Wedding Soiree Set

I don't know about you, but I have had one busy summer so far. I've been attending a number of weddings, showers, and parties, plus I've been planning my own wedding, set to take place just over a week from today. It's very exciting, but it has definitely been cutting into my beading time!

Fortunately I have found a few ways to incorporate beadwork into my busy schedule. One of my best friends from high school was married this past weekend, and I had the great honor of creating her bridal jewelry. After sitting down with her over a large stack of back issues of Beadwork and Bead & Button magazines, she decided on the Summer Soiree necklace by Marcia Decoster from the August/September '09 issue of Beadwork Magazine.

I made a few adjustments to the original design; I used cream crystal pearls instead of silver ones to match my friend's wedding dress, and I could not for the life of me find a triangular focal crystal similar to the one used in the original design. Therefore, I used a round focal crystal, and I also made a minor adjustment to the crystal sequin fringe as well.

The pattern was quite straightforward to follow and stitch together. It should be doable for anyone experienced in right angle weave and bezeling techniques.

I also made her a matching bracelet in the same style.

I used a 16 mm Swarovski rivoli for the focal, which also served as the clasp. The crystal sequins made it tricky to put on, but also prevented it from falling off.

My friend's wedding was beautiful, and it was an absolute joy to be a part of it. Now I just need to finish my own wedding jewelry!

Attempts at Asymmetry

I've been attempting to design some asymmetrical beaded beads:



OK, these beaded beads still have radial symmetry, so I don't think they count as being asymmetrical. Still, it's a big step away from designing around platonic solid structures that I'm used to working with.

Can you tell that I like purple? ;)

Summertime Necklace

For Artbeads.com's latest "Summertime" blogger partner theme, I decided to sample a completely different jewelry component than I usually work with. Out of the vast selection of pendants available at Artbeads.com, I chose this large floral pendant that reminds me of a great big bunch of sunflowers. I also picked out some smooth and faceted glass roundelles from Artbeads' glass beads category to match the colors in the pendant. I then paired the set with some of my own handmade beaded beads, some fire-polished round glass beads from my own stash, and a sterling silver clasp.

At nearly 5 cm long, this pendant is much bigger than the other kinds of focals that I usually work with.



When I color-match beaded beads to focal beads or lampwork beads, I sometimes make a prototype beaded bead with different colors on each face. For this design, I experimented with a variety of combinations of brown and white on each eye:

I even went so far as to make this beaded bead in yellow, red, and cream:

..But I eventually decided to go with the yellow, red, and brown color palette, to better-mimic the look of a sunflower. I'm still not sure if I'm happy with my decision... Clearly, working with yellow isn't my strong suit!

To compensate for the lack of brown on the pendant, I wove the bail out of brown seed beads using peyote stitch. Normally I would try to make the bail out of wire, but in this case peyote does the job just fine.

Full disclosure: The stoneware pendant and glass roundelles used in this necklace were received as a gift from Artbeads.com. No payment was made for the review of these products.

Gold and Glass, and Silver and Pearls

I finished a few new pieces, which feature design and color variations on some of my previous pieces.

The first is a pair of mini Disco Ball earrings in purple and gold. This pair arose from a continuation of my Royal Purples color phase, although the purple Czech firepolish beads in these earrings have a goldluster finish, which tilts them towards the red direction on the color wheel.

This next piece arose from another color experiment, only in a color combination I don't usually work with. It's a pink and gold color variation of this necklace, only the lampwork beads are from the Czech Republic. I wove the Squared Circles beaded beads in colors to match the lampwork beads, and I used some Swarovski bicones as spacers.

This necklace turned out much more gold and pink than I had expected. I think it's because I usually don't wear so much pink or bling myself. If I could find these lampwork beads in red and gold, it should make a fancy holiday necklace.

For this last piece, I experimented in making 5- and 6-fold prism variations of my Double Bubble Jacks design, with peacock pearls and the appropriate design modification for pearls. Both variations worked! I used a 6-fold version strung though two points for the focal, accompanied by two 5-fold versions. I think that a 6-fold version is the limit for this design though; I tried making a 7-fold version but it didn't turn out very well.

I used Bali silver beads and green and purple round pearls to string this necklace, and I was amazed at how the green round pearls bring out the green and red colors in the peacock drop pearls in the beaded beads. Margie Deeb talks about this kind of color play all the time, and boy is it the truth!

The earrings and Squared Circles necklace are available for purchase in my Etsy shop, along with tutorials for all three beaded bead designs. As for the pearl necklace... I don't think I can part with it :)

New Earrings and Pendants in the Shop

I finally got around to listing a few new pieces that I've had sitting around for a while. First there's this pair of earrings in a Disco Ball variation, woven with Czech glass and some interesting matte seed beads:

Next I have another pair in the same design, but in a dark blue color palette and with freshwater pearls:

Then there's a Light Clusters pendant with more freshwater pearls, in red and silver...

...and in red and gold:

All of these pieces can be found in my Etsy shop. I also have tutorials for these designs as well if you'd like to make your own.

New Circle Starburst Pendants

I listed some new Circle Starburst pendants in the shop.

I listed this one, which uses a Southwestern teal, brown, and silver palette.

This pendant uses purple, blue, and green seedies with a little bit of silver, along with an alexandrite shade of lentil beads. The differing colors and seed bead finishes resulted in a different overall effect than I had expected:

Finally, this pendant uses Swarovski crystal circle pendants for lots of sparkle. I'm much happier with the "snowball" look of this pendant compared to its Teardrop Bubbles cousin. The blue seed beads give added contrast to enhance the look of the design.

All three pendants are available in my Etsy shop. The Circle Starburst pattern is available at beAd Infinitum if you'd like to make your own.

In Memorium

I usually don't use this blog for personal posts, but this past month marks the passing of two beloved family members: my great-grandmother Mimi, followed 12 days later by my aunt Annie. The loss of both of these wonderful ladies is a huge blow to my family. Since this is a beading blog, I'd like to memorialize them here by talking about their appreciation of beaded art.

Some of you might remember the post I wrote about the pearl necklace I sent Mimi for her 100th birthday last year. I said it then and I'll say it now: there isn't a craft that she tried that she didn't master, because she was just that awesome. She had no fear of learning, whether it was crafts or technology; one of the things she learned in her final few months of life was how to use Facebook. She was one classy lady that I'm blessed to have had as my great-grandmother.

The loss of Annie was very devastating; she died at the age of 50 from Pulmonary Hypertension. She was one of the sweetest, most selfless people that I've ever known, and was the picture-perfect persona of a deeply devoted daughter, mother, and grandmother.

Mimi was a master at French beaded flowers. I can't think of a household in our family that doesn't have one of her amazing beaded bouquets. I inherited these single stems when I moved into my first apartment, which I assembled into three miniature bouquets. They're still there decorating the edge of my sink, and unlike other flowers these ones are fine without water :).

Here's one of the mini bouquets that can be found at my parents' house:

Some of the color-lined seed beads in this bouquet are fading. They're probably old enough to be vintage at this point.

Mimi used the most creative "vases" for her mini bouquets. This one uses a candleholder!

Same with this one:

Here's one of her roses... Isn't it amazing?

Finally, when we were cleaning out Annie's bedroom, I was so happy to find that she kept a huge bouquet of Mimi's roses right next to her bedside. These grainy cell-phone pictures hardly do this piece justice:

It's like Mimi was watching over Annie in her final days:

Miss you Mimi and Annie... Though you are gone, you live on in your art, and in the memories of those who loved you.