Ava Nagilla Pendant Necklace

My newest beading tutorial is "Ava Nagilla" - a pendant using Ava beads, Tinos and Kheops par Puca  beads, Swarovski crystals and Japanese seed beads. I had much fun working with all those shaped beads and see how they fit together so nicely.
The pendant can be hang from one-strand or two-strand necklace of any type (instructions for the changes necessary to allow this are included in the tutorial).

The tutorial for this project can be purchased for instant download here.

Beading Tutorial of the Week

Many beaders have contacted me and asked for a sale for my Personal Use Only tutorials. So I thought I'll start a new routine of a weekly sale -  on Sunday each week I will offer a large discount on one of my PUO tutorials. The sale will run in both my Artfire (file will be sent by email) and Etsy (file available for instant download) shops, using a special coupon code for that week.

This week (May 26 - June 1) I am offering my Mumbai Masala Bracelet tutorial at a 40% discount ($10.8 instead of $18). For applying the discount, please use coupon code on checkout:
use code MUMBAI40 on Artfire, or code 40MUMBAI on Etsy.

Happy Beading!

BAO Color Inspiration

This is my "Toss the Feathers" bracelet, created especially for the Bead Art Originals Color Inspiration challenge - copper, green and black. I have to admit that at first I didn't like this color combination so much, but after I put some beads together and started to play with them, I found that it is a lovely, sophisticated combination. So thanks to Nancy of NEDbeads, I had the opportunity to work with this color combo I wouldn't have thought of myself.

You are invited to suggest your colors for the next challenge to the team by leaving your comment on this blog post. It's really fun and interesting to see how each member used the colors suggested.

These are another two bracelet of the same design I created in different colors for testing the tutorial I made for this bracelet.

Cube Delight Bracelet in Bead and Button Magazine

My cubes and little flowers bracelet (Cube Delight) project is published in the latest issue of Bead& Button magazine. Just got my contributor's copy in the mail today and I am delighted to see three of them on the cover! :)
Thanks to the B&B editors and assistants, it was a pleasure working with you again, and the editor's bracelets look great! Thank you!

Anna Karenina Necklace - BAO Challenge

Bead Art Originals first ever Challenge was "A Novel Idea" - we had to create a work inspired by a written work or fiction. I chose Anna Karenina by Tolstoy and created this necklace for the challenge. I was inspired by a painting of Anna Karenina, wearing a heavy dress with high ruffled collar, which was very fashionable back at that time. I used plum purple beads and burgundy crystals and highlighted the necklace with gorgeous 3-cut rose gold seed beads. These 3-cut s/b really sparkle!

Please visit the BAO blog to see all other entries for our first challenge. You can leave a comment and place your vote until June 22. A random reader will be selected to win a prize.

You may also want to check out what some of BAO members created for the Color Inspiration - a color combination suggested by our blog readers - this time it was turquoise and brown.

The past week was crazy. Except these two BAO challenges, I also had to finish writing instructions for a necklace for B&B magazine, and another project for Beadwork magazine is still in the works. All these and the regular "challenges" of life, which makes me a crazy juggler... ;) The kids' vacation from school is only a few days away and I have to find a good way to keep them busy.. If they'll choose for themselves, spending long days on the computer and watching TV will be their favorite to pass the time, and I can't let it happen... Maybe we will do some beading together, or go biking again...we didn't do it for a long time. OK, now back to work!... ;)

Treasures By the Sea

EBW challenge theme for February was Ocean/Sea Inspired. What a great source of inspiration it was! No wonder there are 46 (!) entries this month. Voting is going to be very hard, as there is an abundance of great pieces!
My entry "Treasures by the Sea" necklace is # 5 on the list.

Voting lasts until the 15th, so don't miss out your chance to check out all entries and vote for your favorite!

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.. ;)

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...

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":

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.

Beads Gone Wild

I'm a bit late on posting this, but there's still time for visiting the EBW June Challenge and picking your favorite! There are 20 beautiful entries, so hurry up and vote!

 

I created this asymmetrical necklace for the current EBW Challenge "Humor".
The idea of this necklace was to create a totally different look on each side of it. On one side, there are round, "innocent" pearls and on the other it's like the beads gone wild and turned into colorful flowers.
I was so busy and a little troubled lately, that I completely forgot about the monthly challenge. I then came up with this idea only a day before the deadline, but didn't listed it on time so couldn't enter the challenge voting. Anyway, I like the summery, cheerful look of this necklace.. Now I have to think of an idea for the next challenge "Here Comes the Bride", picked by Miriam of Cielo Designs, the winner of May challenge.
I have an early idea for this one, and I have two weeks to try to work on it, so I am optimistic.. :)

New Sparkling Bracelet

I usually don't use a lot of Swarovski crystals in my work and especially not this many in one piece. But that doesn't mean I don't like BUYING them.. ;D So, I bought these Light Colorado Topaz bicones almost two years ago and I finally came up with this pattern that includes a lot of them (144 beads, to be exact). I have to check how this pattern comes out in a different color palette, but that will have to wait until I'll finish two other works I have in progress. As always, too many ideas to try but not enough time...

Bollywood Glamour - EBW May Challenge "Red Carpet"

Etsy beadweavers' May challenge theme was "Hollywood Red Carpet".
Please visit the EBW blog to see all 21 Red Carpet entries, pick your favorite and vote for it.
Voting starts today and lasts until the 15th, so don't miss it... My entry, called "Bollywood Glamour" is #8 on the list.

While rolling a few possible ideasfor my entry, the name (nickname) Bollywood - India's equivalent of Hollywood- popped in my head. I've never seen a Bollywood movie, but I've seen a TV documentary show about India's culture and I was amazed by the rich, sometimes overloaded, designs of their traditional jewelry and clothes. As I keep being drawn to ethnic designs, I thought I'd try creating something in this style, but wanted to create a relatively delicate design, with just a few hints of India. So I made these up-side-down drop shaped links with picots and attached a Mandala pendant in the center.
I intended to use gold seed beads, but then realized that I didn't have enough of them to complete the necklace and matching earrings, so chose silver to go with the fuchsia. Silver actually goes very nice with the fuchsia-satin Swarovskis I used, as they have a silvery sparkle.

I am going to create another India-inspired set of a necklace, bracelet and earrings in rich colors, for which I already have the design sketched, but I have to wait until I receive my order of gorgeous orange Toho seed beads in a few days. Can't wait... I am excited about this new journey to India.. :)

Treasures of the Ocean Freeform Bracelet