Monday, January 14, 2013

A couple of things

Well, I thought once the holidays were over and the decorations put away, I would be able to settle into my winter routine.  But, I was really busy again last week and so I haven't gotten to do much creating!  But, I did manage to finish a square for the Bead and Button Bead-It-Forward bead quilt.  For the last two years, Kathy at Bead Soup  has had a get together on New Year's Day to make squares for the quilt. Kathy then collects all the beaders' squares and sends them off to Bead and Button.  I can't make it to the shop that day but this year I decided to make a square on my own.  The theme this year is flowers and I decided to bead embroider my square.  This is what it looks like finished and ready to go.

 
 
I used a ribbon flower that was a sample for my friend Christen Brown's book, Ribbonwork Gardens.
I backstitched with 11's and a drop bead mix and then stitched the flower in the middle. 
 
 
When that was finished I really wanted to do some wire work.  I had treated myself to several C-Koop components when Bead Soup had a trunk show of their fantastic enameled components.  I told myself it was a Christmas present to me!  So, I wanted to make a bracelet with some of the pieces and I decided to make one similar to the squirrel bracelet I made my daughter in the fall.  
This is what I came up with.
 
 
 
I had gotten 6 flowers on head pins and I used three in the bracelet.  You'll be seeing the others soon in another piece I have in mind! There is a base piece with holes in it and I wrapped the wire from the head pin around the base and coiled the ends to look like tendrils.   I used copper wire for the bracelet and two enameled bead.  I used an enameled toggle to finish it. 
 
That's about all I've accomplished this month.  I think things are finally settling down and so I hope to show you the other things I have in mind for the rest of my gift to myself!
 
Thanks for stopping by.  I hope you have a good day and that you get to spend some time making something fun!   



4 comments:

  1. How cool that you got to use one of Christen's patterns for your square :) I love the bracelet, too!

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  2. I love love love the bracelet.

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  3. Oh, I love that flower on your bead square!!, and the C-Koop beads look wonderful in your beautiful bracelet design!

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