Lorelei Eurto Bohemian Inspired Jewelry Challenge Kit

New bead challenge from Beadin' Path and Lorelei Eurto!

Read more about what inspired the bead challenge at Lorelei's blog -  HERE

Good Luck!!!

Wishlist Thursday - Beadin Path Vintage Lucite

This is what I am drooling over today -



These are Vintage Lucite beads from Beadin Path. The description states:
Caramel Apple Red & Amber Mix Tube. Mixes will vary from tube to tube. Tube size is 1.25x5.5 inches, and approx. 94 grams of beads.

I am in a red mood - have been for a while. I am ready for summer and want to start designing for those hot summer nights.

How cute would these be scattered through a multi strand chain necklace, worn with a white v neck t-shirt dress........

Oh kids - I need some summer bad!!!

It's Give Away Time!!!!

Whew Kids - I have been so busy, I let May slip by without a give away! Never fear, I will make up for it. So I am having both May and Junes give away at the same time! That's right you heard me - TWO GIVE AWAYS!!!

It is my Crafty and Trendy Give Away. One package is for all my 'crafty' followers and another is for all of my 'trendy' followers.

For the crafty's I have



This kicking tote* so graciously given by Heather at Beadin Path. A tote is not fun if it is empty, so I have added Create Your Style color wheel*, also by Beadin Path, from my inventory, a ladle full of bead soup (including vintage lucite beads* from Beadin Path) the Jun/Jul issue of BeadWork magazine, June issue of Bead Trends magazine (I have a piece on page 29), vintage buttons, floral ribbon, a Just A Tish bumper sticker and bezel cups* and bottles* from Rings & Things!!!!!



Holy cow and if that is not enuff - for my Trendy fashionistas who love to accessorize



Copper wire wrapped pendant with turquoise, dyed howlite, red seed beads and a Czech crystal, a coordinating ring, and a Just A Tish bumper sticker!!!



Ring pictured is size 7 - If this is not your size, no worries. I will make one to fit you!





I want it all!!! I hear you say. Great, so here's how you play - You have 3 ways to enter:

1. Leave a comment and tell me are you crafty or are you trendy?
2. Tweet about it (let me know you did)
3. Blog about it (let me know you did)

I am opening this up to my FaceBook fans, my email list, and to my customers at the flea market.

I will be drawing a winner on Tuesday, June 1, 2010!!!!!

Good Luck!!!

*FTC compliance disclosure: the '*' items mentioned in this post credited to Rings & Things were provided as a promotional gift as part of the Blog Partner Program. These items are for review or design purposes. Find out more about the Rings & Things Blog Partner Program More items marked with '*' mentioned in this post credited to Beadin Path were provided as a promotional gift as part of the Beadin Path Design Partners. These items are for review or design purposes.

Fun stuffs from Beadin Path - EZ bracelet sizer

Whew - I am out of practice! I haven't posted in a week due to some back issues and not being able to sit at a computer, but I am back on my feet (and backside) again and rearing to go!!

I got my order from Beadin Path last week and was really excited about one item in particular. I had an EZ bracelet sizer in the past but my dog ate it (no joke) and I needed another one, and was thrilled to find one from Beadin Path




As a free gift I got this great 'Create' Color Carousel!!! How awesome is this! Pick the color you are working with and find it's compliment and contrast!!!!! No more guessing! I love this thing!




Have you ever used a bracelet sizer? Here is the cool magic they work - check it out.
When I lie this bracelet flat, it is a little over 8" long. So you would think it would fit an 8 inch wrist - oh no!!!

*cue smoke and mirrors*



When you connect the toggle and drop it on the EZ bracelet sizer ....... OMG 7 1/4"!!!! It lost almost 1 whole inch!! where did it go?!!?





It is one of those pesky mathematical thingys I believe that causes this. The bracelet is one length, but due to the bulk of the beads, the inside circumference is different. The difference is not as great with the flatter beads.

Look at this one. Here is some fun vintage glass beads. Big and bulky - 14, 12 and 10mm beads. It measures the same - a little over 8" long.



Now bring the clasp together - wave your magic wand

Abrah cadabra!!!!!

6 3/4"!!!!!! well over an inch gone!!!





If you dont' have one of these little gems - they are so worth it. Especially if you have an online store. Customers will know exactly what size the bracelet it, as opposed to how long the bracelet is!

Til tomorrow kids!!!!

Vendor wish list

Can't always make the bead shows, can't always buy what I want, but I can always wish!!

What is on my wish list for this week??

From Rings & Things
Ring/Connector, 14mm (Antiqued Copper Plated) Chain,







From ArtBeads

TierraCast Antique Copper Mirage Bead Cap















From Beadin Path

Sea Glass Style, Matte Transparent Emerald Tumbled Nuggets 15-23mm 4'' strand




















Sea Glass Style, Matte Mint Green Tumbled Nugget Beads 15-23mm 4'' strand



















Sea Glass Style, Matte White Opal Tumbled Nugget Beads 15-23mm 4'' strand

















What is on your wish list!?

Octopus's Garden - Re do

Remember this - Octopus's Garden? I made that necklace trying to spark some creativity and never was super happy with the design, so I gave it a second try, and gave it new life.

This one I am happy with -



What I used

LUC4525OR - Vintage Lucite Tangerine Moonglow - 7mm rounds - Beadin path *

Sedona stones -
rose marble
green garnet
silver loops
silver daisy spacers

re purpose flower beads


I removed the pearl cluster and added hand wound links of green garnet on sterling and added some little flower beads from a re purposed necklace. This one is ready to wear and ready for spring!

*FTC compliance disclosure: the '*' items mentioned in this post credited to Beadin Path were provided as a promotional gift as part of the Beadin Path Design Partners. These items are for review or design purposes. Other items were purchased by me, the artist, for my inventory.

Redemption! Work Space is Clean!!

Back in September Dawno and Beadin Path co-sponsored a Tweet Your Studio contest. There were three categories - Best Use of Small Space, Most Organized Space, Holy Cow! How do You Work in That Space, which I won. I went back to my blog and brought a part of it forward, just to give you some back ground -

From September 30, 2009 -

Here is the picture - I have added the numbers to tell you a bit about how I work.


1. That is what I call my mail center. This where I keep my boxes, packing material, tape - things I need when I ship a package.

2. My sewing machine - broke - it is now a catch all for my other crafts that are not jewelry making.

3. That is the cover my husband made for my earring board. The earring board is a shutter that I thread the earring cards thru. The cover keeps the earrings in place when I go to shows.

4.That is the murphy bed that my husband is building - he has taken 16 inches of my studio away from me - that is why it is in such a mess, i dont' have any more room! he thinks the murphy bed will be awesome for guests.......if you stopped by for an overnite visit, would you want to stay in that room????

5.My little work table for soldering and hammering. the coffee cans?? i store the dry mix for my vibrating tumbler in them, and my raw stones that need to be tumbled. I need a wet tumbler for that, but that is another story and another cup of coffee.

6.My other sewing machine - broke - on the floor under that is stacks of folded material, another sewing machine and a surger............i have a problem i think when it comes to sewing machines.

7. stacks of folded material, batting and stuffing - it is also where my cat sleeps when i am working.

8. storage for material - now that i am trying to explain myself, i am discovering i do have a problem.......

9. I store my finished jewelry in baggies in these 2 containers

10. That is my 'show gear' when I do a show, if I have room, I take my supplies with me and craft at the table to pass away the time. It is a great conversation starter and a great way to get ppl into your booth. They want to see what you are doing and it really helps them understand that, yes, you do make all of this by hand. It also allows me to make adjustments on the fly for the customer if it is not the right size, or to make a quickie pair of matching earrings.

11. That is my work table - stacked with with bags of supplies and my tools. That little bitty space right there in the front where my pliers are laying is the space I work in. All my creations happen in a bout a 18 x 5 " space.


Spring is coming and i am getting in that spring cleaning mood - purging mood - happy mood. Yesterday morning I began to did myself out of my work room.

Today it is finished! Newd was giving the floor a final inspection for me before he went to lay down on his bed in the corner. He sighed when he lay down, I think it was a sigh of relief!





AND I CAN'T FIND A THING!!!!!!!!!!!

Blogger design challenge, with a great supporting cast!

I had a pile of the 'Electric' purple beads from Rings and Things blogger challenge. I wanted to make something that made them the focal, but not the focal - does that make sense? Something like a great supporting cast - something that the design would just not be complete without it.

I began to rummage thru my supplies and found a fun random color pattern of purples and thought to celebrate the last day of Feb - the month of amethyst - this would be a fun design.

This necklace has components from each of my blog partner sponsors, Rings & Things, Art Beads and Beadin Path, whether thru the program or purchased on my own, and more items I have collected over time.

It was fun to bring them all together, into one design.

Electric Circus (it is a fun balancing act between symmetry and random )


From Rings & Things
29-555-10-901 Bead, Shell Pearl, Round, 10mm (Brown Mix) *
29-555-16-901 Bead, Shell Pearl, Round, 16mm (Brown Mix) *
28-000-007-273 Bead, Glass, Faceted Round, 10mm (Electric Purple)*
40-099-24-7 - Chain, Footage, Oval Curb, 10.5mm (Antiqued Copper Plated) *
47-406-SP 22 ga copper wire
24-101-7 10mm copper filigree bead

From Beadin Path
LUC4274BR Matte Dark Bark Tube beads, 6 x 26 mm*

From ArtBeads
TBRD6-615 TOHO™ Bead Round 6/0 Matte Raku Blue/Purple Iris 8g Bag

And the rest! (sung in my head like Gilligans Island theme)
copper chain - lululalland
copper rings - sedonastones
purple turquoise - dakotastones

*FTC compliance disclosure: the '*' items mentioned in this post credited to Rings & Things were provided as a promotional gift as part of the Blog Partner Program. These items are for review or design purposes. Find out more about the Rings & Things Blog Partner Program . More items marked with '*' mentioned in this post credited to Beadin Path were provided as a promotional gift as part of the Beadin Path Design Partners. These items are for review or design purposes.

Answer to the challenge - Necklace of re purposed beads, vintage lucite and feldspar

Yesterday I posted about the items I challenged myself to work with. Last nite I set out on the task of creating something from those beads. I pushed the beads around on my table for quite a while trying to find something that held my interest. I was having a hard time incorporating all the pieces I had challenged myself to use. I decided to work from the focal up.




I wrapped the focal in copper and added garnets and toho beads and made dangles from the fire polished mix. I used the copper wire to make wire wrapped links for the first strand of felspar and MOP beads, and then wove hemp cord thru the links and made a second layer of hemp and vintage lucite beads.

It made a real summery, hippie exquisite necklace




These were the beads I used -
I have a MOP necklace and a garnet bracelet that was given to me to 're purpose' by my friends Harry and Vanessa
feldtv13x18 13x18mm Feldspar beads from Cherry Tree Beads
LUC2185BR Cube Beads 10mm Smoky Quartz * from Beadin Path
LUC2485OR Dark Rust Moonglow Heishi Rondells 4 x 8mm* from Beadin Path
TOHO™ Bead Round 6/0 Opaque-Lustered Cream 8g Bag from Art Beads
4mm Fire Polish Mix Red Tones (50 Pack) from Art Beads

Thank was a fun challenge - I may have to do it again!



*FTC compliance disclosure: the '*' items mentioned in this post credited to Beadin Path were provided as a promotional gift as part of the Beadin Path Design Partners. These items are for review or design purposes. Other items were purchased by me, the artist, for my inventory.

Free form free for all - wire wrap bracelet

I am so excited about this, I nearly wet my pants!

Heather at Beadin Path posted a link on twitter a while back about some fun classes they are going to be doing. One of them was for this awesome wire wrapped cuff. I wanted to go sooooo bad....ROAD TRIP!


I covet this bracelet and the mad skills to be able to create it and the wondrous vision that inspired this piece.

I had previously purchased some wire from Rings & Things, and didn't know exactly what I was going to make with it. Some great 14 ga red brass wire, and several spools of copper wire, varying in gauge. Now I knew :) I wasn't for sure how to begin this project. I don't have a bracelet mandrel, wasn't sure how to shape it, but I dove in anyway. I dug thru my beads and picked a color scheme and laid out a pattern on the table. I wanted to work with the blues but I wanted to add a bit of something, something that would 'pop'. I still had one of the criss cross lampwork hearts* from Rings & Things' blogger challenge and it fit perfectly!

Made a simple curl on the ends of the wire and wrapped the two pieces together with 22 ga copper wire. Ran the wrap up the wire and began to incorporate beads. The brass wire is easy to coax around beads to give it a more free form, oh lets say "organic" look.


Wrapping the copper wire around brass wire gives stability to the cuff, a contrast in color, and allows you to weave several different shapes and sizes of beads into the design. The copper wire almost had a mind of it's own while I was wrapping it. I let the wire go where it wanted to, and added beads accordingly.



I am really happy with this wire. It is stout enuff to hold a design, and malleable enuff where it doesn't hurt my hands to work with it. I eye balled the lengths of wire to make the cuff, based on my own wrist size. Not good in hind sight, there has to be a way to measure it better. Will work on it.



It's not perfect yet, it is a bit short and doesn't sit on my wrist like I want it to, but it was so much fun to make, I can't wait to start another one!


*FTC compliance disclosure: the '*' items mentioned in this post credited to Rings & Things were provided as a promotional gift as part of the Blog Partner Program. These items are for review or design purposes. Find out more about the Rings & Things Blog Partner Program

Red is the rage with vintage lucite

I have recently had an awakening about red. In my mind it is only seen around Christmas or Valentines day. It may be because I am not a fan of red and find it a real challenge to work with.
Valentines day is approaching and I am struggling to not 'theme' my jewelry. I feel frustrated and limited and I don't want to pigeonhole myself into a design based on a single holiday. I didn't want to theme it with hearts, for fear of 'holiday overkill'.

Conveniently I have some luscious vintage red beads from Beadin Path Designer blogger program, that I have been wanting to work with. I pulled them out and used them as the focal beads for this design. They really do set of the necklace. The bold red mixed in with the white, pale pinks and purples makes your eyes move thru the design. I am not fond of the wrapping I did for the focal. I wanted to accent the focal and not get too carried away with the wire, but it seems to be lacking something. I will have to re work that.



It is a fun double layer necklace, using bronze and antiqued copper chain. (the bronze chain is what my daughter sent me for Christmas) The vintage beads are the LUC4759RD - Vintage Italian Lucie Marbled Red w/ White - 12mm rounds * and LUC4869OR Transparent Hyacinth Barrel Bead 12 x 14 mm *. I have also added glass pearls, lampwork, purple turquoise and faceted opalite. I like the bronzy tones with the red. It appears warmer, giving it a more year round feel, where when I laid it out with silver, it had a very Christmas feel to it.



Red for Valentines day
Red for firecracker summer celebrations
Red for the change of the leaves in the fall
Red for Christmas

Red is all year!

*FTC compliance disclosure: the '*' items mentioned in this post credited to Beadin Path were provided as a promotional gift as part of the Beadin Path Design Partners. These items are for review or design purposes.

Break Time!

Yesterday was my last show for the year. Now it is time to kick back for a few weeks and not feel so pressured.

I am going to use this time to seriously organize my work room. The goal (which will be reached!) is to have it done by the end of the year, focusing on starting out the year fresh, organized and getting some good energy flowing. I have my sights set on a prosperous 2010. Sales are really picking up in all of the retail locations my pieces are in, and will be focusing on adding more stores this coming year.

I am excited about a new year of blogger challenges with Rings & Things, Art Beads and Beadin Path. They are all so much fun to work with, supportive, and best of all, I feel I have made some new friends.

The organization began with tubs of 'homeless' beads. These are the beads that are scattered across my work table or in a central tub because I am too lazy to put them back into their baggies.


Here is a mess in a tub


Here is the mess separated out into: beads, findings, partially strung pieces, salvageable wire (this is my boredom killer at work)



From here I will separate it out even further till everything has it place. I got a lot ahead of me!

Going crazy with vintage lucite from Beadin Path

Yesterday, home from work, bored with sleeping and disgusted with t.v. I tried reading. My mind kept wandering to my work table and what I could be doing. I put the book down and sat at my work table.

Nothing.

I pushed some beads around on the table with my finger and hummed a ditty to myself.

Nothing.

I have some compartmentalized storage boxes I have been putting my beads and supplies in, so I picked up on that project to see if I ran across anything that would get me going. I sat in the floor with baggies all around me, sorting and piling and pushing things around. My cat, who loves plastic baggies and to play fetch, trotted in with a baggie in his mouth. He dropped it in front of me, mewed to get my attention and pushed up against me, his way of saying, 'Mom, throw it!' I picked up the baggie and noticed it was my lucite beads from Beadin Path. That pesky cat!

Oh wait, that glorious cat! I got an idea as soon as I touched that bag. My daughter had been on me about making too many necklaces, and challenged me to step out and try making bracelets and earrings. I did just that!

I have talked about the memory wire bracelets before. How they are a great alternative to elastic, especially if you are knot challenged like I am. They are also great bracelets for people who have a difficult time with clasps due to arthritis, or who may have larger wrists and have trouble finding something to fit. The other thing too about memory wire, it is a great unisex option, open up that customer base!

Vintage lucite beads are light, so you can bulk up a design and not have to worry about the weight. The colors are so vivid, whereas you are limited by natural stone. The lucite is so sturdy, it can take the wear on your wrist for a worry free fashion accessory.

So, memory wire bracelets -



LUC3737OR Twist Tube Beads 10 x 12mm Orange Moonglow *

Glass pearls

Sterling disks






LUC646GR - Vintage Lucite Matte Marbled Moss Green - 10 mm rounds *
Glass pearls




But don't stop there - how about memory wire earrings? These are great fun wire loop earrings packed with lucite. Lucite beads are so light weight you can wear some really daring designs and combinations and not have to worry about them being uncomfortable.





LUC4869OR Transparent Hyacinth Barrel Bead 12 x 14 mm *
Glass pearls







LUC461YL Opaque Jonquil Round 8 mm *
LUC4458YL Pale Jonquil Round beads 16mm *
LUC4759RD - Vintage Italian Lucie Marbled Red w/ White - 12mm rounds *
Seed beads
(My favorite)







LUC646GR - Vintage Lucite Matte Marbled Moss Green - 10 mm rounds *
Glass pearls





There are so many things to do with memory wire and vintage lucite, what about wine glass charms? What else do you make with memory wire?

*FTC compliance disclosure: the '*' items mentioned in this post credited to Beadin Path were provided as a promotional gift as part of the Beadin Path Design Partners. These items are for review or design purposes.

Octopus's Garden - A Study in Creativity

It was a busy weekend. I felt rushed and in a bit of a panic to get things done so I could sit down and work. There has been a recent upheaval in my life due to a shift change and I am now working 9 - 6. I am not used to it, having a problem settling into it and it has destroyed my schedule. This schedule change has left me not being able to create in the mornings before work and has forced me to cram it into a weekend. *embrace the challenge, find the good* My mantra for the last week.

You know those times when it just doesn't happen? You try to come up with an idea, you try to put the pieces together and - nothing. Nada. That is when I go looking for the inspiration. As I have said in the past, I find inspiration in music, in nature, or in dreams. Most times my inspiration is there, I just have to learn how to take from it to create with it.

Google is celebrating Sesame Street's 40th year. In light of it, Heather of Beadin Path and I were talking about it last week. I was watching clips on You Tube and reminiscing about the great times I had growing up with Sesame Street and then being able to share those fun times with my daughter and watch them all over again with her.

In my searching I found this, one of my favorite:



From this video came the inspiration for this piece. A fun, whimsical, nonsense necklace created in a study of working outside the box, abstract interpretation, and letting go. You wouldn't believe the ideas I have rolling now.

I hand wound the links with sterling, and packed the pearls onto a length of beading wire. It is heavier than I thought.



It photographs like a dream. Great textures, a good flow.


It may not stay a necklace, it may not stay anything, but it did take me out of my comfort zone and allow me to play, and have a fun creative time going in a new direction.

Carnelian and vintage lucite, with a dash of pearls, Recipie for a fun holiday necklace

It's Thanksgiving, you just bought a new sweater to wear to Aunt Sarahs for dinner and you want a new necklace to go with it.

That is what was running through my head as I was making this piece. I got caught up in the memories of watching my mom when I was little, getting ready for Thanksgiving dinner with family and wearing her new outfit and fussing about her appearance. It was important to her, and to her family to be their best on the holidays. Family would come in from all over the country for a long weekend of catching up, eating, sleeping, eating again and facing the Black Friday crowds at the local department stores to kick off the holiday shopping.

Loaded with fall colors, warm and inviting, the carnelian rectangles definitely make me hungry. They look sweet, like butterscotch candies, or pumpkin pie.

Your shopping list:
Carnelian rectangles - Sedona Stones
Vintage lucite Dark Rust Moonglow Heishi Rondells 4 x 8mm - Beadin Path
Citrine coins - Sedona Stones
Vintage lucite Cube Beads 10mm Smoky Quartz - Beadin Path
22-gauge Copper wire - Rings & Things
Fresh water pearls - Sedona Stones
Faceted red agate - Sedona Stones



Wrap seven carnelian rectangles with the copper wire.
Add copper links with vintage lucite beads - set aside.



String a pattern of pearls, vintage lucite, citrine and red agate and work into the design.
Add a clasp



Polish off the fingerprints (this step I forgot)
Wear with a smile.



Perfect recipe for a great holiday necklace

Celebrating sping - Beadin Path Design Partner

*blink* *blink* Celebrating spring? whaa???

I can't help myself.

Here in NC it isn't so bad in the fall. It is pretty temperate all year actually. The problem lies in my mind - there I said it.

In my mind November is cold, frost on the pumpkin, crops comin in out of the fields, sweaters, blazing fire places, dark mornings, and gaining 15 lbs.

I am already projecting myself into April's cool moist mornings, fragrant with freshly tilled earth and early blooming flowers. That is the inspiration or mebbe even the desperation that channeled this bracelet.

Close your eyes and think of spring and the grass that is trying to grow. Clumps, spotty through the yard, with tiny violas, jonquils and crocus' pushing their way up. I am there, barefoot, wiggling my toes in the cool morning grass.




I used the LUC4525OR Vintage Lucite Tangerine Moonglow - 7mm rounds from Beadin Path as one of the strands.

Pink fresh water pearls or the second strand.
Lampwork, crackle quartz and opalite for the third strand

Give them a good mingle.




Three strands for a bulky sunshiney spring time celebration bracelet.
I'm ready.

Beadin Path Design Partner - Epic Fail!

This entry is difficult to write. I have been working on this necklace since Wednesday, and it has nearly beaten me. No, I may succumb to the will of this necklace and say, Yes, I am beaten.

It all started with this. A great picture of a rambling rose. I have these awesome German vintage flower beads from Beadin Path and they have been taunting me. I did not have any inspiration to work with them and had no idea what to do.

I saw this picture and the idea began to form. I wanted a bulky piece, a multi strand piece, something random and tangled.

And so the building began.





I started with a triple strand, made it simple. Gold stone and the vintage flowers. Make it as a base. Easy enough.

Wrong.

I got started on the necklace. As I pulled the third strand thru so I could anchor it to a copper link, this happened.


Right in the middle of the design. AAAARRRRGGGG!!!!!! *sigh* The plastic coating on the wire had been stripped. More than likely from a burr on the inside of the bead. Begin again Finnegan. I pulled the strand back out, replaced it and began on the design again. At this point, I was mad and decided to put it down and take a breather.

Thurs.

Picked up the design, less frustrated and started again. This is where it gets ugly. I am gonna warn you now, the following pictures are disturbing. I had the necklace laid out on the kitchen table, one side anchored to the copper link, the other ends of the strands still loose. The dogs are dancing at the front door (it has been raining and they only go out when they have to - sissies) I leave the necklace on the table and let the dogs out. They do their business and when I come back to the kitchen I find this.....


My floor is filthy from the Four Hellhounds and the coupious amounts of debris they track in from the yard. My necklace is on that floor. My cat, had decided the loose strands were his toy, and flung it off the table.

*CENSORED* *beats head against table*

My room mate scensed my frustration and helped me pick up as many of the beads as we could from the floor -


And the re stringing began. This had me hot - HOT. Working with these little 2 - 3mm beads is a pain. I don't have the patience to string them one at a time. I have a system where I pull them off in groups from the hank and thread them all at the same time. That way I am stringing them in 3/4" to 1 " groups.

Let me show you. This makes stringing tiny pre-strung beads a breeze.
Grip several of the beads between your index finger and thumb.


Gently pull the thread from the beads, keeping the 'pinched' beads firmly held.



Now you have a group of bead, held in place and the holes are lined up.


Push your beading wire thru


And now Wha-La!

Look they are all strung. It makes is go by so much faster.


Now you see where my frustration was stemming from, lets move on to the next disaster. The middle flower is upside down. By this time I am dangerously quiet. I put the design down and James takes me out for my birthday. Beer is good.

This morning, despite the upside down flower smack dab in the MIDDLE of the design, I continue on with the building. I have 5 strands, I want it to represent the flowers in the middle of a bramle/rambling rose type wandering flowering brush. I wanted the flowers to peak out, and the green and brown lucite to be the branches and the clumps of leaves. I weave the strands thru each other to give it a tangled look and it finally comes together.

Until......


The final strand, the last anchor, before the necklace is complete - this happens.
THE PLASTIC COATING PULLS AWAY FROM THE BEADING WIRE A SECOND TIME!!!!!!
IS THERE NO MERCY???? WHAT HAVE I DONE TO ANGER THE BEADING GODS!!!!
WHY!!!!!!


At this point I have lost it. It is all I can do not to throw the necklace along with my new nippers into the trash. Oh, the nippers??? Yes my new nippers. I am SO disappointed. They cut the silver and copper wire, like butter, but the bead a lon, they mash, that is all they do, mash. I looked at the edges of the nipper and from cutting wire, they are all mar'd and chew'd up. *sigh* I threw them away. I am sure they are in a cozy trash truck as I write this heading for the landfil playground.

This necklace is going into a bag and onto a shelf where it can rot for all I care. It has to be completely re done, from scratch to change the upside down flower back upright. I don't have it in me.

I will show you the end product and maybe one day in the future it will be a completed design.




Tomorrow I am going to the Intergalactic Bead Show and buy myself a new pair of nippers and try to find Ms. Suzzanne of A Grain of Sand and see her wonderful wares in person.