Thursday 29 January 2015

More February Challenges

I just found out from a great group, Beadwork Mentoring that I will be also learning more on bezeled cabs. February should be a fun month!

I think I will break each day down and try and work on different challenges.


Wednesday 28 January 2015

February Ideas

Well it is Wednesday already and the end of January. Spring is coming and I cannot wait! I like the rain because you do not have to shovel it. :)

I have been thinking of February and what will I stitch? What do I want to learn more about this month? What colors do I want to play with?

I'm pretty sure for part of the month I will be working on Valentine Tuts and possibly the brick stitch.

I'm going to concentrate on the herringbone stitch as I want to learn all that I can on this stitch. Not only do I find it a pretty stitch but I know there is quite a bit I can learn about it. I know the basics and I have worked advanced in this stitch. Now to spread my wings.

Color tends to be obvious this month. Reds and pinks but as I said a bit before I'm going to be working with a new color called "Strawberry Ice".

Here are a few links on herringbone if your interested in working along with me.

http://www.pinterest.com/pattirabbit/beading-herringbone-ndebele-stitch/?z=1

http://www.pinterest.com/source/katioldala.blogspot.com/

http://larkcrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/HerringboneClusterEarrings.pdf

http://larkcrafts.com/jewelry-beading/i-can-previews/

http://www.beadwrangler.com/samplers/herringbone/making_herringbone_samples1.htm

http://suedavis3.tripod.com/beadwork/id49.html

http://www.rubysbeadwork.com/HerringboneSparkleBracelet.html

http://www.rubysbeadwork.com/HerringboneVariation.html

http://www.rubysbeadwork.com/RubysHerringboneBangles.html

Saturday 24 January 2015

Emily Tutorial

This is the beginning of my free tutorials which is available to the public.
This free tutorial necklace is a combination of chevron flat chain, herringbone and a touch of peyote. I named this necklace Emily..can anyone guess why? smile emoticon




Yes I am now about to design my necklace named Marsala

Check back often for more free tutorials.

Thursday 22 January 2015

Today while surfing for Pantone's colors I came across a monthly challenge by Fusion Beads. So I will be following their colors monthly. This month's color is Marsala. It is a rich burgandy. So my next jewelry post will be using my burgandy's. I found some garnet gemstones I had and added more beads to come up with a palette. This is it! What do you think?


Tuesday 20 January 2015

Blog Hop

The following questions are answered for the "Blog Hop" Bead Peeps. I finally joined my first blog hop and am looking forward to it.

1. Why or how did you get started making jewelry?
2. What style(s) of jewelry do you like to make?
3. What materials do you prefer to use (and which ones do you avoid)?
4. What techniques do you prefer (and are there any you don't like)?
5. What colors do you use most, and which do you run screaming from?


1)Why or how I got started making jewelry? I started mainly because I needed a hobby to keep myself pre-occupied after retirement. I worked in nursing and had a heart attack so retirement came early for me.

2) What styles do I like to make? I have tried many styles from wire work to polymer clay to stringing, to metal stamping and now bead weaving. It was a natural progression for me.  I enjoy bead weaving the most because I have the strength to do it and I enjoy learning all the different stitches.

3)I use primarily seed beads, super duos, crystals, gemstones, czech beads, clay beads, and ceramic beads and metals. I would avoid leather cording or string cording.

4)I do many different stitches in bead weaving and I do make earrings, bracelets and necklaces. I do no make rings.

5)I like a variety of colors. I enjoy learning the latest fashion colors and incorporating them into my work. So right now I am finishing up the winter colors and am now going into Pantones color of the year plus Spring 2015s color such as pinks, mint green, pale blues, light greys etc. I do not dislike colors except grass green.

This is my most recent necklace that I created. I finished it on Sunday night. It is a seed bead and super duo design.


This is a 3 drop peyote design that I created for an fb group challenge.

Yes both pieces are quite dark. Yet they both look so rich and reds do brighten them somewhat.