Owl Vessel

This is a project that I finished last month, but had not photographed. Being on off work this week I have been trying to get projects completed and photographed.

It is a beaded box pattern from Julia Pretl's website. She had a sale back in the summer. I purchased a number and decided to make the owl box first.

finished box

I have decided not to make the lid and use it pencil holder.

Designer Style Challenge - Results

On Saturday evening at the Gala event of the 25th Fall Creativ Festival the winners and runner ups were announced in the eigth catergories.

My two entries were semi-finalists in two catergories (beadwork and paperarts). They were on display for attendees to see and vote on their favourites.

Here are pictures I took with my iPhone on Friday when the show opened.

Iris Twist Vase on display

Hexagonal Triangle Vase & Irises on display

At the Gala presentation the finalists' creations were displayed on the runway with models wearing or carrying them. My Iris Twist Vase was a finalist in the Beadwork catergory. Here is my vase coming down the runway.

The three Beadwork finalists, Chippy Ezer, Dorothy Kale and myself, waiting for the announcement of the winner.

Congratulations to Chippy Ezer, the winner in the beadwork catergory, for her design Dream of Africa Necklace. She was awarded a beautiful Swarovski trophy and $1000.

Chippy's beautiful necklace

 Dorothy and I were the runner ups and were each given $250 gift bag from Swarovski.

Dorothy's Three Egg Surprise

Congratulations to all the other finalists. To see all the semi-finalists creations click here.

Here is all the amazing things that were in the bag from Swarovski.

Felted Vessel

It was my first day at the Fall Creativ Festival. Today I took Dawn Liu-Smyth's Felted Vessel class. It was an all day class that end with an amazing finished vessel.

Our starting equipment

Circle resist

First layer of ice blue merino

Wet on both sides

2nd and 3rd layers done

 At this stage we broke for lunch. That could be why I thought that my  piece looked like a pizza with no toppings.

Silk hankie surface embellishments

The other side

Rolled up and ready to start the felting process

 After lots of rolling, rotating, and flipping the fibers had start to come together.

Time to cut an opening

With a balloon inside to help with the shaping

Rinsed and drying

 At the end of the class we each had a unique vessel drying on a balloon. I love that look of my vessel. Once it is dry I will add some additional bead embellished.

No classes tomorrow but I will be at the Rypan Designs booth #717 for the day.

Vintage Lucite Challenge - Arrival

Back in September the bead soup guru, Lori Anderson, offer the opportunity to participate in mini Cup of Bead Soup with vintage lucite beads. The beads were provided by Crystal of Bead Happily Ever After.

Tonight when I checked my mail box there was one of the wonderful padded envelopes that we love to see. Inside was this amazing selection of  beads.

I started to play with the beads as I was on the phone to see if my friend Anna was going to come the our Bead Society meeting tomorrow night.

I think I will take the beads to the meeting tomorrow night and see what I can create. Reveal day is November 10, so come back and see what I am able to make.

Holiday Bling Blog Hop Reveal

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Fall Pantone Bead Swap Reveal

On Monday LiliKrist, my partner in the swap, got the package I sent her. She liked how neatly I had packed it. I was looking forward to arrival of her package from Indonesia. When I arrived home from work on Monday night there was a tag on my mailbox to let me know that I had missed a package. I was not able to get to the post office until tonight on the way home from work.

Here is what I picked up.

Inside was this beautiful quilted pouch fill with neat little wrapped packages.

The contents all laid out in their labelled bags.

Here is a closer look at the beads for each colour.

French Roast - daggers and seed beads

Honey Gold - mushroom beads and seed beads

Pink Flambe - Swarovski bicones and agate beads

Tangerine Tango - Java seed beads in orange and dark orange

Ultramarine Green - Aventurine and petal beads

Bright Chartreuse - lentil and square beads

Olympian Blue - Agate and Handmade Ceramic bead

Titanium - crystal drop beads and recycled glass beads

Rhapsody - Stick beads and owl bead

Rose Smoke - round and heart beads

I am looking forward to playing with these beads and make some new pieces.

Thanks LiliKrist for these great beads from the other side of the world!

"Rita" Rondelle Zigzag Necklace

Teal "Rita" Rondelle Zigzag

I was finally able to finish the full length teal version of the necklace.  To add the closure to the teal necklace I went to Maria's so we were able to ensure that it was the perfect length for her to wear. The finishing touch is the addition of a beautiful Italian silver clasp.

Heart closure detail

I also did a sample length in a beautiful silver lined raspberry.

Silver lined raspberry version

Here is the black version that I stitched back in summer during one of beading dinners in High Park.

Classic black version

Maria Rypan is teaching this project on Friday morning at the Creativ Festival. We will also have a limited number of the kits available at the booth (717).

All three colour variation

Having been in the zigzag groove, I started my own version of the design using 3mm fire polished instead of the mini rondelles. I was able to get this finished as well. I will wear this to the Awards Gala on the Saturday night.

Iris Zigzag