Top Super Secret Jewelry Exchange - REVEALED

Guess what?  We had sun... for just a wee bit this morning.  So I took full advantage and captured some photos that I know you were just chomping at the bit to see. :)

Back a few days ago I posted about a jewelry exchange I was doing with Dawn from Alaska.  (If you didn't read it, click here to catch up.)  I'll wait....

Well, Dawn wears mostly neutrals, I wanted to design a piece for her that fit with ANYTHING she wears.  SO, I've combined hues of black, browns and copper to give this piece the depth and color I had envisioned.  Something different, unique and one of a kind.  So in honor of finishing this before Valentine's day, I'm calling this piece - Dove Delight!

Dawn will be seeing this for the first time on The Hive... so I can't wait to hear her squeal!  I bet I won't even need a telephone to hear that! :o)

Have a fantastic weekend everybody!  I'm off to go enjoy our 40 degree heat wave we're experiencing!
{Hugs!}

Bead Embroidery Update!

Good Morning!  As I type this the weather guessers are shaking their fingers warning us of a HUGE impending storm!  6" today and 12"-18" tomorrow... time to hunker down and BEAD!!!!  As long as my loved ones are home, I can enjoy the storm from the inside.

So while I sip cup after cup of glorious coffee watching the snowflakes fall, I wanted to give you an update on my bead embroidery education.  I learn in a variety of methods, so the book I had gotten last week The Art of Bead Embroidery, by Heidi Kummli and Sherry Serafini appeared to be the last component of learning for my brain.  And it's worked!  Between the Youtube video's I've watch, a video from Fire Mountain Gems and this book, I busted out the seed beads and away I did weave!

I figured I would start simple, learning the techniques and just having fun building something as I see it, rather than all drawn out and formal.  I started with a black bead cabachon and created a bezel around it.  I let the colors flow as they wished and kept the stitching around the cab.  After finishing a few rounds of beads, it looked simple, classy and just right (almost).  Hmmm, I was so worried about the front I hadn't placed much thought into my backing.... enter the grey ultra suede skirt that fit me a bazillion years ago that I know will never fit again but I could never get rid of it.  Now I know why... I whipped out my Fiskers and viola... repurposed into a beautiful backing for my pendant! 

Wait, wait... that doesn't look quite finished.  No, it needed some SPARKLE (I'm a freak about bling!)  And I needed to learn how to make fringe... so a few beads, some bling and now it was the perfect pendant!  I was really pleased with how it turned out.  As my first ever attempt at bead embroidery, I'm keeping this piece as my very own forever and ever.  :)  When I embarked upon my beading journey several years ago, I never thought I'd be able to create a little piece of art like this!  I can honestly say I surprised myself!

If you're wanting to learn bead embroidery, I'd encourage you to check out the book The Art of Bead Embroidery.  Both women have slightly different methods, but learning and seeing both really helped me to "get it" and translate into what works for me!

Hope your week is warm, wonderful and filled with LOTS of creative inspirations!

{Hugs!}