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!
 

♥

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?

♥

PERSIAN LULLABY...

Here is my finished Persian Lullaby bracelet by Nancy Peterson.

I have to say I adore this bracelet.
I not only love Nancy's beautiful design but I am so happy with the bead combination I chose.

Although it is difficult to see from the pictures there is so much sparkle to this piece it's just gorgeous!

I love, love, love the  Aquamarine Celsian Czech firepolished beads I have used and nothing like some AB beads for extra bling!

This pattern is great with very easy to follow instructions, great diagrams and really is a quick piece to stitch.

This piece includes charlottes and this is the first time I have used them and I have to say I am l♥ve with them now so I am on the hunt for a supplier with a decent colour range as my current supplier is very limited.

And... it's my first piece stitched using Fireline!

Yay for me!

I cannot wait to stitch this one in classic black and a pair of earrings to match each bracelet.

♥ 

My Creative Space

I have been working on this pendant for a few days now...

It is stitched in circular brick stitch using size 11/0, 15/0 and 8/0 seed eads as well as Czech fire polished beads and drops.

I absolutely adore the combination of the copper with the green using one of my favourite colours of all time, colour lined sea foam/light topaz rainbow.

Rather than just string the pendant on a piece of cord I have decided to compliment it with some gorgeous beaded beads.

Since taking these photos I have also created some larger beaded beads and plan on making some peyote beaded beads also... I just have to wait for the wooden beads to arrive from the USA!

Hopefully they will arrive in the next week or so as I am busting to give these a try, not to mention finishing off my necklace.

What's in your creative space this week?

♥ 

My Creative Space

Here are a cute little pair of earrings I have been working on over the past couple of days.

The cabochons are onyx and I have simply used size 15/0 and size 11/0 seed beads as well as Czech fire polished beads and drops. 

I have backed them with some incredibly soft deer leather.

I love the simplicity of these... perfect to wear to work or will look quite stunning for a night out on the town!

I am thinking a ring to match might be in order!

I am impatiently waiting for my cabochons mentioned in my last post to arrive. I already have many ideas in my head as to how I am going to use these and can't wait to get started.

How is your Creative Space looking this week?

♥ 

Winter Enchantment

There is an old saying "better late than never" and that certainly applies to my latest piece created as part of the Artbeads Design Partner Blogging Program.

I have to confess that I should have blogged about this at least a month or so ago but life has it's ups and downs which doesn't always allow us to meet our deadlines.

The most recent theme for the Design Partners was "Winter Enchantment" and as previously mentioned I had decided to use a Eucalyptus Ironbark Gum blossom that blooms in Australia during winter, as my inspiration.

Aren't these the most divine blossoms you have ever seen?

I was originally going to be making a necklace constructed of gum blossoms created using Melind Barta's addictive "Sparkly Wheels" but there were a few bumps in that road

so a gum leaf and blossom brooch was born!

The leaf has been embroidered with size 11/0 seed beads and Czech fire polished beads.

The blossom has been stitched using Czech fire polished beads and size 11/0 seed beads and then fringed with size 11/0 and size 15/0 seed beads.

The leaf is life size measuring approximately 6.5 inches (15cm) long and around 1 inch (1.5cm) wide.

My little man, Spencer, actually said "mummy this looks like a real leaf but with sparkly beads''... ahh an honest critic!

Unfortunately I still need to add the brooch backing as the only ones I had included a loop so it could be worn with a necklace but in the mean time it looks great sitting next to my computer!

As my original design idea had not come to fruition I decided to use the left over beads to make a bracelet to kind of match the brooch!

I love this bracelet as it is so colourful and just has such a happy feeling to it...not to mention you could wear it with just about any outfit!

It's just a pity I will be giving it to a friend for her birthday...

...but hey I can always make another!

♥

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Disclosure: I am a reviewer of Artbeads.com products and a participant of its blogging program. I received all the components free of charge. This post reflects my honest opinion and Artbeads.com is not compensating me for my endorsement as it pertains to the products received and reviewed.

7000 Bracelets of Hope ~ Blog hop

You will recall that I recently posted details of 7000 bracelets for hope.

Well today is the day for the blog hop where we all reveal our beautiful blue bracelets!

The rules of the blog hope were that each participant had to make an adult sized bracelet in denim blue.

The bracelets will then be sent to The Global Genes Project, a group who raises funds for children suffering from rare diseases. The Global Genes Project will then send the bracelet to one of then 7000 families having children with rare diseases to show them love and support.

So without furtherado here is my bracelet.

The components of the bracelet were created using Melinda Barta's wonderful Sparkly Wheels pattern using Czech 3mm fire polished beads and size 15/0 seed beads as well as 4mm fire polished beads and some blue glass pearls.

I seriously cannot get enough of these sparkly wheels...

...they are so quick and easy not to mention oh so versatile!

Be sure to check out Lori's blog at Pretty Things to see the list of all the other participants in the blog hop. Unfortunately I could not get the links to work...

Also please be sure to check out The Global Genes Project site.

♥

Margie and Me - The River Sea - #24

As you probably already know Marcie's Margie and Me Challenge has kicked off for 2011.

For the first challenge of the year I chose

The River Sea - #24

The different shades of green and the hidden browns and coppers really appealed to me as they are colours I often incorporate in my designs.

Here is my creation.

I created this bracelet using Melinda Barta's "Sparkly Wheels" pattern which featured in a 

previous issue of Beadwork.

I have used size 15/0 seed beads, 3mm fire polished Czech beads as well as some drop beads.

These wheels are so fun, quick and easy to make that I already have a shopping cart full of more 3mm beads so I can make some more!

You could easily make this bracelet in a day!

The biggest problem I had was deciding what beads to use!

Be sure to check out everyone else's creations on Marcie's blog, La Bella Joya.

♥

My Creative Space... and a sneek preview!

I've been beading up a bit of a storm over the past week as I am frantically trying to complete a piece I am entering in the Bead Maven's Ice Queen challenge.

As previously mentioned it will be a collar style necklace and is my first collar piece I have ever created so that in itself will be a challenge.

The piece is stitched with transparent and silver galvanised seed beads with a few Czech glass and Swarovski beads thrown in here and there as well as some freshwater pearls for good measure!

I have to admit I normally steer clear of transparent beads so they too have proved to be a challenge!

Here is a sneak peek of the front

and the back

I am making steady progress and feel relatively confident I will meet the 28 November deadline.

Watch this space!

♥

Spring L♥ve

As a few of you may remember I was recently invited to be an Artbeads Design Partner. Since then I have been working on my The Beauty of Spring piece and am proud to be able to finally share it with you.

The gorgeous polymer clay heart cabochon was made by Julz which I beaded. I then tried my hand at making some peyote tube beads as well as some woven beads using Right Angle Weave. 

The colours I chose for the beads reminded me of tulips in the spring time and just their names are reminiscent of Spring and are from the Toho range: Pink Lined Pink, Ceylon Coral Pink, Light Jonquil Lined Aqua and Orange Lined Light Topaz. I also added some cute little Czech glass flat flower crystals as well as some Czech 4mm beads.

To finish the piece I used a gorgeous Swarovski 14mm crystal AB faceted button as the clasp... sooo shimmery and sparkly.

Spring has sprung... well at least Autumn has here in Australia!

♥

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Disclosure: I am a reviewer of Artbeads.com products and a participant of its blogging program. I received all the components free of charge. This post reflects my honest opinion and Artbeads.com is not compensating me for my endorsement as it pertains to the products received and reviewed.