A Necklace for Someone Special

This is a necklace I made inspired by a very special person. To those who come here for bead posts or from the Starving Artist Forums that may not know about Kaylee, you may find her blog here. She is only 16 and is in the hospital with cancer. Feel free to drop by and leave her a note of encouragement or prayers for her recovery.

The necklace is a simple spiral. Yellow because Kaylee likes yellow  She’s so full of hope and sunshine, the color suits her. I added a removable swarovski star crystal because she really is a shining star!

I know, that fancy background is a paper towel!!! My usual black background wasn’t really working with the crystal. Sorry Kaylee! But I hope you like it. (((((hugs)))))

It Feels Good….

…to get things done. As most of you know I have been trying to get organised. Finish up some projects or (in the case of some real fugly ones) taking them apart and re-using the beads for another piece.

I have been able to cross 3 things off my “unfinished business” list from my earlier posts! I have updated the photo’s in them as well.  Here and Here

I was going through my pile, taking pictures, and decided why take the time to post some of these when I could just finish them right now? For all the time it took, it seemed pointless to put them up.

So, here are some pictures of other projects that I quickly finished up that weren’t on the list.

I had to add a clasp to finish this one. It’s an older piece and I wasn’t going to keep it. I kind of like it though.

Just a little number to wear with denims

I just added a few beads to finish this one.

This is what I have been doing with my lariat. It is no where near completion. I think it will be a never-ending project! LOL I would have done things differently had I known better, but I didn’t….oh well.

Yellow Beaded Necklace

I see many people name their pieces of jewelry. I don’t know what to call this one. I just wanted something different.

Silver Gold Fringe

This is one a made a while back. I used bugles, twisted bugles and seedbeads. I couldn’t capture how it really sparkles because it would blur every time the light hit it. So just use your imagination with light hitting it and blinding passers by. Sorry, I’m feeling slightly giddy today.

Here are some assorted pics:

The Sunday Report

I’m going to make Sunday’s a little different. I’ll still post about my beads but add some off-topic stuff as well. Interesting things like the “19-questions-to-be-answered-from-all-over-the-world” over at this site. Check it out. Make sure to read the comments and see just how different (or alike) other Countries are. Don’t forget to fill it out yourself.

I forgot to add that one thing I DO like about my Country is our health care system. As much bad press as it has been getting lately. Don’t let it fool you, that’s just a way to make us go along with certain business’ that would love to change the system. All they see are dollar signs.

I’ve noticed a few more bead sites go up at wordpress this month. No wonder, I love how organized we can be with our posts and categories. There isn’t a better place on the web for people who need an easy way to manage plenty of articles and photo’s. I don’t know anything about making websites!

I’m going to start adding other wordpress beaders to my blog roll. I hope they don’t mind. Whenever I feel uninspired I go on-line and in no time I’m wanting to pick up my beads and work away.

A quote I saw recently: “If you ate today, thank a farmer”

Back to my beads:

The silver pieces on this these necklaces were from one long strand that was given to me by an Aunt. It wrapped around the neck four times and had no beads. They are separate pieces but I wear them together.

Spiral Necklaces

These are spiral necklaces. I used the same stitch with all of them but used different beads.

This one is a simple spiral:

Here I added larger beads in between the spiral:

and here I used a standard seedbead for the core and larger beads on the outside:

The spiral stitch is one of my favorites. The bigger the bead, the quicker the project. Be creative and try it with different beads.

Click here to learn how to do a spiral stitch at Ruby’s Jewelry Design and Beadwork.

A little of everything

These are a few very simple necklaces I’ve made recently.

Do you have a favorite type of bead? I like all beads but seed, bicone and bugles are tops on my list. The 3 cut faceted and Charlotte seedbeads are stunning. I love how the light dances off them. Here is a link to some photos at BeadFX if you want to see them sparkle. NICE aren’t they?

Not all my beads are new. I inherited loads vintage jewelry,  some pieces were broken and they made their way into my drawers of beads. I scour yard sales and antique stores for unique jewelry, take them apart and re-use them. I’ll use almost anything.

As for style, it depends on my mood, or if I have a certain person in mind. Some of the ones I’d never be caught wearing are ones that people ohh… and ahh… over. I’d like to donate some of my things for charity or fund raising events, so I have to keep in mind that there are different strokes for different folks.

I have to force myself to make matching earrings and bracelets for my necklaces. I don’t know why I don’t enjoy making them as much. I haven’t mastered wire working at all, some of the rings I’ve made are horrid! I’m not giving up though, because I see so many beautiful ones on-line. If it takes me years, I WILL learn how to make them.