New Year: Not So New Anymore

Wow, February 1st...where did January go? Like many, we spent much of January sick with the flu, hopefully the rest of the year will be much, much better. 

I did get to set up my studio and it's coming along, although I am in desperate need of an area rug and some wall decor. My oldest did get me a lovely calendar that I will probably use the photos from to decorate. It's a Hubble Space Telescope calendar with gorgeous deep space photos. 

I've also gotten some beading done. The Bello Nebula piece is finished, but I have yet to take photos and the purple agate piece needs better photos, but you get the idea. I'm currently working on lovely little bracelets in sterling silver, white or cream for the upcoming bridal season. I'll be selling them at the Avant-Garde Art and Craft show in Rocky River, March 23-24. If you're in the area, come in to see my pieces!

Bello Nebula

purple agate

Inspiration

I have recently fallen in love with the photos from the Hubble Space telescope and decided to try my hand at creating patterns and cuffs from these photos! So far, I am VERY pleased and excited about this new series of cuffs!


Carina Nebula



Doradus Star field



Eagle Nebula



Jupiter



Dancing Nebula

 

Orion Nebula

Spiral Galaxy

Photos courtesy of http://www.hubblesite.org/

New Pieces, New Designs

Something new I've been working on. I've done some pieces in RAW, but these are more uniform. I really like them! (OK, I don't like the photo, but I'll work on that. Have to get my dear husband back in his office so I can have my dining room table back for my light box!)

A Cuff and Two Sets of Earrings

Here's my latest cuff. I called this one "A Round in a Square" and I created it with two shades of turquoise, copper plated and galvanized pale copper Delicas. For the earrings, I've created another pair of "Heavy Metal" beaded bead earrings. This pair has a different earwire which makes them a little bit shorter. The second pair of earrings is in a gorgeous capri blue triangle bead and blue zircon Delicas. Both pair of earrings have sterling silver beads, earwires and pins.

Another New Piece!

Here is another new one! This one is called "Razzmatazz"! My friend Dian named it for me and many others agreed that it fit, so here it is...

Beading and Creation Frustration

I often find myself completely frustrated with my beadwork...not because I can't think of something to create, but because I have too many ideas swirling around in my head. I will have an idea and start to bead and have it turn out nothing like I imagine it, get frustrated and take it apart. So, I try another angle, but that doesn't work or the color or style of beads I have just aren't working out. I know I'm not alone in any of this. I know there are other beaders out there with pieces of beadwork started that now gather dust or just wait to be taken apart. I also know there are others like me who have beautiful beads they have purchased that they just couldn't live without, but have yet to figure out what to create with them! I know I'll eventually use them, I just don't know what to do with them right now! Yes, dear, I will use them, honest!

One thing I would really like to create is a freeform piece, but I haven't been able to let go of the orderliness of single bead size peyote, herringbone or right-angle weave to do freeform! I also want to learn how do bead embroidery and African helix and...oh, alright, I'd like enough hours in the day and money enough to learn all the stitches I don't know yet, learn all the beading techniques I want and try my hand at all the arts I've been itching to get my hands on including polymer clay and lampworking, wirework and silversmithing! But before any of that, I'd really need a studio! :) See, I don't want much....ah, well, I can dream and keep on beading!

New Patterns

I haven't posted any new pieces since my entry into the July EBW Challenge, but I am working on new patterns. OK, so they are for the August EBW Challenge "Art Deco", but the theme has really inspired me! I have about three different takes on the same geometric pattern using different color palettes from the Art Deco period. I would have loved to do something along the lines of the beautiful statuary and nudes from the period, but I just can't seem to translate them into beadwork. I think I'll have to work on that some more...

I'm So Thrilled!

Here is what I got in my mailbox today!I am in this issue with my dear EBW friend, Carol Dean as well as fellow EBW beadweavers Esther and Leslie!! It's so exciting and Carol Dean is the one who proded me to enter this piece and article for publishing consideration. Thank you, thank you!

Grandma Got the Bracelet

Well, I finished the cuff bracelet (as seen in the previous post "A Work In Progress") and ended up giving it to Grandma for Mother's Day. She absolutely loves it and it's a rosy-pink, which is her favorite color. For being my first attempt at an embellished netted cuff, it wasn't bad, but I wasn't completely happy with the end result. I'm going to try the technique again and see if I can't get a better tension on it.

Currently I'm working on a twisted herringbone necklace, but I've been sick this week and working on it and being on the computer just hasn't been great for my head! I'll hopefully have some "in progress" photos later this weekend.

Etsy Beadweaver Dec/Jan Challenge RED

The Etsy Beadweaver Challenge has officially ended and now the voting begins. Starting tomorrow there will be a ballot on the Etsy Beadweavers Blog so you can cast your vote for your favorite piece! Don't miss out on seeing all these gorgeous entries! There are 42 of them!

1. Shades of Red Bracelet by clairecreations

2. Fire Garden Necklace by fskellyman

3. Red Lacewing (extravagant bead woven butterfly hand flower) by GreenEnvyDesigns

4. Follow Your Heart - Freeform Peyote Bracelet by totallytwisted

5. Red Star Necklace and Earring Set by clairecreations

6. The Red Road Less Traveled Freeform Peyote Bracelet by myfairladyvt4

7. Beating Heart Necklace by triz

8. Pomegranate Seed Lip Balm Holder by arosebyname

9. Red Whimsy-Freeform Peyote Stitch Bracelet by crissytraparts

10. Hot Pepper Keychain by arosebyname

11. Red Brick Road Freeform Bracelet by myfairladyvt4

12. Bordeaux Bijoux by BeadJewelryShopgirl

13. Rocket - Freeform Peyote Necklace by totallytwisted

14. Sabatini by thebeadedlily

15. Red Freeform Netted Cuff by vickijensen

16. Fire and Ice Right Angle Weave Bracelet by crissytraparts

17. Magic Red Carpet by triz

18. Red Rocks Bracelet by KathysKraftyKreation

19. Hubbles Bracelet by KathysKraftyKreation

20. Simply Red Crystal Bracelet by beautyinthebeads

21. Red Bargello Hearts Peyote Cuff by SandFibers

22. Scarlett sez Fiddle Dee Dee Choker by cigarboxbeads

23. Red Hair Goblin from a Recycled LP by Tresijas

24. Royal Flash Bangle by triz

25. Sultry Cellini Spiral Bracelet by hands2heal

26. Red Floral Herringbone Cuff Bracelet by hands2heal

27. SIMPLY RED AND A PEARL BRACELET by dawnchastain

28. Garnet Lace Necklace by LauriDesigns

29. A Vila Mon Coeur, Gardi Li Mon by DantesSpirit

30. Simply Red Necklace Carnelian by LauriDesigns

31. SIMPLY RED This hearts for you by dawnchastain

32. Red Choker Necklace by BoodlersBeads

33. SeaWord by SalamanderHouse

34. Ligaments and Disks A Fringe Beaded Bead by thejadedog

35. And love goes round... Beaded Bead Necklace by ClinkscalesArts

36. Red, V-shape necklace with white glass heart pendant by GreenEnvyDesigns

37. Flowers For Scarlett Beadwoven and Bead Adorned Necklace by beadbug

38. Passion by RegalBeads

39. Sinfully RED Bead Woven Triple Spiral Bracelet by MistyRidgeBeads

40. Simply Red - Leaving by AnotherCountry

41. Red Bargello Ribbon Peyote Cuff by SandFibers

42. Red Between the Lines - Beadwoven Cuff by time2cre8

http://etsy-beadweavers.blogspot.com/ Go Vote!!

OROC Fundraiser

In January, my daughter's cheerleading squad is having a competition and proceeds will benefit OROC (OutRun Ovarian Cancer). The theme is "We Roc for OROC" and there will be a competition to see which team can raise the most money and we will also be selling bracelets, which I have volunteered to create. I was originally going to make them like this one:But after pricing out what it would cost me up front to make 50 of them, I had to revise my thinking. So, I am going to make them similar to the ones below. I purchased "awareness ribbon" charms to add to them, but the rest will be a combination of these two bracelets:I am really happy that the idea of raising the money for OROC was approved by everyone. It really means a lot to me and my daughters. After losing my mom and mother-in-law to ovarian cancer and finding out one of my daughter's friend has been diagnosed with it, I realized that I can help. I may not be able to find a cure, but at least help by raising money to find a reliable pretest that will allow women a better than 25% survival rate!

Screen Shot!

A gigantic thank you to Carol for sending me a screenshot of my treasury!

New Pieces But No Pictures of Them Yet

I have two new pieces that I've got to photograph. One is a peyote stitch band bracelet with a Celtic knot type design using galvanized silver Toho Treasure beads and blue iris on black Delica beads. The other is a link necklace. Each individual link is a peyote stitch circle of Delica beads and they are all in shades of the sea, from gray stormy seas to deep blue-green seas. I just haven't had the chance to photograph them or the new cards my daughter has made. We've been so busy here at home with my older daughter's graduation party plans. The party's Saturday so hopefully our lives will get back to a little more normalcy then. (Yeah, sure they will!)

Sale!

I have decided to put my wedding jewelry on sale since June is the month for weddings! I've also put my chapstick holders on sale.

By the Sea

"By the sea, by the sea, by the beautiful sea..."
I love shimmer, shine, sparkle and glitter and this set does it all!

Another New Piece

I call this set "Something Blue" since it would make such a gorgeous set for a bride. There are matching earrings and bracelet and you can see them here. I just love the sparkle!

Newest Item

What do you think?

Finished...well almost!

The beading is complete. Now I need to figure out how to frame it up and put a mirror in the middle.

Shameless Begging

OK, I'm going to be shameless here. Please vote for me at Jewelry Galore Top Site List. I am hoping to get a little more exposure for my beadwork through links and I hope you will help me out here!


Vote For A Rose By Name

at Jewelry Galore

Jewelrygalore Top Site List



THANK YOU!!

Multiple Projects

I am still working on the frame and it is coming along nicely, though slowly. I am also working on a new idea that I hope will be a hit. I haven't completely finished one (I need a fastener), but I'll post it soon. Between work and kids I have been sorely deprived of my beading time and I'm going into withdrawals!