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!.. ;)

Here Comes the Bride - EBW July Challenge

I created this bridal set of jewels especially for the EBW July challenge - Here Comes the Bride. Please visit the EBW blog from the 9th until the 15th, view all 39 entries and vote for your favorite. I assure you it's worth the click...all entries are gorgeous and it's interesting to see each member's take on the theme. My entry is # 27 on the list.

This photo was taken by my dear son, who wanted to try catching the many sparkles 
of the crystals in this necklace. He did quite a good job at it, didn't he?

It seems that waiting patiently for my beadweaving muse was worth it in many ways.. After a month or so of general depression and no inspiration for beading, ideas suddenly came up in my mind one after the other... It really felt great beadweaving again, like meeting a good old friend after a long time and having so many things to say to each other...

During the waiting time, except for reorganizing my working area and bead boxes; teaching my kids a few lessons in cooking and "re-discovering" the little garden-in-boxes I have in my balcony, I also spent some time doing some...sport activities. :0) I can't even believe myself...I am so not a sports person...I usually get tiered just by thinking of it... :D Ardjan though it would be a great way to chase the depression away and I think he was right. It did help a bit.
He and I took a long ride on the bike in Tel Aviv port area one day. Thank God riding the bike is not something you forget how to do.. Ardjan, the crazy super-fast rider, had to ride slowly in order to stay in my pace... I felt like a sweat soaked sponge after finishing the 10km+ track and I then thanked God again, this time for keeping me alive during the ride...;)
We also took long walks in the evenings, when the heat was bearable, after which we exercised in the gym area we have in the park near home. And I also did some stretch exercises that my (beading) body really needed...It felt great doing all this stuff.., except for the muscles pains that came afterward...;)
Well, maybe it was too much activity for a start, but I really hope that laziness will not take over me again and I will make at least some of those activities as part of my routine.. so far so good.. :)

Now back to the beading table to finish the new bracelet I'm working on...

Waiting for The Muse

Once again, I'm in this period of time (almost three weeks now) when I don't feel creative or inspired enough to work on a beadwoven item. Other things in life keep my mind busy, unfortunately, unpleasant things. I'm not trying to push my Muse this time (a thing that usually produce more frustration and zero results..) I'm just waiting patiently for "Her" to visit me, so I'll be able to find relaxation in beadweaving again...
I used the time to rearrange my bead boxes, check my inventory or just hold beads in my hands... I found those beautiful, light sea-green beads, which I totally forgot I had them and used them to create this simple stringing necklace. Knowing how much time it takes to create beadwoven or embroidered work, I'm always surprised by how much time it takes me to string a simple necklace like this one... I don't know why, but it takes me twice the time to chose the beads and to come up with the arrangement of them that satisfies me.. But I enjoy stringing anyway. I find it to be a nice way to pass the time until my beadweaving Muse is back..

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 Ethnic Style Necklace

This is the last necklace I finished - combining beadweaving and embroidery work. I enjoyed every minute of the work because I love ethnic style (and beading, of course :) and feel comfortable designing in it, and I really like how it turned out.