BAO Color Challenge

The latest Color Challenge for the Bead Art Originals team was copper, deep red and gold. Thank you, Katie of Texas U.S for your suggestion! I love this warm combination of colors! Check out the BAO blog and see what other members of the group created for this challenge.

Twisting and Bending Wire

OK, so this is harder than I thought. While working on this cuff, I realized that wire working requires a lot of thinking about structure and construction beforehand.
I tried to work in the same way as I, in many cases, work in beadweaving - creating a base and then add more materials as I go along and build the design. Implementing the same process with wire could have worked (I think) if it was a free form wire cuff, but in this case, it didn't work well.

I built a frame around the focal bead and then connected more pieces, one at a time. I should have measure and cut all the pieces first and then connect them with another piece of wire in order to have a symmetrical body. Another thing I learned is that I should have used thicker, harder wire for the foundation (the wire here is dead-soft 20 gauge). I also had problems with creating the closure after the whole body was finished - another thing that I should have thought of beforehand and resulted in an awkward finish.
Although I spent more than 5 hours working on it, struggling with the wire and pliers, and it didn't came out as I envisioned it, I learned a lot of things through the process, which is most important.

I have so much more to learn and practicing to do and I'm excited about it! The only bad thing I can tell about this new work is that my fingers are aching from all the twisting and bending...

Wire Wrapped Pendant

I am enjoying the new love affair... This is a simple pendant, created with 3 sizes of (pre-made) hammered hoops which are connected by wrapped wire with some beads embellishment.
It was a bit difficult to me to keep the wire wrapped close together on the hoops, because their width is changing. Adding the Swarovski daisies was challenge, too, because they cut the 28 gauge wire several times...

Wire working seem to be much fun, although not as much relaxing as beadweaving to me.. I am yet to get used to this technique and feel comfortable using different wire gauges and pliers. I decided to take it slowly by working on small projects each time.
My next wire project will be a bracelet with similar materials. First attempt of creating it failed (and almost a whole spool of wire was wasted..) as I didn't construct it well. I will post photos if and when it's finished.

Cleaning My Table

I have spent a few hours last weekend, trying to reorganize my working area. I found too many works unfinished and this was one of them.
I've finished the spiral long ago, but I couldn't decide on what to put in between the two spiral pieces to connect them in the center, so I put it away and forgot about it. I then planned to make a nice crystal cabochon but I found this beautiful Carnelian stone in my stash (I love the Carnelian's color) and thought it would be a nice calm complement to the rather sparkly spiral.
I like how it turned out and it feels good to finish a neglected piece of work :).

Bead Art Originals Team

I am very pleased and honored to be a part of this wonderful and creative new Bead Art Oroginals team!
The team is a group of artists who share their love for creating with beads of many kinds. You will be surprized to see non-traditional materials that are used to create most amazing jewelry... So you might want to check out the BAO site or visit the BAO Blog to see more of the most beautiful art work!


Make sure you add these links to you favorites! :)

How I Miss Wire Working..

Recently, seed bead weaving took over my mind and muse.

Usually I don't like to start a new work unless I finish the one I'm working on. However, since last Sunday and until now, I have started five (!) different works with seed beads. Ideas keeps coming up in my head, one chasing the other, creating big urge to implement them all.

I tried to switch to wire working, which I really like and haven't been doing for quite a long time. I miss making wire-crocheted bracelets, like the one in silver and blue beads, and I also had fun just playing with wire in my hands, until an idea came up, like the one with bugles and gold coloured wire.

Silver Wire Crocheted Bracelet

Wire and Bugles Bracelet (primary design)

That last one is actually a primary design that I made for the September 2007 monthly challenge project which is carried out in my beading commune. I remember that I then promised myself to work on this bracelet and its finish more professionally, but since then I didn't even remember where I put it in my drawers.. And now, I cannot even START a new work with wire...
That is for the seed beads to blame!..(What is it with those tiny beads?!)

I cannot focus and force myself to actually finish at least one work.
Although I feel happy being creative, at the same time it's starting to be confusing and frustrating, because I don't feel REALLY satisfied unless I have a finished work in my hands, and I also feel now like I have wasted precious time for nothing...

Any advise, anyone?