Ice Queen - A Bead Mavens challenge

I think I have spoken about the Bead Mavens Ice Queen Challenge enough over the past few weeks so without further ado here is my entry.

(click on images for enlarged view)

This is the first collar piece I have ever made and it was designed and created specifically for this challenge. 

The piece features a gorgeous Czech glass button as the main focal, Swarovski crystal bicones and rondelles, Czech glass beads, freshwater pearls, bugle beads and lots of seed beads! 

The necklace consists of silver links and velvet ribbon and the piece is backed with leather.

I wanted the piece to have a definite icy feel so I have used lots of transparent beads as well as Swarovski crystal and Czech glass.

The silver galvanised beads were used to depict the cold, icy feel an Ice Queen would experience living in the snow.

The Czech glass button is reminiscent of a snowflake and the freshwater pearls represent snowballs.

Wish me luck!

♥

Ice Queen Challenge - another sneaky peaky

I am making steady progress on my collar piece which, as you will know from previous posts, I am entering in the Bead Mavens Ice Queen Challenge.

A few of my original design plans are now...shall I say... on the wayside... but I am still happy with the result so far.

All that is needed to do now is back the piece with leather, attach the edge beads and construct the necklace.

I am hoping the leather isn't too much of a bother to stitch.I usually use ultrasuede but silly old me didn't check to see whether I had enough cream suede and yep you guessed it... I don't have enough!

I figured I'd have plenty, not taking into account that this piece is a lot bigger than my usual pendant size embroidered pieces. Not to worry. I think the leather will give the piece a luxurious feel!

Mental note for next time though is to check how much suede you have before you start stitching the piece if you have a deadline to meet!

I've thoroughly enjoyed working on my very first collar. My crystal ball sees a few more collars in my future!!

Entries for the Ice Queen Challenge are due 28 November so I will be sharing the final product with you in a few days!

~~~~

Just a reminder also that if you haven't voted in the

Artbeads

"What Inspires You''
contest

then be sure to drop by and take a look.

Voting is open until 8 December but vote now as you may forget later!

Here is a link to the piece I entered

Happy voting!

♥

Something Old ~ Something New

Ok ...so our newly built deck isn't exactly old yet but I thought I'd share some photos

now that I've ''prettied it up''!

I found these cute wall features and just had to have both of them!

We had dinner on the deck for the first time last night.

Spencer actually refrained from blowing out the candles we had lit...ok I had to tell him at least five times... but they remained lit!

We still have some work to do on the yard surrounding the deck

but you can only get so much done in two days.

Why is the weekend the two days of the week that seem to go the quickest?

~~~~

And my something new is a new piece I am working on for the Bead Maven's Ice Queen Challenge.

I have never created a collar piece so this is definitely something new for me.

I am a wee bit nervous about how it is going to turn out, especcially with it being a challenge piece, but I guess that is half the fun of the challenge!

I did get a little technical and used a saucer from an espresso cup and saucer set for the circular part of the collar!!

At least it looks like I know what I am doing!

Watch this space...

♥