Black, Red and Dragon's Blood

I have a few colours that I am always drawn to, namely red, blue and black.

At last week's TBS meeting I purchased some great beads from Dawn Masters, including matte and shiny black cubes. I strung them with coral beads and spikes, along with some black rondelles.

Coral Spikes Necklace

At Bead Oasis, last weekend I bought these great polymer clay beads, by Jessica Greschner, called dragon's blood. I also found these great rondelles at Canada Beading Supplies' booth. I have combined the with some hematite Swarovski crystals. This is a great piece. I have wore it to work the last two days and received many compliments.

 Dragon's Blood Necklace

Close up of Dragon's Blood beads

Freeform Rings

Today was the first day of the Fall Canadian Bead Oasis Show. I decided to take a class, so I signed up for Jelcy Romberg's Freeform silver ring. I don't do alot of wire work so the class was a great way to do something that I don't normally do. We did two practice rings using parawire.

 

Here is my first using red and copper.

The second using shades of purple and a rose gold.

 

 

The final one was with the good wire, argentium silver wire.

Beads and Chain Necklace

I was playing with the beads that I purchased at last night's Toronto Bead Society meeting. As I was looking for things to add to them I came across these lampwork beads I got from Amy Waldman Smith earlier in the year. I of course got side tracked by them. Here is my finished piece, combining the lampwork with a few Swarovski crystals and lengths of chain.

Dark Indigo Quetzal Ring

In my on going Marcia DeCoster project obsession, I have finished the Quetzal ring from Beaded Opulence.

This is made with layers of right angle weave, embellished with tiny crystals. The band is right angle weave as well. I have not done all of the embellishement in the instructions, but I like how it looks.

It feels like it will be a great ring to wear to work.

Turquoise Urchin Bead

I am always amazed at how a variety of seed beads can be transformed into a wearable piece of art.

Here are the beads (15s, 11s, 8s & 3mm crystals)

That are stitched together using right angle weave.

 

Now with the ends attached together, create a floppy urchin shape.

Attach the crystals to make the spines take a firm, curved shape.

From another point of view.

Project is from Marcia DeCoster's Bead Opulence.

Under the Mast completed

Here is the band for the Under the mast pendant by Marcia DeCoster. It is an embellished right angle weave.  It would make a great simple bracelet to coordinate with the necklace.  I have enjoyed working up the various kits I purchased at the classes with Marcia last month at Beadfx.

Under the mast pendant

Here is my latest Marcia DeCoster project, Under the mast pendant. I just have to make the embellished right angle weave band to wear it on.

The right angle weave base is great for working the peyote sides to hold the crystal in place. I was careful to ensure that I did the correct number of units for each row of the base. I counted out the needed beads as well as one extra to set aside after each row to keep track of them. I was able to finish this in an afternoon. I will start the band tonight and hope to finish it over the next few evenings.