Tribal Dance – take 2

Remember my post not long ago about a soutache piece, Tribal Dance, where after I had finished it and taken photos the beads peeled?  Well, I was so upset about it (and still am) and I wanted to make another piece using the same colours… and this is what came out:

Tribal Dance – OOAK Soutache necklace

Although it didn’t come out anything like the first one… I love this one just as much if not even more!!! Really happy with how it turned out and how it looks on!!!

I’m really loving this soutache technique!!! Still learning… and trying out different things with it…. but am definitely loving it!!!

And now… back to the beading table!!! have a wonderful weekend!!!

Enchanted Forest

In keeping with my non-procrastinating attempts…. I locked myself in my room… I made three new soutache pieces… but not only did I make them… but I also pulled myself away from making any more so I could take pictures, post them and blog about them!!! I’m determined not to procrastinate!!!! 

These pieces were inspired by childhood memories of being in a forest and pretending that it was a magical forest…

Enchanted Forest – OOAK Soutache and Bead Crochet Necklace

Enchanted Forest - Soutache Earrings

Enchanted Forest – OOAK Soutache Pendant

I’m so please with how these pieces turned out… can’t wait to get back to the beading table (or in my case the beading bed :-D )… I want to make some more earrings… I really love the look of soutache earrings and NEED to make a few pairs for myself :-)

Procrastinating….

I don’t think there is anyone who is more guilty of procrastination than I am!!! I’m not into new year’s resolutions, but if I was… trying to stop procrastinating would definitely be on the top of my list!!! While writing this post I’m forced to look at myself and try to understand why it is that I do this? I’m not lazy… I enjoy what I do (of course I’m not talking about putting off cleaning the flat… which is the only time I forgive myself for procrastinating!)… so why do I find myself constantly putting off stuff? am I easily distracted? do I have so many ideas floating about in my head that I constantly jump from one to another?… am I too overwhelmed? I think that maybe all apply!!! So this year I will attempt not to procrastinate as much as I usually do… and in an effort to do that I’m now posting pieces that I made in the last few months and just didn’t get around to photograph, list, post, etc. …

Ocean Flower – OOAK Necklace

Ocean Flower – OOAK Cuff

 

Arctic Lagoon – OOAK Earrings

Arctic Lagoon – OOAK Bead Embroidered Leather Cuff

Crowning Glory – OOAK Silver Leather Cuff

All the pieces above were made quite a while ago…. but somehow I didn’t manage to post until recently… and now for some more recently made pieces… all soutache!!! Did I mention that I'm really enjoying this new technique?!?! ;-D

Burgundy, Wine, Lilac, Pink & Silver Soutache Pendant OOAK

Emerald Dream – OOAK Soutache Necklace

And now… I’m finally all caught up!!!! :-D

To celebrate the new year I’m offering a 13% discount on anything in my shop (including sale items and tutorials).  To receive the discount enter coupon code HAPPY2013 (valid till 13th January 2013) at checkout in my etsy shop!

Wishing you all a healthy, successful, prosperous and happy new year!!!! ;-)

Tribal Dance… gone wrong!

This post is not what I was expecting to write today…. in fact, completely the opposite.  I was going to write all about my new soutache necklace and how it took me two and a half weeks to make it… how the design developed… how I felt as though I was giving birth throughout the process… and the excitement of having given birth to this piece… and how happy I was with how it turned out.

Well this morning as the sun came out I took photos of my new piece… worked on them… and was just about to write a description for my listing… when I noticed some of the turquoise beads peeling!?!?  At first I thought it was a bit of fluff… so i tried to wipe them gently with my fingers…. and then the realization that two and a half weeks of intensive labour had just gone down the toilet!!!! Upset???? that would be the understatement of the year!!!! I’m literally fuming!!!!  I guess my only comfort is that they peeled before it was sold and shipped… I would have been mortified to have sold a piece and found out that the colour of the beads had peeled off after the customer had received it!!!

So here is the necklace (prior peeling):

 

I was so, SO pleased with it…. and here is a close up of the part that started to peel (see turquoise rectangular beads, bottom 2 have peeled to white):

I guess what I will do is peel off the rest of the turquoise beads, so that they are all white and keep this piece for myself :-)  at least I’ll get to use the necklace… and it will look great on me this summer :-)  as for those pesky turquoise beads…. the dustbin seems like an appropriate place for them!!!!

as for me…. I’m calling it a day and am going to hide under my duvet!!!

Soutache Fever

I’ve been infected!!! Yes, I also have caught the soutache embroidery bug!!!

After years of not knowing what to do with the soutache braid that laid unused in one of my many boxes containing bits and pieces that I may, or may not use one day… I finally broke down and bought a soutache tutorial! :-)

First of all, let me start by saying that I probably would never have even thought of trying this technique had it not been for my dear friend Miriam Shimon who not only inspired me with her stunning soutache work but also encouraged me and shared some of her secrets with me.  If you are not familiar with her work, please visit her shop, you will not be disappointed!!!  

Here is one of my favourite souache pieces that Miriam designed:

So armed with inspiration and all her support and encouragement I bought a beautifully explained tutorial by Jodi Horgan, who also makes superb soutache work:

and as I’m unable to follow instructions (in terms of design, not technique) this is what I made from the tutorial… my first soutache pendant:

It’s not perfect…. but I love it and it’s the perfect winter pendant for me and I’ve been wearing it non-stop! :-)

As I said… I caught the bug… so I started making more pieces… these are my first (well made) earrings:



Can’t wait to make some more pieces!!!! so stay tuned!

Indian Summer

It’s November… not that you could tell by looking at the weather we are having here… the temperature has dropped slightly… about 3-5 degrees… it’s so unbelievably hot still!!! but at least the nights are cooler than they were in the summer… and thankfully it isn’t as humid!!! 

Don’t get me wrong, I’m NOT complaining… I love the summer, and am not too crazy about the winter… but it would be nice if the temperature would drop a little bit… I don’t know, down to maybe 20-22 degrees.

The thought of Autumn but the reality of what we actually have makes me think of Indian summers and inspired me to create this necklace and matching cuff.

Indian Summer OOAK Necklace

What I’m most proud of in this piece is the beaded caps and closure.  I love wearing leather necklaces but don’t really like how they are usually finished, so I tried to improve on the finish by creating beaded end caps, I think they smarten up the whole look and I’m really pleased how they turned out!

Indian Summer OOAK Cuff







I really love how this cuff turned out! I love using the metallic silver leather!!! and I love the edging, it came out so pretty and the cuff looks amazing on!!!

More silver leather cuffs to follow as soon as I get around to working on the photos!
Till then… happy beading!