Soup's on! :)

Time for the Bead Soup Reveal!  I had SO MUCH FUN working with the Soup that my partner, Mary Govaars, sent me.  I wanted to use the multiple skills I've been learning in this soup, so I ended up with a very eclectic, but I think still harmonious, collection.  :) 

Just to remind you, this is what Mary sent:

Pretty, yes?  :)

Since I'm a bead-weavin' fool, Mary sent me some seed beads, and I knew JUST what I wanted to do with them! 

So, without further ado, here's what I did with that yummy soup! 

Necklace

I used some chains I had on hand, along with green mother-of-pearl disks, and a simple toggle clasp I had on hand to finish off the combo spiral weaving...

I used 2 lengths of a Cellini Spiral, meeting at the loop of the original toggle clasp Mary sent me.  I used this part of the clasp to form a focal for the necklace,  and I created a dangly bit using a gorgeous Blissful Gardens bead I ordered a while back... I also used a basic spiral to form much of the length of the necklace, and connected it to the Cellini spirals using a very haphazard and organic "stringy" method...

Better view of the focal-ie bits... 

And here's where I connected the weaving to the chain...

Bracelet

This is the GORGEOUS focal Mary sent from LL Designs (This pic does NOT do it justice) I really wanted to feature the bead, so I went with a basic embellished spiral.  

I used the toggle from the clasp Mary sent me, and a mother of pearl ring to finish it off! 

Earrings

These are the beautiful green hollows from LL Designs that Mary sent.  I couldn't resist the temptation to put something INSIDE them, so each one has a few orange seed beads, and three teeny tiny Swarovski crystals. (these may be my most fave earrings ever...) This is my version of "fidget" earrings. :) 

I used more chain to tie this in with the necklace, and created wire wrapped links to connect all the bits together.  I also wrapped the chain in a bit of wire up there near the top just to keep everything hanging neatly...

Okay, so these don't really match the rest of the set, but as I was pondering the big earrings up there, I had the idea to make up these really quickly, too.  And all the bits were part of my soup! :) 

The Set

Okay, not a great pic, but you can see how it all works together! :) 

So there it is! I have one lampie left, and I'm actually working on a piece with it that will go with the set.  Unfortunately, though, I had to do real work last week, and I wasn't able to finish that 5th piece.  Never fear!  I'll post pics as soon as I do! :) 

Want to see more?  

Go check out the rest of the Bead Soup Blog Partiers! 

Hostess, Lori Anderson, Pretty Things

Agi Kiss, Moonsafari Beads 
Alice Peterson, Alice Dreaming

Alison Sachs, Beads by Earthtones

Amanda Dittloff, Passion Smashin'

Andra Marasteanu, Bijoux de Monanage

Angie Szlovak, SweetBeads

Anitra Gordy, Leelu Creations

Ann Sherwood, Ann's Blog

Arlene Dean, A Glass Bash

Audrey Belanger, Dreams of an Absolution

Barb Solem, Vivi Magoo Presents

Barbara Blaszczyk, laboratorim Flory

Becky Pancake, Becky Pancake Bead Designs
Beth Emery, Stories by Indigo Heart

Bianca Odenthal, Zydies Glasperlen

Birgit Klughardt, GitesBeads
Bobbie Rafferty, Beadsong Jewelry
Bonnie Coursolle,  Jasper Gems
Cece Cormier, The Beading Yogini
Charlene Jacka, Clay Space
Cherrie Fick, En La Lumie're
Cheryl Foiles, Get Your Bead On
Christie Murrow, Charis Designs Jewelry

Christina Miles, Wings n Scales
Christina Stofmeel, Feng Beads
Christine Stonefield, Sweet Girl Design
Cindy Cima Edwards, Live to Design
CJ Bauschka, 4 His Glory Creations
Claire Smith, Embergrass Jewelry
Cynthia Riggs, Cynth's Blog
Dana Fowler, Trunk Full of Treasure
Dawn Pierro, Turtle Moon Designs
Dee Elgie, Cherry Obsidia
Donetta Farrington, Simply Gorgeous

Dot Lewallwn, Speedie Beadie
Eileen Snyder, Dorset Hill Beads
Elizabeth Bunn, Elizabeth Beads
Eva Kovacs, Ewa gyongyos vilaga!
Evelyn Duberry, Sheba Makeda
Fay Wolfenden, Torch Fairy
Fen Li, Bead Flora Jewels
Gail Zwang, Angel Moose Enterprises
Geneva Collins, Torque Story
Grace Dorsey, Fan of the Flame
Gretchen Nation,  Art Food Lodging

Hannah Annear, Squintessential
Hajer Waheed, My Beaded World
Heather Goldsmith, As I Bead It
Heather Otto, The Craft Hopper
Heidi Kingman, My Bead Therapy
Hope Smitherman, Crafty Hope
Isolina Perez, Isolina Perez
Jacqueline Keller, CreARTelier
Jane Haag, Did You Make Something Today?
Janeen Sorensen, Wild Vanilla Designs
Jean Peter, Jean P. Designs

Jennifer Judd, Jen Judd Rocks
Jennifer L Justman, Soul's Fire Designs
Joanna Matuszczyk, Bizuteria z filcu
Joanne Brown, Jo's Jewels
Joanne Lockwood, Jo Bunkum
Joyce Becker, Joyce's Joyful Gems
Judy Riley, Three Red Beads
Karen Mitchell, Over the Moon Design
Karen Williams, Baublicious
Karin von Hoeren, Creative Ideen

Karla Morgan, Texas Pepper Jams
Kashmira Patel, Sadafule .. always in bloom!
Kate Richbourg, We Can Make That at Home

Katrin Lembke, AllesPerle
Kathy Combs, Torched in Texas
Kathy Lindemer, Bay Moon Design
Kay Thomerson, Kayz Kreationz
Kelley Fogle, My Life, One Bead at at Time
Kelly Hosford Patterson, Traveling Side Show

Klaudette Koon, Only Road
Lara Lutrick, Lampwork Beads by Lara
Laura Guenther, Blue Antiquities

Laurie Lalonde, Simply Mod Jewelry
Lilik Kristiani, Soul of My Embodiment
Linda Younkman, Lindy's Designs
Lisa Chapman, Beach Cat Beads
Lisa Lodge, Pine Ridge Treasures
Loretta Carstensen, Designs by Loretta
Lori Bergmann, Lori Bergmann Design
Lori Dorrington, Lori's Adventures in Etsy Land
Lupe Meter, Gem's PC Corner
Lynn Davis, LLYYNN

Malin de Koning, Beading by Malin
Mandi Effron, Craft-o-licious
Mandy Williamson, Mimi's Beading
Margot Potter, The Impatient Crafter
Maria Rosa Sharrow, Willow Street Shops
Marianne Baxter, Simply Seablime Jewelry
Marina Dobrynina, Savon Feutre
Marjolein Trewavas, Room for Change
Marelene Cupo, Amazing Designs
Marsha Neal, Marsha Neal Studio

Marta Kaczerowska, uhuhu
My Partner--->>> Mary Govaars, MLH Jewelry Designs :)
Melissa Trudinger, Bead Recipes
Menka Gupta, Menka's Jewelry Blog
Michelle Burnett, Reverie and Revival
Michelle Escano-Caballero, The Cabby Crafter
Miko Wiropati, Uniquely Yunikua
Milla Hope,  LB Creative Arts and Crafts
Mimi Gardner, Other Curiosities
Miranda Ackerley, MirandackArts
Natalie McKenna, grubbi

Noemi Baena, fuego, metal, y color
Pam Ferrari, Ferrari Originals
Pam Sears, Crazy Creative Corner
Penny Neville, Copper Penny
Rachel Baron, R. Baron Designs
Rachel Myers, Rockabead Jewelry
Me! --->>> Rana Wilson, Definitive Designs by R. Wilson :) 
Rebecca Anderson, Song Beads
Rebecca Sirevaag, Becca's Place
Riki Schumacher, Riki Jewelry

Rose Binoya, Ahtee's Blog
Rossana De Gaspari, Rdegas Blog
Sally Anderson, Wild Sally Road
Sandi James, Do Be Do Bead Do
Sandi Volpe, Sandi Volpe
Sandra Wollberg, City of Brass Stories
Sarah Goode, Pookledo

Sarah Small, blog by salla
Shai Williams, Shaiha's Ramblings
Shawn Mills, Shawn Marie Designs with Bent Wire
Sheila Davis, Stone Designs by Sheila

Sheryl Stephens, Babble Bead
Shiraz Biggie, Secret Song Designs
Solange Collin,  Ahowin Handcrafted Jewelry
Sonya Stille, Dreamin' of Beads
Stephanie Dixon, The Dixon Chick
Susan Kennedy, Sue Beads
Susan Sheehan, Strands of Thought
Suzann Sladcik Wilson, Beadphoria
Sweet Freedom, Sweet Freedom Designs
Tabatha Dinger, Modernly Created
Tania Hagen, Pelima Jewellery Design

Tanya Boden, Fusion Muse
Terri Gauthier, Blooming Ideas
Terry Carter, Tapping Flamingo
Tracy Stillman, Tracy Stillman Designs

My First Jewelry Class!

Woot!  Yes, I just took my first beading class, at the awesome Sparkle Spot Bead Shop, in St. Pete, FL (Kelly's got colored Fireline, ya'll!!!!! oh yeah!!!)

Okay, so yeah, anyways, I just took my first ever jewelry class (eh, I learned a lot from YouTube videos...) since I've been trying (and mostly failing) to make nifty wired cuffs.  So, Kelly's instructor, Heidi, offered a class to make this cuff.  And since I love Sparkle Spot, and I love jewelry, and I've discovered wire is, like, THE BOMB... :) ... I figured why not?  

First, I gotta tell ya, Heidi is fabulous.  Her instructions are clear, she's attentive without hovering, and is always ready to help you out.  We weren't able to finish the project during the class (lots of wrapping, you know) but I had no doubt I'd be able to finish it on my own, and even make another (in fact, I've already bent the wire into submission for Take 2! lol!)

I had a blast in this class, met some great new people--my classmate could have been my twin!  We were so alike, it was eerie but cool!  Hi Holly! :) lol!

Here's some pics of my finished cuff:

I need your help!!!!!!

Awhile back, I was selected to participate in Blissful Garden Beads August Challenge.

I received these beads:

Pretty, yes?

and instructions to make an item using at least one of them.

So, me being me, I just had to weave something!

Here it is:

So, now for the part where I need your help:  GO VOTE!!  Go to Blissful Garden Beads and VOTE for my bracelet!  The Voting poll is at the bottom of the post, and my name (Rana Wilson) should be the last one there.

So please, GO VOTE!!!  Help a girl out!!!! And vote SOON!  Because voting ends this Tuesday, August 23rd, in the am!!!

And you should start saving your pennies, because soon, all these pieces will be featured in an auction!  You know you wanna bid on my bracelet!!! 

Thanks!!

Beading Stitches: Square Stitch

Another post on beading stitches!  This stitch, the square stitch, works really well for cuff-type bracelets, because you can pretty much make the piece as wide you want it to be.  Just keep adding seed beads until you have your desired width.  I've also just learned that you can do a tubular square stitch, which I really should've figured, since you just work in a circle, basically (for a fairly basic and straightforward tutorial on square stitch, go here.)

I also like the square stitch because, while it is very time intensive, it creates a very nice base on which you can add your embellishments.  Because with a square stitch you're really just creating a fabric (well, really it's more of a ribbon for me) to add pretty much anything you want to!

So, you can go relatively simple  and just add a focal in the center, like this:

Dolphin Dreams; hand-painted focal (by me!!!)

Or you can go a bit crazy like this:

Pretty in Pink

Or you can go REALLY crazy like the bracelet you can see here from Etsy seller StickLizardDesigns (FYI--this is gorgeous and I wants it!!)

Thanks!

Happy Birthday to my Beautiful Miss Mia!!!!!!

Today, June 25th (or "half Christmas" as I just heard it called... LOL!) is my beautiful, gorgeous, phenomenal, awesome, sweet-as-a-peach niece's Birthday.  She's 8.  I cannot believe that she's 8!  I told her a few weeks ago that she's not allowed to get any older. She just smiled, and then tried to (accidentally) drown me in the pool.

Anyhoo, I made a bracelet a while back that I finally finished last week, and my mom commented that Mia would like  it.  So I made her one of her very own.  And, because I love to stamp, I made her a special card to go with it...

Here they be!

This is actually one of the 2011 Sale-A-Bration Stamp Sets, Sweet Summer. I CASE'd it from a card by Amanda Coughlin here. It's a little girl for my Mia girl!

The focal is part of an old belt, that I painted, applied some punched flowers and tiny gems, and stamped her name on it.  I like this because it allows me to combine all my crafty projects into one! The chain is my first ever daisy chain! I hope she likes it! 

 Happy Birthday, my gorgeous girl!  I love you!!

Painted Bracelets

Awhile back, I got the nifty idea to paint this weird little wood-like thing that used to be part of a belt I had.  I'd already made some of these things into jewelry (you can check it out here), but I was bored, so I decided to take it to another level.

So it took me a while, but I finally managed to get the first one I did onto a spiral rope bracelet:

Paint, punches, and sparklies! What more can a gal ask!

Here's some more, waiting to be bracelet-ed up:

Kinda like the flowers my old nail tech used to paint on my nails! 

This one is actually all done, but that's another post...

And finally, the one I painted tonight:

I painted another dolphin! And I have an AWESOME plan for the bracelet!!!

As you can see, it's rather smallish! 

Eventually, these will be making it into my Artfire store. I only have 2 done so far, but I have ideas for several more!  Stay tuned!

Jewelry weekend

I had a good weekend!  And now I should be reading essays, but I'm not feeling it, so I'll do them later.  Instead, I want to blog about the fun stuff I made!  :D

So, I started last week playing with the resin beads I won as part of the Art with Heart Viewer's Choice contest (thanks again, everyone who voted!)  I absolutely love these beads, and it's especially cool, because I doubt I would ever have bought them for myself.  Here they are:

Resin Beads from Happy Mango Beads

So, I've been pondering these beads for awhile now, and the very cool Softflex: Trios™ Color Wire Set I received as well, in the Harmony colors (I'm so going to have to get some more of this stuff.  It's great!!)

Finally, I decided it would be fun to make myself a set.  So I did.  Here's all 3 pieces:

Resin Jewelry set

  I absolutely love the earrings and bracelet:

They look like little purses! (I have since been told, by my students, that they're reminiscent of Jolly Ranchers Watermelon)

So feminine and light!!! I tell you, it weighs nothing! (and the bracelet, according to my dad, looks like candy...)

But the necklace, I just don't know about.  I mean, I like it.  I just don't know if I like it for me. You know?  Here's a close-up:

It is a lot of fun, this necklace, but I just don't know.  This one may make it into the shop...

So that was the week.  This weekend, I worked on bracelets that some ladies I work with ordered.  I'm not done with the one order (4 African Helix bracelets for Christmas gifts) but I got a pretty good start on it.  Here's some of what I did:

I love the topaz shades against the mossy green here.  Such a fun color combo!

Black with silver. The customer I made this for wants it to match a necklace she already has.  I'll find out this week if she likes it!

Something I'm playing with--a Spiral rope with gradations of color to emulate a blooming tree. I kinda like it!

 Here's a close-up of that last one:

I love Spiral Rope.  For all that it's a relatively simple stitch, it's so variable!  There's literally, from what I can tell, no limit to what you can do with it!  I plan to play with some more spirals this week, while also working on some more helix bracelets.


Hope you like the new work!

Rustic Sunrise

I found a name for it!!!!!  I have to say, next to pricing, naming is one of my biggest problems.

So, a few days ago I blogged about ripping stuff apart, and included some pics of the bracelet I had made from said stuff I had ripped apart... Well, I kept looking at that bracelet and just couldn't leave well enough alone, so now I have an entire jewelry set made from that old belt.  God, I love my work.... LOL! Anyway, here's pics:

[caption id="attachment_82" align="aligncenter" width="484" caption="The complete set--earrings, necklace, and bracelet"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_84" align="aligncenter" width="387" caption="The necklace"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_85" align="aligncenter" width="387" caption="The bracelet..."][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_81" align="aligncenter" width="323" caption="The earrings"][/caption]

I love this set.  Not sure what I'm going to do with it.  But I wanted to share. Enjoy!

R.Wilson