A Harvest Combination

This is a detail of a cuff bracelet I made using some of the beads from the October Beads in the Mail collection that come every month from The Beadin Path in Freeport, Maine.  I love finding my collection of beads and other coordinated goodies in the mail box the beginning of every month.  I don't always use them in one piece.  But, this collection for the Fall was too great not to use together. 

I had been wanting to make a cuff that used ruched velvet for a base with beads embroidered on it.  As it turned out, I combined bead embroidery with freeform bead weaving and I like the results.  The velvet was a small piece of hand dyed velvet I've had for a long time.  I don't remember  where it came from but I've loved the butterscotch color.  It's very rich looking and it's very soft.  It worked well for the base of the cuff.  I ruched it lightly and tacked it to stiff stuff, then I beaded it.  I backed it with brown ultra-suede and used snaps as a closure. 

I used a small copper spacer bead in the embroidery and I like how it looks very much.  I don't usually use metal beads in my bead embroidery or bead weaving.  But, this worked out so well I think I'll be using metal again. 

The color isn't very good in this picture, but that is a copper spacer.  The leaves are from The Beadin Path, but they were in my stash. 

Here's the entire cuff. 

I've decided I like combining embroidery and freeform weaving.  It provides a lot of space for improvising in a piece.  And, I love this collection of beads.  The colors are all my favorite fall shades. 

I've been  absent from the blog for a while.  This time of year is always busy, but I've managed to squeeze in some time to bead, knit and do some mixed media.  And, best of all this weekend I took two classes with the very talented and lovely Sylvie Elise Landsdowne at Bead Soup.  Sylvie is a lampwork artist who creates the most wonderfully whimsical beads and faces!  She began bead work to feature her glass and her designs are just so colorful and fun that you can't help but smile.  I'll be showing you some of what I did in the classes as I move along with the patterns. 

Well, time to get on to preparations for Thursday!  I hope to find some time to create this week, I hope you do to.  Thanks so much for stopping by!





Chocolate Raspberry, a Beading Babes Creation!

Karyn, a very talented beader who writes the blog Releases by Rufydoof, started a group  called Beading Babes with the idea that we would choose a pattern from a magazine (for ease of access and materials) and have a month to create it.  No pressure, if life intervenes, no worries.  I  like groups like this because I get to create projects I wouldn't necessarily choose myself, or that I put in the "some day" pile!  It's why I like book clubs.  I read books that I might not find on my own.  At any rate, this first project was the Camelot Cross Bracelet by Carole Ohl in the February/March issue of Beadwork.  It was definitely in my some day pile and I was delighted when it was chosen as our first Beading Babes project. 

I had just gotten some new (to me, anyway) Delica colors and I already had the crystals.  As I was working on the bracelet it reminded me of chocolate covered raspberries.  I'm obviously on a food kick with my names!  But, I love the way the combination of colors worked out. 

This is a very easy bracelet to make.  The components come together quickly and constructing the bracelet is also quick and easy. 

For the clasp, I decided to make the button that was part of the pattern.  I like it a lot and it also is very easy and quick to make.  But, for a great alternative, look at Kristen's idea!  It's really great and an idea I'm going to borrow!  Thanks, Kristen! 
This was a great project and a great idea from Karyn!  Thanks, Karyn, for starting this group.





Remember this pendant?

It's the pendant I made before Christmas at Bead Soup in Savage Mill.  I really liked the finished pendant.  It was so frosty and wintery looking that I didn't want to let it sit in the studio collecting dust.  So, as soon as things settled down a little after the holidays I stitched a necklace for it. 

Since I really love spiral rope stitch I decided to use that for the necklace.  I just finished it yesterday and I'm very happy with the way it turned out.  As you can see in the picture below I peyote stitched a toggle bar and used a white frosted glass ring that I found at Michael's some time ago for a toggle. 



So, now this is my new favorite winter jewelry!  I say that when I finish all my jewelry!  We're going to be joining friends for dinner tomorrow evening so I can wear it!  It's pretty cold and frosty here, which makes it very appropriate!

Here's a picture of the entire necklace.  Enjoy!



Thanks for stopping by.  Enjoy the coming weekend.  Don't forget to do something creative today!