Attempt At A Bit Of Wirework.....

Each month some of the members of the Brisbane sector of The Beading Forum meet up to chat, eat and bead.  We pick a challenge every month.  This month was a wire project - Captured Heart Earrings - Bead & Button August 2013 - Page 24

My attempt is below. Not to be looked at too closely as I did have a wee bit of trouble remembering which way to wind my wire.  This is evident in the placement of beads around the main frame, however, as a first attempt at making them I was quite pleased. It has been modified slightly as the original has some bare wire loops in it but they were quite difficult to shape and very fiddly so I have added seed beads to hold the shape more easily. Although this project specifies Intermediate to Advanced level, I think you could probably give it a go with a limited knowledge of wireworking.  The main thing is not to kink your 28 gauge wrapping wire.  

Next month we will be back to stitching and I will be back in my comfort zone!

Gone Mad on Fluro Bead Buying

What to do with them is the question.   This is what I decided on.  A bit fiddly joining everything together but it does feel nice on.

Simple Stuff....Heart on a Feather

Here is the first "Simple  Stuff" project.   I have listed the materials uses but you can always substitute your own component ideas.    Sorry the text is all over the place but Blogger seems to have a mind of it's own despite where I  have originally positioned everything!

Materials:
Feather component
6 x Size 11 seed beads 
16 x size 15 seed beads
Chinese crystal silver backed heart
I earwire - I have used a lever back 

Fireline - 6 or 8 lb is best

1. Attach feather component to your earwire

2. Thread heart from the bottom. leave a 4" (10cm) tail. Pick up 4 x 15's, pass through the earwire in front of the feather, pick up 4 x 15's and go back down through the heart. Make sure you tail is still in place and pull snugly.

3. Pick up 3 x 11's and go back up through the heart to form a 3 bead picot at the base. *Go back through 4 x 15's, earwire, 4 x 15's, down through the heart, the 3 picot beads and back up through the heart*. You can repeat from * to * if you wish to strengthen further. Do a couple of half hitch knots and cut thread. Secure the tail by going around your picot a couple of times, do a couple of half hitch knots and cut thread.


4.  Voila...  Ces't finis.  It is finished.  Repeat for second earring.

Hanging My Head.....

Yep, hanging my head in shame.   I have not been back to my block since September 2012.  Life took  over with work, providing stock for The Collective Store, planning for an overseas trip and just general day to day living which just happens to also involve renovating our house.  Why oh why can't I just bead!!!!

We were away for 9 weeks traveling in Europe.  What a wonderful time we had.  So many fabulous sites with one being the Swarovski factory in Wattens, Austria.  Well, not actually the factory unfortunately but their beautiful display close by.  

Imagine those beautiful beads in this setting.  Perfect place to be made don't you think.

Anyway I am back now and I promise to be more diligent with my blog.  I am going to put a few free tutorials under the heading of Simple Stuff.  Mainly for those of you that may just be starting down the wonderful path of beading.  I plan to start with "Heart on a Feather" so look out for that.  As I said nothing intricate, just putting a few components together.  Make sure you leave a comment.  I am always open to hearing what you think and that includes good or bad.  How else can I improve if I don't know what you think.   Happy beading everyone.....

A Dabble In Filigree

A couple of months ago I went to a bead retreat in Montville.  It is something we do every year and this time we escaped to Montville Queensland for 7 nights/days of glorious beading.  Six close friends go and it is a time when challenges are set.  There is lots of muttering, cursing and general stress about the place.  Doesn't sound like a great time?  Oh but it is.  We eat, chat and bead, challenging ourselves by attempting new tutorials and the end result is amazing.  This time we did weaving, wirework and dabbled in filigree.  

My favourite was filigree.  I've always wanted to do this and here was my chance.  At first it was daunting with glue all over my fingers, lots of metal shapes in my tray to choose from and no idea what I was doing.  My three pieces are below.  From left to right we have Brass Garden, the centre is a brass rose with a swarovski flat back and just resting underneath the rose is a swarovski butterfly.  It is finished with a chinese crystal drop.

Time flies was fun to do, in the end, but there was much deliberation over where to put what and again I have used a couple of swarovski crystal flat backs just to add a bit of sparkle.  You have to have that don't you?  

Blaze, well I have to say this one was in my head to start with.  I knew what pieces I wanted to use and just had to make them look right.  Each tip has a small swarovski flat back as does the centre.  Finishing it off with ribbon was my friend's idea and I think it works well with this one.

I am definitely going to do more of this.  Well I have to really because I've got about a thousand bits and pieces.  Another case of "I better get that just in case I need it".  Nothing changes **sigh**

Les Petites Pyramides

Well I have been very remiss indeed.  Just not had time to update my blog at all.  Life races away and pretty soon it is nearly Christmas!  Back in June I entered a competition within the Bead Society of Victoria community.  It was to create a piece using a majority of triangle beads.  I was lucky enough to win the First Time Entry Prize.  I was very pleased with that but felt even more honoured when I was asked if I would write a piece about myself to be featured in their Country Corner.  This I duly did and it was featured in the June issue of BSV's magazine "Connect"  My entry for the Triangle Challenge is above - Les Petites Pyramides

What Do You Do......

when you are confined to the house.  Hurt my back and have been pacing the house, up and down the hallway and standing up most of the time.  Did you know you can bead standing?  Oh yes indeed.  I was sooooooooooo bored I had to do something!  The bracelet in the front is Elegant Noir.   I have always wanted to use these sliders and finally came up with something I liked.  I have also made earrings to match.  The tutorial will be available soon.  The middle bracelet is from www.passioncreation.fr  I had these sliders already waiting.  The third is my own design.  Once again, ages ago, I bought some bead frames thinking they would be perfect for something.  Well the something came to mind yesterday and turned into this bracelet.  I'm sorry my pics are not the best at the moment.  Having to use my mobile phone to take them but it gives you an idea of what I have been up to.