Cubes and Leaves

A just over a week ago, Diane Fitzgerald was here in Toronto teaching at beadfx and talking at Toronto Bead Society. I was lucky enought to take both of the classes. On Wednesday it was Moorish tile beads. They are fun to make as they are related to Julia Pretl's beaded boxes that I love.

First bead with colour inspiration

Fellow beaders finished beads

My first and second beaded beads

I am going to make all seven designs in the instruction package.

Thursday's class was for Diane's iconic Ginkgo Leaf Necklace. I got past the fact that it is done with brick stitch, my least favourite stitch. The first part of the class with learning about different ways to blend colours. Here is my first leaf.

I have started another leaf with shinier beads. I have it about 3/4 done. I am not likely how it looks, so I am only going to make more leaves like my first one. Only 10 or 11 more to make. I am then going to attach them to a bronze chain rather that with beaded lariat Diane uses. Not sure how long it will take for me to get this project done, maybe by the fall.

Flashback Friday - Visiting Teachers

Last week I was lucky enough to take two classes with the amazing Diane Fitzgerald. It made me think of other beadwork artists who have come to Toronto to teach. I found a picture of this beaded object.

It is from a class with NanC Meinhardt when she was in Toronto in 2005. This is done in free form right angle weave. We started with a form made with polymer clay. Here is what I started with.

I can't find this little beaded object, so these not so great photos are what I have to look back on. I will look to see if I can find any other visiting teacher projects to post in the coming weeks.

Flashback Friday - Crystal Copper Pearl set

Basic stringing designs go from simple to complex. Here is a set combining crystal, copper and pearls. I don't remember when this was made, but it has been worn many times.

The copper beads have started to patina and change from bright to dull and dark. I love the way copper changes with wear and time.

The left over copper beads were finally used in my recent Copper Armoured Dragon necklace.

Flashback Friday - Netted Kilim

Here is a piece from about 7 years ago. This netted necklace is based on the design of a kilim rug. Featured in the June 2003 issue of Bead & Button, it is by Maria Rypan of Rypan Designs. It has the look for a loomwork piece but is done using netting and connected by long bugles and seed beads.

I used a two shades of blue, a silver-lined crystal and a gold plated beads. This was the project were I learn about the lack of durablity, at the time, of plated or coated beads. The plated beads along the neck edge of the piece are now just clear beads.

This is a fun project to play with different colour combinations. Maria's originial uses navy iris and gold. She  has also taken the technique and used beads from a TBS bag of beads challenge to create her Sedona Kilim.

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.