Spring Bead Challenge Reveal

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OK, now I can show you my entries to Crystal’s Bead Challenge. No more sneak peeks. I entered two designs. A copper butterfly necklace set and a blue beaded necklace.

Crystal posted the results today on her blog, Beadhappilyeverafter. There’s some real talent out there. Such pretty jewelry!!

My inspiration came from beads and bead caps I found at Crystal’s Etsy Shop. (You can see what inspired each entrant here in this photo I borrowed from her blog. 😀 )

First, let me tell you about my butterfly set.

I gathered what I thought I would use to create my necklace. A bit of this and a bit of that. After experimenting for a couple of hours, trying different colors of beads, I ended up not using all that you see here in the photo.

From this.

To this.

Supplies used in addition to Crystal’s bead caps:

• antique copper butterflies
• banded agate round beads
• antique copper star spacers
• antique copper curved tubes
• antique copper hammered clasps
• copper ribbed rondelles (for bracelet)
• seed beads, size 6/0 (for bracelet)
• stringing wire

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My second entry, a blue necklace, was last minute. I hadn’t planned to make it. But since my beading tools were already out on my craft table, I said, what the heck, “Let’s make something else.” I had been wanting to make something with these two-holed blue beads, just hadn’t decided what. After sorting through my supplies and putting “anything with blue” in a bowl, I got started.

From this…

To this.

Supplies used in addition to Crystal’s 2-holed blue beads:

• an assortment of blue beads
• seed beads, size 8/0 and 11/0
• toggle clasp with Swarovski sapphire crystals
• stringing wire

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I really enjoyed participating in this challenge. My creative juices were overflowing. I was relaxed and let my fingers do what my mind saw.

Oh, BTW, guess whose name was picked by Random Generator for 1st Prize? ME!!!
Look at all these beady goodies I won.

Aren’t they beautiful? Beady Eyecandy!! Can’t wait to get them. I already have ideas. Thanks so much, Crystal.

Also, thank you for hosting your 3rd Bead Challenge. All of the designs are really pretty. I am looking forward to your next challenge.

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Go here to see all Bead Challenge entries and the prize winners.

http://beadhappilyeverafter.com/blog/?p=19092

Here is the link to Crystal’s Etsy Shop. She has wonderful products. Check it out!!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/beadhappilyeverafter

My “Ready For Halloween” Triangle Bracelet

Still working on triangles. I wasn’t too excited when I started off. But now I like them.

The pattern I was following (in Beth Stone’s More Seed Bead Stitching book) said to use 11/0 seed beads. I used 8/0 instead. I like working with the larger seed beads. And in black and orange. I was thinking Halloween.

These have holes in the center.

I made a few. Had no ideas. Made a few more. Tried to assemble them in various ways. But only liked the staggered look. One fitting inside the other.

Ended up making 10 triangles.

It was kind of tricky sewing each together but if you know how to peyote then you know that I went in and out of the high beads to connect them. From the tip down to the 5th or 6th bead on each side.

For the toggle, I made a black seed bead toggle bar. It fits inside the center of the last triangle.

Did I make earrings? You betcha.

Memory Wire, Copper and Peyote Tubes

I am on a copper kick. I bought a bunch of antique copper beads from Fire Mountain Gems and Beads a couple years ago. I used a few here and there. But mostly I just enjoyed looking at them. In the bag. Until now…..

I made two bracelets and two pairs of earrings.

One bracelet has a wire bangle with screw on beads on the tips. The other one, I cut two lengths from the memory wire coil and combined them. I wanted a sturdier, single wrap around the wrist. Not multiple spirals like you usually see made up.

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This first one has peyote tubes made from pretty matte amethyst seed beads. Lots of antique copper beads. I only had one bead like that lavender glass one. I am sad I didn’t have more. I like it.

I am thinking about buying some copper spray paint to paint the balls on the tips. The silver stands out like a sore thumb. Have any of you tried painting metal findings with any success?

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These earrings go with the amethyst and copper bracelet.

Here’s a picture of the supplies I used. Inexpensive copper colored wire. Copper earwires.

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For this next bracelet, I used painted wood beads. This is the one with the doubled memory wire. I dangled two filigree charms on the wire tips.

I have a bunch of memory wire. I didn’t even make a dent in my stash. So… my plan is to make up a few more. Until I get bored and move on to something else.

Do you like working with memory wire?

Couldn’t Sleep Last Night

Why?

Those silly pink and wine spiral earrings.

They weren’t like I wanted. Didn’t turn out like I wanted.

One looks like it has wings. And the other looks like the One Armed Man.

Ha!! You knew I was going to take them apart, didn’t you.

To ensure beads were the same for both earrings, I separated them into two little containers. And did just as I said I would do. Strung 2 needles. Sewed 4 beads on one. Sewed the same on the other. And it worked.

OK, I am happy now. Going back to bed.

I Have A Lot To Show You… So Go Get Some Snacks

First off. Here is another beaded collar/cowl I made from the royal blue Bead Soup mix. Believe it or not, there’s still a bit left. And after making that huge bracelet and ring. Now here are matching necklace and earrings to add to the set. And I found a better name. Royal Nights. Ha!! Isn’t that better? Royal for the predominate color. Nights since you wouldn’t be all glammed up before 5pm.

Oh… I forgot to tell you about the earrings. I spent one whole day learning how to make Winged Beads. Yep, I am still teaching myself techniques from that same book. Mastering Beadwork, by Carol Huber Cypher. Pages 198-200. Using brick stitch and a picot edging. Of course, I changed it up and put my own spin to it.

And you know how excited I get when learning something new. I went kind of crazy. First I made the royal blue ones. Then peach.

Then made a peach necklace with a couple of the Winged Beads. And the neat thing. They are reversible. Can wear them with the peach side showing or the ivory side. Cool, huh? I am calling the set Peach Ice.

Steampunk? No, I haven’t forgotten about it. I am leading up to it with all this extra learning. I’ll get there. In fact, I have a bunch of stuff already lined up. I showed you some of it. Here’s something you haven’t seen.

And chain links. Don’t know why I had to buy these coiled ones in every color the store had. It isn’t finished. Just my model modeling it.

I retook photos of my One-Eyed Steampunk earrings. I think these are better.

Well, I think that’s it. I think I am all caught up.

One-Eyed Monster, Steampunk Earrings

😀

I may add a few rhinestones to the backs of the watchfaces. To give the earrings a bit of color. Kind of drab looking. U G L Y, actually.

The bracelet isn’t done yet, still working on it. The other bracelet I wanted to use, the clasp kept opening and the bracelet kept falling off my arm. So.. back to the drawing board on that one.

Forever 5 Paperweight and Brick Stitch Fan Earrings

What fun!! Coming up with ideas for all those broken watches I got on eBay.

How about this? Placing the backs in a wooden frame on a bed of black seed beads? Could be a paperweight. Or a miniature standing shadowbox. That is, could be, once I figure out how to get it all to stay put and not fall apart when picked up.

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And aren’t these fan earrings cute!!

Another project from the book, Mastering Beadwork by Carol Huber Cypher, pages 195-197. What a unique way of working with stringing wire AND beadwork. I like it so much, I am making a necklace using this technique. I really love this book.

These earrings match a couple of the bracelets I made a month ago. Necklace about half done. More photos to follow.

To keep from getting bored, I am switching back and forth from stringing to beadwork to beadpunk to steampunk. So, you will have to keep coming back to see what I am working on next.

Steampunk Watchface Earrings

65 cents for a screw!! Outrageous!!

Tiny. Teeny tiny even. So small you need tweezers to pick them up. I say they should be a nickel and no more. The guy at Ace Hardware said they are stainless steel so that is why they cost more.

And I am working on a necklace. Here’s a glimpse of it.

Teaching Myself Peyote Circles

Squares, tubes… and now I know how to make peyote circles. Thanks to this great book by Carol Huber Cypher. Mastering Beadwork, A Comprehensive Guide to Off-Loom Techniques.

I taught myself how to make these circles by following along with the instructions on pages 64-68.

The first two were laughable. You won’t see them. I took them apart already. 🙂

One thing you should know, if you make these. Do go back through the first 3 seed beads at least once. Or the thread will be really loose in the center and enlarges as you go. At least, that is what happened to me on two of them. One exception: When I wanted to insert a button in the center, I didn’t reinforce the starting beads. As you can see in this photo.

I made two pairs of earrings. One with buttons and one set without. I like them both.

The necklace is still a work in progress. Several more hours of designing. Will show you when finished. See the 2 long black metal buttons. I have had them since the 60’s. Can’t remember what they were on. Probably a coat. I am going to try to incorporate one, maybe both, into my design.

Coming Out of “Bead Retirement”, Thanks to Auntie’s Beads

Auntie’s Beads. Have you heard of it? I only recently discovered this bead store. They have gorgeous stuff. Beads, beads and more beads. Lots of seed beads. And if you have been one of my regular blog readers, then you know about my obsession with seed beads AND peyote.

It was so bad, I would bead 24 by 7, forgetting to eat. When I started dreaming about beads, I knew it was time for a break. That was over 6 months ago. Well, now… break time is over. I am coming out of bead retirement!!

For my first project, I wasn’t sure what to make or which colors to use. Turquoise, for sure, being THE COLOR for 2010. And red goes great with turquoise. Think Southwestern.

I decided on these. Isn’t that mix beautiful!!

For about a week they sat all neat like this. Flipped through my bead books for ideas. Watched some beading videos on-line.

Only after watching Karla, of Auntie’s Beads, make peyote bead tubes, did I know what I wanted to make. I would incorporate tubes into my design!! Making the tubes was easy. Even if you have never tried peyote. Easy!! Watch this video and you will be making them in no time.

http://www.auntiesbeads.com/Even-Count-Peyote-Stitch-Tube-Beads_p_4147.html

For this project, I made 25 tubes. Some in turquoise, some red and lots in black. I used different seed bead sizes. 8/0 and 6/0. Matte and shiny.

Most of the tubes went into this 6-strand necklace.

One side is all black. (You can wear it different ways.)

I also made three bracelets and two pairs of earrings.

The black bracelet in the last photo was inspired by a pair of earrings I made from the book, Seed Bead Stitching, by Beth Stone. Page 23. Wide-Row Earrings.

You too can make these items. Go to Auntie’s Beads.

http://www.auntiesbeads.com/

http://www.auntiesbeads.com/Seed-Beads_c_19.html

http://www.auntiesbeads.com/Turquoise-Beads–Blue-Turquoise_c_176.html

http://www.auntiesbeads.com/Stringing-Materials_c_248.html