THE SPECIAL CABOCHON NECKLACE COMPLETED!

I used the 

 labradorite

 cabochon

that I had bought

 a long time ago,

 but never knew 

what to do with,

for this project.

I had originally 

intended

 to make a more elaborate 

design but 

decided to keep things

simple 

and let the stone

 do the talking.

As you can see

 from the pics

the beautiful 'flash' 

of blue that emerges 

from the cabochon is pretty 

and I wanted that to be the focal point

rather than adding 

a lot of embellishment. 

I'm so, so, happy to have 

used this cab at last! 

THE PRETTIEST UFO

I found these components 

that I had been making 

for Sabine Lipperts 

La Fleur bracelet pattern. 

For some reason I never 

finished making it. I have no 

idea why not, just look at all that 

sparkly loveliness!

It's far too pretty to live its life out 

as an 'unfinished object' so

it's definitely a project 

I want to restart.... 

GATHERING SUPPLIES...

Gathering supplies 

for my Labradorite project.

Here is what landed

 on my doormat 

this morning -

a gorgeous 

faceted strand 

of 4mm rondelles.

Mmmm mmmm!

You can really 

see the blue flash 

of colour coming out 

of these stones. 

It's going to be a while

before I can get going

on this project 

but looking at these 

little beauties makes me

excited! 

Can't wait.... 

COULD IT BE TIME TO BREAK OUT 'THE SPECIAL CABOCHON'?

When I was first getting into beading 

I saw this gorgeous Labradorite 

cabochon. 

I bought it straight away 

even though at that time 

I had NEVER 

worked with cabochons before 

and had NO idea 

of even how to start 

working with them!

I thought to myself, one day...one day 

I will make something from this, 

but the years went by 

and I didn't learn the skills

 to have a go... 

but I am starting to think 

that maybe now should be the time 

to use it ..... 

I am pretty confident that I can 

make something 

now that I have some cabochon 

experience under my belt,

but the pressure of it being 

'that special cabochon' 

does make me have a few nerves!

Wish me luck! 

Rose Quartz And Serenity

So happy to find some rose quartz rounds
 and blue jade beauties
in my bead box today.

They are a good match 
for the Pantone Color(s) of the year:
Rose Quartz and Serenity. 


I'm a big fan of pastels 
and so this kind of colour
scheme is very appealing to me.

Bring on the pretty projects! 

So sad :-(

It's so sad that the Bead Soup Blog party has had to be cancelled. 

I wish Lori all the best

 for things improving in her life,

 I bet cancelling the hop was the absolutely 

last thing she wanted to do! 

So many people look forward to the hop every year and 

 I, for one,  was very over excited

 and bought a brand new 

lovely, delicious, soup 

all ready to participate in the challenge..

I wonder if there is one person  out there

in the same situation.

If there is, and it's you and you'd like to swap beads

just leave a comment or email me because 

it seems a shame to let good beads go to waste! 

*(Pic from aliex express)

Update: Can you tell I am really heart broken about this being cancelled!?
Decided to keep the beads ready for next time! 

Are You Making Enough Progress?

Do you ever look around at some of the amazing work out there 

and think to yourself  'WOW. That is absolutely amazing.'

Closely followed by ' Oh dear, I can't make anything like that ..'

Do you feel you are making enough progress? 

When it comes to beading and jewellery making
 we can be so quick to judge and 'grade'ourselves
compared to other peoples work.

I guess it's human nature to want to be 'top of the class' 

or at the very least not come last!
However, hobby classes are generally setted
into groups like
'total beginner', 'beginner', improver',
'advanced' 'expert' etc
and maybe we shouldn't be so quick to compare ourselves
between 'groups'
because 
everybody beading and making jewellery
 has come to it 

in different ways
 with different levels of physical dexterity or free time.
Or lack of free time...lol!

Everybody has to start somewhere
and even those amazing artists had to learn the basic skills
before they could go on and create their masterpieces.

'Beginners' do not become 'experts' overnight - it takes time! 

If you are keen, and interested, and keep learning
then you are making progress, 
and that is a wonderful thing! 

Marie Therese Necklace

Looking through my drafts and I found this old blog post 
with my first ever 
beading around a cab necklace. 
Thought I would post it today...

  I love Sophia Coppola's film Marie Antoinette

it's such a great source of inspiration with its 

macaron inspired

pastel costume colour scheme 

and of course its fabulous 

location in the palace of Versailles.

I re-watched it and just had to make something afterwards!

So this necklace is a flight of fantasy with the idea being that 

it could be a necklace that Marie could have worn with a 

cameo of her daughter (Marie Therese) attached. 

My very first attempt at beading around a cameo here! 

It's not a 'try it a few times then post it first attempt'.

It's a genuine first try ' I had no idea at all what to do attempt!' 

Which is why there are obvious flaws.

It was a learning project and it shows.

 That's all part of the fun though.

However, 

I am super pleased with the top half of the necklace 

and I can cut off 

the cameo dangle if I want to 

and wear the top half alone. 

Seems a shame to cut it up though. 

- I think I will keep it as a learning project. 

Nice to look back on these things :-)  

My First Fringing On A Beaded Cabochon Necklace

Here is the result of an experiment
 with adding fringing

to my beaded cabochon design. 

I really like the way it looks and the way it
 adds movement.

I make so much jewellery 
but rarely wear it
so with this piece I 

put it straight around my neck 
and wore it for the rest of the day!

Vintage Glamour Puss

A gratuitous couple of pics of Miss Kitty looking cute 

posing with the 1950's vintage necklace 

I bought off eBay 

with the intention of using for parts

 but it is far to beautiful to cut into 

so I will be adding it to my jewellery box instead!

The Ten Signs Of Jewellery Making Addiction

1. Your favourite sound 

is the thud of a packet of beading supplies hitting the door mat.

2. You no longer buy jewellery to match your outfit, 

you buy a whole new outfit to match the jewellery you've made!

3. You tell little white lies about how much that bead shopping spree

REALLY cost... 

4. You know the Swarovski crystal colour chart practically off by heart... 

5. When you meet someone new the first thing you notice is their jewellery.

6. You can't wait to start your next project before this one is even finished...

7. Sometimes you dream of jewellery designs... 

8. Time just seems to disappear when you are working on your beading...

9. If the phone goes, whilst your beading, it can wait....

10. You need to bead. RIGHT. NOW.

Great Needles For Bead Embroidery

I have found some great needles for bead embroidery work

 from JBS Beads. 

They are really sturdy and make smooth work 

of piercing through  the backings.

Not bending out of shape like other needles I have tried in the past.

I'm not sure what exact brand they are, 

or if they happen to be JBS own brand, but 

whatever they are I am very pleased! 

I highly recommend them. 

They are size 10 .  

The perfect ten!! 

Some Of My Favourite Things

I love: 

* Swarovski crystals

* Crisp and unopened bags of  findings 

* My bead mat

* Lining up the materials I'm going to use in a project

* The glorious thud of a package of beads hitting the doormat 

* Sterling silver 

* Pretty precious gemstones

* When a project goes really smoothly

* Hunting out unusual cabochons

and, of course, 

* On line shopping!!

Bead Hoarders Blog Hop Reveal...

Hello,
 and welcome to my corner
 of the Bead Hoarders Blog Hop.

So what have I been hoarding? 

For ages now I have been collecting some
pretty golden components

and never found quite the right moment to use them.

I always had in mind making some pretty 
Marie Antoinette 
inspired pieces. 
Not in a historically accurate way 
 but more taken from 
imagery in the
 Sofia Coppola 
movie. 

(Think super girly, 
pretty pastels,
and 
plenty of golden details!)

So I've been hoarding the components AND 
the inspiration so it's about time to 
put them BOTH into action for
this blog hop!

So you've seen the first necklace above.
I have some more close up pics here:

I was so pleased to finally bead around
 the light peach 
 rivoli
I've had in my stash for 
about a year.
There's something special 
about Swarovski 
that just makes it so sparkly 
and addictive, 
don't you think?!

Moving onto the second piece: 

The pretty love birds on a branch 

I used pretty pink and lilac seed beads
along with tiny golden ball beads
to make a necklace 
that sits right at the base 
of the neck
with 
the filigree 
components
 dangling down.  

I attached the tiny golden rounds 
underneath the filigree to give a bit of movement 
and make it even more girly and fun. 

I made some earrings to match: 

The last piece
 is also earrings and 
these oyster shell components 
are just so sweet. 
They've even got
 a little golden
 'pearl '
inside!
So special -
no wonder I've been hoarding them 
for so long....

I made them into 
dangly earrings
 by adding chain, 
citrine chips, 
and tiny golden
 round beads. 

So there you have it folks. 

The thing I love about this blog
hop is that it gives you a reason to get out those 
special things you've been keeping 
and use them up. 
Goodness knows how long these pretties 
would have stayed in my bead box.
(Ahem, boxES..)
for otherwise!

Here's the list for all the participants: 
Thanks for dropping by and 
I'm looking forward to having a hop around....  

The List

Lori Anderson	www.PrettyThingsBlog.com  (Hostess)
Audrey Belanger	esperianterra.blogspot.com
Jenny Kyrlach	http://anafiassa.blogspot.com/
Kathy Lindemer	http://bay-moon-design.blogspot.com/
Lori Schneider	http://beadaddicted.blogspot.com/
Dee Elgie	http://cherryobsidia.blogspot.co.uk
Dolores Raml	http://craftydscreations.wordpress.com
Rebecca Ednie	Http://eclecticendeavours.blogspot.com
Lili Krist	http://emjestudio.blogspot.com/
Marybeth Rich	http://forestofjewels.blogspot.com/
Hannah Rosner	http://goodrivergallery.wordpress.com/blog/
Nicole Prince	http://healingbeading.blogspot.com/
Deana Hager	http://justdeesarts.blogspot.com/
Jackie Ryan	http://kydojewellery.blogspot.co.uk/
Elsie Deliz-Fonseca	http://ladelizchica.blogspot.com/
Mowse Doyle	http://mowsemadethis.blogspot.com/
Evelyn Shelby	http://raindropcreationsbyevelyn.blogspot.com
Lisa Johnson	http://spudandmrsbutters.blogspot.com/
Terri Gauthier	http://terrisbloomingideas.blogspot.com/
Patti Pruhs	http://threebeadsandastring.blogspot.com
Shai Williams	http://www.shaihasramblings.com/
Andrea Glick	http://zenithjade.blogspot.com/
K Hutchinson	https://jumbledhutch.wordpress.com
Marci Brooks	https://thatnothingbewasted.wordpress.com/
Jo-Ann Woolverton	itsabeadifulcreation.blogspot.ca
Jasvanti Patel	Jewelrybyjasvanti.blogspot.com
Laurie Vyselaar	Lefthandjewelry.wordpress.com
Lisa Knappenberger	LIRaysaDesigns.blogspot.com
Mary Lindell	marylindell.com
Niky Sayers	silverniknats.blogspot.co.uk
Sandra McGriff	skyescreativechaos.blogspot.com
Patricia Handschuh	thecolorofdreams.blogspot.com
Erin Prais-Hintz	treasures-found.blogspot.com
Maria Rosa Sharrow	willowstreetshops.blogspot.com
Kathleen Breeding	www.99bobotw.blogspot.com
Monique Urquhart	www.ahalfbakednotion.blogspot.com
Jackie Locantore	www.artfire.com/ext/shop/blog/MorningStar
Sheryl Stephens	www.babblebead.blogspot.com
Becky Pancake	www.beckypancakebeaddesigns.blogspot.com
Mona Arnott	www.bijouxgemsjoy.blogspot.ca
Michelle Escano	www.cabbycraft.com
Denise McCabe	www.cabewoman.blogspot.com
Carolyn Lawson	www.carolynscreationswa.blogspot.com
Sheila Prose	www.catswithbeads.blogspot.com
Kim Dworak	www.cianciblue.blogspot.com
Iveth Caruso	www.CreativeAtelier.net/blog
Deborah Apodaca	www.deborahapodacadesigns.blogspot.com/
Elizabeth Bunn	www.elizabethbeads.blogspot.com
Janine Lucas	www.esfera.me/travel/blog/travel-stories
Kari Asbury	www.hippiechickdesign.blogspot.com
Inge von Roos	www.ingetraud.wordpress.com
Divya N	www.jewelsofsayuri.com
Debbie Rasmussen	www.kepirasmussen.blogspot.com
KJ	www.kjsbeadaciousbeads.blogspot.com/
Klaudete Koon	www.klaudetekoon.blogspot.com
Ghislaine Kruse-van Erp	www.kruseartllc.com
Ginger Bishop	www.lilmummylikes.blogspot.com
Kelly Schermerhorn	www.meanderingwithkelly.blogspot.com
Mischelle Andrade	www.micheladasmusings.blogspot.com
Sue Kelly	www.midlifegreaterexpectations.blogspot.com
Rachel Mallis	www.mintmonarch.com/#!Blog/c1jlz
Susan McClelland	www.mistheword12.com
Mary K McGraw	www.mkaymac.blogspot.com
Tania Spivey	www.moobiegracedesigns.blogspot.com
Stephanie Perry	www.mustardbeadbystephanieperry.blogspot.com
Mitzie Crider	www.NeedfulLuxuries.Blogspot.com
Nicole Rennell	Www.nicolerennell.com/blog
Nicole Valentine	www.nvalentine.blogspot.com
Karen Mitchell	www.overthemoon-design.com
Tammy Adams	www.paisleylizard.com/blog/
Patty Miller	www.pattymillerbeads.blogspot.com
Blanca Medina	www.peru-medesigns.com
Stephanie Haussler	www.pixybugdesigns.blogspot.com
Roxanne Mendoza	www.roxidesigns.blogspot.com
Claire Fabian	www.saraccino.blogspot.com
Bridget Torres	www.shears58.net
Donetta Farrington	www.simplygorgeous-donetta.blogspot.com
Lee Koopman	www.stregajewellry.wordpress.com
Deb Fortin	www.studiok24.blogspot.ca
Susan Walls	Www.susansartcircus.com/blog
Cece Cormier	www.thebeadingyogini.com
Heather Otto	www.thecrafthopper.com
Lizzie Clarke	www.theneedtobead.blogspot.co.uk
Elizabeth Hodges	www.thewhisperingseas.blogspot.com
Fay Wolfenden	www.torchfairy.blogspot.com
Kelly Hosford Patterson	www.TravelingSideShow.blogspot.com
Nan Smith	www.wirednan.blogspot.ca
Jayne Capps	wwwww.mamasgototdoodle.blogspot.com

Robin Kae Reed                                       http://www.willowdragon.blogspot.com/
Melissa Trudinger                                   https://beadrecipes.wordpress.com/