Where has January gone?

My best made plans to be productive this month got set aside by back-to-back three day trips with the forensics team. I have a few things started and have finished one project - to a point.

I made several pink fused glass tiles a while ago. My plan was to make a tile bracelet, and I still might. I have several tiles.

The focal in this pendant is slightly larger than the other tiles so I knew it needed its own creation. I thought about just gluing on a bail, but I really like the look and feel of cabochons enclosed in seed beads.

I've done this a few times with beads. This is the focal bead on a bracelet I made last year. This is a bead that is enclosed in 15s and incorporated into a free-form bracelet. This bracelet is currently on consignment in Michigamme.

This weekend I actually have time to torch, but it is so cold I'm having problems with my flame. I haven't had it on in two weeks. So....Current projects.... I have nine wonky beads in the kiln. I'm hoping to get some nice cabochons to play with. I also have some beads sorted for free-form bracelets, blues and purples. And, I've started a sweater vest for myself.

Finally, I need to update and post some items on Etsy. My stash is getting pretty full again.

Last week of break...

My goal was to make the most of my last week of vacation. I actually got some torch-time in a couple of days and finished several bracelets. It feels good to get back to work on the projects I had to set aside last semester.

The bracelet above is a free-form peyote stich with a glass bead closure. This is my favorite project and I have finished five, completed three, and have three that need a clasp. It's nice to see the stash box filling up.

I also made dozens of the RAW bracelets above. These were given as gifts to my daughter's friends, my friends, and I have a few in the stash. The pattern is from a bead magazine I left in Michigamme, so I'll have to give credit-where-due when I retrieve the magazine in April.

I am inspired to join a challenge at Wetcanvas. There is a Valentine's Day challenge to create heart beads in the glass forum. I'm usually just a lurker but I make some pretty cool heart-shaped beads. Last week, I even learned how to make one with a verticle hole.

This one looks a bit "wonky." I had a bad experience with a dot so I just wrapped it in stringers. My son thinks it's cool!

This one represent the usual hearts I make. I let them drip and ooze to a long point and then gather that in a twist. I like the way the colors come together in the spiral on the twist.

That is something that I like to do in a lot of my beads, such as the "storm" in the center of this bead I made in August...the last time I was on the torch.

Check out at my Flickr account at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/superiorbliss/

Beaded Ornaments

These ornaments were made for children, Christmas 2007. At the time my most successful attempt at bead embroidery. I got the idea from the Bead Embroidered Star Ornament at Beading Daily http://www.beadingdaily.com/blogs/daily/archive/2007/12/12/bead-embroidered-star-ornament.aspx. I found the moose image online as a peyote pattern and drew the Tree of Life and butterfly free-hand.

This year I made three more ornaments, much more original. Above is another butterfly-theme ornament for my daughter, my oldest son got a "Day of the Dead" skull and the other son has a video game icon.

Happy New Year!

I've been interested in improving my bead embroidery skills. I made a bracelet which I haven't finished, dabbled with a couple of brooches, then decided to focus on ornaments. Following the success with the 2007 ornaments I decided to try dolls.

The first one completed is the Water Goddess. She is made with Japanese and Czech seed beads 15s, 11s, and 6s, with pressed glass embellishments. All of the beads are sewn to stiff Pellon interfacing which is backed with turquoise Ultrasuede. The Water Goddess now resides with my dear friend RMF.

My goddess goal is to make ones representing the elementals, months of the year, and then go one from there. The Fire Goddess beading is complete, I just have to finish backing the piece.