Bag of Beads Challenge

It is time again for the Toronto Bead Society's Bag of Beads Challenge. This year's bag included seed beads, bugles, pearls, faceted beads, chain, feathers and a butterfly. 

OMG! What am I going to make with these!

For a month I did not know what I was going to do. I had an idea for the butterfly based on a ring that Kelly Osborne wore on a red carpet show for the Grammys.

It was not until I was at the Thursday class with Diane Fitzgerald in March that I got an idea of what else to make. Fellow beader Colleen was wearing a beaded pendant that used bugles and seed beads. I played with the given beads and created this peyote stitch tube that holds three of the feathers.

Full view of pendant that will be worn on a length of the chain

Detail view of the pendant

Tonight was the presentation night for the bag of beads. As always it was an amazing night of inspiring beadwork.

Some favourites

Flashback Friday Flashback

It has been 6 months since I started this regular feature of looking back at some older beadwork. So today let's look back as some of my favourite flashbacks.

Here are those that featured Toronto Bead Society Bag of Beads Challenge - red, white and black & pastels and coral.

Stringing favourites - copper and pearls, celtic glass knots & hearts and crystals.

Rypan Designs projects - netted kilim, retro lariat, gothic drapes, twig chip cascade, cascading twigs &  loomwork.

It has been great to look back. I will photograph some more pieces to share during the next six months.

One of a Kind - Spring 2011

Today marks the end of the Spring One of a Kind show here in Toronto. I went down to the show twice this time. The first was on Thursday on my own. I was inspired by all the amazing creativity shown by the artisians.

I bought two lampwork bug beads from Leslie Winemaker at Dream Glass. I finished them with some wire to use as purse charms.

I also purchased a new leather bag from Andre Ouellet and some delicious cookies from Mad Batter Bakers.

Anna and I were back again on Saturday to take the embroidery workshop with Melissa McColl of Vintage Baby Revival. Workshop was fun. Anna and I hope to take another one in the fall.

To my Thursday purchases I added these cute hair elastics by from Liligo for my niece Elizabeth.

I also got a customized owl pendant by Lucie Kovarova-Weir from Lunacy Glass. I had a book replace the branch and mouse she had in other pendants.

I stopped by Leslie's booth to show her what I had done with the bug beads. I also bought these five beads which uses a reactive glass that makes each bead a one of a kind bead.

I have marked November 24-December 4 on my calendar for the Christmas show.

Flashback Friday - Multi-strand Necklace with Art glass pendant

This is another treasure from the bottom of the finished project drawer. The design was inspired by the spots of colour on the glass pendant. I found Swarovski bicones that matched the colours. I randomly placed them on five strands of seed beads.

It can be worn with the strands loose or you can twist it to make it shorter and more compact. I wore the many times after I made it. But at some point it must have gotten dropped as the pendant now has a hairline crack.

Flashback Friday - Netted Cuff

Here is another treasure found at the bottom of my finished project drawer. This is a basic netted cuff made back when I was prefecting my technique.
It uses just seed beads. Now I would likely want to add some surface embellishments. But I like the simple basic look of this cuff. I used two simple toggles to ensure that it would lay flat when worn.

Recently finished projects

After a few weeks of working on samples for Maria at Rypan Designs, I did a number of strung pieces with lampwork beads.

This first one combines lampwork with silver beadcaps, crystals and paper beads.

This one is a reworking of a previous necklace. The acid etched black quartz changed with wear. The etching wore off, so I ended up with black beads that did not work in the design. Here is the new version.

At Bead Oasis I bought a set of lampwork beads that I made into a bracelet.

Also at Bead Oasis I purchased one of Amy Waldman Smith's new bottle version of her Ottoman beads. I selected one that went with the first Ottoman bead I bought. I have combined the two with Swarovski crystals to make a enlongated pendant.

 

 I also finished my Bag of Beads project which I will post after reveal night in April.

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.