Vintage Dreams

This is a not so sneaky peek at my entry in the 

Fire Mountain Gems Jewelry Making Contest - Seed Beads. 

Introducing

Vintage Dreams 

This is quite a large collar measuring around 7 inches from top to bottom...quite an eye stopper!

Wish  me luck!

♥

Beading Babes - Project 4 ~ March/April 2012 - Reveal!

Welcome to Project 4 of Beading Babes!

This month we had three gorgeous projects on offer
-
Trellis Necklace by Nancy Dale
Ruffled Chain Bracelet by Laina Goodman
and
Paisley Drop earrings by Jane Lock

So without furtherado here is what everyone created!

Check out all of this bead eye candy!

~*~

1. Trellis Necklace by Nancy Dale

Nancy of Ned Beads - her own beautiful handiwork

Therese of Therese's Treasures

Susan

Tanya of A Work in Progress

Shirley of Beads and Bread 

Amy of Amybeads

Vimala of The Bead Diaries

Maryanne of Zingala's Workshop

~*~

2. Ruffled Chain Bracelet by Laina Goodman

(Beadwork - February/March 2011 - page 68)

Therese of Therese's Treasures

Ginger of Lilmummy Likes

Tanya of A Work in Progress

Maryanne of Zingala's Workshop

Amy of Amybeads

Anne of Anne Pomeroy Dixon

And here is what I created

~*~

3. Paisley Drops by Jane Lock

(Beadwork - August/September 2010 - page 68)

Therese of Therese's Treasures

Tanya of A Work in Progress

Amy of Amybeads

Kate 

Marla

Christine of There and Back Again Studios

Shirley of Beads and Bread 

Mary

Anne of Anne Pomeroy Dixon

Abbey of Abbey Wilkins

Maryanne of Zingala's Workshop

And here is what I created 

~*~

A big thank you again to everyone that took part in Project 4.


If I have missed anyone please let me know and I will add the photos and links as they are revealed on their blogs. 

The quality of work this project has been outstanding and you ladies never cease to amaze me with your talents.

A big thank you also to Nancy Dale for donating her beautiful Trellis Necklace pattern for us to use.
The generosity of others still surprises me.
I think we did your pattern proud Nancy so thank you again!

Be sure, if you  haven't already, to visit Nancy's Etsy store to see all of her gorgeous tutorials.

The Beading Babes - Bringing Beaders Together Facebook page 
is growing by the day.
It is extremely rewarding to see everyone posting pictures of their work and chatting about the patterns and making new friends.

If you haven't joined us then please do stop by!

PROJECT 5...

I can't wait for you to see what I have lined up for Project 5!

Details will be posted here and on the Facebook group page in a few days time!

Happy Beading!

 ♥

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

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 for Project 4. All patterns will not be copied.

All credit will be given to the designer.

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 

♥

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 ~ Project 4 update

How is everyone doing with their pieces for Project 4?

I have made one pair of Paisley Drop earrings.

I have to admit I struggled with the pattern at the start. The use of the words "picot" really threw me as I have never heard that phrase being used in peyote so it took me a few goes to figure out what they were referring to.

After that little hurdle I didn't have any dramas with the pattern at all and these earrings really do come together quite quickly and nicely too I might add.

I found my second earring was much better than the first...not a big enough difference to unpick the first but I could see that my tension was better.

It's a really lovely pattern and I think I will be making more pairs in the future, if not for the reveal.

~*~

I ordered my beads for the Ruffled Chain Bracelet but unfortunately the beads I received didn't quite exactly match the beads pictured on the supplier's website...therefore didn't match the crystal bicones I ordered...ughhh!

So I am back to the drawing board.

I have two sets of 8mm beads sitting in a shopping cart.

Completely different to my original choice.

My first colour choice was black, red, green and gold.

The beads that arrived were black, gold and an awful shade of purple. 

My second choice are orange beads...my third multi coloured!

The new colour choices couldn't be further apart from each other let alone even further away from my original colour choice.

So I guess you could say I am in a bit of a conundrum as to what colourway I am going to go with.

~*~

So....onto the Trellis Necklace.

I don't know if the moon is in a funny spot right now but it seems I am in a bit of a rut with my colour choice for this piece too.

I had a colourway in mind but I also have these colours in mind for another piece so I am trying to decide whether to do two pieces in the same colours or choose new beads for the Trellis Necklace.

This of course would involve me buying more beads...hmmmm....it's a tough decision!

Reflecting back on similar situations in the past buying new beads has always won the battle...but will they win this time?

Don't forget to post your progress on your blogs!

Happy Beading!

♥

MY CREATIVE SPACE...

I've been alternating my time between a few pieces over the past few weeks.

As I mentioned previously I am trying to make a Christmas presents so here are a few I've been working on.

Can you believe it is now around 5 weeks to Christmas?

~~*~~

This is my peyote Buddha cuff which I recently shared with you.

I only need to add a clasp and it's done.

This cuff has been very popular with my workmates who have been watching it's progression so I am thinking I might have to make a few more!

~~*~~

The second piece is using Marcie Abney's tutorial, Looking Glass Pendant.

I absolutely love this piece.
The mixture of teal, blue and silver really makes me smile (unfortunately the colours aren't showing perfectly in the photos).

I actually love this one so much that I think I am going to have to make another one for myself!

I plan on making a few more of these as gifts in different colours.

If you are keen to make one for yourself then pop on over to Marcie's blog where she kindly offers the pattern for free.

~~*~~

Lastly I have also been working on one of my Beading Babes projects, Sleek in Silver.

I think I might have to rename mine Sleek in Mookaite because as you can see, there isn't a silver bead in sight!

Like a few other Beading Babes have mentioned, this piece comes together very quickly and once you have done a few units is very easy.

I am not sure yet whether I am a fan of Tila beads though.
I've had a few dodgy beads in my tube, mainly chips and scratches which kind of makes them hard to use given their flat surface making the chips extremely visible.

This weekend I was hoping to make a start on my second project for Beading Babes, Earthly Hues, but I've spent the weekend cleaning out our garage so not even a minute of beading has been done.

It's 9.27pm so the evening is still relatively young, and even though I am completely and utterly pooped from the weekend I still wouldn't mind squeezing in a tiny bit of beading.

That's the thing about beading...you need your daily fix!

What's buzzing around in your creative space this week?

♥