Confiscated! October 10, 2009
Posted by thecrimsonmoon in beads, challenges, earrings, jewellery.Tags: beads, beadweaving, challenge, earrings, jewellery, peyote, seed beads
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I made these earrings for one of the reader’s challenges in Bead magazine, where the theme is Outrageous Earrings. The name of the theme made me think of the collection of unusual earrings I had in the early 80’s, including minature globes, tiny Rubiks cubes and even plastic toilets! I remember wearing a pair of big white plastic triangles to school one day but the teacher quickly confiscated them : (
So as a tribute to my rebellious old earrings I decided to make something similar with seed beads. This is my first time peyote-ing triangle shapes and after several attempts I found that the trangle was still too small so I stitched together the three sizes I had made. Not quite the same as the original earrings but I love ‘em all the same. I hope you do too!
Out of this whirled August 22, 2009
Posted by thecrimsonmoon in beads, bracelets, challenges, jewellery.Tags: beads, beadweaving, bracelet, challenge, flowers, herringbone, jewellery, pendant, peyote, seed beads
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This cuff had several working names…Vertigo, Vortex (sounds too much like a loo cleaner!) and Yeah Baby!…before I decided on Out of this Whirled. I love naming my pieces, I think it gives them a bit of character and hopefully will evoke a feeling or memory, but sometimes I struggle and it takes me longer to name something than it did to make it! It’s all part of the fun for me though.
Anyway, enough rambling. Here’s the cuff, made in peyote stitch using black & white Japanese Delica beads. It’s the first time I’ve ever made a peyote cuff from Delica beads and I just love the texture, it’s like flowing fabric. I really enjoyed designing and making this, taking inspiration from this month’s colour challenge on the Bead Buddies forum. This one’s a keeper ; )
And here’s another Black Eyed Susan, this time using a yellow bead mix and I’ve used a button for the centre instead of a cabochon. Not sure what I’m going to do with this one yet, so it’s just a lonely pendant for now.
Rockpool Cuff June 10, 2009
Posted by thecrimsonmoon in beads, bracelets, challenges, jewellery.Tags: beads, beadweaving, bracelet, brick stitch, challenge, jewellery, peyote, seed beads
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Here’s another piece of jewellery I made last week, for the Big Bracelet Bead Swap Challenge on UK Beaders. The idea is that you send a selection of beads to one member, enough to make a bracelet, and you get beads in return from another member. Here’s what I receieved, a bag of size 11 seed beads and a bag of mixed beads including seeds, cubes, drops, magatamas and greek silver washers…..
…..and here’s what I did with them. My first thought when I looked at the beads was that I wanted to make a peyote base with ’stuff on top’ and as usual I made it up as I went along. I made the base first, wanting it quite wide so I chose 2-drop peyote (for speed, I can be a bit impatient at times!) with a picot edge.
As you know, I’m addicted to brick stitch circles at the moment so I made three of them with some of the cubes, seeds and drops. The whole thing looks very complicated but basically I just started at the centre, adding the first circle and then worked out to the ends, stitching on all the other little bits and pieces on the way.
Finally I made a loop and added one of the large swirly beads as a clasp (I have two left over for matching earrings!). So whaddaya think? It was brilliant fun and I can’t wait for the next bead swap!
I won a competiton! April 28, 2009
Posted by thecrimsonmoon in beads, challenges, jewellery.3 comments
Had some great news today, I’m one of ten competition winners on the Make Jewellery magazine website with my Arctic Swirl necklace! I’ve won a lovely pair of jewellery pliers which will come in very handy : )
Dutch Dare challenge and great news! March 21, 2009
Posted by thecrimsonmoon in cards, challenges.Tags: Bead Magazine, bracelet, cards, challenge, flowers, jewellery, rubber stamping, silver
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The new April/May issue of Bead is in the shops now and I’m very pleased to say that my floral charm bracelet is on page 14 – my very first published project! I’m not sure if I’m allowed to show the page so here’s a photo of the bracelet instead.
Here’s my card for this week’s Dutch Dare challenge. I’ve used a Paper Artsy stamp, DCWV floral papers and some Auntie Sarah’s Bloomers.
Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge March 21, 2009
Posted by thecrimsonmoon in cards, challenges.Tags: cards, challenge, flowers, Promarkers, rubber stamping
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Here’s my card for the Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge, where this week you have to use your favourite colour scheme. I’ve chosen purple and green which is one of my all time favourites and made a card for my Nan for Mother’s Day. I’ve used a gorgeous Wendie Rhodes stamp coloured with Promarkers, Papermania papers, some Auntie Sarah’s Bloomers with some more flowers, brads and ribbon from my stash.
