Every time I sign up for a blog challenge, life gets crazy, but I just love them! This one was no exception...my entire household fell prey to every virus and sickness out there this winter/spring. But maybe that just pushes me harder...or maybe it was just the awesomeness of my partner's beady goodies! Tammy and I had a lot of fun trading life stories. I hope to meet her in real life someday, I think we would have a blast together! Please go check out her site, you will be thrilled!
So, here's what I started with....
All wrapped up nice and pretty!
I was just thrilled with the color palette, and my daughter and I immediately wrestled for those adorable birdies!
You know beadweaving is my main focus, so those bicones and Delicas quickly spoke up and said, 'Bead Me First!"
Of course I listened!
This flat herringbone bracelet is a joy to wear.
It has a rather Victorian feel, which I didn't expect. The smoke bicones don't show up as well in the photos, but they both sparkle beautifully!
The color palette gives this piece a very expensive feel. Score!
Next up, are the yummy tigereye rounds and the teal discs. The inspiration for this one is from Beadwork Special issue Winter 2015. Genuine Leather Bracelet by Leslie Mangine. Now, wire and me are not exactly on chummy terms, so I knew this was going to take me down THAT road. (You know, the one where you are very much outside your comfort zone?) Yeah.
See? So far outside my norm! And look how great that clasp works with this design!
Everyone wanted to jump in and join the party!
I made some simple circles with more of the bicones, and some picasso druks. I've had that big honking polymer clay bead in my stash for a while, and was thrilled at how well it played with the teal discs!
And these craw beaded beads play with the tigereye sooo niceley!
Next up is the metal bracelet bar. I knew right away I wanted to do a kumihimo band for it. This is a square braid, and I love how it looks and feels. It is visually interesting, without taking away the spotlight from the bar.
The soft gunmetal grey and lavender rattail work perfectly!
Can you see the squared off sides? It does have a gentle twist, and feels soo good!
Yeah, so are you noticing a bracelet theme going on? Me too!
Then I think we need a necklace, don't you? And we have the perfect item for it...that lovely lampwork focal. I found seed beads that matched it to a tee at my local bead shop, Moonstone Beads.
I've wanted to try a blended kumihimo for a while, and I'm quite pleased with the result.
I had planned on the focal bead being a part of the rope, but miscalculated in the planning part. Since I had already loaded ALL of the beads, it quickly went to hanging from a bail! 
This has a wonderful beachy feel to it, and the fringe picks up all the colors in the lampwork bead.
I finished it with some pretty brass end cones, and a simple lobster clasp.
Well, are you noticing an....absence of something? Yes, you're right, there are no pics of anything with the beautiful feather and birdies! Wanna hear the story? As I said, the girlchild and I had a friendly argument over the birdies. Of course she won, cause she's my girl, you know. She asked me to make her some earrings, which I reluctantly agreed to...I REALLY struggle creating earrings. And I decided to make a lariat with the feather hanging from the bottom, along with some flower beads and beadwoven leaves. I started the rope, it was looking fabulous. Someone in the family got sick. When I got back to the bead table, I started on one of the other pieces, and kinda forgot about the rope. As I'm gathering everything together to take pics for the post, I saw the feather lying there, looking lonesome. I searched, and searched, and searched....I still haven't found that rope! Or the birdies! They have apparently flown the coop..I know, lame joke.
When I find both of those babies, I will post the pics. Meanwhile, thanks for checking out my goodies, and head on out and visit the rest of the participants!
I'll be away for the weekend, but plan on checking everyone out when I get back.
Blessings, Shirley
Hey partner! Everything is gorgeous but that first bracelet, what a stunner. Love the pattern. I hope you find where those little birdies went to roost with the beaded rope. I look forward to seeing what you do with them when you do. Thanks for the lovely components and the seed beady challenge. Oh, and for the book recommendations. I'll be "seeing" you around the internet. :)
ReplyDeleteOMG Shirley those all are soo gorgeous. I'm feeling very inadequate right now when looks at these gorgeous designs. I would say that you and the wire got along just fine. What a great bracelet. The kumihimo blend is just fantastic. I need to try that sometime when I get my mojo back. The first bracelet is my fav and I would love to know about the pattern sometime. Hope you are having a great spring.
ReplyDeleteLove all the bracelets. You did a wonderful job with your bead stash.
ReplyDeleteWow you made so many beautiful and very different pieces! I love them all but that second bracelet is just amazing, I can only imagine how much time you must have put into all of these!
ReplyDeleteWow you were busy! those are some gorgeous pieces!! and I love all the ropes, but that first bracelet is just a knock-out - LOVE, LOVE, LOVE that one!
ReplyDeleteWOW! The necklace with the kumihimo is STUNNING! I also love love love the leather bracelet. That's so smart! I've got leather and no idea what to do with it, so thank you for the inspiration! =0 Job well done!
ReplyDeleteLinda
http://fromTheBeadBoard.blogspot.com
http://cherryOnTopDesign.co
Wow - great beadwork! I couldn't even begin to imagine creating pieces with such tiny beads - lovely work!
ReplyDeleteGreat work Shirley! I love the leather ropes bracelet with the beaded beads. I also love the color combos in you kumihimo necklace!
ReplyDeleteWhat great designs! I especially like the leather bracelet. It has given me some ideas on how to use all the leather I keep seem to be picking up.
ReplyDeleteEach one of these pieces is lovely.
ReplyDeleteThe Herringbone Bracelet is just class! Makes me think of the beautiful jewellery worn by Indian Maharanis (Queens) of a bygone era.
Great work Shirley!
Gorgeous pieces, your kumihimo work is wonderful. love the leather bracelet its gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteYou did such a beautiful job! The first bracelet in particular is absolutely stunning!
ReplyDeleteThe inclusion of seed bead elements has made a lot of difference! You have used many techniques and have achieved diverse looks for all the pieces. The bail for the lampwork focal is gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteSo many great designs. I really, really love the second bracelet! Awesome job getting completely out of your comfort zone creatively. I knew at the beginning of the post the girl child won...mine always does too! ;)
ReplyDeleteReally wonderful designs!!! I love the look of the herringbone bracelet!, but I really love them all!!! Be Blessed!!!
ReplyDeleteGORGEOUS pieces! That herringbone is so sparkly and fantastic! I've never been able to do herringbone in any fashion....but it looks so lovely! and that leather bracelet looks like so much fun! Very wearable! You found the most PERFECT beads for that focal and the kumihimo is flawless.. great job!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful pieces... love the colours and such a lot of work.. well done!!
ReplyDeleteYour work is stunning. I'm still learning stitches & I'm using peyote and herringbone in many ways. Love your Victorian bracelet.
ReplyDeleteyou made some great bracelets. I loved how you added your honker on that bracelet, ehich was a pretty perfect bracelet all around, the clasp, the seed bead and drug circles. you should join us in the seed bead ghetto, as I said before, its where all the excitement is
ReplyDeleteWow Shirley!! ALL THIS BEADING is spectacular!!! I don't know what I love most, but the first piece with the herringbone stitch and the bicones is pretty awesome. But I'm also loving the darling components you made for the leather bracelet. Everything you made for this challenge is beautiful!
ReplyDeleteLovely swap. The leather bracelet is great. They all are. :)
ReplyDeleteIt's very nice.
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