Be A Diva

Beading classes starting up in Okotoks

You know my favorite bead store is Elusis Beads in Okotoks, just outside Calgary.  And now they're stocking a really great line of interchangeables called Kameleon. Buy a ring and you can choose from a wide selection of inserts that simply pop in - and out again when you feel like a change. Who needs Gucci? 

They're also starting up classes soon (see list below) including a couple I'll be attending myself, and one I'll be teaching, the Tuxedo bracelet (scroll down to see a photo of it).

Not just beading classes either, but wire wrapping classes and chain maille classes too. Plus the fees are very reasonable indeed. Oh, happy day! You can contact them at [email protected]  if you'd like to be kept updated on additional classes.

They'll be showing off samples of the items you can learn to make over the next couple of weeks, so stay tuned and....... bead on!

Pearl on a wire

So I had these lovely stick pearls and I couldn't think of what to do with them. They're side drilled and I would much rather have had them with the hole lengthwise.  So I decided to figure out some why to make them hang lengthwise, whether they liked it or not!.

Sorting through some old stuff I had laying around, I found some silver bead cages. "Gee,  I wish they were longer and thinner, so I could put a stick pearl inside", I thought.  And as you do, I put brute force to work, and pulled the cages between 2 pairs of pliers so they were longer and thinner - and presto, the stick pearls sat inside them just perfectly!  Wheee!!

I separated the cages with some pink and white pearls and dangled a lovely large pearl (an orphan earring, actually) as a centerpiece.  I'm tickled pink with this one!

Be persistent, ladies, and bead on!

A Plethora of Pearls!

I've been collecting freshwater pearls for ages and have ended up with a lovely mix of shapes, sizes and colors. So today, I decided to do something with them. Having been tempted to try wire work for a while now, I decided to just forge ahead.

 

I had a bracelet frame and added some wire swirls to it, then threaded pearls on fine wire and suspended them around the frame.  I think I'm quite pleased with the result.

 

Flushed with this little success, I went and tried something else - crocheted wire. Wow, that's hard to do!  Nevertheless, I persevered and here's how it came out.

 

Now that I've made my fingers good and sore, it's time to sit back, relax and enjoy the fruits of my labors.  Bead on!

A Rosary for Daisy

My lovely Dad died just days before Christmas, and a family friend called Daisy (my sister's mother in law) said the rosary for him at the church. Daisy realized that in all the rush and kafuffle involved in arranging a funeral, he had no rosary beads in his hands. So she very lovingly wrapped her own special rosary beads (from Lourdes and made of rosewood) around his hands.

I very much wanted to thank Daisy for her kindness and so I decided to make her a very special rosary.  It is made entirely of Swarovski crystal and pearls, and I added a very ornate double cross.

 

 

Thanks Daisy - may your prayers sparkle their way to Heaven!

And then there were five.......

I wanted to make a necklace that was quite heavy and layered in front, but not bulky at the sides and back. Usually this is done by graduating from large beads in front to smaller in the back, but I wanted to try something different. After all, half the fun of this hobby is experimenting!

Here's the results:

 

I decided to do 3 strands, 1 fully beaded and 2 illusion strands, but fully beaded in front.  The fully beaded strand has been interwoven back and forth to increase it's bulk so it looks like 5 strands at the front.  If I were to do this one over, I likely would do all 3 strands as fully beaded. Nevertheless, I had fun.

Of course, this is done all in Swarovski with the exception of the rectangular beads - I didn;t ahve anything on hand in crystal wthat was the right shape.

Bead on!

Shaded Pearl necklace

I love to graduate colors in jewelry, as you've probably gathered from the Tuxedo bracelet. So I decided to try a double graduation, where the colors fade from dark to light both in each strand and across the strands, like this:

      

It was quite difficult to figure out how many of each color would work best, not least because one of the strands were magnetic - they drove me nuts, as when I laid out the strands to check the drape, they kept hopping towards each other. So if you do try this out, do NOT use magnetic beads!

Bead on!

Starting up again!

Haven't blogged for a while, as things have been a bit crazy.  I taught 6classes at the local Arts Council, and we had a ball!  One of the new things we did this time was find some lovely designer pieces on the Tiffany web site, and using just basic supplies, we made our own "inspiration" versions. Good design doesn't have to be complicated , you see - and this exercise proved that elegance is often simple.

I've been invited back to do 8 classes starting in February, so I'm working hard towards creating suitable projects for the ladies. Some of my "students" are coming back for the third time, and I want to have some fresh ideas for them.

I've started a series I call Tuxedo, created with 4 colors of Swarovski crystal (what else?) ranging from jet to clear.  These were created to wear to Christmas parties.  

 

I'm working on a necklace that is 5 strands at the front, but only 3 at the sides and back. How can that be?  Watch this space, ladies and Bead On!!

Miracle Crimper and Custom Coated Swarovski Crystals

Just got back from a visit to my favorite bead store, Elusis Beads in Okotoks. What a wonderful selection they have of custom coated Swarovski crystals - and in all the best shapes, too. Leaf, twist, baroque,cosmic - you name it, they've got it. Plus they're having a sale on the cosmic crystals - unbeatable prices!!

My favorite is Crystal Rosaline Gold, and so I bought a gorgeous 16mm baroque and a gold filled bail for it.  So quick, so easy, and so beautiful!

     

While I was there, Josh (the owner, and a true bead fanatic) was showing a customer the Miracle Crimper from Beadsmith.  And it is indeed a terrific tool - used for .14 - .15 wire and  2mm crimp tubes, a few squeezes turns the tube into a perfectly formed silver bead - no need for crimp covers with this crimper.

If you're looking for hide to find items like French wire (bullion), Snapeez jump rings, Tornado crimps, or custom coated Swarovski crystals, pay them a visit. You'll love it!

Bead on!

Snapeez jump rings and Tornado Crimps

I am delighted that I can finally get these wonderful findings locally!  The good folks at Elusis Beadsin Okotoks now stock them and I have to say, they make finishing a piece with a professional look that much easier.  With these and some wire guardians, you'll get a great result. I have never found them anywhere in the Calgary area bead stores, and now I don't have to wait weeks while my order clears customs - I can get them right on my doorstep. Plus their website should  be up and running for online sales in a few more weeks.

While I was at Elusis Beads, I spotted some gorgeous amber nuggets - just had to have them. Teamed them up with a mix of 4mm and 6mm Swarovski Crystal Copper bicones, and was very happy with the result. So I made a 3 strand bracelet to match.

This color combo really jazzes up a black pants suit and white blouse - try it, you'll get nothing but  compliments...

Bead on,

Therese

The beauty of briolettes...

I bought a small lot of tiny 2-3mm multi colored faceted sapphires (how do they facet stones that small?) and have had them for a while, wondering what to do with them.  The colors are gorgeous and I wanted to find a way to showcase each one.

I finally decided to string them with little textured silver beads in between - and as briolettes are wont to do, they naturally ended up facing one up, one down.  I love that about them!

The result is quite delicate and the mix of juicy red, orange, yellow and green means it can be worn with many outfits.

Sweet briolettes!

Therese