Color Theory - Analogic

I've been working on Christmas gifts for the holidays this past week.

I've been digging through little vials of seed beads and pulling out chunky stones and tiny charms that I've had forever and laying them out and mixing and matching shapes and colors to really create some fun designs.

But one of the areas where I really love to get creative is color mixing.

So, I thought I'd share some color tips with you this week for your Christmas creations and show you a collection of bits and pieces that reflect great color mixes so you can see with your eyes what a good color combo really looks like and challenge yourself to get creative with color.

First up in the color combos is the Analogic combo.

This simply means that you're pulling colors from the same side of the color wheel in an almost monochromatic combination.

In the example below, I've chosen this deep crimson red as my main color and then allowed the wheel to show me some colors that would be in an analogic color scheme moving left or right along the color wheel.

Here's an example of a combination of bits and pieces that would create a great necklace using this deep crimson red as the main color. I've also tried to focus on a woodland theme to create continuity within the piece. I've pulled in soft pink with the glass beads, orange with the copper chain, and brick red with the little foxes. (clockwise from top left):

1. Copper acorn charms

2. Soft dusty pink picasso beads with flecks of crimson

3. Copper chain (this pulls in the orange)

4. Bright red faceted jasper (a different finish to a bead can almost look like a different color.)

5. Deep Crimson leaf pendant from Humblebeads (this was my main inspiration)

6. Tiny little fox charms from Rebekah Payne

This next grouping lies along the blue/green section of the color wheel.

You'll notice I chose colors that would be considered very dark, that lie along the outside of the color wheel. These colors contain more "black" if you will and less "white" so they have a deeper shade. I also chose dark chain to mimic the depth of my color choices. (clockwise from top left)

1. Butterfly Charms from Fallen Angel Brass

2. Midnight Willow Leaf Pendant from Humblebeads

3. Mottled Picasso Beads

4. Chain from Fallen Angel Brass

5. Ceramic Beads from Greece

6. Flower Bell Beads from Cascadia Beads

This last grouping is collection of pieces lying along the orange/yellow section of the color wheel.

I would consider this a "tight" analogous combo because the colors are extremely close to each other on the color wheel. (As opposed to the blue/green combo which represented a bit more movement along the color wheel)

To create interest, and keep the colors from blending in to one another, I've chosen different finishes and textures on the beads. (clockwise from top left)

1. Antique brass rolo chain

2. Hand carved wooden beads

3. Brass Bird charms in ochre patina

4. Antique Brass Ball Head Pin

5. Butterscotch Mustard Glass Beads

6. Copper Leaf Pendant from Humblebeads

I hope these combinations have helped you to see the possibilities in an analogic color scheme. Using the same or extremely similar colors doesn't have to be boring. Look at it as an opportunity to play with texture and finishes.

Try mixing and matching bead shapes or pick a theme such as the forest or woods as I've done here.

Accent with chain and charms and choose one great focal to truly highlight your color choice.

Now it's your turn.

Visit the color wheel and experiment with the analogic color scheme.

What's your favorite color?

Can you see the variations between the light and dark shades?

Think about how using light vs. dark can evoke a season or mood with your jewelry.

Experiment and play around to create your perfect pieces this holiday season and even if your combinations never become jewelry, try bagging them together and storing them with similar colors for quick and easy pieces in the future.

You never know when you'll need a quick handmade gift.

I hope you enjoy your handmade holiday this season!  

New Tutorial! The Woven Line

My newest design is a long time coming.

I actually started working on it sometime in September, but as I said before the work is slow go, however, I just finished the second color version yesterday and put the finishing touches on the tutorial last night.

This one is also Right-Angle-Weave based (I'm slowly coming around to the merits of RAW) and uses bugle beads for a strong foundation and fire-polished czech glass for the shimmer and shine.

And of course, there are options.

In the version below, I've created a long bracelet (choker-length) and wrapped it around my wrist for a bit of a chunkier style.

This version is the basic weave. One time around.

There are slight differences between how I created each bracelet.
(Can you find the subtle change?!)

The final version has a lovely weight and feel on the arm.

Oh, and the best part?

It's one continuous stitch, one long sinuous stitch.

Click the pic to take you to the tutorial:

Oh, and guess what?

Just to celebrate, I'm extending the Buy One Get One Free Offer in my shop!

New Bracelet included!

Have a great weekend!

Today's the Day!

Buy One Tutorial, Get One Free!

Today only!!

Simply purchase your tutorial and leave the name of the second that you'd like (of equal or lesser value) in the notes to seller and I'll send both your way!

Happy Crafting!



Black Friday Deals!

I decided to get in on the Black Friday deals by offering a deal on my tutorials this Friday.

For 12 hours only, from 8am to 8pm on Friday (Eastern Time) I'll be having a BOGO sale on all tutorials in my shop!

Which means you can purchase the instructions to create a sparkly shiny holiday bracelet....

And pick up the instructions for a dark, Spanish-inspired cuff for free!

Or, purchase the instructions to stuff someone's stocking with a little Bollywood Bling...

And add a beadwoven persian tile to their finger for free!

You could adorn your neck with a chunky stone pendant hung on a low chain...

And gift bright, bold Carnival pendants to all your co-workers for just the price of beads!

On Friday, all my tutorials will be Buy One Get One of Equal or Lesser Price for Free.

When you purchase your tutorial, simply leave me a message in the comments to the seller telling me exactly which tutorial you'd like for free and I'll send both of them your way!

So, if you're looking forward to creating your gifts this Christmas, this is the perfect opportunity to get your supplies on the cheap!

Happy Thanksgiving and I'll see you on Friday!

Handcrafted Christmas

Just dropped by to let you know that the instructions and resource information for making the above necklace is currently in this issue of Beadwork:

If you're a beadweaver extraordinaire, but have never tried your hand at embroidery, I highly recommend this little project, it's just simple enough to help you get your feet wet, but the results are fantastic, and you can switch up Heather's initial bead to create a personalized gift.

Also, look what I found on Etsy yesterday?
You know what I'm thinking?

I'm thinking to use this tutorial around one of these stars with some chalky pine green and rusty red beads for instant Christmas ornaments.

(You'll have to get a bit creative with the beadwork because I'm sure the points of the stars would present a challenge, but I know it's do-able!)

In other news, I'm working on a new tutorial and am hoping to have it released by the end of this week. I'm still struggling with some muscle spasms in my neck, so I'm taking it slow, but I do so enjoy creating new designs.

I hope you have a fantastic long weekend with the people closest to you and some lazy down time just for good measure.

Happy Thanksgiving!

I highly recommend....

London in winter.

I will admit....I was skeptical about going.

I'm not sure why, I guess my expectations weren't very high.

Boy, was I ever wrong.

The weather was crisp, but enjoyable with a scarf and hat.

The city was full of surprises around every corner.

It's truly ancient, but clean and orderly.

The language is familiar.

(A fact you take for granted until the waiter appears at your table.)

The traffic patterns are completely different.

Honestly, how many times have you looked left first when crossing a road?

The history is old, and you begin to feel like things are done the way they are done because they have been done that way for years.

Oh, and she's not far from a few other sights as well.

(2 hours later and we were in Paris where the buildings and people were different and the world was much, much colder.)

I highly recommend London in Winter.

The lines are shorter.

The days are grayer (but there's no need for sunglasses).

The food's not bad (though I highly recommend sticking to ethnic).

The architecture is old, old, old.

The parks are beautiful and the lines are short.

The transportation is easy to navigate.

The surprises are endless.

There is never a shortage of things to do.

Thank you, London, I had a wonderful time.

Across the Pond

It must have started in the 90's when the re-runs began airing on AMC.

I remember being glued to the t.v. (I couldn't have been older than 15) cross-legged on the floor soaking in the genius of a detective that existed only in stories. 

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I remember the blue carbuncle and the hounds and the lady who almost captured the detective's heart. The dancing men, and the red-headed league.

Moriarty and Watson.

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It's almost impossible to pick a favorite mystery and how?

It's also next to impossible to read the adventures and not picture Jeremy Brett running through the streets of London cane waving wildly in the air.

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He was the definitive. Always will be.

(Not that Robert Downey Jr. didn't do the best he could!)

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And if you start digging you find he shared a lot with the detective.

A tortured genius not quite right in body and soul.

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I'm leaving tomorrow to visit my Dad and this time we're meeting halfway in Sherlock's city.

(Hopefully the cold and riots will stay away)

Only a handful of days, but one of them will involve a visit to 221B Baker Street.

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My only regret?

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I'm pretty sure the good detective isn't at home. ;)