My secret fetish...besides shoes and handbags!

What can I say ...I l♥♥ve cabochons. 

I don't think I have ever seen a cab that I haven't loved...

...ok that probably isn't entirely true as I am not super duper keen on the plastic variety but....there are so many gorgeous cabs on the market in many shapes and forms, colours and sizes and textures.

I thought I'd share my latest Etsy adventure with you.
I can't wait to receive these beauties.

I have another cuff in mind for these gorgeous blue opal cabochons.

These Picasso jasper cabs are going to be perfect for earrings.

Not to mention these gorgeous picture jasper drilled cabs.

And these stunning labradorite cabs are going to be showcased in an extravagant collar piece!

Let me know if you're' interested in the seller's store. 

I am not associated with them in any way...just happy to share some beady cabochon goodness with you all!

Now please excuse me while I go wipe the drool off my chin!

♥ 

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!

♥

Where are all the animals?

I have wanted to do a beaded cuff or collar for some time now and have always admired the style of Heidi Kummli and her use of plastic animals in her pieces.

I have been searching high and low for suitable plastic or rubber animals to use in my piece.

The plastic or rubber has to be of a quality high enough so that slicing them in half (to create a flat surface making them easier to attach to the felt) is easy enough but not too hard that it is impossible to cut them.

I also want the plastic to be of a high enough quality so the detail of the animal is great with no seams of plastic visible (well as little as humanly possible!). I have seen some animals and the details in their faces, such as their eyes, is not so great, which usually makes it easier to distinguish between an el cheapo animal to one that might cost a few $$ extra.

I have been admiring the Schleich range and found a few listed on Ebay at a good price so I contacted the seller who has worked in the model industry for many years and he said that he would not even attempt to slice them in half as the plastic is way too hard.

In particular I am looking for the following animals

Polar bear
Squirrel

Wolf

Racoon

Monkey or Orangutan

Panda

Penguin

Rabbit

Fox

Does anyone know where you can find such animals?

They certainlly aren't readily available in Australia!

I would also love to invest in some Laura Mears porcelain animals too.... ahhh one day!

For now plastic it is!!

♥