Geometric Stars class

Today was my last class with Jean Power at beadFX.

Jean and her book (photo from S. Dixon)

 Today's class was her geometric stars.

 Here is our very full class of busy beaders.

Photo from S. Henry

One of my distorted squares in progress.

My star with three of distorted squares zipped together.

Here is almost everyones in progress or completed stars.

Thanks to Jean for coming to teach us and to the wonderful staff at beadFX for a fantastic weekend.

Beaded Frames Bangle Class

Today's class with Jean Power @ beadFX was her Beaded Frames Bangle.

Here is on version of the project.

 I had brought two different colour combinations. The first was a ruby red rondelle with a matte slate grey.

The second was turquoise rondelle with bronze.

The frames are joined with brick stitch (my least favourite). I am going to work on finishing both colour combinations later this summer.

Tomorrow is geometric stars. I am going to take a few different colour palettes.

Zinnia flower class

Today was the first of three classes that I am taking at Beadfx with British beadwork designer Jean Power.

Today was the zinnia flower class, included interchangeable cuff.

We started with an amazing Swarovski 30 mm flat back that we set into a beaded bezel.

Once it was in and secured we added a simple band of stitching that will allow it to be worn in many different ways.

Then we added the first layer of petals, step by step as we go around the bezeled Swarovski. I almost completed first layer.

Here is beadFX's blog post about the class.

Here are the flowers of myself and fellow classmates.

Will work to finish it soon.

Looking forward to tomorrow's class.

Lampwork & Clay Blog Hop

 

At the beginning of the month I saw a Facebook post about Who's up for a challenge. It was about a Blog Hop hosted by Lisa Lodge of Pine Ridge Treasure.

30 participants were given the chose of lampwork or clay. Once you had let Lisa know your choice you paid for the bead she selected. Then you have to wait for them to arrive in the mail.

My lampwork set arrived in the mail on Friday.

This set of beads are by ShaZazz Glass.

Now I have to decide what to do with these beads and what I can find in my stash. I have a project planned that I can add some of them into. What will I do with the rest?

Reveal day for the blog hop is not until November 16, 2013, so I have time to play and create.

Finishing works in progress

I realized that I had many unfinished projects sitting in various baskets, zip bags and drawers. It is time to work on getting some of them finished before starting anything new.

Here is the owl box that I posted about in October. I originally had just done the body without the lid.

Maria suggested that it would better with its lid. So here is the lid. I decided to use one of the lampwork headpin by Cheryl Brown that was leftover from the most recent bead soup as the finial.

 

One of the other patterns that I had purchased from Julia's website was the Scarab. I loved that the lid was where the amazing scarab pattern was stitched.

So this time I did the lid first. I had it finished about 6 weeks ago. I then started on the base, but it got put aside as I was distracted by other things.

I finally finished the base on the weekend as I dealt with a rare summer cold.

 

Now I have two less projects to complete. What will I do next??

ABC's of Creativity - May Review

I know that this is a little bit late but here is a quick review of the two entries from May in the Rypan Designs' ABC's of Creativity.

First was I is Internet. I covered a variety of online bead resources. From Pinterest to the new Swarovski Youtube Series The Professor of Crystal.

Then I did J is Jewelry. It is a top to bottom look at the various jewelry item you can make for yourself and others.

Pinch & Twist Hair Comb (beaded by M. Rypan)

Earrings (beaded by J. Woolverton & M. Rypan)

Guide to necklace lengths

"Y" style necklace (beaded by J. Woolverton)

Tussie Mussie Pin (beaded by K. Naray)

Crystal Elevation Bracelet (designed by M. Rypan, beaded by J. Woolverton)

Quetzal Ring (from Beaded Opulence, beaded by J. Woolverton)

Hope that you will hop over to the ABC's of Creativity and be inspired.

Leading to Reading & Beading

During the school year I volunteer with the Toronto Public Library's Leading to Reading program.
Last night was the last session for this school year.

My young student, Farida, had asked to do something fun. When I suggested beading as a project for our last session she was very excited.

First we did some work on her spelling. Once at was done I pulled out all that I had for us to create with. She loved all the colours, shapes and sparkle.

She decided to make a necklace for her sister and a bracelet for her mother.

The necklace had no specific pattern. It was her selecting everything she liked. I did try to get her to think about pattern and design.

After seeing what I did with the bracelet that I made, Farida put a bit more thought into her bracelet.
She created a pattern, but was worried she did not have enough of one specific type of bead. I showed her how to mirror her pattern around a focal.

Farida's necklace and bracelet

My bracelet

Farida took home her creations, my bracelet was given to Stephanie, she runs the program at Richview.

Thanks Stephanie & Farida for a fun year! Have a fabulous summer!