Pre-Colombian Party Dress

I started this piece after last year's bead show (!!!) and finally finished it.  It is inspired by Leslie Frazier's Crystal Pave Pendant - actually, it IS Leslie Frazier's Crystal Pave Pendant, folded in half and stitched across the bottom!  I got the inspiration when I was absentmindedly playing with the circular right angle weave disk.  I had just returned from Colombia where the shapes of the pre-Colombian gold-work at the Gold Museum were dancing in my head....

I could not resist the similarity of the shape and the feel from the bronze colored beads.

The little sparkle comes from 2mm Swarovski crystals in a milky lavendar.  The chain is just a single unit right angle weave, which gives the entire thing a rough and tumble look, like it was dug up on an expedition!  I love this thing.  Wore it to a work event last week and got loads of complements, which almost never happens when I wear my work (I usually get "huh, what is that?).

 

I heart Leslee Frumin!

I was super lucky to get to take Leslee's class when she was at Studio Beads earlier this winter.  I have been hammering away at her Crystal Elements and Crystal Lace and have made it through most of the patterns.  She is so brilliant and an excellent teacher. 

My big challenge is to develop a better sense of color.  Artists like Leslee have lovely designs, but what is most striking is her use of color. 

Awesome Cubic Right Angle Weave Necklace

I gave this one away the first time I wore it - a friend complimented it and I took it off and handed it to her right there.  Now it will always be "Rose's Necklace."

The focal bead I found at a Grayslake, IL craft fair before Christmas.  This was the only glassworker there, and he had some really nice beads.  "Pyroglasstic" Unique Glass Art by Jeff.  He does not have a web site or I would share it here, he used great color.  Keep your eye out for him...

 

Renee's Tila Bracelet

I saw a version of this one Jessica's wrist (from Studio Beads) and again in a sample at Bodacious Beads... both mentioned this was a free online pattern.  I found it here and it is easy and very fast!  Try it!  Next time I will use more contrast between the tilas and the surrounding size 11s... but for a first try, not bad!

Week of Beading - Installment 3

Today is my last of vacation... it has been more than 3 weeks since I have worked, the longest break I have had outside of a maternity leave since, probably, 1992.   I have more finished beaded work to show.  This stuff will not likely be gifted so I am going to go ahead and put it out there. 

The first one is from a pattern in Diane Fitzgerald's Zulu Beadwork book.  I love this design but am terrified that it is not structurally sound since it relies on thread looped on thread rather than thread sewn through beads.  So I am going to keep it and wear it and if it holds up, make more for friends, 'cause it is awesome.

The copper and dusky blue beads are both from Ding's in Winston-Salem, NC where I was for a week of my uber-vacation.  I highly recommend Ding's for bead-weavers in or visiting NC.  It carries the full line of Miyuki at good prices; excellent findings; friendly and enthusiastic owners; and, you can get your clothes altered while you shop!

This next bracelet I made up myself (not very hard, as it is just Peyote with fringe and a button from the Bead Show for a clasp, with a simple loop).  Not thrilled about how the loop/button combo spaced out.  Any advice?

The beads are twisted hexes, very irregular length but I would guess generally size 8.  The button is pressed glass, bought at the Raven's stand at Bead Show 2011.

Finally, a Kumihimo braid I finally capped and finished after doing the actual braid on the flight to Colombia in October.

These are size 8 Picasso beads in one stripe, and a size 8 matte in the other, in a similar shade.  This type of stripe is achieved by laying out your strands in a 2 Picasso - 2 matte - 2 Picasso - 2 matte configuration.  Kumihimo is ideal for airplanes as there are no needles and no loose beads, no fuss no muss, and the flight attendants are always very intrigued.  It is easy!  Get a kit and get started!
 

Week of Beading - Installment 2

For those who subscribe to Beadwork and Bead and Button, the components in this post may look very familiar!

Krissy's first pair of earrings to the left are from Teresa Meister's Floral Chandalier necklace in the November 2010 issue of Beadwork.

The necklace  pendant below - now with my lovely niece Shayna -  is the crown of Aasia Hamid's cocktail ring in the December 2011 issue of Bead and Button.

The final pink earrings are just one unit of Cubic Right Angle Weave with loops of seed beads to make them dangle! 

My Week of Beading - First Installment

I took this week off work to meet a challenge - 21 beaded gifts in 4 days.  I wish I could say I made it, but I only got to 14.  Thankfully, I do not see all of the folks who some of the gifts will be for until after the actual holiday, so I still have some time to do the remaining 7!  I wish I could say I was burned out on beading, but alas, I am not.  This is such a great craft - it is a bottomless pit of awesome.  The first day was a tad frustrating, as I tried to make things up entirely in my head after a few beading-free weeks.  That was a mistake.  I find I need to bead by pattern first, then I when I am in a good groove, I can create something unique or create my own design without as much angst.

I can't show most of what I did until the gifts are given, but I have already given out teacher gifts (and they have been opened), so I can show those.  Here are Betty, Suzanne, Mary and Carrie's gifts, all based on Glorianne Ljubich's Star Power earrings in the June 2011 issue of Bead and Button.  I post them in progression so you can see where I started, on my own, then very close to the pattern, and where I finished, making my own changes and embellishments.  Fun!

First, Betty's. These were from day one experimentation, and the were the only product that I was happy with that day.

Next, Mary's.  These are the closest to the pattern, but I did not like the length of the 3-unit version in the magazine, so I just made a little link on top and that was it.

Third, Suzanne's.  I made a 5 unit circle to start rather than a 6 unit circle, and the result is more star-like and less flower-like.

Finally, Carrie's.  I love these - also very close to pattern but with picot's instead of rounded outlines.

This project is a great "stash buster" for 4mm fire polished crystals and those peanut beads you do not know what to do with!

These were all made with love for the Toddler Full Day staff at Chiaravalle Montessori.  They are loving, professional, fun and they make magic with toddlers.  Hat's off!