Blue agate necklace

Blue agate necklace (PixUp), originally uploaded by ambrosianbeads.

Better photos will be coming shortly. This is a necklace that I did a couple years ago. I originally used a purchased glass leaf pendant, but everyone who saw it in my art gallery said "oooohh !!! did you make the pendant ?" After saying "no" one too many times, I vowed never to make another artist's or commercially made pendant the focal point of a piece of beadwork. It took me two years to come up with an idea that I like for another pendant.

I purchased the agate slab while on vacation in Bar Harbor, Maine the summer before, and at the last minute before gallery jury day, I decided it would work perfectly with the unadorned necklace. Feverishly working all day yesterday, going out for a few hours with a friend then staying up until 1:30 am, it was ready to visit the gallery this morning. I haven't checked yet, but I hope it was accepted and will find a new home shortly !

EBW Members Nearly Meet !

A couple days ago I got a Facebook message from a fellow Etsy Beadweaver, Rosita aka CrownRoseGems. She was visiting the Washington, DC area and I felt very honored that she wanted to make a special trip to my fiber co-op to see my beadwork. We nearly made a connection, but plans didn't favor our meeting in person. However, she was able to visit the Potomac Fiber Arts Gallery in the Torpedo Factory Art Center, and graciously complimented my jewelry that she saw while she was there. Please take a look at her beautiful beadwork here . I hope we do get to meet sometime and I hope I get to meet other beadweavers too. My place is always open for a visit from a fellow bead fanatic !
CrownRoseGems

Freeform Necklace Set

Freeform Necklace Set, originally uploaded by ambrosianbeads.

I wanted to stitch up a quick herringbone bracelet, but for some reason, it didn't want to be a bracelet after all. What started out as an easy plan for finishing, turned into a weeks long project that I put aside numerous times. My deadline was the big gallery holiday show, so that forced me to bring this thing to a conclusion. At 11:30pm the night before jurying, I stitched up some earrings to match. It's in the gallery now, and hopefully someone will think it's the perfect gift.

New Items Listed

Seems forever since I have posted to my blog. I haven't had a spark of creativity for the last six months. I guess, since I left the Artists' Undertaking Gallery last summer, I had less reason to bead as much as I used to. I'm still at the Potomac Fiber Arts Gallery (recently renamed) and we can jury in items each month only up to three times if they don't sell. I took my overstock to a new art/craft shop in Hyattsville, MD last October and sold a couple pieces, but they had to close down in May. So guess what, MORE jewelry just sitting around the house. Now I can wear it all the time, though ! Anyway, haven't felt like making MORE new stuff, just 'cause I can't think of what to do with what I already have. So, little by little, it's going in my Etsy shop, like this bracelet I made last fall: Bracelet Got the Blues and these earrings I made around the same time:Red and White Ball Earrings

Keeping Busy

My other obsession is vintage clothing, textiles and sewing (see my other blog: Fiberlines ), and I just finished up a dozen recycled apron totebags for the Ballston Arts and Crafts Market two weekends ago.

So in other words, I need to catch up on beadweaving, and I have the next gallery jury day at Potomac Craftsmen Gallery on Monday. As usual, it coincides with a weekend filled with rehearsals for an early music concert (I play baroque violin and viola for a living LOL), which will take up all my time for beading (darn mortgage payment and food !!!) so here's a new item that I managed to whip up while gallery sitting the other day. It's very simple, but hey, it's stock.

Triangular Tones Bracelet

Triangular Tones Bracelet, originally uploaded by ambrosianbeads.

This was supposed to be another box, and when the corners of the triangle started to rise up instead of lie flat, I changed it into a bracelet and finished it the next day. I added a vintage glass button in the center. It's now listed here .

Amber Glass Earrings

Amber Glass Earrings, originally uploaded by ambrosianbeads.

Just tried the brick stitch technique to make these earrings. Since I haven't figured out how to keep the glass bead to stay flat with the beadwork, I think I'll use round or oval beads for the center next time.

Zoya is a Winner !

My dear friend, Zoya Gutina has won again in the Rings & Things "Your Designs Rock !" competition ! She won first place in the glass category with her Mermaid's Garden entry and honorable mention in the gemstones and pearls category with her Egyptian Nights. Take a minute to feast your eyes on these beadwoven beauties and see more of her dazzling beadwork here. If you are ever in the Washington, DC area, make sure to stop by the Potomac Craftsmen Fiber Gallery at the Torpedo Factory in Alexandria. Zoya always has some of her wonderful beadwork on display there.

Silver & Grey Freeform Peyote Bracelet

Silver & Grey Freeform Peyote Bracelet, originally uploaded by ambrosianbeads.

Update: Sold the bracelet this week at Potomac Craftsmen Gallery

This bracelet got started about 3 months ago while working at Potomac Craftsmen Gallery but my heart wasn't quite into it then. I picked it up over the weekend to try and finish in time for the next gallery jury day. I thought I could finish it during the day on Sunday, but I kept on adding more and more beads to even out the sides. It finally took on a pleasing overall shape, but by then it was 10:30 pm at night. So much for the other beading designs I planned to finish by midnight.

(added on Tuesday) I forgot to mention that I discovered a helpful hint for people who are too intimidated to do freeform: do it in a hurry !! That way you are forced to live with the stitches that you've already done, and it cuts down on the indecisiveness that usually occurs if you're not comfortable with freeform. Sure helped me with finishing this piece in time. HTH anyone putting off trying it :o)

My Lovely Beads-Zoya Gutina

My colleague and friend at Potomac Craftsmen Fiber Gallery, Zoya Gutina, has graciously included my "Starflower Earring Tutorial" in her latest newsletter this month. Her beadwork is spectacular, and she is a regular beading competition winner. I invite you to check out her website, My Lovely Beads.