Battle News and Fatigue

So, I have been super busy of late.  I attended the Big Bead Show in April, spent a weekend with great friends beading, eating, drinking and laughing.  I had another magazine article to submit which will be out soon in Making Jewellery magazine – this one involves Liberty Bias Ribbon and beads 🙂 and I had a huge project to complete for a bead competition.

I went away for a weekend with some beady pals in the Peak District (had a great time and hope to repeat it again next year), had a few days at home over half term with my son Sean, and spent some time in Calais/Boulogne as well.  In between the fun stuff I was working the day job and after that I was manically beading.  I took a last-minute slot in the Battle of the Beadsmith competition that is run via Facebook.  It’s a bit odd though as there are no prizes as such, but you do get to see lots of lovely beading from all over the world, in different styles and colours 🙂

I had been collecting my pieces for an idea I had around the name Rosina for over a year, Rosina was my nan’s name and I wanted to include wings and have an ethereal look to piece as my nan is with the angels.  I also thought it would be nice for all the other people I know that are dealing with the loss of loved ones past and present to see how I channeled my feelings into a piece of jewellery.  My friend Catherine Homer helped with the naming of the piece and my thanks to her and my good friends Hilary and Stephanie too who kept me company on Google+ whilst I beaded and they suffered the glare of my red hair and root regrowth on their screens.

Below is a photo of the finished piece – Rosina Seraphim.  If you would like to learn more about the Battle you can join the page on Facebook to see all the other creations, I believe there are over 170 bead artists competing this year.  I wish all of us competitors lots of luck and if I do make it though any of the stages I will be a very happy lady.  I pushed myself to create something original that was my design, ideas and I pushed myself technically as well.   I learnt a lot along the way, not least that I need to replenish my stock of KO thread now, lol.  No needles were broken during the making but the metallic soutache is a challenge I am not sure I will be repeating.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/419636224777912/

Here are some more photos of my work in progress, it did change quite a lot and I have yet to get around to recycling the pieces I didn’t include, I guess I am waiting on inspiration to strike as to what I could use them for, so if you have any ideas please do let me know.

TTFN

Dee
WingsSmith’s Beaded Creations