My Bead Journey: TheaElements

Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Art Jewelry Elements Component of the Month Reveal - Lesley's turn

It is time for another reveal. I am so excited to tell you all about my journey on this one.

Here is what Lesley of TheaElements gave us to choose from.

I have to tell you lately I have realized that I do so much better with surprises on a general basis. I am so inspired when it arrives. I have been trying to use my stash as much as possible and I have a gorgeous stash of artbeads to work with but it seems that it is much harder to pick a component and then start picking beads. I cant seem to choose which component to start with. One of the other reasons I have discovered I work better with surprises that are part of challenges is that I AM challenged to make what I have on hand work. That is so much fun for me.

As per my usual I forgot to take a picture of the component before I began to work with it. I have to get better at remembering to do that.

So I had a bit of extra fun and challenge with this one. Those of you who read my blog know I love twin beads by Preciosa. They just speak to me. So I wanted to do something a bit different and try my hand at a pattern that I have been looking at and admiring for quite a while.

Jill of Jill Wiseman Designs put out a YouTube video of a Dutch Spiral. I have loved the look of it for some time but just haven't gotten around to playing with it. I loved her "sticky uppy bead" rule and this cinched it for me.

Because of the beauty of the ammonite I wanted to mimic the spiral so here is what I created!

It was a bit of a bugger for me to use the clasp as it was and not just use it as a button but I really love copper and purple together. Let me know what you think and be sure to pop over and visit everyone else to see what they have done with theirs.

Guests
Johana Nunez
Leah Curtis
Perri Jackson

AJE TeamLesley Watt
Keirsten Giles
Caroline Dewison
Rebekah Payne
Jjenny Davies-Reazor
Jen Cameron
Diana Ptaszynski
Kristen Stevens
Francesca Watson
Melissa Meman
Linda Landig
Sue Kennedy

Hugs
KK

Wednesday, April 16, 2014

Spring Fever Blog Hop

Welcome to.....

Hosted by the amazing Lesley of TheaElements, Caroline of BlueberriBeads because frankly we have all had enough of this long winter and needed some color!! Here is what they put together.

Lesley made all these and I would have loved ~~all~~ any of these sets.

Caroline rocked these bird sets in fact she and I may have to chat because I have always wanted to make an necklace with the theme of Bob Marley's 3 Little birds.

They also got together with Claire of Smitten Beads who added sari silks.


I have never worked with fiber and I was more than a bit nervous but look at the colors!!!

So you know I needed some color and since I am a stalker fan of both Lesley and Caroline I through my name in and crossed all fingers and toes and waited. Obviously we would not be here if I didn't get picked to play but I had to show you my excitement. Then there was the waiting......which is a bit longer coming from the UK but well worth the wait!!!!!

Here is what I received.

I was more than happy!!! But where to start? Actually I did have an idea before the beads actually came. If you know me you know I try to incorporate twins in everything. Those little beads and I are very happy to play together I was just hoping I had the right color and when this pendant arrived I new I did. Now I will also tell you this color scheme scared the hell out of me. I have never thought of yellow and purple together but Lesley, Caroline and Claire did it so I gave it a go.

Now I should remember to take pictures of the beads when I first pair them but I always seem to be in the creative mode when inspired like this so I forget. I knew I wanted to bead around the fiber so that it would show because frankly it is gorgeous!!!! I have never ever purchased fiber and always always turned away from anywhere it was displayed but that had changed. Someday I want all of the gorgeous colors in Claire's shop!!!

So what did I do? Well I concocted a netting with the twins that worked perfectly with the fiber peeking through.

I was going to have just the chain and pendant and make something different for the birds but they all wanted to play so I had fun putting one of Caroline's bird's on Lesley's bead that kinda looked like a nest. On the other side it looks like a bird sitting on an egg (let's not think that she actually laid it okay because that would really have hurt)

How to finish it? I sort of ran out of the twins ( I hate when that happens I should have an unlimited supply of all of the twins ya know) so it was kind of decided for me that I would need to have some of the fiber sticking out but I really love it. I love the softness.