Releases by Rufydoof: January 2012

Monday, January 30, 2012

Beading Babes - Project 3 update ...

How is everyone progressing with their Project 3 pieces?

I have come to a sudden standstill with Runway of Pearls and am yet to start Ravishing Rosettes.

I've run into a few "issues" with Runway of Pearls.

Firstly this bracelet shrinks!

I had it sitting at a perfect length but by the time I had embellished the piece with the size 11/0 and 15/0 seed beads it had shrunk enough for the bracelet to be too small.

Add to this frustration the fact that by this stage I had already used up 388 of my 400 2mm beads I had bought so was in a bit of a panic as to how to lengthen the bracelet.

So.... I decided to use some 3mm Czech beads at each end stitching an extra row or two.

Problem solved!

So I thought...

I then realised that I needed more of the 2mm beads when "zipping" the bracelet closed.

So....I've had to order another 100 beads.

That's a total of 500 beads at a cost of $25.00 so far...without adding the cost of the other beads, thread and clasp!

Hmmmmm.....

I haven't started Ravishing Rosettes as I foolishly removed the 6mm pearls from my shopping cart in my Artbeads order.

My order arrived and I was wondering where on earth the pearls were and why they hadn't included them in my order to discover

I DIDN'T ORDER THEM!
Don't ask me why I removed them from my shopping cart (even I can't tell myself why) so I've had to order more...or should I say some!

Very frustrating to say the least!

In the mean time I've started a bead embroidered project inspired by one of my favourite artists,
Mary Engelbreit.

I discovered Mary's artwork way back in 1990 when I visited the US and my lovely friend, Traci, introduced me to her artwork.

This adorable tote is still on my wish list... but $99.00 to ship it to Australia...I don't think so!

I've loved and collected her art ever since!

~*~

So that's it for me for today.

Hopefully my pearls and 2mm Czech beads will arrive today or tomorrow and I can get started on completing a few of these projects!

I hope you are making better progress than me!

♥

Thursday, January 26, 2012

HAPPY AUSTRALIA DAY!

Today I will be enjoying a day off work...

very Australian...

at home with my two boys doing absolutely nothing...

...except for a spot of beading.

I might even make a batch of brownies...

yeah I know they are American not Australian but they are sooo tasty and hey I have so many American friends it will remind me of them!

Here's a little fella we met on our recent road trip.

He was literally within arms reach of us.

Check out those claws...a not so cuddly koala!

♥

Sunday, January 22, 2012

My Creative Space...

Over the past week or so I have been working on the first of my Beading Babes projects for 2012,
Runway of Pearls by Barbara Falkowitz.

Sadly I am still waiting on my bead order to arrive which contains my wee little pearls I need to continue on with this piece so this is far as I have got.

I have used 2mm Jet Czech fire polished beads instead of the triangle beads and have used matte silver grey size 11/0 beads and black size 15/0 beads.

I think I will make my reversible so I will be stitching the other side in black and silver.

I did originally use all black beads but it was just a bit too bland, even with the sparkle of the Czech beads.

It has worked out a bit of a pricey piece as I had to order 400 Czech beads costing me $20.00 but the sparkle is worth it!

~*~

This is a pendant I finished last week.

It is based on Marcie Abney's Looking Glass pendant.

I ended up adding a few extra rows which resulted in a frilled edge which I quite like!

These pendants are so quick and easy to stitch up and really do make nice gifts!

What's making an appearance in your creative space this week?

♥

Friday, January 20, 2012

How I love to be beside the seaside!

The lovely Juls at Julsbeads has just written a post about her love of Oregon and being by the sea and it reminded me of my love of the sea!

I grew up in Newcastle, New South Wales, which boasts some of the most beautiful beaches in the country.

Nobby's Beach

Newcastle Beach

As a child and teenager I frequently visited the beach.

I remember one school holidays (around 6 weeks) I literally spent every day at Newcastle Beach to the point that my mum banned me from going for a few days!

The beach has always been such a warm and welcoming place for me...a solitude.

I love the sound of the ocean and it's powerful waves crashing on the sand...

I love the feel of the sometimes warm-sometimes cool sand on my feet...

I love the smell of sunscreen and tanning lotions that fill the air...

I love coming home after a day at the beach and feeling the salt from the sea on my cheeks.

I love listening to the chitter chatter of the seagulls.

I mean seriously, what's not to love about the beach!

During our Christmas holidays we travelled to one of my favourite places on earth,

Byron Bay,
around an hour and a half's drive from Brisbane.

I absolutely adore Byron.
I love the beach, I love the lighthouse, I love all the funky cafes, I love the hippy locals, I love that sitting in an alley way at a tiny little cafe reminds me of being in the middle of downtown Bali or Phuket surrounded by backpackers and tourists.

IT IS MY DREAM TO MOVE TO BYRON BAY...

If all else fails I could always buy this gorgeous house by the sea which I spotted

on our recent holiday to Victoria.

I reckon I could get used to this view quite easily.

The beach below is literally at the bottom of the garden!

Apparently it's only worth around $4 million.

....ho hum!

♥

Monday, January 16, 2012

Inspiration is everywhere...

A few inspirational quotes I have found whilst touring
the big wide world that is
the internet.

~*~

And my favourite at the moment...

♥

Saturday, January 14, 2012

Books..books...books

I treated myself to a few books today. Why? ....why not!!

I've had to pre-order the first two as they aren't being released until April and May of this year but the earlier you order the cheaper they are so it's a win win situation!

So far I have every book in the Beadweaving Master Class series by Lark so this one was a definite must.

Add to that the fact that Sabine Lippert's beading is beautiful, inspirational and fits into the "I must make that now" category was even more reason not to pass this one by.

Virginia Jensen's first book, Cube Bead Stitching, is still one of my favourite beading books and I have made many pieces from that book. The projects are quick, easy and I just love the look of cube beads in my pieces.

When I saw she was releasing another cube bead book I knew I had to have it...only disappointment is that it's not available now!!

Thankfully Maggie Roschyk's new book is available now!

I've had my eye on this one for a few months and was considering pre-ordering this one a while back.

I finally confirmed with that little voice in my head that this too was a must after seeing her project, Helena Elements, in the current issue of Bead & Button magazine (pg 48 - February 2012).

I absolutely can't wait to get my hands on this one...in about 7 days time!

Better go order some more cube beads!!

And finally a book for Spencer.

Spencer's niece, Lily, received this book for Christmas and was kind enough to let Spencer colour a few pages.

The illustrations are fantastic (as shown on the cover) and you really can spend hours "doodling" by adding your own designs to the pictures as well as on the blank pages.

I reckon I might just have to order one for myself to use during those times when I am feeling a little stressed, frustrated or looking for some creative inspiration!

Everyone loves to doodle, right?

What's on your reading list for 2012?

♥