Nucleus Gallery, Rochester, Kent

I am so thrilled… this weekend I got to visit the local art gallery that is displaying/selling some of my beadwork.

I realised the gallery doesn’t have a lot of props for displays so I have been busy this weekend trying out Decopatch… which is like a pretty papier mache.    I have so far decopatched two cardboard hand thingies, one of which is for my craft fairs, and the other for the gallery.  I also want to try and make some cardboard boxes look a bit better and match my hand thingies.

I have made lots of spooky things lately with skeleton cabochons and glass eyes in advance of having a stall on 29 October at WonderHillHigh Market in London Bridge.  I am very excited by the prospect of reaching a younger, student based market and am hoping they “get” the weirder things I like to create.

I have also been playing with sharks teeth and making them into pretty, delicate pendants.

Thanks for reading, and if I haven’t said it before, or you haven’t noticed the logos on the bottom of my photos… I apply a Creative Commons License to my beadwork and would appreciate no copying of my pieces without my permission.

Dee xxx

 

Bead Soup Blog Party – Feedback

Phew, well I thought the hard work was over when I finished making my challenge pieces.  And you know that thought thought don’t you?  Indeed I was wrong…

I have been taking time out the last few evenings to go and read all the blogs, and although I haven’t commented on them all, I have read most of the now.  I am blown away by the skill of my fellow soup makers and the difference in all the pieces created, all of which are beautiful.

Thank you for coming by and commenting on my blog posts, I only wish I had time to comment on all the posts I have been reading myself, but rest assured I have been reading and I will continue to read until I make my way through all the blogs.

Thanks again, Dee xxx

Bead Soup Blog Party – all done

Lori Anderson organised the biggest ever Bead Soup Blog Party – over 300 people taking part in over 20 countries across the world.  You can find the full list of participants and their blogs at: http://lorianderson-beadsoupblogparty.blogspot.com/

I’ve finished all my bits for the Blog Party, photos are below.  I got some amazing beads and clasps from my partner Christine.  Here’s a reminder of what Christine sent me.  You can find Christine’s blog here: http://sweetgirldesign.blogspot.com/

I enjoyed working with different materials to my usual and I did add to the pieces with my own seed beads and crystals.  I love what I created – it was a great challenge to take part in.  The only downer to the experience is that Christine only received her package on 14 September, it took over a month to arrive with her.  Thankfully I know she is pleased with what I sent and I can’t wait to see what she creates from it.

My first piece was using one of the dyed agate pieces I received.  I created a cabochon pendant with delica beads and seed beads.  I then made a tubular netted necklace interspersed with swarovski crystals for a little sparkle.  The pendant is attached via a beaded bail that has a hidden popper fastening in back you can easily remove it from the necklace to wear on another chain or just wear the beaded necklace alone.

Updated to show the rear of the blue pendant…

My second piece was inspired by the copper findings Christine sent me, and I wanted to keep with the blue highlights I have added through all my pieces.  I love blue and copper colours together.  This is a simple herringbone spiral rope with the copper pieces inserted at regular intervals and finished with the copper clasp.

This piece gave me the most headaches, as I don’t usually use wire, crimps and do stringing.  I’m much happier with needles and seedies!   I used the beads from the Potomac Bead Company along with the brass focal I received.  I added in some crystals and again kept with my blue and copper colour scheme.  The earrings contain some of the lovely opal drops Christine sent me.

After I had finished the piece above I thought I was done.  Then I remembered the Amethyst pieces and lucite flowers with the silver tone beads and clasp.  I couldn’t resist making a simple bracelet and earrings from them.

Here is a Slideshow of my finished pieces.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Operation Tackle That Bead Stash – Sept 2011

I have learnt a new technique this week, Cubic Right Angle Weave (CRAW).  Thanks to Heather Collin’s video tutorial, which was excellent and so easy to listen and follow.

Cubic Right Angle Weave Tutorial.wmv

Here is what I made – I had swapped some beads and received four of these huge agate beads a while back with a friend on facebook.  I love the colours on them, they are all different, but I loved this one the best and it totally fitted the colours and moodboard for this month.  You can find out more about the OTTBS group here on their blog page:

http://tacklethatbeadstash.blogspot.com/2011/09/september-moodboard.html