Golden tassle necklace

Here is a necklace I made for myself last night using mix seeds/bugles & czech glass with a murano focal. It was pretty quick & I really like it, I've worn it all day today. I am gearing up to start making xmas presents for the many girls/women in my family, I think at least one of these will make it on to the list. Thanks to Lynne Davy (link to the right) for the instructions to make the tassle.

Cheers,

Sarah.

My 1st peyote cab & multistitch necklace

Just finished this tonight, my 1st attempt at peyoting around a cab, I ripped it to pieces once & swore a little bit but it came out nicely in the end. The neckstrap is made with tubular raw, beaded beads & spiral rope. It's quite an adventurous piece for me & I enjoyed making, I have a few new ideas from it too I think.

Sarah.

I've been catching up with the photo's, here's a herringbone pendant for the YOJ theme Pheonix & Dragons, a pair of earrings for the YOJ theme Bronze Beauty & A right angle weave necklace. I seem to be on a right angle weave obsession after reading the article about beading small components in beadwork mag. I tend to flit from stitch to stitch so hopefully I may develop my skill a bit further by using one stitch for several pieces, maybe I should try and do a series, not sure I'm up to the committment though.

If you haven't already, check out Diana Grygo's blog The Lone Beader to see how her bus is coming along, hi Diana! Also vote for her work in the Saatchi gallery, I want her to win so that I can go see her work in London!

Sarah.

Twisted ndebele ribbon necklace.

I finished this today, I've been wanting to try this variation of herringbone from Carol Wilcox Wells book the Art & Elegance of Beadweaving, ever since the book came out. I thought it would take ages though so never bothered, it actually didn't take as long as I thought, it was much quicker than the other twists I've done. I enjoyed the technique but visually I prefer the contrasting colours in the other 2 twists. I will be buying some beads later so I now know to purchase some high contrast colours, I better go grab Margie Deebs book before I shop.

Hopefully my next finished object will be a bead embroidered folk art style bird, fingers crossed it works out.

Sarah.

Wirework - practising for FSOJ

I am all signed up for the Four Seasons of Jewellery 2006/07, I am excited but a bit nervous although 1 piece a week shouldn't be a problem but keeping to the themes might. I know the themes are optional but I do want to try & stick to them as a way of improving my design skills. I have participated in 2 challenges on the Bead & Button forum & have found sticking to someone elses guidelines both challenging & a great learning experience, knowing that my pieces will be posted in a gallery with others by very talented people does seem to make me try new things & think a bit more about the design so hopefully I will build on that with FSOJ.

I mostly use beadweaving techniques & the FSOJ is an offshoot of the creative wire jewelry forum so I have been practising with wire, here are some of the results.