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 - Faux Tennis Bracelet

This bracelet is a project from the February 2005 issue of Bead & Button. Designed by Diane Hertzler, it combines crystals and seed beads using chevon stitch.

I decided to make this piece earlier in the summer when I looked thru my binder of bracelet projects taken from various bead magazine. I had enough crystals on hand to make the bracelet. The only thing I did not have was a two strand box clasp. I was able to get one at last weekend's Bead Oasis show from Manhattan Bead Company.

Beadwork - Bronze Age

Mixed metal jewelry is still a trend in fashion. I have used this as a basis for the colour selection for these two pieces.

This collar uses a layered netting technique from the Xhosa tribe of South Africa. I used three different bronze seed beads, a metallic bronze, a bronze lined black diamond and a bronze lined crystal. It looks like a blending of three different metals. This design is by Kara Jacob and was in the August issue of Bead and Button.

This bracelet of bronze waves from the October of Bead and Button and is designed by Cindy Caraway. I used the same colours I used in the colour. The only differnce is that the bronze lined crystal are 8s which help to create the waves.

Beadwork - Chicklet Bracelet

Here is a new colour combination of Maria's wonderful Chicklet bracelet. Using both bronze and copper metallic seed beads to accent warm brown tone beads this is a great bracelet for the fall.

I worked up this sample in about 3 hours. Maria will have kits available at Bead Oasis and Creativ Festival.

Beadwork - Niece beading

It is almost the end of our week up in cottage country. I have shown my eldest niece, Lauren, how to do a basic diagonal weave. She has made a ring, bracelet and is working on a bracelet.

Of course my youngest niece, Elizabeth, could not be left out. So I made her a ring, bracelet and necklace.

Elizabeth has decided that I am not allowed to photograph her new necklace.

I am working on a star box for my nephew Mackenzie, should have it finished by the end of the weekend.

Beadwork - Bracelets

I have finished two bracelets using two different stitches.

This one uses right angle weave. This is my own design using Swarovski round crystals and pearls to create a ribbon like bracelet.

This bracelet is from the new Bead & Button magazine. It uses triangle weave. There were instructions to embellish, but I decide to leave it plain. I used to 8 mm Swarovski margaritas as closures. I will need to rework this part of the bracelet as it kept falling of today at work.

Beadwork - Ric Rac Bracelet redux

I really liked the ric rac bracelet that I did in a class at the Toronto Bead Society's Bead Fair. I made two more to give as gifts.

The first is done with bronze seed beads and hematite 4 mm Swarovski crystals.

I gave this to Maria to go with the necklace that she asked me to make for her.

The second bracelet was a gift for my sister's sister-in-law. My brother-in-law and his sister celebrated their birthdays together a few weeks ago. Here is the bracelet that I made for Liz using black seed beads and padparadscha AB swarovski crystals.

Beadwork - Dark Sapphire Ric Rac Bracelet

At yesterday's Toronto Bead Society Bead Fair I took a class with Cindy Vroom for a beaded ric rac bracelet. Her original bracelet had it done in two colours with 4 mm crystals. I decided that I wanted to do it with just one colour. I had some of the new Swarovski Dark Sapphire 4 mm crystals. I matched it with a deep blue seed beads. This bracelet it done using chevron stitch, which is a trianglar stitch. Here is the finished bracelet.

Beadwork - Aunt Jo-Ann's Gum Bracelet

I made this bracelet on Sunday morning to go with a pendant that I had made last summer. I wore the pendant and the bracelet to my niece Elizabeth's 3rd birthday party. She thought that the beads looked like gum hence the name Aunt Jo-Ann's Gum Bracelet. I did teach Elizabeth that the beads were actually stone and not gum. It is Rhyolite (Rainforest Jasper) and copper Swarovski pearls strung with a copper toggle.

Beadwork - Finishing Unfinished Projects

This past weekend I decided that it was time to try and finish some UFO (Unfinished objects). From the recent Bead and Button special Right Angle Weave magazine I had started the Edwardian Lace necklace. I had finished the necklace and had started the matching bracelet. I got to the point where I had to decide what type of finding to use. In the magazine they used an extentor chain and lobster claw. I prefer to use toggles on bracelets so that I can put them on myself. Here is my finished set.

Back in October I had started a box but I ran out of one of the colours. I was able to get the colour I needed at the bead fair a few weeks ago. I finished beading the lid and created a finial with lampwork bead and a Swarovski crystal.

At Bead Fair I took a class with Marilyn Gardiner to make a Captive Round Necklace in Copper with captive silver beads. In the class I purchased an extra kit so that I could make two bracelets as well as the necklace. I finished one of the bracelets in class. I finished the necklace later in the week. I will make up the second bracelet at a later date to give as a gift. Here are pictures of the finished necklace and bracelet.

Beadwork - Filigree Set

Today's class with Maria Rypan was Filigree Links and Dangle Earrings. This is beautiful necklace made with Swarovski filigree components and crystals. Hanging them from the linked necklace chain with beading wire makes the a unique necklace.

We then made dangle earring with wire and Swarovski crystals. These are easy to make. The challenge in to make them sore of match. Maria and I will be doing Make and Take sessions on Friday and Saturday to make these beautiful earrings at the Creativ Feastival.

Once I had sized the necklace to fit me. I had two short pieces of the linked chain leftover. I was able to get another of the smaller filigree components from Maria. With the component and the links I was able to make a simple bracelet.

Beadwork - Black and White Bracelet

At the Friendship Beading retreat last weekend in Montreal I took a class with Diane Reda to make this bead crocheted bracelet.

It was a good project for a class as I was able to almost finish the piece during the class. I finished it at home with a different closure.

This is my second attempt to do bead crochet. This was much easier that my last attempt. I guess working with larger beads helped.

I look forward to trying this project again.

Bead Challenge - Bead it Green Bracelet and Pendant

Bead crazy week continues. Last night those that had arrived in Montreal early were invited to dinner and a chance to shop at one of the local bead stores, Bead It. I purchased some interested green stone beads and was able to sit down this afternoon and make this bracelet and pendant set. I was inspired by the pieces in the store that had the stone pendant on a short piece of chain and then attached to an eye pin.

Pendant stone is Rhyolite (Rainforest Jasper)

Bead Crazy Week - Beading Teens

This is going to be a bead crazy week. It started last night with a beading program for teens at the library where I work. It continues later in the week with the Friendship Beading Retreat in Montreal where I will be teaching and running the bead bingo.

Last night I had 10 young ladies and 1 gentleman spend an hour making basic strung bracelets. Almost all of them make two bracelets. I had one speedy beader who made three.

Better Pics

Playing with my new photo tent and the setting on my camera has resulted in some better pictures.

This is taken without tent.


This is taken with tent and using Macro setting on camera.


I am pleased with the improvements. Now on with the real challenge.