Alexandra

The weekly challenge on the Beading Forum this week is 'Czarina'. Naturally, I had to enter! The word immediately conjured images of Russian royalty, decked out in glorious gold and regal purple.

Here is my interpretation...I have named her 'Alexandra', after the last Tsaritsa of Russia:

The curved components are created with herringbone and peyote stitch, and they are strung between glass pearls and glass teardrops:

I have always been a fan of wire wrapping, but have never ventured into that arena myself...until now! I am determined that 2010 is the year to learn, so I dug out my copy of Rachel Nelson-Smith's 'Seed Bead Fusion' (great book, cool chick) and made my first wire wrapped clasp using her easy-to-follow instructions. And here is the result:

The clasp is made with 20 gauge wire and wrapped with 32 gauge wire. I even made all of my own jumprings! (Funny how you start seeing everything as a possible mandrel when you begin wireworking... LOL) Here is a closer look (don't laugh, it was my first attempt at wire wrapping!):

Thanks for looking, and be well!

Idylle

Idylle, which is French for 'romance', is my latest beadwoven creation. A romantic, lacy, Olde Worlde necklace in shades of lilac and cream.

This is a great example of how one idea can lead to another. The beaded beads and pendant in my "Vintage Rose" necklace inspired me to push those ideas further to see what I could create. And this is the result, variations on the same theme but a completely different outcome:

Detail of the floral motifs (they are identical front and back, so the reverse side of my necklace is just as pretty as the front):

Detail of the floral clasp. As usual, I wanted it to blend in with the rest of the design:

I hope you explore some variations in your own work. We all need a good dose of 'What if...?' occasionally. You never know what it will lead to! ;)

Earrings...and some beaded beads

Following are my first ever attempts at creating earrings. I don't know why I didn't make any sooner. Quick and easy, and requiring a minimum of materials, each pair was created in a few hours. Perfect for Christmas gifts :)

The bronze/turquoise pair was created with delicas, Czech fire-polished beads, copper daggers, and size 15 seed beads:

The turquoise pair was created with Czech seed beads in sizes 11, 8 and 6, Czech pressed glass leaves and a couple of turquoise stones. Not real turquoise, probably dyed howlite:

The purple earrings were created with purple AB crystal teardrops, delicas and size 15 seed beads:

And the back:

And just for fun, some beaded beads in crazy, bright colours. Can you tell I'm not afraid to use colour? LOL One day I'll learn how to tone it down ;-)

This photo taken in sunlight better shows the true colours of the beads. Vibrant, huh. I made up each bead as I went along, using cubic RAW, triangle weave, or a combination of both. These were so fun to make. And quick! Three hours of beadweaving produced the set of five, which I have collectively named 'The Moulin Rouge Collection' because the colours reminded me of those a cabaret dancer would wear! LOL :-)

Angelus

Tis the season...for making beaded gifts!

This necklace is winging it's way to its new owner as we speak, just in time for Christmas. I have named her 'Angelus' which is Latin for 'angel'...the central motif looked angel-like to me:

It was frustratingly difficult to take a decent photo of this piece. The twisted hematite bugle beads are so sparkly in real life, as are the crystal AB rondelles. Anyway, you get the idea:


Detail of the central 'angel-like' motif:

I wanted the double-sided toggle clasp to reflect the rest of the necklace design. And this is what I came up with. What do you think, does it work?:


The whole design came together so quickly, starting with the central motif, as if by magic. Don't you love it when pieces work that way! :)

Lady Ferocia

Life will sometimes deal us a hand which is unfair, a hand that we do not deserve. It will put a mountain in our way and we are forced to climb it. A friend of my father was recently dealt such a hand, and so I wanted to make her something which would empower her during the difficult journey ahead. A symbolic shield, if you will.

'Lady Ferocia' is the necklace that resulted. A bead embroidered paua shell pendant hangs from a spiral rope of Czech seed beads and hex cut beads, in shades of blue iris and black.

'Ferocia' is Latin for 'courage' or 'high spirit'. It seemed an appropriate name, conjuring images of a brave and strong woman who can conquer the world.

Detail of the paua (pronounced 'power') shell pendant:

The reverse side of the pendant, backed with black felt:

And detail of the spiral rope. I love the rich, luxurious rope created with the blue iris seed beads and hex cut beads. It has a lovely weight to it:

Thanks for looking, and be well!

Evergreen Unfurling

This necklace began with a tube of size 6 Czech seed beads. My lovely Mum picked the tube, drawn to the earthy hues which ranged from emerald green to milky cream to mottled amber. And I promised to make something for her with them.

Six months later, and they are finally at home in my 'Evergreen Unfurling'...

The size 6 seed beads were woven into a twisted tubular herringbone rope along with some green delicas. Using beads with such a size difference results in an obvious 'corkscrew':

The unfurling fronds were made with two-drop square stitch, and the golden flowers with two-drop ladder stitch and simple fringing:

And a flower bud yet to bloom, a Czech fire polished bead encased in seed beads:

Lately I've enjoyed combining bead-weaving with chain. The lazy part of me likes this form of instant gratification. This necklace, had it all been beadwoven, would have taken me three times as long to make. With my beading time so limited these days, I'm all for a shortcut here and there ;-)

Branch of the Bodhi Tree

A beader can never have enough stitches in their beading arsenal. St Petersburg stitch was added to my cache this week, and it became an instant favourite. It works up very quickly and is easy to learn. Give it a try! The double version of the stitch reminded me of leaves, and so 'Branch of the Bodhi Tree' was born.

The Bodhi Tree was a large sacred fig tree under which Buddha sat and achieved enlightenment. (Incidentally, the term 'bodhi' also means enlightenment.)

The 'leaves' hang from twisted tubular herringbone ropes, separated by brass spacers

The St Petersburg 'leaves' are tipped with wooden rondelles

Detail of the St Petersburg 'leaves'

Detail of the clasp with a small St Petersburg 'leaf' and a brass Buddha charm

Thanks for looking, and may your day be enlightening! :-)

Something for me

I don't wear a whole lot of jewellery. A pair of simple earrings every now and then, if I'm lucky. As a piece of jewellery and a toy are basically one and the same to an inquisitive (read: destructive) 19 month old, my daughter's curiosity prevents me from wearing any of my more elaborate creations. So something simple and wearable was the order of the day.

Following much the same formula as Mum's necklace (see previous post), I whipped up this dainty little number for myself from Czech seedies, pressed glass leaves, glass drops and rondelles, and Czech fire polished beads:

It is very basic, nothing too fancy. But it is wearable. And I'm rather happy with the floral clasp, it holds very well so there is no worry that the necklace will inadvertently fall off.

My love affair with herringbone stitch continues. What a versatile little stitch it is, I can't believe I didn't learn it sooner.

*Again, my apologies for the sub-standard photos...we'll be back home in Sydney next week and I'll have the light studio and digital SLR camera at my disposal once again.

Wind Dancer

When I was researching the humble hummingbird for this piece, I came across many stories of love and romance associated with these 'flying jewels'. One story I found particularly touching was an Apache myth about a young warrior named Wind Dancer. He could not hear, but he sang enchanting, wordless songs which brought fine weather and good health to those who heard him.

One day, he came across a young woman called Bright Rain who was being attacked by wolves. He rescued her and they fell in love. Shortly afterwards, Wind Dancer was attempting to rescue someone else and was tragically killed :(

His death heralded a terrible, bitter Winter which threatened the lives of many. The bitterly cold weather only ceased when Bright Rain started taking long solitary walks. Tribal elders discovered that her beloved Wind Dancer had been reborn in the form of a hummingbird, and appeared to her in fields of spring flowers. He would whisper magical secrets in her ear, and this brought her peace and joy.

After reading this touching story, Wind Dancer seemed an appropriate name for this piece. I'm always a sucker for a good lurve story :)

Hummingbird detail:

Fabric backing:

Clasp detail:

As you can see, after all my umming and arring, I went with a very simple clasp. Anything more would have been too OTT (over the top), me thinks.

So, one UFO (UnFinished Object) bites the dust...now onto the next one. Stay tuned!

Progress

The going is slow on my hummingbird collar, but I'm pleased to report that all I have left to complete is the clasp. And therein lies my dilemma...I have no idea what sort of clasp this piece *needs*. A bead-embroidered clasp? An S-clasp or toggle clasp? A bead-woven clasp? Any suggestions gratefully accepted!

Suggestions for boys names are also being accepted ;-) LOL

Here is the collar with the completed fringe:

And a close-up of the fringe:

I thought I would try a vertical, rather than horizontal, picot edge on this collar. Mostly to hide the foundation from showing through in a couple of places. I'm fairly happy with the result.

Happy, happy new year

As usual I'm fashionably late...this time it is in wishing you all the happiest of new years.

May 2009 be your best year yet in every possible way! :)

My new year started in the most delightfully unexpected way. I received an email from the ultra-lovely Nicole Campanella of BeadWright with the news that I was the winner of her monthly contest for free beads! Winning some free beads is as simple as leaving a comment on Nicole's blog...if your name is drawn out of the hat at the end of the month, you can expect to receive a little package from Nicole in your mailbox. You can also win free beads by visiting Nicole's website and answering a question. How easy is that!

My little package arrived in the mail this morning, all the way from the US. Here are the contents:



Aren't I lucky! *smug*

There are two hanks of Czech seed beads in the most luscious shade of sky-blue. I have already pulled them out of their packet and run my fingers over them too many times to count today...their quality is obvious! I will be saving these beauties for a special project. My package also contained a kit with 14 assorted sizes and colours of Nicole's Bead Backing. The quality and texture of this felt is really fantastic, not to mention the glorious colours! You can get your hands on either of these beady products (and many more) at Nicole's Etsy store or Art Fire store.

I am thrilled to be the recipient of these wonderful and unexpected gifts. It was like opening a little package of happiness, and I don't think I've stopped smiling since :)

Nicole's generosity is something to be admired...and something that we should all aspire to :)