Completed!

I finished the first box in this series last night. I even did a little bit of the beading by candle light during Earth Hour.

I used a Swarovski cube for the finial.

I have started the second box. This one will be a square box repeating the pattern on the lampwork bead. I have completed the bottom and am working up the sides.

Box progress report #2

I am now halfway up the sides of the box. It narrows as it gets taller. The decreases are part of the corners.

 I am hoping to have it finished by the end of the weekend.

Box progress report #1

I started the first box in my lastest series.

Here is the bottom on the box with the three beads that were the inspiration.

Here I have added the three lampwork beads with a crystal for the feet of the box.

I just have to finish the sides and make the lid. The finial will be an aquamarine Swarovski crystal.

Box inspiration

It is always great to find a source of inspiration for another series of boxes. At Bead Oasis, Rypan Designs shares a booth with Amy Waldman Smith. Amy's lampwork beads have amazing colour combinations. 

This set had my attention most of the weekend. I purchased the set on Sunday as my latest inspiration for a box series. I was quickly able to find the needed delica colours.

Now I just have to start making the boxes.

Oasis projects

I took two classes at last weekend's Bead Oasis show. The first was viking knit with Jelcy Romberg. It was a challenge to learn how to do this wirework bracelet.

It was amazing to see the transformation of the not so beautiful wire woven tube after it was pulled thru the drawing plate. I have more wire to try this again.

The second class was bezel a Swarovski with Sharron Weinberger. I finished what was going to be a pendant into a ring. I feel that I am now better able to work on projects in Laura McCabe's book.

Bag of Beads Mobile

Ok, I finished the mobile a few weeks ago, but getting a useable photo has been a challenge. The pictures from the bead society meeting had too many distractions. Today I was able to get this picture.

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.