Finally framed

I finally got my hand marbled peacock print framed. I got this print at the 2009 Christmas One of a Kind Show from Studio Robert Wu. I was saving up to have it framed as I knew that it would likely cost over $200 to have it done. Getting it done was given a kick start when there was a Groupon for framing at Artworld of Sherway. I took the print in earlier this month and the helpful staff that Artwork helped me select mats and framing. I pickup the framed piece on Friday.

 Here is it now on the wall in my bedroom. It looks great!

Flashback Friday - Celtic Glass Knot

I like the look of Celtic knots. I have done them in cross stitch and loomwork. I had some beautiful pewter Celtic knot beads, one of which was a ring. I wanted to create a necklace using a length of silk cord. I saw some great lampwork beads at Susan Stortini's booth at a show that looked like knots.  I knew that they would look great with the pewter beads. But she did not have them in the colour I was wanting to use, a heather purple. Once I explained what I was looking for she offered to make in the colour I wanted. Shortly after the show I got my beautiful heather purple glass knot beads.

Here is the necklace using just the silk cord and four of the glass knot beads.


Here is a bracelet with the pewter Celtic knot beads accented with lampwork beads and a few Swarovski cyrstals.

Owl Trio Necklace

Today was the start of another six week session of Toddler Time at my library. I read one of my all time favourites, Owl Babies. I wore my newest necklace inspired by last week Flashback Friday and the fabulous owl beads I was given by my friend Maria.

I combined the owls with Swarovski crystals, fire polished rondells,and some elongated bicone silver spacers. This was a great piece to wear. I will work on a coordinating bracelet with the matching little owls.

Copper Armoured Dragon Necklace

For the last few weeks I have been working on samples for Maria of Rypan Designs. I delivered the last of them to Maria this afternoon. I decided to make something using some of the lampwork beads that I purchased last month.

One of the sets was called dragon eggs. They looked like mottled green dragon skin to me. I combined them with copper beads, spacers and Swarovski crystals.

I looked forward to wearing this tomorrow and seeing what my co-workers think of it.

Flashback Friday - Owl Babies

As a children's services staff member at Toronto Public Library I do Ready for Reading storytime for toddlers and one of my all time favourite storytime books is Owl Babies by Martin Waddell.

At a TBS garage sale a few years ago someone was selling these cool little wooden owl beads. I knew just what I would make with them, so they came home with me. I combined them with other wooden beads that I had in my stash to create this bracelet with three babies owl (Sarah, Percy and Bill).

Owls, in general,  are a favourite of mine. Knowing this Maria gave me a number of different owl beads from her recent trip the bead shows down in Tuscon. I look forward to make some new wise and fun owl pieces soon.

Flashback Friday - Herringbone Pansy

This morning I was looking in the hanging storage boxes of my finished jewellry to find pieces to use for Flashbacks. I found a number of pieces that have not been blogged about. Here is the first piece.  

This is necklace featuring a beautiful pansy bead by glass artist Kirsty Naray. Instead of stringing it with other beads as I have with many other necklaces, I beaded two herringbone tubes which cover the beading wire. It is a simple but elegant way to wear an amazing lampwork bead.

Chain Linked Heart Necklace

With Valentine's Day just over a week away and a beautiful heart bead set from Crafted Gems I decided to make a necklace. I combined this beautiful heart bead set with red and crystal Swarovski crystals.

I made a center section of the lampwork beads crystals, which I linked to small sections of crystals. I finished it by adding a length of chain on each end.