And now for something really well, um, UGLY

Thanks for all the feedback on my last post.  Its so nice to hear back from you!  I was surprised everyone felt the same way I did about competitions vs. challenges.  I know the sponsors are so generous with their prizes and the competitions sure are popular, and I'm glad they are available, but they just put this little nagging cloud over my creative spirit!

Anyhow, I came across this UFO the other day. 
I know why it's a UFO. 
I just don't like it.
I think it's the white velvet with the green outline that is just not doing it for me.  It was a class I took a long time ago and all I have to do to get it finished is to attach the back of the frame and edge it. 

 The birds themselves aren't sooo hateful.  It was a project designed to show how clear beads look when used with colored thread.

 
 Ok, so this poor thing looks like a sunburned dolphin, I know.....

And I hate this monogram I added - I think if I take it off now, the velvet is going to be forever indented from the beads.

I'm thinking if I re-do the edging in a crystal or a pearly white, I  might like it better.   Yep, add that to the to-do-someday list!

Bead Happy and Often!

Well, I'll be.....

Much better pics of my Allegany Rock Necklace

The 4mm bicones are Palace Green Opal - aren't they a beautiful shade of green?
I used the size 8 clear beads for the edge to mimic the heavy clear glass of the furnace beads.  Speaking of the furnace beads......

Look at how substantial they are -

they're huge!

The earthtones mix I chose came with different sizes and shapes and colors in greens, browns and tan.   Some were even striped. I love the rich brown color.  I wound up using some of the mixed stone strand I bought awhile ago (from Artbeads too) to bring in the color of the rock. 

I'm really pleased with the results.  I don't make a lot of necklaces, and I really don't feel like I know what I'm doing, so to have something come together without a real plan, well, that just makes my day.

And then it hit me -- wasn't one of those Toho Ring Kits I bought awhile ago these same colors? 

So I dug it out (surprisingly, I knew right where it was!) and whipped it together. 

Tell me - could it be any better of a match????? 

Whoop Whoop - score!

(So I'll take this opportunity to again gush about those ring kits Artbeads carries - I've loved every one I've made!) 

Now on to the dreaded sewing of my Tuscarora Class Project.  . . . . .
I found out the stuffing is called  "Warm and Natural".  First I had to cut it into strips.  Yeah, lots of fun! Not.

Then after stuffing and sewing it with a running stitch along the edge, I had to put on the (hateful) bias tape edge.  Hated every second of it - especially when the needle punctured right through my leather and aluminum thimble.  Talk about a pain in the .......finger tip.

But, it's done now and Tuesday I will be adding the glorious glorious fringe edging.  I love fringe!

Bead Happy and Often!

FTC Disclosure:  I received the furnace glass beads free of charge from Artbeads in exchange for my honest opinion and review of the product.

Ring a Ding Ding

What fun I'm having making these rings! I'll get them in my Etsy store as soon as I get someone to be my hand model. I'm thinking pictures of my 45-year-old hands aren't too pretty :)

This one is my favorite - 2 inches across and the drop beads along the edge are fun. You can 'close them up' or press them flat.

The side view helps show the texture. The yellow is made from a vintage shoe clip and is so cheery. I'm thinking the blue and brown one would be perfect with jeans.

It is now about 5:30 p.m. here in Lockport, NY, and it's still light out !! It makes such a difference! I am off to dinner with my friend Joan......enjoy your evening!

Keeping the love flowing

I had 2 small porcelain heart beads as part of my Artbeads Valentine promo. Naturally, I thought a pair of earrings would be perfect, but as you know, earrings are my least favorite to make. I love the gigantic rings that are popular now. Hmm, why not try a bead embroidered ring!

I backed it in ultrasuede and then attached a peyote stitched band with random colors mixed in for fun.

Oh yes indeed, definitely going to be making more of these! Too fun to make and it matches my turtle love necklace quite well. The bright colors are just what I needed on such a blustery wintery day as today.

On a more subdued color scale, I made a very feminine looking necklace with the wooden laser cut pendant. It drapes really nice when it's on, but you'll have to take my word for it. Nobody here would model it for me for so I could take a picture of it in action.

The clasp is a really sweet puffed sterling silver heart available through Artbeads. It's very secure. The size 11 beads are those awesome matte jet apollo that I had gotten awhile back (they are the same as what I used on the box in my banner, in case you couldn't tell). And the 3 mm faceted rounds are a pearlized champagne color (also available from Artbeads) that I happened to have from an old project too. Those crystal drops are 16mm Swarovski baroque pendants (again, available through Artbeads) that I originally had bought for my Marcia Decoster Whitby earrings that I didn't use. Well I guess that just makes it a total Artbeads piece!

Fine Print: I received the porcelain heart beads, laser cut pendant and sterling silver heart clasp at no charge from Artbeads as part of their blogging partners program.