Falling Leaves

As you are aware I am an Artbeads Design Partner and take part in their blogging program.

Their recent themes have been Spring and Summer and you guessed it the current theme is Fall.

It's actually Spring here in Australia so I am surrounded by beautiful flowers, buzzing bees and the air is filled with pollen and the scent of native blossoms.

Reflecting on Autumn I have named my piece

Falling Leaves

As soon as I saw the gorgeous ceramic pendant I knew I had to have it!

The peyote "butterfly bail" was created using a gorgeous pattern from Kassie at The Beading Butterfly and is the first bail I have stitched of this kind.

The pattern for the bail called for delica beads but to compliment the St Petersburg necklace, which I think is reminiscent of falling leaves, I used size 11/0 seed beads instead.

To compliment the black diamond within the pendant I added some black ceramic beads.

I think the Butterfly Bail pattern is more suited for round pieces such as a donut as it tends to sit better but I think I tweeked it enough and it works well!

 

The open diamond toggle was created using a pattern from Diane Fitzgerald's inspiring book,

Shaped Beadwork.

This is the first time I had attempted 3 dimensional peyote (other than a round toggle) and I am super excited with the final result!

I was a little apprehensive about trying this technique as the steps always seemed a little advanced for me so I was really surprised to discover how easy it was. I will definitely be making more!  

The pattern for the open diamond also called for delicas but again I felt matching the beads to the necklace provided continuity.

 What do you think?

I think the piece has a little Japanese feel to it.

♥

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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.

My Creative Space

I've been working on a few pieces lately but the main one I need to get finished is my "Fall" piece for the Artbeads Design Partner Blogging Program.

It's nearly finished!

You can also see a piece I am working on from Marcia DeCoster's book!

I just need to add a bail and then attach the peyote toggle I have made... 

...and of course weave in all that thread!

Check out this cool open diamond toggle created from Diane Fitzgerald's book, Shaped Beadwork.

What can be found in your creative space this week?

♥

Speaking of books

You might have read my recent post about shopping carts and how long we leave items in them.

Well here are a few I've had in my shopping cart at the Book Depository for a few months and as I type the first three are hopefully making their way from the UK to me here in Australia! 

The last one I ended up ordering from the US as a friend was placing an order and with the dollar being so awesomely awesome right now I ordered that too!

I am so excited as I have had my eye on these books for some time now.

So here is what I bought.

This book is a complication of designs from previous issues of Bead & Button magazine. 

I took advantage of the ''Look Inside'' feature and there are some stunning designs, including the peyote links on the front cover, which I can't wait to tackle.

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I am soooo excited to be ordering this book. A few of my friends own this book and said it ''blew their mind'' when they received it! 

The beads on the front cover alone are enticing enough so I can't wait to flick through the pages of this one.

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I don't own Laura McCabe's previous book, Creating Crystal Jewelry, as I have never really worked with Swarovski crystals... until recently! 

But as I love beadweaving I thought this one would be right up my alley! 

No doubt I will come away with a lot of new skills from this one!

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Marcie of La Bella Joya recently invited me to take part in her Margie and Me challenge where she picks a colour palette from Margie Deeb's book and then creates a piece using those colours.

I absolutely cannot wait to take part... what a fantastic concept not to mention a great way to get me to use colour combinations I would not normally dare to use.

Thanks Marcie! My book has hit Australian shores so I should be receiving it on Tuesday!

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How is your beading book stash? Bought any good books lately?

♥