Heavy Metal Cuff

This is a new cuff bracelet, woven with textured, shiny corner-less brass beads I bought a while ago from TheJadeDog Beads (thanks Darcy, they're gorgeous!) and using another one of Claspgarten beautiful clasps (check Claspgarten main page and see an absolutely gorgeous bracelet, created by Diane Fitzgerald, using on of their clasps).

If I were to wear any jewelry, this cuff bracelet would probably have been my favorite. I love the simplicity of it!

Peace and Winter Olympics EBW Challenge

This is my entry (#13 on the list) for the EBW December Challenge.The theme was chosen by tied first place winners of the October challenge, AngelqueCreations and yours truly (thanks again for everyone who voted for my piece!).
I chose Peace and Jacquie of AngelqueCreations chose the Winter Olympics as a theme. So the two themes were combined and the idea was to create a piece that promote peace and understanding among nations. Friendly competitions like the Olympic games is one example of how conflicts can be put aside and differences in culture or religion become irrelevant...

The inspiration for my Peace on Earth necklace came from the dove with olive branch, which is the symbol of peace in Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Another source of inspiration, which represent the other part of the theme, is the Greek laurel wreath that winners of the ancient Olympic Games wore on their heads.

Please visit the EBW blog, between now and the 15th to view all 19 beautiful entries and vote for your favorite. Your comment would also be appreciated.

Surprise in The Mail!

A little box came in the mail and I was so surprised to see these five gorgeous clasps sent to me, again, by Claspgarten! Thank you, Karin of Claspgarten! I am so grateful and flattered to have been chosen to design with your clasps... :)

I am so in love with the brass rectangle clasp I got and can't wait to start working on something with it (probably a bracelet) .. The photo doesn't do justice to the other ones with crystals... they are so beautiful and really sparkle!

I have completed working on a necklace using this large clasp I got in the first batch, but I can't post the images yet, since I am thinking of sending this necklace to Perlen Poesie magazine for publication, so it has to be kept as a secret for a few months..

Like it has always been for me, new materials to work with excite me and give my muse a huge push! Fun! :)

Warm Winter Bloom Necklace

This is my entry (#17 on the list) for the Etsy Beadweavers challenge "Beauty of the Flower". Please visit the EBW blog between the 9th and 15th, pick your favorite entry and vote for it.

New Glitzy Bracelet

A new bracelet with Claspgarten clasp - rhodium plated clasp with Swarovski crystals. I really like how this one turned out. :)

I have one last item to create with Claspgarten clasp - it is the most challenging one for me. I'll probably have to try a few possible designs, as this one has a unique shape, (relatively) large size and heavy weight...

Too many thoughts and ideas are running in my head right now, making too much "noise", like in a busy train station... One is for the current EBW challenge (which I doubt I'll be able to finish on time, but that's as per usual..:D); one is for a bride's custom necklace (luckily I have enough time for this one); another one is for a project to be published in the European magazine Perlen Poesie next year, and lots of ideas for details of my (possible) entry for the Bead&Button show 2010, which I really (really!) hope I'll be able to create and finish on time...
It seems like I'm 'beading' in my mind more than I'm actually beading.. ;)

Claspgarten Clasp #3

This is a new bracelet, designed around another one of Claspgarten clasps. I love the Swarovski Black Diamond stones that are set in the clasp - they are beautiful and sparkling in a wide spectrum of colors when you move them in the light. Gorgeous color!

Two more clasps to go. I need more time for beading....too many projects and not enough time...

Different Approach in Designing

A few weeks ago, I was contacted by a very nice lady from Claspgarten - a German company which manufactures high-quality clasps of many kinds. She asked me if I could design a few items and use their clasps in them.

Usually, when I bead a bracelet or a necklace, I first bead them and then I look for the clasp I think would complement and work best in the design. And if I then can't find the right clasp, I just beadweave one. I thought it would be interesting for me to try building a whole design around the clasp.

I realized that although the process is similar to building a design around a focal bead or a pendant, it's still a bit different because of the clasp's functionality.
In addition, I didn't get to choose the clasps and when I received them I realized that 4 0f 5 of them are not in the style I would normally pick, so it was a bit of a challenge and a good chance to see if I can come up with a nice idea for using them.

In this necklace, I decided that the clasp should also act as a bead and be placed on the front side of the necklace. I had to try several bead additions and arrangements in order to have the necklace's weight balanced, because the clasp itself (of high quality rhodium plated with Swarovski crystals) is quite heavy, and also to make sure that the whole arrangement allows the wearer to open and close the clasp easily.

The second item I've created using another one of the clasps she sent me, is this bracelet. I love using metal clasps for my bracelets and this beautiful rhodium plated clasp was no exception.

I still have 3 more clasps to go, so the fun continues...

Video Tutorials

Recently, a few beaders wrote to me, telling about their first steps in the beadweaving world. This reminded me of my own first steps, when as a self-taught beader, I used to spend long hours on trying to learn the basic techniques, until I had grasped them.  I think that workshops are the best way to learn beadweaving, but if one, for any reason, can't attend them, there are still ways to learn without having to follow illustrations - video tutorials on the internet.  (I never attended any workshop because I couldn't afford them, so I mostly learned from illustration). I found a whole section of them (as well as articles and SBS instructions) on Auntie's Beads site. I watched some of them and I think they are great. So if you are a beader and you can't use illustrations, you might find these very helpful...
While I was browsing Auntie's Beads site, I also found these Awareness pink beads. Aren't they beautiful?

Super Power Hero Challenge

I managed to finish this Spider Woman necklace for the current EBW challenge, Super Power Hero, in no time!..
I came up with an initial idea when it was less than two days before the deadline and I was not sure I'll be able to create, photograph and post my entry on time.

But I was lucky, because when I opened the bag of black beads I wanted to use for this necklace, I discovered that there were two woven St. Petersburg straps in it.
I came to think that these black beads must be of super power kind - they weave themselves whenever you just think of them!.. ;D I just couldn't remember when and why I put them in there and what I intended to create with them in the first place.. I always try not to keep any unfinished works and my bead boxes are always tidy... Well, not always, it seems...
So of course I decided to use the straps for this necklace. All I had to add was a pendant and a clasp, and Voila! I had my entry finished... :)
I think I have to reconsider the rule of not keeping unfinished works (I take them apart and put all the materials back in place) - it could save the precious time put in creating them if they are used as part of another new design... Now let's just see if I can break my own rule.. ;)

Please check out all 15 entries to the Super Power challenge on the EBW blog. Voting has started today and will last until the 15th, so don't miss it!

Back on Track

I want to thank each and everyone of you, who have sent me messages and e-mails during my internet absence. I apologize if I won't be able to reply to each one of you personally, but I want you to know that I really appreciate you writing to me and your concern!
I had some family stuff to deal with, which had badly overtook my mind and took all energy out of me... I'm glad I decided to take some time off, because I now feel much better and ready to go back on track...

I haven't picked a needle and thread during all that time and I miss creating something! I think that an EBW challenge entry would be a nice 'restart' for my creativity and I hope I will be able to finish it before the deadline in four days!...
My previous challenge entry was this Indian Summer necklace.

And, I would like to ask if anyone of you who use Blogspot knows how to block spam comments? One of my blog posts is under such an attack - it looks like a robot spamming, using a different username each time - and I have no idea of what to do other than deleting the comment every time... any suggestions?

My Lacy Bracelets in Beadwork Magazine

These two bracelets are published in the latest (Oct./Nov.) issue of Beadwork Magazine.
My inspiration for this design came from one of my favorite ethnic patterns - the Saraguro Hojas, which is basically done using modified brick stitch technique.

Check out Kerrie Slade's project on p.74 in this issue - a colorful, stunning Peacock necklace. You can also see many other of Kerrie's beautiful designs on her site.

Necklace with Removeable Rings and Beadwoven Caps

I finally got my advance contributor's copy of the Oct/Nov issue of Bead & Button magazine this afternoon. I worked with editor Lesley Weiss on the project for this necklace and had much fun. Thank you, Lesley!

In this issue, there's also a beautiful bracelet project by talented bead artist Cindy Caraway, who is also the creator of the Nile Queen necklace published in the Your Work section - fabulous design in a great color combination! You should visit Cindy's site and see more of her gorgeous creations! Here's just one gorgeous example of her work "Chakra Pendant necklace":

Gem Stones Free Form Bracelet

I bought these gold Toho 3-cut 8/0 seed beads from The Bead Parlor (yes, they do ship outside the US, thanks again, Shelly!) and I was very pleased to discover that they sparkle even more than in the photos. They are gorgeous! The 3-cut shape gives them extra shine and a very nice texture, too.
The first idea I came up with of what to use them for was an oriental design. I though that August's birthstone Peridot, Carnelian, Garnet and Amethyst gem stone beads would make a nice combination with the bright gold.

August in Israel...

I wish the summer was over, I can't stand the heat and humidity anymore! I miss the fall, or better the spring...(I don't like the winter. I feel like a bear with all the cloths on). The weather makes me nervous-- I hate sweating, but I hate the sound of the air condition even more.. I can't sleep well.. I'm always tiered... very hard to concentrate on the work, even in the late night hours. I'm going crazy.

The only good thing I can think of August right now is that it's the weddings season, and weddings are always so exciting!..
Today I finished working on this cuff, made especially upon the request of a cute bride-to-be. Her wedding is going to take place on the beach, so she asked for a simple design, in clear, silver and just a bit of silver colors, that reminds the soft sand and the waves on the beach. This is the design I came up with for her bracelet (I'm happy, she was very pleased :).


This is the first time I've created something by following a graph of the pattern, and I have to admit that it was hard for me to do (it's the ^&*%$%# heat! ;), and maybe it was even harder because I had to use three kinds of clear seed beads with slight differences in the color. I now admire artists like SandFibers even more than before. She creates her lovely intricate designs using tiny Delica beads. Amazing!. It is really a hard, challenging work and very time consuming! I am not sure I'll do this kind of work again. OK, maybe I'll do it again, but only in the fall or winter...or if a cute bride asks me.. :)

This is another necklace I recently finished working on-- a simple design in bright colors. Great for summer, isn't it?.. ;)

"First Lady of Style" Challenge

First Lady of Style was the theme for the EBW August challenge. There are 30 entries this month - a gorgeous, varied collection of styles. My entry is # 22 on the list.

This month only, the voting poll have been moved over to HERE and voting will last until the 17th.

This is what I came up with for this challenge. I was inspired by the style of the Sex and the City main character, Carrie Bradshaw. Multi-chain necklaces and pearls are commonly used to complement Carrie's sophisticated look, and many of them became hot trends.

Peace!

I was playing with the beads (while the song "all we are sayin' is give peace a chance" kept playing in my head :)), trying to weave the hippie peace sign that has recently made a comeback in fashion accessories, and this is the first result.
I want to try to create a three dimensional version of this pendant, using brighter colors. It is so much fun translating things to beadweaving!

But this would have to wait until I finish sending in two new projects for Bead & Button magazine (this is taking me forever...).
I also need to start working on my entry for the next EBW challenge.. and finish an embroidered cuff that has been on the works for weeks now. Time... you know..

And I am looking forward to having Ardjan's mother coming from Holland to spend a lovely week with us. Last time she visited us, she tried to teach me how to do tatting with a shuttle, but I just didn't get it well then and forgot all she taught me the day after she left... :(
She makes beautiful designs using this technique (two of her samples are in this photo) and I really want to learn, so I thought that this time it would be best to film or photograph the whole process, step by step, so I can keep trying until I succeed. I already have some ideas of using tatting and beadweaving together in a design and I can't wait to try it again. I hope I will soon have a new tatting work of my own to share!.. ;)