Cubed

I bought a book about cube beads.



I've aquired a collection of the little squared boogers, and it was only a matter of time before they got stuck to an ornament.

You all know me well enough by now that if I see something I like, it will most likely end up on an ornament right?

This pattern is really cool. It also works up surprisingly easily and in no time you have a great strap of squiggly beaded stuff.  I had to adapt as I could find no 2mm cube beads anywhere, but triangles and/or hexes work perfectly.

 

I used black beads for one of the sides of the squiggle, and AB black beads for the other side.

 

The pictures do not show the ab/plain contrast AT ALL, but it's there! and it looks pretty sweet. 

Ring around the Rosie

A pocket full of spears.

This is a Karen DeSousa pattern, modified to suit my attention span :)

I used AB orange rivolis, that read a nice copper-y red in person, Dirty penny 4mm rounds, red delicas, and red 15/0s and silvrlined gols 3mm bugles.

Note to anyone trying this ornament cover, the flowers wont stay the shape you want them to be.

I really like it, however.  I think the matte white ball sets off the colors beautifully.

Greyscale

I asked my favorite couple (our go-to co-Halloweeners) what their Christmas colors were this year, and after some thought, they decided upon greyscale.

Weird.

And fun!

And a bit of a challenge!

How to use blacks and greys, but being translatable to other multi-color years...hmmmm

First a quick dip into the beads. I had some silver 4mm, and 6mm rounds, some pewter colored plastic roses in 6ish aand 8ish mm, some smokey grey bicones, and black 11/0s and 15/0s.

I found a pattern for a pendant in an old Beadwork(the issue has a large brownish beaded basket on the front)

Using the roses this way, obviously not intentionally sideways, took away a bit of their obvious plasticity, and made them grow up just a hair.

I harnessed them to the ornament in a pretty simple manner, and stuck the thing on a matte white ornament.  I think I accomplished the task at hand, as it looks the same in black and white.  The above photo is not black and white, but it could be!

 

Creamsicle Florette

I used this color scheme-Orange, pearly white, etc, last year, and I liked it then.  It follows that when the beads leapt forth from my stash this year in that same colorway, that I would like them again.  And I did.

 

 

I used Smadar's pattern Sparkly Wreaths but omitted the steps for the back of the pendant, as I didn't want the medallion to poke out quite so far. 

 



 

 

I used silver lined orange Delicas, orange mettallic 11/0s, peachy-orange pearls, gold lined white translucent 11/0s, fire opal Swarovski 4mm bicones, and paprika? rivolis. There are also some bronze AB 15/0 for distinction. 

 

I'm pretty happy with it.  Also, that's my finger in the corner...oops :o)

 



House of cards

There is a superintendant where I work who goes by the name of Frank.

He is my favorite superintendant.

He is also a big fan of cards, dice, and slots. 

I was wandering around Walmart one day and found a keychain that had 5 card shaped charms on it. They were the 10, J, Q, K, A of spades.

EUREKA! Thought I.

I'll use these on Frank's ornament!!

Now for a pattern...hmmmm

Karen DeSousa's Exotic Ornaments "Festival" seemed to fit the bill. I wanted almost a harlequin look, so I chose black and white.  Then I threw in some red to keep with the card theme.

It was working really well, I didn't have to buy any beads, save the charms.

I began beading this as an on-the-plane ornament(I fly a LOT don't I...jeeeeeeez)

Well, we got to our destination and as I was just hanging out later, I decided to bead some more.

I left the book on the plane.

I left the book ON THE PLANE

ON. THE. PLANE.

CRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAP.

There were no bead stores where we were. I had no backup beadwork with me. The only time in the history of beads where I don't have a backup project, and I need it.

I got desperate, and crafty. I pulled up the picture of the ornament from her website, and as I had packed only the necessary beads, I was able to figure out something close to the orignal. It isn't perfect, but it looks really nice, and I'm happy with it.

I learned a valuable lesson. Make a copy of the pattern and take that instead of the book.

Now I have to go buy another copy.

Oh well, hopefully someone picks up the book from the plane and a new beader is born.

 

This ornament uses black 15/0, 11/0, 3mm bugles, jet Swarovski 4mm bicones, and black 4-sh mm firepolished crystals, white 15/0s, 11/0s, silver 3mm rounds, silver lined red 3mm bugles and light siam 4mm Swarovski bicones.

Let's build a snowman!

Let's build a snowman
We could make it tall, or we could make it not so tall!
A snowman!
It could have a happy face, a happy smile, a happy point of view.
If you build me a snowman then I'll build one for you!
Sooooo let's build a snowman we could make it our best friend.
We could name Bob, or we could name it.....Balewolf!
We could make it tall or we could make it not so tall. A snowman!

Big into for simple ornament!

This one was done in bronze colored 11/0s, red 11/0s, and white 11/0s.  It has bronzey snowan charms and a few pearls, for zest.

Jelly-Fish Sojourn

This was another June Ornament.

  I bead on planes, it's how I roll-er-fly...I needed a bead project to take with me on a fill-in trip to Texarkana back in June. The jelly fish was NOT going.

I had a vision of blue-grey beads, silver chain, and some other whatnot. I was thinking "kinda bad-assed ornament that a guy could hang on his tree and not think, OMG this is the frilliest thing I have ever seen, I'll just grit my teeth and smile and say thanks..."


So I picked out some beads, a pearly light blue, some 4mm crystals, some twisted Michael's crystals in blue/grey from the clearance rack, I think there were pearls involved, some steely gray chain, and some little metal findings.

I began with a rough idea, found a pattern that kinda went along with it then deviated severely :-)
Be not fooled by how this one sits on the wine glass.  I need a photography tent. And a hanger thingy if I'm ever going to be happy with a photo I take of my beadwork.

Christmas in July

As I sat and tried my best to decide what to get my BFF for her birthday, I realized that I could get ahead of the game and also send her her ornament! Hark!

Seeing as how I had just picked up a strand of these snowman beads from Joann's, I could put them to good use.

This was another Karen Desousa Ornament based on the Celestial Series. 

Again, I have squat for fire-polished beads, so some substitution was in order. 

I used matte white 6/0s (of which I have great abundance, due to a botched bead excursion in which the buyer did his very best, and I am still very grateful! ) for the belly band, light blue and a darker blue 11/0's, snowman beads and their corresponding spotted round beads, and some weird spoon beads that I'm pretty sure came from Spokane.



I am fairly pleased with this ornament, and my friend really likes it.  Mission accomplished. 

I made something and then wore it!

One of my closest friends got married on October 6, 2012 and I couldn't be happier for him. 

He is a dear friend, one of the few from college that has really changed my life.  We got mono our freshman year from the same bottle of Apple Puckers(we think, it wasn't from kissing)!

We worked at Wendy's together! We had bubble fights and took turns being "dish bitch" together!

He told my first love that I was crazy for him.

Anyway, enough hanging out on memory lane, it'll be dark soon. 

This bracelet was made to go with the cocktail dress that I had to purchase for the occasion. The dress was picked out by my dear husbeast, who also purchased his first suit for the occasion.

It was black with a purple and black stripey skirt. Actually...here is a picture...



I knew I wanted a wide bracelet, with a little sparkle.

I had about a quarter of a pattern drawn up for another endeavor but, due to a few missing key Delica shades, it was tabled.

With my pattern in hand I selected my colors and charged ahead.



I like the finished product.  It is a little bit tapestry, a little bit sparkly, a little bit woven looking, and a little bit awesome.

I used S/L wine-y purple Treasures, hematite Delicas, black Delicas, and nickel plated Delicas. 



The clasp is hematite colored with a few Swarovski 4mm bicones.

What happened in June

So, I've been following OTTBS for a while now, not that you'd know from the lack of things to show for it-I'm eyeballing you Blogger-and the challenge for June was Colors of the rainbow.

I'm kind of a huge fan of brightly colored things-like tie dye and neon pink beads that I'll never use and I thought, I can do a rainbow colored Ornament! Yes, that is exactly what I'll do. It was settled.

I decided to tackle one of the patterns from Karen DeSousa's Heirloom collection

I then dove in picking beads out of my stash including matte transparent pink, matte orange, matte yellow, trasparent green, S/L blue, and transparent purple.  As I have a dinky collection of fire polished beads, I used S/L clear 8/0's for the belly band and S/L clear for most of the other structural elements.

I had some crazy bright stars from Hobby Lobby that decided they wanted to be included too, and some of those dastardly peanut beads that I get all dewey eyed over rounding out the short list. (Seriously, try them in a kumihimo rope, you will not be disappointed).

Then I tackled the pattern. 

I quickly realised that fringe is mind numbing. Twisted fringe is mind numbing and hand numbing(shakes semi-numb fist at Carpal Tunnel!!!)

That ornament just wouldn't get done! Hours and hours and hours I worked and it never got complete. It just sat there on my bead tray like some illicit love-child of a unicorn and a jelly-fish.

I started this ornament June 1.  I think I finished it in mid-July.



The worst thing is that I have issues cutting things apart once I've committed to them.  The flaws are just...there.  But on we move with life and the next ornament...

3 bracelets and some new beads

I began this post in March. March!!! Thats how long I've been neglecting you, and how long I can apparently hold a technology grudge! Now that blogger and I have made up, I will try to get some of the back-logged stuff I've been working on up and posted!!
I have been productive this month!

I've made 2 bracelets from this month's Bead and Button. 

The first used the Power Trio by Isabella Lam. This one would have been my OTTBS entry.  The challenge this month was to use purple and grey. 



I used hematite 8/0s and silverlined dark purple Delicas and 15/0s.  I've used this color combo before and many times it gives a really cool dimensional effect.  Maybe it didn't work that way here because the beads were different sizes and not right next to each other.  (I'm serious, use some hematite colored beads and some silverlined dark purple Delicas(or any color silverlined Delicas).  The Dels recede.  Its pretty cool...)  I finished it off with a hematite colored toggle. 


I liked this pattern, even though it used cubic RAW.  I haven't tamed the beast, but I got to at least pet the beast with this bracelet, figuratively speaking.

And I made another one (I've been trying to upload photos to this damned blog since 3-19...) It uses glow-in-the-dark 8/0s with matte transparent blue Delicas and matte black 15/0s.

My second piece was also from this month's B&B.  It is from the pattern called Fantastic Features By Amanda Shero Granstrom. 

I did NO stashbusting on this one. I bought permanently distressed copper wire to make my rings, a new mandrel which is really one of thise big crochet hook knitting neede thingies, green 10mm sequins(pattern called for 12's, but I couldn't find any).  And I even had to buy a hole punch! 

I think it's worth it though. I got to play with chain maille.  I like chain maille. 


I also got a wild hare up my ass and decided that I had to make some polymer clay beads.  Of course this required me to buy more stuff.  Like clay, and blades, and a pasta roller, and seriously. I have a problem.  I don't need new hobbies.  I need to deplete some of the hobbies I currently have. :)

Anywho, here they are fresh from the oven.  I need to drill, sand, buff and glaze them still, but they're pretty.

I then went on a polymer clay book buying spree.  One is about canework.  Canes are really easy once you get the hang of them.  You just start with a picture about the size of the base of a pop can and break it up into small simple shapes. 

May you stay Forever Young

The Challenge of Music is here!!!

And my piece is done on time! (its kind of a big deal 'round here)

For my inspiration, I picked a Joan Baez cover of Bob Dylan's "Forever Young"

I can't think of a more beautiful song, or a more beautiful voice to carry it.  Have a listen...I'll wait

Beautiful right? And the words are beautiful too, in case you missed them, have a read:

"May God bless and keep you always
May your wishes all come true
May you always do for others
And let others do for you
May you build a ladder to the stars
And climb on every rung
May you stay forever young
Forever young, forever young
May you stay forever young

May you grow up to be righteous
May you grow up to be true
May you always know the truth
And see the lights surrounding you
May you always be courageous
Stand upright and be strong
May you stay forever young
Forever young, forever young
May you stay forever young

May your hands always be busy
May your feet always be swift
May you have a strong foundation
When the winds of changes shift
May your heart always be joyful
May your song always be sung
May you stay forever young
Forever young, forever young
May you stay forever young"

This song means alot to me.  My dad's friend who passed away last year taught me to play it on the guitar.  He believed in me.  Alot of people have believed in me since I was little.  I hope that I have done them all proud, and I hope that I will always stay forever young. 

My piece is an embroidered cuff, on white felt.  The central focal is a My Little Pony magnet that came in a book my sister bought me for Christmas.  I have an enourmous collection of Ponies...its a bad habit that I'm really not willing to break.  Its a habit I've had since I was really little.

I have also used two pink AB 8mm rivolis to accent the pony, because they are in the same colorway and because they are kindof glamourous and all grown up.  I've also used some purple-y margeritas

I used LOTS of seed beads to try to make this bracelet convey the feeling of joy in this song.  There are no hard angles, and I tried to make things flow. 

So have I done Joan and Bob proud?

(yeah I totally took my photos waiting for a plane in the Knoxville airport :) )

You've heard my song and seen my work, now go see theirs!
Erin Prais-Hintz

Marcie Abney

Christine Altmiller

Elisabeth Auld

LJ B

Lori Bowring Michaud

Shannon Chomanczuk

Cece Cormier

Jenny Davies-Reazor

Malin de Koning

Beth Emery

Michelle Escano-Caballero

Erin Fickert-Rowland

Therese Frank

Amy Freeland

Tanya Goodwin

Stephani Gorman

Amy Grass

Beth Hemmila

Kristina Johansson

Jennifer Justman

Tari Kahrs

Susan Kennedy

Ema Kilroy

Kathleen Lange Klik

Kirsi Luostarinen

Paige Maxim

Beth McCord

Natalie McKenna

Alice Peterson

Cat Pruitt

Bobbie Rafferty

Johanna Rhodes

Cynthia Riggs

Sally Russick

Sarah Sequins

Amy Severino

Staci Smith

Kristen Stevens

Lola Surwillo

Stefanie Teufel

Sandi Volpe

Holly Westfall

Shaiha Williams

Happy beading everybody!!

My quilt is done and the bead tray is almost empty ready for new-ness!

Remember this quilt?

Well it is done. And, I didn't even have to holler Moooooooooooooooommmmmmm! Fix this.

That is a resolution, resolved :)

Here is the finished product...

And here are few highlights from the embroidered blocks. 

This was before he went to Trader Vic's...

And a One Eyed, One Horned, Flying purple people eater

And a witch and a ghoul...

I also finished my OTTBS entry for January, granted it's late, but I did finish it, and got to use some triangle beads that I've had in my stash since 2007 :) and those o-rings that I abslutely had to have...and alot of other beads. 

This is from the December 11/Jan 12 issue of beadwork.  The pattern is called Beaded Bubbles by Ann Gilbert.  There is a note in the corner of the page regarding tension.  It is absolutely true.  ANY tension makes the components hump up in the middle.  I stretched the O-rings themelves and got them to flatten out a bit, but your mileage may vary. 

And...after looking at the photos, I seem to have forgotten the all-important clasp. Crap-tastic.

Also, I'd like to introduce you to my model, Onslow, the blue lobster...

This is a great pattern.  It almost makes brick stitch pleasant, and it makes me wonder what else I could do with this stitch.  I'm starting to thing the mark of a good pattern isn't what you make with the pattern, but what you make in the future with what you learned from it.

I also found time to make some Peruvian String Earrings. These are super, super, simple.  If you can make a basic coil, do a simple wrapped wire loop and wrap some thread around stuff, yu can make these. And they look friggin awesome!!!!

These are actually neon pink, orange, and yellow.  They remind me of this picture of a ship that my parents used to have hanging in their living room. 

I used the tutorial found here.  I used embroidery floss, whose 6-strand skeins I split, then split the 6 strings into (I think) 4 smaller threads-I did use metallic sewing thread to great success on another pair. I used 24g wire for the coils and 18g wire for the frame.  Other supplies were a piece of 14 g wire that I used as a coiling mandrel, clear nail polish, wire cutters, and pliers as necessary.

Yay! for productive weekends!!!!



And there was that sporting event...right? :)

Better late than never right?

Six, Seven, and Eight, respectively

I made number 6 on the way from Tennessee to my home near Pittsburgh. 

I used clear Tilas, magatamas, 11/0s, and some dagger beads over this super deep purple semi-matte ornament. 

 The pattern was loosely based on a project in Beadwork involving Tilas, but I didn't have the magazine accessible in the truck, so I went by memory.  This one is for the husbeast, whose favorite color.


Number seven was made while I was at home.  This one will eventually make its way to my parents-in-law.  I used some beautiful deer antler buttons that I found at the Powder Horn Trading Company in Kalispell, Montana. 

I also used peachy-ish colored pearls that I found there.  The idea with the buttons came from Bead and Button (I think...) there was a pattern using vintage shank buttons.  I altered the 2-hole style of the buttons with a bit of wire to work the pattern.  I covered the wire with a few 11/0s.

I used 4mm pearls and 6mm pearls, buttons, 11/0s in dark matte brown, silver-lined blue 11/0s, transparent blue 8/0s (in place of the 3mm beads)

I made number 8 on the way back from Pittsburgh.  It happened after a failed herringbone attempt at a rivoli bezel, then a failed netted bezel, and a failed peyote bezel.  I don't know what was going on, so I gave up and did other things with different beads.  I seem to have forgotten to take photos of number 8.  Crap.  Well next time, I'll tell you all about it :)

Then I got sidetracked when I got home and startd back on the Hallowe'en quilt.

5 and a bag

I have been beading in my free moments.  I really really have...
I started working on an ornament using Laura McCabe's Eiffel Tower Ring pattern from Beading Across America but, when she says size 15 Czech Charlottes, I think she means it.  Now I have  weird purple thingie sitting on my bead tray.  It kinda looks like one of those little tables that comes in a pizza box.  I didn't get to the add the rivoli part. I gave up.  Poor little guy.

I did finish another ornament.  I'm calling it Creamsicle.  It has lots of silver lined orange Delicas and pearls. 

The focals are beads from Hobby Lobby.  I like it.

I also finished my medicine bag for my father in law.  I decided, afte seeing a magpie for the first time over Thanksgiving, that a magpie would be a most fitting creature to represent me.  They are smart, they like shiny stuff, and they hoard things.  Me to a tee. :)

He is black, white, and iridescent blue/black Delicas and Treasures and 15/0s in black and white, beaded on felt, on leather, with an elk ivory, obviously .

Ding Ding Round 1!

Ornament time is upon us. Damn near passed us by! EEK!

Here are numbers 2, 3, and 4.

What happened to #1? (remember the flamingos?)

Anywho, the second ornament of the year features a black shatterproof ball, beaded over with rainbow sherbert colors. (11/0sin magenta, orange, and electric slime green)

It is simple netting but the progression of colors does really cool stuff, dunnit Ern?

Looks even cooler spinning around in circles :)

Number 3 s a gift for two of our closest friends. They made mention that they have never received an ornament, so I asked their Christmas colors, and they replied magenta and turqouise, but its a dusty magenta and a blue-y turquoise. I think my colors are a bit vibrant, but I am pleased anyway.

It features magenta 11/0s turquoise 11/0s, turquoise fire polished beads, turquoise acrylic flowers and magenta drop beads.

Finally is number 4. I am all about rivolis and ornaments now. This one has blue rivolis with a peacock finish, small blue-green rounds, and gold 15/0s.

I like it even if the cover is too loose in one place and too loose in another. I think I'll call it blue jean.