Mystery Challenge #2 Reveal

Mystery Challenge #2 Reveal

For this Challenge I was truly stumped. What on earth could I make with blue and yellow beads?

I happened to be digging through the many layers of my stash in an effort to destash some of it (where did all these beads come from???) and I found some kits that I purchased years ago from French General. I had bought a necklace and bracelet kit in colors inspired by Van Gogh's Starry Night....and never made anything with them.

So I guess this should be better titled "Oh my goodness I am actually using beads from my Hoard."

Paint the Stars: Yellow lampwork glass - Sabine Dittrich, Polymer clay rondelles - Humblebeads, Paint the Stars bead - Swoondimples, Owl pendant - Andrew Thorton

Starry Night set

Vintage glass beads and cabochons - French General

I hope you enjoyed my foray into bright happy colors :)

Luna Moth Challenge Reveal

Allegory Gallery - Luna Moth Challenge

For once I was ahead of the game here, I had the package opened and 2 things made before I even sorted through all of the beads in this lovely kit. Apparently soft, ethereal green is just my thing!



I patinaed and applied swarovski rhinestones to to this Vintaj butterfly pendant, then added more holes along the sides for this multistrand bracelet. Oddly enough, it reminds me of a scene from the Hunger Games (book, not movie) where a moth lands on Katniss's wrist while she is sitting inside the cave.

These little jade? butterfly beads screamed earrings at me! Here they are paired with some topaz crystal drops from Bird Tail Beads.

I dug deep into the depths of my stash for this pendant, It was one of the first things I bought when I started beading on a more regular basis  (aka 2004 ish)

I went a little rustic with this pendant - from Green Girl Studios - that I have been drooling over -forever. It was in my stash for less than a week before getting made up into this necklace. The clasp is made with a vintage milk glass button.

I have had a love/hate relationship with waxed linen thread. Here, it cooperated with me. Yay! Something simple and sweet to accompany the pendant by Andrew Thornton.

I still have some beads left from this kit...I keep wanting to get them back out but have other projects to move on to for now.

Tribes Challenge Reveal

Allegory Gallery Tribes Challenge - Forest Tribe

I had several ideas running though my head for this focal, however, I came across a beautiful piece in Belle Armoire Jewelry Magazine by Susan A. Ray and had a light bulb moment.

I used the waxed linen cording and glass beads from the kit to make a beaded strap on each side of the pendant. I distressed a Vintaj Arte Metal owl charm to go with the stunning handmade polymer clay pendant by Andrew Thornton. I created a wire frame to go around the pendant, weaving beads from the kit into it. I added a knotted fringe at the bottom that includes recycled sari silk, silk ribbon, leather scrap, chain, and an assortment of beads and charms from the kit and my hoard. I had an blast creating this necklace!

Here is Soars with Owls -

Pendant detail -

Strap detail -

Mystery Challenge #1/Starling Wing Challenge

Howdy Folks!

Well, my blog got behind again but boy have I been beading up a storm (in between work, fishing, and hiking!)

Mystery Challenge #1 Reveal date 5/19/16 -
The beads in this kit were beautiful...but Purple and Orange just did not call to me. I kept chipping away at it though and I am pretty happy with the results

Starling Wing Challenge Reveal date 6/2/16 -
As soon as I opened the box to this kit and saw the focal I knew exactly what I wanted to make - a bead embroidered pendant with renaissance look. I still have TONS of beads left from the kit (and I picked up an extra baggie of the bead mix) so hopefully I can dig them out again on a rainy day and play some more :)

Now back to work on the 3 kits I have all over my desk....(Luna, Tribes, and Mystery #2)

Bead Peeps Swap N Hop 2016

Welcome Bead Peeps!

My Partner for this swap was Cat La Vite of Dry Gulch Beads and Jewelry. Please made sure to check out her Blog and Dry Gulch Etsy Shop

Here are the beads I sent:


I had so much fun creating with these beads! The colors are right up my alley. The dragonfly pendant was a bit of a challenge as I wanted it to stand out and any beads I tried pairing with it seems to make it fade into the background. I ended up going super simple and loving the result.
Here are the beads I received:


I spent 2 weekends at the ocean - inspiring the Sea Spray set. My coffee table is not the best background but the necklace is SUPER long (it can even be worn as a belt!). I had a lot of fun making the tassels. They remind me of jellyfish in a way.

Sea Spray necklace: Crackle glass and gold chinese crystals are from the swap beads. I added vintage czech glass beads, pearls embedded with Swarovski crystals, vintage mother of pearl beads, vintage bead caps, vintage filigree beads and matte sea glass rounds. I used a variety of fibers and silk thread to create the tassels.

Tassel Detail

Sea Spray earrings

And bracelet


I love this Steampunk dragonfly pendant! I wanted to keep the necklace simple so it would shine. The brass chain and clasp are vintage. All the beads used are from the swap. The pendant was made by Cat:


I was so happy the chains cooperated with me!


I actually finished this set on Saturday 5/14 (talk about crunch time!) as I was enjoying a nice rain storm.
Singing in the Rain: Vintaj brass (leaf, ring, and bead caps), polymer clay birdie, nest, and rondelles are from Heather Powers of Humble Beads, Peruvian blue opal ovals, czech glass leaves, and vintage glass beads. The gold chinese crystals, the lucite leaves and the handmade lampwork flowers were from the swap.

The lampwork flowers were made by Jennifer of Dry Gulch. I must have more of them...in many colors...

Please make sure to visit all the other participating artists!

Linda Anderson - Hostess - http://fromTheBeadBoard.blogspot.com/.

Linda Anderson http://fromTheBeadBoard.blogspot.com Natalie Davidson http://www.northshoredays.com/

Marcy Lamberson http://www.studiomarcy.blogspot.com Kathy Lindemer http://bay-moon-design.blogspot.com/

Dita Basu Http://www.alankarshilpa.blogspot.com Andrea Glick http://zenithjade.blogspot.com/

Kristina Peck http://tealeavesandtinyhats.blogspot.com/ Shai Williams http://www.shaihasramblings.com/

Catherine La Vite http://www.drygulchbeadsandjewelry.blogspot.com/ Christina Hickman http://vintagetreasuresjewelry.blogspot.com/ <<You Are Here

Gloria Allen http://wingsandbeads.blogspot.com Teresa Schurter http://treezstreazurs.com/

Maria Rosa Sharrow http://willowstreetshops.blogspot.com Susan Kelly http://mimismilesdesigns.blogspot.com

Jenny Kyrlach http://anafiassa.blogspot.com/ Michelle McCarthy http://www.fireflydesignstudio.blogspot.com

Terry Jeanette Carter http://tappingflamingo.blogspot.com Lee Koopman http://stregajewellry.wordpress.com

Laurie Vyselaar https://lefthandjewelry.wordpress.com Marianne Baxter http://simplyseablimejewelry.blogspot.com

Divya N http://www.jewelsofsayuri.com Kelly Hosford Patterson http://travelingsideshow.blogspot.com/

Johana Nunez http://www.artincendi.com Kari Asbury http://hippiechickjewelrydesign.com/blog

Robin Reed http://www.willowdragon.blogspot.com Kristina Hahn Eleniak http://www.peacockandlime.wordpress.com

Robin Lynne Showstack http://heartsdesiresjewelryforyou.blogspot.com/ Rosantia Petkova http://bairozan.blogspot.com/

Claire Fabian http://saraccino.blogspot.de/ Inge von Roos https://ingetraud.wordpress.com

Rachel Mallis http://mintmonarch.com Sam Waghron http://palemooncreation.blogspot.co.uk

Lori Schneider http://beadaddicted.blogspot.com Fay Wolfenden http://torchfairy.blogspot.com

Seeders

Suse Stelljes http://pearlify.blogspot.de Ginger Bishop http://www.lilmummylikes.blogspot.com

Nelly May http://www.smellynelly.blogspot.com Rebecca White http://morganafeycreations.121hub.com/

sheila Prosterman http://catswithbeads.blogspot.com Catherine King http://catherines-musings.blogspot.com

Palak (aka Pallavi Asher)http://kalaabhushan.blogspot.in/ Krafty Max http://kraftymax.net

Renetha Stanziano http://lamplightcrafts.blogspot.com/ Becky Pancake http://beckypancakebeaddesigns.blogspot.com

Katy Heider http://onthepondcreations.blogspot.com/

Deborah Apodaca http://deborahapodacadesigns.blogspot.com/

Heather Richter http://desertjewelrydesigns.blogspot.com/ Tami Norris https://tamisdesigns.wordpress.com

Brandy Scozzari http://bhjewelry.wordpress.com Catherine King http://catherines-musings.blogspot.com

Bobbie Rafferty http://beadsong.blogspot.com Lori Blanchard http://alainnjewelry.wordpress.com

Grasslands Challenge Reveal

Why do I torture myself with neutral toned beads? Because the bead kit was so compelling...

I don't think I really did it justice though. I struggle with neutrals (tan, brown, beige, cream...)

I rediscovered this fossil pendant in my hoard...I think it looks good with the Tiger Eye, Dalmatian jasper and assorted glass beads from the kit:



I hand painted these gunmetal feather charms to look like hawk feathers and added some of the pretty glass beads from the kit for a simple necklace and earring set:




Happy Beading!

Hidden Cove Reveal

I managed to make just a couple of pieces with this fabulous kit, I have been enjoying the outdoors more as the weather here has gotten nicer.

Meadow Song Challenge projects

I manged to make just a few pieces for this challenge, the weather has been good and I've been out hiking and birding more than staying home and beading. The colors here were a real challenge, I rarely use green and hardly use yellow at all.

You can't have a meadow song with out a birdy, and this guy from Humblebeads was perfect.

I also made a charm bracelet

And a pair of earrings, inspired by a pair made by Heather Powers of Humblebeads from her bead book, Jewelry Designs from Nature.

Swap and Hop beads are here!

I got my Swap N Hop package from Cat at Dry Gulch Beads and Jewelry!

And a pretty card too!

I Love the colors and the steampunk dragonfly pendant is so cool! Can't wait to get creating!

Cloud Bridge Challenge - Reveal

Hi there beady people!

I have been a busy bee with this challenge kit - the colors were just what I needed after being stuck indoors in grey rainy day after grey rainy day (what we call "Winter" in the Pacific Northwest.)

I have project started with the mystery pendant, however, I did not get the chain finished in time. I hope to work on it this weekend.

An adorable Greyson Owl Pendant from Heather of Swoondimples in the perfect Pantone Colors, made into a cute necklace with beads from the kit, some silver charm chain, and, Amazonite and Rose Quartz round from my stash and some chocolate ribbon:

And a matching stretchy bracelet (I was suffering from a cold...perfect stretchy bracelet making time) Pewter nest bead from Green Girl Studios

A long necklace of Rose Quartz, Kyanite, Labradorite, a vintage crystal rondelle spacer, and assorted beads from the kit. Pewter Raven pendant from Green Girl Studios. Pewter feather from Vintaj.

And some fun earrings - I patinaed the filigree findings. Got out my paints, Yay! Brass birds from Vintaj

And a couple of more pairs of earrings

Thanks for stopping by! Stay tuned for the Meadow Song Challenge....and a few other projects I am working on :)

Bead Peeps Swap N Hop - Info for my partner and other ramblings

I am so excited!

I got my partner this week - Catherine (Cat) La Vite of Dry Gulch Beads! She works with her family at their bead store - they have an  Etsy Store and a fantastic Blog! Please check them out!

And here are my answers for the Partner Intro

1. Why or how did you get started making Jewelry? - I got started as a youngster (11 or 12ish) as a means to get me to keep still for long periods of time while going through medical procedures. It started with putting seed beads on strings. Now its a pretty much full time obsession. I also love hoarding things so - match made in heaven!

2. What style(s) of jewelry do you like to make? I like incorporating nature as much as I can into my beadwork. My style varies though depending on my mood. I like to make things that go with something I am going to be wearing or things for special events (Holiday parties, the Renaissance Faire, etc.) I love just about everything vintage (Art Nouveau, Art Deco, Victorian, Edwardian) and historical (especially Ancient Egypt and Rome and the Renaissance.)

Here are a few examples (these are my favorite pieces to date)

The Porcelain Snowy owl is by Artist Laura Mears. This was a struggle for me since it is only shades of black, white and gray. No "colors" at all.


I made this bracelet last year for the Endless Sky Challenge, it is the one I wear the most
The owl clasp is from Green Girl Studios.



I made these earrings last year for the Festival Lights Challenge, I even helped a friend make a similar pair (in her favorite colors, not pictured)


And I really am enjoying the necklace I am making with the Cloud Bridge Challenge beads...its not done yet, however, I will post them when it is :)

3. What materials do you prefer to use (and which ones do you avoid)? I love using vintage beads and findings, gemstones and natural beads, czech glass, swarovski crystals, Vintaj Brass, Copper, Arte Metal and Pewter, silk ribbons, leather, and patina paints. I don't like plastic unless it is vintage lucite. I prefer smaller beads (10mm or less), I have a hard time figuring out chunky beads.

4. What techniques do you prefer (and are there any you don't like)? I like stringing, wirework, and bead embroidery. I can't weave beads or figure out kumihimo to save my life - I will leave those to the experts out there!

5. What colors do you use most and which do you run screaming from? I love earth and jewel tones (brown, emerald, blue, aqua, purple, burgundy), not a fan of brights or pastels (warming up to pastels...still a little afraid of them) and I run screaming from Red, Orange, and Yellow (learning to love them in very small tiny itty bitty increments.)

And other random things...
I love to read. I am a birder, I love hiking, fishing, and camping. I live in the Pacific Northwest and I am inspired by the awesome natural areas here. We have 2 major mountain ranges (Cascades and Olympics), the Sound, the Ocean and Eastern Wa which is desert.

A few of my favorite places here in Washington:

Coal Creek Falls, Issaquah WA


Yakima River Valley, Yakima WA


Rock formations, Umptanum trail. Yakima WA


Fort Casey Lighthouse, Whidbey Island, WA


Doe and Fawn, Whidbey Island, WA


I am super new to using Facebook but it has become a fun place to meet fellow beaders. I am super happy I came across the Swap N Hop! Thank you Linda Anderson for allowing me to join your group :)