on.  Thanks, Kriss.  Here's the first of her birthday gift set.  She actually purchased some beads on a trip to Seattle, and because I asked her to go into a shop (yes, a bead shop!) for me in Bothell, she came home with some loverlies in a sack and said something like, "when you get time . . .  no pressure, but maybe at some point. . . " I've been looking at this pendant and her little sack for several months now and then I decided for her birthday, I just needed to get 'er done!!!  She bought the piece of Agate, and it was already a good sized piece - so, I made it larger(!) by embellishing it with transparent purple and turquoise peanuts (Kriss's sack), 11.0 seed beads and added swarovski crystals,  also in a combination of purple and turquoise.  I used 2-hole czech tiles (Kriss's sack), interspersed with 11.0 seed beads, for the necklace.



A view of the three pieces - the earrings are so cute - a peanut beaded bead, using transparent peanuts (Kriss's sack!) and my stash of drops in two sizes with swarovski crystals for added pop.