Saturday, November 7, 2009

Beaded Collar





I've been focusing on a collar done on green faux suede. I took photos of it last night to share. It seems like everything I make lately is green. I think that's to make up for years of ignoring that color. But it also has some blue areas, and some areas with a color I like to call 'rootbeer', and it has a black and white section. I'm using some of my favorite hoarded beads in this one. It brings back memories as I think of the people that gave me some of them, or of the stores I bought them at. It's like a little walk down memory lane every time I make something. It's good to use up the stash.

I found I had to glue down a few of the bigger focal beads to make them lay flat and not worked their way into some lopsided position.

The collar is not cut out yet. I find it easier to do beading on a larger piece. I basted the shape of the collar and I'm beading within the lines. Later, after all the beadwork is done, I'll add a lining and a back piece to protect the knots.

One of the hardest things about beadwork is how do I price it? The beads alone probably cost $100. but it's all the time invested that it's hard to recoup.

Monday, September 28, 2009

Beaded Embroidery

I just sewed some beads and sequins onto an olive green t-shirt. It's a fruit/garden theme with lemons, vines, leaves and lace. I'll probably put it in my spankytease shop on Etsy. If I ever finish it. Embroidery is so time consuming.

Friday, September 4, 2009

Kokopeli Quiver Bead Patch


When I was working on my gourd rain stick I found this other kokopeli in my bead case. It's for a quiver I'm making. It's not quite done. My projects kind of got out of order there.

Upper Arm Band






I was making a leather band for my gourd rain stick. I used a copper colored concho. But today when I went to glue it on the gourd, I found the flat concho would not work well with the curve of the gourd. So I had to start all over again and bead another band in the right curvature. Not to worry though. I'll finish up the original piece as an upper arm band.

Sunday, August 30, 2009

Hair fascinators

Last time I went to San Luis Obispo, CA I bought some things to make hair fascinators out of. I made two or three on the trip and then once I got home I had no time for it. So finally tonight I sat down and made a new one in shades of green ribbon with the palest pink feathers attached to it. I found just the combs to sew it onto in a supply shop on Etsy tonight. I added some seed beads around the circle to give it a bit more sparkle. I'm torn between attaching it to a barrette, a side comb or elastic. It's super light weight now, so I don't think I want it on a big clonky metal barrette. We'll see.

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Pink Earrings





Here are some earrings I've been working on. I haven't gotten around to listing them yet. I'm going to need to buy some more sterling silver earwires before I can finish them.

Single Strand Necklaces





I needed to make something easy yesterday to offset all the complicated long term projects I'm working on. Nothing quite like the fun of instant gratification. And sometimes, simpler is better.
I made one in warm colors and one is a cool colorway. And the sun poked it's face out of the rain just long enough today for me to take photos.

Sunday, February 15, 2009

Beaded Quiver




I have been beading like crazy. I'm thinking of working on a snake gourd quiver tomorrow at the archery meeting. I want to do some sort of leather and beads and kokopelli or something. I wish I'd thought of this sooner. It's already almost midnight. Now where did I see that leather needle?

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Sunday, February 8, 2009

Fireline

I keep reading about beaders using Fireline. So I googled it up. I assume they mean the fishing line. But I found this mail in rebate if you buy two boxes of Fireline, minimum $10.00 a box. You get $8.00 back. http://www.berkley-fishing.com/media/File/09424009Fireline_8Coupon.pdf Sounds good to me and doesn't expire until July. Normally I just use beading thread to make earrings, but if the majority is using Fireline it's worth looking into.

Blue and White Earrings



I love the way these look and I've already put them in my Etsy shop. Most anyone can wear blue. It's very comfortable color to be around.

I love long dangly earrings. But I'm sure many people will want shorter earrings so I'll be making some of those as well. I'm sure some workplaces have tight restrictions regarding earrings. Luckily I'm self-employed and can wear whatever I want.

After beading all day I could use a neck massage. I'm right in the middle of two pairs of earrings. One is pink and white and the other is gold and iridescent blue. But I needed a break to rest my neck and eyes.
And I've already finished a pair in aqua and pink. I'm really into this aqua color lately. I get attached to certain colors and can't seem to get enough of them for a while.

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Orange Brick Stitch Earrings


I just finished the beaded part of a pair of orange and blue earrings done in brick stitch. This is about the 6th earring I've made and the first pair that came out okay. It's so easy to get little glitches...too much thread showing here, a strand that just doesn't lay right over there. But I think those problems will smooth out with more practice. Now to glue the knots and weave the excess thread in. Then add the hooks. I think I'm going to stick with the sterling silver ear wires. My ears aren't happy when I use the other kind. They get itchy and irritated.

Beaded Wizard Friendship Pin

This looks like fun.
Wizard

Brick Stitch Earrings

A helpful tutorial for Brick or Cheyanne stitch earrings using seed beads or bugle beads.