Beadwork - Cascading Swag Refined Samples

I love this design. It is a versatile necklace. The first time I did this necklace was in a class with Maria Rypan using all size 10 seed beads. I did a variation of the design with longer swags that overlapped. Maria then did a variation using sizes 8 and 6 seed beads. Now she has a new variation with size 10 and 8 seed beads.

I did this first sample a while back but Maria did not have it kitted up for sale yet. It is now available (We have it at the Toronto Bead Society Bead Fair this weekend). She then wanted a colour combination to tie into the upcoming Mysteries of Ancient Ukraine: The Remarkable Trypillian Culture (5400-2700 B.C.) exhibit at the ROM. Maria has a series of necklaces entitled the Trypillian Spirit Collection which will be sold at the ROM gift shop. The Trypillian variation use black and bronze beads.

Beadwork - A Sample and a Tuffle

Maria Rypan of Rypan Designs was my first beadwork teacher. I took a class with her at the, then named, Creative Sewing and Needlework Festival. Each year I took another class or two. One year she told me about the Toronto Bead Society. Another she said she was going to be doing a series of classes about loomwork. I joined the Bead Society, I took the loomwork series and I have since been helping Maria at shows and making samples for her kit covers.

Maria designed a new piece call Triple V Jewel. Which is a beautiful netted necklace embellished with jewel-toned cathedral-cut beads. It is going to be featured in the Canadian magazine A Needle Pulling Thread, Winter/Holiday 2008 issue. She is also going to have kits available for sale at the upcoming Toronto Bead Society Bead Fair (Nov 8 & 9). She needed a new sample as the original was still with the magazine publisher, so here is the sample I stitched (I only did the centre section for display purposes).

Before the embellishment.

After the embellishment.

I also finished another box or tuffet as this one is called. The bottom again concaves in, so there is not much room to put things in this one. I have a little display of boxes started. At this rate I will need to get a display cabinet soon.

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 - Turquoise Star Box

Of course, I could not go a week lately without making another box. This is the star box. It has a narrowed opening and a lid with sides. I have used colours similar to the ones Julia suggested in her book Little Beaded Box. I have gone more meticallic and shiny.

I did not have as many problems with broken needles or beads with this box. I hope that will be a growing trend for future boxes.

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 - Kaleidoscope Box

I finished the lid for this beautiful quilt like patterned box. I had a 4mm cube Jet Swarovski crystal that I used for a finial on the lid. It is neat change of shape from the triangle of the box.

I started another box, but will be posting necklaces over the next few days as I take classes at Creativ Festival.