Unique You

Thursday, October 29, 2009

Lacy Rings

I'm continuing to experiment with 2 needles, or cross needle weaving as it is sometimes called. It can be challenging at times - at first picking up beads with the needle in my left hand was a little difficult. I have more confidence in it now though, and find myself choosing to use 2 needles instead of one more and more. I still use only 1 needle for some stitches...peyote stitch, spirals. However for that lacy look 2 needles work just lovely. These rings were the result of some 2-needle experimenting - I think they turned out very pretty!

By the way, you may have noticed I changed up my background in my photos. I originally was using white because I wanted the attention to be on the item itself - but my pictures were looking a little washed out. Does the new background take attention away from the rings (or the bangles below)? Great photos are a constant struggle of mine...always striving for better.

Monday, October 26, 2009

New Bangle Bracelets

I wish I had a more steady stream of stuff to "oooh" and "ahhhh" you with, but, here's the thing - I can't work on just one project at a time. That doesn't mean I'm juggling 6 needles with thread at one time though. Bead weaving is a time consuming endeavor - especially if you are working on a large project. I don't want to be looking at the same colors and doing the same stitch for endless hours, so I tend to change it up. It keeps my hands busy - but I don't necessarily finish one thing in an entire week. Wait a few weeks though, and I'll have 5 or 6 things finished. It comes in waves, folks...it comes in waves.
Maybe I should do a "work in progress Wednesday", or something like that. Would anyone like that - to see works in progress?

Ok on to the bracelets. Still enamored with right angle weave here. I have been playing with some other techniques, but was on a kick this weekend to finish these two bangles off.
This first one was the more time consuming of the two. It was the first of this style that I started off in size 11 toho seed beads. I think I'll be sticking to size 8's or 6's for the base of these from now on...11's just take so long to work in cubic right angle weave. It does look pretty neat though.

This second bracelet actually started out as a ring. But it just wanted to be a bangle. Perhaps now that the bangle is made I can go on to make a matching ring.

I have had some amazing strands of turquoise just begging to be made into something pretty. In addition to the gold fire polished Czech beads and the turquoise rounds, I used robins egg blue turquoise chips from the sleeping beauty mine in Arizona. Sleeping beauty turquoise is one of, if not the most desired turquoise, because of it's naturally blue color. Pretty, right?

Monday, October 19, 2009

Congratulations to the winner!

Congratulations to the winners of this month's Etsy Bead Weaver's Challenge - Super Power Jewelry. Yes I said "winners" we have a tie for first place!

Tied for first is AngelqueCreations with her beautiful bracelet - Cuff of Power

and SmadarsTreasure with her Black Spider Woman Necklace

Be sure to check out both of their etsy shops for some fantastic bead woven goodness! Congratulations to the winners and to everyone who participated in the challenge. Stay tuned for the next EBW's challenge, "Beauty of the Flower", which will be available for voting Nov. 9th.

Monday, October 12, 2009

Super Power Jewelry

The creations beaded up by the Etsy Bead Weavers for October are truly fit for a super hero! Get a closer look at each one individually by clicking on the links below. When you have decided on your favorite, please head on over to the EBW's blog to vote. Thanks!

Voting ends October 15th.

1. Cuff of Power - AngelqueCreations

2. Triforce Necklace - MaryTDesigns

3. Emerald Enigma Necklace and Earring Set - HauteIceBeadwork

4. K - MadeByOlga

5. Black Spider Woman Necklace - SmadarsTreasure

6. Power of Resistance Bracelet/Glove - dreambeadweaver

7. A Wonderous Woman - sedonaskye

8.Wonder Woman Rivoli Beaded Bridal Bracelet - SpringColors

9. EBWC Care Bears - Stellaltinaan

10. I've got the Power - RachelesOriginals

11. Galaxy Stars Super-Powered Collar - FrancescasFancy

12. Super Woman in Style - kraftymax

13. Xena - Suede Necklace with Beadwoven Beads - alatvian

14. The Power of Three - enchantedbeads

15. Power Goblet - njema

Sunday, October 4, 2009

Jack-o-lantern Earrings

I'm still in the Halloween spirit, and I felt like making a little something for myself this weekend. I found a tutorial for a jack-o-lantern charm online, so I thought I'd make 2 and turn them into earrings. Cute, right?
Here is the tutorial for anyone interested in beading up one or two of their very own: Jack-o-lantern charm tutorial
You could even substitute cream colored beads for the orange and make a Jack Skellington from The Nightmare Before Christmas.

Monday, September 28, 2009

Candy Corn Bangle Bracelet

Try as I may to work on other things (I have a peyote stitch box and bracelet in the works), I keep coming back to cubic right angle weave. This bangle was a labor of love - it took over 15 hours to create. In the planning stages, I had only intended to make the a bangle from 3 strips of cubic right angle weave and leave it at that. When I got to the "end" though, I kept on going. Since I had the perfectly matched colors of fire polished beads, I layered them right in, and everything turned out even better than I imagined in my head. The fire polished beads give the bangle just enough sparkle to catch the eye.

Usually I am a bit behind the power curve when it comes to holiday themed jewelry, so I'm fairly impressed with myself this time around - having actually finished this an entire month before Halloween. Go me!

Friday, September 18, 2009

The winner is...

The winner of this months Etsy Bead Weaver's challenge is Lorraine of TrinityDJ with her beautiful necklace Indian Summer Sunset. Congratulationa Lorraine!