2012 Battle of the Beadsmith - DONE!!

I finally managed to get my Battle of the Beadsmith piece finished, photographed and emailed for entry with 2 days remaining!

What a huge relief...I am still trying to figure out how I ended up being so organised getting my entry in with two days to spare!

Unfortunately we aren't allowed to share photos of our pieces yet, I think not until at least all of the 80 or more entries have been received, so to wet your appetite

here's a sneaky peek at my piece.

Don't get too excited though...there isn't a lot I can show you!

What I can share with you is:

1. The piece is called A Nomad's Journey

2. It features 3 handmade clay cabochons

3. It also has some brass components

4. And lots of seed beads!

~*~

A big thanks to Steven Weiss for pulling this competition together.

There is chitter chatter that there will be a competition in 2013 but for now I will reflect back on my groovy badge Steven created for me to promote the competition.

Happy beading!

♥

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 

♥

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!

♥

My Creative Space

Thanks to school holidays I am chilling out at home this week which means getting creative with my little man!

We saw this project on Art Attack last week and Spencer was keen to give it a go. 

It's a super cool robot tin. Spencer is using it to store his pencils at present but yesterday it was storing teeny tiny bits of Lego... I guess the possibilities are endless!

If you have kidlets and want to encourage them to get creative this show is fantastic and we've just discovered they have a cool website too loaded with stacks of great projects. This show has become one of Spencer's favourites which I am so pleased about!

~

On Tuesday we baked some Anzac biscuits. 

As an Aussie I am embarrassed to admit that I have never baked these.

I used a recipe from the latest Masterchef magazine...they are supposed to be the best ever Anzac biscuits but I have to admit I have tasted better from Woolworths!

If you can pretend that they aren't supposed to be Anzac biscuits then they are pretty good.

The macadamia nuts are a nice touch!

I think for my next baking adventure I might have to make some of those Earl Grey brownies I saw on another blog and which my friend, Christine, has baked and assures me are super delish!

~

And on the beading front I've been working on my pieces for Beading Babes ~ Project 4.

I've been a bit sneaky and muted the colours as I don't want to reveal my pieces completely yet... but I am guessing you get an idea of my colourways!

I've also made a start on a few other pieces including
some beaded beads using a tutorial by Sharri  Moroshok.

~

And finally here is Spencer in my other creative space...sitting at my computer!

Here is where I create my blog, update my Facebook page and chat with all my wonderful friends...not to mention spending hours looking at beading patterns, designs and anything else containing the word bead!

What's in your creative space this week?

♥

Beading Babes ~ Project 4 Update #2

I am l♥ving the Ruffled Chain Bracelet. 

This is such a gorgeous piece. 

The pattern is really easy to follow and so far I haven't come across any errors in the pattern. The pattern is written really well, easy to understand and the diagrams are pretty good too - for those who rely heavily on diagrams rather than the actual tutorial.

Super easy!

The only problem I did have was deciding what colours to use!

As you might have read in my previous Project 4 update the beads I had originally planned on using arrived and were...well the wrong colour.

I then decided to use some 8mm beads I had forgotten about found in my stash...gorgeous millefiori beads.

Now you'd think that the primary colours in these beads would be an easy match...but nope. 

I didn't seem to have the right "traffic light" green...my red was the wrong shade and the only blues I had were either more purple in colour or silver lined which I didn't want to use.

The lesson learnt here is that it seems my size 15/0 colour selection isn't as vast as my 11/0's!

Anyhooo I tried again...I figured 3rd time lucky and have now found a combination I am happy with.

Ahhhh!

Nothing worse that not being satisfied with your colour choices. 

It's funny how all of a sudden you get that feeling in your heart and mind, you know where you look at the colours and just know they work...or don't!

So far I have stitched two components - only 4 four to go!

The individual components are going to make cute earrings too so I will definitely be making a pair to match my bracelet...and I reckon you could use one as a pendant too.

On the up side I have two completed components in other colours so I guess I could always use them for something else!

Has anyone else started this project yet?

 ♥

-~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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. All patterns will not be copied.

All credit will be given to the designer.

Beading Babes - reveal coming soon!

Just a quick note to let you know I haven't forgotten about the

Beading Babes project reveal

scheduled for
4 March.

I am just waiting for most of the Babes to post pictures of their pieces so I can post them

altogether here in one post.

In the mean time feel free to pop on over to some of the

Babes' blogs to check out some of the amazing pieces.

♥

Running out of time?

As we have come across a few...ummm...shall I say hurdles with our pieces for Project 3 I was wondering if  you would like me to extend the reveal date by a week or two.

The current reveal date is

Sunday 12 February 

but I am happy to extend it by a week or two if that helps everyone in being able to complete their pieces.

What's the consensus?

Also if you have any ideas for designs
you'd like to tackle in
Project 4
then please either comment here or feel free to drop me an email!

♥

2011...creatively speaking...

Looking back on my 

creative ventures of 

2011.

My beading group, 

Beading Babes, 

was born towards the end of 2011 with Projects 1 and 2 kicking off resulting in 3 pieces being created.

Here's to 2012 being crammed with hours of creating, 

thousands of beads 

and 

new friendships being formed.

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!

♥