Congratulations SandFibers!!!

Congratulations SandFibers on your 3 year Etsy anniversary!!!!

To celebrate this milestone, SandFibers is offering 20% off from now till the 6th March!!!!

Please visit SandFibers' blog for details. In the meantime here is a selection of some of my favourite items from her shop:

Ok I could go on and post almost every single item in her shop.... sooo many gorgeous and funky beadwoven pieced!!! Here are just a handful of some of my favourites.... visit her shop and see all the rest!!!!

Don't forget to visit SandFibers' blog for details on how to qualify for the 20% off!!!!

Stepping Stones - Bead-embroidered collar

Well, here it is the piece I blogged about a couple of weeks ago.... After a few false starts I finally settled down and stuck to one idea and carried it through to the end. I was so petrified of not getting this piece right because I was using one of Lisa Peters' Art's beautiful ceramic cabochons and I really didn't want to mess it up!!! hence all the starting, unpicking, cutting up... but I am pleased with the result and doubly pleased that Lisa liked it!!! :-)

Stepping Stones

Lisa is a fellow member of the Bead Art Originals and she makes the most beautiful ceramic beads, buttons and cabochons. If you are not familiar with her work, you must check her out!!! http://lisa-petersart.blogspot.com/

I am the proud owner of quite a few of her pieces (and have some on the way).... Between wanting to do her pieces justice and selfishly wanting to keep them all to myself so I can look and touch them (they are sooo gorgeous) I've been reluctant to use them.... hopefully I've gotten over that little mind obstacle and you should be seeing quite a few of my future pieces incorporating these gorgeous ceramic treasures! :-)

If you are interested in finding out more about the materials used for this piece and the measurements, please click on the picture or here.

For now, I'm off to play with my new keyboard.... at the age of almost 42 I decided to take up piano lessons and I'm loving it!!!! and I'm one of those people that when they start something new they need to get all the equipment! :-) of course a piano was out of the questions (too expensive) but a keyboard, that I'm sure my son will end up using as much as me, didn't break the bank, so 2 days ago I went and got one! :-) and I'm so glad I did, and by practicing a couple of hours every day I have already seen an amazing improvement... my piano teacher will be so impressed and surprised! :-)

Wishing everyone a great day and happy beading! :-)

BAO Items of the Week

Here are this week's items from the BAO.

My item this week is:

Black and Pink Pearl Pendant

Purchase and pay for this item between now and 1st March and receive 5% off + free shipping to anywhere in the world! :-)

Please visit the BAO and check out all the amazing bead artists that belong to this group and see what specials are being offered this week:
http://beadartoriginals.blogspot.com/

Dove of Hope by Daniella Flakowicz

Today I'm showing the work of a wonderfully talented Israeli artist; Daniella Flakowicz.

I met Daniella when she attended my bead-embroidery workshops a few months back, and as you will be able to see, she took to bead-embroidery like a duck to water! :-) Although I'm not surprised because if you check her website, you will see she is a woman of many artistic talents!

When Daniella described this piece to me and the reasons why she created it, I had goose bumps all over and tears in my eyes. This piece is not only stunning, but the reasons behind its creation are so touching.

This is what Daniella had to say about this piece:

"Here is the dove of hope... created with all my thoughts and concern for Gilad Shalit. I ended the work on day 900 of his captivity ,which is 21600 hours !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Imagine.

Each bead was carefully embroidered as one hour of Gilad's time.
I hope and pray he is released as soon as possible!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have dedicated this project to Gilad's mother as a very small thing I could do to be with her.

I thank you Triz for teaching me the art of bead embroidery, so I could combine it with my love of painting and colours, even though I limited the colours to white and shades of blue, colours of our national flag .

I hope as many people see this dove of hope, so we don't forget our Gilad, a son of ours. "

The Hebrew words are from a proverb from the bible: "that our sons shall return to our borders"

I can't really add much more to this.... the piece is stunning, its sentiments are even more beautiful.... I'm deeply honoured that I had a tiny (tiny) part in teaching this technique to such a wonderful artist, and I too pray and hope for the speedy release of Gilad Shalit!!!

If you are unfamiliar with who Gilad Shalit is, please visit http://www.habanim.org/en/gilad_en.html and read more about his story.

BAO Item of the Week

Here are this week's items from the BAO.

My item this week is:

Black Panther Bracelet

Purchase and pay for this item between now and 22nd February and receive 5% off + free shipping to anywhere in the world! :-)

Please visit the BAO and check out all the amazing bead artists that belong to this group and see what specials are being offered this week:
http://beadartoriginals.blogspot.com/

when things go pear-shaped....

A few days ago I showed a sneak preview of a piece I've been working on.... well... that one was scrapped... and this one is the next version:

but wasn't happy with this one either, so I cut it up and decided to keep Lisa Peters' gorgeous cabochon as a pendant... so cut the sides off.... and started enlarging the centrepiece... finished it... and decided that I didn't like it on its own... so started making some side panels for it!!! Ok, so I'm a bit lost... I think it's because I feel so pressurized to do this piece justice and just can't seem to find my way :-)

so here is the latest development:

I'm relatively happy with the centrepiece! I think the side bits are going ok :-) but still, am not sure where they are going... am not sure if I'm going to fringe, embellish, etc. ... I just hope that I don't cut it up again!!! so much wasted beading time!!! :-)

They say three times' a charm!!! lets hope so!! :-)

Got to take my little monkey to the doctor, he's developed a rash all over his body and face, I'm guessing it's one of those kiddie diseases... so am going to stop beading for the day... but come back in a few days time to see where this piece takes me... and hopefully it will be somewhere :-) blood and sweat I say :-)

EtsyBeadWeavers Tropical Holiday Challenge - time to vote!

It's that time again.... time for voting!!!! Go to the EtsyBeadWeavers' Blog and vote for your favourite piece!!!! It will not be easy to pick just one out of 47 gorgeous entries!!! But that is what you must do! ;-)

My entry for this challenge is # 19 - Tropical Chic Choker

Voting ends on the 15th February, so don't put it off!!!

http://etsy-beadweavers.blogspot.com/

New Piece (sneak preview) + BAO Items of the Week

Yesterday I started working on a new bead-embroidered piece using one of Lisa Peters' gorgeous cabochons.  I've had this beautiful piece for a while, but was a bit intimidated using it, for fear of not doing it justice....  it's soooo gorgeous!!! :-)

I figured, if I don't like the piece I can always cut it up and try again... so I brave it and started it, and here is how far I  got.  The cabochon is rather large and was thinking of using it on its own... but why do things simply, so I challenged myself to make a collar with it... obviously inspired by the swirls in the cabochon I started beading swirls around some tiny Swarovski flat-back crystals... so far I'm really happy with the result and can't wait to get back to beading it!!!! let's see how it develops, as right now I have almost no idea! :-)

 

And here are this week's BAO's gorgeous Items of the Week:

Silly me, forgot that I had already featured this item a few weeks ago... but never mind, in case you missed it then, here is your chance to purchase my Turquoise Delight Cuff  between now and the 15th February with 5% off + free shipping to anywhere in the world!!! :-)

 

 

Please visit the BAO and check out all the amazing bead artists that belong to this group and be sure to check out the Items of the Week and see what specials are being offered this week:
http://beadartoriginals.blogspot.com/

Come back soon and see how my new bead-embroidered piece develops!!! for now, I'm off to my very first piano lesson!!! should be fun! :-)

Thank you Ixela!!!

There is nothing more fun than to receive presents in the mail!!! and the other day I received the most beautiful gift!!!! I was so exited to go to the post office and see what had arrived for me!!!

My dearest friend Ale from Ixela sent me the most gorgeous little neck warmer ever!!!!

I love it soooo much that I've actually put it on my dummy in my living room so when I'm not wearing it I can just admire it!!! it is that gorgeous!!! from the amazing colour to the beautiful design to the gorgeous flower pin (which could be easily worn on its own)... I just love it!!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you so much Ale... I really have no words.... it's so beautiful and so nice of you!!!!!

If you are not familiar with Ixela's beautiful crochet work and whimsical jewellery, you must pay her a visit!!!!

 

 

 

Here is another example of her amazing work and definitely on the top of my wish list!!!!

Peru' - Shawl/Wrap

Visit Ale's shop and blog - you will not be disappointed!!!!

http://www.ixela.etsy.com/ and http://ixela-thoughts.blogspot.com/

BAO Items of the Week

Another great selection from the BeadArtOriginals!!!!

My item this week is: Spring Bride Bracelet

Purchase and pay for this bracelet between now and 8th February and receive 5%off + free shipping!!!

Go and check out the other amazing items and see what special offers are attached to them this week only! http://beadartoriginals.blogspot.com/