Sue Beads

This month, the theme for the Art Elements Challenge was chosen by Claire and she chose "white". Perfect for winter and the holiday season! I had all these ideas (I wanted to at least get to a white glass cabochon) but I did get one of the ideas done.

For a long time I have been pondering making a garland for my tree or mantle with my lampwork sugar beads - you may know what these are, but if not, photo is below. Pretty much every lampworker makes them, and at one point I had a pile of them. However, lucky for me I was able to sell them so no more inventory! I still think some type of garland with sugar beads would be a lot of fun, and maybe I'll do that someday.

I remembered a free tutorial for superduo stars by Deb Roberti of Around the Beading Table. She has many free tutorials, and she also has some awesome tutorials for purchase! She's actually having a sale right now, too! I hope you visit her link, she's so generous for providing so many free tutorials!

An…

This month, Jenny Davies-Reazor is the host of the January AJE Component of the Month - the theme is use your stash.  I had high hopes of getting a lot done, but between work and other life stuff, I only was able to complete one piece.  Here it is!

It's actually not completed yet because I need to make a strap for it.  But it's almost done!  I used one of  Jenny's pendant pieces and bezeled it with pretty purple delicas and red seed beads.  Then I added the czech flowers, with a stop bead, and the row of 8s with a stop bead as well.  Finally, I finished the edge with a picot edging.  I like it a lot. I wish I had time to complete more pieces, but I'm glad I at least got one done!

Please visit with everyone else and see what they made!  Thanks for stopping by!

AJE team: Lesley Watt Lindsay Starr Caroline Dewison Jennifer Cameron Jenny Davies-Reazor Susan Kennedy Niky Sayers Guests:  Terri - Terrri’s Blooming ideas Shai - Shai’s Ramblings Melissa - Bead Recipes Tammy - Paisley  Lizar…

For December, Lesley Watt chose Rebirth of the Sun as the theme for our quarterly themed challenge over at AJE.

"The winter solstice, the rebirth of the Sun, is an important turning point, as it marks the shortest day, when the hours of daylight are at their least. It's also the start of the increase in the hours of daylight, until the Summer solstice  when darkness becomes ascendant once more."
http://www.thewhitegoddess.co.uk


I can honestly tell you that I very rarely set out to "intentionally" make something - I feel that my creativity was killed in school with the "art teachers" who wanted you to do "art" their way, and no other way was right.  I have always dabbled in creative undertakings, thus my glass bead business today.  But I am always searching for things to do with my hands, that feeling you get when you accomplish something all your own, learning something new, something that challenges you.

I recently decided that I was going …

Works in Progress...do you have them?  I rarely do.  I rarely make jewelry anymore, and when I do it's usually one at a time, and there are no works in progress.  But lately (and I mean since before Bead Fest) I haven't felt too creative on the bead-making front.  And now that I've had a little time over the holidays, I decided to get my creative juices flowing in a different way.  I have really become interested in all things bead weaving and seed beads, so I'm working on some little projects right now.  My CoM from December was this little spiral rope number:

I had tried to work on a Russian spiral, but with the white, it was too hard to learn.  So I did just a regular spiral rope.

I also made this spiral rope for this focal I made that I absolutely LOVE (it's really hard to photograph the colors in these seed beads, but they are awesomely rainbow):

And this one is actually for reveal later, but I'm still showing it, cuz I loves it! I learned to do a picot ed…

I've recently become enamored with all things seed bead - I love making beaded beads and have gotten into making beaded cabochons thanks to Sally Russick!  This is the latest one I have done!

 I used a cabochon by Diana Ptaszynski of Suburban Girl Beads - it's a rustic oval shaped cab with a matte finish.
 I made the bail using brick stitch (which I also learned from Sally on her video).  I just noticed the little bit of wispy thread I need to burn off!
 Finally, I used a brass toggle from Fusion Beads as the closure.  It goes really well with the blue seed beads I used.
All in all, I am really happy with this necklace. I'm starting on another using one of my smaller ammonite cabochons.  I'll show you when I get started!

I wanted to show you all what you can do with my ammonite glass cabochons, so I decided to make myself a necklace!

I used one of my large cabochons (1.5 inches!) and made a beaded bezel from a tutorial from Sally Russick on her blog.  

 I made a spiral rope from directions from a magazine and a little help from fusion beads - their tutorials provide nice illustrations of what you are supposed to be doing.

 I made the bail from Sally's tutorial.  She really did a fantastic job and if you are wanting to give it a try yourself, her tutorial is all videos and very easy to follow.  I'm waiting for a magnetic clasp to finish the necklace - the ones I ordered and received today are too small for my comfort!

So, this is one thing you can do with my cabochons.  You can also bezel set them (like Patti Vanderbloemen) or glue on a metal bail, or .... who knows what else!  What are you doing with cabochons?

I got in the holiday spirit and in addition to making a cute pair of earrings for one of my boyfriend's customers, I made a little pile of beaded beads to offer to you!  I'll offer them here first, $10 per pair, with $3.00 shipping.  Then in a few days they will go in the etsy store!  Also, if you want earrings, let me know!





And here's some that could probably be used for Hanukkah or just winter in general!

I have recently become enamored with seed beading. I think it's because I used to like cross-stitch so much and miss doing it.  I gave up cross-stitch when I started making glass beads, and right now don't know of any patterns that would entice me to do it again - my favorite designer retired due to hand issues.  So I have become quite taken with seed beading, and making beaded beads.  I have made so many, in fact, that I decided I should offer them in my SueBeads etsy store!  You can find 6 pairs listed right now, with more to come later today!






I think you'll really enjoy my unique color combinations in your jewelry designs.  These make perfect earrings!  Here are some examples of earrings that I have made!





If you need a pair of earrings, they are $20 each and I would be happy to sell them to you!