Christmas Exchange

Vicki & I get together for lunch and to exchange Christmas gifts each year (and then we usually spend the rest of the day shopping). This year I made her two necklaces and came up with some creative packaging. I found the triangle box (triangle is her favorite shape), the letter V and the scrapbook photo case at Michaels. Using them made them gifts as well. I bought the cabs for the necklaces when we were at the Bead & Button show in June.

 Painted the box with a wash of metallic paint and used glitter paint for the letter.

 Wrap the present in coordinating tissue paper and put it inside the photo storage case. Add a ribbon and gift tag & the package becomes part of the gift!

 Bead embroidery necklace with semi-precious and seed beads.

Semi-precious pendant with seed bead embroidery and pearls.

Components Bought

Industrial Glam Necklace
     A few months ago I had the honor of being asked to create a piece for Michaels October Jewelry Month Showcase. They wanted me to use Susan Lenart Kazmir's Industrial Chic line as the basis for my piece. I was thrilled to be able to use my friend Susan's pieces, as it fits my style so well. Her new components add a bit of glitter and glam to her usual industrial look.   I let them guide me for the theme of this necklace. I loved the stark contrast of the rhinestones and glitter with the industrial metal edge.I added beads from the Bead Gallery line to complete the necklace in my steampunk style.  I created a piece that is now one of my very favorites - freeform & asymmetrial.
     Here is the supply list and the finished piece on Michaels website for the Industrial Glam Necklace. The instructions are also there, but I've included extra step-out images to help make it easier for you to create your own version.

   

    Use Chain with Glass Beads and Stones for one side of necklace. Measure and cut plain chain to desired length. Attach plain chain to chain with beads and stones. Attach Lobster Clasp to plain chain. Loop on other chain will serve as link.

Condition thread and thread needle. Attach to chain link as show in picture. Randomly string metal plated multi-color round beads and weave in and out of the chain.

 

 

    Once you have a base of metal beads, start incorporating the glass beads.

      Tie off strands and secure with knots when you run out of thread. Start next strand in previous method, securing on chain.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Continue building base, and begin adding metal donuts, weaving beads and strands to secure.

 

 

   Start adding charm components, weaving in more metal beads and strands.

    Continue building necklace, constantly holding up to neck in front of mirror to make sure it hangs properly.

    Add keys and other dangling charms by the same method.

Continue adding beads and components until you are pleased with the results.
I left one chain without any embellishment, as I loved the asymmetry that broke up the regular flow of the necklace.

Design Process
I've had people ask me about my design process when creating jewelry. It is usually a matter of having the focal or basic beads and building from there. I'll place those beads in a box and as I run into other beads that I think will go with them, I'll toss them in the box as well. When I'm ready to begin, I spread the beads out on my surface and see what works. Sometimes beads won't go with some of the other beads or they turn out to be the wrong shade, size or shape and they are eliminated. Once I have it narrowed down, I start working the actual design. This portion is always very fluid for me with nothing rigid, just what works best. The beads used on the brown and aqua set were dictated by the main focal beads. The beads for the necklace for Vicki were a match for a shirt she bought.

Bead choice process

Finished Necklace



Finished Necklace & Bracelet



Beads for Vicki's Necklace



Vicki's Necklace Finished

Latest Jewelry Pieces

Seems like if I'm not remodeling the studio or working on stuff for ADAA (or working), then I'm creating beading and making jewelry.  I've been concentrating on bead embroidery (thanks to inspiration from Sherry Serafini's books). Vicki & I are going to Bead & Button this year and maybe I can get to meet her!  Here is the turquoise one in progress and finished. I had beads left over from the white one, so I made a pendant necklace as well.

Tidepool Necklace

My friend, Ellen created small sea creature beads for me for my birthday - an octopus & a few stingrays. While pulling beads to make a necklace out of my treasures, I ran into a polymer clay pendant that I had gotten from my friend, Sherry in a swap. It was the perfect color and design to go in the necklace, but not the right size. I took an exacto knife to the pendant, cut it into three pieces and shaved the edges a bit - perfect! They were exactly what I needed for the necklace. I used 4 different color/toned bead soups in creating the necklace, two turquoise/teal and two in the sandy, neutral colors.

Sprocket Gears

As I've mentioned before, I like to use Tim Holtz Sprocket Gears in my jewelry. I've done pieces for myself and for some of my friends for birthday presents. Here are some more examples for your viewing pleasure. I wore my necklace and bracelet to the Texas Beader's Retreat in January and they were a huge hit. I bet you couldn't find any of these gears at any of the area Michaels stores after the retreat.

Again with the Madame Delphine and the bead embroidery, this piece also has dangles from the Forged line by Plaid. The circular peyote chain took longer than the pendant. I like the look and think I'll do more of this type necklace.

When Michaels got the Madame Delphine line by Blue Moon Beads, I was in trouble. This was the first line that had pieces that really spoke to me & that I had to own. I've probably bought more of this line than any other one they have carried. I'm not really sure what it is about it, but I'm really loving it. This is a very simple necklace that I made using just the leaves package (of course it uses 5 packages!).

I've had the book The Art of Bead Embroidery for several years and have always been meaning to do something similar. I loved the whole concept of this book & why not? I know embroidery and have done it (though not so much recently and nowhere near as good as my Nana or Aunt) and I love to bead. I finally got brave enough to start my first piece & of course, me being me, I started with a necklace. I began the necklace on the flight to EDAC back in July, worked on it on the plane, at night at the conference and then a few weeks after I got home. I never keep track of how long a beaded piece takes me - I usually work on them in the evenings when I watch TV or other times, such as flights, waiting in a doctor's office, etc. My first piece was done from a necklace that I did several years ago when I was just getting started with free-form peyote. At the time I thought it was fabulous, but as I've grown I didn't like the piece as well and hadn't worn it in a long time. So I took it apart and used it to create this necklace. It reminds me of a forest stream. Once I did the necklace, I had to do a bracelet to match. I did this one on a metal cuff form that I got when I went to Rhode Island a few years ago.