Beads and Bread: peyote

Showing posts with label peyote. Show all posts

Sunday, August 3, 2014

Choosy Chicks Choose Chicklets...Reveal time baby!

Ok, this was such a fun challenge!
The awesome Rita (Toltec Jewels) put out a request for artists interested in playing with some of Sue Kennedy's new bead design, chicklets.
If you've ever had the pleasure of designing with Sue's beads, you will totally understand why it was a joy to create with this bead!

I received the top bead on the last row. Yes, that yummy orangey pinkey color. Sooo gorgeous!!!
This is a small bead, so you would think I would choose to create a bracelet, right?
Nope.
I wanted to make a necklace, so I could feature this baby front and center.
Wanna see? Course you do, that's why you came. Insert dramatic cloak swishing....TADA!!!!!!!

I created a double rope with kumihimo and 3 bead spiral peyote.

Here is a close up of the kumihimo. I looped the end, and added some jump rings to the loop for a fun texture. This has 8 elements, with a chocolate bamboo yarn creating grounding for the sparkle yarns in burgundy, yellow, and orange.

The peyote spiral picks up the darker tones in the bead, along with a softer shade of the oranges. The spiral has two size 8's, and 1 size 11 seed bead. This is a quick spiral that packs a lot of visual punch.

I created a butterfly bail to suspend the bead from the ropes,

and added some simple fringe to the bottom. The butterfly bail gives such a nice contrast to the ropes, and the darker beads just point straight to that fabulous chicklet!!

I may go back and add more fringe, it's driving me crazy the way it keeps separating to either side!

Here are the rest of the lucky participants!

Thanks Rita, for another super fun challenge!

ARTISTS:

Guest of Honor & Featured Artist: Susan Kennedy

Sue Kennedy's blogs: SueBeads...A Beady Girl's blog

Art Jewelry Elements

Sue Kennedy's website SueBeads

SueBeads Art Beads SueBeads

Hostess:

Toltec Jewels http://www.JewelSchoolFriends.com

Artists:

Linda Anderson http://fromthebeadboard.blogspot.com/

Jennifer Reno http://jenrenjewelry.blogspot.com/

Shirley Moore http://beadsandbread.blogspot.com/

Kristen Stevens http://kristen-beadjourney.blogspot.com

Marybeth Rich http://forestofjewels.blogspot.com

Jael Thorp http://jaelsjewels.blogspot.com/

Melissa Trudinger http://Beadrecipes.wordpress.com

Andrea Glick http://zenithjade.blogspot.com/

Nan Smith http://wirednan.blogspot.com

Blanca Medina www.peru-medesigns.com

Shai Williams http://shaihasramblings.blogspot.com

Carolyn Lawson http://Carolynscreationswa.blogspot.com

Rana Wilson http://Ranaleadesigns.blogspot.com

Robin Reed http://willowdragon.blogspot.com

Robin Showstack http://heartsdesiresjewelryforyou.blogspot.com/

Sheila Prosterman http://catswithbeads.blogspot.com

Karla Morgan http://Texaspepperjams.blogspot.com

Kari Asbury http://hippiechickdesign.blogspot.com

Kelly Rodgers https://www.facebook.com/BeadinBlackBlue

Jayne Capps https://mamasgottodoodle.blogspot.com/

Mischelle Andrade Fanucchi https://micheladasmusings.blogspot.com/

Heather Richter http://desertjewelrydesigns.blogspot.com

Chris Eisenberg www.wanderware.blogspot.com

Kathleen Breeding http://www.zibbet.com/99BottlesofBeadsontheWall

Linda Landig http://lindalandig.wordpress.com

Crystal Thain http://beaddragons.blogspot.com/

Cheri Reed http://creativedesignsbycheri.blogspot.com

Heather d-Entremont http://frugalmadougall.wordpress.com/

Dini Bruinsma http://angazabychanges.blogspot.com/

Lori Schneider http://www.beadaddicted.blogspot.com/

Tammy Adams http://www.paisleylizard.com/blog.html

Melinda Orr http://bandanagirl.indiemade.com/blog

Lennis Carrier http://windbent.wordpress.com/

Cynthia Machata http://antiquitytravelers.blogspot.com

Elizabeth Hodges http://thewhisperingseas.blogspot.com

Debbie Rasmussen http://kepirasmussen.blogspot.com/

Tanya McGuire http://tanyamcguire.blogspot.com/

Charlie Jacka http://clay-space.com/blog/

Ev Shelby http://raindropcreationsbyevelyn.blogspot.com/

Sharyl McMillian-Nelson http://sharylsjewelry.blogspot.com/

Jasvanti Patel http://jewelrybyjasvanti.blogspot.com

Thanks for joining me in celebrating this challenge. Blessings, Shirley

Saturday, February 23, 2013

Freeform Peyote Challenge

Two very awesome ladies, Karen Williams and Mandi Ainsworth, decided it would be fun to host a Freeform Peyote Challenge! I was so very excited to sign up, and today's the reveal day! I have to say, this has been a whirlwind of a project. I started out with something totally different, and it quickly grew out of all proportionate size. It would have been a 3 inch wide cuff if I had kept going. Now, there's nothing wrong with that, but not what I normally wear...so, back to the drawing board. Karen started a great facebook group for Freeform Peyote, and I got such inspiration from seeing all the different interpretations. One in particular stood out for me. It was simply made in two colors. Like a lightbulb, I realized that I could also do that. And my two colors immediately jumped out for me....silver and hot pink!
Now, most freeform pieces go through an....ugly duckling stage. Where you look at it and wonder if it will ever grow up to be beautiful. Not so for this piece. From the moment I started it, I love each and every stage of it. This has been such a wonderful piece for me, and will be a treasure in my collection for many years to come.
I did a few things differently on this one than what I've done in the past. I wanted a bit of structure, so I ladder stitched silver 11's for one end, then strung several types of silver beads until I reached the length I wanted, then did another ladder stitched row for the other end. So I started with a rectangle of silver, which I then filled in with lacy strands of beads.

I think the hardest thing to photograph is a freeform piece. There is so much to look at, so I tried to break it down for you.

The clasp end, silver lined triangle beads, accented with fuschia 15's.

The loop end is a pink and clear dichroic bead, with loops of the seed beads used throughout the bracelet encircling the bead.

It definitely took on it's own shape..I was thrilled when I saw what was happening.

A lovely bridge of silver twisted bugles flows down to a silver pond.

Hard to see, but there is a pink cube bead, an AB clear crystal, and a frosted pink bead in this shot.

Another view of the bridge.

I love the pink and silver mix here, reminds me of cherry blossoms.

Thanks so much Karen and Mandi, for this challenge. It gave me better understanding of myself as a beader, and what I'm capable of creating. And a lovely addition to my jewelry box!

Here's the list of the participants-have fun hopping! Blessings, Shirley

Friday, February 1, 2013

AW-Hand Dyed Seam Binding Challenge

What? Two posts in one day? Say it ain't so! Yep! I actually FINISHED two projects due on the same day!
So, if you're looking for the AJE Blog Reveal, go here.

At the beginning of the year, I told myself that I would not enter so many challenges. Really. And then Karen Lackey posted this great challenge over on Artisan Whimsey for seam binding. Huh? Ok, Not a Sewer here....I vaguely understand that it's something to strengthen the seams of clothes...right?
Well, in the jewelry world, Karen has taken it to new heights. She hand dyes it and comes up with the lovely, yummy colors.Please go check out her Etsy Shop. The color she chose for the challenge was a soft, pretty aqua blue. Which leads me to my next challenge. See, I don't do soft colors....I'm a primary, earthy toned kinda girl. Love purples. Love burgundy, matte raku....not so much on the soft, pastel colors. So that was another personal challenge, to see if I could actually work with a soft color palette. Sigh...ok, I'm in. Just can't stop myself.
Here's a pic of what Karen sent to me...

See? So soft and pretty!
Ok, so I stretched myself outside of all previous boundaries. I used fabric, I used netting, and I used kumihimo with fabric. Wanna see?? Of course you do!

As soon as I saw the color of the seam binding in person, it reminded me of a beautiful pendant I had of Marie Voyer-Cramp's. If you've never seen her lovely wooden pendants, you can check them out at Skye Jewels. I wanted to keep to the delicate, ethereal feel of the lightweight pendant, but I didn't want to just string it on the seam binding.

I have used netting in a few pieces, but I've never done tubular netting like this.

I used eyelash yarn, bronze pearls and faceted brown agate gemstones, along with the seam binding in the kumihimo side.

Yes, I know that end of the kumi looks like a hot mess....but this was a learning experience, right?

I didn't really know how to attach the clasp, so a simple knot on each side is what worked.

This pic is just to show you how pretty the seam binding is with the wing of the butterfly....

Here's a close-up of the netting and the kumi.

And there you have it. Am I totally pleased? Not with the endings, but absolutely with where this challenge took me.And....I still have more left!!! Hope you enjoyed the ride with me.

Blessings, Shirley