Last post for today - this is the current worktable

This is the current project. I really liked the coral Swarovski crystals I used in another necklace, and wanted to do another necklace where they were more of a feature. In this one, the pearls are 4mm, whereas in the other one they were 3 mm, so they stand out more in this one. Using the same matte black beads in 11o and 15o for the netting also makes the pearls stand out more. I find these very easy to bead with and they look terrific.

The plan is to make a pendant with the vintage black button shown on the right, which will hang from the diamond net chain. I haven't started on that part yet though, as I wanted to see how many of the pearls I needed for the chain, and then how many I could have for the pendant. It's actually really difficult to find coral coloured beads in the right shade to match with these pearls! So I expect the pendant will end up being mostly black. Once this is complete I hope to have the beads assembled to go back to my Steampunk thing and see if I can finish it this time. The Melbourne Bead Expo is in November, and if I want to put any of this stuff on exhibition, it has to be finished by October. 

These weren't UFOs, but they were a lot of fun!

I have recently discovered that I can do basic beading projects while watching telly, although it has to be simple stuff that doesn't require much thought. So I have been having fun making bangles. The patterns for these come from B&B and BW magazines. The crystal honeycomb bracelets designed by Cynthia Rutledge are a lot of fun to make! One of these is too small for me and I'll have to give it away eventually, but I guess that's just an excuse to make more. These are very comfortable to wear, and unlike metal bangles, they don't make any noise as they move about your wrist. I'll be making more of these I expect. Funny thing though - I haven't done any crochet this Winter, and hardly any embroidery, because the time I would normally use for those crafts has been filled with beading.

More UFOs completed

Here are two completed necklaces - I showed one half-done in an earlier post. Both of these necklaces have been made using lampwork beads from Carli Hall of Bead'licious. The chains are made using diamond netting stitch. The necklace on the right is made using grass green fire polished crystals and cooper-coloured 15o and delica beads. Copper coloured glass rondelles are used on either side of the lampwok bead, and copper coloured glass flower beads are used as bead caps. You can't see it in this photo, but the clasp is a button and loop closure with a copper coloured vintage glass button.

The chain on the right is made with 3mm Swarovski pearls, pistachio green 15o and black 11o seed beads. The effect is a bit like argyle socks! It's very different but I really like it, and it is a good complement to the lampwork beads. The clasp on this one is also a button and loop closure, made with an opaque green antique button.

At the same time that I purchased the beads from Bead'licious, I also purchased some sets of beads from Wendy Bergamin of Bergamin Beads. Wendy makes some wonderful beads, and I have several of hers in my stash. Anyway, I had all of these coloured beads in my stash and wasn't sure how to make them into a necklace, then at the last Quilt and Craft Fair at Jeff's Shed (end July), I saw some small red rondelles, which I knew would be perfect spacers for these beads. This is a perfect Winter necklace, just because it is so very bright! I purchased the clasp at the Bead and Button Show when I went there in 2008, but I have to say it's the only part of the necklace I don't like - the toggle bar scratches my neck. I'll see how I go with it, but I might have to come up with a different arrangement. This only took a few minutes to make, but I'm sure I will get a lot of wear out of it.

The on-going saga of the Steampunk creation

Some time ago I posted photos of a half-finished piece I was calling my first attempt at Steampunk. Well, that piece has been sitting there ever since, waiting for inspiration. The original intention was that there would be a series of Victorian style swags of beads connecting the components. I tried many different combinations of beads and crystals and other bits and pieces, and I could never come up with a swag arrangement that I liked. So frustrating! Anyway, I was looking at that project the other day and I think I have come up with a Plan B at last. It's dependent on getting some more of one type of bead from a friend of mine, who gave me the original lot. She is going to go through her stash and see if she can find the rest of the beads, and if she can, I'll start work again.
I'm thinking now that it might be a RAW style band connecting the components. More later ...