BSBP - Earring Give Away

It been a week since my reveal date. The pieces created have been amazing. The support in the comments have been uplifting.

I have decided, since I don't wear earrings, to give away the earrings I made. They were liked by many of the commentators.

Bead Soup Earrings

In addition I will also be giving away the following other earrings.

Calla Lily Earrings

Pumpkin Earrings

Leaf Earrings

 All you need to do is leave a comment. Let me know what country you are in. The contest is open until 12:00 a.m. August 25 (next reveal date).

Good Luck!!

Diagonal Weave Video

At last spring's Creativ Festival Maria of Rypan Designs was able to create a video of her Diagonal Weave Bracelet. She demonstrated with her kit using triangle beads. I have made a number of samples of this design using many different styles and sizes of beads.



At the upcoming Fall show Maria will be demoing this technique using Swarovski crystals at their Crystal Rock 'n Roll Pavilion.

Bead Soup Blog Party Reveal

It is finally reveal day. I received my bead soup late last month from Jelveh. I was so inspired by the beads that I was working on ideas in my head as I wait for the elevator.

I had the basics of my pieces done by the following evening.  Here is a reminder of what I got.

I added very little to what I was sent.

So here is what I created.

A pendant with the large focal and drop crystals to which I added chain, wire and daisy spacers.

A bracelet using the lampwork set, lava, stone and sterling silver beads along with the turtle charmed toggle. I added beading wire, daisy spacers, round silver and Swarovski beads.

Earrings using the silver, pearls and faceted green stone rondells. I added only the round silver beads, head pins and earring findings.

Finally with the remaining pearls, drop crystal and the large disc beads I made what could be either another pendant or a purse charm.

 

I challenged myself to use everything that I was sent and add as little a possible. The only thing I did not use was the two small pearls from the set. 

I have been wearing the large focal pendant and bracelet to work. Bracelet is a bit chunkier that I usually wear, so every so often it comes off. I just have to remember not to leave it behind. I have had many compliments on both the pendant and bracelet. I has been great to wear pieces outside of my usual colours.

A big thanks to Lori for hosting this amazing creative explosion. Take some time to check out some of the other participants listed below.

Hostess, Lori Anderson, Pretty Things

Adlinah Kamsir, Dream Struck Designs

Adrienn Lukacs, Raszputyin Designs

Agata Grygiel, Cytherea Bijoux 

Alenka Obid, Pepita Handmade 

Amy Dickerson, Damyjo Designs 

Amy Schmidt, Amy's Treasure 

Amy Severino, Amy Beads 

Ana Krepel, Cat's Pajamas, Dog's Tuxedos

Andra Weber, Andra's Joyful Journey

Andrea Trank, Heaven Lane Creations

Anke Humpert, Anart Island Studios

Ann Rishell, My Critical Eye

April Grinaway, Brooklyn Bead Goddess 

Ashley Bunting, Miss Ashely Kate 

Astrid Boyce, Astrid Boyce Beads 

B.R. Kuhlman, Mixed Mayhem Studios 

Barb Fernald, Barbara S. Fernald Jewelry 

Barbe Saint John, Saints and Sinners

Beata Benkone Meggyesi, Beahobbi

Brandy McNair, Bella Vita Handmade Jewelry 

 Bryna Lumb, Bryna's Bead Box

Carmen Lau, Little Maketto

Cate van Alphen, Fulgorine

Cathie Carroll, Cathie Carroll's Studio

Cathy Khoury, Touch Jewelry 

Christina Stofmeel, Feng Beads 

 Collette Collins, Fire Fly Myst Artisan Jewelry

Courtney Breul, Beads by Breul 

Crystal Thain, Here Bead Dragons

Cynthia Abner, Created Treasures

Deana Hager, Just Deez'Art & Life

Debbie Davis, Natural Treasures by Deb

Debbie Phenes, Deb Joy Sing

Debbie Rasmussen, A Little of This, A Little of That

Dhea Powers, Java Bead

Diana Welte, Lilyweeds

Dita Basu, alankarshilpa

Dorota Zeranska, gdymamczas 

Dot Lewallwn, Speedie Beadie

Eleanor Snare, The Magic Square Foundation

Elisabeth Auld, Beads For Busy Gals

Ema Kilroy, Ema K Designs

Emma Todd, A Polymer Penchant

Eva Sherman, Eva Sherman Designs

Evie and Beth McCord, EB Bead and Metal Works

Francy Inman, Francy's Studio

Ginger Bishop, lilmummy likes...

Giorgia Rossini, Jo in Wonderland

Ine Vande Cappelle, Jewels by Ine 

Iveth Caruso, Creative Atelier 

JJ Jacobs, Coming Abstractions

Jackie Ryan, Kydo Jewellery

Jeannie Dukic, Jeannie's Blog

My Soup Mate > Jelveh Jaferian, Jelveh Designs

Jenna Tomalka, Twin Birch Studio

Jenni Connolly, Jenni's Beads

Jennifer Van Horn, Jennifers Jewels and Junk

You are here > Jo-Ann Woolverton, It's a Beadiful Creation

Johanna Rhodes-Nash, Fire Phoenix Creations 

 Joyce Blair, Bent Wire West Coast

JuLee Wolfe, The Polymer Penguin

Karen Vincent, Swallow Tail Jewellery

Karin Slaton, Backstory Beads

Kayla Potega, The Eclectic Element 

Kim Dworak, CianciBlue

Krafty Max, Krafty Max Originals

Kris Lanae Binsfeld, Cherish Designs by Kris Lanae

Kristen Latimer, MJM Jewelry Designs

Kumi Fisher, Malie Kai Designs

Kym Hunter, Kym Hunter Designs

Lennis Carrier, Windbent

Leslie Wayment, AA Beads & More

Linda Florian, Lilys of the Valley Jewelry Creations

Linda Murphy, Bonita Bead

Lisa Johnson, Whimsey Wonders

Lisa Lodge, Pine Ridge Treasures

Lisa Sittniewski, Love, Yesterdays

Lois Moon, Que Onda, Q'Town?

Lola Surwillo, Bead Lola Bead

Lorelei Eurto, Lorelei's Blog

Lori Bowring Michaud, Artfully Ornamental

Lori Callahan, Dancing Wire and Beads by Lori

Lori Finney, Using My Beads

Marcia Dunne, The Alternative Foundry

Margareta Saari, Mags-koruja

Maria Horvath, Horimarika Beads

Marian Hertzog, M's Place

 Mary Ellen Parker, BeeTree by m.e.

Mary K McGraw, MK's Creative Musings

MaryLou Holvenstot, time2cre8 

Martha Aleo, Ornamento

 Maybeline Tay, The Jewelry Larder

Megan Collins, Churchy & Her Sailor

Melissa Meman, Art. Life. Love.

Melissa Mesara, One-Eared Pig Beads

Melissa Muir, Kelsi's Closet Jewelbox

Paige Maxim, Paige Maxim Designs

Pam DeBoer, Purple Notes from the Studio

Pam Farren, re-maker

Pam Hurst, Pam Hurst Designs

Patricia Handschuh, The Color of Dreams

Patty Miller, CabariBeads

Penney Klapoth, Faerie Acres

Regina Santerre, Regina's Writings

Rhea Freitag, starrgazer creates

Rochelle Brisson, A Creative Chelle

Sabine Dittrich, PerlenDschungel

Sandra McGriff, Creative Chaos

Sandra Neights, Petalo Azul

Sandra Young, It's a Bead Life!

Sara Oehler, SoftFlex Girl

Saturday Sequins, Saturday Sequins

Shanti Johnson, Sunshine Bliss

Shari Replogle, Plays With Paper

Sonya Stille, Dreamin' of Beads

Stefanie Teufel, Stefanies Sammelsurium

Tammie Everly, TTE Designs

Tania Spivey, Moobie Grace Designs

Tanya Wiles, Tenebrous Hollow Studio

Therese Frank, Therese's Treasures

Tina Holden, Polymer Clay Bytes!

Toltec Jewels, Jewel School Friends 

Tracey Nanstad, A Beadiful Mess

Tracy Choy, BumbleBeads Designs

Valerie Norton, Hot Art

Have fun blog hopping!!

Wahoo!!!

Today was the date that semi-finalists in the Designer Style Challenge would be notified. I was very happy and surprised to get an email letting me know that I was one of 10 semi-finalist in not only one but both categories I entered.

Here is my entry in the Paper Art Catergory - Hexagonal Triangle Vase with Irises.

Paper Art Semi-finalist

Here is my entry in the Beadwork & Jewellry Design Category - Iris Twist Vase

Beadwork & Jewellry Design Semi-finalist

Now I have to get them to the Creativ Festival offices in Richmond Hill. My beaded vase is easy to pack and transport. I will need to find a way to safely and securely pack my paper art entry.

Once the entries are delivered it will be a matter of waiting until the winner and two runners up in each category are announced at the Gala on October 13.

Reversible ZigZag Cuff

I picked up the recent Bead & Button special issue Beading Basics Peyote Stitch. There are some interesting projects in it, including a reversible zigzag cuff.

I decided to take what I needed to start it to last week's Beading in the park. A looming summer storm threatened the gathering but I went anyways. Maria and I were the only ones who braved the threat. We each were able to work on our  projects.

I started the cuff, which uses a flattened tubular peyote stitch. It took a couple of restarts to get it working correctly. Here is what I got done that evening and over the next couple of evenings.

one side with silver and green

other side with copper and purple

I hope to have it finished before the next meetup in August.

Designer Style Challenge Evolution

Yesterday I was able to pick up my custom framing of the print that was my primary source of inspiration for the Challenge.

It started with learning that irises are the flower for 25th anniversaries. Looking thru books at my local public library, I found this amazing image in The Botanical Palette. There were many of the pictures of the many other varieties of irises, but this is what I think of as the iconic look of an iris.

Bearded Iris by Vicky Mappin (from her website)

This image became my inspiration for the colours used in my beadwork project the Iris Twist Vase. Once I had started the project I decided to purchase a copy of the print from Vicky. It was a challenge as Vicky lives in the UK. But patience paid off I got my print in time to have it custom framed before my birthday!

Here are some images for the crafting of the beadwork project.

Collage of images from the creation of the Iris Twist Vase

For the paper arts project I was again inspired by the iris but I added a bigger splash of silver. Using metalic silver origami paper I crafted a paper vase. The finished  Hexagonal Triangle Vase holds hand crafted origami irises.

Finished Paper Arts Project

Now I just have to wait and see if I become a semi-finalist. Until then I have this amazing print to look at everyday.

Framed Print

Bead Soup on a hot summer day

It is a gorgeous hot summer day here is Toronto and I just received my Bead Soup for the Blog Party from Jelveh.

It includes one of her amazing lampwork Nutilus Focal bead with 5 matching golstone beads, pearls, stone and lava beads, sterling silver and ceramic beads. The closure is toggle with a little turtle charm.

Bead Soup

Detail of focal and matching lampwork beads

As I am adding the photos of the beads to this posting I am already thinking a necklace and bracelet to make with them. Watch here on August 11 for the reveal of my projects using these great beads.