A Fresh Start at ArtFire-new look, new opportunities! Thanks, Beadaholique.com and ArtFire!

Beadaholique.com recently asked jewelry designers to submit a photo of their work using Beadaholique components and I was fortunate to win one of their prizes, a PRO account at ArtFire, a wonderfully unique online marketplace for handcrafted ART! So, a big THANKS!! to Beadaholique and ArtFire for providing me and 9 other lucky winners with a free for life ArtFire studio! I have always loved to shop at Beadaholique.com for their reasonably priced and beautiful selection of fresh water pearls. My winning submission used a multitude of their peacock pearls in various sizes. They have expanded their line greatly since I first started shopping there, and I would recommend them to any beader. Their shipping is uber-fast and customer service is unparalelled.

Honey Jade and Carnelian Pendant-finished!

The finished pendant features carnelian chips surrounding the honey jade. I used a few bugle beads and gold pearls to enhance the warmth of the cabs. This was a fun piece, and definitely a learning experience! It is suspended from a simple leather cord. There is a bit of a genie bottle feel, to me.

Honey Jade and Carnelian pendant-with a glimpse of the process...

I wanted to use multiple shapes of cabochons in a pendant that was out of my typical box. First, I drew outlines of the shapes on paper, then cut out the rough shape that seemed to work. I transferred the shape on to buckram, and glued down the cabs. As you can see, I had to continue refining the outline. I "colored" the background with orange and yellow sharpies and my coloring improved, but that is not pictured. Next up: the finished design.

They Aren't All Winners...but learning experiences!

Here's an idea gone wrong. I thought it would be an encouragement to other beaders to see a huge mistake, err, learning experience! So, my idea was to brick stitch a triangle, glue a cab to the top, back with ultrasuede then bezel around the cab and add chips to each edge, with the result to be a gorgeous pendant. Yeah, right. You can see how well that turned out! I pulled the cab off, after realizing that I couldn't get a needle through the leather and beads to the edge of the cab. In Tim Gunn's words (from Project Runway) how do you plan to mitigate this?? Hehe, good question. Next time (if there is a next time) I will free-bezel around the cab and then glue down to the brick stitch base, before glueing the backing. Lesson learned! They all can't be winners.

Artist profile: Paula Motsinger Meyncke

Artist profile: Paula Motsinger Meyncke

Red butterfly embroidery project-finished!

Here she is! I used all kinds of seed beads, 2 cuts, 3 cuts, transparents, etc., from coral to cranberry. She is backed with repurposed red suede. The problem is, I don't know how to finish her. I have her listed in my etsy shop as ready for a pin back, or a custom necklace. Any thoughts?

Red butterly embroidery project-in progress

 This is a red, whimsical butterfly embroidery project. For this one, I edged around the butterfly and her different sections, then raided my stash for a bunch of varying colors of red.

I've never really taken the time to learn peyote stitch, but finally got down to it a couple months ago. This was a time consuming but fantastic project! Delica beads of violet/lt bronze comprise the background, with puffed hearts in seed beads pop up dimensionally. I haven't learned odd count yet, so to even one edge, I used a row of brick stitch. It's amazing-the brick disappears into the peyote, and is an exact match. I edged the piece with 15 gold charlottes and finished off with a bronze vintage style stamped flower button and peyote loop. The color is a bit washed out in the photo, but is very vibrant in person. This item is available in my etsy shop.

Turquoise Progression

 Finis! Very different, but I am liking it. It was fun to take you through this progression and I can't wait to do it again with another embroidered piece! For now, I am finishing a netted necklace with cranberry pearls. Jumping from project to project helps me keep in practice and those cranberry pearls were just screaming for a venue.

Turquoise Progression

Done! A little touch up with Sharpie, ends finished. Love the button. I use these a lot. It's cold, snowy and dismal outside. Will wait for the sunshine for a beauty shot.

Turquoise Progression

Edging in progress. I am still seeing that show-through.

Turquoise Progression

 I love the glue-down. This one is backed with a remnant of suede. Wow, those alabaster beads really pop.

Turquoise Progression

 Filling in with amazonite chips. A ring of bone delicas around the 3 cabs is looking good. Got some show-through of the buckram. The glue-down will help, but note to self-next time, color the buckram.

Turquoise Progression

 Okay, this is really looking funny but it always does in the middle section to me. I hear amazonite chips calling.

Turquoise Progression

 Okay, this is different for me, but I think it's pleasing. Something's missing though. Not sure what at this point.

Turquoise Progression

 Hmm, don't know what shape this one will take. Starting to rough it out. I think the shape of the center 3 cabs should dictate the shape at the ends. Let's see where it goes.

Turquoise Progression

Bezeling done. Looks ok so far. Love those green matte seed beads. Throwing in a bit of everything. The buckram has picked up a slight curved shape. So much the better for fitting around the wrist, my dear!

Turquoise Embroidered Bracelet-Progression Project

 Molly asked me if I made all my jewelry myself, and I thought it would be fun to show an embroidered bracelet from beginning to end, with part of the creative process included. The beginning. After the cabs are glued down to buckram, I begin bezeling the center stone. The match on the cabs isn't perfect,  but complimentary. I decide to use practically every turquoise seed bead color in my stash. Shown on my fave work surface, a shallow tray with vellux mat cut to fit. By the way, those thread cutters are useless with fireline, but work great with Silamide, which is the thread I am working with here.

Bracelet and Chevron Necklace-Verdant Green

I love this necklace's chevron design. It's a very simple base of right angle weave, which is embellished with bugle beads, rounds, flat tablet beads in matte, luster and AB. The bracelet is done exactly the same way. I chose a deco style button from B'Sue Boutiques for the closure.

Midnight Blue Bracelet

Pretty little bracelet that is so slinky. Midnight blue Japanese seed beads and bugles combine into a checkerboard design. Closed with a small twisted rope toggle. I really got to practice my ladder stitch on this one. Available in my store, artfuldivadesigns.etsy.com.

Beading Times Article on Teardrop beads

http://www.beadingtimes.com/design1009.htm

Thanks, Sandy, at Beading Times for mentioning my Egyptian influenced collar in the teardrop article. Constructed with bugle beads, seed beads and teardrops in a netting design, this necklace contours beautifully.

Pink Freshwater Pearl Coral Style Necklace

It's mid-January, and after a very long cold snap, my mind is racing ahead to spring. As a Southerner, after one taste of winter, I'm done and thinking of April showers and May flowers. This pretty and delicate necklace is constructed with seed beads in little graduated branches tipped with palest pink freshwater pearls. It closes with a sterling silver lobster claw clasp.

Blue Moon embroidered bracelet

I am not sure what the translucent round blue stone cab is, perhaps chalcedony. I was inspired to use a "ray" design which is accomplished in blues, turquoise, bronze, silver and a sprinkle of fire polished crystals. This one was so fun to make. Backed with black suede with a pewter stamped button with loop closure. This one is listed in my etsy store.

Reminiscences and Thanks

I thought a lot today about my bead art. Who I am as an artist, who influences me, and some doubts that came from an unlikely source. So, where are I heading, and what will I be doing in the next year? That remains to be seen.
As I think back to 7 or 8 years ago, when I delicately immersed my proverbial toe into bead art, I remember Ann Benson's books that I purchased, hoping to find some direction, not knowing where or how to start. Thanks, Ann.
I started this beady path with a consuming interest in tiny little knitted pendant bags. Quite frankly, I don't remember how that passion started. But, in the course of my research I found Penny Taylor-Wallace, now the editor of Knit 'N Style magazine, who was a huge source of information and support, not to mention gorgeous supplies! Thanks, Penny, and best of luck in your new creative direction!
Although I have not taken a single beading lesson in my life, unless you count sweet Sharon Solly (Harry) who painstakingly taught this non-herringbone (ndebele) knowledgeable beader how to do tubular herringbone, in the food court of a mall. Thanks, Harry.
And, a special thank you to Deb Roberti, who is a brilliant pattern designer. She designs gorgeous bracelets, earrings and necklaces using, primarily but not limited to triangle weave. Her patterns are crystal clear, her designs are genius, and her friendship and support over the last 3 years has been inspiring. We connected after her family vacation to Virginia Beach, and I hope to learn legit lasagne from her, first-hand, one day. I encourage all you beaders who  love the romanticism of working with Swarovski bicones, fire polished beads and those tiny little seed beads to give her web site a look at www.aroundthebeadingtable.com. She is a well-spring of knowledge, talent and the deep desire to help others. Many, many thanks Deb. You're the best.
The gorgeous rose (flower) garden bracelet at the top of this entry is designed by Deb, using Swarovski bicones in rose and olive, with 4 mm Swarovski crystal pearls. Genius.