HALLOWEEEEN/FALL FUN!

A little SPOOKiness for Halloween.  


Some darlin darlin fire polish pumpkins.  I started with a Fusion Beads beaded bead pattern from their inspiration page, did some extra embellishing with the leaves and the top stems, and voila!  These are very fun to make! 

Spider anyone???

Some earrings to go with that spider?

A wonderful tile pendant by J-Lynn Jewels.  I added a 4mm FP beaded beads in purple with orange 4mm FP added to  the outside to give a little depth, plus some old brass Ethiopian beads, some wood beads, and some charms to top it off.  Isn't it cute? 

And, last, but certainly not least, some awesomely fall inspired, fun earrings!  Czech glass leaves, Czech glass pumpkin beads, semi precious stones, and some Lucite leaves.  A great combo!



Sugar Skull Fun

A new Artisan widening my horizons.  Very exciting to do something different - and I have discovered a new found appreciation for Sugar Skulls!  This Skull by Staci Louise Originals.  She is so creative  and inspiring on many levels, and I'm excited to have made my first purchase from her, and now my first original necklace design, using none other than a couple of her polymer clay designs.  Just in time for Halloween and the Mexican Day of the Dead celebrations.  Visit Staci's page and see what I'm talking about.  It's a new view for me...kind of out of my comfort zone.., and that's exactly where I need to be!

There's another of Staci's Artisan polymer beads on the right hand side with the wheel design.



I have had these ancient brass/copper beads (I think they are tribal handmade beads from long ago) just waiting for that right project, and here it is!  They were perfect, together with the rough cut Czech beads and the colorful new lucite feathers I've purchased from Eileen at Bead Street.  Quite a cross over of worlds in this one piece!

FUN FUN FUN!!!

REDIRECTION OF A PROJECT

This was a fun project, and the colors were just oh... so gorgeous, but alas, it was one of those projects where you spin your wheels, you learn (AFTER remaking it twice!) and then it's just time to put it down.  I had this bracelet all but complete, for the second time, as shown in these first two pics below, just needed to finish the peyote stitch on one side of the magnet to cover the silver - when I put it on to show my hubby how lovely it had turned out - and, splish splash... one of the tiles came loose (and the tiles are critical, since they make up the base of the pattern) and the rest came tumbling down thereafter.  Yes, I bead tight, and my tiles must have been sharp on the inside, because the fireline looked like it was cut, even though I had gone back through the entire bracelet two times. Oh me oh my... what a sad day for me.  A beautiful bangle bracelet pattern designed by Vezsuzsi and taught by the lovely Sandy at Bead Street.  So... nothing left to do but let my own creative juices flow.  I just started stitching with all the same beads, sans the tiles, to make my own pattern.  See below for that project.

My JDreams original below - not as fancy as the intricate pattern above, but I'm in love with it, and so far so good - it's wearing just fine...out of disappointment comes new light, or creativity ... or something like that! HA!

STAY TUNED...

It's the start of the CRAZY Season... I hate to admit it and to actually type those words, but it's sooooo true.  Beginning today, October 1, which is a lovely day by the way -- cuz it's MY BIRTHDAY!! -- starts that time of year when there is lots to do and the time and days just fly by - Christmas before we know it.  And, we have a granddaughter due the first week of December, so I have quilts and things to make as well for this first girl!  So exciting!  So, between now and the end of the year, I must say - there is lots to do, lots to make and lots to bead... so my postings may fall short for awhile.  So, I hope you'll check back with me, to see some of my new work, as time permits me to post!

In the meantime... here's an oldie but a goodie! -- Tagua nut rounds in fall colors, hooked to copper Byzantine Chainmaille, and strung glass and copper beads.  A great one for fall!

DRESS EM UP OR DRESS EM DOWN!

This is a piece meant to be worn by that special person - fit to wear when all dressed up, or in levis and boots!  It always takes me awhile to get all the pieces and parts of any project assembly out on my table in view so I can complete my visualization... sometimes several different combinations of pieces and parts - and, this piece was no exception - although, once I had that "aha" moment, I was so pleased with my JDreams Design.  Plus, this piece was designed with a very wonderful BFF in mind, so I let my Lu Lu vibes fill my heart, and that was that! 

 

The beaded bead design from Vezsuzsi (shown in a previous post) lent itself well to my overall design!  The initial beaded bead colors I owe to Irene at Bead Street, as I probably would not have put this combo of colors together on the first bead (lowest on the necklace).  Once I had that bead complete, I reversed the colors somewhat on the next version - the one on top w/more turquoise colored seed beads.  It's just a rich looking piece I think...

YUMMY EARRINGS FOR FALL

Finished earrings to match the bracelet in my previous post showing the Dragonfly design by Eridhan Creations.  Aren't the colors in these just really, come on... too yummy?  Ha ha.  I also really like the 10MM swarovski crystal I added as a dangle.  Love how the crystal catches the light.  Looks so nice with the copper wire.

AND, some cuties SOLD already.  These are easy to wear and fun to boot!  Magnesite turtles, jasper moons and turquoise chips with antique brass wire. 

AMAZONITE NECKLACE and BEADED BEADS

Going through my stash, found this incredible shade of coral just waiting for me to notice them again, and then the Czech rough cut turquoise beads purchased recently.  I decided to join 'em as it were and really like the combo with the brass chain and the focal amazonite "J" or good luck rabbit's foot.  I've had the amazonite for awhile now... never knew what I would do with it, but knew I'd find something, so... tried it while stringing the turquoise and coral and decided it could work.  Added some dangles to give it a bit more oomph...



The beaded bead (Tila 3-D Beaded Bead)  in both these earrings is a pattern designed by Kim Spencer for CisrayDesigns, taught by Sandy and Eileen at Bead Street .  I say Sandy and Eileen because it was a joint effort.  This particular pattern was difficult for any of us to follow and Sandy and Eileen put it all into perspective for us.  There were two beaded beads and these earrings show the first bead.  It became easier after we learned a few quick tricks.  The other one... well... I made one, and have not ventured to make another just yet.  I'll post once I do, as it is equally as fun and much more of the 3-D!

These turned out particularly gorgeous...

DRAGONFLY DESIGN

If you love fall colors, you'll love the combo I chose for this "Dragonfly" pattern taught by Sandy Taylor @ Bead Street designed by Eridhan Creations.  You've heard it before, but I LOVE THIS ONE! The colors speak to me L O U D L Y (imagine!) with oranges, rusts, metallic, purples and greens.  This is a time consuming project, but well worth it.  By the time I finished it I don't think I could have passed through any of the beads one more time -- they were FULL of 6 wt fireline!  I also bought one of the new fold over magnet clasps from Eileen and really LOVE it.  It attaches easily and seems to really hold.  I don't normally like magnets, as I've lost several anklets going through magnetized doors, but this is protected by the outer shell.

LOVELY ENSEMBLE FOR A FRIEND

It's September, and the start of the season of making gifts for friends and family, plus getting ready for the Hollydaze... well, hold on, not quite ready to start looking at only red and green quite yet!  Ha.  But, the beginning of cooler weather and fall very close by, gives me a different perspective for sure on what I choose to make and what colors I choose to coordinate.  Tis the season of wonderful fall leaves and earthy tones!  It's really my favorite time of year - must be because I'm a Libra!  So, here's one of my latest creations for a dear dear friend.  Hope you love and will wear this ensemble with joy, Ms. Sherrie!  Hope the earrings are light enough for your ears too.  This was adapted from Marcia Balonis' Spring Loaded design.

 

COMPLETED NECKLACE PROJECT

Here's the completed project from a couple posts ago.  I had many different ideas flowing through my dreams. (yes I dream beads!) as to the finished look of the necklace for this fun pendant, and this was not one of them... it just kind of came together, and I think it's perfect!  I had originally imagined a peyote or herringbone twisted tube, but the two tones of these awesome round, rough finished Czech beads with 8/0 in-between, and the leaves and flower, just fell onto the wire for me instead.  

 

Plus, earrings to go with.  This is the front side and the next picture is the front and back side.  A little peyote is a wonderful thing!

 

RINGS 'N' THINGS...

A wonderful new design--you can make one segment of the pattern for a ring--make several for a bracelet--a few for a necklace, or double up and make a complete beaded bead!  This is a versatile, fun design.  It's called "Cortez", designed by Vezsuzsi, taught by Sandy Taylor at Bead Street.  I stitched a ring using only one segment of the pattern and I think it's pretty gorgeous.  Sizing the ring to fit is the hard part.  I thought I was making it for my ring finger, but it ended up fitting my pinky.  Looks great there too... but this sizing thing... it ain't that easy!  The pattern uses Rullas (altho I've also used bricks and they work well), 8mm FP, 3mm FP and 11/0 and 15/0 sb. 

 

This is the backside of the ring strap.  I used RAW to stitch the two sides together and that worked pretty darn well.

Another new ring of my own JDreams design.  Used 8/0 sb in even peyote stitch and then used a block stitch, kind of, on the outer rim to cover all the thread on the sides (8/0 and 15/0 in different colors).  Added my own embellishment of two Czech glass leaves, o rings, and an 8 mm FP.  These colors are so great for fall.  And peyote just feels good on the finger!

 

And, here's a quick shot of a pair of earrings I stitched using the new design from Vezsuzsi.  More to come, including the necklace that goes with it . . . but, are these gorgeous or what?