More Chic... thank you Bettina!

Who would have thought that when I made the first Tropical Chic Choker for the EtsyBeadWeavers' Tropical Holiday Challenge that they would have turned out so popular!!!

Apart from the fact that I really enjoy making these and have made a few variations in different bright colourful combinations, I also made some for each of my sisters for their birthdays; one in pink for Silvia and one in dark navy/purple for Claudia, and had a custom order for a fuchsia one.... but I would probably not have thought of making these in black had it not been for my cousin who asked me to make her some... and so I did and am so thrilled with how they turned out that am actually thinking of making myself a set!!! I really love these!!! and so for the inspiration I need to thank Bettina!!! thank you so much!!! I hope you get to enjoy wearing the Black Chic Choker and Black Chic Earrings as much as I enjoyed making them!!!! and hope you love them as much as I do!!!

Apart from these... I have been working on a very luscious bead-embroidered cuff... it's so close to being finished... I think I'm about 45 minutes away from the end.... but have been so distracted lately, that it's has not progressed... this weekend I will be busy with my real job, so I don't think I'll get it done... but maybe, if I can find an hour to spare... and a few more to photograph it... I should have it posted, hopefully, by next week...

In the meantime... let me know what you think of the black version of these pieces... wishing everyone happy beading!!! :-)

Let My People Go - Egyptian-style Collar

I know I say this a lot... after I finish many of my pieces... but this time I really mean it!!! finally!!! I didn't think I would ever, EVER finish this piece!!!! Between having to redo parts of it and making and undoing and remaking at least 5 or 6 different fringes... finally :-) I settled (decision-wise) with a short fringe going all the way round to keep in line with the curve of the beadwoven collar and.... I LOVE it!!! Not too sure how quickly I would make another one of these.... but I do love how it came out... finally!!! :-)

This is my entry for the EtsyBeadWeavers' November Challenge 'Ancestral Expressions' - Let My People Go

The inspiration behind “Let My People Go” came from the story of Pesach (Passover). Pesach commemorates the departure of the nation of Israel from Egypt. It marks the birth of the Jewish people as a nation led by Moses over 3000 years ago. It is a as much a celebration of our spiritual freedom as it is the physical liberation from slavery.

I was born on the 7th day of Passover, because of this my parents gave me the middle name Miriam (sister of Moses). I’ve always felt a strong connection to the history of this festival. The Jewish people spent over 200 years in Egypt and this piece is inspired by the jewellery and colours of those times.

Please visit the EtsyBeadWeavers' blog and vote for your favourite from a selection of gorgeous beadwork! Voting starts 9th November!!! http://etsy-beadweavers.blogspot.com/

Red.... amongst so much grey....

What a miserable day it turned out to be..... grey, rainy, cold, miserable.... thankfully it started off beautifully, with blue, clear, sunny skies, and was therefore able to take some decent shots of my 3rd and last piece for the Etsy Beadweavers Red Challenge (Go and vote! :-D)

I finished it late last night.... this challenge has really inspired me.... and although this bangle was inspired by a previous bangle I made ("Funky Lifesaver") it is quite different both in design and in execution, yet it is based on the same principle of tubular RAW (Right Angle Weave) and embellishment. They take a bit of concentrating, but I love making these bangles.... very meditative and therapeutical.... you constantly have to think of which way to turn, but at the same time it has its own momentum.... it's not my first stitch of choice when I make a piece, because I know I need to be 100 % mentally there... no distractions, no interruptions... but once I start a project, I get really into it and love doing it!!!...

and here it is:

Royal Flash Bangle

This tubular Right Angle Weave (RAW) bangle is warm, luxurious, rich, elegant and flash, it reminds me of the Queen’s jewels. Stitched using "antique-gold", garnet red and frosted red Czech seed beads, embellished with tiny pearl seed beads and purple, green and blue Swarovsky crystals. Looks amazing with a black evening dress and just as great with jeans.... Funky chic!

I don't think the picture does the actual bangle justice... it's so much more... hmmm... delicious, in real life.... much deeper colours, especially the reds.... but it's the best I could do.... but I am definitely improving! :-)

Photography by Patrizia Tager

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Don't forget, the voting starts soon!!! :-)

Please visit http://etsy-beadweavers.blogspot.com/ from the 7th January and view all the wonderful entries at the EBW’s blog and vote for your favourite piece from a selection of very talented bead weavers.

Magic Red Carpet - EBW Red Challenge

Photography by Patrizia Tager

I'm seeing red everywhere.... particularly around my nose.... I've got a stinking cold.... the sort that makes you dread every sneeze.... :-)

And speaking of red.... here is my 2nd entry for the Etsy Beadweavers Red Challenge.... love this herringbone-stitched bracelet!.... I love the texture and the deep red and purple together with the matte antique-gold.... it feels very rich and luxurious.... and..... I'm so pleased with the photos, which I took myself..... thank you Avia for letting me in on the ins and outs of jewelry photography.... not as good as Avia's, but seeing that I had to take them with my crappy digital camera, and I literally had 5 mins of batteries..... I'm very pleased with the overall result... yeah!!! :-)

Again, let me remind you that on the 7th January voting starts at the Etsy Beadweavers Blog. So please, please, please :-) go and vote!

Better get back to nursing my runny nose.... and back to my beading.... a few projects on the go.... soon to be revealed ;-)

Happy new year!

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Please visit http://etsy-beadweavers.blogspot.com/ from the 7th January and view all the wonderful entries at the EBW’s blog and vote for your favourite piece from a selection of very talented bead weavers.