Beading From the Heart

Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Aren't wrap bracelets fun? They seem to be all the rage these days. I see a lot of leather strap bracelets embellished with semi-precious gemstones or rhinestones. They are great projects for those craving a little instant gratification. There's a little of the 70's look going on. For similar looks check out an artist named Ali on Lima Beads. You'll see what I mean. She's beading/stringing a blue-streak and I love her work. It's so relaxed and earthy. And she utilizes simple, relatively inexpensive components to make really cool jewelry for every occasion. Enough of tooting Ali's horn...I made my own wrap bracelet and it was fun as promised. I used 4 mm round jasper gemstones which I had purchased at BellaBead in Fresno some time ago as well as S-Lon Beading Cord. It's durable and comes in lots of pretty colors. I picked up a few spools at the 41 Trading Post in Oakhurst. You can do a lot with it...like Kumihimo, stringing larger hole beads, knotting, etc. The base strands are 2mm leather cord and the clasp is a button out of my stash. So here it sits atop my praying hands incense burner which I got at Artifacts also in Oakhurst some time ago.
Wrap bracelets are quick and easy to make. Try one! Fusion Beads is where I learned how to make it. Just click on "Techniques" and search for wrap bracelet. The diagrams are very clear. Have Fun!

Saturday, March 22, 2014

A fun and funky bangle I made using some recycled clothe wrapped around a plain wooden bangle- sold at craft stores- and of course some beads, coiled up wire, crystals and a little imagination.

And here's a picture of the late, great Keesha, the sweetest dog ever. I think this must have been an Andy Warhol special edition!!! lol ! Check it out:

Made this fun necklace using a focal bead from Klewexpressions.com and kept forgetting I had it loaded on my camera. It was fun braiding the leather strap and incorporating a little wire work and of course fringe.

Friday, March 7, 2014

My second Bohemian Lace Lariat designed by the late Melanie Doerman

I am working on a necklace (in my signature earthy colors) for a dear friend who has always been there for me in times of need for as long as I can remember. She's a smart, foxy red-head who is going to rock this necklace. My only regret is that with the numbness in my fingers I cannot make it faster. Well there's another regret...that I didn't get to spend more time with its creator, Bead Artist Melanie Doerman, who taught some classes at the CCBS a few years back and has since passed. Ask anyone who met her - she was a special lady, an amazing artist, a fellow motorcycle mama who I wish she could be here creating more beautiful pieces and touching more aspiring bead artists, like she did me, with her big heart and endless ideas for bead patterns. Her pieces had a very personal quality to them. Published posthumously is her book: The Art Of Forgotten Things: Creating Jewelry From Objects With A Past - published by Interweave Press...available at Interweavestore.com or check out Amazon.com for lots of great deals on all the bead books we have to have! Anyway I currently have 3 of her kits in the works. They are a challenge but really fun and you learn alot.
Here are a few little components that when all beaded (there are many more to do) and sewn together, they will make a gorgeous, blinged-out necklace. I made one in matte light gray and lavendar and gifted it to a friend of my Mom. I'll have to get the picture of her wearing it off my cell phone and upload it on here. Some pieces take a long time. This one does get tedious and I find I have to put it down in order to make something quicker for some instant gratification but I always find my way back and one day it's going to be on here all finished and FABULOUS!. Thank you Melanie. Your spirit and talent lives on. I wonder if you are up in heaven just beading up a storm?! I hope so. You never have to get a back ache and there is no doubt an endless supply of little chocolate goodies!!!