MORE BEADED PUFF BEADS

Here's the fun necklace made with three of the beaded puff beads from my last post (designed by SashaSi).  I beaded two in more of a navy color to intersperse with the sky blue bead.  It's an airy light necklace with an easy drape, and mixed with the sky blue earrings, a fun set.  The beads are fun to make - and, depending on your preference in stringing material - mine is FireLine at the moment - these beads will lay flat or puff up.  I tend to bead tight anyway, and with the FLine, they really puff!  Fun for a casual or middle of the road look... 

BEADED BEAD AND VERSATILE BRACELET DESIGN

My last post included the copperish/turquoise bracelet called Crystal Windows with peyote and RAW. I reworked it slightly and used larger beads (8.0) and AB crystals instead of the montees. Really a different look -- plus a bit more flash on the wrist.  These deep red AB bicones really show up in the picture, but they are much more subtle in person.  But, the contrast is lovely.

 

 

 

Here are the bracelets side by side -- a nice difference using small/larger seed beads.

 

 

These are my newest project - lovely beaded puff beads by SashaSi.  A fun class at Bead Street taught by Sandy Taylor.  I'll have a necklace to post in the near future using a few, different colored beads.  Beaded beads are so versatile and each one definitely has it's own look.  This pattern uses two-hole super duos.  And, love the new FP beads at Bead Street.  They just added the needed subtle glow to the drop.

 

 



 



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.

 

COLORFUL EARRING DESIGNS!

I've been participating in some "test" classes at Bead Street, and unfortunately due to the newness of the patterns and copyright issues,  I am unable to post the pretties.  But, suffice it to say... they are wonderful patterns using all things 2-hole, including lentels, super duos and the new triangles.  I hope to post them at some point in the future.  But, in the meantime, I'm playing with earrings for Spring.   

I LOVE THESE little bird nest  earrings!

 

I used a couple of the new 2-hole triangles, lentils and daggers in this pair. 

 

Lucite flower petals stacked in blue, green and turquoise w/3mm crystals
                                                                                                                               Mixed metals in silver and bronze

 

                  Some chain, some tiny drops, throw in a couple Tagua nut rounds, lucite flowers and Tagua nut rondelles and what ya got?  SPRING!  Ha ha.  If only it was that easy...

SNAKESKIN NECKLACE

Another fun option for the snakeskin pattern -- One row of 2-hole daggers in spring colors makes a lovely necklace.  Even though it's still February... I'm so ready for spring.  These colors take me in that direction.  The ceramic pendant is from Tracee Dock, The Classic Bead. Her clay creation adds just the right amount of pizazz to this piece!

SNAKESKIN BRACELET DESIGN

Another new bracelet design (by StarMan TrendSetter Svetlana Einy) class taught at Bead Street, by Sandy Taylor.  I really wasn't sure I was going to like this pattern, but as usual, FELL IN LOVE as I worked the beads.  Color options are unlimited, as long as the beads haven't already flown out of Eileen's store.  I took the second offering (or maybe third) of this class, and felt very lucky to do so.  I'm enjoying my choice of colors on this one - kind of unusual for me - the blue daggers are two-tone with black, and then I added black, metalic black and a milky white opal color.  Since denim is a staple in my after-hours and weekend wardrobe, I thought it was time to go blue with some pizazz thrown in!  This pattern is just as pretty on the backside as it is on the topside.  Very unsual and fun!

My second version - multi colors mix.

 

A VALENTINE'S SURPRISE!

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!  I love RED, and of course hearts, so this is one of my favorite Holidays.  And, my hubby gave me a dozen red roses this morning - which is very unusual! He usually gets me something small, but this was lovely!  So, I share my happiness... and say that after 36 years of marriage, he still surprises me with that which I don't expect!  Happy beading!

And of course, I must include some beading in this post -- an oldie but a goodie. I made this bracelet a year or two ago... can't quite remember.  It was patterned after an inspiration project at Fusion Beads.  Loved the idea, so did my own thing with it.  Lots of stitching, but well worth it.  I used metallic hex delica 8.0 seed beads inbetween each section so it looks like hinges.  I LOVE THIS ONE!

MATHEMATICS...

FUN FUN FUN... I wanted to have a multi colored Spring heart using turquoise, green and orange/red FP.  This was a challenge for me -- you can see that each flower is intertwined with the next, so it took me awhile to figure out the order as I stitched each connecting round.  I think it would be cute if they didn't match as well... but for this version, I feel I accomplished what I set out to do.  Unmatching earrings let me paint outside the box just slightly!!!

 

Aren't these just too dang cute?  Loved the way they turned out.

HEARTS continued...

WHAT ELSE?  More hearts of course...  Lighting makes such a difference, in determining how my art pieces project their gorgeousness...  The photos below give some interesting contrast - one version is taken outside in natural lighting - albeit dusk lighting.  The other under my beading lamp indoors. Both versions give you a slightly different perspective.  The last heart is lovely, but neither photo really does it justice.  The blue/greens with the AP fire polish beads in the center are truly lovely.  Have to see 'em in person to fully appreciate, which I do - each and every one!  How many heart necklaces can one woman wear at the same time I wonder...  :)