Happy New Year

During this last week of 2012 I have been thinking about the year, 

asking myself "how would I best describe 2012?"

In a nutshell - I have spent 2012 concentrating 

on becoming more "known" in the beading community.

 I have achieved this through Facebook, today accepting my 1000th 'friend' request. 

I achieved further acclaim through The Battle of the Beadsmith Tournament, in July.

I achieved this having patterns published in the German magazine Perlen Poesie, 

and another one in an Australian magazine. 

It has been a year of experimentation, finding my own style 

along with my love of colour surfacing in my more recent creations. 

All helping to get my name "out there".

I am happy with how 2012 has transpired, I hope you are also. 

I am looking forward to 2013 as I have lots of goals.

2013 will be spent 

** further developing my creations, 

** further learning the graphics required for pattern writing, 

** releasing my patterns for sale when I achieve a standard of professionalism in the writing, 

** entering another Beadsmith Tournament 

and hopefully trying to make some income from my passion.

So I shall be a busy boy for another year, 

hopefully sharing my journey with you along the way.

Happy New Year 

to all my followers and visitors.

I hope your 2013 is a wonderful year and all you desire comes to you with ease.

Pink Lotus

To all my followers and viewers I take this opportunity to wish each and everyone of you a 

Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

It is Christmas morning and I managed to finally finish 

my necklace - Pink Lotus.

I have been working on this for quite awhile and kept being

interrupted with other commitments - being the festive season.

I am very happy with this one as in the making I came up with a way to make it much easier than I have done in the past.

Patterns will be written in the not too distant future.

This image is a close up on the centrepiece and the dangles.

I hope you like it.

Lotus Bloom

I started one project and ended up making something else. Does that happen to you?

I wanted to bezel a rivoli and then create a Cubic Right Angle Weave out from the bezel. 

As I started the CRAW I wasn't impressed. I then decided to make a CRAW separate from the rivoli and attach them somehow.

Here is what I ended up with. Coming up with this system I realised I had found a way to improve on quite a few of my earlier designs. Making them quicker and easier to create.

It certainly pays to experiment.

Tea Rose - the Ring

I finally found the time to make the ring for Tea Rose.

This image has been rolling around in my head for about 3 days and I knew I had to make it before

the idea moved on.

Maybe now I can  move on and create my next jewellery idea.

Tea Rose

Here is the finished piece I have called "Tea Rose"

As I was making these components I kept thinking they resembled highly decorated cakes.

I also thought about naming it "Afternoon Tea" until a friend, Kate Bannister Tracton,

suggested "Tea Rose". 

Immediately, I knew this was the name.  

This whole piece started out from a colour combination I came across that I really loved.

I then made a small pendant and thought it was worth continuing to make a necklace.

 I am more than thrilled with the finished item.

I sometimes wonder where I get my aesthetics from as this would have to be the

daintiest and most feminine piece of jewellery I have made

and

I enjoyed making it immensely.

Coral Rose update

I have made a big centrepiece and three different components each smaller than the last.

This morning I designed the final component for the necklace and now I need to duplicate it.

I then shall have the seven pieces I need to put together and form the necklace.

Here is a sneak peak of the pieces with the threads still showing.

I think one more days work and it shall be done.

Coral Rose

Here is the second piece I have made using the colour scheme of my last post.

I really love these colours together and have decided to make a necklace, using this 

as one of the components.

So stay tuned for a new necklace coming to this store soon.

Coral Rose "Burst"

I woke this morning and wanted to experiment with these Coral watermelon 

colour beads in my latest "Burst" design.

While making the ring I noticed I had a Coral rose sitting on my workbench the exact same colour 

as the beads I was using. 

Naturally, I could not resist placing the rose in the centre of the ring.

I am very happy with the look of this piece. 

I love the colours and I've decided to make something else and use these colours again.

Stay tuned.

Classes Last Night - "Burst"

A look at what I taught my students last evening at Sydney Jewellery School. 

I call these "Burst" pendants because they look like they are a burst of colour.

Classes for this year are almost over and I will return again with a new Beginners term

in February 2014.

I have to admit I am looking forward to the break from commitments as this year

has been a very busy time.

A Ring Challenge.

I have been playing with RAW and CRAW. 

This is a RAW around the centre bead. Then from that I did a CRAW outwards in 15s and 11s 

From that I did a RAW with 4mm beads and I embellished it in peyote and netting. The ring band is a RAW also embellished. 

I was asked to figure out a ring in those stitches and hope I met the criteria.

Alien Flower

Still playing with the spikes and combining a rhinestone centre I came up with this pendant.

I turned the spikes inwards for a change and quite like the different look it has, however the spikes now remind me of the alien's teeth in one of those Predator movies.  LOL.... 

and that is why I have named this "Alien Flower"

Gorgeous Danger

I have been playing with spikes again.

Here are two shots of a ring I made this morning. I am pretty happy with the results.

I set out to make one idea in my mind and along the way this revealed itself to me. 

I continued on beading only to then undo the work I had done and stay with the ring.

Glad I did.

All the time I am making this I kept hearing (in a voice sounding like an old man's) 

"someone's going to lose an eye with this one!"

I guess that is why I call this "Gorgeous Danger"

Dainty Spikester

Yesterday I promised myself I would make a spike pendant and include crystals

  I present to you  - (drum roll) - the crystal version spike pendant I call "Dainty Spikester". 

I am really enjoying making these tiny creations and I can see a myriad of patterns coming forth. 

Time will tell.

My Spike pendant

It is not often I make jewellery I can wear but this morning I set out to do so. 

I received a parcel of goodies from Ivona Suchmannova, with much appreciation, 

and I had to play with one of the contents - and there were many. 

Here is the result and believe me it was hard NOT to add crystals and defeat my aim. 

Ladies maybe your hubbies or sons would like to wear one of these. Check it out, ask them.

Thank you Ivona much gratitude to you and many thanks also to Romana Tschunko for carrying it all the way here.

Beaded Beads again

I have been playing with the "baby" spikes again as I wanted to get this beaded bead idea manifested. 

Quite a number of hours goes into making one of these, although there was 

a lot of undoing involved until I was happy with it. 

Colours are pretty bright but fun.

Gelato

Here is the finished picture of the last post.

I spent yesterday morning trying to come up with a rope I liked.

I tried Chevron but wasn't happy with it. I tried an ECRAW and found this to be the best. 

I then tried three colour combinations until I found one I liked.

In the end it took me four hours to decide the rope, decide the colour and make 12cm (5") of rope.

Pheeewww!!! I tell you bead weavers sure don't get paid for the pursuit of perfection.

As I was finishing the rope this morning the word "Gelato" kept playing in my mind.

Often the names I call my designs come this way. At first I thought it was the fun colours but then I realised there are a lot of "cone" shapes in the pendant. 

So I went with "Gelato" as the name for my necklace for the combination of the gelato like colours 

and cone shapes.

I had a friend ask me what flavours were in "Gelato"? 

I quickly responded with Mediterranean Mint and Peach Pizazz!!!   

So I hope I have tempted you with an ice cream treat and you like my "Gelato" 

Untitled - as yet

I have been busy lately with beading commitments and haven't had time to stop 

and experiment - Until This Morning !

I have had an idea in my head for awhile so I put aside what I had been working on,

got out some nice colours and played. 

This is what came into being.

Spikes are very popular at the moment and recently I bought some so I had to include a spike in there somewhere - there are actually two spikes.

I did a workshop with Melanie Potter a week ago and learnt Chevron stitch. 

I will be using what I learnt to make a chain to hang this from and shall post a picture when finished.

I hope you like it.

"Venetian Mirrors"

Here is the completed picture of my cuff I have called "Venetian Mirrors"

Designed to hang over the back of the hand (not quite this far down though). This is probably the best shot for showing how it blings.

Here is "Venetian Mirror" open and on black background. I have found it very difficult to capture the

mirror like flash of this cuff. 

All the pics seem to come out looking grey in colour and not silver and mirror like.

And this pic shows "Venetian Mirrors" on a white background. 

Also doesn't show the sparkling silver mirror bling that the cuff has, however it does show the detail

a bit more.

Overall I am a very happy chappy and components for a necklace are already underway.  

Venetian Mirrors

I find it frustrating not sharing my designs so here you have a small section

of my current work in progress.

I have been experimenting with Swarovski montees making this cuff and I am 

more than thrilled with the results.

In fact I think this is the most beautiful piece I have made so far.

Difficult to capture the amount of "bling" in a picture but trust me, you need your sunglasses on when you look at this in real life.

I have called it "Venetian Mirrors" as it reminds me of those elaborate
mirrors with the etched glass.

The Snow (beaded) Ball

After I posted a pic of my Spring Beaded bead I was asked to make one with crystals and 

white on white. 

Here is the Snow (beaded) Ball,

covered in Swarovski AB clear crystals

for all you northern hemisphere people "about to go into winter snows".

I enjoyed making this, as I have not done a fully white palette before.

Triple Flower Spring

I have had it said to me my colour choices are "dramatic" sometimes,

so here is another beaded bead and hopefully with less "dramatic" colours. 

I call this one "Triple Flower Spring" as there are three "flowers" around the bead.

Triple Flower

Taking a break from a necklace I am working on to further experiment with another Beaded Bead.

Here is "Triple Flower".

There are three complete "flowers" on the beaded ball. I think my colour choice

has a very Asian appearance about it and it has been said

my colour choices are often very "dramatic". Is there anything wrong with dramatic??

I love seeing patterns in beading that form "other" patterns. I guess that is what keeps me experimenting.

The Clam

Still continuing with beaded beads,

I have been experimenting with Super Duo twin hole beads and loving it.

The image above is a side view of my latest experiment.The shape reminds me of a Clam shell.

The image below is the top view of the bead. I think it looks very intricate.

I am going to use this bead as the centrepiece in a necklace I am making.

Crystal Wizard's Ball

The Wizard's Crystal (beaded) Ball.

The crystals are 4mm Swarovski and I have recessed them and then

beaded the top layer of black size 15's. 

I am a little disappointed with this one as the crystals sparkle is very subtle. 

I am sure there is a lady 'out there' that would prefer a less

blingie bead so this is for her.

The Wizard's (beaded) Ball

I set out to create one thing and it seemed to "morph" into something else. Does that happen to you?

I had an idea for the next beaded bead and as I was making it I realised I liked the simplicity of what I was doing and went with the look. I intened adding crystals but put that idea aside and let this piece take on its own life - The Wizard's (beaded) Ball.
When you step back and look at the gold 'star' shapes on black it looks like a Wizard's robe.

I am very happy with it and now can make the one I set out to make. 

I mentioned earlier I was making a beaded bead necklace. Yesteerday I ran out of a main bead and whilst waiting for more to arrive I played with some spikes again and here is the result.

I allowed myself to really play with colour with this one.

 Making a beaded bead is a great way to work out a colour way - it is small and you can see how the colours work together really quickly, without much to undo if you don't like your choice.

I really like the look of this one and am inspired to make more. I find each bead

gives me another idea I have to try so beaded beads are 'it' for me for awhile.

Beaded Bead - "The Basket"

Here is where the beaded bead obsession has lead me - The Basket.

As I was making this piece I started to see the bead looking like a basket of flowers,

so I went with it and made the last part of the embellishment look like a basket.

I'm very pleased with this one and have received lots of favourable comments.

My "addiction" to these beaded beads is leading me to create a necklace of beaded beads.

I have five made already and need to come up with a few more designs,

then I can weave them all together and finish with a rope. 

Here is a collection of the beads I have been making to give an idea of size.

A golf ball would be a little larger than the bead on the right and a little smaller than the bead with orange and blue. 

I am now planning to make a necklace of beaded beads and have already started making them. 

It is amazing how much variety I can see in the patterning.

I am enjoying the challenge very much.

The smallest

Here is "Flower bubble".

The smallest in my collection so far, yet still measuring 31mm across from the embellishment

widest points.

This is a fun looking little bead and was a bit difficult to make as the embellishment caused the covering to get tighter and tighter. 

I managed to get my needle through to finish it

and I'm glad I did.

The next one in the collection, getting better and faster at making them.

This one is the same size as yesterdays post - 31mm across. 

Definitely a key chain or handbag bauble size.

Feminine and eye-catching.

Small Flower Burst.

T

The next in my beaded bead collection, a smaller version measuring 31mm across.

I was asked to make one using pink in the design and I was doing exactly that when asked.

Maybe I am psychic!....... he he he!

I have started writing the tutorial for this design first. It is probably the

easiest one for me to practice the graphics. Doing the graphics is like working and

jewellery designing is fun, so the graphics takes second place.

I guess, like most things, the more I do the better I shall become.

Flower Burst Spring

My garden is looking very Spring with lots of blooms.

. I have orange clivias blooming all around my garden,

the new leaves are a light green, the sky is blue,

thus my inspiration for my next beaded bead - Flower Burst Spring

Flower Burst.

The next in my beaded bead series, "Flower Burst"

This one measures 41mm across and full of bursting colour. I am having lots of fun making these and more ideas still flowing. 

Flower Ball

It is Spring here in Australia, with flowers blooming in my garden,

so here is "Flower Ball", the next in a series of beaded beads I am working on.

I was asked what was inside Sputnik, my last beaded bead. 

So this I made with three layers and you can see through the layers and view what is inside. 

When finished the bead is 4cm across (1 3/4"), and will look great at the end of a chain,

in time for Spring.

I have had great interest shown in Sputnik and this Flower Ball so I am learning the graphics and

 writing the tutorial, rather slowly I might add.

Stay tuned for more - "Flower Burst" is also being developed and it has even more flowers.

Sputnik

Since the Art Show a few weeks ago, I have been somewhat "off" my beading 

and I've been concerned I didn't have ideas flowing anymore.

I guess when you work long hours getting ready, labelling, pricing, pack and display it takes a lot out of you. Maybe I just needed a rest for awhile, or maybe I needed to try something new, exciting and challenging.

This is my latest creation and the design has been both exciting, a challenge and heaps of fun to make. 

I am enjoying beading again - thank Heavens. 

20 spikes, 120 x 3mm Swarovski crystals, size 11 and 8 green iris and size 15 grape colour seed beads, with an internal large bead. The finished item is 65mm across from spike tip to spike tip. 

I am going to add a headpin, bale and a chain for the wearer to vary the length.

The ball would also look great as an ornament as it sparkles beautifully. 

My image doesn't capture how much it sparkles.

I shall be writing the pattern for this and making it available very soon.

Praise the Lord I am beading again, the passion returns. 

The weekend just gone

The opening night at The Kings School Art Show 2012 and the table with most of my 'main' pieces

 My friend Neva Brown and "slave" for the weekend. If you look closely you will see the face of Neva just peaking over the top of the display. (Neva was towards the end of the line when they handed out 'tall' genes, although she assures me she was once tall). Neva is wearing her own creation "The Mayoress"

I had two tables at the show and a glass display case. I am told things behind doors often don't sell. 


Here we are on Sunday, keen to be there, but starting to lack in energy. We were both on our feet so much. 


It is funny how things happen. 
Not one sale on Sunday morning. This was just before I went out to buy some lunch. I returned with food, Neva had sold 3 pieces. From that moment on we did not stop and the last sale was 35 minutes after close. I have HUGE gratitude to Neva for her unrelenting support.

My Lotus necklace sold to the wearer, Deidre, who was most gracious in allowing pics. The necklace went perfectly with what she was wearing and she looks so happy in it.

Julia wearing my BOTB piece 'Davinia'.   As soon as Julia put this necklace on I immediately asked if I could photograph her and use the image. She was most happy to oblige and I am grateful to her.