On Wisconsin!

A collection of red and white pieces.

So now that I work at the university, I see all how dedicated so many people are to the school.  I think most of them bleed red and white.  Ok, they probably all bleed red, but white, probably not.

And it's always so cute to see the parents that come and visit their kids.  You can always spot them because they are decked out head to toe in red and white.  They're always so proud of their kids.

So I decided (or had a request) to make a few things in school colors.  I wanted to keep it simple yet still fun.  I came up with a few different bracelets and some triangle earrings.  I'll have to sit down and work on a few more.  I have to admit they were pretty fun to make and I do like the red and white color combo.  So lets just see what will be next.

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Bead Embroidery Cuff

A close up of the clay cab

 I have been exploring bead embroidery as of late.  It's a pretty fun way to bead.  I don't have to have a set pattern if I don't want to.  I can just sit down with some beads and go.  It's a freeing experience.

My newest piece is this heart cuff.  I made the heart cab with some polymer clay I had sitting around the house.  I use to do some simple clay work, but when I got my torch, I seem to have drifted away from the clay.  So I decided I should probably do something with the clay before it goes bad.  And this is what I came up with.

There are a few things I would do differently with the next cuff, but over all I really like how it turned out.  I like using the Toho bead mixes from ArtBeads (not a paid endorsement, I just like them).  All this different beads in the mixes make for good embroidery.

Bead Embroidery Cuff

I used a wonderful light purple mix and a silver lined light blue seed bead.  I used some opaque gray for accents (something I would change in the future because I'm not fully happy with the gray).  I then used the silver lined seed beads and some large clear seed beads for the boarder.  And it's all on a piece of green leather finished with large silver snaps.

I really can't wait to start working on the next one.  I think the next one will have a summer theme to it.  Or not.  Who knows?  That's the great part about the bead embroidery, I don't necessarily have to have a plan.

Newest Pattern

I have just listed my newest pattern in my esty store.

I'm offering my horse silhouette cuff in a PDF pattern.  It's simple and beautiful and would would be perfect for that horse enthusiast in your life.  

Click HERE for more info. 

That brings me to a total of 11 patterns.  I really enjoy making the patterns and I really enjoying seeing how other peoples ideas make the pattern all their own. 

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Updates!

I am currently working on a new bead embroidery cuff with a summer vacation theme.  I can't wait to get it down to show all of you.

I have also been playing around with my polymer clay and making my own cabs.  I have a bead embroider cuff about 1/4 of the way done right now.  I hope to finish that up this week. 

I am also still waiting patiently for my new torch (the best Christmas present ever).  I cant' wait to get it and play around with it.  I am so excited about it, oh the possibility.  

Ferrets!

What's New :)

It's spring (finally)!!!!  I have had the heat off in our house for about a month now (though I have to turn it on now and then).  I'm so excited that the snow is gone and things are blooming again.  It makes me happy :)

Jumble Necklace

I have to admit though, that when the weather gets nice I tend to forget about beads and glass.  I just want to be out side.  Last weekend I got most of the gardening done and I'm hoping to get my veggies planted soon.  It's just too nice to be cooped up inside.

But I can't forget about beads for long.  And when I'm not exhausted from riding bike at night, I still love to curl up on the couch with my beads.  So for all the time I've been spending outside, I have actually been pretty productive.   

Here is a prime example, a new necklace, Klymene,  in one of my favorite new designs; the "jumble" necklace.  A lovely dark AB pink with a wonderful jumble of black seed beads in all different kinds of finishes.  I think it's very elegant.

ArtBeads Spring Necklace

I got the  idea for this type of necklace when working on a necklace based on the Phantom of the Opera.  I don't know much about the play, but the graduate student does. She got so excited telling me about it and helping me design something.  I designed a necklace with a gold beaded rope with a jumble of ruby beads.  I'm currently working on this one and I hope to have pictures of it soon.

My ArtBeads necklace was also based on this idea.  Just a wonderful beaded rope with a jumble of different beads as the focal.

These necklaces work up pretty fast and they are a great was for me to use up some of my left over beads. I really can't wait to make up some more.

So I might be a little slow in posting or getting new pictures up.  The weather is just too nice to pass up right now.  So go out and enjoy spring :)

Horses!!!

Pretty Horse Cuff

I finally got off my lazy butt and got a few pictures taken.  I have such a bad habit of just ignoring the growing pile of new pieces, but then how will I ever share them with you? 

Any who, here is one of my latest cuffs.  It's just a simple silhouette of a horse.  Simple, yet still very pretty. 

I loved the idea of a silhouette in the dancer cuff I made my sister.  And, a local horse club was having a silent auction and was asking for donations.  So I thought it would be perfect to combine the two and make something any horse enthusiast would love.   

So here is the final result.  I'm pretty happy with how this one turned out.  You can check this cuff out in my etsy store HERE. 

EBW Voting Time

It's time to vote for your favorite EBW challenge entry.  This month's theme was Light as a Breeze.  Stop by the EBW blog and vote for your favorite today.  There are 32 gorgeous entries this month, so it will be difficult to pick just one. 

Spring Time with ArtBeads

Spring themed bead "jumble"

This month's ArtBead theme was spring.  I was so excited for this theme.  I am more then ready for spring (as I'm sure most of us are).

I've been thinking of doing a necklace like this for quite some time.  Just a wonderful jumble of beads as the focal point, almost like a large beaded bead, but not (if that makes any sense at all).  I felt that the spring theme would be exceptionally good for this.

I did a herringbone rope in two different shades of gold seed beads.  I used a wonderful mix of seed beads and a combination of pressed glass leaf beads in two different colors.    I then accented the green with blue, pink, yellow, and purple Swarovski crystal beads in fun flower and butterfly shapes. 

Sterling Silver Toggle Clasp

The jumble of beads reminds me of a spring time garden.  All the new growth sprouting and growing.  I love it.


I then finished this necklace a fantastic sterling silver leaf toggle clasp.  I love this clasp.  It's so much fun and fits the necklace perfectly. It's quite a large clasp, but because it has a filigree feel to it, it makes it very delicate. 

I've very happy with how this necklace turned out.  I think it captures the spring theme perfectly.

Spring Time Necklace

I've decided I like this style of necklace so much that I will be working on a few more like this.  I have an idea for a gold and ruby one that I'm going to start working on soon.  So everyone will have to stop by and see that one too.

I want to thank ArtBeads for these opportunities to try out some of their beads.  It gives me the opportunity to try things that I normally wouldn't, to give myself a huge shove out of my comfort zone. 

Disclosure - I have received these products from ArtBeads free of charge to honestly review. I have not been paid for this post.