A commission with a challenge

Recently a good friend said my work was more after 5pm, special occasion, lots of bling and challenged me to make something that was day wear with no bling at all. I accepted the challenge as I felt she was correct having an internal voice always suggesting where I can put another crystal or two.

So here is the finished piece and I have to admit it was a little difficult not to add a crystal or two.

The necklace has two sides, copper with blue one side and blue with copper on the reverse side. I do enjoy providing a two for one when I can.

I believe I rose to the challenge, what do you think?.

Earrings for Sue Austin

I have a lovely friend named Sue Austin, a bead importer and glass artist, 

who has a pair of earrings made in wirework from a French designer whose 

name escapes me at present. 

Having seen these earrings I mentioned there was 

no reason why they couldn't be converted and made in seed beads and right 

angle weave. Sue said if I made them they were hers. 

Well here you go possum - your earrings are ready. 

I shall deliver them personally at the Melbourne Bead Expo being held in November. 

Finished Pink Star

                                                              I finished my last post with needing a gold bale to hang the pink star. That stayed with me all day and so yesterday morning I woke and decided to make the bale and hang the star in a style suitable for this piece. 

Here we have the pendant and bale with a spiral weave rope. After four attempts on the bale - one  even published yesterday only to be deleted 10 minutes later - each abandoned for either too large, too eye catching taking the attention away from the star or wrong colours etc. Talk about Goldilocks and the porridge but in this case four bears.

Last evening I finally made one I liked and thought didn't draw attention away from the star and was a suitable size. 

One of my pet dislikes is a rope that twists the same way the entire length. This morning I remembered to change the twist direction so now it twists anti-clockwise on the left and clockwise on the right of the bale. To the viewer the pendant sits right in the middle and all is balanced nicely. Pleasing to my eye and a happy chappy I am.

I have invented a clasp (not shown here) as I want to make sure it hasn't been done before. I have a friend who has beaded far longer than I have and she is amazed it hasn't been thought of before. So I shall check this out and post results soon.

Pink Star

You would have noticed from yesterday's post I have been inspired by Sabine Lippert's creations.

This morning I sat and created this beautiful piece, using what I have learnt along with what I already knew and I am more than happy with my results. 

At the same time I am learning how to enhance the colours of my images, making them more true, adding text and shadow etc. So here is the first image of how I would like to present my designs. Colours are real, the picture has a shadow, my label is on the picture and overall a more professional looking presentation. 

This piece is quite small as well measuring only 35mm across. Made of 4mm Czech beds, 3mm Swarovski Dorado crystals, a 12mm Swarovski rivoli centre and seeds. 

All I need now is a gold bale to hang it from.  

New Play

One of my favourite beaders I am inspired by is Sabine Lippert. Her book is due for release in May 2012 - a copy of which I have advanced purchased and really look forward to receiving.

I spent this morning experimenting and figuring out how she achieves her beautiful embellished pieces and here is my take on one of her current designs. I have made changes to make this pendant my own but am really grateful for her ideas and inspiration.

The pendant as actually quite small, measuring only 30mm across. As I made this I was wondering whether this style is Vintage or Romantique as it has an old world look about it.

Whatever style it is I really enjoy embellishing and making things as lovely as this. But then I guess you have already figured this out eh ??

The Urchin

I have experimented with a beaded bead and took it a bit further and ended up with this little "urchin".

It is a ball of fun colours and star shapes. Not too sure how I will hang this. Probably on suede or chain.

Definitely a unique piece that someone will enjoy wearing.

From this little experiment I now have the base idea for a necklace and a bracelet.

It pays to play !!

Finished 16 Petal Lotus necklace

Here is how I hung the 16 Petal lotus flower I created yesterday (see post below).

I didn't want to create a bale so the lotus flower cold slide onto a necklace or chain. I am somewhat over that kind of work, having made many pendants in my time.

So I created a St Petersburg weave this morning and attached the weave to the back of the lotus flower.

The overall look is like those leather thongs the cowboys wear at their neck - not sure what they are called. 

I like the look as it is something different.

16 petal Lotus

Here is my "play" for this morning. I wasn't too sure what I was going to experiment on, but started and voila here is a sixteen petal lotus flower.

Now what am I going to do with it ???

14mm Swarovski olivine rivoli centre with olive green shell pearls, AB gold magatamas, 2mm round Czech gold lustre beads and matt green 11/0s and bronze 15/0 seed beads. My work is getting more and more fine and I am loving it.

I checked out the symbolism of a 16 petal flower and it represents the throat chakra which is "expression of being".

I think I am expressing my creativity, not too sure about my being. Striving for the balance of exercise, diet, relaxation, caring for myself and home etc.

 I think the jewellery making has control of me and I am not in control of the jewellery making. But then isn't that the behaviour of an addict?? Having conquered all my early life "addictions" I think I can happily live with being addicted to beading.

i most certainly will post a picture of what I will do with it. I may use it as a pendant (how boring), or centre it in a necklace (much better idea).

Baubles

Here is my experiment for this morning. I have previously created items like this in the flat/pendant style but not in the round. With the voice "it is not working" in my head I persevered and after awhile I could see where to go and voila here is my "Bauble".  

My inspiration for this comes from a blog I follow - Lilith Schatze. Lilith creates some amazing beaded "baubles" and this is my first attempt, which happily has succeeded.

Pale grey shell pearls, matt navy blue Czech beds, crystals of 3mm CAL Swarovski and 4mm Rose Satin Swarovski with Sapphire Swarovski diamantees and permanent galvanised seed beads. I placed sterling bead caps each end, with sterling silver chain dangles with a lobster clasp at the top so it can be hung off a chain, off suede, or clipped onto a handbag or wherever your imagination wants.  Check out the little bead cap I made with the drop on the end of the chain. Cute.

Now that I have succeeded with this one I am sure others will follow.

The 60th Birthday Present

Yesterday I showed the beginning of a necklace I am making for a friend of mine, having her 60th birthday. 

Here is the finished necklace. I am very happy with how it turned out and hopefully she will be as well.

Also below is a picture of the earring I have made for the necklace. I like the "triangle" look of the earring caused by the tiny magatamas (drops).

The triangle with point down is the feminine symbol for God in the Old Testament. Nice symbolism for my friend I think. I only had time to make one earring this morning so don't think my friend has only one ear. ;-)