It's Monday! My Tri RAW Rope Project

Here's a picture of my tri RAW rope bezel. I used some lavender lined aqua seed beads on a blue opal cab. I didn't get the tension tight enough on my rope, as you can see. There's some thread showing, which is just wrong. I'll either have to tie in another thread and tighten it up or start all over again.

My order for bicones and 2mm crystals seems to have been dumped into limbo by the postal service during the ice storm last week. The tracking information says it left Medford, OR. on the 3rd of March and that's the last information available.

I'm going to put the 2mm crystals around the edge of the bezel, then make a rope with the same stitch to hang the pendant from. I haven't decided yet whether to put a bail on the cab or just sew it onto the rope.

As my bicones haven't arrived yet, I still haven't done any more to my Cube bracelet.

Too Many Ideas

I don't have any pictures to show you today.  The weather yesterday was abysmal with freezing rain turning to snow and high winds.  No sun and, as I mentioned, my light box just isn't set up to take pictures from over the subject.

While I'm waiting for my bicones to arrive for my cube bracelet I showed you, I started a pendant with a blue opal cab bezeled with a tri RAW rope.  Not bad for the first time trying that particular stitch, though I did have to walk away a few times and come back to figure out how to join the rope.  My eyes got so tired I couldn't see anything so I had to quit for the day.  Hopefully I'll have some pictures by Monday.

My Muse Has Returned

It's been a long time since I posted here.  I was beginning to think my muse went AWOL permanently.  The past year hasn't been kind and I've taken it personally, but I'm trying to come back with renewed optimism.

This blog has been primarily bead work and crafting, but I think I'm going to expand it's content.  Good health is important to every aspect of life, so I'll be posting some natural health titles as well as crafting.

A few days ago Sandra Halpenny posted a picture on her facebook page of a necklace called So Many Cubes.  I was scrolling through and had to go back and take a good look.  The necklace was her pattern beaded by ME way back before I started designing and went by beadette2.  The cubes struck a chord with me and I went browsing through my cube beads.  I didn't find any 4mm (the most commonly used) that struck my fancy, but I found these 6mm Russian Jade ones. 

The picture is terrible.  There's no sun and my light box is set up to take pictures from the front (and one of the lamps is burned out), so I had to rely on over head lighting which cast reflections all over the beads.

I rummaged around and found some cream size 11's, some brown iridescent size 6's and some olivene bicones. I'm still just doodling with these, but I really like the bicone edging.  I only have 7 of those, so I ordered some more.  Now, while I wait for my order,  I have another doodle started with pearls.  It's still in the ???what is it stage so I haven't taken a picture of it yet.

Daisy Eyelet Pattern finished

I've finally finished the pattern for the Daisy Eyelet earrings and necklace. It's now available at Bead Patterns Boutique.  You can buy the earrings and necklace separate or  buy the set and save 15%.

Made with pearls and crystals as shown, this set is perfect for the bride or graduate or for prom or any other formal event..  It can also be made with fire polished rounds or other beads for a more casual look that will carry you from the office to that evening out.

November ArtBeads

I received beads from ArtBeads.com this week. I'm just now getting around to showing them off.
Starting up in the right hand corner and going clockwise, Swarovski bicones, crystal ab, briolettes in two sizes, gemstone toggles in rose quartz and scenic jasper, peacock rice pearls and unikite cubes.

You just can't beat the sparkle of Swarovski bicones. They light up just about any design. Take a look at my latest design "Elegance Squared" at BeadPatternsBoutique.

These beautiful flat briolettes from Swarovski's "Crystalized" line will become a necklace and earrings when I come up with an unusual way to display them. They absolutely blew me away! I don't have the luxury of a bead store that I can walk into and examine everything, so I'd only seen pictures of these beauties. Look at this picture! These are the same briolettes on different backgrounds. I knew they were designed to pick up light and color from the surroundings, but this is just unbelievable. (Yeah, I'm showin' my "country bumpkin" :))

When I saw the picture of the gemstone toggles I couldn't quite figure them out but they were so unique I just had to have some. I hope you can see the picture clearly. They have holes in the side of the ring so you can fasten your necklace or bracelet without making a bead loop through the center of the ring. It will give a much more "integrated" look. I've already got plans for the rose quartz, but I'm not sure what I'll do with the scenic jasper.
Quite frankly I was disappointed in the peacock rice pearls when I opened them. They looked blue/green iridescent in the picture and they appear almost black to charcoal gray in most light. If the light is strong and shines on them just right they do have a very definite rainbow quality to them, but I couldn't capture it with my camera. Not quite what I expected, but they are pretty. I haven't got any plans for them just yet.

Last but by no means anything to scoff at are the unikite cubes. They are surprisingly uniform for gemstones. I had a cube design in mind when I ordered them, but it has drifted away into the far reaches of my mind so I'll have to try to entice it out (maybe with chocolate?). Whatever I decide to do with them it will be beautiful because the stones are beautifully polished and relatively uniform.

Have you been to ArtBeads.com yet? If you haven't, get on over there. they're having a 10% off sale until the end of the year. All you have to do is use this coupon code when you order. SCF10P-ARTBEADS-0424

I have received the beads shown above from ArtBeads.com free of charge for evaluation. This is my true opinion on these products and I am not paid by ArtBeads to blog about them, I just like to share.