Chicklet Bracelets

Among the few things that I got at last week's TBS bead fair were some wonderful pressed glass chicklet beads. These rectangular beads are used in Rypan Designs' Chicklet Bracelets. I found some coordinating seed beads and made these two bracelets.

Iced Blueberry Chicklet Bracelet

Bollywood Chic Chicklet Bracelet

Repaired Necklace

Here is a favourite necklace that just fell apart the other day. I wear this piece at least once or twice a week. I am sure that I stress the beading wire by playing with the lampwork beads. I have restrung the piece using a heavier beading wire and it is as good as new. Hopefully I won't have to restring for at least a couple of years.

Gothic Cross

This is a kit from Rypan Designs. I have had this kit for a number of years but not done it as I could not get my tension right for the cross using beading thread. Maria and I were talking about it as we were preparing for the upcoming TBS bead fair. I said that it might be easier with beading wire. That is what I did, using very fine Soft Touch by Soft Flex which you can knot. Once I had the finished cross I used beading thread to finish the piece.

More Angels

Here are the rest of my angels. I changed out the crystal cube on some for a red cone. I added red lentil beads for halos.

Some of these will be going to the Corsage project.

Angel Earrings

I made these fun angel earrings using the angel wings I got at Dragon's Lair. Instead of using a bell or trumpet shaped bead for the body of the angel, I used a Swarovski cube drilled from corner  to corner. Some angels have pearl heads others have crystal heads. I like the pearl heads better as they are a little bit larger.

I am working on more, trying to add halo to the angels.

Red Fossil Trio

I started with the lampwork bead from Carole Tillman. I added the red fossil beads in 6 and 8 mm and some yellow resin discs. I used delicas as spacers between the red beads.

The third strand of red fossil beads, I purchased, were 12 mm. I have strung them with hemitite Swarovski bicones and a jet Swarovski donut.

The final piece in my trio combines elements of the other two. The necklaces can be wore individually or combined.

Of course it need a bracelet to complete to look.

Ottawa Bead Purchases

Before we left Ottawa yesterday we did a tour of some bead stores. Our first stop was the new location of Canada Bead Supplies. I found some great beads and a kumihimo disk.

Beads from Canada Bead Supply

Our next stop was right next door to the just opened The Glass Shoppe Studio  owned by Grace Edwards. We saw the great setup for the lampwork studio where classes will take place. You will be able to watch a class through the window between the studio and Canada Bead Supply. I purchase one of Grace's lampwork beads that will go with the green beads I got a Canada Bead Supply.

Lampwork by Grace Edwards

Our last stop was McBead Creations. Having recently expanded there was a wide variety of bead to see. I found some bugles to use for snowflakes, pressed glass ovals for stringing, lentil beads and some seed beads. 

 McBead Creation purchases

After leaving McBead Creation Maria and I headed back home to Toronto. It was great to visit Ottawa and spend time with fellow beads, but it is good to be back home.

Here are some other bead purchases made during our time in Ottawa. From our Sunday dinner host, Carole Tillman, some great lampwork beads.

 Carole Tillman's lampwork

In addition I have bead purchase from our first day stop at Dragon's Lair Beads. Spacers, angel wings, delicas, seed beads and crystals.

beads from Dragon's Lair

I hope the create a number of projects using some of my purchase during the rest of my time off work.