A bracelet

I made this bracelet back in February. It's been away on a transatlantic journey since. But today it came back, so now I can show it to you :-). Don't you find it difficult to not directly share designs that you are particularly happy with? I do! But I guess the more times I submit my pieces the less of an issue that will actually be for me.

Materials and resources:

1 Multi Hole Green Earthy Triangle Connector - RoundRabbit

1 Wine Red Wing Ding bead - Genea

2 10mm Burgundy Facetted Pearls - they were a gift from Heidi Post, she bought them at a show

30 4-5mm Garnet mini coins - StarEyes

55 Size 8 Burgundy Lined Transparent Peridot Triangle Seed Beads - FusionBeads

38 Size 6 Olivine with Frosted Silver and Pink Lining Seed Beads - LimaBeads

1 Antiqued Brass Old Timer Lobster Clasp - PatinaQueen

3 10mm Etched Brass Jump Rings Vintaj - FusionBeads

1 10mm 16G Brass Jump Ring - BeadAholique

Ca 600mm Size 6 Jade Green Silk Cord with needle - Ornamentea

All my best,

Malin

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 Wednesday - 27th of August

Hey, I did pearl knotting on silk cord today! For the first time. I followed this great tutorial from BeadAholique. Used the tweezers I ordered last week, which apparently are necessary. And I followed the advice from Erin Siegel to choose a silk cord size the largest possible to go through the holes of the beads. Thank you again Erin! And I went for my son Conrad's suggestion for the color on the silk to go with the purple pearls. Soooooo yummie, don't you agree.

Ok, so it didn't turn out perfect. But I am pleased anyway. And I know what I will make out of the string I knotted. But I'm not gonna tell you, coz I might submit it to a magazine. :-)

Oh, and I just have to share this photo also, of all of the lads of the family sitting in a line opposite me at breakfast this morning. Gotta adore them, don't you.

Conrad and Mark are looking at our female cat Alice climbing the wooden structure by our veranda. Charlie is more concerned with what's on the table.

All my best! And see you soon!

Malin