Beading Babes Project 4 Reveal

This past week was intensely stressful for me but I have finally arrived in Michigan. My husband has been here for 4 months for work and to find housing for us, while I stayed in Virginia to finish my work and train my replacement.

Family and friends helped me pack up the house and load the truck, then my daughter and I made the 650 mile drive from Charlottesville to Ann Arbor.

I wanted to be on the road by 10am and of course we didn't actually leave Virginia until 3pm...but we finally arrived 12 hours later, with a little scenic detour through the very steep and curvy mountain roads of Pennsylvania. Once we arrived, we grabbed some pillows and blankets from the truck and passed out around 4:00 this morning.

We woke up around noon today and it took us about 8 hours to unload the truck and begin setting up our new home. It's going to take me a week or two to really get everything in order but at least I have the important things set up, like my beads, my bedroom and my Internet connection!

Now onto the latest Beading Babes project 4 reveal. I have my Trellis Necklace by Nancy Dale completed and photographed and I have one pair of the Russian Leaf earrings, and half of a second pair of earrings finished...however I do not have them photographed yet!

I didn't have time to work on the bracelet because of my work schedule and all the stress that comes with moving across the country!

I will edit this post later to include photos of the earrings, but for now I want to get photos of the Trellis Necklace up in time for the reveal...

I really enjoyed this project by Nancy Dale and I think it is extremely cool that designers are offering up their projects for the Beading Babes challenges! I love the end result, but I also really enjoyed the beading process. It is a time consuming project but it has enough variation to keep things interesting.

I made 6 rope segments that are 30 RAW units long as per the instructions. Then I made one segment that is 90 RAW units long and one that is 60 RAW units long. I used increments of 30 RAW units, as there are certain design factors and repeats that work within those parameters...and everything came together perfectly! 

I haven't measured the length but it is long enough to put on over your head and not require a clasp. I used about 30 grams of Dark Bronze size 11/0s for the base, and about 25 grams of Gold lined Green size 15/0s for the netting, plus the crystals and embellishment beads. I love the colors together and I really like the flexibility of the rope. I think I will give this one to my mom for Mother's Day this year!

I look forward to seeing everyone else's project reveal and hope to get photo's of my earrings up later tonight but it probably won't happen until tomorrow!

I am so happy to finally see this week come to a close but it is kind of bittersweet. I am excited to be in my new home and living with my husband again but I am definitely going to miss my daughter and the rest of my family. I am thrilled that she was able to come with me to see my new home and be there with me for the long drive...she has never been to Michigan before and she has to fly home tomorrow, but hopefully she will be able to return for a real visit later this year!

Pineapple Lace

I have been so busy beading lately that I lost track of my Diary and haven't even been visiting my favorite beading forums or my beading groups on Facebook. I am working on several pieces for the Beading Babes Challenge for this month as well as a few Birthday and Mother's Day gifts, a collar for myself, and a loomwork project for one of my FB groups!

As if that wasn't enough to keep me busy around the clock, I made a spur of the moment decision to purchase a challenge kit from Amy over at Amy Beads, who I met through the Beading Babes group. I chose to buy this kit in orange because I liked the focal bead, I like Amy, and the colors in the kit are so far outside my comfort zone that it really inspired me to challenge myself!

Check out Amy's blog, she is participating in the A to Z Blog Hop...and writing a blog post every day of April (except Sundays), and her posts are all about Beading! She will be writing about the reveal of our challenge kit projects as a blog post on day R, for Reveal.

During all this beading madness, I ended up ripping out over 12 hours of work on a project and started over! The particular piece is the Pineapple Lace pattern by Mikki Ferrugiaro. The design and the pattern itself is awesome, as always.

Her directions are flawless and I am very familiar with her tutorials and her style so while I usually bead up a small sample whenever I am working on something new, I didn't do that this time...so I take all the blame for having to rip out so much work!

The way this project is laid out, you stitch the center of each component in one long strip and then you work out from there. So your length and number of 'Pineapples' is predetermined at the very beginning of the project....and your rows go back and forth across the length.

And of course I decided to make myself a collar rather than just test it out with a small cuff. And I miscalculated my length and added entirely too many "Pineapples", if that makes any sense.

Due to this construction process, it really makes no sense to try and shorten the piece once you are too far into the work...and I was beyond the point of no return! So I just ripped it all out and started over. But I love the end result and it was worth all that time I invested in it!

I am really loving beaded lace, and I think this would make beautiful bracelets, chokers, doilies, embellishments on fabric etc...it really is beautiful and it curves around your neck or wrist perfectly!

One of the projects in this month's Beading Babes challenge is the Trellis Necklace by Nancy Dale...and it is a really cool design for a beaded rope. I have completed about 20 inches of it so far and I really like how it's turning out.

I would love to share more photos, but I really shouldn't post any until the reveal at the end of the month...besides, I am also having a terrible time getting good photos of it...the colors just don't want to cooperate with my camera!

While working on this project, I decided it might be cool to add some beaded beads between the rope segments...so I have been playing around with Gwen Fisher's pattern for her Cube Cluster Beaded Bead in the current issue of Beadwork Magazine.

These are larger than I thought I would be comfortable with for this rope, but now that I have made one, I really like it...and I plan to experiment with different Pearl sizes and try to make some smaller beads. And if you simply follow the diagrams, rather than all the text, the pattern is easy to follow and works up very quickly!



During all these long hours of beading, I have been contemplating Thread and it's somewhat invisible yet starring role in Beadwork...while it may not be seen, it really is a major component. So my upcoming post about Thread is becoming more in depth than I originally anticipated...more to come soon!

Happy Beading!

Pretty Lacy Beadwork

I have spent the week working on a few more pieces that were inspired by the OTTBS March Color Challenge...this is really quite fun and I have finally been using up so many beads that I have in abundance! And that really is the goal of Tackling that Bead Stash isn't it?!

Here is a lacy bracelet called Frankfurter. Design by Sabine Lippert and Beaded by me. Metallic Gunmetal & Matte Metallic Gunmetal seed beads with Swarovski Cyclamen Opal Bicones and Czech Gunmetal Druks for the beaded loop clasp.

And here is another lacy bracelet that I started last week and finished in time for this week's reveal. This one is called Edwardian Splendor. Design by Cynthia Newcomer Daniel and Beaded by me. Metallic Antique Silver and Matte Metallic Pewter seed beads with Purple Luster Czech Fire Polish beads.

The second photo shows this one with the clasp. I used a design by Mikki Ferrugiaro for a Beaded Medallion with a little metal snap sewn on the bottom...I am still working on the other half of this snap clasp!



I also received my eBay package of craft mirrors so I finally finished the Urchin Wings Peacock Pendant. The bezel around the mirror was the easy part! Attaching this to the back side of the Urchin Wings Pendant was a little tricky, but definitely not impossible!

Here is a photo of the mirror side...taken so you can see the reflection of my other hand on the camera:

For anyone else working on this, I have one little bit of advice that worked wonders for me. When you get to the point where you can no longer bend the "Wings" away from the Mirror and easily maneuver in those spaces, it becomes almost impossible to get your needle into the right beads in the Mirror Bezel...so you might be tempted to just go through a different bead in the bezel.

I tried this and it just didn't sit right...plus you could almost see the thread (well, I could see the thread) and it didn't feel as secure. So, I un-threaded my needle, then with the eye end of a short Sharp needle, I went backwards through that bead (the one in the RAW part of the bezel) and then threaded the needle again and pulled the thread through! Works like a charm!

I do this often...basically any time where I am working with a really short thread, or in any area where needle movement is awkward...you know, those spaces where you can't even work with an old, bent-to-an S shaped needle! And using the shorter, Sharp needle is especially helpful in tight spots because they tend to be more rigid than my usual size 12 Pony beading needles!

I finally used up my latest gift certificate from Mikki Ferrugiaro and I think I used it well! I purchased 4 new Tutorials including her latest, Pineapple Lace and I got a set of the Rubberized Beads to use with different Beaded Bezel techniques.

All of the Tutorials are extremely versatile, as always! I am currently using one of the Medallions from the Bracelet Tutorial as a clasp, as seen above.

And the Pineapple Lace...it's absolutely gorgeous! I am working on a Choker in Bronze...but I am not at a point where I am taking photos yet...so those will come later!

Urchin Wings & a Work in Progress

I have finished attaching all the components for my Urchin Wings Peacock Pendant except for the mirror! I ordered a pack of 2 inch craft mirrors on eBay so when that arrives all I have to do is bead a bezel around one and attach it to the back of this pendant!

Of course the colors I used are very hard to photograph...or maybe I just don't have the greatest photography skills yet! I really only studied Black and White Photography in High School, which was over 20 years ago.

I did build myself a little Light Box for photographing my beadwork but the only light I have that I can use for this is my Ott light...or natural daylight, which I always seem to miss! One of these days I think I will try to find some better lights for my Photo Box!

Here is my almost complete Urchin Wings Peacock Pendant. Designed by Mikki Ferrugiaro, Beaded by me.

The photos are almost identical but they each have different lighting tones...just trying to get the colors to come through while playing around with my lighting and photography!

I am also working on a few other little pieces in the Purple & Grey color theme for the March Color Challenge at Operation Tackle That Bead Stash.

One piece I am working on today is a dainty little bracelet designed by Cynthia Newcomer Daniel called Edwardian Splendor. I am also using softer tones of both colors: Metallic Antique Silver seed beads, Matte Metallic Pewter seed beads and Purple Luster 3mm Fire Polish beads. Here is a WIP photo:

That's all for now...I am trying to get this piece done so I can post my photos for the challenge in time for the Monday blog post...and they are in the UK so Monday morning comes a little earlier over there!

Purple & Grey

This week I have been working on an Urchin Wings Peacock Mirror Compact by Mikki Ferrugiaro. I am using Dark Purple, Amethyst and Gunmetal as my color palette in hopes of entering this piece in the Operation Tackle that Bead Stash March Challenge.

The March Challenge colors are Purple and Grey, which is a longtime favorite of mine but one that I have not used in my beading until now! And of course I have 3 sizes of seed beads plus Triangles and Cubes in both of these colors so this project is very appropriate for Operation Tackle that Bead Stash!

I am using round seed beads in Toho #90 Metallic Dark Purple, Toho #611 Matte Metallic Gunmetal, Miyuki #451 Metallic Gunmetal, Miyuki size 11/0 Delicas in #306 Matte Metallic Gunmetal, 3mm Gunmetal Fire Polish rounds, 3.4mm Gunmetal Fringe beads and Amethyst Rivolis.

It's a very dark and slightly subtle color palette but it works great together. And I really love that Toho #90...it's a beautiful dark metallic purple (that does not photograph well at all)

So far I stitched all of the components and have just started attaching the wings to the center Rivoli. It's going very smoothly but I am sure there will be some tricky needle maneuvers when I have to attach that last wing...

Here is a photo of my WIP (photo was taken with my iPhone for quick results, but with quick results, you often sacrifice photo quality...)

I am hoping to finish this piece today as I have several other projects in progress on my bead trays that I look forward to working on and of course many more that I can't wait to start...It seems that the more projects I have in progress, the more I am inspired to start even more projects!

And that always leads to more bead shopping...and I am really trying to use beads from my stash rather than buy more at this point. Being unemployed and in the process of moving 650 miles away is not really a great time to be bead shopping! Luckily I have quite a stash to work from but the temptation to buy beads is always there...

So even though I am down on my luck with fiances, I have been experiencing some luck in winning blog hops lately. It all started when I won a $25 Gift Certificate from The Hole Bead Shoppe's Facebook & Blog hop contest...then I won a Dream Vessel Ring tutorial from Marcia DeCoster's 'Share the Love' blog hop, then a $25 GC followed by a $50 Gift Certificate from Mikki Ferrugiaro's The Beaded Carpet blog giveaway!

So while I am unemployed, at least I can keep myself busy (and distracted from depression) with all the awesome tutorials I have been able to purchase with these winnings! I am looking forward to Mikki's release of her newest Pineapple Lace tutorial...I really love the idea of Beaded Lace and her designs are truly inspired!

And maybe my luck will hold and I could win the awesome stash of Seed Beads being offered by RB Beads in the UK as the prize for the OTTBS March Challenge! Crossing my fingers and toes for this one!

And becaue these earrings fit into the Purple and Grey color palette, here is a pair of earrings (ok, just one of the earrings) that I made for an earring swap on Beading Daily. The pattern is "Deco Lotus Earrings" by Gwen Fisher from Beadwork Magazine issue Oct/Nov 2009.

I used Antique Silver seed beads, Crystal Silver Night Bicones and Amethyst CZ Teardrops. I am really loving the Antique Silver color lately...both Miyuki (#464A) & Toho (#711) have this color and it really does look like tarnished Sterling Silver. They are not metal beads though...regular glass seed beads with a metallic nickel silver finish.

I think I just might continue playing with this palette...I have several other variations of the Purple & Grey palette that woud be excellent together...and the more pieces I make, the more chances I have to win that awesome prize, right? Oooh, I just need more beads...Haha!

Beading Babes Project #3 Reveal

Well, I have been looking forward to this reveal for awhile now...I am excited to see everyone's projects, especially all the wonderful color ways everyone has chosen! It has certainly been a great experience working with so many beaders from across the globe...helping each other through some obstacles and deciphering the instructions and finding all the little things that may not have been addressed in the magazine tutorials.

I worked on both projects this month, but in the end, I really didn't like the Runway of Pearls so I took it apart to salvage my embellishment beads. I still have the RAW base of matte black size 11/0 triangle beads...maybe I will do something else with that in the future, but for now it sits in a plastic baggie in my box of samples!

But here are a few photos of my Ravishing Rosettes necklace. This is a design by Smadar Grossman beaded by me. I used 8mm Black Czech Druks, size 8/0 & 11/0 seed beads in Matte Black and Gunmetal, and Black 3mm Czech Fire Polish rounds.

Black is a hard color to photograph and my photos are either too bright or too dark, but the Matte Black beads in there help to show some of the variation in color tones so at least you can see it! I really love this necklace, much more than I thought I would...I may even do a few more in other color ways!

I look forward to the full Beading Babes reveal on the Releases by Rufydoof blog sometime later today....she is in Australia so I have no idea what time it is there or even what day it is...it could already be Monday for all I know! And I hope I am doing this correctly Karyn!

Lazy Bloggers & Ravishing Rosettes

You know what really annoys me? When I follow a blog that I really love and then the blogger gets too busy or distracted or just plain lazy and doesn't update their blog!

So now I feel like an ass (and a hypocrite) for becoming that busy, distracted, and lazy blogger that hasn't updated my blog in weeks! Sorry to anyone out there who is actually reading this....

Initially I was waiting patiently to post my Reveal of the Beading Babes projects...but the deadline for the reveal has been pushed back a few weeks in order to allow enough time for everyone to participate.

Then I got busy trying to force myself to make earrings every day...and trying to finish up some beaded squares for the Bead it Forward: Beaded Quilts to raise money for Breast Cancer Research(deadline is March 1st)...and finishing up my trays full of UFOs...so I have neglected this diary. But I have been beading and that's the really important part right?

Back to the Beading Babes: the projects that we chose this month have provided the group with some challenges, which is kind of awesome if you think about it. And it has been really nice to see this group work together to figure things out and find the root of the problems!

I think one of the main issues that beaders face with these Projects is that when Beading Magazines publish Tutorials, they edit them down to 2 or 3 pages...and sometimes this edit can leave out some important information. Also each diagram tends to include an entire series of steps rather than a clear diagram for each individual step...which can make it harder for some people to follow, especially less experienced beaders.

A few little sentences in the "Artist's Tips" section would have solved most of the problems that our group stumbled upon in this challenge!

I also think it would be interesting and very helpful if the Magazine Editors would think about using regular beaders, like any of us, to test their edited version of the Tutorial before the Magazine goes to print.

A test group like this would help them catch those little things that beginning beaders may not always know...the little details that a Technical Editor may not even think twice about because they do this every day. These little extras that should be in the "Artists Tips" if they aren't in the actual step by step directions. That is a job I would happily volunteer for...not that it wouldn't be awesome to get paid for it too!

However, I think this is one of the great things about a beading group like this...by choosing patterns that are published in magazines we become a sort of 'self appointed test group' of beaders with various levels of experience. Working on something like this as a group helps us to strengthen our own beading skills, challenges us to try something new and brings us together in friendship with other beaders from around the world!

I had a great time working on the projects this month and getting to know some of the members of the Beading Babes. I also really like my Ravishing Rosettes necklace, and while I thought it looked nice in the magazine, it is not one of the ones I would chosen for myself. So I would have missed out on this wonderful design if I had not joined the Beading Babes group!

I did however decide to rip out the Runway of Pearls bracelet...well, I ripped out my embellishment beads, not the RAW cuff base...it's just not worth all that work ripping out RAW stitches to save a few grams of Triangle beads!

And while I didn't have any technical difficulties with the pattern, I just didn't like the end result all that much. I used the beads that the designer used, and I followed the pattern (except I added an extra inch to the RAW base knowing that it would shrink when embellished) and it turned out just like it should, but I just don't like it. It ends up as a fat little 'tube' of embellished RAW that makes for an awkward bracelet....

I am excited for the Reveal and of course for the announcement of the next project! I can't wait to see how everyone else's projects turned out and to see everyone's color choices too! So look for the Reveal on March 12th at Releases by Rufydoof.

And until then, Happy Beading!