Crazy for Crystals - Swarovski

A few weeks ago I received a yummie mix of crystals in different sizes and colors for the new Fusion Beads Blog Affiliate Program. I, who am not normally a crystals person, got really really inspired. And I wanted to let the colors speak and the crystals to star in my pieces.

I have made three different designs. A bracelet, an earring and a ring. And even though I have not fully completed the ring yet I decided to show it to you anyway, as I think there is such a strong family feeling between the three pieces. And I am also pleased with the design. :-)

The ring is made in odd count peyote stitch, and a mix of one-drop and two-drop. All so I would get the width I wanted and a center line to embellish along. I used matte ivory colored Delicas size 11. The 3mm Crystals are attached each sitting diagonally along the center double row of the peyote.

My idea for the design for the bracelet actually started with a combination of two words that popped up in my head. "Crazy Cluster". I was looking for an un-tidy and more messy look than I myself normally associate with designs using crystals. Here I have sewn together a bunch of crystals in different sizes and colors to make this cluster bead. I think I managed to achieved what I was after. For the rest of the bracelet I have used ivory colored bone disc beads, strung on elastic cord to avoid the use of a clasp.

Now the earrings. A tassel type construction with a mix of crystals in different sizes and colors knotted on many strands of cord. I wanted to use silk cord, because it balances the slightly messy look with the more classy material. And crystals and silk cord is just utterly beautiful together I discovered. A definite hit! I used a closed square copper ring to attach the cords to.

All three pieces together. I really really enjoyed to work with these crystals. Who would have thought that? It was fun to try to find the somewhat un-tidy and bohemic solutions I was looking for. I will definitely use crystals more often in the future.

All my best,

Malin

The materials above were provided as part of the FusionBeads blogging program. The author of this blog has not received any payment from FusionBeads. The post above represents only personal opinion of the blog author.

Bead Table Sunday - and feeling a bit better today

Some of you might know that I am in hospital since Thursday. I've been treated for a MS relapse with Cortison-Steroids. It is not a serious or bad relapse, I have not lost any major functions like my ability to walk or so, but still it needed treatment. The treatment itself can make you feel bad, and yesterday was not a good day for me, and I was very down and low. I wasn't prepared that I would have to stay here for so long, for several days, so that also got me down a bit on an emotional level. Today I feel a bit better again, and it looks like I will be able to come home tomorrow. Everyone, please keep your fingers crossed for me.I just wanted to share with you that I am still able to do a little beadwork here and there whilst here. This is a type of rings I have made a few of over the last few weeks, in different color constellations. Peyote Stitch with 11/0 Delicas. So I thought I'd continue making a few more whilst in hospital, it was easy enough to pack my bag with the bits before I left home. These two are rather wide.
When I get back home I plan to gather all the rings I made over the last few weeks, in this series, and take a group photo for you.

So, as a conclusion for now, things are looking brighter for the nearest future. I'll keep you posted as good as I can. :-)

All my best and lots of love,

Malin

All Mod Cons - for my friend

Ring made in square stitch.

The bracelet is made in two drop peyote.

The symbol of the mod 'movement' from the sixties, concentric circles in red white and blue. A super nice watch from Lambretta. My friend Kata has one. The Jam played around with the symbol as they were associated with the music style even though they were around later. Album and song All Mod Cons title also referring to a typical phrase in English real estate adverts. Short for All Modern Conveniences.

I also got me this one from Round Rabbit. Bzzzzzzzz! :-)

All my best,

Malin

Peyote doings

I don't often show this kind of work here. But now it's time. :-)

A wide cuff bracelet made in two drop peyote and 10/0 delicas. In order to avoid the clasp to possibly scratch against the skin on your wrist, I sewed the clasp on the outside and covered the attachment rings with pearls. That created a nice effect I think.

Two finger rings in peyote and 11/0 seed beads. I like to do these little quick pieces every now and then. They are meant to work as company rings for other pieces I am wearing. Sort of to enhance or dampen a color scale wished. I can turn them and they may pick up a color I for instance have in my earrings or somewhere else.

When the excellent Swedish shop Zionesse closed down earlier this year I purchased a big mixed soup with a variety of seed beads of different kinds. Within it were these large triangular beads of different colors. I created two color groups and made this bracelet in peyote recently. I like the effect of it being so rustic still, even though made with seed beads and peyote, which I don't associate with rustic-ness normally.

Hope you enjoyed!

All my best,

Malin

BTW - testing testing Cubic RAW rope

Ok, so I can't show you my table at the moment. I have like one hundred projects going on at the same time. That's how it feels anyway. Some of them are secret ones also ... Isn't that exciting ... I've never been in a position when I could say that before ... BUT, the main reason for not showing you my table is that it is soooo messy.

So how clever was I to purchase a tutorial yesterday for a new technique then? Beats me?! I saw it and thought I need it. And I have tried it already actually (feeling proud now).

RAW - Right Angle Weave. I've seen tutorials on RAW that's been nightmare's when you wanna learn. But about a month ago I found this one on Cubic RAW, on YouTube, from InterWeave. It's in two parts. And suddenly I got it. But I didn't try it yet.

‪PART ONE: Cubic Right-Angle Weave with Carol Huber Cypher‬

‪PART TWO: Cubic Right-Angle Weave with Carol Huber Cypher

Then yesterday this one was on sale on Beading Daily. It's a pdf.

Beaded Rope Chain by Judi Wood

I used FireLine instead of the recommended thread, and I do not have any conditioner or thread wax at home, so I go 'au naturel'. What I found was necessary was to go through all the beads many many times for the first two or three rows/rounds. This was to create some stability to begin with. But then it went super smooth to just follow the instructions. And after a while you just keep going without really thinking about what you're doing ... mmm meditative ...

I think I am hooked. But never can I imagine I would make a whole necklace in this technique. I love them, beaded ropes, really looong lariat style ones. Gorgeous! But to make them is not for me. I'll make a bracelet from this one though.

I also made a ring in good old Peyote stitch with Delica Beads. My own design. I like the color combo and the pattern. Sort of makes me feel like I'm in an olive grove in Israel or something, eating a fresh juicy orange sitting in the shade under a tree. I've never done that in real life, but that's my perception of it I guess ...

All my best,

Malin

In search of the perfect round

My daughter Arabella, 7 1/2 , has booked Sunday with me for learning how to make a round beaded bead. But guess what. I don't know how to make them. I have been searching around for free tutorials. I have yet not found any. You see, I don't want it to be one where you cover a bead. I haven't even found one I would have to pay for. Well, one I was tipped about by Patricia. Thank you so much! But I did think it was a bit pricey. Max 6 dollars is what I think it should cost. Max!

So what do you do at times like this? I am the kind who try to figure it out by myself. The acid yellow-green one and the green-white one are made from tutorials on YouTube. All the others are my own experiments. Made in peyote stitch. None of them are perfectly round. But they are rather sweet anyway.

By the way, have you seen the animated tutorials by Bead Animation? This is the one I used for the green and white bead.

I just love the style. Super clever use of Flash. (I used to know Flash, now I have "forgotten" it since I haven't used it for about ten years.) On YouTube there is a whole bunch of them. And it looks like they are opening a website soon. www.beadanimation.com

Please, if any of you have a good instruction or tutorial for a round beaded bead, please give me a call. It doesn't have to be made in peyote. Or if you can tip me on where I can buy a good one. I'd be ever so grateful!

Have a great weekend!

Malin

Button Swap - REVEAL!!!!!

So here is my reveal. I recieved 6 b e a u t i f u l buttons from Michelle Mach who so kindly offered to be my partner in the Button Swap.

From top left and clockwise:

• A cowboy hat button in plastic, kind of an extra treat coz of Michelle living in a Western-themed area.
• Wavy lines pewter button by MamacitaBeadWorks on Etsy. YUM!!!!
• Gunmetal mosaic button (plastic), coming from a set of two. The first one Michelle used in a piece published in Simply Beads. I am really honoured to get this one. It is soooooo cool!
• Massive black carved wooden button! Wow, I looove this one! Looooove!
• Green ceramic button. I will not have any problem finding a suitable place for this one! Very nice.
• Coconut patterned button. Another pretty pretty and fun button I will love to use.

Thank you so much Michelle! And thank you so much for arranging the swap. Very very nice thing. Hope there will be more of them.

OK, so I had totally mixed up the dates, and I have been without an internet connection for two days. Got it back 3 hours ago and I realized that the Button Swap blog hop is TODAY. Quick photographing session outdoors in the late hour and no extra work on the images in photoshop. So this is it.

Here is my first bracelet. I call it "Hybernation Time". It contains MamacitaBeadWorks' pewter button. And an adorable polymer clay bear bead by TreeWingsStudio. A saffron chain and a green drenched copper bead, by MissFickleMedia. Some gemstones, wooden cubes, seed beads and bright red nylon cord.

Perhaps this is more of an autumn piece considering the theme and the colours. But it made me really happy to make it. A lustful feeling coz I just went with what I felt like, pretty-wise. Kind of playing around. I purpously made it too big for myself, since I have very small wrists and I wish it to be possible to purchase for a larger group of people.

Bracelet number two is under way. How could I resist to do something with that fantastic wooden button? It is so stunning I decided to use it as a focal piece. I am working on a peyote "band" made from size 11 Delicas in a colour scheme I have put together myself. I wanted to enhance and lift forward the button as much as possible but still have an interesting back-drop. The band has a hole where I will attach the button which have a shank. A silver coloured clasp.

An odd detail about the peyote is that I have done it every other row one-drop and every other two-drop. This so I would reach 15 rows but still make it an even count peyote structure. I am a bit proud of that solution. I do not like to work odd-count peyote you see, and I wanted the band to fit precisely in the clasp.

Please visit all the button swap blogs!

1. Cat - Boo Beads
2. Cindy - Sweet Bead Studio
3. Cory - Art with Moxie
4. Cyndi - Beading Arts
5. Dita - Alankarshilpa

6. Donna, Marti, and Michelle - Beads & Books
7. Erin - Treasures Found
8. Hope - Crafty Hope
9. Inca - Zerenity Design
10. Katrine - Army of Sock Monsters

11. Krista - French Elegant Jewelry
12. Kristie - Artisan Clay
13. Linda D. - Lutka and Co.
14. Linda L. - Linda's Bead Blog
15. Lody - Lody's Beadworks

16. Lori - Pretty Things
17. Loretta - Loretta's Boutique
18. Malin - Beading by Malin de Koning - YOU ARE HERE
19. Mary - MK's Creative Musings
20. Maryanne - Zingala's Workshop

21. Melinda - Melinda Orr Metal & Clay Jewelry Designs
22. Saskia - Perlendistel
23. Shannon - For My Sweet Daughter
24. Shirley - Beads and Bread
25. Stephanie - Confessions of a Bead Hoader

Stuck, String and Treasury

Please help me, if you can! I am stuck on this one. As so often before I get stuck on a detail in the production/manufacturing of a piece. I hate when it happens and it is actually one of the main reasons why I gave myself this One-a-Day-Challenge. I wish to come over this barrier so that I get some tempo in my production. I have soooooooo many unfinished pieces laying around. This one I am very pleased with design-wise. I really like the cubes in peyote and the colours, and that button just lift the whole piece. The thing is that I want that button to work as a clasp, and after pondering about it for a few days I decided that the way of making it work would be this way that you can see in the picture (gosh what an awful sentance). But it doesn't work, coz there's a big gap. I will have to redo it. But how? Should it be some metal hook construction hidden under the button? Should it be magnets? Or what? Please please I need some experienced advice from you!

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One-a-Day-Challenge No 3 is a simple strung bracelet with dark coloured rustic trade beads in glass, a few small trade beads in white and some buttons. All strung on double black waxed linen cord with knots in between. The bracelet is worn two laps around the wrist. Casual and very easy to wear, I've been wearing it ever since I made it a few days ago, also together with other bracelets.

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And finally - another treasury on Etsy by me. I wanted to name it "The feeling of sitting on a fallen pine tree log on a cliff by the open sea on a sunny, warm but windy day". But it was a too long name, so I had to shorten it. All the picks are favourites of mine already, either the actual pice or the seller. I do wanna own all the things in this treasury.

Bracelet in progress & Buttons

I am working on this wide bracelet at the moment. Width: 1 inch and 1/4 or 3,3 cm. Peyote stitch with 4 mm cubes. A huge shank button shall work as the clasp.

Look! I have expanded my button collection. From no buttons at all, to this bunch. A really lovely one in my own opinion. I am planning to start using a lot more buttons in my jewellery. Mainly as clasps, but also just incorporated instead of ordinary beads.

Sia Furler sings Buttons: