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:

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?.listing_id=40856871

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.

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!

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!

Sneak Peek at New Projects

I have been busy this week completing and starting new projects. My piece that I will list this week is a peyote bracelet with a twist. It is a black, white and blue piece featuring triangles. The second piece in my "Dare to Be Different" series, this latest piece has some minor embelishment. I have added a relief to the central triangle of the bracelet (see photo) in addition to a "different" color for one of the triangles. Please let me know if you like this new addition. I have also used a new clasp for this bracelet and would like any feedback.

My treasury for this week is a T-West. I have chosen to feature pastel pieces and they are all lovely! Please take a look at http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list_west.php?room_id=85179

I feature some very talented artists and you will be glad you took some time to view their work.

Finally, I would like to share my latest works in progress. This piece was created to highlight a fantastic stone that I stumbled across. I created a bezel for it using Delica beads and struggled to come up with a necklace to support it. I think I have finally decided to use a spiral herringbone in matching colors. I will remove the gray piece at the end of the necklace and hang the pendant from the spiral necklace. What do you think? How should I hang the pendant?

This final piece is a lariat in the making. I have assembled all of the necessary pieces and just need to do the final assembly. My dilema is how long should I make this? It is my first lariat and I am torn between a short piece to be worn as a necklace and a longer multifunctional piece. What do you think?

A New Listing, Treasury, and Wedding

This is my year for setting goals and I have met all of them so far. My goal for next week it to set Mary T Designs up on Facebook. I am technologically challenged, so stay tuned for the result of this endeavor. I will report on my progress next week.

My treasury for this week was entitled "Goin' to the Zoo". It includes some fun pieces, all animal related. There are EBW members included as always! Please take time to check it out and to visit some of the shops of the very talented artists featured. You won't be disappointed!!

http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=106534

The piece that I have chosen to list this week is the bracelet that I created to go with the Onyx and Swarovski necklace that I listed last week. I am getting more adventurous in experimenting with different techniques and beads and this bracelet is my first piece containing bugle beads. It is also made with hex beads and bicone Swarovski crystals. If you are interested in this piece, check my shop (http://marytdesigns.etsy.com/) later this week when it will be listed for sale.

Special thanks to Jacquie of AngelqueCreations (http://angelquecreations.etsy.com/) for promoting my last week's necklace on our facebook page. As a result, it was sold!!! Thanks Jacquie:))

As I mentioned in an earlier blog, I made the jewelery and beaded the veil for my Son and Daughter-in-Law's wedding. The jewelery was strung, not woven which I prefer. Here is a picture of the Bride's jewelery. I did both the necklace and earrings. Below is a picture of the veil. I beaded around the outside of the entire thing and made a beadwoven piece for the comb. It was very beautiful, as was the entire day!

Week 1 Success

Hello everyone! This past week has been and extreme challenge for me. First, it is my busiest work week of the year, since I am an accountant. My work week was very ful. On top of being very busy, I got very ill. Some sort of flu bug I guess. It was bad. But I pushed through and am now on my way to recovery and looking forward to week 2 of my new year.

As I prevously stated, my plan for the year is to set and acheive goals. This week I will add one goal to my weekly to-do list. I will do one treasury every week. It is a great way to get to know fellow ETSY sellers and their shops. This weeks treasury theme was "Tropical Paradise". Please stop by and browse these wonderful shops! http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=105168

My previous goal was to list one new item per week. This week I will list a necklace that I made to wear to my son's wedding. It is my favorite creation to date. I used an Onyx cabuchon along with round onyx beads. It is accented with swarovski crystals and is finished with a beaded toggle clasp. I hope you like it as much as I do.

Back in the Swing of Beadweaving

As you probably have noticed, I have been conspicuously absent. Although I have no good excuse (I have no use for excuses!), I do have a great explaination! My son got married on December 27 right in the middle of the holiday season. I have had people in and out of my house for the past two weeks. All is back to normal now and I expect that I will transition into my normal routine. On top of the chaos, I made all of the jewelry for the bridal party including the bride. I also beaded her veil. I will post pictures as soon as we get them.

I have resolved that 2010 will be the year for me to concentrate on building my beadweaving business. It is my dream to be able to afford to beadweave

full time, but I have a long way to go financially before that can happen. In an effort to make my dream come true, I will be setting goals throughout the year and tracking my progress. I would love it if you would follow along. My first commitment is to list at least one new piece per week. This necklace will be my first new listing. I would like to list my pieces at the time when it will get the most attention. Does anyone know what days are best for listing??? Any help would be appreciated.