Beads and Bread

Friday, March 29, 2013

Resin Bauble Slider Challenge

Well, that was a mouthful, huh? So, by now, ya'll know I'm rather addicted to challenges. Thus it comes as no surprise to you, that when I was reading blog posts a couple of weeks ago, and saw Lorelei Eurto's post, asking who would like to play, I jumped in with both feet!
Here is a look at the challenge item.

I purchased both color sets, because I wanted the purple and orange ones, and my daughter wanted the aqua set.
I honestly thought this would be a walk in the park.
Not.
You see, I did not pay attention to the fact that the way you connect this item to something was ON. THE. BOTTOM.
I happily beaded up an awesome section of a Heather Collin pattern to create a bracelet....and then discovered that I couldn't connect it. Ugh.

So then I decided I needed a frame around it. I beaded one up....and it was too big. Yes, I was starting to feel like Goldilocks.
Ok, I know!! Me, the non-wireworker, will make a wire frame....umm, it's a little ugly, so I'll macrame around it...and now it's ugly and took a long time to tie knots on, and it still doesn't work. (Insert some hair pulling at this point)

I'm tellin' ya'll, I was starting to get a little....MAD at this goofy thing!
Finally, inspiration struck, and I came up with an idea...let's see what you think...

A wrap bracelet, with the component all pretty and front and center.

A beautiful metal button by Barbara Bechtel is the closure.

The C lon cord is a perfect match to the purple in the component.

If you've ever worked with goldstone, you know how pretty it sparkles. It was such a great complement to the sparkle in the resin beads.

This was a great challenge, and I'm so very glad I got to finally play in one of Lorelei's challenges. Here's the links to the other participants.

Thanks Lorelei!

Saturday, March 2, 2013

I Baked!!!!!!

Sad, isn't it? My blog title is Beads and Bread, and yet, the bread side of it has fallen by the wayside. I would change it, but then all my followers would lose me, and I really don't know what I would call it....so I'll just try my best to occasionally get some bread in there, 'k?
Anyway, life has been incredibly busy, with exciting new things constantly popping up. One, not so exciting thing, has been the state of my health. Went to the doc, and all the standard tests say 'normal'. You would think that would be a good thing, right? Yes, it most definitely is, but why have I gained so much weight? Why do I now have rosacea and psoriasis? In my attempt to discover the truth, research has suggested that my whole wheat bread baking may be a cause. What?!!! Have to tell ya, I was not happy about that statement, and have been kicking the wall in denial. Unfortunately, what happened is that I just quit making bread. Does that mean my family quit eating it? Nope. Means that now my hubs was buying store bread. Yes, there are some delicious breads out there, but I don't think they are as healthy as what I was making.
Therefore, my family suffered as well. My youngest has been having stomach issues lately, and we are trying to figure out why.
So I made some Oat Banana Bread today!!! Yes, I have oat groats. I ground them, mixed up the bread, tossed it in the oven. Since I was already baking, and the oven was hot, I also ground up some Red Wheat, and made the rest of the fam banana muffins with chocolate chips. Yeah, they are both awesome!

Not sure if it is because the oat flour is less dense than wheat, but it didn't rise like my normal banana bread. But it was super yummy, and, since I was out of eggs, I also used flax seed, so double nutritious!

Guess I should have broken one of these open so you could see the goodness. So I'm a tease, huh? ;)

Hope you have a wonderful weekend!!! 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

AJE-Component of the Month Reveal

Today is the day!And I actually have TWO reveals today! If you are looking for the Seam Binding Challenge, go here.
I was so very stoked when I got the email from Karen Totten, of Starry Road Studios, telling me I had won a component. The very talented folks over at Art Jewelry Elements hold a challenge each month, and a couple of lucky commenters get to play along. Here are the components for this month's challenge:

(photo courtesy of AJE blog)

I got one of the caramel orangey ones. And no, I didn't think to take a pic of it when I ~~ripped~~ gently opened the package! I adore ceramics, and have spent many happy hours painting figures in a friend's pottery shop.

So, I know Karen calls these pie beads, but I didn't immediately think 'pie' when I saw it. The first thing that struck me was the beautiful color. The next was the wonderful swirley design she stamped on it, with her own handmade stamps.
As when I participated in the challenge before with Diana Ptaszynski's component, I knew I wanted that baby front and center on a bracelet.
I have had a love affair with CRAW for quite a while now, and I have some gorgeous matte beads from Brightling Beads that just seemed perfect for this project.
I did run into some hiccups along the way. I tried to bezel the ceramic bead. And, while it looked pretty, it wasn't the concept I was going for....so...I ripped it out. Yep. First time for me to do that much work, and just rip it out with no hesitation!
Here's the bezel:

And because the bezel made the piece so large, I needed two ropes of CRAW on either side....

So then, when I ripped out the bezel, I had these ropes that I need to tie into the focal somehow, without overwhelming it....

Now, you see those cute little beaded beads in the center of the ropes? Those were from the amazing Liz Reed of Crimson Moon. She provided a free tutorial on them, and I just love how they brought the two sides of the rope together. Thus they became my solution.

They mimic the shape of the ceramic bead, and the swirl of color.

The swirl pattern on the CRAW came about from a conversation with Heather Collin, and further playing with the pattern.

Close up of the clasp, also done in CRAW.I love the contrast of the matte and shiny, and the raku color with the dreamsicle orange.

Thanks Karen and AJE for letting me play along this month. It has been such a joy!

Blessings, Shirley

Friday, January 25, 2013

Friday Feature-Bead Soup Blog Party!

It's Time! It's Time!!!!! For what? For the Biggest Party of the Year!!!!
That's right....Lori Anderson's Bead Soup Blog Party!
If you never heard of it, you're in for a treat. If you have heard of it, make sure you get signed up on her blog...Pretty Things. This special event has taken on a life of it's own, and has morphed into a once yearly event, since it is so very popular.
I have absolutely no idea how Lori pairs up partners, but I have to tell you, I have been so blessed with the partners I have had in the previous BSBP's. And I have grown as a designer each time. And yes, I've been scared each time that my partner will not like what I send her, that it won't be as much as what she sends me, that I won't be able to come up with a design...etc, etc. And I'm still waiting with anticipation for the next one to start!
Because it is one of the best bead challenges I've ever been privileged to be a part of, and you will never know what you can do if you don't try.
Here are some pics of my past Bead Soup pieces...

The links if you want to look at all the stuff. 6th BSBP

Bead Soup Party

Hope to see you on Reveal Day!!!
Blessings, Shirley

Friday, January 11, 2013

Friday Feature-Do You YouTube?

Hi all!
Hope your 2013 is going along swimmingly! Since I live on the coast of SC, I have enjoyed quite a mild winter, for which I'm very thankful. Especially when I see all those snowy pics ya'll have been posting.
I do love snow, but not all the yucky stuff that goes along with it.
I actually had a different post in mind for today, but yesterday I spent most of the day enjoying some wonderful beading videos on YouTube.
Now, I know lots of you create your own patterns, so that got me to thinking....Do you YouTube?
I've found so many helpful tuturials, and I'm slowly learning how to work my way around it.
I know, everyone uses it, but learning how to use it well.....that's a different story.
I now have subscriptions with some great YouTubers....Posters....Resources...??? What the heck do you call them? Anyway, I wanted to see some ideas on beaded rings, cause I've joined my OTTBS group challenge to create one a week...I know, probably not gonna happen, but at least I'll have more than I have now, and I'll have tried some great patterns.
I also wanted to see if there was anything for twin beads.
I had a lot of fun, and definitely got off track several times, but that's nothing new with me...:)
Here's the links for the ones I visited yesterday, just in case you were curious. Oh, and I did make the heart, and of course I messed up, but I still like mine. I really loved hearing her beautiful accent and voice.

Leaf Earrings

Heart

Ring

Hope you have fun watching them, and have a blessed weekend! Shirley