Challenges...get creative and keep the mind busy!

Well due to the floods here in Queensland I have been off work since Tuesday of last week. I thought having the extra time at home would be a great time to do some beading to take my mind off things. 

Well it wasn't...I have spent the last 5 days glued to my laptop checking out Facebook for flood updates as well as other sites.

I decided I need to start focusing on other things and realised that there are a few beading challenges taking place that I haven't even thought about yet.

Margie and Me Challenge

Marcie at La Bella Joya has kicked off the first Margie and Me Challenge for 2011 with not one but two colour palettes to choose from!

The River Sea - #24

And a colour palette chosen by Marcie.

Village  Corner

It's a photo of a little medicine shop in Dolores Hidalgo in Mexico, which she visited 5 years ago.

I am not sure which palette I am going to choose yet but as the pieces are to be shared on 29 January I better get a move on!

Bead Soup Blog Party

I am excitedly taking part in this party again this year, with 2010 being my first year.

An enormous 210 people are taking part this year so poor Lori of Pretty Things has had the mammoth task of pairing everyone up!

I have just found out that I have been paired up with Liz Deluca of Creative Arty Facts, a fellow Australian who is a very talented lampwork artist. I am excited to see what she sends me and between you and me... I am secretly hoping that one of her gorgeous beads is included!

♥

As I mentioned I haven't been beading much over the last week or two but here is a pair of earrings I finished recently which I hadn't shared with you.

They are from Marcia DeCoster's book, Beaded Opulence, and are the Medici Drop earrings.

Unfortunately I could not get my hands on some drops which were drilled horizontally but I think they still look pretty nice and I have worn them a few times already and they still sit beautifully.

I absolutely adore her book so am currently working on another piece.

This one is the Gabriella pendant. I have to admit I have struggled with this one at times. 

The pendant is actually a lot smaller than it appears in the image in the book and actually measures around 2.8 inches long by about 1 inch wide.

I don't think I thought through my colourway very well as the bronze seed beads I have used aren't really in contrast to the tigers eye beads but I think with a big chunk of tigers eye hanging off the bottom and strung on some contrasting beads mixed with tigers eye is shouldn't look too shabby!

Lastly check out this gorgeous bracelet I bought from Marcie of La Bella Joya.

I had my eye on this beauty ever since she made it and recently when she had a sale in her Etsy store I decided to treat myself!

Thanks Marcie!

♥