Keyring Pals

I have a few bead charms on my key rings in the form of a lampwork ghost and critter from Kirsty Naray. This evening I took the cute little lamb bead from Lunacy Glass and made a new pal to put on my keyring.

My first challenge was what to use to stop the headpin from going right thru the hole. I started with crystals, then tried silver daisy spacers. I didn't like either of them. While hunting in my stash I found some very small fresh water pearls. They worked perfectly.  Here is the newest pal on my keyring.

Dotted Heart Necklace

Last night I was inspired by the beads that I got at the One of a Kind Show. The dotted beads and heart are from Tascidesigns. I decided to do something other that just stringing them on beading wire. I used lengths of chain and linked the beads with eyepins. Doing this helped to improve my wire working skills. I modified the design as I went, by shortening the length on the overall piece.

I like the design, but I think that I would like to change the chain that I used. I would like to look for something a little bit heavier. I will wear it today and maybe make a stop at Bead Junction to look at available chain there.

One of a Kind Buys

Today was our annual trip to the One of a Kind Christmas Show and Sale. It was an enjoyable day of amazing creations. I saw some things that I may have to go back to get on my second trip on Sunday.

At Lunacy Glass, booth X09, Lucie had some amazing owl beads that had been made into pendants. She had only made just a few and did not have beads only left. I have to let her know if I want her to make one for me. I think that I hear those owls calling my name. I did get one of her cute lamb beads.

 

I also bought a selection of beads from a glass artist I had not seen before. Nadia Tasci at Tascidesigns, booth E33, had some amazing individual beads and jewellry. I purchased a heart bead and 5 coordinating beads. I already have a design idea for these beads.

One the artist that I specifically wanted to see was Carmi Cimicata of Carmi's Art Cards, booth Q25, whose  blog I follow. I selected one of her great handcrafted cards, for my niece's birthday. 

The last purchase of the day was a selection for Tickleberry's chocolates at booth D54. I just have to hid them away so that I am not tempted to eat them all this weekend.

Flashback Friday - Victorian Ornaments

Ornament covers are always popular. Back in December 2004 this design appeared in Bead and Button magazine. I loved the swags and the crystals. I changed the larger bi-cones with cubes.

There were a few challenges with these ornaments. The first was understanding the instructions and correcting the number of crystals listed in the supply list. With this cover completely encasing the ornament I needed to figure out a way to hold it for the finishing. I rigged a way to hang in from my desk light.

Here are two that I have in my collection.

 

Here is the one I gave Maria, as hanging on her tree.

Celtic Vision Necklace

This morning I finally finished this chain maille project from Gardiner Designs. I started the necklace in a class at Creativ Festival last month. I love the copper rings and the lampwork beads by Kirsty Naray. The challenge with this piece was working with a new pair of pliers and doing the wrapped loops on the pendant.

Flashback Friday - Holiday Bookmark

I have made diagonal weave bands into rings, bracelets and necklaces. Back in 2007, I decided to try using size 15 beads to make a fine ribbon-like band for a holiday bookmark. Each end of the band is embellished with a cluster of colour light bulb charms.

Flashback Friday - Ribbon Bracelets

Six years ago the October/November issue of Beadwork magazine included Kathleen Kimball-Baker's ribbon bracelet. It uses ndebele (herringbone) stitch. It become a favourite project as it was quick and fun. Here are a few of the many I made since then.

Flashback Friday - Loomwork

Two week ago I posted about an artist trading card I made. It was my most recent loomwork piece. I looked back and found this picture of my second loomwork piece. I used a needle work pattern for the celtic knot medallion. The other section are modified patterns from Maria Rypan's loomwork class. This was a piece that I made without thinking about how it would wear. It is great to look at but I don't wear it.

 

My third piece I did a couple of years later to refresh my skills so I could help Maria teach loomwork to a new group of beaders. This time I did not want to worry about pattern, just technique. I used a seed bead mix which I embellished with pressed glass flowers. 

For added texture on the fringe I added some of the flowers using coralling. This is a much more wearable piece.

Calendar Girl

As usual it is a few days into the new month before I get calendars turned to the new month. I turned my TBS calendar over to November this morning and there were my Sea Anemone Boxes.

I had forgotten that I was Miss November in the 2010 calendar.

The calendar for 2011 will be on sale at Bead Fair this weekend at the CNIB on Bayview. I am one of the beaders, who have been in over the last few years, included on a bonus page at the end of the calendar.  This year's charity is the Native Women's Resource Centre.

I will be at the bead fair at the Rypan Designs booth, stop by and say hello.