New and Improved Ambrosian Beads Website !

Before my trip to China, I started work on re-designing the Ambrosian Beads website I share with fellow jewelry designer, Lynnelle Ediger. I found the perfect webhost, Squarespace which included a blog feature and the ability to add PayPal buttons. I also added links to certain items that I have in my Etsy shop. All in all, Squarespace offered more features than I had with my previous webhost. The website is as always, a work in progress, so check back to see what new jewelry designs Lynnelle and I have listed. You can also RSS my blog.

Silk Factory Tour

Picture_0549, originally uploaded by ambrosianbeads.

On our recent trip to China, we were taken to a silk factory in Beijing. Here we see the ladies stretching cocoon silk over a form. They will next take the layers and stretch them out into a bed sized layers to make quilt batting. Check out additional photos of silk production .

Travels in China

DCP_3639, originally uploaded by ambrosianbeads.

My husband and I recently traveled to China on a choral trip and were able to see demonstrations of weaving, silk production and jade carving. Here are some photos of the weaving demo

We have a winner !

Congratulations to Swanee and her winning entry in the Etsy Beadweavers monthly challenge. Stay tuned for the next challenge in January.

November 2007 Etsy BeadWeavers Challenge - Caught in a Net

November 2007 Etsy BeadWeavers Challenge - Caught in a Net, originally uploaded by time2cre8.

Just in time, our voting has been extended ! Check out the Etsy Beadweavers blog to choose your favorite netted bead art.

First paperweight closeup

First paperweight closeup, originally uploaded by ambrosianbeads.

I was going to make a flattened shape at the end of the process, but decided not to when the round shape was starting to look pretty.

First paperweight !

First paperweight, originally uploaded by ambrosianbeads.

No, it's not a very large bead...it's a paperweight !!! I made it with my own two hands (plus two more-the instructor's). I've been dying to try hot glass and finally fit in a trip to DC Glassworks for one of their open house sessions. They have artists making handblown stemware and other beautiful items. One of these days, I hope to have extra funds to pay for more classes.

Agate Slice Necklace

Agate Slice Necklace, originally uploaded by ambrosianbeads.

I took a lovely leaf-shaped slice of agate that I had purchased several years ago and covered the edges with Czech beads in peyote stitch.

Falling Leaves Bracelet

Falling Leaves Bracelet, originally uploaded by ambrosianbeads.

Here is another piece for the show. It is a recycled bracelet covered in leather and herringbone stitch to which I added lots of different leaf shapes and colors.

Green Mosaic Necklace

Green Mosaic Necklace, originally uploaded by ambrosianbeads.

New featured artist show at Artists' Undertaking Gallery ! The theme of our show is "A Change of Season." I focused on the changing colors of leaves and this necklace uses the leaf shapes in the cabochon as the focal point.

Russian Leaf Bracelet

Russian Leaf Bracelet, originally uploaded by ambrosianbeads.

A closeup of the bracelet.

Russian Leaf Earrings

Russian Leaf Earrings, originally uploaded by ambrosianbeads.

Here is a closeup of the earrings.

Russian Leaf Set

Russian Leaf Set, originally uploaded by ambrosianbeads.

I finished the earrings and bracelet to go with the lariat necklace.

Russian Leaf Lariat closeup

Russian Leaf Lariat closeup, originally uploaded by ambrosianbeads.

I finished the Russian Leaf Necklace I started last week. The leaf pattern was fun and easy to make and I can see it leading to many more designs.

Featured on TalentDatabase Today !

A couple days ago, I took the plunge and registered at TalentDatabase ,a website showcasing the work of artists, artisans, musicians, etc. I found out about it from my beading friends on the Etsy Beadweavers street team. The beadweavers seem to have taken over the Crafts channel on certain days. There are alot of interesting and talented people on TalentDatabase. It's worth a look to check them out.

Time to Vote !

The Etsy Beadweavers are asking for your vote in the monthly beadweaving challenge. Photos of all the submissions are on the blog. Please add your voice to this important decision !

New Challenge Piece

This month's Etsy Beadweavers challenge theme is "A Study in Monochrome" and I had just recently finished an unusual necklace which I entitled, "World on a String" . I was trying out a tubular herringbone stitch with three different sizes of beads and ended up making the spiral portion. When I ran out of the large beads, I stopped the spiral and added a necklace cord. At the end of the necklace, I wanted something big and decided to cover a wooden ball to finish it out. It turned out to be one of those designs you can either love or hate. I'm on the fence, but I still think it's definitely "different" !

Leaves are Falling

Here is a preview of a bracelet I'm working on for my next Featured Artist show at Artists' Undertaking Gallery in November. Jane Ernst and I have titled the show "A Change of Seasons" so I wanted to showcase my leaf pattern and build a whole bracelet around it. I haven't decided whether to bring the leaves all the way around the bracelet. I would like to, but I'm only able to do a couple of leaves per day.

New Beaded Bead Necklace

I'm almost finished with a custom order for a repeat customer. She picked these colors from my "Circles and Squares" necklace. I've been trying to get to this order all summer, and since I was on a beaded bead kick, I just went ahead got started with it.

October Beadweaving Challenge

The Etsy Beadweavers are at it again with their next monthly challenge entitled "A Study in Monochrome". Previous themes were "Show Your Colors" for September and "Hot August Nights" for, of course, August. Check out the Etsy Beadweavers blog to see some delightful beadwoven creations by our fabulously creative members.

November Featured Artist

In November, my newest beadwoven jewelry pieces will be exhibited along with digitally manipulated photographs by fellow artist, Jane Ernst in a show entitled "A Change of Season" at the Artists' Undertaking Gallery in Occoquan, Virginia.