Beads and Bread: necklace

Showing posts with label necklace. Show all posts

Monday, October 20, 2014

The Learning Curve...and a Giveaway!

So, this post has come about due to some recent conversations on facebook, and some exciting changes in my personal life.

As a beadweaver, there is a dedicated learning curve. Some folks instinctively grasp the math behind the beads, and some can effortlessly put colors together in fantastic displays of gorgeousness.
The rest of us? Well, it takes work, and more work, and more work.
I do feel that I have made huge strides in my technical skills, and choosing colors that play well together. Some of my favorites......

And....some of my 'not so favorites'...

The important thing is, I've learned with each design. I've found which colors I work best with, which materials, and the techniques that really make me feel good.

It has truly been and enjoyable journey, and I am finally opening a shop!!!!

It is a components shop, so those folks that love seed bead creations, but don't like working with them, can now use them in their designs.

It is still very small, with limited inventory, but hey, you've gotta start somewhere!

Here's the link: http://artisancomponentmarketplace.com/shirleymooredesigns/

I'm also working on opening a finished jewelry store as well, but that will probably not happen til after the first of the year.

My last piece of good news is that I am now teaching classes at my local bead store, Moonstone Beads. If you are in the Myrtle Beach, SC area, please stop in, it's a great store!

It's been a fun challenge for me, really stopping to think about patterns that will work for beginners.

I have to confess, even when I was a beginner, I was always pushing the envelope, trying patterns that were harder than my skill level...so this has been very different.

Ok, so if you've made it this far, you definitely deserve a treat, right?

I need nice, constructive criticism, so I'm asking for help on the storefront.

Please head over and check it out, and let me know if you see something I can improve, change, add, etc.

Come back and comment and you will be entered to win one of these pretties. I will draw a winner on Friday, Oct. 24th

Thanks for your help! Blessings, Shirley

Sunday, April 6, 2014

Color of Dreams Blog Hop

I'm so very thrilled and excited to show you what I've created for this special hop! Rita, better known as Toltec Jewels, invited us to participate in a very special challenge. She generously shared a gorgeous art bead with each of us, created by the awesomely talented Patricia Handschuh.
I'm telling you, I was quite the little happy camper when I opened the package. Patricia creates very intricate patterns in these beads. Here's the shot of the beads that Rita mailed out to us.

Simply a riot of happiness, right? It was fairly easy for me to decide what I wanted to create...just a matter of getting it all done. I really went right to the wire with this one, which means that I had to take the pics last night, rather than in daylight. I'll be out most of the day Sunday, but I am going to add daylight pics to the post later.
The bead was small enough that I could have created a bracelet with it, but I decided I wanted a necklace. Specifically, a set of necklaces. I chose to create a trio of lariats, with the bead taking center stage as the closure.
I had so much fun just playing around with different styles, beads, and techniques with this challenge. So, surprisingly, one of the ropes is a simple string of beads. But it worked, and taught me that simple can still have a big impact. The second rope is a kumihimo braid with a matte orange accent bead. The threads used for it were a variegated yarn, white crochet thread, and two strands of matte ab orange beads.
The third rope is a twisted RAW that has a pretty, delicate spring look to it. Which is rather funny, because it has in-your-face hot pink, and metallic green beads in it! That's one of the coolest parts about playing with beads for me...all the endless combinations of colors and styles.

Here's a shot of the focal bead. I surrounded it with an alternating square of CRAW.

I love how different the strands are, and yet they pick up all the gorgeous colors in the bead. The ropes can be worn alone, or together, with the clasp or not, which makes it so very versatile.

Here's a closeup of the individual strands. I'm really loving all the subtle color changes in the kumihimo braid from the variegated yarn.

Thank you Rita, for sharing Patricia's beads with us. I'm so happy to have found another source for beads, and thrilled with where this challenge took me. Please go visit all the other participants in this wonderful challenge! Blessings, Shirley

Honorary Artist: Patricia Handschuh
Patricia's blog: The Color of Dreams
Patricias Etsy:   The Color of Dreams
Hostess: TJ Jewel School Friends
Kay Thomerson   KayzKreationz
Audrey Belanger Toki No Hourousha

Alicia Marinache All the Pretty Things
Terry Carter TappingFlamingo
Lori Schneider   Bead Addict
Jenny Kyrlach   Wonder and Whimsy
Asri Wahyuingsih   Asri's Beadwork
Dini Bruinsma Angaza by Changes
Karla Morgan Texas Pepper Jams
Debbie Rasmussen A Little of This, A Little of That
Veralynne Malone Designed by Vera
Kathy Stemke   Vintage Memories Jewelry Design
Mowse Doyle   Mowse Made This
Heather Richter   Desert Jewelry Designs
Lori Poppe   Adventures in Creativity with LorilliJean
Jayne Capps Mama's Got To Doodle
Andrea Glick Zenith Jade Creations
Kathleen Breeding   99 Bottles of Beads on the Wall
Becky Pancake   Becky Pancake Bead Designs
Karin Martinez Fairies Market
Miranda Ackerley Mirandack
Penny Houghton Smelly Nelly
Carolyn Lawson   Carolyn's Creations
Chris Eisenberg Wanderware
Christie Murrow Charis Designs Jewelry
Monique Urquhart A Half-Baked Notion
Eve Shelby Raindrop Creations Jewelry by Evelyn
Cryss Thain   Here Bead Dragons
Jasvanti Patel   Jewelry By Jasvanti
Nan Smith   NanMade Handmade Jewelry
Sue Kennedy   SueBeads
Jean Yates   Snap Out of It, Jean! There's Beading to be Done!
Debbie Rogers   Debbies Treasures
Marybeth Rich   A Few Words From Within the Pines
Shirley Moore Beads and Bread
Shaia Williams   Shaiha's Ramblings
Kathy Lindemer   Bay Moon Design
Linda Anderson   From the Bead Board
Judy Turner   Silver Rains
Gloria Allen Gloria Allen Designs
Regina Wood Ginas-Design
Robin Reed Artistry HCBD
Mary Goovars MLH Jewelry Designs
Marlene Cupo   Amazing Designs
CJ Bauschka 4 His Glory Creations
Robin Showstack The Crazy Bead Hoarder
Cynthia O'Toole Sparkles and Sweets
Jael Thorp   Jael's Art Jewels
Renetha Stanziano Lamplight Crafts

Saturday, November 16, 2013

Two for One Reveal-Lampwork Blog Hop

Yeah, I did. I signed up for TWO hops, with reveals on the same day. I know, what was I thinking?
Obviously, my brain wasn't working at that moment.
You can go here to see what I created for Therese Franks' Birthday Challenge.

Y'all know Lisa Lodge's Blog Hops are always fun, right? Well, if you've never participated in one, you owe it to yourself to sign right up! She has a couple that are open right now, you can check them out on her blog.
I did sign up a lot later than everyone else on this one. I was really, really trying to resist....we see how well that worked, huh? Anyhoo....have you ever been a bit starstruck when you get beads in the mail?
Of course you have, what a dumb question. That is exactly how I feel every time I see JulsBeads. That woman has some serious mojo magic with lampwork. I was thrilled when I got my package from Lisa, and opened it to find these babies! Beady Alert! Juls is having a MEGA Sale on her entire shop! You're welcome.

And you just need to take my word for it if you've never held any of her beads, the pics really, really don't do them justice.

The deep blues offset by the swirls of no-clouds-in-the-sky-blue are just....yeah. Let me just head off to Dictionary dot com and see if I can find a good adjective.

Nope. Couldn't find one. So, let's just carry on, shall we? Now, of course, I wanted these babies to be front and center, and I wen through several different ideas on my way to the solution. I made a sample piece of netted rope that picked up that deep blue perfectly, but it was feeling a bit too delicate for me, so it got tossed in the 'I'll do something with that later' pile.

This pattern is from Laura McCabe's Embellished Beadweaving. I've used it several times, I love how fast it works up, and looks so very different depending on the bead choices.

This is why I love this pattern. Depending on the beads used between the pearls, it has a totally different feel. I used some Czech crystal lined, that have an irregular profile, which translates to a more organic overall look.

Well, this one was to help you see the entire length. Not lovin' this pic so much, but hopefully it gives the idea...

Those matte raku beads are mainly a dusty brown, but they have lovely hints of blue randomly popping up. The other 11's are a silver lined crystal, and a shiny topaz with black diamond inside color. The pearls on the rope are a deep blue, almost indigo. I really, really heart this necklace. It has a surprisingly vintage feel, and the soft, rather neutral colors mean I can wear it with a TON of stuff! Happy Me!!!!

As always, a HUGE Thank you to Lisa for a great Blog Hop!

Here is the list of participants, have fun!!! Blessings, Shirley

Your hostess: Lisa Lodge, A Grateful Artist

Mary Govaars, MLH Jewelry Designs

Melissa Trudinger, Bead Recipes

Kathy Zeigler Lindemer, Bay Moon Design

Laurie Vyselaar, Lefthand Jewelry

Annette Rivers, MamaOwl's Mess

Karin King, The Sparkle Things Blog

Shaiha Williams, Shaiha's Ramblings

Mimi Gardner, Baubles, Beads and Other Curiosities

Dee Alcalde, Agape Creations Jewelry

Kay Thomerson, Kayz Kreationz

Karla Morgan, Texas Pepper Jams

Lori Jean Poppe, Lorillijean Creative Corner

Eleanor Burian Moore, The Charmed Life

Leah Mifflin Tees, My Beady Little Eyes

Terri Wlaschin, Dances in Fog

Sharyl McMillian-Nelson, Sharyl's Jewelry

Jo-Ann Woolverton, It's a Beadiful Creation

Veralynne Malone, Designed by Vera

Linda Aspenson Bergstrom, TBD

Toltec Jewels, Jewel School Friends

Judy Turner, Silver Rains

Gloria Allen, Gloria Allen Designs

Kathleen Douglas, Washoe Kat's

Connie Tipton, TBD

Christie Searle Murrow, Charis Designs Jewelry

Andrea Glick-Zenith, ZenithJade Creations

Michele Dotson, Star Jewels

Chris Eisenberg, Wanderware

Jennifer Clifford, TBD

Kathleen Breeding, 99 Bottles of Beads on the Wall

Molly Alexander, Beautifully Broken Me

Loretta, Loretta's Boutique

Carolyn Lawson, Carolyns Creations

Shirley Moore, Beads and Bread ----------------------- You are Here

Bonnie Coursolle, Jasper's Gems

Alice Craddick, Alice's Beads and Baubles

Saturday, July 6, 2013

Seasons Blog Hop

Welcome everyone! I love reading all the blog posts when Lisa Lodge hosts a challenge, so I was super excited to get to participate in this one! This one is to celebrate either a 'season' of the year; or a 'season' of your life. I live at the beach, so as soon as I saw my packet of beads, I knew what my 'season' would be...summer at the beach!!! Now, I did forget to take a pic before I got started, so the bead soup has some of my own mixed in as well. Just look at this gorgeous pile o' beads!

I just fell in love with that rich mix of color. It reminds me so much of the sand at low tide, with bits of seashells scattered throughout the sand., and the foam of the ocean washing it smooth, tumbling the shells around.

My first piece is a Nancy Dale pattern, called Color Play. Nancy is an incredibly talented artist, and I knew her Color Play would work perfectly with this bead mix.

Just look at that mix of color!

Those beautiful lampwork beads are such stars in this necklace, and yet allow the other beads to shine as well.

I love those blue lined triangle beads!

This is one of the techniques Nancy explains in her pattern.

I had some yummy tigereye discs and Picasso pearls that were begging to be included!

Here is one of the royal blue glass beads captured in a cage of size 11 seeds.

This bracelet held several surprises for me. My original intent was to use the blue lined triangles with the royal blue glass beads, but they didn't want to play nice with each other.

So, instead I got to use some brand new beads, a lovely AB druk from The Beading Room.

The chevron chain is one I've been wanting to try for a while, so this was a great opportunity to see it perform.

I love my little CRAW curved toggle, it works great with the gentle curves in the pattern.

There were several beads I didn't manage to use from the soup Lisa sent to me, but I was pretty happy with what I had made. I was wrapping up my post, and cleaning up my work space, and then.....those blue glass beads just started whispering to me.........ever have that happen?

Well, here is what they said!

Quite a different take on the color scheme, huh?

Have you ever seen that flourescent seaweed? Really wild colors, just washing up in the surf. That was totally what I thought of when this piece was finished. Not my normal colors at all, but it is so very bright and happy!

This bracelet definitely makes me giggle, and I'm glad I listened to those beads!

Please check out the rest of the group, that's where I'm heading!

Thanks Lisa, for a wonderful challenge! Blessings, Shirley

Your Hostess: Lisa Lodge, Grateful Artist

Kathy Zeigler Lindemer, Bay Moon Design

Cassi Paslick, Beads: Rolling Downhill

Stephanie Sanner Haussler, PixyBug Designs

Leah Mifflin Tees, My Beady Little Eyes

Karin Slaton, BackStory Beads

Audrey Belanger, Dreams of an Absolution

Lori Jean Poppe, Lorillijean Creative Corner

Karla Morgan, Texas Pepper Jams

Christine Stonefield, Sweet Girl Design

Eleanor Burian-Mohr, The Charmed Life

Alicia Marinache, All the Pretty Things

Veralynne Malone, Designed by Vera

Kay Thomerson, Kayz Kreationz

Mary Govaars, MLH Jewelry Designs

Toltec Jewels, Toltec Jewels for Jewel School Friends

Lennis Carrier, Windbent

Erin Kenny, Beadifultherapy

Tanya Goodwin, A Work in Progress

Cilla Watkins, Tell Your Girlfriends

Renetha Williams Stanziano, Lamplight Crafts

Christie Searle Murrow, Charis Designs Jewelry

Sierra Barrett, Giraffe Can Has

Melissa Trudinger, Bead Recipes

Shirley Jones Moore, Beads and Bread

Dawn Horner, Northern Adornments

Charlene Bausinger Jacka, Clay Space

Tara Plote, The Newbie Beader's Blog

Candida Elkins Castleberry, Spun Sugar Beadworks

Miranda Ackerley, Daze and Days

Saturday, April 20, 2013

A Very Merry UnBirthday Party!

Hi all! Today is reveal day for Shelley Turner and Marlene Cupo's UnBirthday Party! They really come up with the coolest challenges. Everyone signed up, gave their birthday month, and got their partners. I was paired with Cheri Reed, of www.creativedesignsbycheri.blogspot.com
Her birthday happened during this challenge, on April 21st! I'm so glad I got to help her birthday be special with an unexpected gift. Now, the birthstone for April is a diamond. Hmmm, clear.....no, that's not a challenge, really...
Thankfully, Cheri gave me some other color options, and pointed out a necklace design from my flickr account that she really liked. It is one of my favorites as well, a pretty design by the awesome Laura McCabe. Featured in her book, Embellished Beadweaving, it is a netting variation.

Cheri requested turquoise and white for her color scheme.