Blue Diamond Peyote Bracelet

A new version of my odd count peyote series, this one a direct result of designing a smaller odd count peyote beaded bead. A beautiful shade of denim blue-green, Delica Bead #325 is the basis for this layout. It matches beautifully with the beaded key presented in an earlier post.

Pattern was created on the Bead Tool 4.4 or 4.7 which ever is the lastest update. I find working with the product extremely easy and very managable. I transported the design from the beaded bead for the key into the new program of the bracelet...or rather made a revision and hit 'save as' in order to create a new pattern. I will also be making this in a Victorian color way for the Holidays...It is July after all and what better time to start on holidays gifts and projects? trust me, time flies...

The bracelet clasp is a rather simple one, however it lent itself perfectly to the antique brass tones needed to complement this bracelet. I purposely have shown you the back side of the clasp. Note how the piece aligns next to the bar clasp and the loops of the clasp sit inside the beadwork. The stitch was more of a running backstitch catching the clasp at the same time as the stitching was passing through the loops.

Looks like my friend Joanne, will be making yet one more bracelet for the summer! This one a perfect fit for all those casual days of tee shirts and jeans.

Happy Beading on a Summer Day!

Fandango in Pink

Here is another version of my new favorite earring. I made these in just under an hour, they are getting faster!

The most fun is choosing the colors...these to match a blouse with a bit of embrodiery, so it was easy to make the color scheme work.

Having a great time with some new ideas usiign Cellini Spiral technique.

Fandango Earrings

What happens when a spiral goes spiraling out of control?  Well, you can always make another and call the both of them a pair of earrings!

Which is exactly what happened here. A simple task, to make a Cellini spiral Ring, became so much more than that when an experiment with bead size and count went a little oversized. The extra large bead sizes caused the ring to lay a little bit flatter than I had hoped, but my Bead Chicks (my beading network) encouraged me to carry on and figure out how to use them anyway. The next challenge was to recall what steps I had taken to make them as they were and replicate the same again...only this time in mirror image since I wanted to have them hang as a pair.

Well, it helps to take good notes while you are working...that could be lesson #1. A few photos along the way would have been lesson #2. So now to make yet another pair or two..perhaps in green and blues and another in blacks and white with a pop of red! Anything could be used as the drops, a larger bead count to start the first row would create an even longer pair. This pair included several color of Delica beads, a couple colors, including that color of the year Tangerine Tango,  in size 11 seed beads, one size 8 hex seed bead, one size 6 seed bead and of course the cute Vintage Czech Glass Yellow Drops!

We'll see what happens real soon! 'Til then I've been wearing these and getting loads of compliments. A great way to use up those left over bits from other projects or a bead soup, too!

I'll be wearing them at Monica's Quilt and Bead tomorrow, so stop by and take a look! Ohhh, I see a new class on the horizon...

Transitions, a bracelet study of stitches

So, the wonderful new Master Series book by Maggie Meister has spurned an idea of sorts. A sampler of stitches and therefore the transitional flow needed to move from one stitch to another was created. I think this is a great way to prepare for what you need to learn in order to work from the book...of course, this is assuming that you already know how to use most of these stitches in several of their forms. The book utilizes movement from right angle weave to peyote to ndebele and then back again, so here is my study using those stitches. The first idea I had was to create a long wrapped beaded bracelet...each wrap a different bead and stitch...then I realized that would take too long and not be productive for a class setting...so you get the short version! I will still create the longer wrap as I think it's going to be a very cool looking bracelet!

I've created this in black, using beads with different surface finishes, even the little 3.4mm drops. It will also be great using multiples of color, or a study of other Monochromatic colorways or even dare I say it GOLD!!! Just be careful, always use a permanent or Duracoat finish when using a metal color. We at Monica's Quilt and Bead Creations in Palm Desert are lucky, almost all our colors are switched over to a "permanent" finish.

Happy Easter Week

Look at what the easter bunny did to my egg! Almost like an oversized beaded bead. This ornamental covering was supposed to include pearls, but the ones on hand didn't have the right type of holes. So, to improvise I used small mini drops instead and a did a varigated colorway. Umm, could be a useful idea for next year. I would have to start sometime in February!

This combined a peyote base row, right angle weave and netting stitch.

Happy, Happy Springtime

Happy Spring and Happy Easter to all... the new color for Spring and the Year is captured here in this sweet glass covered bracelet. Any of the Coral to Pink to Rose hues will brighten one's day don't you think? Try adding 3.4 mini magatamas as the embellishment to any one of your favorite bracelets. Or make a beaded bead and put them on the outer edges, ummm, pretty.
This special dainty bracelet I learned from a dear friend, now excuse me while I go make one in every color of the new Spring colors; turquoise, yellow, gray, parrot green and beeswax!

Talk about Color!

As mentioned earlier we were the happy winners of a contest sponsored by Beverly Ash Gilbert...well, today our gorgeous prize arrived! Take a look at a color feast for your eyes! We received a beautiful color wheel system with overlays for developing different color theories...plus the incredible "naturals" color wheel in both warm and cool color palettes. What a treat!!! Look at the fun bead soup mixes that also came, like it was Christmas in July...but it's only April. The color mixes above are Cherry Cordial, which looks so much like the Pantone color of the year honeysuckle, and Blue Moon, which just looks perfect for my wardrobe. Hey, didn't I make a Twirly Skirt in that colorway? Next stop the necklaces they become...Thanks to Beverly! check out her site for wonderful color theory support, books and tools. www.gilbertdesigns.net

Beaded Colorways

How exciting ...I won a contest! Wow ...or rather was lucky in a drawing. Beverly Ash Gilbert author of the Beaded Colorways, asked for comments on Amazon when her book first came out. So John and I put together a review and we were drawn as the lucky ones! Well, I'll be the lucky one since I get to play with a new package of beads...ohhh, yummy colors. So... I am very excited! Her lovely bead soups are gorgeous! Check out her website and blog. www.BerverlyAshGilbert.com . So to pick a choice from any of her basic colorways and newly developed bead soups would be hard...The Mermaid looks so pretty (and my daughter, Dawn, the Aquarian and lover of all things of the ocean would probably be the recipient of the piece of jewelry I made from that bead soup) The cherry cordial looks yummy, and I like the blues and purples...Since I am by Seasons classified a 'winter' all those blue tone colors are my favorites. Of course, now with my newly grown-out gray hair it really is like winter and perhaps even the new grays of Spring would be good. Whatever I receive will be fun and I'll post a photo as soon as they arrive, I'm sure it will be a real treat .