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 - Galaxy Necklaces

Amy Waldman Smith, an amazing glass artist and fellow member of the Toronto Bead Society, makes these amazing bead sets. They etched glass dotted with fine silver. I have a number of these sets but have done nothing with them.

I started with the set that is browns, oranges, reds and yellows. I strung them with two different Swarovski crystals and small silver beads.

I made a matching set of earrings.

My other two sets have fewer beads. So I designed a section of beading which I extended with pieces of sterling silver chain.

I wore the blue one to work yesterday and the jump ring holding the toggle opened. I am going to change them to split rings to make it more secure.

Beadwork - Padparadscha Opalite Set

One of the other pieces that I finished this weekend I started weeks ago. It was draped on one of my display forms all this time because I was not sure if I was happy with the design. Looking at again this weekend I decided that the design need one small change. I added smaller crystals on either side of the opalite drops. This allowed the piece to drape better. Here is the finished necklace.

I made a matching bracelet and earring set.

Beadwork - Pink Flower Garden Set

Here is more of the beadwork that I did this long weekend. I started with this beautiful lampwork bead by Kirsty Naray.

I added some coordinating Swarovski cyrstals to create a centre local.

I selected two colours of seed beads and used the 4mm round crystal to create a spiral rope.

I did a necklace and matching necklace.

And some matching earrings.

Beadwork - Restringing Necklace

Every so often you have to restring a necklace. This one needed to be done because my hair kept catching in the clasp. I decided to change the design as well. I have removed the small silver spacers on either side of the Swarovski crystals.

Beadwork - Midnight Pearls

Aren't these Swarovski pearls beautiful. They are 6mm midnight blue pearls. I could not decide what to do with them.

I decided to go simple. I have strung 150 with a size 15 seed bead between each so that it looks like they are knotted. I used very fine Soft Touch by SoftFlex. It is so fine and flexible that you can knot it. I tied the ends together to create one long, continuous necklace.

It can be worn in a variety of different ways.

As long single strand tied in a knot.

Or as a double strand.

Beadwork - Pink Sparkle

It is First Communion time here in Toronto. I was asked to create a gift for a young girl's first communion. Using the 1 drape gothic pattern from Rypan Designs and some light rose Swarovski crystals I created this.

To make a matching bracelet and earring set I did some simple stringing.

Beadwork - Crystal Cube Pendants

Having finished a number of projects I decided to start something new. In the Beading Basic: Right Angel Weave publication from Bead and Button there were these cube charms made with Swarovski crystals. The pattern was to make charms for a bracelet with 3mm crystals, but there was the suggestion to use 4mm crystals to make necklace pendants. Here are the ones that I have made so far.

This one is Siam and Fire Opal.

This one is Amthyst and Montana 2XAB

And this one is all Crystal Copper.

I have a few others that I have not yet photographed. I am getting better at my wire wrapped loops with making so many of these.

Beadwork - Snowflakes and a Box

Yes, I have started another box. This time I have gone with a different shape. This square box has a different sequence for increasing on the bottom. The bottom of the box actually concaves in.

I will have to wait until after the Toronto Bead Society Bead Fair to finish as I have run out of one of the colours of beads. I will look for them at the show.

I had two new snowflakes kits from Rypan Designs to make up for display at the upcoming Bead Fair.

These snowflakes are made with beautiful twist bugles, seed beads and Swarovski crystals. They are stitched using Soft Touch beading wire which is fine enough to thread on a needle and tie knots. The larger one uses 30mm bugles and the small uses 20mm bugles.

Beadwork - Crystal Rhapsody

This is the set that I made in the second class that I attended at the Creativ Festival last week. Rypan Designs' Crystal Rhapsody is made completely with Swarovski crystals. I ended up wearing this all weekend as I worked at the Rypan Designs booth. I received many compliments on it.

The smallest crystals in this piece are the new 2mm round crystals. They are beautiful, but a challenge to work with as they don't want to go on the needle as easily as seedbeads.

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 - Stormy Fuchsia Earrings

Here is the second set of earrings that I made using these beautiful glass drop beads. These are a swirling grey with a twist of fuchsia. I have put them on head pins which I have attached to eye pins with 6mm fuchsia Swarovski crystals.

They were quick to make now that I am getting better at making loops on head and eye pins.

Beadwork - Drop Earrings

I was given some beautiful glass beads last Friday. There were two sets of these long drop beads. I decided that they would make great earrings. I dug through my Swarovski crystals and found 2 6mm purple bi-cones that matched the slash of colour in one of the sets of drops. Here is my first set.

The other set of drops are grey with a slash of fushia. I am going to get fushia crystals and make another set.