New - Antique Silver Necklace with Crystal Pendant

I haven't done much beading in the past month. All these eye tests I had to make and the fact that even with my new multi-focal glasses (I had those replaced for me twice last month, but I still don't see 100% well with them), made me feel a bit nervous & depressed and made beading being an uncomfortable task. One eye test - which I feared the most about its results - came out (relatively) good :) , and the doctor said that even though the only treatment for the problem is laser eye surgery, it is up to me if I want to have it now, or I can wait and see if there are any changes in the next scheduled tests in every six months. I want to wait and see (pun intended ;) what happens... I am now using another new eyeglasses just for computer & beading work, and it works and feels much better. I am optimistic! :)

This is my newest necklace - herringbone rope with strung beads and a bead embroidered pendant with Swarovski crystal beautiful chessboard stone, and I also beaded matching stud earrings. I like how the necklace turned out - it reminds me of the silver jewelry my grandfather used to make. It has a bit of antique feel to it thanks to the beautiful Miyuki Duracoat #4222 seed beads I used for the main color. I started working on a matching bracelet about a week ago, but I got stuck with the design and my Muse has left me again, so it is still waiting, unfinished, on my beading tray...

Published in Creative Beading Vol. 6

I love the smell of the pages in a new book. Today I opened a large package received in the mail and before I finished unwrapping it, I noticed the special smell of a new book. It was Creative Beading Vol. 6 by Kalmbach Publishing - an annual book of collection of projects picked by Editors of Bead&Button magazine. Two of my designed are published in it: Layered Loops bracelet and Fine Woven Rings necklace.

Amongst the various sections and 77 projects included in this book, there are two beadwoven stunning necklaces by Melissa Grakowsky; beautiful wire wrapped earrings by Sonia Kumar; a gorgeous bead-embroidered cuff by Heidi Kummli; a very interesting "beadpunk" (steampunk with beads) necklace by Diane Hyde; a chainmaille & lampwork bead  collaboration bracelet by Kathy Peterson and Susan Matych-Hager, and many, many other beautiful designs in a large variety of styles and techniques!

Layered Loops Bracelet

  Fine Woven Rings Necklace

Tribal Geometric Bib Necklace

I have finally finished the necklace I told you about in my previous post and named it Tribal Geometric Bib Necklace. I love how it eventually turned out, so the many trials and errors were worth it! ;) A tutorial for this necklace is already available.

I also made a smaller version of the beadwork and used it as a fan shaped pendant. I might make matching earrings, too, but that could happen only after I will work on somethings else - I just can't see the same beads on my working table for any longer!... ;D

Rosette Embroidered Cuff

I had been working on a new necklace project last week, but it didn't go as good as I thought. So after the 10th time I had to unpick the beadwork and try different "engineering", I thought it would be better to take a break, relax and work on something else for a while. Nervousness doesn't go well with a needle and thread... ;)
I bead embroidered this cuff, using one of Lisa Peters Art beautiful cabochons as a focal and used the cabochon itself as my source of inspiration for colors and shape. I especially like the the gentle sparkle Lisa added to the center of the cabochon - a beautiful white opal Swarovski stone.

It was a good decision to take a break, and by now I have managed to finish the beadweaving project I was working on... :) Photos coming soon, and maybe even a tutorial.

BAO Color Challenge

This is my entry for the Bead Art Originals June Color Challenge. Our source of inspiration was "A Gentle Notion" - a beautiful illustration by Jeannie L Paske of Obsolet World on Etsy. Check out the BAO blog and see other entries for this challenge.

The bracelet is made with tiny 1.8 mm Miyuki cube beads in gorgeous color of metallic green patina iris (#2008) and a beaded Swarovski crystal navette stone as the button clasp. I love how soft this bracelet came out, thanks to the small size of the cubes.
At first I wasn't sure if I had enough beads to finish it, but eventually the bracelet was completed and 3 (!!!) beads were left out of 30 grams... I always thought that it's better to have a little more beads than you think is needed. Missing just a few beads to finish a project would be a disaster!... ;))

A Gentle Notion by Jeannie L Paske 
of Obsolet World on Etsy