Every time I sign up for a blog challenge, life gets crazy, but I just love them! This one was no exception...my entire household fell prey to every virus and sickness out there this winter/spring. But maybe that just pushes me harder...or maybe it was just the awesomeness of my partner's beady goodies! Tammy and I had a lot of fun trading life stories. I hope to meet her in real life someday, I think we would have a blast together! Please go check out her site, you will be thrilled!
So, here's what I started with....
All wrapped up nice and pretty!
I was just thrilled with the color palette, and my daughter and I immediately wrestled for those adorable birdies!
You know beadweaving is my main focus, so those bicones and Delicas quickly spoke up and said, 'Bead Me First!"
Of course I listened!
This flat herringbone bracelet is a joy to wear.
It has a rather Victorian feel, which I didn't expect. The smoke bicones don't show up as well in the photos, but they both sparkle beautifully!
The color palette gives this piece a very expensive feel. Score!
Next up, are the yummy tigereye rounds and the teal discs. The inspiration for this one is from Beadwork Special issue Winter 2015. Genuine Leather Bracelet by Leslie Mangine. Now, wire and me are not exactly on chummy terms, so I knew this was going to take me down THAT road. (You know, the one where you are very much outside your comfort zone?) Yeah.
See? So far outside my norm! And look how great that clasp works with this design!
Everyone wanted to jump in and join the party!
I made some simple circles with more of the bicones, and some picasso druks. I've had that big honking polymer clay bead in my stash for a while, and was thrilled at how well it played with the teal discs!
And these craw beaded beads play with the tigereye sooo niceley!
Next up is the metal bracelet bar. I knew right away I wanted to do a kumihimo band for it. This is a square braid, and I love how it looks and feels. It is visually interesting, without taking away the spotlight from the bar.
The soft gunmetal grey and lavender rattail work perfectly!
Can you see the squared off sides? It does have a gentle twist, and feels soo good!
Yeah, so are you noticing a bracelet theme going on? Me too!
Then I think we need a necklace, don't you? And we have the perfect item for it...that lovely lampwork focal. I found seed beads that matched it to a tee at my local bead shop, Moonstone Beads.
I've wanted to try a blended kumihimo for a while, and I'm quite pleased with the result.
I had planned on the focal bead being a part of the rope, but miscalculated in the planning part. Since I had already loaded ALL of the beads, it quickly went to hanging from a bail! 
This has a wonderful beachy feel to it, and the fringe picks up all the colors in the lampwork bead.
I finished it with some pretty brass end cones, and a simple lobster clasp.
Well, are you noticing an....absence of something? Yes, you're right, there are no pics of anything with the beautiful feather and birdies! Wanna hear the story? As I said, the girlchild and I had a friendly argument over the birdies. Of course she won, cause she's my girl, you know. She asked me to make her some earrings, which I reluctantly agreed to...I REALLY struggle creating earrings. And I decided to make a lariat with the feather hanging from the bottom, along with some flower beads and beadwoven leaves. I started the rope, it was looking fabulous. Someone in the family got sick. When I got back to the bead table, I started on one of the other pieces, and kinda forgot about the rope. As I'm gathering everything together to take pics for the post, I saw the feather lying there, looking lonesome. I searched, and searched, and searched....I still haven't found that rope! Or the birdies! They have apparently flown the coop..I know, lame joke.
When I find both of those babies, I will post the pics. Meanwhile, thanks for checking out my goodies, and head on out and visit the rest of the participants!
I'll be away for the weekend, but plan on checking everyone out when I get back.
Blessings, Shirley
