Beading Babes - Project 4 ~ March/April 2012 - Reveal!

Welcome to Project 4 of Beading Babes!

This month we had three gorgeous projects on offer
-
Trellis Necklace by Nancy Dale
Ruffled Chain Bracelet by Laina Goodman
and
Paisley Drop earrings by Jane Lock

So without furtherado here is what everyone created!

Check out all of this bead eye candy!

~*~

1. Trellis Necklace by Nancy Dale

Nancy of Ned Beads - her own beautiful handiwork

Therese of Therese's Treasures

Susan

Tanya of A Work in Progress

Shirley of Beads and Bread 

Amy of Amybeads

Vimala of The Bead Diaries

Maryanne of Zingala's Workshop

~*~

2. Ruffled Chain Bracelet by Laina Goodman

(Beadwork - February/March 2011 - page 68)

Therese of Therese's Treasures

Ginger of Lilmummy Likes

Tanya of A Work in Progress

Maryanne of Zingala's Workshop

Amy of Amybeads

Anne of Anne Pomeroy Dixon

And here is what I created

~*~

3. Paisley Drops by Jane Lock

(Beadwork - August/September 2010 - page 68)

Therese of Therese's Treasures

Tanya of A Work in Progress

Amy of Amybeads

Kate 

Marla

Christine of There and Back Again Studios

Shirley of Beads and Bread 

Mary

Anne of Anne Pomeroy Dixon

Abbey of Abbey Wilkins

Maryanne of Zingala's Workshop

And here is what I created 

~*~

A big thank you again to everyone that took part in Project 4.


If I have missed anyone please let me know and I will add the photos and links as they are revealed on their blogs. 

The quality of work this project has been outstanding and you ladies never cease to amaze me with your talents.

A big thank you also to Nancy Dale for donating her beautiful Trellis Necklace pattern for us to use.
The generosity of others still surprises me.
I think we did your pattern proud Nancy so thank you again!

Be sure, if you  haven't already, to visit Nancy's Etsy store to see all of her gorgeous tutorials.

The Beading Babes - Bringing Beaders Together Facebook page 
is growing by the day.
It is extremely rewarding to see everyone posting pictures of their work and chatting about the patterns and making new friends.

If you haven't joined us then please do stop by!

PROJECT 5...

I can't wait for you to see what I have lined up for Project 5!

Details will be posted here and on the Facebook group page in a few days time!

Happy Beading!

 ♥

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Copyright Disclaimer
All patterns used within this group will be purchased by the beader, with the exception of Nancy Dale's pattern which she has kindly donated for Project 4. All patterns will not be copied.

All credit will be given to the designer.

Trying my hand at Soutache...

I've been admiring the art that is soutache for some time now.

One of my favourite artits who dabbles in this form of bead work is Miriam Shimon of CieloDesign.

I've always been intrigued by this type of beading, wondering how the pieces come together.

As I love bead embroidery I figured I would probably enjoy this too so am going to jump into the deep end and give it a go.

I found this great free tutorial at Lo Scrigno dei Gioielli so thought I'd use that as a how to guide.

My first fork in the road was what thread/braid to use.

As I am one that likes to do everything by the book I had to know what the correct braid was to use...down to how many mm's wide it is, what it's made of whether it be silk or cotton or any other fibre known to man and lastly where to buy it!

As you can see I got myself a lovely assortment of braids in a beautiful selection of colours.

I am thinking that braids can be nearly as addictive as beads as they come in an assortment of colours.

Next was to choose what cabochon I was going to use.

I wasn't sure whether it was going to be easiest to start with a larger cabochon, a simple oval one, whether one with edges would be easier...but in the end I couldn't go past this gorgeous cabochon I have had for some time now.

Not only do I adore this cab but the fact that it matched some of my braids I bought without any planning made it the perfect choice.

Now I just need to choose my beads to compliment this gorgeous cabochon...and then I can get started!

Watch this space to see how my soutache pendant comes together!

The current issue of Bead & Button magazine also has a pair of soutache earrings which I am thinking of including as one of the pieces for Beading Babes ~ Project 5.

Can't be that hard right (famous last words)!

♥

Spring Fling Kit Challenge

I am hoping it is still 20 April in the US as today is the day for the 

Spring Fling Kit Challenge 
reveal!

This challenge is hosted by the lovely Amy at Amybeads.

Here is the adorable kit I was basing my piece from.

I am ashamed to admit that I didn't get to finish my piece.

I think I was being a little optimistic ordering the kit thinking it would arrive from the US in time for me to have it finished by today's date.

As you can see I did make a start...so that counts for something right!

So far I have used the peanut/farfalle beads and the fire polished beads around the adorable bird focal.

I have then used one of the faux pearls as a focal in my component.

The plan is to have the bird as a pendant and then necklace will be consist of the beaded components like the one above as well as a rope using the delica beads and other fire polished beads.

I also bought the blue kit, which I haven't even started to use.

Don't worry... I am giving myself a big slap on the wrist for being so naughty and not getting these pieces done but I promise that they will be done and I will share them with you!

In the mean time be sure to pop on over to the following ladies' blogs who also took part in this challenge.

Kristen of My Bead Journey

Maryanne of Zingala's Workshop

Therese of Therese's Treasures

Vimala of The Bead Diaries 

♥

Beading Babes rocks Facebook!

At the suggestion of a few Beading Babes I have now set up a group for us on Facebook.

Beading Babes - Bringing Beaders Together

This will provide us with one central location within Facebook to discuss the group, the projects we are working on, sharing any tips or problems with the projects, post photos of our Beading Babes projects as well as general chit chat!

I encourage you to still post photos and discussions on your blogs as well, especially as that is how we all came together.

To visit the page just click on the Facebook icon below!

If you have any friends that you feel may be interested in becomning a Beading Babes member, who may not have taken part because they don't have a blog of their own then this group is perfect for them...

 ...so spread the word!

I look forward to seeing you all there!

♥

Beading Babes in Beadwork!

You might recall a while back I announced that Beading Babes were going to appear in Beadwork magazine.

Well the time has come!

I finally received my copy of the April/May 2012 issue of Beadwork last week and wouldn't you know it..
there on page 8 in the W.O.R.D. section are three of our Earthly Hues pieces created for Project 2!

Well done to 

Amy of Amybeads 

Therese of Therese's Treasures 

and Kristen of My Bead Journey 

for having their gorgeous creations shared with the beading world in print!

Again I can't express how appreciative I am of everyone who has taken part in Beading Babes so far.

You are such a wonderful bunch of ladies who I love to share not only my love of beads with the ins and outs and ups and downs of my life. 

I cherish our emails, reading your blogs and chatting with you on Facebook.

You should all be proud to see our little group mentioned in Beadwork as you are all the key to it's success!

WELL DONE!

♥

Amybeads ~ Spring Fling blog hop

Since starting my blog I have met so many wonderful friends from all around the world and of them is Amy.

Amy and I seem to have a lot in common apart from the fact that we both love beads!

I love chatting to her about books and if you want a good book review then she's the one to speak to as she seems to read a lot!
Lately we have been comparing notes on the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo series...which I am nearing the end of as I am currently reading the final book in the series.

Anyhooo...
so when I saw that this lovely lady was having a blog hop which included a challenge kit then I knew I was definitely in!

Amy had two gorgeous kits on offer and at such an awesome price too!

I absolutely adored the little birdie beads and could not decide which one I preferred the most...

so I decided to be adventurous and buy both kits!

I received my kits all the way from the USA yesterday and they are even better than they appear in the photos above that Amy provided enticing us to take part!

The reveal date is
20 April
so hopefully I have time to get both kits done...if not then it's going to be a tough choice which one to do first!

Be sure to check out Amy's Etsy store where she has lots of adorable jewellery, including some gorgeous earrings which are still on my wish list!

♥

I want to win NEDbeads awesome giveaway!!

Nancy at NEDbeads is having a giveaway...

not just any ordinary giveaway...

but a giveaway where you can win one of her gorgeous cuffs!

Check out this beauty!

Nancy is the wonderful designer who also donated one of her patterns for the latest Beading Babes project.

If you haven't checked out her amazing work from my previous post mentioning Nancy then what are you waiting for?

You can find her gorgeous creations as well as some fantastic tutorials such as her gorgeous Labyrinth bracelet in her Etsy store, NEDbeads.

Be sure to tell her that Karyn sent you!

♥