Flashback Friday - Gothic drapes

This is a variation of Rypan Designs  single drape Gothic necklace. My friend Anna came up with the idea to use Swarovski pearls instead of the original fire polished beads. I made up the necklace as I can almost make any of the gothic drapes in an evening.

I was reminded of this project as I was making up a new sample of a three drape gothic for Maria to use in her booth at upcoming shows. The new sample used Swarovski cubes and rounds. Here it is on the kit cover.

 

Here is an older display board with the various gothic necklaces.

I like the versatility of the gothic design. You can use larger crystals, different shapes and of course make it the perfect length.

Here is the Crystal Rhapsody that I did back at the fall 2008 Creativ Festival. It is made with all Swarovski crystals. It sparkles like crazy and is fun to wear.

Flashback Friday - Bugles and Drops bracelet

I am not even sure how long ago I made this. When I look at it now I can see many things that I would not do now.

First I used black thread that is very visible.

The different shades of blue don't quite work.

The box clasp is good design-wise but not great for functionality. I use toggles for bracelets now.

Maybe I need to do a revist to this design and see what I would do now.

Happy Beading & have a great weekend!

Keyring Heart

I recently ordered some lampwork beads from Caroline Cash, who is in the process of no longer making lampwork beads. They just arrived in the mail from across the pond! There are a number of different sets of beads that I will work with soon but there was also a beautiful little red heart with a large center hole.

I decided to make it into another charm for my keyring. So I used two large jump rings and a lobster claw. It joins the lamb from Lunacy Glass, my ghost and critter from Kirsty Naray and a scarab.

Spring tease

A spring teaser arrived for me at work last week. My sister sent this amazing basket of mini daffodils from her flower shop, Astra Florists. The snow and the cold seem to disappear when you have these funky little flowers on your desk.

They are being enjoyed by the staff and public at the library. I really love the sparkly ladybugs that guard them.

Thanks Sandra, Les, Mackenzie and Elizabeth!!

Flashback Friday - Beaded Vase

The picture of the beaded vase has been on my blog from the beginning as my avatar, but I have never blogged about it.

In 2005 Bead Junction had international bead artist River Rose in Toronto to teach some of her designs. I took the vase class because I was wanting to start beading things other than just jewellry. It uses one of my favourite stitches, ndebele (herringbone). The increases and decreases create the shape of the vase and are highlighted with the silver drop beads.

This is also my first project that used Fireline. The strength of Fireline is needed to allow for the tight tension required for the vase. I now use Fireline for all of my beaded boxes.

Unlike my beaded boxes, I have only made one vase. It might be interesting to make another. Just need to find the instructions in my beading area.

Heading off today to see the Maharaja exhibit at the AGO. Hope to be inspired by the splendour of India's Royal Court.

Starry night necklace

Starry night by Vincent Van Gogh is one of my favourite paintings. I have never seen it in person, but for many years I had a print of it hanging in my living room. I love the mix of blues and yellows.

I recently ordered some polymer clay beads from Humble Beads. There was a set of 10 disc beads inspired by the painting as well as a 6 hole spacer bead inspired by it too. I purchased both and they arrived in the mail last week.

I have played with a few ideas and have finally decided to use the spacer as a pendant and add Swarovski cubes and pearls to the project. I have also decided to use the knotting technique that I learned at Creativ Festival last fall. Now I am off to complete and photograph it.

Later ... Well knotting between the beads did not look great. I think I need to practice more with the technique before using it in a project.

So I just strung the selected beads on beading wire and added a large silver spring clasp. I like the finished necklace and look forward to wearing it tomorrow.

Flashback Friday - St. Petersburg Chain

April 2007's issue of Bead and Button included both a lariat and a necklace using St. Petersburg Chain. It was not a stitch that I had done before. I decided to do the necklace design with this great lampwork bead. The challenge with getting just the right colour of beads. I found the perfect mint green fire polished beads that when pair with the transparent blue seed bead worked great with the lampwork bead.

Amy Waldman Smith Box Collection

 The original inspiration set of beads by the talented Amy Waldman Smith.

The first box in the series is triangular with orange, yellow and blue. Here it is in progress back in March.

The second and third boxes are a matching set with a pair of earrings in each.

 The second has the red on the bottom. Here it is in progress again in March

 The third has the blue on the bottom. Here it is completed in December

 The fourth box was done within the last week. I finished on Tuesday night so that I could take it to Show and Tell night at the Toronto Bead Society.

Finally a much better group picture of the collection.

Thanks for the great inspiration Amy!!!

Show and Tell night @ Toronto Bead Society

Last night was the first Toronto Bead Society meeting of 2011. We had a show and tell night. I took in my collection of boxes inspired by various things. Here is my display of boxes and inspiration sources.

My sources of inspirations included to following -

Margie Deeb's book The Beader's color palette for the Sea Anenome Boxes.

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien and Eargon by Christopher Paolini for two of my dragon boxes.

Lampwork beads from glass artist Elly Peters.

Lampwork beads from glass artist Amy Waldman Smith. Watch for a complete post about this series soon.

 

Of course the starting inspiration for all of my boxes is Julia Pretl's book Little bead boxes.

Thanks to fellow members who also shared their beadwork. Also for all those who admired the work on display I hope that you were as inspired and amazed as I was.