Take the Candy Taste Test on Etsy - will you pass?

Take the CandyTaste Test and see what your grade is. SBGold has assembled this collection of treats for us to try out. Yum! Keeping extremities warm in style:

My sweet tooth favors the 80s Party Leg Warmers offered by mademoisellemermaid from Renae's collection of  handmade leg warmers, Hawaiian dresses, & whimsy accessories add a little Kawaii to your look!!

These Fingerless mittens Crochet, knit, Arm Wrist Warmers, Light Pink Gray, Grey offered by Victoriya from her Etsy shop named Lasunka will keep your hands warm too.

The featured item that passed the candy test is blue, pink, and purple double toggle cuff bracelet made from up-cycled hand dyed cord and beads. See more of these unique bracelets in the design section of my Zibbet shop or you can read more about this particular item on this blog click here to see the article.

neon bright colors in traditional rope bracelet weaves

 Bright synthetic cord is used to create these classics. The traditional three part plain weave design made with 5/32" cord. Unlike cotton cord theses will never shrink and will never rot. The colors are integral to the material. The first example is a very bright lemon yellow in a 17 bight weave about 8 1/4" (209 mm) inside circumference. (1280)

 This example is a deep electric purple also made in a 17 bight weave design. (1281)


Find these listed in the solid colors section of the ArtFire  shop. If you like the color but need a different size please message me: use the "contact artisan" button on the left side of the screen.

This one is a really nice blue color that is impossible to replicate in cotton. The size is smaller only 6 3/4" (174 mm) made in a 14 bight pattern. (1282)


More neon brights can be found in the Etsy Shop. 


design and photographs copyright 2011 WhatKnotShop

Another Publication & a New Tutorial

I have designed a new eight-pointed star pendant, using Swarovski crystal Rivoli and bicones, Miyuki Tila beads, cubes and seed beads. I like the way the pendant came out, especially the "pixelated" look of the edges. A tutorial is available.

I am also happy to tell that my Pewter Lace bracelet project is published in Interweave Publication "Best of Beadwork 12 - Right-Angle Weave Stitch" e-book.  I am honored to have my bracelet included in the great company of many of the most talented artists in the beady world, like Marcia DeCoster, Jennifer VanBenschoten, Leslee Frumin, Shelley Nybakke, Kate McKinnon and others! 

This e-book includes 12 beautiful creations, all done in RAW stitch.  It's a part of a whole series of e-books, each dedicated to a different beading stitch. I bet you want to have them all!... ;D

 

S for Small Serpents

"S for Small Serpents" Bracelet

Things don't always come easy... The initial idea for this design had popped in my mind a while ago, and I was sure I could easily stitch the bracelet as envisioned.

Well, as simple as it may have looked at first, it wasn't so. It took me quite a few trials before I have found the way to maintain the repetitive curving pattern the way I wanted it, and more time and trials to find the shortest thread path for stitching it.
Who said that designer's work is always fun?...I had the initial image of the bracelet stuck in mind all the time, and the more I tried and it didn't work, the more annoying the whole process became... It eventually came out a little different from how I envisioned it, but I had to either compromise on a few minor details, or give up on it all together.

But when the designing process was over and everything worked smoothly, I had much fun working on the bracelet. I was also pleased to realize that a few other possibilities for playing with the basic design were born thanks to the compromises I had to make. So I guess that sometimes being stubborn pays off... :)

"S for Small Serpents" Bracelet - Version 2

A tutorial is available (for the two versions shown)

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Spring Around the Corner

This is "Early Spring", my entry for the April challenge of Etsy BeadWeavers - Spring Around the Corner.Check out the EBW blog to see all 49, spring inspired, beautiful entries and vote for your favorite (my necklace is #21 on the list). Voting ends on the 15th of April.

Insiring Beads

A new necklace with a bead embroidered pendant. My inspiration for this necklace came from the focal beautiful donut ceramic bead by a fellow Bead Art Originals team member, Lisa of Lisa Peters Art.

I liked the how the pendant in the first necklace came out, and since I already had the right beads on my table, I created another necklace in similar colors, with a leather embroidered pendant.

And then I beaded a matching embroidered leather cuff... I love it when my inspiration comes from the beads themselves... It all started with the beautiful ceramic bead by Lisa Peters... Thank you, Lisa! :)