Beading Babes Reveal with Manek-Manek Beads

I know I am so late with this post.  I usually have it up the night before but honestly if you had the opportunity to go for a boat ride and bead while your boys are fishing wouldn't you.  Yes I can bead in the boat too!  LOL  

With that said I have to tell you that our little Beading Babes group has grown so much with the addition of a Facebook page we now have 127 members from all over the world!  This time we decided to work on Helena Tang-Lim's "Echo's of Nefertiti" published in the June 2012 issue of Bead and Button.  Also because Helena is so sweet we were given the opportunity to purchase her "Four Leaf Clover Cuff" at a reduced price if you posted your reveal today.  These are the third and fourth patterns I have done of Helena's and let me tell you I have learned so much.  So on with the reveal!

I first tackled the Four Leaf Clover Cuff because I didn't think I would have the opportunity to purchase coin beads and if you have been following this blog for a while you know that I totally tend to be a pearly girl and had the pearls.  But as I am so scatterbrained I had not taken pictures until this morning.  As I was editing the photos I really looked at the beadwork and I totally have to apologize to Helena because my stitching is horrible.  I so enjoyed working on this cuff because it was such a relaxing stitch pattern.  And frankly I thought it was one of the only things that did not give me issues beading wise this past month.  WRONG!

Here is my Creamed Coffee version of Helena's Four Leaf Clover Cuff.

Now on to Echo's of Nefertiti.  As I said I thought I did not have coin beads but you know what I actually did have 3 in my stash.  Yay I can at least play with the pattern.  Oh and what about using a color combo that is darker than my usual.  And hey what if I used spikes?  Oh the thoughts were flowing but........not including the fingers in the process that is for sure.  This has been an issue for me in the last month.  I want and think something is going to work but when it comes down to it, it just doesn't.  So I scrapped the pieces I had done and last night quickly packed a bunch of beads in my travel tray and took a ride in the boat.  This is what I was able to finish last night.  Again Helena makes a pattern that flows so easily from one section to the other that before you know it you are well on your way.  Through her instruction you learn so much about technique and stitching that you feel satisfied that you not only create gorgeous pieces that you feel inspired.  Thank you so much Helena.

Here is Nefertiti's Maid.  As I did not have enough coin beads to make the whole piece.  LOL

Please stop over to Karyn's blog to see other gorgeous creations from our group.

I will also be revealing again tomorrow for the Echo Creative Club.  I know I know busy busy girl!

Hugs and Blessings 

KK

Iam a Suburban Girl!

Yes I am "A Suburban Girl!"  I was selected by Diana to be a part of the Suburban Girl Studio Design Team.  How utterly cool is that?  Well.......if you are me then it is awesome and totally terrifying at the same time.  Now being that this is April Fool's Day I was thinking I could play some kind of trick but alas I am not that quick witted.  Although there is a totally distinct possibility that Diana will take one look at this and think it is a total joke.  Seriously I had a nightmare that she wanted her bead back after she saw what I did with it. 

Okay I have to tell you that I totally forgot to take picture of the beads (yep there were two) Diana sent.  I received one of these gorgeous pendants

and a beautiful lampwork bead by Jan at Molten Mayhem. So.....from the moment I saw this gorgeous flower my mind started working.  I keeps seeing ruffles.  Yes I said it girly frilly ruffles.  Yeah I am not so much into them but drawing inspiration from Jill Devon's "klimet's collar"in the Feb/Mar issue of Beadwork and Marina Nadke's Ruffled Rings in the Peyote Stitch workshop by Bead and Button.  I set off to adapt them for my needs and style.  Oh Oh there was an extreme amount of froggy stitchin...you know rip-it rip-it. AND I had to work on my tension and for those of you who have been reading for a while KNOW that this is a major issue for me.  Well let me tell you for the first time I also had to totally overcome my ADD and work on this for the last two weeks.  You know I love orange and all the blends of it's goodness but I have to say this was a very hard orange to match.  I even had to order some (which caused a totally delay in creating) BUT  Here is where I blame this all on DAWN!  Yes it is all her fault!  I was going wayyyyyy out of my normal and creating a more "artsy" piece than I ever have.  She said I could do it.  I checked with Nancy too and she gave me tips I needed to move forward and of course Shirley was there with the oohhhh's and ahhhhs when I needed it!  Thanks Girls because of you I went with it and now I present you all with .........

Coral Anemone

This is a close up of Jan's bead.  I love love the funky touch it adds!

This is my favorite!!!!!!

Last night I sent Dawn all my pictures because of all the support and she rocked me by editing them all!  Now everyone I expect (as always) brutal honesty.

Thank you so much Diana and Jan!  I really love being a part of this team!

Please check out every one's take on this awesome beady combo!  I can not wait to see them all!

Diana Ptaszynski http://www.suburbangirlstudio.com/
Jenny Davies-Reazor http://www.jdaviesreazor.com/blog
Kristen Stevens http://kristen-beadjourney.blogspot.com/
Jan Onipenco http://moltenmayhem.typepad.com/
Marla James http://marlasmudmoments.blogspot.com/
Sandra Basara Miller http://www.sandra5461.blogspot.com/
Michelle Buettner http://misheldesigns.blogspot.com/

Hugs and Blessings

KK

Beading Babes Reveal - And Echo Creative Club part 1

Wow for some reason I thought this wasn't til the 12th.  I hope I am not in for any more calendar issues this year.  That would be bad.

So if you are not familiar with Beading Babes I will let you know about it.  Karyn at Releases by Rufydoof gathered a pretty cool bunch of beaders to pick then work on a project from either Bead and Button or Beadwork magazine.  It is so much fun to see what others think of the patterns and also offer advise to each other when we hit stumbling blocks.  So how about this month.

Well it seemed that many of us hit several stumbling blocks on our projects for this round.  Either the time was at issue or the pieces weren't coming together as expected.  I did attempt both projects for the month but ran into some difficulties myself.  

First up is Smadar Grossman and Ravishing Rosettes published in the December 2011 issue of Bead and Button.  I will totally admit that the color scheme in the magazine is not me in any way so initially I overlooked it.  I have decided not to vote on the projects because I need the challenge so when this was one of the picks I had to take a second look.  And I love it.  I needed to adjust it a bit to either fit the beads I was using or the tension issues you all know I have.  Smadar is a fabulous designer and I hope to one day get one of her own patterns as we all know the magazines tend to edit some pretty important tips right out of print.  So here is my Tangerine Tango

See Dawn I told you I was totally rocking tangerine!  

What a fun and cheery necklace this makes and I have to tell you I (yes really) I made a simple 2 by 2 chain maille connection to finish it!  

And as promised I have it as a pairing!  Yay!

I also tried Barbara Falkowitz Runway of Pearls published in the Dec/Jan 2012 issue of Beadwork but that was not as successful as I would have hoped.  I am not sure if the triangles I used were right and I ran out of pearls.  So what I want you to do is hop over to Amy's blog and check hers out.  It is Awesome!

So I mentioned the Echo Creative Club too right.  Well I received my beads from Jeannie this week and WOW  I really can not believe she made them out of polymer clay.  I was so excited I was working on them when I got a sweet little email from her asking if we would also post when we receive the beads.  OOPS I already opened it up.  But you know what?  I was so careful opening it because I love her packaging that it was easy to put most of them back in the bag and make it look like I hadn't touched them yet.  LOOK at these!

I have told Jeannie (probably way too many times) I love being part of this and playing with her beads more than I can really put into words.

I do have a bit of a busy week ahead but things are beginning to get better.  Hope I didn't just jinxed it.

Hugs and Blessings

KK

My beady brain went on overdrive

Oh I so need some help here.  This was a very busy weekend and I needed a quick traveling piece to work on while the boys were fishing.  They didn't catch me any perch but I love the project I chose.  I have been working on another piece but I needed more beads.  I really need to get better at buying the proper quantities and quality that I need!  Anyway I had these beads in my stash just because I loved them and then this pattern showed up in the latest Bead and Button.  "Daring Daggers" by Marcia Rose.  It works up so quick and easy but as with me once again I did not have enough daggers to go all the way around.  But I think that is okay because I would not want to have the possibility of breaking the daggers on the underside so I just finish the edge pieces with the 8/0's.  As I was completing it I liked the simple blend of colors and thought I would like to make a necklace to match it.  Well the other day Shirley over at Beads and Bread made a sweet little daisy chain bracelet and well she told me it was fun.  I haven't attempted daisy chain well to be totally honest I thought it was too simple.  DUH!  Sometimes simple can be fun and well it got me to thinkin.  So here is what I need help with......

I love the bracelet but I am wondering if I should do a sweet little picot edge in pink to draw that color out a bit.

The pendent is so unique because the bezel started with daisy chain and I just sort of played from there.  Oh the glass piece yeah it is a candle pebble but the color matched perfectly.  

So I intend to make a daisy chain for the strap but should I make a couple more bezels (without daggers) for balance or just keep it simple.  And oh yeah do they match?

I will be reviewing an absolutely stunning pattern at the end of the week as I was able to pick up the needed beads (I think)

Hugs and Blessings

KK

Artbeads and me

Frankly when I first learned of the Artbeads Design team challenge this round (I have to thank Mikki for giving me a heads up when she posted hers) was "Whats old is New Again" I was a little worried.  I haven't been beading long enough to have old jewelry lying around and I really wanted something unique.  I asked my hubby what he had in his workshop that I could use to make this work and at first all I got was "HUH?" then I told him what Mikki had done and he said he still had some coins from when his father used to travel for work.  Okay but I didn't want to mimic what had been done so what now?  He got all his coins out and there they were.  Two very unique coins that were used in Brazil for telephones.  Well I doubt anyone would have those so cool we have a start on the challenge.  I waited for Duchess to send me my notice all the while leaving them on my tray to see what inspiration would come.  I looked through patterns and there it was a beautiful bracelet from the February issue of Bead and Button.  Nebula by Grace Nehls.  I love to take elements from patterns and use them and this was perfect for me.  The pattern is very well written for what is able to be published in magazines and the diagrams were very helpful and (as I like) there are ways to modify her design to make it work for what I needed to do.  Now what about colors...humm well in comes my sweet hubby again and says "why don't you use the colors that copper turns when you heat it?"  He is so smart!  Off to Artbeads to shop (I love that part!) I chose the most beautiful blue steel delicas and some gorgeous round Toho seeds to match and then totally out of my box I choose antique copper links and chain and I have to tell you that when I received them I was so excited they are gorgeous!  Oh I didn't tell you that on the coin is an etching of an old rotary telephone how cool is that?  So here is my piece I have decided to call "Dialed Up"

I will tell you that this is the first time I have bezeled with delicas and I love it.  Oh an I also rubbed out and polished the coin to preserve it.  I have to say that I did go out on a limb for me but I really like everything about the necklace and it wears so well.  ( I am wearing it today) I am also working on a bracelet to match. Although I am not so sure on how I am actually going to put it all together yet.  Any Ideas?

Once again I have to thank Duchess and the Artbeads team for including me in their Design Team.  It is a blast and is also helping me "Grow" (my word for the year) as an artist. (still not sure if I am there yet) I am also still a bit nervous about posting this because you should see these other STUNNING creations.

The Beaded Carpet

NEDbeads

LaBella Joya

BeadsForever

These ladies are so amazing artists and I do hope to grow up to be them someday...(LOL I don't intend to ever grow up!)

Disclaimer

I am a reviewer of products for Artbeads.com. I received the beads above free of charge. I have used and reviewed this product and my statements are an honest description. I receive no compensation from Artbeads.com for my endorsement as it pertains to the product above.

A bit quiet but real busy!

I know I have been quiet lately and I am getting a better handle on the managing my time thing but I have been very busy.

I finished my grommet necklace and let me tell you I love it.  It is such a soft necklace to wear and the compliments I get when wearing it are so blush worthy.  So here it is.....

I used 15's and 11's for the chain.  I know most of you think I am nuts using such small beads but I was lucky in the fact that I took it with me on our trip to Ohio so most of it was done while riding so it didn't drive me too crazy.  Isn't it awesome?  I have also been working on picture taking.  No cool backgrounds yet just a focus on getting good pictures of the pieces.

I am also back to my wine themes again.  I started this one in January but I was having so much trouble trying to put it together the way I like it and OMG I am having even more trouble getting clasps I like and that enhance the designs.  Here is Cabernet.

I feel really terrible that I have lost the pattern to this as I found it while searching through blogs.  I had it printed but it seems to have vanished.  It was in a different language but the diagrams were awesome.  If anyone does stumble across it please let me know so I can give her props, she so deserves them.

I also fell in love with the Honeycomb Bangle by Cynthia Rutledge that I had to make it.  I will tell you that I did not have the faceted roundels that it called for or the 3mm pearls so I used 11/0 rounds and 4mm pearls and smooth roundels.  It came out sweet.

I think I will call this one Strawberry Wine just because I am in that kinda mood.

I am also participating in Pay it Forward but I will be posting a revised version as soon as I am clear on what I want to do with it.  You know I couldn't just plain follow the rules didn't cha.

One more somber note.  My heart aches for the Japanese people and the.....well let's be honest...the Hell they are going through.  Please keep them all in your prayers, blessings or thoughts.  They need all the positive energy we can send.

Hugs and Blessings

KK

A Pairing!

I know it has been a while since I showed one of these but I had been getting so many goodies that my inspiration is on overdrive.  I came across this pattern when I was looking for inspiration for the "Challenge of Color" blog hop and I had to try it and let me tell you it is awesome.  The patter is called "Layered Loops" by Connie Blachut and I found it in the Bead and Button shop.  So here is my version called "Evergreen Garland"  

I really loved this pattern.  It was so easy to read and came with great instructions.  And doesn't it look awesome with this sweater?  I wore it to Derek's Christmas concert on Wednesday night and I also love the way it feels on my wrist. 

I have to make this a quick post because I just got back from caroling with Derek's class and I have to pick him up in a few more minutes. But...........

I have to tell you something but I am very hesitent as I have been so lucky lately I am worried that you will feel that I am bragging or that I have been rigging the giveaways.  Really I love to share them with you all and if I had the ability I would give each of you something too.  If you don't want to read any further I totally understand.  If you are still here look at what I got this time......

Lori Anderson @ Pretty Things had a drawing for this and the person who won never contacted her so she held another drawing and I am getting this gorgeous necklace!  First I want you to go right over to her sight and send her a big Cyber Hug because she is having a hard time and needs all the support we can offer her.  This necklace comes from a collaboration born out of bead soup and I tried to find the info quickly but I am not that quick and it is time to pick up my sweet boy.  You know I will show you pics when I get this.

I am still waiting for Beth to get her package and let me tell you my nerves about this are shot.  Maybe you all have felt this before when you sent something you made out to someone else for the first time.

Hugs and Blessings

KK

Challenge of Color Blog Hop!

OK so my knees have been knocking ever since I agreed to participate in this Hop.  I thought I was being a smart ass when I told Erin at Treasures Found that if she could come up with a palette that matched my current stash I would join.  Never challenge Erin when it comes color she is going to win every time! So after sending her this picture she said "Oh I found one and will send it out today!"  Oh Boy what was I thinking?

So a few days later I received this in the mail

Fontana Blue

White Shoulders

Red Earth

OK once again I did give her a picture of my stash and I did say I would do this so what do we do now?  Well here is a picture of what I first came up with and I really love these stars.  They sparkle and seem earthy hummmmm what to do with them?

Oh I have no idea.  

OK checking e-mails I came across a sale at Bead and Button (Kalmbach Publishing) 1/2 off all patterns.  Hey I have been wanting a few and they are instant download....Win, Win!  Oh by the way at this point I should tell you that I looked at the list of participants and OH MY what was I thinking?  Well in steps a pattern by Maiko Kage called Ruffled Rondelles and since this challenge has gotten my shoulders in a bunch, ruffled you could say I present you with "Ruffled Shoulders"!

I so wanted to use all the colors and this is the perfect pattern for it!  I like the way they blend and sparkle at the same time.  I am so glad I accepted the challenge if only to learn that next time I go to the paint store I can jump out of my box and pick out a palette and challenge myself and for that I am truly grateful to Erin for her encouragement!  THANKS ERIN!  Oh I know you are all wondering what happened to the stars so here one is and I must say that I even surprised myself with "Earthen Star"

OK so that is my entry in this Hop and I so hope you will check out all the other amazing artists that also chose to have fun with this "Challenge of Color"

• Alice Peterson
• Amy Freeland
• Beth McCord
• Brandi Hussey
• Cary Scholes
• Catherine Pruitt
• Cindy Wimmer
• Claire Maunsell
• Cory Tompkins
• Courtney Breul
• Cristi Clothier
• Cynthia Riggs
• Emanda Johnson
• Holly Westfall
• Janea McDonald
• Jeannie Dukic
• Jennifer Cameron
• Judy Campbell
• Karyn White
• Keirsten Giles
• Kelly Morgan
• Kristie Roeder
• Kristin Stevens
• Lisa Godfrey
• Lisa Tracy
• Lori Anderson
• Mallory Hoffman
• Marie Voyer-Cramp
• Mary McGraw
• Nicole Keller
• Nicole Valentine
• Paige Maxim
• Patty Gasparino
• Rebecca Anderson
• Renate Stark-Krammer
• Rita Parra
• Shannon Chomanczuk
• Sheila Summers
• Stefanie Teufel
• Yelisa Rojas

Hugs and Blessings

KK

Thank you Cindy Caraway and Belinda Saville

This is a pic of my newest pairing and I have Cindy to thank for it. I do need to give a little background (ok I don't need to but I will anyway) When I first started beading jewelry I bought both Beadwork and Bead and Button magazines. I loved what the artists were making but I didn't have the knowledge to actually make them so I would tear out the patterns I loved to put into a binder to oogle over later until I had the skills I needed to do them (of course I recycled the rest because I do try to live green) Well then I started to find resources on the computer and check out these artist blogs. I fell in love with Cindy's Blog Artful Living on the Bluff and began to read it on a regular basis. I also found Belinda's blog and she told me that I should start a blog (so I did and they both follow it isn't that awesome!)so I could show my work and journey to better my skills (or so you my see what not to do who knows) and honor the artist who inspire me (hopefully) Anyway I think it was my second posting that I posted a shirt and beads that needed to be paired but wasn't sure what would look good so to my binder I went and there staring me in the face was "Waves of Symmetry" from the Oct 2009 issue of Bead and Button and the designer was (drumroll please...) Cindy Caraway! How cool is that for me! So I have a favorite shirt (that I really love instead) and the same beads (ok not all of them but who cares) and here it is! I hope she is pleased with my interpretation of her pattern and speaking of the pattern it was so well written I don't think I could have messed it up ( well maybe I could have but I didn't) If you do read Cindy's blog you will know that she has been in a creative slump (at least she thinks so, I don't) so I do hope this gives her a boost (hopefully it doesn't have the opposite effect) and lets her know she is an inspiration to me!

Always Believe,
Kristen

PS My new motto is "If you trip in life make it part of your dance" I love this saying!