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!

La primavera - Spring

I was so excited when Artbeads contacted me as part of the blogging program and told me that this time the theme was “Spring” as spring is my favourite time and I could chose anything from their incredibly large selection of products that reflected my own individual interpretation of Spring for their ‘The Beauty of Spring’ theme.

So I chose the following: Light green Swarovski pearls in 4 different sizes and Swarovski XILION Gold-Plated Setting with 2-Holes in Light Amethyst and this is what I made adding some Japanese gold and gilt-line opal lilac seed beads and a few light amethyst Swarovski crystals.

This is what I made!

La Primavera – Necklace

Luckily, I have a new flatmate! :-) I say luckily because I was able to model the necklace on her neck… as this necklace looks so much better on the neck than off! so thank you Jai Lynn for lending me your neck! :-)

I’ve been super-busy beading up a storm this last week and have since made a complimentary bracelet to this necklace, another necklace and 2 more bracelets… need to stop beading and start taking pictures so that I can show you! :-) hopefully in the next few days and soon after that I will post them!

In the meantime… happy beading everyone and I hope your are all enjoying the spring!!! :-) and don’t forget to check out www.artbeads.com

**************************************************************

Disclosure: I am a reviewer of Artbeads.com products and a participant of its blogging program. I received all the components free of charge. This post reflects my honest opinion and Artbeads.com is not compensating me for my endorsement as it pertains to the products received and reviewed.

1001 Nights – EBWC Challenge

The March theme for the EtsyBeadWeavers’ Challenge is Fairy Tales. My entry for this challenge was inspired by a favourite childhood book of collections of fairy tales titled 1001 Nights – also known as Arabian Nights. This book captivated me with its beautiful and exotic stories of faraway lands and its gorgeous illustrations of bejewelled princesses and treasures. Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves, Aladdin, Sinbad the Sailor where some of the stories in this book. This beautiful sparkly necklace was inspired by both those stories and those beautiful illustrations and was created with loads and loads of gorgeous Swarovski crystals and Czech firepolished multicuts glass beads.

1001 Nights – Necklace

Please visit the EBW blog between the 9th and 15th March and vote for your favourite piece!!! http://etsy-beadweavers.blogspot.com/

**************************************************************

Also, for those who follow me through their e-mail subscription, please note that this will be the last mailing sent out. If you wish to continue following me you can do so by following me on one of these platforms:

Twitter: http://twitter.com/TrizDesigns
FaceBook: http://www.facebook.com/TrizDesigns
Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/trizdesigns/

and of course by joining my Followers list on my blog (mid-right hand column) and/or subscribing to the post (bottom right hand column). I apologise for any inconvenience – happy beading everyone!!! :-)

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/

Through Lilac Tinted Lenses... - Treasury

 

 

This will be my last treasury for a while... I've got a really full week of 'real' work to do coming up... I'm not even sure if I'll have any time for beading!!!  and I haven't finished my EBW Challenge piece yet!!!! not for lack of hours working on it.... I wasted all today, tearing up and re-weaving fringes on the collar I'm working on... and after about 10 hours of that useless exercise, I decided that I like the collar better without any fringes!!!! Two whole days wasted!!! arghhhh!!!! :-)  anyway, I will definitely post the finished piece, but as to when that will be I have no idea! :-) stay posted! :-) In the meantime here is my new treasury, active until Tuesday 4th November:
http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=18577