Urchin Bead

From Marcia DeCoster's Beaded Opulence here is the Urchin Bead. I have used Dark Red Coral crystals, gunmetal and cherry red seed beads.

It is interesting to see the effect of different size beads within a band of right angle weave. Stitching the ends together creates the base of the bead. The embellishment of crystals tightens up the spines of the bead.

I really like making this bead. I am going to make another in turquoise and brown.

Queen Anne's Lace Bracelet

Yesterday's class at Beadfx with Marcia De Coster was Queen Anne's Lace Bracelet. Inspired by the great white lacy flower. I saw some of the flowers on my way to the bus from the store.

Here is the first component of the bracelet.

Here I am joining two components together.

Now I have three components joined together. I will have to do about 11 or 12 components  for the full bracelet.

I hope to finish it over the weekend.

More Beaded Beads

I made a few changes to the design of the coordinating beads for yesterday's green bead. I shortened the base structure.

I added the same embellishments, but without the crystals.

Here is the complete set of green Bellisimo Beaded Beads.

Bellisimo Beaded Beads

Today was my first class with Marcia DeCoster @ Beadfx. We made beaded beads using tubular right angle weave.

I had not done alot of right angle weave recently, so it was great to work this versitile stitch. A base tube of right angle weave is enbellished with a variety of beads and crystals.

Here is my first bead. It is a little loose and floppy.

My second is much better. 

Of course it took longer as I spent more time thinking out the embellishments.

I look forward to making more of the great little treasures. My next class with Marcia is on Thursday when I will be take her Queen Anne's lace bracelet.

Summer Blue Ceramic Necklace

While out running errands today, I came across this beautiful ceramic pendant and matching beads. The best part was that they were in the clearance section of the craft department at Wal-mart. The pendant was $1 and the beads were $3. I added the flower spacers and the white firepolished beads.

It is a great, fun summer necklace.

Smaug box - Completed!

It is finally finished. It almost didn't get done as I broke multiple beads and needles just trying to get the lid done.

The large faceted bead on top is represents the Arkenston. The silver background represents mithril.

Here are all three dragon boxes. I hope to do more in the series, but I am going to go back to work on other works in progress.

Smaug progress report

Over a year ago I was rereading The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien and was inspired to make a Smaug dragon box. By the fall I had finally decided on the colours I would use to represent Smaug and mithril,

I started the box. It got put aside to as I worked on other projects. I picked it back up to finish it so that I could enter it to be in the next TBS calendar.

I have finished the body of the box and only need to do the lid. I hope to have the lid finished by the weekend.