MY CREATIVE SPACE

Here is a piece I have been working on for a week or two now.

The design is called Persian Lullaby and it is by Nancy Peterson.

I originally started this piece in all black but unfortunately I did not have any 6mm firepolished beads so I used some faceted 6mm beads I had on hand but as they were rounded rather than the oval shape of the firepolished beads they weren't sitting quite the way they should.

The bracelet was still coming together beautifully but knowing I was using the wrong shaped beads meant my OCD would get in the way of me proceeding any further so I unpicked the work I had already done.

I ordered some more black 6mm firepolished beads but frustratingly when the order arrived they were out of stock and sent me 6mm druks instead. They were kind enough to let me keep these for free as they had just sent them to me without letting me know they were a replacement for what I had ordered however in case you don't know... druks are also round...so they weren't going to work.

So...I placed another order but this time in addition to the black I also ordered these gorgeous 6mm Aquamarine Celsian firepolished beads. I have complimented them with 3mm firepolished beads in Crystal AB and Silver Lined Crystal for extra sparkle! I am also using my all time favourite coloured seed bead, Colour Lined Sea Foam/Light Topaz Rainbow, silver charlottes and delicas in Metallic Green Iris.

This is such a pretty design and works up very quickly without too much fuss.

I do intend to do another in black but have to admit I have fallen in love with the softness of this piece and the Aquamaine Celsian beads are just too delish!

This is also the first project I have used my new Fireline in and so far so good! No tangles, no knots and no frustration... so far!

Since taking the above photo I have unpicked this piece twice after noticing one or two mistakes. Not major ones but I knew they were there so after a good half hour of unpicking and restitching it's now looking close to perfect!

What's new in your creative space this week?

♥ 

Winter Enchantment

There is an old saying "better late than never" and that certainly applies to my latest piece created as part of the Artbeads Design Partner Blogging Program.

I have to confess that I should have blogged about this at least a month or so ago but life has it's ups and downs which doesn't always allow us to meet our deadlines.

The most recent theme for the Design Partners was "Winter Enchantment" and as previously mentioned I had decided to use a Eucalyptus Ironbark Gum blossom that blooms in Australia during winter, as my inspiration.

Aren't these the most divine blossoms you have ever seen?

I was originally going to be making a necklace constructed of gum blossoms created using Melind Barta's addictive "Sparkly Wheels" but there were a few bumps in that road

so a gum leaf and blossom brooch was born!

The leaf has been embroidered with size 11/0 seed beads and Czech fire polished beads.

The blossom has been stitched using Czech fire polished beads and size 11/0 seed beads and then fringed with size 11/0 and size 15/0 seed beads.

The leaf is life size measuring approximately 6.5 inches (15cm) long and around 1 inch (1.5cm) wide.

My little man, Spencer, actually said "mummy this looks like a real leaf but with sparkly beads''... ahh an honest critic!

Unfortunately I still need to add the brooch backing as the only ones I had included a loop so it could be worn with a necklace but in the mean time it looks great sitting next to my computer!

As my original design idea had not come to fruition I decided to use the left over beads to make a bracelet to kind of match the brooch!

I love this bracelet as it is so colourful and just has such a happy feeling to it...not to mention you could wear it with just about any outfit!

It's just a pity I will be giving it to a friend for her birthday...

...but hey I can always make another!

♥

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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.

7000 Bracelets of Hope ~ Blog hop

You will recall that I recently posted details of 7000 bracelets for hope.

Well today is the day for the blog hop where we all reveal our beautiful blue bracelets!

The rules of the blog hope were that each participant had to make an adult sized bracelet in denim blue.

The bracelets will then be sent to The Global Genes Project, a group who raises funds for children suffering from rare diseases. The Global Genes Project will then send the bracelet to one of then 7000 families having children with rare diseases to show them love and support.

So without furtherado here is my bracelet.

The components of the bracelet were created using Melinda Barta's wonderful Sparkly Wheels pattern using Czech 3mm fire polished beads and size 15/0 seed beads as well as 4mm fire polished beads and some blue glass pearls.

I seriously cannot get enough of these sparkly wheels...

...they are so quick and easy not to mention oh so versatile!

Be sure to check out Lori's blog at Pretty Things to see the list of all the other participants in the blog hop. Unfortunately I could not get the links to work...

Also please be sure to check out The Global Genes Project site.

♥

Margie and Me - The River Sea - #24

As you probably already know Marcie's Margie and Me Challenge has kicked off for 2011.

For the first challenge of the year I chose

The River Sea - #24

The different shades of green and the hidden browns and coppers really appealed to me as they are colours I often incorporate in my designs.

Here is my creation.

I created this bracelet using Melinda Barta's "Sparkly Wheels" pattern which featured in a 

previous issue of Beadwork.

I have used size 15/0 seed beads, 3mm fire polished Czech beads as well as some drop beads.

These wheels are so fun, quick and easy to make that I already have a shopping cart full of more 3mm beads so I can make some more!

You could easily make this bracelet in a day!

The biggest problem I had was deciding what beads to use!

Be sure to check out everyone else's creations on Marcie's blog, La Bella Joya.

♥