New viking knit project

Viking knit #4, originally uploaded by ambrosianbeads.

As with most of my projects, this one was actually started 6 months ago. I started beading the agate slab back in December...I had it sitting around and it just appealed to me to give it a peyote beaded edge. Today I'm hoping to give it the final touch of a bail...in the meantime, I worked on making a viking knit chain in black coated copper wire. I used 26 gauge wire and it worked out nicely in single weave, could've been too stiff in double. I always guess at the final length and stopped weaving at 11", hoping it would reach at least a comfortable choker length...well, lo and behold, it passed that length and I even have enough to make a bracelet. In this Flickr set, you can see the progression of "draws" (meaning each time I pulled it through the drawplate...it's what I call them, not sure if that's correct). Next after threading on the pendant, I will attempt to close off the ends with some copper caps and add a clasp...stay tuned for those pics !

EBW 2011 Spring Swap

EBW 2011 Spring Swap, originally uploaded by ambrosianbeads.

This year's Spring Swap was much more of a success for me. I've been feeling more creative and having a goal has been good to get me more motivated. This year, my "swappee" was Callie Mitchell aka Peregrine Beader on Etsy. We can request that the "swapper" make something using a stitch that we don't usually use, so she requested bead embroidery. That was perfect for me, because I wanted to use some metal bracelet blanks I had and try covering them with bead embroidery. Her colors were reds, browns and golds. I had enough beads in these colors to get started, so I measured out a piece of Lacy's stiff stuff to fit the metal blank with about 1/4" extra all around. Later I ran into trouble when the fabric started to pull up too much and came out too short to use the metal blank. Oh, well, I decided to abandon using that and after finishing the embroidery, I covered the back with a piece of tan suede. I stitched up a loop and added a button, and I had essentially the same style bracelet but with more flexibility. I got a message from Callie that she loves it...yay !

Shortly before the deadline of the EBW swap, I received a package in the mail from Charlene Abrams aka More than Somewhat on Etsy. I was thrilled to receive such a lovely necklace made in my favorite colors, midnight blues, purple, magenta and using RAW which is a stitch that I failed to master and can only appreciate. Also, this necklace matches a pair of earrings I made several years ago that have always felt lonely, now they make a nice set. Thanks, Charlene !!!
See the other swap creations

Metropolis Necklace-Etsy Beadweavers Challenge

This month's Etsy Beadweavers challenge theme, Fashion Through the Ages , struck a chord with me because I had a pattern developed that fit perfectly with the Art Deco style of design. I created the triangular portion of my Metropolis Necklace using the pattern I made with my BeadTool design program and stitched it in herringbone using 4 beads at a time. Then I worked upward in brick stitch to a decent choker width of 1/2" and finished out the rest of the choker in peyote. I had fun looking through my vintage button collection and found the perfect button to complement the Art Deco design. Of course, I finished it all last minute and could only get some basic photos done. Next time, no procrastinating (yeah right) ! You can check out all the amazing entries from our beadweaving team now and vote on March 8th.

Copper Treasury

Here is a gorgeous treasury simply titled Copper ! My Natural Beauty agate slab necklace is one of the featured selections. Thanks to fellow Etsy Beadweaver, Connie of Asterope Bead Creations for including my necklace.

Water Falls Treasury

Another lovely treasury entitled "Water Falls" by Trinity Designer Jewellery features my "World on a String" necklace. I appreciate her efforts and artistic eye and wish I could reciprocate with a treasury of my own, but I have never been able to snag one...and I know how much fun it would be to make one !

Necklace makes another treasury appearance

My Caribbean Sea Blues Necklace has made another appearance on Etsy, this time in a treasury entitled Blossoms Up by Lorraine ofTrinity Designer Jewellery. Enjoy the beauty of her selections ! Be sure to follow the link to the treasury, because I still haven't figured out how to get a screen cap of all four rows of a treasury :-(

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.

Beadweaving Beauties

I just listed a necklace that needed to get out and stretch a bit after resting in the jewelry inventory box for a few months. It got picked up for a new treasury by binkaminka called "Bead Therapy". It's full of exquisite beadweaving and I'm very honored that my necklace was included. I'm still bummed out that I can't seem to get a screenshot of the the full treasury image, so apologies go out to the other artists whose photos are cut off at the lower edge. And thank you, binkaminka, for selecting my necklace ! Here is a gorgeous necklace from her shop:

Herringbone Necklace Needs Help !

I've been wanting to try the necklace design that uses herringbone stitch and a range of bead sizes. What I can't figure out is how to keep it from curving too steeply. It won't fit around the neck with this much curve, and it starts to curl when you try to straighten out the edge. I started over four times with different sizes and gave up after awhile, choosing just to add some brick stitch to the sides and a thin necklace chain. Any help will be welcome :P

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.

The RED Challenge

The Etsy Beadweavers are seeing "red" with their latest beadweaving challenge and voting begins Monday, January 7th. This month's challenge focuses on the use of the color red in any and all forms of beadweaving. There are beautiful and striking articles of jewelry as well as sculptural and useful pieces. A warning though, you are going to have a very difficult time choosing a favorite !

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.

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" !

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.