Cherubs

I’ve been doing some beading the past couple days.  It’s been ages since I’ve done any cabochon work, and it’s nice to know that I haven’t completely lost my touch!  Yippee!

This is not a real Wedgewood cameo, but a resin knock-off.  Still, I think it’s pretty and suitable for the holidays.  A person does get a bit tired of the constant red and green theme, don’t you think?

The cameo is attached to a backing, then the bezel is beaded around it.  By decreasing the size of the beads, but keeping the bead count the same, you get the edges to curl up and cup the stone, so it doesn’t fall out.  Pretty nifty!  I added a pin back, so these are brooches.

Those are size 15º seed beads there on the inside of the bezel.  I don’t tend to work with them very much; they are too small for these old eyes.

These are gifts.  Our local ASG Neighborhood group is having their holiday party this Saturday.  One is for the white elephant exchange, where the preference was that it be something we’ve made.  The other is a gift for the hostess, as this is the first time we’ve had our holiday party at someone’s home.  I want her to know that opening her door to our stampede of sewists is appreciated.

Brooches with Bling

I finished these just before we went out of town for Mother’s Day.  Sparkly pins to wear with, well, anything that takes your fancy.

It was fun to go through the stash of crystals and size 13/15 seed beads and come up with the various color variations.  These pins are made on a perforated form, so basically it’s just stitching in one hole and out another, remembering to attach some beads when on the outer side of the form.  It’s the remembering part that can be difficult!

The only other “gotcha”, if you will, was to be sure to omit stitching crystals where the prongs attach the pin back to the form.  With this project, omission was just as important as inclusion.

Other minutia?  Fireline #6 cable as the beading thread, as crystals and the metal forms have rough edges that would likely cut through regular thread.  I had fun making these, noodling around with different shapes and contrasting colors.  Sometimes, you just need to play!

Rivoli Riot

A Riot of Rivolis

Little by little, I’ve been working on these.  They are nearly done!  Woohoo!  Amazing where one small idea can lead.  They are pins.  These will be holiday gifts to women friends and family.  I hope they like them.

The centers are Swarovski Rivolis in sizes ranging from 18mm to 14mm.  Mostly 18mm.

I then put a seed bead bezel around the stones so they could be adhered to the rest of the design.  Rivolis have a pointy, foil-covered back, so  you can’t glue them down like you could a cabochon.

The flower petals are attached to a stiff backing, (Lacy’s Stiff Stuff) but I think next time I will try Peltex or scraps of Timtex I have laying about.  That may well prove more cost-effective than the Lacy’s.

Still to do on these is attach the pin backs, and cover over the stitching on the back.  The wonderful Earin Marybird sent me some lovely leather scraps which should do the job nicely.

A dab of glue and a wee bit more stitching is all that’s needed.

Hard to believe it’s been over a week since I’ve written.  It seems like ages!  I wonder, is there something karmic about this post being 11 days after the last?

In any event, one round of company has arrived and departed.  I think they had a good time.  The next set is here now, chatting and getting caught up with folks from all parts of town.

This being a short week, I hope to get some sewing done over the weekend.

Ann, over at Gorgeous Fabrics is having a Pajama Sew-Along this weekend.  While Gertie at the Blog for Better Sewing will soon be starting up the Colette Crepe Sew-Along. I’ve lusted after this pattern since it came out. Sigh!

11/27 Rivoli Update: Ouch! Sewing through leather is a pain!  Literally and figuratively.   The backs area now all attached, looking lovely, and I have the bloodied fingers to prove it!  These will only be gifted to very special people.

Rivoli Rosettes

This past Saturday I traveled to the far eastern reaches of Cactusville, actually, it would probably be Saguaro Hills, to bead with Jessica.  It was a very scenic trip, as the eastbound freeway was closed.  Completely.  I didn’t know the DOT still did things like that – completely close down freeways.  Anyway, it made for an interesting drive.  I had the opportunity to see parts of the valley I’ve never seen before.

Jessica, of course, beaded up a storm, finishing a necklace, earings and a matching bracelet, none of which I have pictures of, because I forgot the camera.  I made these:  Rivoli Rosettes.

They are 14mm Swarovski rivolis in the center, with a beaded bezel surrounding them, and lucite beads used as petals.  It’s actually an interpretation of a design in the September Bead & Button… but I like mine better.

They were fairly easy to put together, once I started working on them, which meant we could gab to our heart’s desire.   The lucite beads (leaves actually) make the whole piece light and easy to wear.

I’m thinking these may be this year’s Christmas gift to female family and friends.

I can see several of these clustered on the lapel of a jacket or coat, or maybe attached to a bag of some sort.

Of late I’ve been trying to make the backs of my beaded work look as nice as the front.  To achieve this I used ultra-suede as the backing, and poked the pin backs though it.  Everything is then edged in a beaded stitch.

Holiday Bling

To continue with the holiday theme, I did a series of beaded earings.  The overall design is basically stacking crystals of the same type, but different sizes.  There are two pair of Christmas trees, one from crystal margaritas and one from emerald green (6mm, 8mm, 10mm stones, stacked).  The long white ones are snowmen!

Rather than use ear wires, and permanently affix each pair to it’s own earing, I found some silver hoops and made the top loop of the dangles large enough to go around.  Well, almost.  The discerning viewer will note that I had to add jump rings on the crystal trees.   This way, the dangling holiday crystals can be swapped out, and the same pair of hoops used for a something different, or completely alone.

Hmmm.  There may be a theme here.  What other seasons or holidays could I make dangles for?

While digging through the crystal bin, I had completely forgotten that I picked up a series of green stones.  That led to this pin.

Not bad, but not one of my favorites.  I think the yellow beads need to be changed.  They look to cellophane-y to me.  I’m going for jewelry, not a Harry & David fruit basket!