Bead Retreat Projects

Vicki & I attended the Texas Bead Retreat again this year, our 6th year in a row. It is always so much fun and we get so many things accomplished. I was able to finish a bead embroidery necklace, a bracelet with Vicki's help with the directions (Dragon Dance bracelet from May issue of Beadwork magazine) and we took a pendant class. I wish I could find more of the cool face button that I used on the black piece.

 

 

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.

Bead Embroidery Necklace with Sea Urchin Fringe
     I started this necklace on my trip to the Bead & Button Show in June. I wound up buying additional semi-precious cabs at the show that worked better with the design. I already had the sea urchin beads from a local show several years ago. It took forever to finish the fringe.

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.