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 - Inspiration

I am rereading The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien (it was just issued in ebook format). On the bus this morning I read the passage where Bilbo sees Smaug for the very first time. He describes him as "a vast red-golden dragon".

I am inspired to make a third dragon box using reds and golds on a black, grey or stone coloured background.

My first dragon box was using colours similar to the ones used in the Julia Pretl's book. My second was inspired by Saphira, the dragon in Eragon by Christopher Paolini.

I will look at my delicas tonight to chose the colours. I know that I have a 24 kt gold plated delica that I can use.

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.