Day of the Dead Cuff

I didn't have a plan when I bought this raku skull bead but I simply had to have it. The beadwork is mounted on a two-inch brass cuff, backed with fuchsia ultrasuede. You can't tell in this photo, but she's got a flower sequin in each 'ear.' Can't explain it, but I've apparently developed a thing for skulls. I plan on keeping this one. ~Penny

Ahoy, ye scurvy dogs!

I finally be done with this bit o' pirate booty. Figgerin' out what clasp t' use had me hornswoggled fer nigh on four moons, but I reckon this'n does the trick. 'Tis comely, eh? ~Penny

Another UFO Done

Finally finished this Marcia DeCoster Terracita bracelet. This UFO has been lurking in the bead box for a long time. Love the colors. There's earrings to match but I forgot to put them in the picture. The orange string of beads on the back is a safety chain for the magnetic closure. The safety chain is naturally twisting to the back of the medallions when it's on your wrist so it's not noticeable.

--- Sandy

UFO Finished

Finished a UFO Friday. Only 9,999 more to go.

--- Sandy

Disaster Strikes

I've been beading along on this rivoli bracelet and feeling smug because things are going more smoothly than the last project. I'm getting another of the dreaded UFOs finished. I even found a couple more rivolis so I don't have to make a shopping trip.

Then I turn it over. Well, crap! A thread has broken and it's dribbling charlottes. Naturally, it's the rivoli right in the middle. A bit of gnashing of teeth and it's off to do repairs before I bezel the last two rivolis.

--- Sandy

Cab in Progress

This one's giving me fits. The cab is a gorgeous piece of chrysocolla and malachite and I'm having a heck of a time with colors. The colors are more saturated than they appear in the photo. Robin's egg and deep turquoise blue, along with three shades of green.

Although I prefer working on a white background, the finished piece looks better on a color. I might set it aside and start another piece tomorrow. ~Penny

Measure Twice, Cut Once

On Thursday I thought I'd made this bracelet the right length. Then I smoothed it out and all the ripples stretched out. Now it's way too long. Hmmm, guess that happened because the drops don't hold the ripples as tightly as the 8's are supposed to. Rats! (Actually, I think my language was a little more colorful than that.)

I haven't been able to bring myself to cut off the end to shorten it. I think I'm going to try running a thread lengthwise up and down the bracelet and use that to get the tension back in the ripples to shorten it. If I run through it twice, it should hold. I'll try that this weekend before taking the drastic step of using the scissors.

---Sandy

Skull & Crossbones Cuff

I'm making this cuff with my hairdresser in mind. Keeping it reasonably masculine is a bit of a challenge. I started it two days ago and hope to have it finished by the end of next week ... we'll see how it goes.
I haven't decided whether to attach it to a leather cuff or just back it with suede or ultrasuede. Once the beading is complete, I might take it by the salon and, if he's interested in it, ask what type backing he'd prefer. ~Penny

Off to a Slow Start ...

Since I horned in on this blog, you'd think I'd at least be ready to jump right in, wouldn't you? I'd planned on beading last night, but ended up watching Little Big Man instead. I've got two bead embroidery projects in progress and will work on at least one of them today, with a photo and update tonight. ~Penny

RAW Bracelet

A couple of months ago I bought several mass of 3mm fire polish to make some of Marcia DeCoster's bracelets shown in Bead & Button RAW special issue. Finally I got around to starting one. This is the brown iris. I think I'm going to use the blue rivoli with it but the vintage button would look good too.

I learned a lesson about reading the directions thoroughly instead of assuming that I know what to do. You're supposed to use a loose tension and I stormed ahead with my usual tight-ass beading style. Uh, oh. You can't get the 8s to fit if the tension is too tight. So I'm going to use small drops instead. At the retreat I saw Ruthann using drops on her's and it looked really great. --- Sandy

Purple Haze

When I first started beading, everything I did was either purple or teal/turquoise or a combination of the two. Finally and gradually, I moved on to other colors hardly ever using any shade of purple at all. Well, purple is back. I've bought several strands of purple beads and stones in the last few weeks and now then it seems that's all I want to work with. Here's Saturday's strung necklace and the necklace I started yesterday.

Saturday afternoon I taught a class at Antiques, Beads in Pearland - an embellished square stitch bracelet. Had seven great students. --- Kay

New Beginnings!

Yesterday at Bead Group Sandy suggested we start blogging our beading again. This is a good thing - it makes me aware of how much or, often, how little I accomplish on a daily basis. And Penny is going to join us. Welcome Penny and feel the pressure!

I have a new customer. I met Jonellen for lunch one day recently and was showing her some of the pieces I had for our Kemah show. The restaurant owner came by, asked to look, and ordered two pair of earrings. When I delivered the earrings, she asked that I make her some bracelets. There's a problem: She wants stretchy bracelets. But I can make stretchy bracelets! Her favorite colors are red and black and she likes gold accents. She wants to see what other pieces I have so yesterday afternoon I strung these two necklaces to show her - of course, in her colors. -- Kay