Random Mix of Beady Things

Hello there!  Here's a few unrelated things I've been working on - sort of mimics my life.  little bit of this, little bit of that, not much sense to it all.....

I did finish a bracelet using the Color Swirls pattern in the latest issue of Beadwork Magazine.  I added baby 3 mm swarovski crystals to the edge and filled the centers too.  The last circle I left open and made a peyote toggle bar as the clasp.  No pics of the finished piece, but you get the picture, right?  Not super happy with the way it turned out, but I understand what the problem is-all the beads I used were slightly different sizes; the silver are more squarish, the black are too small.  Live and learn. 

Moving on to another bracelet; this one is for Hannah's friend, Kayleigh.  She picked out the colors and the pattern (from the June 2004 issue of Bead & Button Magazine - does anyone else hoard old issues of magazines, or is it just me?)

And since we're on the subject of bracelets, here's one for my sister, Laurel:

Ok, so its not quite a bracelet yet, but it will be someday soon.  After taking it apart 100 times, I've decided to join the circles with a tiny beaded bead.  I only have one made so far, but the rest should come together quickly, as long as my eyes cooperate.  Working with 3mm bicones and size 15 seeds in this color makes me a little buggy!  And what a shame they aren't very photogenic.  It's really gorgeous in person. 

I don't know if this is just a phenomenon in my house, but pens tend to vanish into thin air.  So I made myself a little peyote pen holder for a journal my sister Laurel gave me for Christmas.  I used the delica beads she brought me back from Boston and some teensy weensy 2 mm swarovski crystals as an accent. 

 I made a herringbone (I think) chain and stitched it to the binding of the book.  Now, if only I could rig some sort of alarm to trigger if someone other than myself takes the pen out....

This wonderful blog community made it a good mail day yesterday.  Not only did I get a present of these fabulous pearls from Nicole, which I absolutely love.......

I also got my blog book! 

Had it not been for Susan posting about getting her blog published, I would have had no clue such a thing was possible. 

 I am thrilled with the quality of this book.  It exceeded all my expectations.  And talk about simple and quick to do - I think it took me less than 5 minutes to order, and I got the book a week later.    If you're interested, here's the link to the site I ordered from.

So a big shout out of gratitude to both Nicole and Susan for spreading the blog love! 

Bead Happy and often!

All Done

Finished up Jenna's wallet - cuter in person than it shows here. The edging really pulls it all together. It's a fun way to join two pieces together (though I do hand sew the lining first). If anyone wants the details, just contact me.

Resolution Day 2 - so far so good - here's a pic of my next project. It will be a wallet for Jenna, who is the daughter of the office manager at my daughter's orthodontist.

Hot pink and black - what fun! Can't wait to get started, now that the pattern is all ready and the beads (I think) are selected.

how did 3 months pass since the last time I 'posted'??? I guess I need to discipline myself to be a better blogger. I cruise around these other beading blogs and I just am amazed at how out of the loop I am. To think I used to be a computer programmer -- too funny -- times change, thats true.

My big goal for the summer was to get my work on Etsy. Ok so now I'm there - what does that mean? Why do I feel that I need to justify my creative time at the studio table by selling my work? Why can't I just bead to bead? Here's a picture of my baby giraffe that I started months ago, when I didn't feel the need to produce for the public. she's (he?) so cute - watching me from her basket of beads that will some day adorn her entire body. She's actually a bit further along than the pic shows - her neck and mane are done and I just love her.

I really thought I would join the BJP group, but waited too long to decide and missed the deadline. So instead my attention and focus is preparing for a Holiday Art Show the end of October. After that commitment is fulfilled, my new resolution will be to get back to beading for me and playing with techniques and colors, without worrying whether or not the end result will produce a marketable product. Maybe then I will finally come up with something as as tribute to my grandmother. Lord knows she deserves it!