Key Necklaces

So sorry I've been gone for so long. It's been very busy and I've got so much done lately, but not blogging!

I've been playing around with materials I have lieing around the house. Things I've been saving because "they will come in handy one day". Plus items which I've come across whilst other people have been decluttering.

First thing I've been playing with is keys. I've made a few different designs but first out into the world are pendants.

 

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/150845541/vintage-key-pendant-candy-pastels

Bead Soup April 6th - Reveal!

Reveal day is finally here!

Shalini sent me this lovely bowl of bead soup.

And this focal which she wirewrapped herself.

Gorgeous eh?

Now, they are really not a colour combination I would have chosen for myself. But that's the whole point! When someonee lse shooses your pallette and materials, you have to think outside of your normal design patterns.

So I did!

There were some lovely little tibetan silver spacers in a generous bag of "extras" which Shalini sent so i started by putting them to good use.

I don't usually make multistrand pieces with two hole spacers, so figured now was the time to start learning.

And it's all mine! Mwahahaha! Ahem. I'm keeping this one for myself :)

With the wire wrapped pendant, how could I not choose a bit of wire wrapping for the necklace itself?

Now pop over to Shalini to see what she made from the soup I sent her

And everyone else from todays blog hop is listed here.

Black and Silver Shell Pearl Necklace - Before and After

I thought I' might post some in progress shots.

Here's the beads all laid out ready to go. I've stopped using eyepins, preferring to use a reel of wire so i can make sire wrapped loops on either end of the beads. It's so much more secure, especially with heavier weight beads.

And here we are after.

Having the length of necklace so long means that it can be worn in three strands, or two or a really long length with a knot in it. So versatile.

And some of my ladies like them like this as it means that they don't have to fiddle around with clasps or need anyone to help them with putting their jewellery on.

For sale on Etsy here

Bead Soup Blog Hop - Soup is Cooking!

 Finally my long awaited blog entry showing what Shalini sent me. I've been lax with my posting as I have really fallen out of ove mwith photography. I don't think any of my photos give justice to the pretty things I like to photograph.

We've bought a white background, tried different buttons on the flashy camera (with no flash of course) but I'm still not happy. But as deadline is looming, these photos will have to do.

First of all the lovely hand wrapped focal and a clasp. I have to include these in my design. They don't have to be in the same item, but both have to be used for the blog hop.

 Then all the other beads that were sent as well. I have been spoiled by Shalini's generosity!

And the "money shot"  Everything mixed together to make a bead soup

Not a colour combination I've used before but that's the whole point. A suprise bead soup makes you think and design something that you wouldn't have ordinarily thought of.

Thanks Shalini! And onwards and upwards to our final blog pieces. Reveal date is April 8th.

MarshellSwaps Holiday Blog Hop - March 16th

This year I'm making a conscious effort to take part in blog hops and creative challenges. I find that they really make me think and I get some really good ideas from them which I can progress into new designs and working methods.

This one looked good.

"You and your partner will decide what holiday you want to create for, BUT it has to be celebrated in the months of February and March"

After a couple of emails back and forth with my partner Jen, we decided to go fora  fun holiday. "Tell a Fairy Tale Day" on February 26th.

There were so many ideas going back and forth in my head and eventually I plumped for Cinderella and bought some little silver pumpkin charms. Perfect I thought! I knew I must have some lovely gemstones rounds in my bead stash. Could I find anything. No I could not.

So I was stuck again with a deadline looming.

After getting my Rapunzel mixed up with my Rumplestiltskin, I thought about Sleeping Beauty. All those rose briars getting knotted up together. Then I remember the aluminium roses that I had sitting in my stash. but where exactly were they?

And finally the Sleeping Beauty's rose bracelet was born.

My lovely partner Jenny chose to make me a necklace based on the Princes and the Golden Ball. I remember this story from when I was little but it was called the Princess and the Frog. It's fun how the name of stories change and merge over time and areas. Look at the lovely froggie!

I think the choice of seed beads used are just inspired! The green with golden core are just perfect! I wouldn't have thought of using a colour combination to tie the piece together like that!

Sale!

I'm having a tidy up to get more streamlined before the craft fair season starts. So here's a sale in my etsy shop. Some items half price and lots at a fiver and under.

Bead Soup Blog Hop - The Soup I Sent

Here's what I sent to my swap partner Shalini

 

A handful of Swarovski disc crystals, 

Some metal glitterballs in various sizes, 

A length of silver plated chain which I seem to be obsessed about at the moment, 

Some Swarovski glass pearls 

and a magnetic glitterball clasp.

I decided glass was the way to go with this soup!

Shalini has received it, and has blogged about it

Just got to get photos made of the great soup she sent me when there is some decent light.