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.

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!  :) 

PICOT STITCH PROJECT

I am on a pink/peach/orange kick and I found these beautiful fire polish beads on a recent trip to Seattle at Garden of Beadin.  The AB sheen (up close and personal) is really gorgeous.  Unfortunately, Garden of Beadin' is not on-line, so the fact that I didn't buy enough strands to do much more than this necklace is a dang shame...I don't know what the color is exactly, (the price tag didn't include color) but I had not seen it anywhere else.  And the final necklace shown below is not what it started out to be... it was supposed to be layers of picots, but for some reason as I neared the bottom layer, it didn't want to form a nice circle... had a mind of its own, and wanted to lay kind of funny.  So, I pondered it for a day or two and then finally it dawned on me that I could fold it over and just zip it up using peyote - I guess that would be peyote... the zipping part anyway!  I love the way it turned out.  The pinkish AB fire polish on top with the pearls in a light coffee color underneath are really wonderful.  It gives the necklace real dimension.  And, mixed with copper bead caps and a little chain... yummy!  I can also twist it so the pearls and fire polish are both given equal "show".  It's a versatile piece I didn't imagine when I started. 

 

Darlin' flower earrings to match.  I put a little bit of turqoise paint on the edges of the copper flowers just to give it a little extreeee pizazz...

 

My next project, again in the pink/peach/orange family.  This dyed agate (thanks so much Terri for educatin' me on the stone!)  is really gorgeous - the layering of colors really caught my eye.  Again, Garden of Beadin, and I only bought one.  What was I thinking?

 

The necklace is czech glass squares with darker color veins that vary in each square - I spaced with copper 2mm balls and 11 sbs.

 

 And here are the earrings to go with this necklace - drops are really pretty - darker on the outer layer and lighter pink inside.  I had a hard time showing that depth with my camera.  Swarovski crystals with Czech angular drops on copper wire.

THE ROAR OF MARCH ALREADY?

So many special celebrations in the first quarter of the year - and March is no exception.  My hubby and I celebrated our wedding anniversary - 35 years married - 37 years together to be exact, on March 11.  Who knew it could last?  :))))  So, I begin this post with a lovely Spring array...  Thanks, hon.  xoxo

 

 

And, if you see a piece showcased in my blog that catches your eye, and you would like to know if it is available, or pricing, feel free to inquire.  Many of my pieces could be recreated w/slight change and color combo, or even if you like the one posted, it may be available.  Comment below, or email me at jdreamz4u@gmail.com. 

 

 

Color makes such a difference in picture presentation, doesn't it? So, I am constantly looking for a fun background change.  I'm not there yet -- this may be a bit too much, but I did like the majenta color.  It kind of makes the metallic/grey pop.  I used a more neutral background below with the same piece. Whaddya think?   This bead pattern is so versatile and just so substantial looking -- I have made a few different versions--super duos and 11's with some fire polish and 4mm pearls thrown in here and there.  Thanks again, Eileen!   I put the leaf toggle on upside down -- I think it provides more options - hang it in the front for a more dramatic focal piece, or place in the back, as a regular toggle.

 

Earrings to match.  Love these little birds on the filligre oblongs.

 

  Here's the more neutral background.  Which do you think presents better?

 

My newest completed project - a really fun pattern, learned at Bead Street (thanks Eileen!), with the very newest two-hole lentels in green, jade 3mm Czech pearls, and 11's. The lentels stick up ever so slightly, to give it a little depth. I couldn't leave it alone, after I thought it was finished, and further embellished beyond the original pattern to add a scallop of 15's and 3mm carnelian rounds. This color combination speaks to me!!

                    And last, but not least -- I'm decorated and ready for the Easter Bunny to deliver some Reeces chocolate bunnies!!!!   YUMMERS!

VALENTINE'S DAY LOST ... plus

Valentine's Day came and went, as has the whole month of February actually -- unfortunately, the bronchitis-flu, coughing, ache all over visitor came to see me and has been here way past the four day limit -- more like five weeks and counting.  So,  I haven't done alot of beading since the first of February. My eyes just won't focus! But, I am slowly and steadily seeing some light at the end of the tunnel.  Here's what I was working on before my visitor. I didn't get to wear this lovely on Valentine's Day!  I think I'll just make my own HEART day (or week) and wear all my red!!!  :)  Have I mentioned I love HEARTS?  :)



I wire wrapped loops for the chain and added silver fire polish, with a few red fire polish interspersed. 

 

 This is a better exposure, showing true difference in the red crystals.

Too much exposure on this one, but still pretty.  Small amount of chain is shown wound around top.  Yep it's a darlin' salt shaker (w/hearts!!).  I am constantly looking for new props!  This one worked!

This heart is two toned using AB copper and yellow crystals. 

 

 

 

Earrings to match, OF COURSE!  Crystal hearts with 4mm - copper color.

 

 

A necklace I made to match peyote dangle earrings (shown earlier in my blog - around Christmas).  I learned this way fun pattern from Eileen Barker @ Bead Street, where else?  Love love love this pattern.  So many things you can do with it.  I added the little top drilled flowers as an extra point of interest.  They fit in perfectly!

 I made these earrings following a pattern designed by Maria Teresa Moran.  She made a three tier bracelet, featured on the cover of Beadwork magazine (Feb/March 2013).  These earrings are absolutely gorgeous and I'm in the process of designing my own version of a necklace to go with.  Love the copper crystals with the turquoise and multi-metal seed beads.  I haven't really worked with bugle beads much, so this has been a fun project using two different bugles.  One with sheen and one matte.

 

JUST IN . . .A few of my newly completed January projects!

A beautiful tagua nut embellished with RAW and peyote.  Czech glass 3mm around the outside of the nut as final embellishment, which just made it pop!  Pearls and czech glass for the chain. 

Simple earrings to match tagua nut necklace

A necklace/earrings/ring set using duos, seed beads and pearls.  Earrings also have czech AP glass drops added

The earrings up close

The ring that matches... these rings feel so nice on your finger!