Monday, May 21, 2012

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)
Kristi Jaro (Curiosities by K)
Shirley Moore (Beads and Bread) 
 http://www.beadsandbread.blogspot.com
Therese Frank (Therese's Treasures) 
Kashmira Patel (Sadafulee)
Sharyl McMillian-Nelson, Host 
(Sharyl's Jewelry & Reflections)





22 comments:

  1. Shirley - I LOOOOOVE what you did here. I am also addicted to challenges....in fact, I'm feeling so overwhelmed with them right now, I was just 'having a talk' with myself about how many I really should be doing at one time! LOL! I love Diane's book and the patterns in there - the shaped pieces are so great!
    Beautiful work on this challenge!

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  2. Hi Shirley,
    You knocked it out of the park with your design. I love everything about your bracelet it is gorgeous! Great idea to bezel one of the disk beads and go from there. I also love your earring design it is just as gorgeous as the bracelet. I am going to have to check out Diane Fitzgerald's book.
    Therese

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  3. Both are stunning pieces! Your beadwork is fabulous.

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  4. My darling friend you have become a true design star! I am totally blown away!

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  5. Gorgeous!!! Love those pink pearls and the toggle!

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  6. How clever Shirley!! You have come such a long way since the days of us trying to figure out that twisty stitch in Beth Stone's book! Remember trading pictures back and forth? Bravo my friend! Lovely, especially the earrings!

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  7. You did an amazing job! All the work that went into everything! Beautiful! I always love to know what I am working with, so in case you were curious, you were working with Czech Glass! One of my favorites! Beautiful aren't they?

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  8. O.M.G!!!! This is SO pretty!!!!!! Totally love those earrings. And the little green beads connecting the bezel..perfect idea!

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  9. Shirley, your bracelet and earrings are beautiful! The toggle with triangles is just perfect for this bracelet - the color combo works so well - love them!

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  10. Those are both beautiful. I love the diamonds in the bracelet. The toggle is amazing also. I really like the beaded backdrop in the earring. It's so clever and works so well.

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  11. LOVE LOVE LOVE! You hit this one out of the park!

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  12. Hi
    I somehow landed here, don't know why, but I'm glad I did. Your work is so brilliantly awesome. I just finished up my own first challenge. Like you said- it pushed me to create something I might never have thought of doing.
    However, I still ache for more attention in the way of other beaders comments. Did you feel this way in the beginning of your internet beading "journey"? ancy.saccoccio@gmail.com
    PS I think the pink round discs are czech glass.

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  13. so gorgeous! I love the colour mix and the double toggle is such a creative solution :-)

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  14. I admit, I was expecting everyone would come up with something slightly different, but somehow, thought it would be some variation of what I saw in the beads! Big joke on me! Everyone's designs are so uniquely and splendidly different!

    Your design and your work on this is just so very inspiring! What you did with the few simple beads I sent, and the wonderful ones you added, is just so amazing! You probably know how impressed I am by people who do this type of intricate work with seed beads already. I'm even more so after today!

    Thank you so much for participating, Shirley!

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  15. P.S. I should have sent a list along about what the beads were. I've had another participant ask about where they came from so I'll be compiling a list to send out. The people saying these are Czech glass are correct. (I'd have to check to make sure though, one might possibly be a stone.) Most, if not all, have what is known as a Picasso finish. I'm not always fond of that look myself, but liked it on these beads and thought it helped tie them all together.

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  16. Shirley, you just rocked this challenge! LOVE the diamonds, what a great element. I also love what you did with the briolette by creating a backdrop for it. Great idea bead sister!
    {Hugs!}

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  17. WOW! They are really beauties!!!!
    Love the bracelet and the earrings are a dream!!!!!
    It' really a great idea this challenge ... run to visit the other blogs ^_^

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  18. Wow, your bracelet and earrings are gorgeous!

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  19. This is just beautiful, Shirley. And congratulations on doing the challenges. I don't do well with deadlines lately so I've been averse to try any! Maybe once we get settled? Hope so, sounds like fun! Your work here is simply gorgeous!

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  20. Your bead weaving is gorgeous loved looking at all your designs and am following you now. I am a beginner at bead weaving too but have so much to learn. Great work!

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  21. Just gorgeous. Your colour selection is lovely, too. ;-)

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  22. Really stunning. I love Diane Fitzgerald but don't have the book you mention and will have to look for it. Lovely!

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I'm thrilled you stopped by! Thanks for your words of wisdom.