Satisfaction

There is nothing like the satisfaction of seeing a project start to come together.  This one is complete except for the neck strap.  No, it is not as difficult as it looks.  There is something very therapeutic about beading peyote and watching the picture appear. The pattern is by Amy of I-bead. She makes her patterns in paper graphic patterns which you form into a tube and bead upon.  This means no counting, getting lost, recounting, etc.  Once you get the first few rows onto the form, it is pure relaxation.  If you get a chance tovisit one of her trunk shows, you will be amazed.  Photos do not do justice to her patterns. You must see them in person to fully appreciate the colors and design. 

Visit Amy at http://www.i-bead.com/

Happy Birthday Kathy

I just took another brief foray into the world of metallic objects for a dear friend's birthday present.  This bracelet is the result of classwork at the Beadles bead shop in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma.  They will have another of these Connect The Disk classes in June. Watch their calendar.  It was great fun and I got to heat things up with the Torch and pound out my employment frustrations with a chasing hammer.  No casualties and no burns resulted,  just one small nick from the shears and only a couple of bruises on my thumb.

I also tried metal stamping for the first time. My first stamps were really indistinct and fuzzy.  However, I had the stamping thing down by the time I got to the last disk.   This was my first venture into soldering silver as well and as it turned out, not as hard as I expected the work to be!  I highly recommend this class though fair warning: you are going to spend some serious cash working in silver and copper.  I'm happy to report that the bracelet was well received and the artistic reference to our favorite series of books (Jim Butcher's Dresden Files) was not lost on the recipient. 

Spring is for beautiful girls

Doesn't this just say Spring? Lotsa bling here. I wonder if I know anyone who might wear it?.....hmmmmmm...maybe my beautiful tween sweetie?

My bead table is a disaster...the question, will I get my project done to turn in for the Oklahoma Bead Society Challenge?  It's due Wednesday.  Pics promised if I get it finished.

Giveaway...gotta love 'em!

Nope, haven't won anything...yet...but there is always a first time.  One of my fav blogs, Lori Anderson's "Pretty Things" has an Auntie's Beads giveaway.  Just follow the link and leave a comment.  I just love black...goes with everything in my wardrobe!  If you aren't logged in, be sure to leave a way for her to contact you if you win.

Snow and Beading...a perfect combo!

What I did during the Tulsa Snowmageddon...bead, of course!

The snow was deep on Carl's patio but inside he was watching hunting shows and I was beading.

I had a limited selection of seed beads at his house but I remembered I had the little red lampwork beads from the Oklahoma Bead Society bead swap in January. 

 I combined those with the black and red seed beads and a few inexpensive butterflies from Hobby Lobby which I also happened to stick in my purse before the storm.  Voila!  Beading project!  I didn't have findings with me so I beaded a bumpy peyote necklace and clasp to go with it.  Very comfy around my neck. 

To fill up the rest of my time, I spent some time learning to weave a netting stitch. 

Fun!

OBS Beadathon: Eleven hours of fun.

Wonder of wonders, I "almost" made it through the entire first OBS Beadathon.  I planned on staying 4 or 5 hours at the most and ended up being enticed for 11 hours by Mazzio's Supreme Pizza and the incredible productivity of a great workspace and congenial co-workers.  I finished 3 projects which is unheard of productivity for me.  The best part is I really like all of my projects. 

I have very little experience with stringing projects so I decided to concentrate on stringing for the day.  Lots of experienced stringers around to give a little help! Barbara Bellatti helped inspire me with my first project of the day, a simple stone necklace.  She volunteered a few bronzite pebbles from her stash that really made the project come together.  Love the earrings too which I put together from various beads in my stash and a couple of round green stones from our venue, A Memory to Scrap, in Broken Arrow.

I strung a second string of simple black and clear glass beads which although attractive may need to be restrung with bigger spacers so they lay correctly flat across my neck.  I have worn this strand to work and I like it too.  Very light and comfortable.

And lastly, about 10:00 p.m.,  I strung this metallic necklace. Jan Rogers was keeping me awake by talking to me and of course, there was Shane's dancing.   I read somewhere that "metallics are having their moment" and I have to agree.  I see metals everywhere on everyone!  Of course, for me it isn't jewelry without earrings.

Thanks for viewing friends!  Thanks OBS members for helping me ! 

Bead Blast is Coming!

http://okbeadsociety.com/beadblast2011.pdf

The Oklahoma bead society is having their 5th annual Bead Blast on April 16, 2011 from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. at the Union 8th grade center.  Come join the fun with classes, beads and findings as well as finished jewelry products.  Vendor tables are available for as low as $20 for members and $30 for non-members.  Don't forget to vote for your favorite bead creations at the door.  My soon-to-be-created masterpiece should show up in the beginner category unless I wimp-out.  See you there!