Who Needs a Brazilian Butt Lift if You have one of THESE

There are very few things in life that can truly serve more than one purpose... alas let me demonstrate.

Kristen Stevens Adaptation of Tutorial Diamonds are Forever by Nancy Dale

You see, I have a very good friend Kristen that we often have beading discussions and bounce ideas off of each other.  Well my darling friend decided to surprise me with an artisan crafted gift.  Imagine my delighted squeal as I opened my mailbox and found a padded envelope shipped directly from New York.

Within the package was the most beautiful bracelet.  You see, dear Kristen knows I have very small wrists.  We've discussed why I don't use tutorials or even the examples in Beadwork magazine.  She put on her artist's hat and took a tutorial created by beader Nancy Dale and modified it.  That's the beauty of being a real artist.  It's not about using somebody's pattern, it's about learning something from doing the tutorial then making it your own.

For those interested in learning how this bracelet was made, you can purchase Nancy's Diamonds are Forever tutorial for yourself from her etsy store here: http://www.etsy.com/listing/92145558/bracelet-tutorial-diamonds-are-forever

Now... what else makes this bracelet so special?  Well... as I opened the package I was so giddy, I tried right away to put it on.  I couldn't get the frickin clasp open.  I was on the phone with Kristen at the time and she started laughing... imagine that, laughing at me, her dear friend.  (Just kidding Kristen!) 

Kristen had used the most incredibly strong magnetic clasp I have ever seen!  Seriously, if I had a necklace on with one of these, and had the other end attached to my butt, honest to goodness, I'd never need a Brazilian Butt Lift!  It would pick that tooshie up so it would be nice and perky all day long!

I was laughing so hard as we talked... my brain wandered to so many other uses for said magnetic clasp.  But I won't get into those right here... LOL  Needless to say, you'll have to get intouch with Kristen to find out what planet she got those on, because they are outta this world!! 

Kristen, I feel so very honored to have such a beautiful creation.  You know I love purple, but the detail you put into this bracelet was impeccable!  I love, love, love the crystals and the fit is perfect!  Everytime I wear it, it'll remind me what a wonderful friendship we share!

{Hugs!}
~Dawn

Nancy's Blog:  http://nedbeads.blogspot.com
Nancy's Etsy Store:  http://www.etsy.com/shop/NEDbeads
Kristen's Blog:  http://kristen-beadjourney.blogspot.com/

Inspired by a Friend

"Where does your inspiration come from?"

People ask me that all the time, and my answer is "Everywhere - people, nature, songs, artwork.  There's no rhyme or reason, inspiration just hits you when you're open to receiving it."

I recently saw this blog post on The Hive from my good friend Dawn in Alaska.  She had created an incredible chainmaille bracelet that "captured" Swarovski Crystal rondelles in a "net" of jumprings.  I happen to own one of these wonderful bracelets from when Dawn and I did a jewelry swap earlier this year.  I just love it - the way it's netted makes you look twice.

So after seeing this post I thought, how cool would it be to have a "netting" of sorts filled with pearls or gemstones or crystals... but the netting was made of beads.  Heck, I know how to make a netted rope, why not fill it up with pearl goodness?  After all, I'm a glass half-full sort of gal!

I chose a mix of Delicas that had some greens, pinks and peaches and mixed it with some vintage peach little round crystals... I scooped up a whole batch of beads in an estate sale when I first started experimenting.  I love the sparkle of them, mixed with the delicas the net turned out really well... fill it up with positivity and somebody will really love wearing this comfortable bracelet.

But I still wanted to be able to see more of the "filling" - after all the best part of an eclair is that ooey gooey last bite that has the remainder of the custard filling.  Mmmmmm  So I continued experimenting.  I tried lots of things, un-ravelled and finally it struck me, build the filling into the netting!  So I did... and so it worked.  I love it when a plan comes together (even if you weren't sure what the plan was to begin with.)

Wouldn't this be beautiful with white pearls & silver seed beads as wedding jewelry?

This bracelet is more stiff than the peach one, and I threaded copper wire through it to keep the perfect shape.  It wears like a bangle, but this would also be awesome strung on Softflex beading wire for a more flexible necklace.  So I owe Dawn a big thank you for inspiring me to learn something new and expand that already exploding brain of mine!  You're a gem!

Hope you find yourself in a state of awww at something wonderful today!  Appreciate and love all around us as we're blessed to be right where we are~
{Hugs!}
Dawn

Practice, practice, practice

I'm a firm believer that no matter what your method of expression, as artisans we are always learning.  (In life too!)  While I've been working on some new bead embroidered jewelry, I am always looking at new styles and techniques for the "chain" part of the necklace or matching bracelet.

I've always loved a beaded rope style necklace - there's something about the "tube" that just says WOW on a piece.  So I've used a russian spiral for most of my pieces so far.  Flipping back through a past issue of Beadwork magazine I saw a bracelet by Nancy Cain that featured a netted tube.  I hadn't tried that before, so I thought I'd give it a whirl!

I was surprised at how quickly the netted tube built on itself!  After finishing the embellishments, I had a blast with this piece!  It does have a good structure that can be string with bead caps or spacers and end beads to make a full necklace!

So, stay tuned for more bead embroidery pieces (one I'm finishing up today that's a whole lotta WOW! and a bit of bling too).  As long as we're always learning, we're always growing, right?

What's new in your creative space this weekend?  I'd love to see what you're up to!
{Hugs!}
Dawn


P.S. If you're looking for a great outlet to share your blog and design creations, I strongly recommend you check out The Hive!  It's a free forum open to all mediums of creativity!  I've met some incredible people through The Hive and would love to extend the invitation to you to share there too!  Click here to sign up and it out for yourself!

I'm Jonsin' for Doughnuts - anybody going to the store?

Since Thanksgiving is this coming week, and we're all preparing to stuff ourselves beyond the levels of self control, I've opted to busy my fingers writing a blog post this morning rather than throwing on some shoes and driving to the store for fresh baked sugary goodness stuffed with Bavarian Custard and frosted with delicious chocolate frosting.  Less calories AND I get to tell you how much I appreciate you reading my blog.  Tell that to my craving stomach muscle!!

This week has been spent wrapping up loose ends from my open house last weekend and getting a few custom orders done and almost out the door.  (Note to Mother Nature: Mama needs some sunshine so I can snap some photos before I let my loving creations fly out with the post.  Thank you very much!)  I've also been working at getting some pieces listed in my Artfire Store that weren't ready to go to a new home last weekend.

Since I know many of my customers right now are shopping for holiday gifts, in addition to gift boxing, I'm also offering gift wrapping.  That's one less package they need to worry about and one less paper cut they have to grumble through.  :)

One of the latest pieces I listed was created from my own shopping experience.  I love the look of bracelets, but every bracelet I try on is too big.  A 7 1/2" bracelet slides over my wrist like a dog on ice.  So I challenged myself to create a bracelet for those women with petite wrists that would be comfortable and fit perfectly.

This style is created using the herringbone stitch so it lays beautifully flat on the wrist letting you forget you are even wearing it.  I just love this pattern because it's totally flexible to ANY size you want to make it.  So it works for any woman!  Want to see more pictures, check it out here!

Hope your weekend is wonderful!
Thanks for helping me get over my craving for doughnuts!  Maybe this http://www.etsy.com/listing/61604590/portal-big-hole-donut-focal is the type of doughnut I should be jonsin' for! :)
{Hugs!}

Seed Bead Bracelet - Trying a new stitch

In my post earlier this week I spoke about trying new things!  I really think as individuals it's so important to try new things in order to grow - both personally and creatively.  Often when I try something new it sparks a fresh level of creativity that opens my eyes and allows me to create beautiful things.

This is a spiral curvy snake chain I made using Bugle Beads, Size 5/0 and 10/0 seed beads.  The way it twists is much like a ringlet of hair and has a beautiful bounce to it.  It was much fun to create and different than the styles I've been working with.  It's funny though, working with the smaller beads was truly therapeutic.  I felt so relaxed as I sat at my table and beaded... and today I woke up refreshed and the ideas just flowed to me. 

What do you do to re-energize your creative juices?  I'd love to hear all about your muse!

{Hugs!}
Dawn

Beaded Jewelry The Complete Guide

The Perfect Seed Bead Bracelet

So what do you get when you clean up - err, uh... organize your crafty area (in my case, the entire dining room).  And let me tell you, the dining gods are sending me many thanks for taking the steps to reveal what the dining room table really looks like.

I have this bag 'o beads... you know the kind.  The bag that you just toss random beads in after you finish a project because you're too 'rushed' - because I'm certainly not lazy ;) I'm just to rushed to put them away in their proper spots.  Two of these, three of these... half a dozen of those... and slowly you build up a bag 'o randomness.

Well when you 'organize' your wonderful craft area suddenly this bag 'o randomness just calls your name and says... "Use me... I'm beautiful."  And you look at that bag of beads and you reply, "Yes you are!" 

Between your artistic instruments and the beads, you let the random beads, colors & textures create the special piece of jewelry.  And this time, it created what I consider the "perfect" piece of jewelry.  A bracelet that you don't need three hands to put on, that goes with your favorite jeans and doesn't require you to lose 20 lbs for it to fit! :)  Yes, that my dears is the ultimate perfect jewelry!

Get your hands on this Wrapped Seed Bead Bracelet! You know you need it! :)