Special Birthday Gift

It was my youngest sister's (not the one that's getting married!) 18th birthday recently.  I decided to make her a necklace as a gift.  

I know that when we go out next weekend (for my other sister's hen party) she has a black and white, sixties style outfit planned.  Mum also told me that 'lil sister is also into the whole monochrome thing at the moment.  Armed with this knowledge I began my search for the perfect ingredients for my new project.

I remembered that I saw some exquisitely, expensive, lampwork beads in my local beadshop last time I was there. There was a wonderful selection of lampwork beads for me to take my pick from.   I found what I was looking for.  A black and white, funky patterned, square bead.  Which is a work of art in itself.  Each bead produced is totally unique.

I had to do justice to this work of art bead.  I thought long and hard about what would work.  Played around on my beadboard for ages trying this and that.  I knew what I had to do had to be bold to compliment the lampwork pendant bead.  That's when I came upon the idea of having one half of the necklace beaded black with white moonstones, and the other white with black tourmalines and snowflake obsidians.  I used a sterling silver toggle and loop set for the clasp.

I called up my mum and described the finished necklace over the phone.  She thinks my wee sis will love it.  *fingers crossed*  Will find out for certain next weekend.

Purple Snakeskin Bracelet

I love making peyote bracelets.  It is time consuming, but the results are worth it.  

I have made a few new bracelets recently, and this is one of them.  I originally made a version of this bracelet a few years ago, and it was sold very quickly.  I decided to make another for the website.  The idea for this pattern came to me when watching a programme on snakes.  I wanted to try and capture the way their colours graduated from one to another.

Accidental Invention

I have this ancient book on Native American beading techniques.  It is not the easiest to follow.  The pictures and illustrations do not correspond with patterns in every case.  This was one of those cases. 

I saw a pattern which was a bit like a double daisy stich.  All of the daisies and centres are done in the same background colour, apart from 3 roses with leaves, which are evenly spaced in the necklace.  

I tried to follow the pattern.  I tried and unpicked and swore several times.  Then I thought I had finally hit the nail on the head.  Until i re-counted that is.  I found I had not done things exactly as per pattern.  My variation, however looked better so I carried on.

I'm really happy with the end result, even though it is not the same as the pattern I had intended on reproducing.  I may have to try a few other colours to see how my new pattern looks.  I'll keep you posted.  

Paua Shell Madness

Last time I was at the beadshop, I noticed the most beautiful paua shell pendant.

  

My mind started turning once I got home, as to how I could use it in one of my designs.  I went back about a week later, bought the pendant and took it home.  

The necklace came together really quickly and was completed in next to no time at all.  I was delighted with the results.  So delighted, in fact that I decided to keep it for myself.  I bought another set of ingredients soon after and made another copy of the necklace, to sell this time!

I am in love with the way that the subtle rainbow colours of the fresh water, peacock pearls echo the iridesence of the paua shell.  I have worn my necklace so much since I made it.  It's one of those designs that looks fab with sloppy jeans and jumpers or dressed up to the nines for a night out.  I *heart* versatility! 

Necklace Completed

I have finished making the copy of the rose shell necklace. As I said there are a few differences, but I think the necklace still works well and looks beautiful. What do you think?

I have also made a few more things but I shall blog about those another day. Busy busy busy!

It's late *yawn*

Well I've been working hard to get some new charms put up on the website. Lots of work involved as it means an entirely new page for the website. So for the moment it's been decided not to have the hover down menus on every page with a link to the new Charms page. We are gonna adjust the front page menu for the time being. At the weekend, when we have more time all the rest of the menus will be adjusted also. Time is against us. It's 0510 and OMG am I tired *yawn*. I don't think I can cope with much more computer related jiggery pokery this evening.

On the bead front I did not have time to collect my clasp today. I called up the bead shop, they said no probs and then we were cut off. So in theory, I'm going in to collect my clasp tomorrow. Fingers crossed.

Beadshop Woes

Why is it that every time I go to the bead shop they never have what I am looking for? *sigh* It seems that whatever I am looking for is never in stock when I need it.

I sold the rose necklace (pictured) listed on my website to my mum in law. She saw it last week and fell in love with it. Last night I got a Google chat from her asking me to send it up to her. She's buying it as a present for someone. Lucky person!

I am really proud of this piece, it's probably one of my nicest necklaces yet. I have had a lot of comments from people on this necklace. So I decided to make another as soon as possible to put on the website. My mum in law transferred payment for the necklace to my account today. As soon as it was cleared I was off to the bead shop.

The original necklace had 4 round, amazonite beads. Guess what? There was only 1 left in the shop :( I had to get a pack of amazonite chips instead. They are lovely chips though. The smoothest, chunkiest chips I've ever seen. So I am hoping they will work as well as the rounds.

I couldn't find any nice, plain sterling silver toggle fasteners. However I was told they will get one in for me from the other shop tomorrow, so if I pop back then I should be able to buy one. There is hardly any sterling silver findings in that shop, and it is the only one I can go to in RL. I can get these things online, but they obviously require P&P. Which bumps the price of each component RIGHT up.

I found the shell rose for the necklace. I think I may have bought the last nice one there though. I looked through the basket and was sad to see lots of cruddy versions of the shell rose in there. The carving on the other ones was no where near as nice. I am hoping that this is a temporary measure and that they will get the nice ones back in again.

So my plans for the rest of this evening is to write descriptions for my Xmas Charms (which should be going on the website soon), make payment buttons for them, package the necklace for mum in law, paint more Xmas charms and maybe a little food - if I have time!