Botanicus Patricus

After much exploration a new flower species has been discovered - Botanicus Patricus    ;-)

I probably could have made this flower a lot more easily if I made petals and attached them together etc, but having come up with an interesting shape (which I am still experimenting with) I went around the world to end up creating this lovely piece.

The centrepiece is quite raised, which doesn't really show in the picture, also there are six cone shapes for the stamens to exit from and a rivoli centre set on top of the six cones..

I will now endeavour to create a setting that will best show off the flower. I hope I come up with one that does it justice.

Sophia

Below is the first image of Sophia along with the story.

I never felt it was truly finished. I felt it needed something else.

 Yesterday I was visiting friends at Etelage and came across this "Art Deco" style pendant and immediately thought of 'Sophia' and knew it would finish the necklace off beautifully. The pendant is made of Lucite and made in Germany.

Much more of a statement piece don't you think ??

A dear friend of mine recently gave birth to her second daughter whom she named Sophia. I also have a nephew with a daughter named Sophia. Both were on my mind whilst making this necklace and thus I've called it "Sophia".

I began this project when I went to Melbourne and only just this morning finished.

A base of Matsuno gold seeds with navy blue second layer and Matsuno hot pink top layers. There is a square centrepiece with the spaces filled in with fuchsia diamantes.

A very pretty design, elegant and certainly eye-catching. 

Tassel No.1

Whilst experimenting with the blue seeds I came up with a shape that lent itself to becoming a tassel. This is my first attempt at a tassel and won't be my last.

I am not overly keen on my colour choices, finding it a bit too busy, also the drops I used are too large in proportion to the rest of the tassel size. You learn these things in retrospect and by continual looking at the finished piece.

It has been a lot of work making this, lots of doing and undoing, but I feel more confident for when I make another.

Fire Flower

Here is "Fire Flower" a centrepiece I made this morning from a pattern in the latest Bead & Button Magazine December 2011 - page 62.

I had a go at making this as I wanted to learn from it and I am very pleased I did. 

Doing the bezel around the rivoli then creating these 'petals' around the bezel and then setting this into a beaded ring.

I found it tricky but definitely worth giving it a go and learning from it.

Melbourne Bead Expo "Bead Challenge"

During my recent visit to the Melbourne Bead Expo I was able to see the entries into the

BSV 2011 Bead Challenge.

With a bead challenge everyone who enters purchases a kit with exactly the same beads in each kit. The entrant must use all the beads in the kit and is allowed to add other beads to achieve their design.

Below are the winners of both the Judged Vote and Popular Vote.

I was absolutely blown away by the entries and the variety.

I have not entered this category before but certainly will give it a go next year. 

Should you wish to see the kit purchased and the place getters go to

http://www.beadsociety.com.au/challenge2011.html

  

Jan Cahill                                                                   Joanne Ivy

Meg Seller              Glenda McNaughton

 

 

Carmel Manley

                                         Ruth Davies

Melbourne Bead Expo

This is the necklace "Midnight Lights" I have entered into the Melbourne Bead Expo 2011 

Member's Original Exhibition

In 2010 I was awarded the Elly Feldman Award (best of show) at the Melbourne Bead Expo

with my entry called "Dragon's Bane"

 Naturally, I am keen to be present at this year's judging so my sister and I are driving down to Melbourne to attend this year's Melbourne Bead Expo over the weekend.

This necklace has 504 x 3mm Swarovski CAL crystals, 131 x 4mm Swarovski Jet and Cal crystals, 

10 x Swarovski diamantes  and 1 x Swarovski flower crystal, plus heaps of 4mm black Czech glass beads and seeds. 

Having had the necklace on a bust, during construction, when walking past it flashed light like stars on water at night. Thus I have called it "Midnight Lights".

So wish me luck at the Expo as being awarded two years in a row would be absolutely fantastic.

Star-Bloom #2

I am still enamoured with this design and had to experiment with the colour patterning 

and see how it would look.

Having already made one in red and gold I thought I would use these same colours so that if it didn't look any good I could always hang it from a Christmas tree.
Well I am delighted with the results.
A very attractive pendant wearable anytime of the year, especially at Christmas time, and one that could always double as something to hang from your tree.
I love duel purpose and providing options !

Sweet Thing

Playing with colour and seeds this morning I went somewhat further and came up with this little design.

As I am making it I kept hearing the words "sweet thing" in my head, so I have christened it so.  

I see this delicate, colourful piece for someone young and a lover of pink,

however my sister is 65 and loves it maintaining age is no barrier to colour.

I wish all ladies thought that way. 

Happy as a pig in .........

My sister Sue, who is staying with me from Perth for 3 weeks, knows I like money-boxes and yesterday bought this little fella for me. 

He has the biggest smile on his face. I love the silver wings and the connection to "if pigs could fly". 

He really amuses me and every time I walk past him I find myself smiling. 

So I am as happy as a pig in ......

This morning I sat and made the Star-bloom pendant as a thank you. She loves purples.

Needless to say sister Sue joined me in the ........

Star-bloom by Starlight

Here is the next adventure in Star-bloom, an "after 5pm" version with 3mm Dorado Swarovski crystals for that evening sparkle.

I have taken the colours a little further by adding a peek in olive green iris, however you are not seeing the ten peak cherry flower from front on, caused by these green peaks. I also trimmed the edges with a bronze size 15/o seed bead to match the crystals and define the centre star.

The picture is of a side angle so the sculptured contours can be better seen.

I am still inspired by this creation and more ideas are flowing through. 

Too many ideas, not enough hands, not enough time to get them all out.  Boo hoo!

The Urchin grown into "Star-bloom"

I have been experimenting (again) with my "Urchin" design and here is the large pendant version. 

I don't think the name Urchin suits this anymore so it has grown into Star-bloom.

I am excited by the contours of this piece - very sculptural.

It sits beautifully when worn and weighs next to nothing. 

Definitely a unique piece and eye-catcher.

I have heaps more ideas and I am now keen to create Star-bloom Mark II. I am inspired!

The Urchin Mark II and Mark III

After receiving a good response yesterday, from friends and others about my Urchin No.2 bauble, I played with the shape further and was very pleased to come up with an earring that works beautifully let alone looks beautiful as well.

Also from this same piece I added a jump ring at the back and you have a pendant. A very versatile design, very light in weight yet firm and keeps its shape.

Please indulge me while I play with the picture framing and text program I have discovered. 

I am inspired by how Eva Maria Kaiser presents her designs. 

The Urchin No. 2

Here is the second version of the Urchin, finished and placed on chain. 

I am pleased it looks as good as it does. I also like how when the wearer looks down at the piece they see a five pointed star - I shall have to add a picture of this later.

All up a quirky, fun piece for that barbecue lunch, going shopping, casual wear.

Now for something I haven't made for awhile

I haven't played with earrings for awhile and here is my latest. AB Swarovski crystal, Chinese crystal rhondelles and drops with permanent gold metallic seeds.

An elegant 75mm long drop earring for that special occasion.