Bag of Beads Challenge

Every year the Toronto Bead Society runs its Bag of Beads Challenge. For $10 you get a collection of various beads and things (stumpers). Everyone who participates gets the very same thing. You then have two months to create something using at least one for each of the different item in the bag.

Here are the beads that we got this year as well as the stumpers, a copper pipe end and bronze paper.

Here the various parts on my piece. The first three are ruffled beaded beads.

These ones have some turquoise drops that I have added to.

The final two parts have drops added as well.

These components will be balanced together in the final piece. Watch  for it in the next few days.

Spring Bronze Necklace

We are set to get more snow over the next few days. I made this beautiful necklace that shout to spring it is time to come back to Canada!! This combines some the Ugandan paper beads, Swarovski pearls and crystals.  It will go very well with my calla lily earrings. I hope that spring comes soon!!

Bronze Universe Necklace

At January's TBS meeting I purchased these three great lampwork beads from Amy Waldman-Smith.

I played with a few different combinations of beads until I settled on this one.

This includes matte black fire-polished beads, Swarovski pearls and crystals and bronze daisy spacers.

I will wear this to Elizabeth's birthday tomorrow.

Beadwork - Fuchsia Flutterby Pendant

I bought this wonderful resin fuchsia butterfly at Beadfx last year. I knew that I wanted to make a pendant for Elizabeth with it. As I was searching thru my beads to finds beads for her bracelets I found it. It was easy to add a fews crystals for some sparkle and wrap the end. It did take two attempts to get the wrap just right.

On its silver chain.

Beadwork - Lizzie's Trio of bracelets

Elizabeth's 4th birthday is fast approaching. I went on a quest yesterday to buy some dresses for her. It took awhile but was able to finally find some that I think she will like. I stopped at the local dollar store to look for some fun and funky beads to make matching bracelets for each dress.

This one uses some red cloisonne beads.

Some green barrel shaped cloisonne mixed with pink and green fire polished beads.

Dollar store fire polished beads mixed with some little lampwork beads by Amy Waldman Smith.

Here is the trio together!

Beadwork - Crystal Elevation Bracelet

Having finished Elizabeth's Purple Tempest Box I decided that maybe I should try and tidy my beading area. I sorted thru the various little baskets that I use to keep projects in. In one of the lower baskets I came across an almost finished Rypan Designs bracelet.

This is the Crystal Elevation Bracelet. It is all Swarovski crystals with a glass button closure. It was completely done (since the fall) except for finishing off the ends. I spent five minutes working the ends in and now I can wear my sparkles to work tomorrow.

I also came across my Smaug box and a number of other projects and beads purchased specifically for projects. I also have my TBS bag of beads project to figure out.

Beadwork - Purple Tempest II

Back in the summer I made a purple tempest box while I was at the cottage with my family. I gave it to my eldest niece, Lauren. Elizabeth, the youngest niece, what to have one exactly like it. I am not a fan of making repeating a project in the exact same colours. In this case making her a purple box was preferable to possibly being asked to make a pink box.