Rivoli Celtic Cross

After wrestling with the tutorial for this Rivoli Celtic Cross Pendant for two weeks, it's finally finished.  I've made tutorials with rivolis before, but I always used a circle to represent the rivoli. This time I wanted to make it recognizable, so I spent several days experimenting with the illustration. When I finally got it to the point I was satisfied with it I was so excited that I must have lost my concentration. I left out one whole round on the illustration and had to take out the prototype to make sure the illustrations were correct. Then I wanted to put a hidden bale on the back and experimented with that for a couple of days, but it just wouldn't work. Yesterday I finally gave up on that idea and made my standard bale on the top.  I finally got the tutorial finished and this morning took pictures.

I made the blue pendant using super duos, size 11 czech seed beads, 3mm pearls, 4mm bicones and 6mm pearls.  The bronze one is made with twins, size 11 tohos, 3mm, 4mm and 6mm bicones so you can see that it can be made with various shapes.  

I didn't notice until I was trimming the picture that I'd left 2 beads out of the final row on the bottom cross bar on the bronze one. I just knew it didn't set straight and chalked it up to the irregularity of the twins. I guess my focus was really off. I was using a magnifying light the whole time.

I'll be uploading the patterns to all my pattern shops this afternoon and will post that information when I get it done.

I hope everyone has a fabulous weekend.  The weather's beautiful here and not too terribly hot so it's a good day for outdoors fun or playing in the dirt.

Purple Heart Necklace

As promised, I've begun the Russian Lace Heart pattern. This one is a little different from the red and cream one, and I still have a few more adjustments to make before the pattern is ready to be published.

I'm making this one with purple and gold seed beads, 3mm amethyst Swarovski crystal bicones and 5mm freshwater button pearls. So far it's looking good.

The Purple Heart is a medal awarded to our soldiers wounded in battle, so this necklace is a tribute to them, but it's also a tribute to families at home waiting for their loved ones to return Their lives are forever changed and their hearts are wounded, knowing the uncertainty of life during war.

Purple is said to be the color of royalty as well as good judgement.

Pearls signify the best within us, honesty, integrety, wisdom. They remind us to live our lives with dignity.

I hope to have the necklace finished and the pattern ready to publish in about a week.

Smitten Heart Earrings

I finally got the heart with Cupid's arrow through it finished. I wish I'd had red delicas to work it with. I worked one with red czech seed beads, but It just didn't look right, so I used the pink delicas. Now if I could only get a good picture. My limited photography skills seem to lapse into NO skills sometimes. The point of the arrow is at the center top of the heart and the fringe forms the feathers of the arrow.

I've moved on to the "braided" bracelet and it's looking pretty good for now. I haven't finished a full design yet, so I can't be sure.

My thoughts and ideas seem to be somewhat difuse during the cold winter months when I should be getting most of my beading and writing done. It's hard to focus on one thing long enough to get it finished, but I keep on trying.