Colors of Fall

I love autumn! Nature seems to explode in a riot of colors as berries, fruit, nuts and grain ripen and leaves erupt in a flash of changing colors just before trees and shrubs go to sleep for the winter.

Swarovski Crystals not only capture these colors of fall, but their sparkle resembles morning sunlight on nature's dew-kissed bounty.



ArtBeads.com's blogging for beads theme is Colors of Fall, and they graciously supplied me with these gorgeous fall colored Swarovski Crystals and the antique gold Bali style ring and toggle clasp.

I chose 4mm bicones in 5 colors.  Moca, hyacinth, fire opal, citrine, and olivine.  The moca wasn't available in the new 5328 Xillion cut, so I took a 5301 in the moca.  I found that is is just a little bit shorter than the Xillion cut.  It worked well with the other colors in the modified apache leaf pattern shown in the first picture, but not too well in the double flat spiral shown in the second picture.  I used just the last four colors in that one and closed it with a round floral copper box clasp.

This is the first time I've tried to design with colored Swarovski Crystals.  I usually use the crystal AB in more elegant and formal designs.  I find the brilliance and depth of color in these beads striking.  They made up into beautiful, sparkling, casual, fun bracelets.

I like the new Xillion cuts better every time I use them.  They don't have the sharp edges around the holes so you really don't have to buffer them with seed beads if you don't want to and their sparkle and shine is just amazing.

This blog post is my honest evaluation of the supplies I received from ArtBeads.com.  They do not pay me to blog about their store, but  occasionally supply the materials free of charge for evaluation.

Last day to vote for Etsy Beadweavers Challenge

Today is the last day to vote for your favorite Bollywood entry in the Etsy Beadweavers September Challenge.  If you haven't voted yet, do so now.  We had a big response this month and they are all wonderful.  Choosing a favorite might be quite a challenge.

Etsy Beadweavers September Challenge

Voting is now open for the Etsy Beadweaver's September Challenge.  Come on by and choose your favorite. 

Voting will be open from September 9th to September 15th.
We had a huge response to this months challenge.  It's going to be hard to select a favorite.

If you want to see a larger image or more images, scroll down below the collage on the EBWC blog and click on the number of the picture.  It will take you to the etsy listing where you can see clearer pictures.

Click the radio button on your favorite's number on the right to vote.

My entry is number 29, Bollywood Splendor Earrings.

Labor Day News

It's a warm windy day here on the high plains of Texas. I should be tweaking a christmas ornament pattern or writing an article or straightening up my bead cave. But news of a new grand baby on the way (my youngest daughter's first) has left me too excited to focus, so here I sit at my computer surfing beaders blogs to see what everyone else is up to.

I found a book review on Cyndi Lavin's new e Book "Every Bead Has a Story" all about bead embroidery. I've done a little bead embroidery and have thought about exploring it more fully, so I downloaded the free first chapter.

I thought "Wow! and here I thought I was the only one that asked 'what if' and then went to work".

Cindi Lavin is a mixed media artist and her beadwork definitely showes it. Even though the project in the first chapter is all beads she gives you many many ideas of things to use for beads to get that illusive texture that beads just don't provide.

You can download the free first chapter at the link above and chapters 2 and 3 are now available for just $3.00, so if you're looking for some bead embroidery ideas and instructions get on over there and take a look.

Crystal AB Briolette Earrings

I'm in love with these crystal AB foil backed briolettes.  I made these earrings quite a while back, but I'm just now getting them up in my Etsy shop. 
I've made a double sided St. Petersburg chain and enclosed the briolette at the bottom of the cascade. 
The color play of these briolettes is fantastic. See my Etsy shop for pictures of them in different light and with different color background.
Now it's time to get started on Christmas ornaments. I've made two patterns so far this year, an angel and a snowflake. I have plans for a star, another angel and a drum. Better get busy. Christmas is just around the corner. Yes, I know Holloween and Thanksgiving come first, but I rarely manage to make holiday patterns for anything but Christmas.