Beads and Bread: May 2012

Monday, May 21, 2012

Welcome CBCer's

Hi all! Figured I'd better write a quick hello to those of you that have not visited my blog before. And I'd love your feedback as well. To date, I have been learning my craft, having a blast entering challenges, and coming to understand my design style. I'm finally feeling more confident in me and what I can do, but still not really sure about the whole, 'open a shop and sell my stuff' kind of thing. So, if you would take a few minutes and check out some of my pieces, and leave feedback, I'd truly appreciate it. And, just for being so kind, I'll enter your name in a drawing to receive a custom made bracelet! Like this one:

You can view more of my pieces here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/58467394@N07/

I also have some great books from Lark to review in the coming weeks, so stay tuned! Which ones? How about Metal Clay Fusion,

Heat, Color, Set and Fire

Japanese Beadwork

Color, Texture, and Casting for Jewelers

and several more. And there will be giveaways involved!!!

Thanks for your input! Blessings, Shirley

Bead Packet Design Challenge

So, are you starting to see a pattern here? Yes, I admit it. I am addicted to challenges! Besides having a load of fun, it helps me to stretch and grow as a jewelry designer. This challenge was no different. I'm a beadweaver. What was I sent to play with? A packet of gemstones! Right up my alley!!!
Sharyl McMillian-Nelson of Sharyl's Jewelry & Reflections decided it would be fun to see what everyone could make with the same packet of beads.

Now, I'm sorry to say, I don't have a clue as to what all these beauties are, but they are gorgeous!!

I immediately fell in love with the round stone with the hints of pink. I've been on a bezeling spree lately, so I bezeled it up, and quickly settled on a design. Diane Fitzgerald's Shaped Beadwork is one of my 'go to' books. I chose a couple of shapes, and got to work. Here is the result:

I used those pretty little green stones to connect the bezeled component to the triangles.

Then I added open diamonds to the end, and created a double toggle to slip through them both. This is a technique I learned from Beth Stone.

I had lots of opportunity to embellish in this bracelet, and I had a blast! From the pink pearls around the bezel, to the tiny size 15 seed beads on the strap of the toggle.

This is how it loops through the diamonds.

I used a combination of rainbow grey beads, a rose gold, and honey gold throughout the bracelet to keep the color palette soft, and flowing.

I really enjoyed putting all the different elements together in this bracelet. It is a striking design, and shows off those pretty stones so well!

I also wanted to make something with those green briolettes, and ran just a bit short on time.

But I think you get the picture! :) It will only take about another hour to finish the other earring, but I needed to get this post written up, so I'll finish it later. I went to Diane Fitzgerald again, and created a teardrop shaped beadwork behind the briolette. I used the same colors from the bracelet.

It's a very pretty earring style, and I can't wait to wear them! Hope you enjoyed the show, and please visit the rest of the designers to see what they did with this great challenge! Blessings, Shirley

Participants:

Marie-Noel Voyer-Cramp (Skye Jewels)

http://skyejewels.blogspot.com/

Kristi Jaro (Curiosities by K)

http://curiositiesbyk.blogspot.com/

Shirley Moore (Beads and Bread)

http://www.beadsandbread.blogspot.com

Therese Frank (Therese's Treasures)

http://theresestreasures59.blogspot.com

Kashmira Patel (Sadafulee)

http://sadafulee.blogspot.com

Sharyl McMillian-Nelson, Host

(Sharyl's Jewelry & Reflections)

http://www.sharylsjewelry.blogspot.com

Sunday, May 13, 2012

Button Swap Reveal Day

Cindy Wimmer of Sweet Bead Studio announced that she was setting up a button swap. I was jumping up and down, cause I love buttons.
My swap partner, Veralynne Malone, sent me some beauties!

Aren't they gorgeous??

I've been wanting to learn to bezel forever, so this seemed my perfect opportunity to learn. Here are a couple of the cuties:

Aren't they just adorable?

I went through several different thought processes. I was going to make a bracelet to attach these babies to, and then when I had it finished, it said it didn't want them on top, so I attached one of the other buttons as a closure. And yes, for you detail people, one of those above is not from the group Veralynne sent to me. I grabbed some of my metal buttons when I received Veralynnes, with my first idea of a bracelet with beads on top....so now I have some extras, oh well!