Colorworks contest results...

When I opend my "inbox" after work today, I found an email that read...

Congratulations!

Your work was chosen by Margie Deeb as one of the top ten finalists in our first Colorworks contest! Though you did not win first place, your piece will be showcased in a special Colorworks gallery in the November/December 09 issue of Step by Step Beads. Thank you for submitting such outstanding work!

Best regards,
Leslie Rogalski
Editor in chief, Step by Step Beads

YAHOO!!!!! I have been waiting to hear about the results to this contest, and have heard nothing, so I assumed I didnt have anything to hear. What a way to finish my day!

Beading for a Cure 2010

Once again this year I have participated in Layne's Legacy, Beading for a Cure. Every year they sell a kit, and you make something using at least 1 of every bead in the kit, and by July 15Th send your project back to them. In march (which is Colo-rectal cancer awareness month) all of the beaded goodies are auctioned off to raise money for cancer research. I didn't know Layne personally, but she had a lot of good friends who make this possible every year with all of their hard work. This year I really liked the colors in the kit, but I still had a hard time getting the ball rolling on this one. I am happy with how it turned out though.

I made a Cellini spiral, which I then strung onto 49 strand, 0.019 diameter soft flex wire. I finished it off with sterling silver bead caps, crimp covers, a lobster claw, and a chain to make this necklace 18 - 20" long. The center pendant can be removed, so you could also wear just the spiral.

The center pendant is a peyote bail, with the swarovski montees sewn onto it. The lampwork bead is surrounded with sterling bead caps (matching the ends of the necklace) and caps that I made with some of the 4mm crystals. I added 5 little fringes coming out the bottom, which Ive been told makes it look like an octopus or squid.

Here's a close up of the spiral, where I used most of the seed beads.

There was just one color in the kit that I didn't like, but I managed to squeeze a couple of them into the beaded bead that I put on the end of the extension chain. Now that its all done, I just need to name it, and get it mailed off. Have any good ideas for a name for this piece? Let me know...

On the shores of Dollar Lake...

When I went up north for Memorial Day weekend, we went to one of my very favorite places to visit nature! In northern Michigan, on state land, lays a lake and surrounding forest. You have to hike into the woods to find the lake, and what a find it is! I've camped by this lake before (and hope to again soon), and both my hubby and my children have caught many a fish in this lake (catch and release).

I don't fish, but I like to take pictures and I like to look for "treasures" that I might find on the ground. On this particular trip, I was inspired by the rocks that were "On the shores of Dollar Lake", hence the title for this cuff I made. When I got home with my "treasures", I couldn't wait to dig through my stash of seed beads to find some "sand" to embroider around the stones...

I found what I think is a perfect sand color (matte with a bit of an iridescent glow) and put myself to work on this cuff. I used some snaps for the closure (had them laying around), and the only thing I had to go out and get was a fabric for backing this piece (leather...couldn't find ultra-suede, wrong season they say). This cuff is so comfortable on, you almost forget its there!

Sorry this isn't the best picture, but Ive always wanted to take a nature photo with some jewelry and never found the perfect piece to do it with until now!

New Stuff!

I made this piece originally for the May etsy-beadweaver challenge "Hollywood Red Carpet Creations", but because I got sick I didn't manage to finish it on time, so I didn't get to enter(boohoo). I thought this would be perfect, because it is LOADED with bling because of all the crystals I used in it.
I started with some swarovski rivoli buttons that I got from artbeads.com . Needless to say, they were FABULOUS! I had three 27mm buttons, two 23mm buttons, and a little 12mm button I used for the clasp. I bezeled the buttons with some gold lined delicas, and sewed them all together to make the centerpiece. It still needed something, so I added an 18mm rivoli to the top of the centerpiece, and added a swarovski 30mm crystal heart dangle to the bottom.

One of the things I liked so much about the rivoli buttons (besides the sizes which were great!) is that they have a hole on the back, so once I sewed them all together, I strung the whole thing on some 49 strand .019 diameter soft flex, so I feel this necklace is really well constructed.

I covered the soft flex on the back with some gold size 8 seed beads, just so you wouldn't have to look at the wire. The wire continues on through the whole necklace to make it extra sturdy. I then used some fireline to make the strap a flat spiral, because I felt just the 6mm crystals by themselves was a little to boring (LOL). As I said, I didn't get this done on time to enter the contest, but I will be adding it to my etsy page soon!

Right when I finished this sparkly piece, I had to immediately jump on my entry to Step by Step Beads colorworks challenge with Margie Deeb. I had no clue what to make with the color combo I was supposed to use, orange/purple/green. But after finding some seed beads in a harmonious palette, it just kind of happened. I had Vicki Hubbard (from Purple Sage) make me a dichroic fused glass donut, and the rest just fell into place!

I managed to get this finished, and my entry mailed off at 11:58pm on May 15Th (the deadline), just in the nick of time! I'm really happy with how it turned out, and am more then happy to add this piece to my own collection of jewelry. I will be keeping it myself because I was quite disappointed with the metallic orange Japanese seed beads I had. I know metallic finishes wont last forever, but was peeved to have it start to come off while I was still creating this piece.

Oh well, I don't mind having to keep it for myself. Gives me one more thing to wear at the bead store when I work. Its a bit brighter then my normal jewelry, but I love it anyway!

Hoppity!

After many LONG hours, and what seems like an unreal amount of beads I have finished him! Hoppity is a gift for the owner of Purple Sage(where I work) who is pregnant right now(but hopefully not to much longer!). I had a great time making him (except it seemed to never end!) and changing him from a beanie baby, to a "beadie baby"!

Every square inch of him is beaded with pinks, purples, white, and silver. Over his heart I bezelled in an amethyst heart shaped stone.
I didn't bead his whiskers, but I thought about threading some bugles onto them. I figured it might look goofy, and to leave well enough alone. I am so excited to give him to her, I hope she loves him! I think she will because she loves beads , and she has a beadwork collection (maybe he'll have some friends at her house?).

I also decided to leave his tag on his little bootie, so everyone could remember his name, and to prove he was a beanie baby.

Now I get to move on to my rivoli buttons from artbeads.com! The idea I have for them I think will be perfect for this months etsy-beadweaver challenge "Hollywood red carpet inspired jewelry" because I am going to make it drip with crystals!

$1.00 sale at Artbeads.com!

My buddy over at artbeads.com has informed me that a great sale starts today! All sorts of different goodies, for just $1.00 each! check it out at http://www.artbeads.com/dollar-days-sale.html . I am not sure what time today it starts(seems to me that they are in a different time zone then myself), but it does start today April 21st! I have been warned of course that things sell out VERY quickly,so the quicker you get over and look,the better!

And speaking of Artbeads.com, stay tuned for my next etsy-beadweaver challenge piece that I am making, where I am using some new swarovski rivoli buttons that artbeads sells(just need to finish what I am currently working on right now). Here's a sneak peak at the buttons...

the biggest ones are 27 mm,yippeee! Nice and big! These buttons are NOT one of the sale items for $1.00 , they are still really new...So as I said, stay tuned!

The entries for the April challenge are in!

The entries for the challenge are in! They are as always simply beautiful, creative and amazing! Etsy Beadweavers took the time and have the talent to create these inspiring challenge pieces! Tiny little beads and a needle and thread along with incredible patience bring these selections to you to vote and choose your favourite.You can click on the item in the text list below the mosaic which links to the Etsy Shop listing of each entrant where you will see more detail of each piece! Be sure to go to the etsy-beadweaver site on the 9th when the poll will be available for you to cast your vote, April 9th thru the 15th!
1. Atlantis - AnnetteMackrel

2. time machine cuff - thebeadedlily

3. Magical Mystery Cuff - beadsforever

4. Time Standing Still - ThesePreciousThings

5. Fantastical Journey - beadsandblooms

6. As Time Collides - crownrosegems

7. Drops Of Time Necklace - binkaminka

8. Sweet Innocence - Medic5415

9. For the Women of the Future - SmadarsTreasure

10. Time of Innocence - AmethystRavenstar

11. Baroque - Firepolished beaded ball - carmenesque

12. Time machine - beadsbyvezsuzs

13. Her Airship Sailed Through Time - ErtheFae

14. London Blue Police Box Pendant - FrancescasFancy

15. Endless Time - Necklace - clairecreations

16. Myth, Magic and Reality Converge - dreambeadweaver

17. Timeless Neckpiece - SilverDragon

18. Atlantis bracelet - CieloDesign

19. Atlantis Queen Wedding Necklace - RedCatArtBeads

20. Timeless colors - pjlacasse

21. Sticks and Stones Choker Necklace - HauteIceBeadwork

22. Tudors Inspired Crystal Cabochon Necklace - SpringColors

23. Time Machine Lands on Bronze Age - fashionsfrome

24. Nefertiti necklace - FleurDeIrk

25. The Edwardian Necklace - daynamiles

26. iNecklace - beadwoman3

27. Somewhere Over The Rainbow - BeadazzledofOregon

28. Night Waters No. 1 - playnwithbeads

29. Make Love Not War Necklace - HannahRachel

30. A Magical Journey - enchantedbeads

31. Window Into Time - njema

Voting begins on Thursday, April 9th and ends midnight April 15th. Show your appreciation for the efforts of these amazing artists and take on the difficult task of voting for your favorite. (The ballot will appear on the side bar at right on April 9th.) Again, the individual pieces are listed below the mosaic where you can visit each entry for more information by following the link. Thank you, enjoy and be sure to go to the etsy-beadweaver blog to vote between April 9th and 15th!