Neapolitan

It's been quite a while, even for me, since I last posted.  Life has intervened and kept me busy these last few weeks.  Things are close to settling down around here, and I'm looking forward to being able to enjoy the beauty that is Fall!  I wanted to share the latest installment of my triangle adventure.  I'm not saying my final installment because I know other ideas are waiting in the wings.  I've had a great time designing this piece, so I had to share it.

This picture isn't the greatest.  It doesn't capture the true colors of the Delicas, but I really just don't have time to work with it.  I wanted to share it with you all now.   The title of this post explains the colors.  As I worked on the different triangles it reminded me of Neapolitan ice cream.  You know, chocolate, vanilla and strawberry!  Yum!  Anyway,  here it is!  I stitched triangles using Heather Collins wonderful pattern, and also a layered triangle from the book "More Seed Bead Stitching" by Beth Stone. I really love the idea of layering the triangles and I think the idea has a lot of potential for design, and color pairing.  The funky little triangle in the middle is my second variation on Heather's triangle bezel.  I stitched the base and then started to build up an open vessel-type shape with peyote which I increased on each end.  I zipped up the two sections and put a picot on each end. 

It's a little difficult to see the picot because I used the same color as the triangle next to it.  In the center I stitched a margarite crystal.  I really love this idea and I think it also has potential for variation.  A larger triangle perhaps, which would make it more of a vessel to contain other components.  As I said, this isn't the end of the adventure!  But, I love dimensional stitching whether it's beads, fabric, or knitting.  Which is why Beth Stone's layered triangle was so appealing.  I use layers a lot, even in decorating my home.  I layer plates and bowls in my hutch, and in seasonal displays I create throughout the house.  I use layering in fabric embellishing and in knitting the Bohemian scarves. Here's a close up of the layered triangle.

Again, I see lots of possibilities.  Larger base with additional layers, a bead or margarite in the center...lots of ideas!
To stitch the necklace together I experimented with layouts and when I found one I liked I took a picture of it.  I'm happy that I did that because as I picked up the different triangles to stitch them together I would lose exactly where I wanted to place the  next one.  So, I  had my picture to refer to.  I just zipped the pieces together where they touched each other and then attached a chain with jump rings. 

I'm really happy with this piece.  I used the rivoli setting from Heather's triangle pattern, and the triangular setting that my beading group worked on, so I have some bling in there, and I got to try out another idea that came from the triangle necklace pattern I got from Heather.  Cherry Wine, in my previous post, was the first variation I tried and now the vessel type triangle is the second.  I'm sure I'll find something else to do with triangles!  I just love them.

Well, I've got to run so I can get some others things done today.  I promise I won't take so long to post this time.  In fact, there is something right around the corner.  Stay tuned for this over the weekend.

I hope you have a wonderful day.  Enjoy the loveliness that is Fall and find inspiration in it to create something fun!  Thanks for stopping by!







Cherry Wine

That's what I thought of as I worked this variation on Heather Collins' Triangles pattern. I have to tell you that you should visit Heather's store.  Her patterns are great, both the designs and the directions. They are clear and easy to follow. Back to this variation. The colors, and I suppose the time of year, just seemed to say Cherry Wine.  I had the idea to try this variation while I was bezeling the rivoli for the pendant from her pattern.  For this variation I followed the directions for the base triangle and the bezel, adding an extra row to the bezel.  Then, instead of putting a rivoli  in the opening, I left it open and added fringe, using beads that coordinated with the delicas.  I love the idea that the fringe is spilling out of the opening.  It doesn't fill the entire opening, which is a little difficult to see in the photo.  I attached it to the base triangle and used daggers and drop beads along with the Delicas.  Once the beading was finished, I added jump  rings to the corner beads and added a fine gold chain.  It's a soft looking necklace that has gotten several positive comments when I've worn it.  I'm really pleased with this variation and I want to play around with it to see where I can go with it.  For now, I'm finishing up the project which is going to be the culmination of all this triangle play!  I like what have so far.  It should be finished this coming week.  So, stay tuned for the next installment in my triangle series.
Thank you for stopping by today.  I hope you have a wonderful weekend and that you're able to find time to do something creative.



The Beginning of an Idea...Triangles~Part 2

This design is one I had loved for a long time.  It was created by Heather Collins of Dreamweavers Studio.  I love all of Heather's patterns but because I love to work triangles I decided to buy this one first.  Let me say that it is a great pattern to use.  Very clear directions, and it included earrings  and a pendant.  And, I have to tell you that Heather's colors are fabulous!  Anyway, having just completed the first triangle bezel that I talked about last time, I thought it would be fun to make Heather's version.  The bezel I did with my beading group was open in the back.  You weave two triangles, sandwich the rivoli between them and zip them closed.  This pattern has you weave a flat triangle base and then construct the bezel on the base by weaving peyote stitch up from one row of beads.  I love the look.  It gives the pendant a dimension that I think is really cool.  The pattern gives you directions for a triangle frame also.  It's an open peyote triangle which you can construct in two sizes, one for the pendant and a smaller one for the earrings.  Heather gives you a variety of ideas for putting the bezel and frame together.  I did something a little different than hers.  As you can see is the picture above, I peyoted a small bail and attached the frame to it with 4mm bicones.  I then attached the bezelled triangle to the frame with another 4mm.  I like the articulated pendant because it has some movement.  I strung it on a copper silk cord which is a simple finish allowing the pendant to take center stage.



I tried to get a close-up that would show the dimension of the bezel.  The colors were determined by the rivoli I had.  The pattern calls for a 12mm rivoli and I had a hyacinth  12mm.  So, I picked fall colors I love and have used before in my Autumn Confetti jacket.  Orange, burgundy, gold and copper is a combination I think expresses the richness of the season.  Well, I think it worked just as well in beads as it did in the jacket!

But, all these triangle bezels started ideas for variations of triangles spinning around in my head.  I've been working on triangles off and on for a couple of weeks now.  So, you'll have to stay tuned to see what I'm coming up with!

Thank you for visiting today.  I hope you take the long weekend to spend time creating something wonderful!



Triangles, Part One

My bead group worked on this bezel for a 14mm rivoli a few weeks ago.  The pattern is from a British bead magazine called Bead!  I think that's it entire title, I may be wrong and I apologize if that is the case.  At any rate, we had a good time watching all the different colors develop.  I love triangles in any format and so I really loved this idea.  Here is what the triangular bezel became:

A really great necklace with a dimensional twisted Herringbone rope and an embellished bail. 
Stay tuned.  As I said, I love triangles, and this one got me making different triangles, lots of them! 

Thanks for stopping by.  Have a wonderful day and make something fun!





Bead Embroidery and Viking Knit

I made this pendant when I was taking a class in Viking Knit from Joggles.  I don't always like the face cabs that are available, but I fell in love with this one.  The suggestion for a pendant that went along with the instruction was to make branch fringe around the entire cab.   I like making  branch fringe, but I knew I would get bored doing the entire piece with it, and since I love asymetry, I thought I would just do part of the face with the branch fringe and finish with a plain fringe stitch.  I used 3mm and 4mm bicones to create a double edge to  finish the pendant. 

The main focus of the class was the Viking Knit which is an ancient wireworking technique.  My daughter first introduced me to it, and I loved the process of working it, and also the finished product.  There are many ways of finishing the ends of the knit, but I chose the option of stitching peyote tubes to wrap around the ends. Unfortuately,I haven't done as much of it as I would have liked to do, but I'm planning to go back to it.  It's a versatile technique to have in your bag of tricks. 

I hope you're enjoying the end of summer.  The weather is cooling off a little here which is a good thing!

Thanks for visiting.  Have a great weekend.



Silken Straw Necklace



Silken Straw is a fabulous silk yarn from Alchemy Yarns.  Of course, there aren't any of Alchemy's yarns that I don't love.  The colors are beautiful and rich and the yarns themselves are very special.  One of my favorites is their Silken Straw.  It's a silk yarn that is almost papery in its feel and appearnce.  It's a very narrow ribbon that softens as you knit and wear it.  I've used it, along with other Alchemy yarns in my Bohemian scarves, and I just love it!! Oh, I think I've made that point already!  One thing I'd been wanting to make with Silken Straw is a necklace.  The colors are so beautiful and I knew I probably had lots of beads that would coordinate with it.  I don't have many skeins of it because it's not an inexpensive yarn, but I do occasionally splurge and buy a skein I just can't resist.  The color I chose for this necklace was "Desert Song".  I had some matte peach long magatamas and I loved the way the beads and the yarn complimented each other.  I brought a bead up at the beginning of each row of garter stitch and used short rows for shaping.  A copper slide clasp was all it needed to finish it off. I think it looks simple but elegant.

The peachy color of the magatamas was hard to capture, but they really are a lovely matte peach color.

I'm finishing up another knitted necklace that is going to use another color of Silken Straw as an embellishment.  Hopefully, it'll be ready for photos soon.

Thank you for stopping by the blog.  Have a wonderful day.



Those versatile little stars!

The little stars from the "By the Sea" bracelet are addictive to make.  So, of course, I had to use them to fashion 4th of July earrings for me and my daughter.  They work up so quickly and the color combinations are endless.  I'm sure I'll find more ways to use them, even if it's just to play with the colors.  Sunflowers, anyone!!

Here's another view. 

Have a wonderful day!  It's a great mid-summer day here, so gardening I will go!!