Crystal Pendant
posted on Saturday, 31 March 2007
I bought these amazing vintage Swarovski crystals last year at Bead and Button and have been saving them ever since until just the right way of using them came along.
I would love to bead around them but they are very deep- easily 3/8 of an inch which makes finding the right way harder. Also I really didn't want to cover all of their backs and lose any of the sparkle, colour or shine.
So, I was really pleased to find these Eni Oken instructions which seemed perfect for the job.
I spent Saturday making one and was really pleased to be able to add it to a chain with another crystal to wear that evening!
Cabochon Beginnings
posted on Saturday, 24 March 2007
I seem to have seen lots of people beading with cabochons recently- well OK, 3- but enough to make me jealous!
So I dug out some I bought at Bead and Button last year, some Lacys Stiff Stuff and a cuff and set to work. I set about beading around the large cab but after hours of work realised I didn't like the colours, the bead stitch I'd used or the pattern that was forming; so out came my scissors and I chopped it all up.
I started it again last night and am much happier with it. The cabs are so unbelievably beautiful and colourful that when I tried to match them with any beads it didn't want to work. So I choose plainer size 15s- these are a really dark brown with some blue in them- and it's a lot better. Again it's another work in progress but I'm getting there and hope to finish this one within the next couple of weeks- fingers crossed for me!
Beaded Treasures
posted on Saturday, 17 March 2007
Went to Bead Group today and finally started my Beaded Treasures bracelet.
I bought Robin Atkin's new book- Beaded Treasures last October and have been itching to make something with it ever since. I really recommend the book as everything is so clearly explained you can dive right it- and I did!
I used a cord I'd bought last year and added some Bali silver and beads. I have a great button that I want to use to finish it and can't wait until I get a chance to do so- and start my next one!
I also finally finished my cuffs this week, but they're off on their travels already so it'll be a while before I get to photograph them and put them on here.
Woven Cuff
posted on Sunday, 04 March 2007
I had great fun making this cuff bracelet, sitting with friends, chatting and choosing beads- a great day!
It was made using Eni Oken's Woven Cuff Tutorial and I really enjoyed sitting and picking out all those beads I'd been saving for a special occasion. It has crystals, lampwork, semi-precious, silver and glass beads in it, so it's a real treasure chest!
I'm also really excited as I've managed to book onto a course being given by Michael David Sturlin at Silver Clay in Dorset in May- yay!
One Cuff Down, One To Go
posted on Wednesday, 28 February 2007
I've now managed to finish one of my beaded cuffs and am working on the second.
The first one uses red, oranges and pinks. The second will be blues, teals, greens etc.
I'm really glad I chose to use grey seed beads as they definitely act as a great backdrop to the sparkle and colour of the crystals.
After much debate I think I've decided how the cuffs will fasten, both will be different though.
Unfortunately my original idea won't work as I can't get hold of stretch ribbon in red or blue- very annoying!
More Pearl Earrings
posted on Tuesday, 20 February 2007
As in previous weeks I've been working on lots of pearl projects- so am getting very skilled in making those tiny holes larger!
For these earrings I wanted to highlight the lovely large pearls but not overpower them, or make them too basic.
Although they're very simple looking they took quite a few goes to get the technique right, but I got there in the end and am really pleased with them.
New Sampler Delivery
posted on Monday, 19 February 2007
I was lucky enough to be just in time to sign up for another round of The Sampler. I missed the first slot by seconds but sat patiently by my computer watching the clock ticking down for the second slot!
This time I got a music cd, handmade card, keyring, charms, earrings, a magazine, badges and magnets- all my favourite things!
I'm busy working away on my beaded cuff so fingers crossed it's finished soon- as I want to make two.
More Pearls And Crystals
posted on Monday, 12 February 2007
More pearls and bling!
This brooch was an idea that has been in my head for a while and I finally sat down and made it. At 5 inches across at the widest part- this is not for anyone shy and retiring.
It combines 6mm pearls with lots of 4mm Swarovski crystals all added to a sieve finding using fine wire.
Pearls And Cherries
posted on Thursday, 08 February 2007
I have been working on a lot of pearl projects this week and here's one of them.
It's a simple pendant idea based on a vintage necklace I saw that used lucite beads, no stem beads and more wirework.
I wanted to pare it down into something a complete beginner to wirework could do and am satisfied with the result.
It snowed today- it's apparently not snowed like this for over a decade in the UK so it was amazing to see- real snow that actually hung around all day and didn't turn into mush by 9am!
Of course the snow coincided with my first driving lesson for 14 years so the agony of waiting is prolonged until next week.
Work In Progress- Beading Around Beads
posted on Monday, 05 February 2007
Yet another work in progress!
I'm continuing to bead around beads but this time it's to make flat pieces of jewellery. I'm planning to make a large centrepiece for a necklace but decided to begin on a smaller scale.
This will turn into a cuff bracelet and will be formed entirely of different sized and coloured round Swarovski crystals that I have beaded around.
I spent a long time pondering what colours to use around the reds, pinks and oranges of the crystals and as I was going through my beads was struck by the grey. It works great and provides a fantastic back drop for the colours and sparkle in the crystals. I don't use grey much, usually black as a background colour, but it can often be 'too much' - so I'm really pleased how this has worked out and will definitely use grey more in the future.
Addicted To Beaded Beads
posted on Friday, 26 January 2007
I have been making these beaded beads for a few months now and am utterly obsessed with them.
They're quite simple to make and though I don't usually like 'bitty' work with lots of stopping and starting, I can't get enough of these.
They use 5mm round Swarovski crystals and some 2mm rounds- which are unbelievably beautiful!
I'm having lots of fun playing around with colour combinations and for this piece I altered my technique slightly as an experiment and I'm delighted how it turned out. And of course they're a great excuse to go and stock up on more crystals!
Flower Chain Bracelet
posted on Thursday, 18 January 2007
This bracelet started out originally as a sample, begun when I was teaching a private chain maille class. I was demonstrating making 'flowers' and was showing how you could add as many jump rings as possible until you got the look you wanted.
I loved the chain the big rings made and kept hold of it until I knew what I wanted to do with it. I knew it needed something special to finish it and add a bit of colour and remembered the clasps I'd bought at the Bead and Button show last year. The clasp used is from Sojourner and you can see it here. Unfortunately they say they don't ship outside the US, sorry UK people, but I will let you know if that changes.
I was amazed to see the glass used was 'made in occupied Japan' really makes you think about the history of items we come across and use in our work. You can see here some more about what that mark means.
PMC Class
posted on Thursday, 11 January 2007
Went for a one day beginners class in PMC at The PMC Studio today. I thoroughly enjoyed it and came away having made a pendant and some small pieces which I will turn into earrings and charms.
The pendant was textured using a texture sheet, I then cut the shape out using a cookie cutter and added a Peridot- all temptingly easy.
The smaller pieces were textured, and because I rolled them out on a brass plate, they have texture on both sides. This was so easy and makes them reversible. If you look, the three teardrop shapes are all the same but some are just turned over so you can see the other side.
It was great fun firing them with the torch, something I'd previously been worried about, so I may just have to invest in one of those!
Year Of Jewelry Start
posted on Thursday, 04 January 2007
I've signed up to take part in the 2007 Year of Jewelry run by the Creative Wire Forum.
This is my piece for the first week and fingers crossed I make 51 more!
This necklace is the one I started back in September and finally finished over the new year. Once I'd made the necklace I added some beautiful pearls I bought last year to add some colour and texture.
Viking weave is really easy to learn and so versatile- and incredibly satisfying when you pull it through the draw-plate and it all comes together!
I'll be teaching this necklace in my Viking Weave class.
Starting With A Bang!
posted on Monday, 01 January 2007
Well 2006 was adventurous- lets's see what 2007 holds!
After being struck down with a virus of some kind on boxing day and feeling awful for a few days I had a great end to 2006/ start to 2007.
We visited family in Dorset and whilst I was there I managed to meet Lynn Davy, who's a great beadworker. I got to see lots of her lovely work in person, which was a thrill as I have seen a lot of it in magazine and on websites- but of course beadwork always is better when you can really see and feel it.
Took time off from the intensive beading I've been doing to make some Christmas Puddings! The kits are from Pin Flair and are great; quick and easy to make.
I've also been watching the Royal Institute's Christmas Lectures so am now all inspired about different ways to combine my geometric shapes- even if I'm still baffled by fractals!
ps- thanks to my secret blog reader for the rolodex you gave me for Christmas- it's filling up fast!
Lynn Davy's website
Lynn's entry for the April/ May 2006 Bead Boy Challenge
Lynn's entry for the August/ September 2006 Bead Boy Challenge
Lynn's entry for the October/ November 2006 Bead Boy Challenge
Lynn's - and her son's-entries for the December 2006/ Janaury 2007 Bead Boy Challenge
Lynn's entry for the February/ March 2007 Bead Boy Challenge
