Valentines day - The Art Beads Way!

I showed you the fun beads I received from ArtBeads in this previous post and this morning I found the time I have been looking for all week to sit down and create. I fell in love with the Queen of Hearts Fire Design Furnace Glass* as soon as I laid eyes on their shiney cylindrical goodness and used them for the bulk of this design.

I combined two strands by double stringing random beads with the beading wire. What this means is, I strung the first strand randomly, then as I strung the second strand, I would run the wire thru a few of the beads of the first strand and then continue to string it randomly as well. The third strand I weaved (wove?) thru the 'loops' made from the double stringing. These three strands were a random mix of the Queen of Hearts furnace glass* , along with beads I had purchased from ArtBeads 4mm Fire Polish Mix Red Tones (50 Pack), TOHO™ Bead Round 6/0 Opaque-Lustered Pearl White 8g Bag, and added some great accent beads from my inventory - red Czech glass, sterling daisies, Czech black glass, and a black designer seed bead mix.

I added two separate red strands of seed beads, one I weaved thru the gaps again, and the second I made a bit shorter to show off the Sterling/Resin 16mm Pendant - Red XOXO Flowers*
The pendant is attached to the necklace with a jump ring making it easy to detach if I want something less 'valentiney' and more basic. I love the versatility of it.

With the tangle and the firey reds and the smokey grays - it reminds me of a firey love affair. So I have named it - Torrid Tangle - which seems to be fitting.




I am working on earrings and a bracelet using the Queen of Hearts collection from the selection of Fire Designs collection of furnace beads at ArtBeads. I'll show you those tomorrow!


These beads and more can be found at ArtBeads.com, and while you are browsing, Don't forget -

Artbeads' 10th Anniversary Sweeps

Sweepstakes Starts January 06, 2010 @ 09:00 am (PST)

Sweepstakes Ends March 04, 2010 @ 11:59 pm (PST)

Good luck and happy shopping!!


*FTC compliance disclosure: the '*' items mentioned in this post credited to Art Beads were provided as a promotional gift as part of the Blogging for Beaders Program. These items are for review or design purposes.

February's Giveaway!

Just in time for Valentines day I will be giving away a pair of hammered sterling earrings, shaped like a heart with a Czech crystal dangle.





To enter, just leave a comment on what is your ideal valentines gift! I will draw a winner randomly on Monday!!
Good Luck!!

Fun Valentine beads from Art Beads!

Being part of the ArtBeads blogging team is such an honor especially when I see the other blog team members posts. Their work is outstanding and their vision of how to use the products from ArtBeads, stunning!

Duchess, the community coordinator of ArtBeads offers great support and enthusiasm for all the bloggers. She gets just as excited about the bead choices as I do! (I would love to see some of her designs, I bet they are awesome)

Keeping with the valentines theme for Feb. I chose these components as the base of the necklace I want to make:

QUEEN OF HEARTS Fire Designs Hand Blown Furnace Glass *A very fitting name :)
These glass beads make me happy. They are beautiful. They are heavy, and bigger than I thought. They will make a great base for this design. The color combinations are also a plus. With the black and white added, it can be a design that is worn all year, not limiting it to a seasonal favorite.
Sterling/Resin 16mm Pendant - Red XOXO Flowers* This is a fun and youthful pendant perfect to add a bit of whimsy to any design.


To go along with these beads, I couldn't pass up these items and had to purchase a few things to go along with them. The prices at Art Beads are unmatched online. To offer the deals they do, and offer discount codes to go along with their already low prices, not requiring a minimum order AND FREE SHIPPING!!! Who wouldn't want to shop there! (that combination makes me stupid!)

Here is what I added:
4mm Fire Polish Mix Pink Tones (50 Pack)
4mm Fire Polish Mix Red Tones (50 Pack)
TOHO™ Bead Round 6/0 Opaque-Lustered Pearl White 8g Bag
TOHO™ Bead Round 6/0 Opaque-Lustered Cream 8g Bag



What I forgot to take a picture of was these great little scrolled metal hearts -

Antique Silver Heart Scroll Bead

I can't wait to get started on this! Got Valentine jewelry ideas of your own? Post a link in my comments, I would love to see them!


Don't forget -

Artbeads' 10th Anniversary Sweeps

Sweepstakes Starts January 06, 2010 @ 09:00 am (PST)

Sweepstakes Ends March 04, 2010 @ 11:59 pm (PST)

Good luck and happy shopping!!


*FTC compliance disclosure: the '*' items mentioned in this post credited to Art Beads were provided as a promotional gift as part of the Blogging for Beaders Program. These items are for review or design purposes.