Nicole’s Brooch Kit

I cannot believe it is almost a month since my last blog post!!! shameful!!! and I apologize but I’ve been so uninspired (and tired) lately…. I started lots of projects but was neither inspired nor did I have the energy to finish any of them… until yesterday!

Yesterday I received a package in the mail from Nicole Campanella of Beadwright!!!! I was so excited !!!! I love receiving packages, especially when they contain beads!!! :-)

So I went to my favourite place to bead… my bed… I opened it and was pleasantly surprised to find one of Nicole’s beading kits inside!

I’ve never had a beading kit before and I never made a brooch before so I was super-excited to try it out and quickly opened it and laid it all out on my bed!

Inside was everything you need to create a gorgeous bead-embroidered dichroic brooch: Instructions, a beautiful dichroic cabochon (see photo below) , my favourite beadbacking (which Nicole makes), leather, beads, thread, wax and even a needle! All I had to provide was the glue, a pair of scissors and a few hours of my time :-)

So I set off to make the brooch! The instructions were clear, concise and easy to follow, there were plenty of beads (even some left over in case I decide to make something to match). Everything was clearly labelled so that when the instructions required to use one of the materials I knew exactly what to use!

I had so much fun making this!!!! and it couldn’t have come at a better time, in terms of me feeling uninspired and because I’ve been wrecking my brains trying to figure out what to give my mother for her upcoming birthday… and this is just perfect!!!

Picking up needle and beads again jump started me into finishing 2 of the many project I’ve had on the go and had no inclination to finish!!! So come back in a few days and check them out! In the meantime, here are Nicole’s links:

Kits: http://www.etsy.com/shop/Beadwright?section_id=5100236
Etsy Shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/Beadwright
Website: http://www.nicolecampanella.com
Blog: http://www.beadwright.blogspot.com
Nicole’s Beadbacking :
http://www.nicolecampanella.com/MYWEDSTIE/Bead_Backing.html

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Disclosure: I was asked to try out and review Nicole Campanella’s bead kit and I received the kit free of charge. This post reflects my honest opinion and Nicole Campanella is not compensating me for my endorsement as it pertains to the products received and reviewed.

EBW September winners

The winner of the EtsyBeadWeavers Indian Summer Challenge is:

Indian Summer Sunset by Lorraine of Trinity Designer Jewellery

Second place is my dear friend Miriam from Cielo Design (who has to listen to me bitch and moan on a daily basis! and for that she deserves a medal!) :-) with her Parvati's Grace Necklace

and 3rd place… yours truly with my Indian Summer Nights

Thank you to all of you who voted for me, I really appreciate it!!!

To see the rest of the runners up + all the gorgeous entries, please visit the EBW blog.

BAO Item of the week

It’s been a GREAT week!!! My son is not only back at school, but he is going to be there (from Sunday) till 4.30 pm everyday!!! Which means my life can go back to normal (last year he was coming home at 1.30 pm everyday)… so not only will I have time to get all my work done (real job) but also have time to create new pieces, start working on some instructions for sale…. and hopefully, if I can get it together, start making some beaded bags…. which is actually why I started beading in the first place!!! I have a terrible bag fetish… the more the merrier! :-) I have all the materials… I just didn’t have the time to sit down and start my first one! :-)

As soon as I catch up with my “real” work… I will buckle down and start working on all the things I’ve been dreaming about for over a year!!!

In the meantime… here are this week’s BAO items, all gorgeous as usual!!!

My item this week is one of my very favourite beadembroidered pieces. Aztec Treasure – this piece was published in the gallery section of Nicole Campanella’s Flatwork book.

Purchase and pay for this OOAK necklace between now and 10th September and receive 20% off!!!

Visit the BAO blog to see all the specials being offered this week - http://beadartoriginals.blogspot.com/

And last… but not least…. I want to thank all of you who followed me on Twitter and left comments on my previous post. I won!!! and it was a landslide win thanks to all of you!!! The winner of my earrings giveaway will be announced on Sunday, so make sure you come back! :-)

Wishing everyone a wonderful weekend ahead!!!

BAO Item of the week

Another stunning selection from the Bead Art Originals!!!

My item this week:

Purple Flower Necklace – OOAK

Purchase and pay for this necklace between now and 3rd September and receive 20% off!!!

Visit the BAO blog and check out all the other offers on these gorgeous items! http://beadartoriginals.blogspot.com/

Amazon Warrior - Bracelet

Sometimes I get the inspiration, the time and the absolute need to bead! Lately it’s been one of those times! :-)

Half-way through making the Amazon Warrior Choker (see previous post and bottom photo) I already had a complete design worked out in my mind for a matching bracelet…. and here it is:

Amazon Warrior - Bracelet

 

I love both pieces so much that I am truly reluctant to part with either!!!!  I have to try and see if I can find more of these mother-of-pearl shell beads… I thought I bought them about 2-3 years ago, but I just realized that it must have been more like 4 years ago… the shop I bought them from closed down around two years ago and I have no idea how I'm going to find them again :-(  That will be my mission this weekend!!! because I really want a set for myself!!! :-)

Here is a reminder of the necklace I blogged about in a previous post:

Wishing all of you who celebrate Shavuot a very hag sameach!!! Eat lots of cheesecake for me… I’m (trying to be) on a diet, so none for me! :-)

My son is off kindergarten for the holiday so we will be spending most of it by the pool… I wish I could take my beadwork there! :-) maybe when he’s a bit older :-)

Wishing everyone an early wonderful weekend!!! :-)

Stepping Stones Cuff

It feels like ages since I posted anything new... and am happy to finally do so!!! This cuff was so much fun to make and at the same time took forever!!!!  The main part  was ready weeks ago, and I was about 3 hours away from the end.... I had a complete mental block towards it and refused to finish it!... probably because I wasn't 100% happy with it.... it's the over-achiever-perfectionist-nutcase in me :-)  Now that it's finished, finally, I do LOVE it!!! I really love the colours! I used lots of shades of grays and bronze, accented with dark purple Swarovski pearls and light gray fresh-water pearls.... full of sparkle!!!   What can I say... I just love bead-embroidery!!!! and am now going to hide in my bedroom and start something new!!!

To see more information on this cuff click on: Stepping Stones Cuff or the photo.

Tonight is Seder night (1st night Passover) - I will be spending it with my sister and her family... am looking forward to it!  although am sure I will be regretting the over-eating which tends to happen at every Jewish gathering... it's a curse... almost like all sense of reality and what is right escapes you, and you are no longer able to understand when you are satiated and full.... so you eat more... and more... and more!!! :-) I'm full already just thinking of it!!! :-)

Hoping to survive a ridiculous amount of food :-) and wishing everyone a happy Passover!!!

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 :-)

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! :-)

Blue Lagoon Choker

Here is the Blue Lagoon Choker that I spoke about a couple of days ago... I had it all ready for posting, but I got distracted by a new piece, which I love even more than this one, and I love this one a lot!!!  the perfect complement to the Blue Lagoon Cuff!

The pendant is bead-embroidered with my current favourite colour teal....  I tend to go through colour stages... and at the moment, strangely enough for me, I'm on a gold roll... I say strangely for me, as I've never really been a gold person... I have always worn silver, and when I did buy or receive something in gold it's usually white gold... but all of a sudden, all I can see in my mind is these wonderful bright colours combined with gold... does it mean I'm getting old? ;-) are my skull-and-crossbones-silver-jewellery-hanging-from-a-piece-of-leather-days completely over???? well, ok, the skull and crossbones days have been over for a while, I just hadn't paid attention to it... :-)  however the silver pendant on a leather choker pretty much still exists, although since starting to bead, my pendants tend to be beaded and larger, but still hanging off leather :-) it's the repressed hippy in me! :-)

So in this crazed gold and bright colour roll I've almost finished a bead-embroidered cuff, all that is missing is the right clasp/closure for it (I will be checking the net today for just the right one).... and for the last 3 days I've been working on another bead-embroidered choker, also in gold, but with amethyst cabochons and ruby red Swarovski crystals.... I love this colour combination, it's so rich and majestic... and that's what I will be doing for the rest of the day... if my son can entertain himself (he's home from kindergarten with yet another ear infection, but he's ok... his ear is leaking which is why I'm keeping him home... a couple of days of eardrops and he will be back to normal and he's already expressed an interest in playing on the computer today, so my beading time looks pretty much un-threatened )

And one last thing.... my heart, thoughts, prayers go out to all the brave soldiers out there and their incredibly brave and strong families.... to all the mothers of these boys, I have no words.... praying that they all come home safe and sound, that this conflict will be over soon so the south can go back to normal living and in an idyllic world that there will be final lasting peace in the region with ALL our neighbours.... wishing everyone a safe, quiet shabbat shalom!!!!

Celeste Earrings

As the craziness of December is finally over, or is at least winding down... I find myself able to go back to all those projects that I didn't have time or energy to finish... and here is one of those project.

Believe it or not the earrings were almost finished a long time ago, all I had to do is attach the top part to the bottom.... would you believe it if I told you that it took me over 3 weeks to actually sit down and do it?!?! talk about procrastinating... I'm almost ashamed! :-)  I don't know why but there are times when the design is so close to completion and nothing on this earth would actually make me sit down to finish it! why??? I'm not lazy... there are just so many distractions... mainly in my head, with ideas for new pieces... and I just have to move on to the next piece.... it's all very well, until I find myself confronted by tons of pieces that are in the almost-finished-stage... with still more stuff cluttering my little brain! :-)

Anyway, here they are: Celeste Earrings - Bead-embroidered around white Quartz and Jade cabochons in gold glass beads and greeny-blues Swarovski crystals - I just LOVE them!!!! I wish I had learnt how to bead while I was out and about partying in my 20s and 30s... I would have worn these to death!!! :-) now my idea of partying, is cuddling up under the duvet in front of the telly and hoping for 6 hours of sleep! :-) not much need for ear decorations :-)

Tomorrow I will post the Blue Lagoon necklace.... I'm still working on the photos... till then... happy beading!!! :-)

Frozen Waters - Earrings

 

 

I'm so pleased with how the Frozen Waters earrings have turned out that I've already started making a second pair in a different colour.  Although it's really difficult for me to keep to such small dimensions, compared to my cuffs and collars, I really enjoy making these... it's so nice to be able to start a project and finish it in the same day! :-) instead of my usual days or weeks :-)

Sadly the pictures are not brilliant... this is the best one out of a lot of really bad ones...  lack of light, but I will take some more in a few days when I have a few more pieces to photograph and better light! :-)

 

 

 

These earrings are the perfect complement to my entry for  this month EtsyBeadWeavers' Snow Queen December Challenge. 

Frozen Waters - Cuff

Which reminds me voting is currently taking place at http://etsy-beadweavers.blogspot.com/ vote for your favourite piece! voting ends 15th December!!!

Snow Queen EBW December Challenge

 

 

31 amazing entries this month!!!! WOW!!!! I have no idea which I'm going to vote for!!!!! They are all so beautiful, I think I have about 15 favourites!!!! I must narrow it down! :-)  Can you pick your favourite????

GO and check them all out at the EtsyBeadWeavers' blog and vote for your favourite!!!!!  Voting starts today 9th December and lasts till 15th, so don't put it off, cast your vote!!!!!!

My entry for the Snow Queen Challenge is # 11:
Frozen Waters Cuff

Vote for your favourite! http://etsy-beadweavers.blogspot.com/

Picture Framed - Pendant

I had such a horrible start to the morning!!! Every morning my son and I walk our gorgeous 12 year old dog Kaya on the way to his kindergarten.... and this morning was no different... except we were attacked by two crazed dogs who slipped out of their garden and attacked my poor Kaya!!! I felt so helpless... one dog was biting her neck the other her backside... and all I could do was block my son by sandwiching him in between me and the wall... and poor Kaya was looking at me with such helpless eyes... I feel so guilty I couldn't do more for her... but obviously I needed to protect my 4-year-old.... thankfully, and I'm not sure how, she had no cuts... Thank G-d she has thick hair, it obviously protected her... my son and I were a bit shell shocked... but we were all ok.... Problem is I have to go past this house everyday 4 times per day, as it's on the same road as the kindergarten, and it's not the first time they escaped and attacked!!! I called the authorities... I later received a phone call from the city vet, saying that they went to the house, spoke to the owners, who promised that it wouldn't happen again... yeah... same owners who didn't even bother to apologise while they were kicking their own dogs to try and get them to release their grip from Kaya's neck.... not an apology, not a... are you ok? is your son ok?... nothing!!!! I really hope they take better care not to allow their dogs out unleashed and un-muzzled!!! but I know they won't...

Anyway... so I got home really shaken up... needed something to chill me out big time... so I started to bead... and bead, and bead :-) seems that beading has become my sanity... and here is what came out! Picture Framed Pendant

I love the Picture Jasper stone.... it reminds me of these oil paintings my parents used to have around the house when I was a little girl :-)

This was so much fun to make!!! I love beadembroidery!!!! :-)

The picture isn't the best... but it was a bit cloudy and windy, so I had to take the photos really quickly because the wind kept on blowing my setup all over the place...

Now I really must do some 'real' work!!! :-)

Happy beading!!!!

Bead Art Originals - Items of the Week

Less than 2 months till Christmas and Hanukah, which this year coincides with the Xmas holidays...  Get your presents early and go and check out what special promotions the very talented BAO  is offering every week and get those special gifts early with added bonuses or discounts!!!
http://beadartoriginals.blogspot.com/

My item of the week is Pink Flower

Purchase and pay for Pink Flower between now and 9th November and receive 5 % off + FREE registered shipping to anywhere!!!

This is one of my favourite pieces!!! I posted this piece while I was working on it showing its progress. Click on the links below to see those posts:

Pink Flower - Neckpiece - Part 1
Pink Flower - Neckpiece - Part 2 - Finished

BAO Items of the Week

So many things I want from this week's Bead Art Original Items of the Week!!!

My item this week is the Cream and Pearl Pendant - purchase and pay for this item between now and the 2nd November and receive 10% off + FREE shipping!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Please visit the BAO blog to see all the offers available on these gorgeous items for this week only-
http://beadartoriginals.blogspot.com/2008/10/bao-items-of-week-oct-27-nov-2.html

Breast Cancer Project - Part 1

For the last couple of years, Jeanette Shanigan has been collecting donated beaded squares and sewing them into beaded quilts to be auctioned off at the Bead&Button Show.  Each year they have a theme - 2007 was butterflies, 2008 was roses.  (Click the links to look at the amazing quilts!)  They raised $4,400 last year auctioning off the rose quilts.  Here's a link to an article posted on the Bead&Button Show web site about all of the money raised through the Bead Artists Against Breast Cancer fundraiser.

Susan of Clinckscales Arts brought this wonderful project to the attention of the EtsyBeadWeavers members to participate in Jeanette Shanigan's "Bead It Forward" - Bead Artists Against Breast Cancer.  The theme for 2009 is hearts.   The squares are only 1.5"x1.5" (3.8cmx3.8cm) and can be any form of beading (must be attached to a backing material) - embroidery, peyote, brick, raw, etc.  The quilts are called 'bead it forward' because you are supposed to make four squares - one to be sent to Jeanette Shanigan to be included in a quilt and three to send to beady friends with a copy of the rules to inspire them to make a square too.  The deadline is March 15, 2009, and once Jeanette receives all the squares she sews them together into quilts.

Here's a link to the pdf file that you must include with your squares. 

I woke up this morning (too bloody early - 4.30 am!!!!) and as I could not sleep I thought I would get a start on beading these squares.  My son woke up a couple of hours later complaining of pains in his foot, and the poor thing couldn't walk at all - well, he was limping really badly - he went to our neighbours yesterday who have a full sized trampoline.... and I think he may have done something to his ankle.... so as doing anything with him today was out of the question, I gave him some colouring paper and I continued to make my square!

As mentioned above, the theme is "hearts", so I started thinking of all the things I love, and of course the first thing that came to mind is my son!!! and for some reason I started thinking of my pregnancy and all the different feelings I had while I was going through it, which explains this explosion of colours,  I guess!!! :-) Please note, I have included some yellow - ok maybe only a token, but if you read yesterday's post you will understand what an amazing achievement that is for me!!! :-)

Here is my first square and how it developed (I've already started on the second, but you will have to wait till the next time to see it).

 

 

I have to tell you.... this was really, really difficult for me to do!!! I find it extremely hard to work on such a tiny scale (1.5" x 1.5") but even more difficult than the size itself, was having to keep to the exact boundaries.  This is definitely the smallest piece of bead embroidery I have made up to date... and I have 3 more to do!!! :-)

If you are interested in participating in this wonderful project please go to http://shanigansbeadshenanigans.com/ for more information - it's for a GREAT cause!!!!