Briolette Earrings

On Saturday January 22 I was helping Maria with her classes at Bead Rock, a bead store in Ajax. Of course I could not resist looking about and I found these great blue goldstone briolettes. I also got two stands of fire polished rondelles.

I played around with a few ideas, but was inspired by instructions I saw on how to wire wrap a briolette. I decided to try a few with the plan to use them in a necklace. The necklace design is still a work in process. I decided to make a few sets of earrings.

With just briolettes

With Swarovski crystals accents

The success of these earrings had me digging in my gem and mineral drawer to see what other briolettes I had. I found a strand of moss agate briolettes. There was a mix of colours from a moss green to a pale gray.

Moss green stones with Swarovski crystal accents

Pale gray stones with purple Swarovski crystal accents

I am getting better at wire wrapping. I hope to find just the right chain style to make my original necklace idea work soon.

Flashback Friday - Gothic drapes

This is a variation of Rypan Designs  single drape Gothic necklace. My friend Anna came up with the idea to use Swarovski pearls instead of the original fire polished beads. I made up the necklace as I can almost make any of the gothic drapes in an evening.

I was reminded of this project as I was making up a new sample of a three drape gothic for Maria to use in her booth at upcoming shows. The new sample used Swarovski cubes and rounds. Here it is on the kit cover.

 

Here is an older display board with the various gothic necklaces.

I like the versatility of the gothic design. You can use larger crystals, different shapes and of course make it the perfect length.

Here is the Crystal Rhapsody that I did back at the fall 2008 Creativ Festival. It is made with all Swarovski crystals. It sparkles like crazy and is fun to wear.

Starry night necklace

Starry night by Vincent Van Gogh is one of my favourite paintings. I have never seen it in person, but for many years I had a print of it hanging in my living room. I love the mix of blues and yellows.

I recently ordered some polymer clay beads from Humble Beads. There was a set of 10 disc beads inspired by the painting as well as a 6 hole spacer bead inspired by it too. I purchased both and they arrived in the mail last week.

I have played with a few ideas and have finally decided to use the spacer as a pendant and add Swarovski cubes and pearls to the project. I have also decided to use the knotting technique that I learned at Creativ Festival last fall. Now I am off to complete and photograph it.

Later ... Well knotting between the beads did not look great. I think I need to practice more with the technique before using it in a project.

So I just strung the selected beads on beading wire and added a large silver spring clasp. I like the finished necklace and look forward to wearing it tomorrow.

Flashback Friday - Strung designs

For many stringing is the first form of beading they do. Now I likely strung my share of pasta and Cheerios as a child, but as an adult my first beadwork was beadweaving, netting to be more specific.

My first attempt at stringing involved some beautiful red and white lampwork beads, fire-polished crystals and beading thread. It ended with the thread breaking as I stood waiting in the rain for a bus. I was able to rescue the lampwork beads. I then learned about beading wire and crimps. I was not able to find that first piece, but here are some early strung pieces.

 

Although the technique of bead stringing is easy, the design process for some projects is not. Here is one that proved a challenge. The heart shaped stone beads are an unusual shade of green. I tried many different green beads but was not happy with any of the combinations. I then remember some basic colour theory and choose a purple swarovski crystal. As a complementary colour to the green, the crystals worked wonderfully!

The completed set looked great and is perfect to show to fellow beads when talking about colour and beads!

Dotted Bead Collection

Here are my last two projects using the dotted beads that I purchased at the One of a Kind Show from Tascidesigns.

For the necklace I added some beautiful paper beads and Swarovski crystals. As with many simply strung necklaces it took longer to decide on the sequencing of the beads. I changed this necklace half a dozen times before deciding on the final pattern.

I then took the last two beads with a few Swarovski crystals and made a set of earrings.

The complete Dotted Bead Collection

Pacific Opal Crystals and Dots

Last Sunday I went back to the One of a Kind Show and stopped by Tascidesigns booth to show her what I had created with her beads. I decided to buy up the rest of the turquoise and cream dotted beads that she had there.

I have spent the week playing with eight beads and have a few designs in progress. Friday night I finished the first design. It uses three of the dotted beads, Swarovski crystals and some simple chain. The simply strung centre segment has lengths of chain linked together with Pacific Opal crystals on eyepins. I am getting better at making loops.

 

Flashback Friday - Victorian Ornaments

Ornament covers are always popular. Back in December 2004 this design appeared in Bead and Button magazine. I loved the swags and the crystals. I changed the larger bi-cones with cubes.

There were a few challenges with these ornaments. The first was understanding the instructions and correcting the number of crystals listed in the supply list. With this cover completely encasing the ornament I needed to figure out a way to hold it for the finishing. I rigged a way to hang in from my desk light.

Here are two that I have in my collection.

 

Here is the one I gave Maria, as hanging on her tree.

Flashback Friday - Artist Trading Card

It is Fall Creativ Festival this weekend. Three years ago they had a contest where you sent in an Artist Trading Card. Here is the card that I created!

 

I used a seed bead mix to loom the base. I embellished the piece with pressed glass flowers and Swarovski butterflies. 

 I didn't win any prizes but this was a fun project to do.

I am going to be at the show this weekend, taking classes and helping Maria at her booth, #717. Stop by and say hello!

Early Autumn Necklace

I was inspired by the current changing colours of the leaves. There are leaves that are still green with some turning coppery brown.

I have combined the topaz rondelles with Swarovski khaki cubes and copper pearls. The first run thru of the necklace was not long enough. I added green seed beads on either side of the large pearls. This help to lengthen it, in addition to a few 3mm pearls at each end of the necklace.

LBD necklace

Using more of the bead from Dawn Masters I created this necklace that would look great with the classic little black dress (LBD).

I combined the black and crystal rondelles with some dark grey Swarovski pearls. I had one pearl left so I added a drop at the closure.

Black, Red and Dragon's Blood

I have a few colours that I am always drawn to, namely red, blue and black.

At last week's TBS meeting I purchased some great beads from Dawn Masters, including matte and shiny black cubes. I strung them with coral beads and spikes, along with some black rondelles.

Coral Spikes Necklace

At Bead Oasis, last weekend I bought these great polymer clay beads, by Jessica Greschner, called dragon's blood. I also found these great rondelles at Canada Beading Supplies' booth. I have combined the with some hematite Swarovski crystals. This is a great piece. I have wore it to work the last two days and received many compliments.

 Dragon's Blood Necklace

Close up of Dragon's Blood beads

Beads and Chain Necklace

I was playing with the beads that I purchased at last night's Toronto Bead Society meeting. As I was looking for things to add to them I came across these lampwork beads I got from Amy Waldman Smith earlier in the year. I of course got side tracked by them. Here is my finished piece, combining the lampwork with a few Swarovski crystals and lengths of chain.

Dark Indigo Quetzal Ring

In my on going Marcia DeCoster project obsession, I have finished the Quetzal ring from Beaded Opulence.

This is made with layers of right angle weave, embellished with tiny crystals. The band is right angle weave as well. I have not done all of the embellishement in the instructions, but I like how it looks.

It feels like it will be a great ring to wear to work.

Turquoise Urchin Bead

I am always amazed at how a variety of seed beads can be transformed into a wearable piece of art.

Here are the beads (15s, 11s, 8s & 3mm crystals)

That are stitched together using right angle weave.

 

Now with the ends attached together, create a floppy urchin shape.

Attach the crystals to make the spines take a firm, curved shape.

From another point of view.

Project is from Marcia DeCoster's Bead Opulence.

Under the mast pendant

Here is my latest Marcia DeCoster project, Under the mast pendant. I just have to make the embellished right angle weave band to wear it on.

The right angle weave base is great for working the peyote sides to hold the crystal in place. I was careful to ensure that I did the correct number of units for each row of the base. I counted out the needed beads as well as one extra to set aside after each row to keep track of them. I was able to finish this in an afternoon. I will start the band tonight and hope to finish it over the next few evenings.

Queen Anne's Lace Bracelet - Completed

The finishing of Marcia DeCoster's Queen Anne's Lace bracelet went very smoothly.  

The base of the bracelet worked up great. It was different to make something that was components joined together. 

Adding the accent beads tightened up the bracelet. Making the loop end took a few attempts in order to get the right size to fit over the amazing Swarovski button.

Finished it is a snug fitting cuff. It is a beautiful piece.

Urchin Bead

From Marcia DeCoster's Beaded Opulence here is the Urchin Bead. I have used Dark Red Coral crystals, gunmetal and cherry red seed beads.

It is interesting to see the effect of different size beads within a band of right angle weave. Stitching the ends together creates the base of the bead. The embellishment of crystals tightens up the spines of the bead.

I really like making this bead. I am going to make another in turquoise and brown.

Angel Earrings

I made these fun angel earrings using the angel wings I got at Dragon's Lair. Instead of using a bell or trumpet shaped bead for the body of the angel, I used a Swarovski cube drilled from corner  to corner. Some angels have pearl heads others have crystal heads. I like the pearl heads better as they are a little bit larger.

I am working on more, trying to add halo to the angels.

Red Fossil Trio

I started with the lampwork bead from Carole Tillman. I added the red fossil beads in 6 and 8 mm and some yellow resin discs. I used delicas as spacers between the red beads.

The third strand of red fossil beads, I purchased, were 12 mm. I have strung them with hemitite Swarovski bicones and a jet Swarovski donut.

The final piece in my trio combines elements of the other two. The necklaces can be wore individually or combined.

Of course it need a bracelet to complete to look.