Pearl Challenge

This pearl challenge is yet another event hosted by Lisa Lodge. This one is a little different in that you did not have to blog about your creations. This allowed beaders without a blog to participate. Everyone's creations are posted in an album on Lisa's Pine Ridge Treasures' Facebook page.

I have decided to blog about my creations beyond what I sent Lisa to be posted in the album.

These are the glass pearls that were in the kits I purchased by Lisa. Two different sized round deep red, small round white and rice pearls in both the white and the deep red.

I started working with the smaller red pearls. I wanted to do something I had not done before, flat spiral. I found instructions in Jean Power's book Small Beads Big Jewelry. Jean's design used two different sized pearls and seed beads. I decide to use the smaller red pearls, clear fire-polished crystals and matte black seed beads.

After finishing this bracelet I thought what would if I used pearls on the edge and crystals in the center. A look thru my stash lead to this combination. Swarovski Pacific Opal crystals, the small round white pearls from the kit and seaform green seed beads.

Here are the two bracelets together, in the image that I sent to Lisa to include in the album.

Back in August while I was working on the challenge I was contacted by a fellow beader, Mary. She was looking for help with the Celtic Trefoil by Diane Fitzgerald in her book Shaped Beadwork. I had blogged about making some last summer. I decided the best way to help Mary was to make a trefoil and photograph some of the more challenging parts of the design. I decided to use colours that would work with the pearls in the kit and some bronze beads in my stash.

Here are some of the photos that I sent to her to help out.

At the second corner ready to add two beads for the increase

Completed third row and have stepped up to start fourth

Completed Trefoil

I then completed the necklace with a elegant pattern of the three different size and styles of the deep red pearls and the flat round bronze beads.

Take a moment to go over to the album on the Pine Ridge Treasure Facebook page to see the other beaded creations.

Thanks again to Lisa for the challenge!

Happy Beading!

Blue Fantasy Reveal Day

Update - Giveaway winner is Heather Richter!

Once again another reveal day has arrived. It started back in June when I signed up for the challenge on Lisa's Pine Ridge Treasures Facebook Page.

Here is the wonderful selection of beads that I received from Lisa. It included sea glass, rondelles, gemstones and brass beads and findings.

I posted last month about using some of the lampwork beads that I had in my stash as focals for two of my creations.

For this first one I used the gemstones (not sure what they are), rondelles and large white pearls I had purchased during a recent destash event.

For this second one I used the wavy blue sea glass, brass beads and white barrel sea glass I also got during another of Lisa's destash events. I also used the toggle for the challenge kit.

The last item that I created from the kit used the three large holed freeform beads. I really wanted to do something different with these. I played with making a beaded bail but could not get it to work the way I would like. Next I played with connecting them with some brass chain that I had in my stash. Again I did not like the way it was working, the chain was too chunky.

I used the design idea from connecting with the chain but with a finer chain. Here is used a silver tone chain to create a Y-shaped necklace with all three of the beads.

I still have beads left which will be added to my stash, but that is all for now.

Please take some time to hop around to the other participants of this challenge.

 Our hostess:  Lisa Lodge, A Grateful Artist

Kim Dworak, Cianci Blue

Karen Grosset Grange, Ginkgo et Coquelicot

Veralynne Malone, Designed by Vera 
Jo-Ann Woolverton, It's a Beadiful Creation

Heather Richter, Desert Jewelry Designs

Carolyn Lawson, Carolyn's Creations

Candida Elkins Castleberry, Spun Sugar Beadworks

Shaiha Williams, Shaiha's Ramblings

Eleanor Burian-Mohr, The Charmed Life

Gloria Allen, Wings and Beads

Laurie Vyselaar, Lefthand Jewelry

Terri Wlaschin, Dances in Fog

Lisa Prewitt Knappenberger, LiRaysa Designs

Toltec Jewels, Jewel School Friends

Raissa de Guzman, Abloro

Jill Bradley, Jilly Beads

 
Thanks once again to Lisa Lodge for hosting this challenge.

I have decided to do a giveaway as part of my reveal. To enter just comment on this post by 12 pm EDT September 20, 2014. The winner will receive the Blue Fantasy necklace of their choice. Winner will be announced on September 21, 2014.

Happy Beading!