Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Freeform~I'll Try Anything Once


As most of you know, I am relatively new to beading and have been very impressed by some of the freeform pieces I have seen in various places. While I was impressed by the creativity of others, I was intimidated, no make that terrified, to try it myself. This week I got brave and tested the freeform water. The result was this pair of drop earrings. I still am terrified by the thought of undertaking a larger freeform project, I guess I am a teeny bit less intimidated now that I have my first experience in freeform under my belt! See more pictures of these beauties here:



This necklace is another first for me, although it was certainly not as intimidating as attempting something so random as freeform. This is my first bezel that I have ever beaded. I fell in love with the natural stone bead, bought it, then didn't have a clue what to do with it. I finally had the idea of creating the bezel and after that was done, I struggled with how to hang it. After many tries, I finally created the spiral rope that it is shown with. It is a multi-functional piece that can be worn with or without the pendant. The spiral looks really nice when worn alone. Check out more pictures at my etsy shop: http://www.marytdesigns.etsy.com/om/ytdesigns.etsy.com/

Remember the little circles that I was making a couple of weeks ago? I looked at them long enough to decide what to do with them. I am making a netted cuff to attach them to. It is really neat because of the beads that I am using. I can't wait to get this one done. It is going to be a fun one!


Finally, a stitch that I am comfortable with - peyote. The first item I created was peyote and from then on I was hooked. Hooked on peyote..hooked on beading..hooked on creating! Now I am trying to get creative with designing patterns. This is my latest creation. You can see the pattern along with the beginning of the cuff. I just love to use peyote stitch. I can get lost in a piece and the hours just slip away. Where does the time go????
Have a great week everyone! I am off to bead.





Tuesday, February 9, 2010

EBW Challenge Time!!

I am a proud member of the Etsy Beadweaving Team. The team is currently in the midst of our monthly Challenge and your vote for your favorite piece would be terrific! The collage depicts all of the entries in our current Challenge - Ocean/Sea Inspired. With so many gorgeous pieces to vote for, the choice is a difficult one. I keep changing my mind, so I am postponing my vote until I have more time to study the pieces. The voting is open February 9 - 15 at http://www.etsy-beadweavers.blogspot.com/. Our talented members have created these beautiful designs for your pleasure. You won't be disappointed.



Breaking Waves



This is my challenge piece, but there are many others to choose from as well. Choose wisely!


Sunday, February 7, 2010

Superbowl Sunday??

It's here - Superbowl Sunday. Why the hype?? Sure I love to watch football, but this would be just another game without all the media frenzy - and the commercials. Aren't they great! Did you see the Doritos comercial where the dog put the bark collar on the guy - Loved it!!

But I digress. This is about art and creating. Here is the bracelet that I will list as my weekly item. I love the clasp that I have used on this piece, and recent others, with the drop beads accenting it. I think it adds to the quality of the piece and is worth the extra time. The body of the totally black bracelet uses square beads and seed beads to create texture. I hope you like it.
I also will finish and list the necklace that I posted last week as a work in progress (the spiral herringbone rope with the really cool pendant). Thanks to the suggestion of Christine of Christine's Beadworks to make this a multi-function piece, the pendant will be removable and the spiral herringbone necklace will be a piece that can be worn alone. Thanks Christine for the suggestion. Visit Christine's wonderful shop at http://www.christinesbeadworks.etsy.com/
Now to the difficult part - asking for help! I am totally at a loss as to how to finish this necklace. I really love the spiral rope, but I can't come up with a way to finish it. I posted it last week as a work in progress and it still is. I have the concept of a short lariat with the circle as the focal piece, but what next?? Any ideas?








Finally, I have created circles. While I really enjoyed creating them, they are currently just circles. Not unlike crop circles, they don't have any current value. I am trying to determine where to go with them next! I will give this dilema some thought and report my revelations in next week's blog.

Until then - enjoy life!