Beadwork - Favs of 2009

It is the end of the year and the end of the decade. Here are a few of my favourite pieces this year.

My own design, little snowflake

Finally finished, Phantasea Necklace

Quick and funky, Coral Chilies Necklace

Bronze Age Bracelet

Bronze Age Necklace

Maria's Chicklet Bracelet

As seen in the Toronto Bead Society Calendar, Sea Anoeme Boxes 1, 2, 3.

Lauren's Purple Tempest Box

Mackenzie's Metal Forest Star

Inspired by Elly Peters lampwork beads, Ellyloo Box.

Beadwork - Creamsicle Dream Bracelet

The second set of beads the I purchased from Elly Peters were white and orange, which would be perfect for a Halloween or pumpkin themed pieced. But once I started playing with the beads and adding beads to the bracelet it started to remind me more of a favourite childhood frozen treat, Creamsicle. So here is my Creamsicle Dream Bracelet.

I added 6mm fireopal Swarovski round crystals, 10mm white fire-polished beads and copper spacers to the lampwork beads. I have finished it with a copper toggle.

Beadwork - Caribbean Blue Necklace

Here is my latest creation. I purchased this set of lampwork beads from Elly Peters at the Toronto Bead Society meeting on Wednesday. I had originally thought about using them to inspire the colours of a box, as I have done with Elly's beads before. As I was looking at them on Friday I remembered that I had some aquamarine Swarovski cubist crystals. I also noticed that there is a very small amount of purple in the lampwork beads so I add some tanzanite AB Swarovski bicones.

I played with creating a bracelet with the crystals, lampwork beads and silver spacers but decided that the lampwork would show better as a necklace. I added the needed length by using some aquamarine Swarovski bicones. With an extender chain I used the extra aquamarine cubist Swarovski crystal to create a dangle to finish the piece.

Beadwork - Ellyloo box

I have finished yet another of the bead boxes. The colours for this one were inspired by a set of lampwork beads I purchased from Elly Peters.

Here is the finished box.

I really liked how the finished box looks. At various points I almost stopped and thought about taking it apart. But I continued on, knowing that it would likely look good when it was finished.

Beadwork - Inspiration

I have started another box. With other boxes I have often found that choosing the right finial was the challenge of the piece. This time I have taken the inspiration for the colours from a set of lampwork beads that I purchased to use as the feet and the finial. The lampwork beads are by Elly Peters.

I have other boxes planned based on colour palettes for Margie Deeb's book The Beader's Color Palette. It is a great inspirational book. Each palette list delica colour numbers.