Makin' Stuff

 

I guess you could call this my month of August round up.

 

 



Rainbow button set

Harvest magnet set

Purple impression Jasper cuff

Sunset cuff

Let's get caught up

So here it is, the end of July, and I realize that I haven't posted in a really long time. It's not that there isn't anything going on. Oh! Believe me theres stuff going on, just not a lot of bead related stuff.

First off, we decided to adopt two dogs from my sister back in February. They are 2yr old schnauzer/ beagle mix or schneagles, as we like to call them.

They are a hand full, but they get along with Jack and cute goes a long way around here.

We've also started hiking again. A few years back this was what we did every weekend. Then somehow we got too busy and couldn't find the time to get out. So this year we've tried to make it a point to get out.

Top of Mt. Townsend



Top of  Marmot Pass



Along the Dosewallips River

 I got to take a trip into Seattle with some friends to go and see the King Tut exhibit at the Seattle Science Center. It was pretty fantastic and I would recommend it to anyone. The gold work and jewelry on display was particularly inspiring.

 

Time in the studio has been limited, but I've managed to find a few fleeting moments. A few earrings and a cuff mainly. I also made a couple of sets of buttons for a friend at work but sadly I forgot to take pictures before I sent them off.

Well that pretty much sums up the last six months or so. I'll do my best not to let that much time laps before the next update.

Here is another project that has been sitting on my bead table, just waiting for me to make it a pair.

Blue Kyanite & Freshwater pearls

I haven't spent a lot of time in my studio this past week or so, it's been nice not being under a deadline. Making Christmas gifts this year was a fun challenge and believe me when I tell you I was working up to the last minute. So if I decide to do it again next year I need to start earlier than June.





Happy New Year!

I wanted to get one last project finished before the end of the year.

 This cuff has been sitting half finished for weeks and now that Christmas is over I finally found the time to finish it. Making it my last piece for the year.

I've spent the last week getting the last of my Christmas gifts ready.

One last set of magnets and a few pairs of earrings.

I also had time to just play around and finish some projects that have been kicking around my studio for a while.

A beaded cuff that just needed the backing attached.

  

Making crazy big rings may become my new obsession for 2012.

Tray of goodies

Here are some of the beaded buttons & magnets I plan to give as gifts this year.

I also made some rings out of some of the smaller ones.

Autumn Cuff

I made this cuff bracelet for my mom for Christmas this year.

We had one of the most beautiful and mild autumns this year. Very little wind and rain meant the changing leaves stayed on the trees longer. I couldn't not be inspired by them.

These also happen to be some of my mom's favorite colors, so I know it's going to a good home.

I'm trying to make most of my Christmas gifts this year. So far it's going pretty well and I hope to be able to post a few more things I've made in the next couple of days.

Well it's been a long cold wet May here in the great Pacific Northwest, perfect weather for sitting inside and beading. With my trusty DVD player and a thermos of hot tea I've been keeping myself busy and making a mess at my table.



For the most part I've been making buttons, to either turn into pin or magnets. I like to keep a few on hand for last minuet gifts, but after all the birthdays this month and last I found my stock was running a little low. So I've challenged myself to make enough to fill this tray with, 50 to be exact.

  Here is a shot of one of my favorites, orange & green is such a springy color combo. If you want to see them all so far you can go to my Flickr page.

Gold and Teal Cuff

I had such a good time making the first cuff, I went ahead and made another.

This time I chose teal and gold for my color palette, I love how the warmth of gold is tempered by the coolness of teal. I also used some of my gold charlottes for a some sparkle.



Moon Light Cuff

I can't tell you how long I've wanted to make a beaded cuff. After coming across the bracelet blanks I must have bought years ago, I figured, why not?  

 I wanted to work with a simple color palette, so I went with silver, grey and black.

This was so much fun to make and it really didn't take that long to make. Now I can't wait to wear it!

Done and Gone

I spent a lot of time thinking about traveling while beading my February page. In the last few years I've been fortunate enough to have the opportunity to travel to some wonderful places on this planet, and now I find myself days away from leaving again.

I used copper and red for this months page. I don't use a lot of red generally and I wanted to try this color combination out, as a sort of sampler for another piece I have in mind. Technique wise this piece is pretty simple but I'm still pleased with how this turned out overall. 

Well that's it for now. Time to put down the beading needle and put on my walking shoes.

Bead Journal for January

 When so much is brown, grey and dark out side I felt drawn to the splashiest color combo I could think of. Orange and hot pink seemed to fit the bill. I found myself looking forward to coming home and working with these colors. It seemed to fill some sort of color deficiency in me.

I dug out some sequins I've had for far too long and never used.

I haven't decided how I want to finish these. Do I turn them into individual pieces or wait until I have finished all twelve and put them all together? Oh well, I guess I have a year to figure that out.