My second red & white ornament started out with red rings that I tacked down using a size 8 and then came back up through the 8 and added some size 11s to go over the edges. Well, once I did that I said "that reminds me of a peppermint candy." And it grew from there. It's hard to see in the pic (try clicking for an extreme close up, sometimes it works sometimes not), but I used two different shades of pearl white and red. I varied the edge too, the red is worked in a two bead edge and the white just a single edge.
The smallest of the ornaments gave me the most difficulty. I did a star pattern that I use (alot!) in my coin purses and wallets that I normally love. But this time I used the wrong colors (clear and pearl white) and it turned out to be pretty much invisible. And then when I went to fill in around the center pattern, it was all uneven and just yucky. So I ignored it for a few days and worked on some knitting.
After I got over pouting about it, I decided to take red thread and go through the clear beads. Hmm, although still not great, it was an improvement. Now, how to camoflauge (gee, I should know how to spell that word, considering my husband is a hunter, but I guess I don't because it doesn't look right to me). Anyway, I finished the edge in a sort of a lacey way and I think the overall effect takes your eye away from the uneven edge. All three ornaments have a different edge, which again, really wasn't planned, the beads just showed me the way.. (I just love how that happens!)
A Family Photo:
All are backed in red ultrasuede. I tacked a folded ribbon for the hanger out the top before putting on the ultrasuede.
I sometimes feel a bit sad and anxious too when a project is finished and I clear off my table to get ready for something new. I don't know why. It's almost like I'm clueless as to what to do. My hairdresser wants me to make her a wallet in earth tones (my fav), so I should be all excited and ready to go since I know what I'm going to do, and yet, I have this weird nervousness. Perhaps its the empty beading mat that freaks me out - I guess I work better with the beads all scattered about!
