Tropical Sunset

I was asked a few months ago by the terrific marketing department at Beads Direct if I would be interested in testing out some of their products. Of course, I jumped at the chance! When I got the beads I had selected, they were absolutely beautiful. I had chosen several different Toho matte galvanized beads, including light dusty rose, pewter, and nickle plated denim blue. I paired them with some gorgeous copper satin matte Delicas (#340) in a set that reminds me of the beach and the ocean during sunset.

Click on any of the photos to enlarge.

Please note: I have received the above seed beads free of charge from Beads Direct. This is my honest review of the product and I have not been paid for my endorsement as it pertains to the products received.

Earrings for Pam

I made these earrings last night. My friends Pam and Mary Jo came over so that we could design something for Pam - earrings and a necklace. I love the earrings. The necklace isn't working out so well. It may be back to the drawing board... and back to the store to buy more crystals LOL.

Tropical Sunset Teaser 2

Here's another teaser of my new Tropical Sunset set. My Internet is not working properly this morning, so I'll have to upload the rest of the photos later today or this evening. Oh, and Gypsy, no drops... they are 8/o seed beads. They are matte black AB, though. :)

Tropical Sunset Teaser

This is the clasp to the necklace I just finished last night. I'll post pictures of the rest of it (and the matching earrings - gasp!) later today. :)

Netted Rope Revamp

This necklace originally had a beaded circle for a pendant, but it was way too light. I replaced it with the glass square.

Nuit d'été

When Artbeads asked me to make a project for their Summertime gallery, I chose nice bright summery colors... then when I started beading, it turned into a summer's night! Nuit d'été (Summer Night) is its name:

I used a Bermuda Blue Pendant and 3 Bermuda Blue Cosmic Rings

The beads are Toho 3-cut 12/o gold-lined blue - lots of sparkle!

The roundels used in the bumpy sections of the rope are Czech crystals I got in Andrews at the last bead retreat. I love the color.

Artbeads posts all of the contributor photos on their blog. Check it out here.

*Please note: I have received the above items (the Bermuda Blue crystals and the 3-cut seed beads) free of charge from Artbeads. This is my honest review of the product and I have not been paid for my endorsement as it pertains to the products received.

Teardrop Crown

My friend Mary Jo was looking for the perfect bail for this gorgeous red teardrop that Aryd'ell gave her (I got one, too - yum!). She used a variation on Coronet, which looks absolutely fabulous!

Coronet Redux

I can't seem to stop making these earrings. My latest favorite pair are these Turquoise Flowers:

These are called Fire Storm:

These match the Coronet Fall Bracelet:

I keep looking for the perfect crystal to pair with these matte khaki drops:

Another Blue Jean Queen with twisted crystals:

Where will it end?!?!!? :)

Want to buy your own custom pair? Check out my ArtFire shop: http://www.artfire.com/users/BeadingButterfly

Work in Progress

Here's what is on my work table right now. Herringbone and Swarovski... what more could a girl want?

Picture heavy (click any pic for larger view)

I can't believe it's been so long since I have posted here! So sorry!

I went to a week long bead retreat in Robbinsville NC last month. 24 women, 6 classes, and lots of UFOs (unfinished objects). No Internet access and barely any cell service. Heaven!

I taught two classes, my Shooting Stars Bracelet and my Butterfly Bail. Aryd'ell has posted about the bails she made and here is a photo of the bail Mary Jo made:

I did lots of trading that week. Here are a pair of earrings I made for somebody as a trade for some matte khaki drop beads that I used in my Daydream Garden Bracelet (see later this post):

While we were there, we went to a bead store and saw a bracelet that was made using a Carole Ohl pattern. I didn't want to use seed beads for my base, so I modified it using bugle beads. I ended up making four bracelets, but only ended up coming home with one of them because other people at the retreat traded me for the other three:

Susan taught a tubular netting technique and Sherry made this drool-worthy bangle with red coral crystals and matte gold seed beads:

Ellen went home with these Blue Jean Queen Coronet Earrings:

The base of this bracelet is the African Circle (or Pondo) Stitch, which Carol taught us. I thought it needed embellishing, so I added the drops and the rondelles. I call it Daydream Garden:

There was a pattern in the last issue of Beadwork called Tuscan Tiles Bracelet. It's absolutely gorgeous and I would love to make one... however, it is made with 21 separate components that then all have to be stitched together and tails woven off, etc. I not only didn't have the patience to make 21 individual components, I also didn't have enough materials. So, my earring version came to be:

I love how dimensional these earrings are:

I had used Hana Ami weave before (triangle flowers, I think is the translation) to make a heart. This is the flat version that Carol taught (although hers was straight on the sides, not like mine is):

I realize now that I should have sewn through all of the inner copper Delica circles to close them up. I might go back and do that, which will reinforce the kind of floppy sides. Then again, I might also just tear it apart for the crystals. I mean, where am I gonna wear such a thing??

Detail:

I had somebody ask me if Coronet could be made with ovals instead of bicone or round crystals, so I gave it a go. The answer is YES! Here is the Fall variation:

We did a secret swap. Everyone who wanted to participate made or bought something and brought it to the retreat, already wrapped. As we put our gifts in, we gave them numbers. When we all had our pieces submitted, we drew numbers. I made this netted bangle with matte khaki 8/o and drop beads along with matte green 8/o beads and bronze seeds:

It was too funny when I walked up to Sherry (who had drawn my gift) to tell her something about it and she started laughing... because I had drawn HER gift:

All in all, a wondrous time was had by all and I brought home lots and lots of goodies! Now, back to beading!!