Spring cleaning or spring beading? Beading wins!

This is why I am not getting anything done this week! Spring is here in full bloom. During the cold snap we had lots of daffodils but they went really quickly so I had to make my own from coffee filters! It is my hubbies cup but I like the phrase because all day I am "on break" from cleaning, laundry, and dusting. This is the view from my back patio and it is so hard to tear one away from these wonderful white/pink wonders! Truely, I am the happiest in spring......

Now to the "work/play" I have been doing.....

I have decided that I will make one blog for my jewelry and one for misc. items. There have been those who want to just see my jewelry and others want to see the items that I have for you to see in my personal life.
I finished this Fiori Necklace today. The pattern is by Jean Campbell from Minnesota. I made it a little different than her pattern so I decided to show you where I get my patterns from. She had made it with a round bead in the center but I wanted to use the beautiful crystal drop for my centerpiece. What do you think? The setting is made with a peyote stitch of tiny beads woven onto a cream leather backing. (Bead embroidery) Then I added Swarvoski crystals in a deep amethyst. There are over 80 crystals on this piece and twice as many round crystals with three antique clear rounds that really sparkle! I then made a set of ear rings to match because I could not imagine what one would wear with this dressy piece except for maybe a pair of crystal beads. Once I got this all done I had ONE purple bicone and one round amethyst crystal left. I could not believe I counted so closely. Thank goodness I had each one because it just would not have been complete without the ear rings. It is always so hard for me to view my own work and be totally satisfied with the results. But this one was very pleasing to me and I enjoyed each stitch. Do you like it as much as I do?

There are several really good magazines on the market to get ideas from. This pattern is from BeadWorks magazine which I have a subscription to as well as Bead & Button magazine. I like to take ideas from several established artists and make them "my own" by putting a twist on their creations.This is an example of a spin on a pattern that I have used several times. It is a collar that the pattern called for two rows of beads and then a drop. I really like doing the herringbone stitch and sorta got carried away but was very glad I did. It really makes the necklace a work of art with all of the lovely pink pearl drops and the beautiful crystals. (I wish I could ever get a good picture of my things so you can see the details.) I have tried taking them outside, indoors, under the spots, etc. It just never seems to capture the textures nor the colors of the beads.
I had a pretty 14K gold chain and thought I would make something to go with the delicate texture of the chain. I started to make a surround for another crystal but I liked the way it was bending on its own so I just "went for it". I thought "I can always tear it out and start over again" but I really liked the way it was coming together in a 3D form. I added five Swarvoski crystals in amethyst to the bottom just to dress it up a little with a large antique crystal hanging from the center. It is simple but elegant at the same time. After making the Fiori, (which is very victorian and dressy), this is very subdued in comparison.

I have several other projects on the table but these are all I have gotten completed this week. When it is so lovely outside I bead on the patio table. The bird are singing and my fountain & waterfall running. I am slower this week because of this gorgeous weather! Sorry, excuse me but I gotta' go enjoy the beading.....or napping. (Which ever comes first! )

God Bless you richly in His season of new beginnings! Thank you for stopping by to check out my ramblings....Sharon