Bead Soup Blog Party–Reveal

I’m part of the BSBP 2nd Reveal. There are 500 participants and Lori Anderson split us into 3 Groups. My Partner is Jen Van Benschoten which I blogged about in a previous post. Here is a recap of what she sent me, my progress and my finished pieces.
Initially I wanted to make a fancy collar, but I’m pretty limited with time now that Spring is here. Also, I really only was required to do one piece, but Jen sent me 2 soups, so I went to work.

First I created pendants for the dichroic cabochons. I used black polymer clay with Pearlex mica. For the purple dichroic cabochon I created an almond shape, inlaid some magenta swarovski crystals, cured and varnished. For the blue dichroic cabochon I used a little turquoise chip inlaid in a polymer clay flower to hide the slight imperfection of missing dichroic background that is visible on the left side of the cabochon in the picture above. Maybe I’m too picky, but it bothered me a little. I also created some matching beads which I textured with some of my handmade textures.

Click on the pictures for larger versions.

Then I used the size 8 magenta beads to surround the shape, along with black size 6’s from my stash and embroidered onto some Ultrasuede. I have to admit, the Japanese Stick pearls gave me trouble and I could not work them into this piece.

Isn’t the clasp beautiful? Even more in person because the Swarovski just sparkles. Jen was kind enough to give me the link for 'A Grain of Sand' so I could purchase some more of these. While they aren’t sterling silver, they are silver filled. I know there is such a thing as Gold-filled, but didn’t know that there was such a thing for Silver. I guess because of the increasing value of Silver, this had to happen.

At first I only had the diamond shapes beaded and attached chain between them and the clasp, but it looked too sparse and empty. I couldn’t get my almond shape polymer clay beads to fit in either, so it hit me…and maybe, just maybe I came up with a new stitch…braiding cord through the chain and then beading the edges.

I ended up making a whole bunch of bracelets as I have a large roll of this chain and got hooked on stitching it…


Getting back on topic…with the Blue necklace. Pendant is beaded like the Purple necklace, but made a beaded fringe with the Reconstituted moonstone beads and czech glass drops. Hey, I didn’t know they could reconstitute moonstone…mmm. I have a bunch of the real stuff and the reconstituted reminds me a lot of sea-opal which is a man-made moonstone type of glass. Anyway, I managed to fit in a couple of the polymer clay textured pillow beads and of course wove more chain.

What do you think? Did I succeed with these?
I’ll be posting these to a special Pinterest board where all the entries will be judged by a panel including Nina Designs, Lima Beads, Fusion Beads, PJ Tool and Jewelry, Beaducation, and Kalmbach Publishing. Not sure if I stand a chance to win one of the Prizes as there are some pretty amazing works on there already! I’ll be posting my entry after I hit ‘publish’ on this post here. The following link is the board…(wish me luck)
http://pinterest.com/limamike/contest-entries-for-bead-soup-blog-party-7/

These are so many  participants for the 2nd reveal. I tried copying and pasting the list, but my formatting won’t play along. You can see all the list on Lori’s blog.
http://lorianderson-beadsoupblogparty.blogspot.com/2013/04/7th-bead-soup-blog-party-2nd-reveal.html

and of course, please visit my Partner Jen Van Benschoten’s blog to see what she made with the beads I sent her!!

More beading embellishment…

Before finishing the previous polymer clay cabochon necklace, I had started this one and finally completed it. It’s a bit more labour intensive to create and figuring out how to assemble and attach the pieces together. I used Turquoise as the complimentary stone. The clasp cabochons were made from the same polymer clay sheet as the focal pendant. Right now I’m working on a matching bracelet and earrings…

Autumn Fire Cabochons

With the end of a very busy and routine summer, the fiery colours of the Autumn foliage and freshly fallen leaves have renewed my creative energy. These pictures are free wallpaper downloads and pretty much the colours that are showing up here now.

I had posted on Facebook a few of my Fire cabs and asked what colours were favourites right now. Fiery Orange, deep burnt orange, gold, red, chocolate were resounding answers and added to this mix was a gold, purple and turquoise. I used some of these colour combos for some polymer clay cabochons which I covered with resin and will be using for bead embroidery, but I did finish one…and another is almost finished.
Here are some of the cabochons. I’m contemplating listing some of these on Etsy and ArtFire for others who’d like to use them as additions for their own creative use.

I used Japanese Mijuki beads for the embroidery and added smoky quartz and turquoise. The pendant has a couple of watch gears stitched on the bail for an extra interest. This set is spoken for and already in the mail…

The Racoon ate my Homework…

…or maybe he stole it, not sure which. Do Racoons like shiny things??
I know racoons look cute and here is an adorable photo. Looks like he either is saying “I do, I do” to the question of “Who wants a piece of sausage” or… he’s just waving at you. Little Rascal.

Racoons are curious creatures. Last week I was sitting in my studio, close to the door which I had open about two feet to allow in more light. I’ve been having this reoccurring dream of a black bear sauntering slowly past and this certainly is a worry out here as we’ve had our share of run-ins with them. If I really had to I’d climb up into the loft and throw things at him…ok…ok…I digress.
Racoons are more daring, so much so that they aren’t really afraid to explore the insides of our living spaces. So, I was sitting near the door when a racoon sauntered by in what looked like slow motion and just as he was by the door where I was sitting very still and motionless, I  thought I’d surprise him as he still didn’t see me, even as he peeked inside the door. I guess their eyesight isn’t too good. Then I piped up “Hey You!” and he gave me the funniest, obvious look of “Oh crap! I’ve been caught!” and hightailed it which isn’t very fast…toward the bushes beside my shop.
Well…he got back at me yesterday. While I went in the house to get myself a cup of tea, my husband heard noises out back and asked if I was watching a show or something. “no…?'” Didn’t take long to discover that a couple of minutes did the damage. Rascal paw prints on my desk…the waste basket stuff strewn all over the place. A broken work tile, nibbled packages of polymer clay, jewellery bins tossed open (I guess they are very adept at opening lids!). So I put everything back together and get back to work and realize I have some stuff missing!! I can’t find my Rhinestone spacers and I had them right ‘there’.
Anyway…this is a collar I’m working on since the last one (photo below) sold to someone in the US. The Gallery asked me for 2 more, but of course they take weeks to make and this being the busy season, I won’t be able to ‘pop’ those out, lol. Now I have to think about what to use instead of the rhinestones…but I’m so glad he didn’t decide to eat my necklace or take the whole thing!

Polymer Clay Rings and Accessories

While the cuff bracelet is strictly bead embroidery, the ring is made from polymer clay, metal and a crystal rivoli cabochon. Finally finished, the set is going to the Gallery tomorrow morning to be shipped to Vancouver asap as the performance takes place March 20th, so I am told.

I'm told I will be sent a photo of the Star herself, but when is unclear and permission to post will be another matter. I always ask. If the answer is 'no', I can respect that. Nevertheless, I'm quite excited to be able to add this to my portfolio and as the 4th Star I've been able to adorn. A Singer-Songwriter, one actress and actor and now an Opera Diva...how wonderful. What is missing...? lol

The bracelet is quite heavy, so finished it with adjustable chain and lobster clasps in back to prevent it from falling off should the performer flick her arm or hand. The base of the embroidery is a metal cuff armature over which is sewn ultrasuede. The criss-cross effect of the chain gives the cuff a corset laced look and the beads that dangle from the chain add extra movement with the hand.

Apparently I have gotten good reaction from the purchaser when the gallery sent the previous photo with a sample ring...I think she'll like this better matching one even more.

Polymer Clay Bytes! - Bead Embroidery

After I complete a couple more Polymer Clay jewelry related orders, I have just received an order for a custom design bracelet cuff. One of the galleries I sell my work through has notified me via phone and jokingly told me to hold my breath because an Opera Singer has decided to purchase my "Freya's Brisingamen". Now the challenge is to design a matching bracelet cuff with plenty of fringe as it must be a showy piece for a performance. I am so pleased that this piece was chosen as another Opera Singer had 'almost' purchased it last October. I'll be designing a piece with a showy ring to match as well.

About Freya...
Freya is famed for her great beauty, and indeed is often known as "The Fair One". Freya is quite independent, being chief of the Valkyries, the demi-goddesses who select the noble and heroic dead and carry them to the Realm of the Gods. Freya is the Daughter of Time, as well as the patron and protectress of the human race. On her breast she wears "the jewel whose power cannot be resisted," Brisingamen. Brising meaning fire, specifically the fire of the enlightened mind and men meaning jewel. In ancient times the winter constellation which we today know as Orion was at that time called "Freya's Gown" by the Norse and Teutons, and the sword belt in Orion was called "Freya's Girdle." She is as strong, beautiful and wise as any of the "Eldest Ones." Very labour-intensive beadembroidery on Ultrasuede using Swarovski Rivoli Stones, Blue Faceted Goldstone, Hematite, Purple Iris Freshwater Pearls, Firepolished Crystal and a Pewter medallion mandala representing Life's Eternal Cycles and Our passage through them.

Beading amongst Chaos

It is time for some beading and assembly.
I have various things on the go and its hard to decide from day to day what needs to be done next. I wish I had done a few more polymer clay focal pendants before starting on assembling.

Right now I'm working with my recycled glass beads and my stuff is everywhere. I don't know about you, but for me it is impossible to create unless I have a lot of things available to me visually and I mean a LOT. I have drawers full of supplies, but what good is it when they aren't right there to say...oh yes, that colour would go nicely with this bead.
When I need to clay again, all of this has to be cleaned up.

So this is what is on my desk right now...My teeny work surface, but its enough for assembling one thing at a time...

And this is what is on one of my little side tables (I have two others)...wire, cord, beads, ultrasuede bits...

This is what I finished today...some necklaces

some lariats...

Closeup of a recycled glass bead...I got these from Africa...

Close up of one of my polymer clay sea urchin cabs...

Tutorial in the works...

More than a few people have asked me to do a tutorial on my Polymer Clay Sea Urchins and other sea life beads. I'm not quite ready to let go of those yet as they are a product line that I sell through various Galleries.
Eventually I will sell tutorials and kits of these when I'm ready to move along in a different direction. For now, I'm thinking of offering up this necklace as a Tutorial with 3 options...

• as a stand-alone ecopy for the pattern
• selling a mold of the cabochon, so that one could create their own sea urchin colour palette.
• and as a complete kit which would include the sea urchin cabochon, beads and pattern, maybe different colours...

Ideas?