Flowers

Here is a work in progress. 

I started out making one thing and it morphed into something else. 

I like making flowers but four in a row??

 I did learn a way to make as many layers as I want so it wasn't a total waste of time. 

Huge, wide flowers may happen.............stay tuned  ;-D

Now a way to hang it and this time I would like to make the necklace part 

more than a velvet rope....maybe some leaves as well.

Battle of the Beadsmiths Tournament

 

In an effort to create more awareness of some of the incredible bead artistry being executed by bead masters worldwide, Steven Weiss (Marketing Manager for The Beadsmith) thought it would be fun to set up a beading "Tournament" where original works could be viewed, shared, and celebrated both by the participants, and the beading public alike.

I have been selected for inclusion within this Tournament and I am not only honoured but flattered with the inclusion as I am keeping company with some extremely talented artists from around the world.
Just cast your eye over the incredible Participants list of beading artists below!

80 seed bead artists have been invited to participate in an elimination "tournament" to determine which piece of their original beadwork best captures the imagination of 119 of their fellow designers, specialty bead shop owners, and members of various beading magazine editorial staffs.

The Tournament Guidelines:
On May 14th, random artist pairings will be created, establishing a first round of competition, consisting of 40 artists vs. artist "contests". (For example, round one might have the work of Californian Linda Roberts paired up against the work of Vermont's Nancy Dale, and so on.)

Artists will then have Seven weeks from the announcement of the first round pairings to create, a single piece of original beadwork, and submit four photos best highlighting the works most important elements. The 78 competitors not involved in a particular round one "contest", plus 41 invited judges, will vote for the piece that best captures their imagination. A majority of at least 85 of the possible 119 total voters will be enough to determine a winner. All necklaces, bracelets, earring, brooches, headpieces, belts, handbags, or any other wearable adornments are acceptable for submission. The deadline for all of the submissions, by the artists, is July 10th, Tuesday

If an artist drops out of the competiton before 5 PM EST, on Thursday June 7th, a replacement artist will be sought to join the competition (though they are at an obvious time disadvantage). After the June 7th, the artist paired with the departed competitor will be declared a winner, and advance to round 2

The 40 winners of round one will be randomly paired again in one of 20 new "contests" in round 2 and the voting process will begin again.

The 10 winners of round two are again randomly paired in 5 new round 3 "contests" which after judging takes place will leave 5 remaining artists in the competition.

The public will then have a chance to vote for their favorite piece from the remaining 5 artists. The selected artist will recieve a pass straight through to the final round of competition.

Round 4 will be two "contests" to determine which two artists will compete in round 5 for the right to move to the championship round against the public's favorite piece.

The winner of the competition will be decided on by the 119 eligible voters......

Competitors can use almost any beads or materials, so long as the piece falls under the umbrella of beadweaving, or bead embroidery. Japanese seed beads***, Metal seed beads, Preciosa Czech seed beads, semi precious stones, Swarovski and Preciosa Crystal, fire polished glass, and individually created art glass and ceramic beads etc are all perfectly acceptable.

***As the Beadsmith has a relationship with the Miyuki Company of Japan, we have requested that competitors preferably use Miyuki Seed beads when using Japanese beads for this competition.

The Participants: in alphabetical Country order.
The Participants: 2012 Battle Of The Beadsmith:

Australia:
Patrick Duggan
Melissa Ingram
Joanne Browne
Neva Brown
Lauren Macgregor
Maryanne Villalba
Karyn Healey-White
Noel Wyres
Belgium:
Laurence Dethier
Belgrade/Serbia:
Ella Des
Canada:
Jacquie Champion
Czech Republic:
Lea Palickova
Katka Vaclavikova
Marta Koudelova
Denisa Kangas
Iva Jar
Dominican Republic:
Edgar Lopez Disenos
France:
Anneta Valious
Mouna Marini
Georgia:
Tamuna Lezhava
Germany:
Elke Leonhardt Rath
Olga Haserodt
Hungary:
Annie Hatvani
Eva Dobos
Orsolya Füzesi
Ibolya Ingesné Barkóczi
Éva Csizmadia Lajosné
Katalin Budainé Nagy
Ireland:
Anastasia O'sarantseva
Israel:
Ann Braginsky
Miriam Cielo Shimon
Italy:
Eliana Maniero
Japan:
Guzialia Reed
Mexico:
Sigifredo Contreras
Netherlands:
Sandra Dokter van Esveld
Russia:
Irina Chikineva
Nella Moskvichjova
Julia Turova
Alla Maslennikova
Olga Shumilova
Ekaterina Kalinina
Marina Nosova
Singapore:

Helena Tang
Sweden:
Olga Petterson
Misan Tejre
Nausikaa Dahllof
Anna Lindell
Ukraine:
Alla Vizir
Katherine Gezey
Anna Bystryk
United Kingdom:
Heather Kingsley Heath
Jill Thomas
Lynn Davy
USA:
Linda Roberts
Sharayah Sheldon
Nancy Dale
Cynthia Newcomer Daniel
Marsha Wiest Hines
Carol Dean Sharpe
Christina Neit
Sue Horine
Alexandra Sydorenko
Betty Stephan
Callie Mitchell
Christian Rodriguez
Kinga Nichols
Mikki Ferrugiaro
Amy Katz
Kassie Inman
Dini Alves
Jennifer Chasalow VanBenschoten
Rosita Pisarchick
Roxan O'brien
Christine Boyer Maj
Kathy King
Susan Brackett
Hannah Rosner
Terri Richards
Rachel Nelson Smith
Ulyana Rakcheyeva Seryankina-USA

The Judges: 2012 Battle Of The Beadsmith:
Australia:
Kelly Nealon (Australian Beading Magazine Editor),
Finland:
Jana Tarhala
Germany:
Sabine Lippert
Claudia Schuman
Verena Greene-Christ (Perlen Poesie Magazine)
Israel:
Smadar Grossman
Patrizia Tager
Japan:
Kenj Katsuoka (Miyuki Company)
Netherlands:
Marjon Donker-Netherlands ( Editor Polymer To Art Magazine)
Russia:
Galina Pchelkina-Russia (Editor of Чудесные мгновения Magazine)
South Africa:
Heather Collin
Sweden:
Karin Nilsson
Switzerland:
Cath Thomas
United Kingdom:
Kerrie Slade
Chloe Menage (Bead Magazine Editor)
Jean Power
Jo Lochhead
Juliet Browse
USA:
Maggie Roschyk
Adele Rogers Recklies
Diane Hyde
Jean Campbell
Zoya Gutina
Laura Boudloche Zeiner
Laura Andrews
Kathleen Mccabe-Elsey
Julia Gerlach-USA (Bead and Button Magazine Editor)
Diane Fitzgerald
Ana Garcia
Paulette Rosner Baron
Amy Blevins
Melinda Barta (Beadwork Magazine Editor)
Kandra Norsigian
Jamie Cloud Eakin
Pamela Hawkins (Bead Design Studio Magazine Editor)
Kate Bannister Tracton
Deb Moffet Hall (Bead- Patterns The Magazine & Quick Stitch Peyote Card
Barbara Conrad
Lea Avroch
MaryLou Holvenstot
Anna Elizabeth Draeger

My Day Wear "Gerbera"

I posted earlier the pink and grey Gerbera flower for evening wear and here is the just finished 

day-wear "Gerbera".  

The pattern for the flower will be published in the Australian Beading Magazine in August 2012.

Now all I have to do is the graphics and write the pattern. 

I am learning Corel Draw and I find it is relatively easy, however, jewellery making is fun and I love it whereas the graphics is like work....... not keen to do this "work" but at the same time know it is 

the way I must go.

Melissa's Earrings

Recently I needed a large Siam Swarovski rivoli and couldn't find one larger than 14mm. 

My friend Melissa Ingram had a vintage one and generously let me have it. 

When I received the post inside was - 

A hank of antique English bugle beads called Carnival. 

A vintage Celluloid Cameo, 

2 Swarovski 'rockets' or Art. 4866 14mm in Bermuda Blue (which they don;t make anymore) 

a vintage Swarovski triangle in Siam, 

as well as the large Siam rivoli. 

"A goody bag for my beading buddy" she said.......... Ask me if I was jumping for joy ! 

The picture above is a pair of earrings I made out of the Swarovski 'rockets' as a thank you for her kindness. All I need now is the jump ring and ear stud, which I need to try and find in my stash !!
The picture below shows you the side view of the Swarovski 'rockets'. 

So thank you Melissa, enjoy.

My "Gerbera" Flower being published

Here is my "Gerbera" flower I designed for Australian Beading Magazine.

Swarovski Vitrail Light Pink rivoli, surrounded in three rows of petals (just like the real thing). 

On the end of each petal is a 4mm crystal. The crystals are Chinese and really pretty. 

As they catch the light they throw sparkles of pink one second then yellow next and salmon pink, 

and yet they look grey in colour. Very unusual. 

I am learning to use a new camera and need better lighting so in the near future 

my images will get more professional - I hope.

The pattern will be published in the August 2012 issue of Australian Beading Magazine

https://www.facebook.com/australianbeading

White Lights

Here is an item I made in 2010, my first right angle weave bezel, using the tiniest pearls I had ever seen.

A Swarovski crystal chessboard surrounded in 3mm AB crystals, then again surrounded in the 

tiny pearls.

I even did the bezel in RAW, covered it in the pearls and hung it on a silver spiral weave. The pearls were so tiny I was able to weave them into the spiral weave as well.

Perfect for that bride to be.

The Clasp - for The Bow necklace

The finished clasp for my necklace "The Bow"

I wanted to achieve a clasp that both left handed and right handed people would be comfortable in using.

I came up with making a two toggle clasp, which would enable me to make a decorated loop.

The first one I made was a single loop but it moved around and you missed seeing the decoration.

Above is the second one. Now this does not move around and it has given me more scope to decorate. The really great part about this is you could take the loop away from the necklace and put a chain through the top part and wear it. It is attractive on its own - so dual purpose ! 

I love things having dual purpose!

The Bow - Rosette 3

I have been playing with the ribbon "Rosette" theme and here is my third version - "The Bow"

After I finish a piece of jewellery I usually display the piece on a bust in my lounge room. I get to enjoy the finished item. Often my ideas come from sitting and looking at a piece I have made, how to improve it, make a different version, new ideas/colours etc etc.

Displaying and enjoying my copper and aqua rosette (two posts ago) I realised how it reminded me of when I was younger and one of my sisters used to wear blouses with a tied bow or a frill down the front.  I wanted to try another Rosette version and capture that "bow" look in a necklace.   

Rosette 3 above does give you the look of a tied bow. 

I have a question for you. It is all well and good that I play with beading and create fun, new ideas. I will never stop doing this. Not having seen anyone else make anything similar (which is good) I really do not know if a woman would wear this necklace or the Rosette necklace.

My question is would you wear a necklace like this?

Experimentation

The image to the left is an experiment I worked on over the weekend. I was after flower petal like shapes from two columns of herringbone joined at the end with a 4mm bead. 

The better part of the design happened on the back of the work where the wrong side of the rivoli is showing.

I almost abandoned the piece, thinking "what a waste of time for very ordinary results" because I just wasn't happy with the look at the front.

I then wondered if I could "cover up" the part of the front I wasn't happy with by taking the size 15's out over the herringbone petals. I started with just a small amount and noticed it was succeeding so I kept going, continuing to add extra rounds until I reached the very edges. It isn't perfect but at the same time not a total right off either.

I was pretty amazed at how it turned out in the end. Not what I had planned to make but okay in itself. 

The really great part about this happening is that I now know how to make a completely new design and will have a play with this 

"swirl" look next.

I really love experimenting and I especially enjoy it when the unexpected happens. That is what keeps me addicted to beading.