Margie and Me - The Nautilus Part 2

In case you missed Monday's post, this week's inspiration was the Nautilus color palette from Margie's book. I really had a great time playing around with these colors this week. I realized that I would never have thought to put these colors together if it hadn't been for this week's challenge, but I must say, I do like the results.

I call this necklace The Nautilus (duh), and I took a little hint from the nautilus itself and stuck with the beautiful swirl. It really turned out to be quite an amazing group of colors, and the pendant looks great. I hung it from some simple gunmetal chain, I didn't want to overwhelm the pendant.

I hope you like it! If you played along this week, leave me a comment with your creation and I'll update this blog post with a link to your blog.

I also listed a Chunky Turquoise Ring in my shop. This was my entry for Bead Star in the stones category, and it didn't quite make the cut, so I'm sharing it with you! These are a lot of fun to wear and if you're a person that talks with your hands (like me) they tend to distract whoever is listening to you.
Have a great weekend!

Margie and Me - Baldacchino

In case you missed my other post, I've given myself a challenge to create a different piece each week using a color scheme randomly chosen from Margie Deeb's book The Beader's Color Palette.

Last week, I chose #73, Baldacchino, which in Margie's words "is a mix of gold and silver metallics with black and bronze accents and a rich shimmery hunter green thrown in."

Well, here's the result. A bracelet that I call....appropriately enough, Baldacchino. I stuck pretty close to the color palette, but toned down the shimmery. I wanted to use materials that I had on hand so I stuck with gold and hunter green seed beads and some copper delicas for depth and contrast.

I also wanted to stay true to the feel of the architecture, so I used the cross motif (the Baldacchino is located in St. Peter's Basilica).

The pattern is an original one that I created with a little trial and error.
I really enjoyed this challenge, I wouldn't normally work with colors like this, and I hardly ever work with gold, so it was nice to step out of my comfort zone and try something a little diferent.

On Monday, I'll show you the new colorway I'm planning on attempting and tomorrow I'll have some new things to post in the shop. Have a great weekend!

Bead me up, Scottie!

Sorry I've been so MIA lately, we went to Virginia Beach over the weekend and I spent all day yesterday working on a custom order, but I'm back and back to beadin'.
While I was gone, I had an epiphany about my beaded beads. So here's what I've started to do for those who have mentioned they'd like beaded beads.

I'm going to begin offering them made-to-order. I've started with what I'm calling the Summer Series Beaded Beads. These bright colors will be available until mid-July. When you purchase, you'll receive two beads and you can pick your colors. You can mix or match, or do two of a kind, it's completely up to you. If you'd like more than two beads, I've listed them in a larger quantity, you can simply buy a higher quantity, and then let me know what colors you'd like.
I hope this helps add a little beadwoven flair to your stringing projects!

I'd also like to take a minute to thank those that read my little story from the previous post, and I'm glad you liked it. I find writing therapeutic, but it's funny, because it's like these characters find their way into my head and then I have to give them life. I'm glad you enjoyed it.

Oh, last thing....today is the LAST day to enter for my giveaway on Etsy Stalker! Visit my Shadowbox Gallery and leave a comment, I'll be drawing a name tonight!

Spring!

Yesterday was the first true Spring day that we've had around here and it was lovely! I wasn't able to get outside as much as I would have wanted to, but today I'm planning on spending a little time outdoors with my nephew. We spent the weekend in Columbia, SC and had a great time. The weather cooperated and I couldn't have asked for a better weekend!



Here's what I accomplished while in the car this weekend! I call it Lavender Blossom Bracelet.

It's just this beautiful bright purple beaded blossom in the center with this gorgeous set of leaves flanking the blossom on either side. It's so springy and I love the textures. It's not flat at all, the bloom is raised and the leaves are stacked on top of each other. It's very reminiscent of a corsage.

I love making these leaves, I could make leaves all day...but, I'm not going to, I'm going to go outdoors and enjoy the weather and drive by Port City Java later for a latte. Have a great day!

Settin' goals and seein' leaves...

Here's my newest piece. I've had this in my head for a while. Ever since I completed my Spring Leaves necklace, I've been wanting to explore this leaf making thing with some different colors and textures. So...here's the result. I call it Band of Leaves and me gusta mucho, I like it a lot. This one is very dainty and feminine. I've got it in my head to do another one down the road that's a lot thicker with more leaves...we'll see.

Okay, last week, I got kinda frustrated because every time I sat down to make something I couldn't get my head into a frame of mind where I had some direction, where I knew what I wanted to make or where I wanted to go and how to get there. So, I did something I hardly ever do...I set some goals. I wanted to create at least 6 new things by Wednesday of this week (tomorrow). Well, as you can see, I've got 5 of the things that I wanted to make marked off the list and I'm pretty sure that by tomorrow I can get six. (I'm working on numbers 8 and 10 right now!)

It was weird having a "list", but very satisfying to cross something out and feel like I'd accomplished it! It worked really well for me and I'll definitely keep doing it in the future. How about you? What do you do to stay motivated and focused?

I hope you enjoy your Tuesday!
(I know I will, Tuesday means Salsa lessons!! Hehe!)

Oops, I forgot.

These were all Christmas presents: For my mom, a necklace with an interchangeable focal, the first is a beaded bead and the second is a locket.

For my sister, a spiral peyote bangle. (It's the first bangle she's ever owned. Looks very grown-up!)

For my other sister a bracelet made from brass rings and peyote strips as connectors. Kind of eclectic, but definitely one-of-a-kind.

I've been working on some ring designs, I'll try to get them photographed and put up tomorrow. Hopefully!