Been a long time

                  Here are the things I made to finish out 2016 and never got around to posting here :-)

Egyptian Zodiac bead embroidery WIP

In progress photos of a bead embroidery project I'm currently working on. Czech glass button in mirror back purple/ pink/ orange finish, Swarovski crystals and pearls, glass seed beads, bugle beads, and amethyst chunks. It took a LONG time because I had to do every part at least three times. It's at a stopping point until I get some beads to make a necklace strong enough to hold it. I will have to re-paint the face when it's all finished since the paint wore off over the course of my work.

Pay It Forward 2015

A couple bead embroidered shell ornaments I sent out to finish up last year's Pay It Forward projects. 

Royal Carnival

Small progress since my last update as I spent a lot of time goofing off this week. Anyway, the center is finished and now I'm on to making the beaded kumihimo necklace.

Bridge

If there were a distinctive point in my work "before" and "after", this piece may be it. It's an in-progress, beginning with my typical smooth and symmetrical work, but now I'm trying to go in a different direction with texture and visual interest. It has one of two new bezel designs I learned this week, thanks to Jamie Cloud Eakin. The other is on a Pay It Forward project I'm in the middle of.

Click to enlarge

Let Them Eat Cake

My newest finished piece.

Waves

From this point on, this will be solely an art display blog. All the brain ramblings will be posted here.  

Anyway, I've been working on a couple projects.

Taught myself to skin snakes (they were dead when I found them, so don't get upset)

I spent two days working on the fringe and made myself half crazy

                                                       

Finished this one this morning and you can enter to win it here.

Giving The Ocean

I have a lovely friend at my children's school. She's a transplant from Maryland and has five kids. Back in February, she mentioned that she'd be going through some major life changes that may include moving and she wasn't sure how to pick between the ocean (going back to Maryland) and the sun (staying in Colorado). I did my best to give her the ocean in hopes that she'll stay, but in the long run, I want her to go where her heart is happiest. 

Technical details; bead weaving necklace with 15/0 and 11/0 seed beads, bead embroidery focal piece on Lacy's Stiff Stuff base, real sea shells, Swarovski pearls, glass seed beads in 15/0 and 11/0, sterling silver clasp. About 24 hours work, total.

Evangeline

Bead embroidered pendant on a 19" satin ribbon with sterling silver clasp and end wraps. Iridescent white Czech glass button, seed beads in 11/0 and 15/0. Swarovski crystals and Swarovski pearls on ends of the fringe, and a multi-faceted green glass bead accent in the center. Backing is Ultrasuede. 3.57" long. 

earballs

New earrings, all completely stitched by hand. Czech glass buttons, glass seed beads, Swarovski black pearls. The pair on the left has 24K gold seed beads and gold fill ear wire. The pair on the right has Czech preciosa crystals and sterling silver ear wire. They measure about 2 3/4" long. 

Victorian bead embroidered necklace

Details

As a whole

Dralion

I'd planned to add a dragon's eye focal piece to this but the design would be too heavy for the delicate stitch so this one will be as is. I got ideas for two large collar pieces in the process, so it's still a win. 

Dragon Scales

Working on a new piece with a dragon theme. Tiny 15/0 seed beads so it's kinda slow going, but I got a magnifier so as soon as I adjust to the depth perception part of it, I should be all set. Photo is kinda glaring but I needed a shot in the sun to show all the different colors in the beads.

I don't have the beads for the big focal piece yet but I do have them saved in a cart on a bead site. Probably won't get them for a while because I came across a dollhouse kit in an unopened box for a steal on craigslist and I *really* want to save up and get it if it's still there. If it's not available by the time I save up the asking price, then I'll just be able to get more beads.

At any rate, the year is off to a nice creative start and I'm pleased with the direction things are headed.