More Pyramids

I have made three new color variations of my Concave Pyramid Earrings. Blue:

Purple:
and Sand:
This last variation is also the colorway I am using in a necklace called Sands of Egypt. It will feature some pyramids, of course! :)

Pyramids and Stars

I was playing around at the Bead-a-Lot yesterday and figured out how to make a pyramid shape WITHOUT having to do components and then connect them together. Yay! Those of you in the know understand how much I HATE components. ;)

These triangles are destined to be earrings, but I think I see a charm bracelet in my future... okay, so I know that means components, but it's not the same thing. :)

Also, my friend Aryd'ell brought this bracelet with her, which she made from my Shooting Stars pattern but then embellished the heck out of. I love it! I think I'm gonna have to write up a second tutorial for this one as a collaboration. :)

Happy beading!

New Teaching Gig

This past weekend, I went to Forest City, NC to meet Kelly, from Off The Beaded Path. She and I talked (and drooled over beads) for a couple of hours and she asked me to teach two classes at her shop over the next couple of months.

On September 25, I will be teaching Vertigo Earrings, a quick project with maximum bling!

On October 23, I will be teaching Nuthin' but Net, a netted rope bracelet, using crystals and seed beads to make an easy and beautiful bracelet. This is the class sample, called Buried Treasure:

Here is another variation, using a single color of 4mm round crystals and dark silver seed beads. The ends are finished with twisted herringbone, which is not part of this intro class, but may be included in an advanced class as an alternative way to finish a necklace.

Here are some variations, using different sizes, shapes, and materials:

This is the advanced class variation photo (the outer necklace is made with my Diamondback pattern, which will be available soon):

Happy beading!

Limeade on the Rocks with a Twist

I came home from the retreat on Sunday evening and planned on posting photos that night or yesterday, but it just didn't happen. This bracelet is from Jamie Cloud Eakin's "Bugle Bead Bonanza" and is called Limeade on the Rocks with a Twist.

Lime green bugle beads with over 100 Swarovski crystals:

A silver toggle clasp:

So much bling it practically glows in the dark!

The second one didn't want to be named. It is destined for a charity auction later this month. I asked a friend for name suggestions and Teal Me an Orange was christened:

I didn't get much else actually finished at the retreat (I had to come home a day early, boo hoo!), but I did come home with a butterfly bail almost complete for a new piece I am working on called Lunar Eclipse. I also have several other ideas that came to me when I was trying to sleep. Thank goodness for that drawing app on my phone since I was on the top bunk with nary a pen or paper in sight.

Happy beading!

Curves & Cages Necklace Tutorial Available

I spent two days straight (about 24 hours total of work) writing the tutorial for my latest necklace series (Tropical Sunset, Blue Lagoon, Sedona, and Jungle Fever). I finally finished it and it is now available on my website and in my Etsy shop. Happy beading!

The Apples and the Tree

I am so proud of my kids! They have been beading recently and doing a wonderful job. They spent most of this past Saturday beading and Johnathan told me "I understand now why you sometimes just want to sit and bead all day."

Faith started a spiral rope necklace a long time ago... last Christmas, I think. Recently, I did some redecorating and got a big table in the living room that I use almost exclusively for beading. So, she dug her beads out, too, and finished the necklace. I think her favorite part is that the angel glows in the dark LOL.

This bracelet was also started a long time ago. Johnathan lost interest after doing some of the base and just a few of the top rows, so he asked me to finish it for him. Well, I never did. It sat in my UFO box for a long time. So, when Faith got her beads out, he asked me to get this project out for him as well. This time, he was able to focus and get it finished lickety-split!

After he finished the ladder stitch bracelet, he wanted to try herringbone. I personally think that twisted tubular herringbone is the easiest variation, since there is no step up, but he didn't want to start with that. So, I taught him straight tubular herringbone and he designed this bracelet for his Mimi all by himself. He even put the clasp on. He wouldn't let me do it, just explain how.

I've been working on a new piece that I am calling Infusion. It is mostly gold, with some deep turquoise added. I made these beaded beads first and then set to making the necklace.

The large bead was intended to be the pendant with fringe on the bottom. Well, I got the whole piece done except for the fringe and just lost inspiration. It wasn't coming together. Part of the reason is that the beaded beads are made with 15/o gold seed beads while I used 11/o gold beads for the rope. The 11/o beads are permanent finish, though, while the 15/o are not... so their colors are not the same. The fringe just did not look right. So, frustrated and tired, I gave up and the next day, I just put a rivoli pendant I had made a while back on the necklace. It's still not exactly right as far as colors go, but it works, so I will probably make another rivoli pendant in better colors and then take pictures. The fringe on the beaded bead will still happen, I hope, just on another piece with less gold so that the color difference won't be a problem.

In the meantime, I made some cute earrings to match the clasp on Principessa:

I was in a beading frenzy lately, making 4 new necklaces and finishing a 5th, several bracelets, earrings, etc. I think that my Muse has gone on a mini-vacation, though, so I feel less like beading right now. This is a good thing, because I have several patterns to write and get ready for sale. Most involve the triangle netting technique I have been obsessed with lately and I even have a couple more ideas. So, off to the writing desk with me!

Blue Lagoon

This piece is the second in my new necklace series. The first was Tropical Sunset, and the pieces are both spiral herringbone necklaces with a custom donut bail, using my triangle netting technique:

The matching bracelet is a spiral herringbone:

The matching earrings are Coronet style:

The pendant is a gorgeous two-tone dichroic donut:

I plan to make one or two more variations on this style and then write up the pattern.

Blue Lagoon Teaser

I am working on another necklace similar to Tropical Sunset. Here's a sneak peek at some of what I have done so far.

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.

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?

Work in Progress

This is just a few of the projects I am working on now. The top two are obviously bead embroidery projects, both necklaces. The one on the right is called "Northern Lights" and will have a herringbone spiral strap. The one in the middle is twisted herringbone and will have some crystal accents added. The bottom one is a spiral herringbone with triangle beads. There are also some 14/o beads to make the twist work a little better.

Not pictured are other projects I am working on: a spiral rope necklace with a cellini spiral pendant, a herringbone necklace made with white-gold delicas, my BJP bracelet for December, my BJP bracelets for January through August (most are not started at all, but I do have the cabs chosen for some and the cuff blanks purchased), some earrings for my MIL (probably will be a Christmas present), and a couple of purses (one in RAW and one in bead embroidery).

Whew! Lots of stuff. I think I'm gonna go bead. :)

More Bangles

I had a request for a herringbone bangle made with matte beads instead of the metallics I have been using, so I made this one from matte brown beads with green accent spirals:

I wasn't sure it was exactly what she was looking for, so I also made this one out of matte bronze and blue iris delicas:

I'm sure she'll like one or both of them... in the meantime, I made two of these (one for me and one for a friend's birthday present):

I am having so much fun with these bracelets! Now I am starting work on a neck piece that is a combination bead embroidery and herringbone rope (for the strap). It's called "Northern Lights" and will use colors similar to the blue bracelet above.

Snake Bracelet in Purple & Pink

Here's another herringbone bangle. Twisted this time, which is easier to do because it is mindless... just keep going and no worries about stepping up at the end of each round! As a matter of fact, it's so mindless that I had to remove about an inch worth of rounds because I made it too long. :D

I am working on another one in dark blue metallic and silver lined teal. I like these, so I might make several more.

December Color Scheme

Here's a look at what will be my December cuff bracelet. :)

November BJP Start

Progress so far on November (!) BJP bracelet. The only thing actually attached to the interfacing is the teardrop cab, but the rest will be attached soon enough! :)