Beadwork - String Quartet necklace

One of the great things about making jewellry for friends and family is that you can make it to fit just right for the person. Of course this also means that you will occasionally will be ask to resize a piece. This is what happened with this piece. I made this a few years ago after taking a class with Melanie Potter. Just before the holidays I was asked to shorten the piece for my friend Susan. This meant totally remaking the piece. It was nice to do this project again as it combines Right Angle Weave and netting.

I have used 3 and 4 mm Swarovski pearsl and size 15 seed beads. Once I had shortened the necklace I took the remaining beads and created a bracelet inspired by the necklace.

The resized necklace and bracelet are back with their very happy owner!

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.

One of a Kind

On Friday Maria and I made what is becoming an annual trip to the Christmas One of a Kind Show. It is always great to see the many and varied creations of the amazing vendors.We were please to see the many different jewellry and lampwork artists. There were some very amazing glass and pottery which I resisted buying.

I purchased a few gifts for my two nieces for Christmas. I hope that they will like their one of a kind gifts. Maria and I could not leave without getting some Tinkleberry's chocolates (chocolate covered dried fruits).

I went back to the show on Saturday evening with Anna, she want to get something for her grandson. I went back to one booth that I liked on Friday. Studio Robert Wu, had the most amazing hand marbled pieces of art. I decided to get one of the beautiful peacock graphics.

from artist's website

Beadwork - Rainforest Cascade Necklace

I finished the second class project from the classes with Margie Deeb last month. I realized after I was done that I had not followed the instructions. I did not have two fringes coming out of each of the anchoring beads. I also did not like the way the drop enamel beads hang. I need to redo this part of the necklace.

I have been wearing the foundation multi-strand necklace. It looks great on this own.

Beadwork - Snowflake revised

I remade and rephotographed my small snowflake design. I used a blue felt background so that the white and silver-lined beads would show better. The pictures were better but could still be improved. I am reading Photographing Arts, Crafts & Collectibles by Steve Meltzer and learning many things to help improve my photos.

I now have 10 kits ready for techniques night next week at the Toronto Bead Society meeting. Each kit includes enough materials to make 6 snowflakes. They are very quick and easy to make. Techinques night is always a fun and creative evening, especially in December as we also share holiday treats!

My happy colour!

At the end of one of my toddler programs this morning, one of the toddlers came up and started to talk to me about the colour I was wearing. I was wearing my finished red collar of colour and light with my favourite red top. She thought that red was a colour that made me happy. I told her she was right, it is one of my favourite colour. I asked which colour made her happy... it was pink of course. I then pointed out to her that there were some pink daggers on my necklace.

Beadwork - Red Collar of light and colour

Friday's class with Margie Deeb was for the Collar of light and colour. This piece has a foundation of tubular herringbone fringed with a variety of red and pink daggers. During the class we started the foundation. Later in the afternoon we started to do the fringing. Based on the sizing of the class sample, I realized that I needed to adjust where the fringe starts. My foundation needed to be 18 inches long, so I started the fringe 2 inches from the end.

Collar in progress at the end of class

Finished collar!!