My Creative Space...

Over the past week or so I have been working on the first of my Beading Babes projects for 2012,
Runway of Pearls by Barbara Falkowitz.

Sadly I am still waiting on my bead order to arrive which contains my wee little pearls I need to continue on with this piece so this is far as I have got.

I have used 2mm Jet Czech fire polished beads instead of the triangle beads and have used matte silver grey size 11/0 beads and black size 15/0 beads.

I think I will make my reversible so I will be stitching the other side in black and silver.

I did originally use all black beads but it was just a bit too bland, even with the sparkle of the Czech beads.

It has worked out a bit of a pricey piece as I had to order 400 Czech beads costing me $20.00 but the sparkle is worth it!

~*~

This is a pendant I finished last week.

It is based on Marcie Abney's Looking Glass pendant.

I ended up adding a few extra rows which resulted in a frilled edge which I quite like!

These pendants are so quick and easy to stitch up and really do make nice gifts!

What's making an appearance in your creative space this week?

♥

My Creative Space...

Here are a few pieces I have been working on over the past few weeks.

This is a gorgeous pendant using Marcie Abney's "Looking Glass" pendant tutorial.

I made this for my gorgeous friend, Jess, for her 21st birthday. 

Her favourite colours are hot pink and turquoise.

This is such a quick and easy pendant to create and really does make a lovely gift.

~*~

This is my Earthly Hues piece from Beading Babes - Project 2.

You might recall that I ran out of beads when making this piece so I wasn't able to complete the piece in time for the reveal on 5 December.

The round beads are Ocean Jasper - one of my favourite stones, and I've used Matte Metallic Khaki Iris cubes and round beads.

I found this piece relatively easy to make with the fiddliest part being the pendant. I found I had to go through the beads several times to hold the piece together nicely as mine was sitting too loosely.

Overall I am pretty pleased with the final result and love the mix of earthy colours.

~*~

I am currently going through issues of Beadwork and Bead and Button magazine choosing the pieces for Project 3 of Beading Babes.

Two pieces will be selected again, but remember you do not need to create both.

I will be posting the details up in the next day or two and will then give you a couple of days to vote on your favourite two.

Watch this space!

♥

My Creative Space

I have been working on this pendant for a few days now...

It is stitched in circular brick stitch using size 11/0, 15/0 and 8/0 seed eads as well as Czech fire polished beads and drops.

I absolutely adore the combination of the copper with the green using one of my favourite colours of all time, colour lined sea foam/light topaz rainbow.

Rather than just string the pendant on a piece of cord I have decided to compliment it with some gorgeous beaded beads.

Since taking these photos I have also created some larger beaded beads and plan on making some peyote beaded beads also... I just have to wait for the wooden beads to arrive from the USA!

Hopefully they will arrive in the next week or so as I am busting to give these a try, not to mention finishing off my necklace.

What's in your creative space this week?

♥ 

Eye of the Tiger

Firstly, please excuse the corny title.

I couldn't think of anything else remotely imaginative for a post relating to tigers eye!

This pendant is a piece I started some time ago and finally managed to finish.

The focal piece is a Marsha Neal ceramic cabochon and it is surrounded by tigers eye cabochons, tigers eye rounds and seed beads.

I was originally going to string the pendant on a beaded rope but decided the chain simplified the piece and drew more attention to the pendant itself.

I also beaded two tigers eye cabochons to match the cabs used in the pendant which I was originally going to turn into earrings but I decided a ring was in order instead.

I have never created a beaded cabochon ring so am pretty pleased with how it turned out.

Only problem area was that I didn't have the right kind of ring base so I ended up having to sew the cab to the base which was quite difficult so will remember this for next time!

I've also learnt that a hand model I am not!

♥

A little something for me...

I decided to spoil myself.

My birthday is on 22 May and as you know it was just Mother's Day.

So what better way to treat myself than with a gorgeous pendant made by the beautiful 

Belinda of Belinda Saville - Handcrafted Jewellery

I fell in l♥ve with this beautiful Sonora Sunrise Chyrsocolla cabochon as soon as Belinda posted it on her Facebook page.

I just knew a custom order was called for!

So, then began the beautiful journey that is a custom order with Belinda Saville. 

The design, to be honest, I left mainly up to Belinda other than telling her that I wanted a bail large enough to enable the pendant to be interchangeable with something as fine as a silver chain or as chunky as a strand of coral beads.

Belinda suggested we leave the back of the pendant open so as not to cover up too much of the beautiful cabochon.

Which she complimented with her beautiful hallmark stamp.

Do I feel spoilt? 

ABSOLUTELY!

If you haven't checked out Belinda's beautiful blog be sure to drop by and say hello and be sure to tell her I said hello... 

...or even better visit her Etsy store and spoil yourself too! 

Her pieces are as gorgeous as she is and who would have thought that she has only been working with silver for a few months.
Pure talent.

Belinda, thank you for being such a beautiful soul and spoiling me with more than just my beautiful pendant. Your talent is an inspiration and that in itself is a true gift.

♥

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Speaking of Mother's Day here are a few shots of Spencer and I taken on Sunday...

...wearing my new pendant of course!

Thank you Spencer for completing me.

I love you now and always.

♥

Want to win a pendant?

Jana of Helmitarha is having a giveaway to celebrate 100 followers on her gorgeous blog, 

Stories of the Secret Garden.

I've been a fan of Jana's for a little while now. 

Her bead work is perfection. 

She has a sense of style that is reflected in her beautiful pieces. 

She collects thimbles.

Loves visiting flea markets.

and.....

I consider her my friend!

Be sure to visit her beautiful blog showcasing her gorgeous bead work and be sure to tell her I said hello.

But be warned... I want to win that gorgeous pendant too!

♥

Keeping Calm on my Birthday

Well it's my birthday on Saturday 22 May...yep another year down... well another day really. 

I won't bore you with how old I will be turning but what I will share with you is this gorgeous pendant I received from my dear friend, Traci, who I met way back in 1990.

I was visiting the USA on a cultural exchange program and met Traci during my stay in San Diego and we have been friends ever since.

She makes the cutest handmade things - gorgeous clothes, beautiful home decorations not to mention her recent range of jewelry. Check out her gorgeous blog, Amazing Mae, with some of her sweet creations 

I have to say this pendant is pretty special to me - not only the message it holds, the beautiful photo of my hubby and gorgeous little man but also that it was made especially for me by my dear friend..

Thank you so much Traci. 

♥  I miss you  ♥