Beaded earrings

So, I put down the Hello Kitty earrings for a bit. I didn't finish them in time, so I've started on another item that was an order. They are "hot pink" earrings a customer requested. I used a double point rivoli stone with the color called Ultra Pink AB. The Rivolis come in a lot of colors, the ones I purchased are pink, purple, light blue, green and orange.The pictures show the backing I used, it is upholstery leather. I couldn't find my Pellon, so I used this. It actually works better for earrings with this stone than the Pellon does. The front of it is smooth and the back has a netting on it that seems to adhere to the stone better. The stones are pointed in back and front, so you need to cut an "x" on the back so the point will have somewhere to go and so the stone will be flush with the material. I just fold the material in half and cut a little "x" into it. I used E6000 to attach the stone to the material. I then clamped it (with a chip clip) and waited for about an hour before I started to bead them. You don't have to wait an hour, but the packaging asks that you give it 24-48 hours to "cure". I beaded the earrings with pearl white size 9/0 3-cut beads. I used japanese 3-cut beads for accent in turquoise blue, lime green and yellow. They are edged with hot pink rhinestones with AB finish.

Bolo Tie Finished

I finished the bolo tie. I gave it to my uncle and he said "Now I need somewhere to go so I can wear the matching set", so we are heading out on Friday. My next project is to make a pair of Hello Kitty beaded earrings for my niece's birthday. I didn't bead on the 3rd (because I was at work for 12 hours), but I did glue them down, so I consider that still working on beadwork. I just printed them on regular paper and used a glue stick to glue them to a piece of pellon. The pellon I use is the thickest one they had at the store and it has a heat-sensitive adhesive on the back. I haven't actually utilized the adhesive, but it is good to know that it is there if I ever need to. I need to have these done by Saturday, so I am glad that I have committed to working on beadwork every day. I think I might do something new, then finish a project, then something new, and alternate through the year. I think that most people I speak with about beading have several unfinished projects. I tend to put something down if I get tired of looking at the same bead color, or if it doesn't look the way I thought it would, or if I run out of the bead I'm using. I'm sure I quit working on them for other reasons too. *Your Next Muse*

I Resolve

I resolve to bead every day, even if it is for only 15 minutes. What happens when you commit to at least 15 minutes of beading each day? You end up doing it for more than 15 minutes. This is what I am hoping. I will be blogging about my beading projects this year with pictures as well as sharing my tips and tricks to how I choose my designs, colors and techniques. My first project for this year was to finish a bolo tie I started for my uncle last year. I tried to finish it for his birthday in July, but didn't finish, then I never picked it up again. It was a bolo tie to match his favorite belt buckle that I fixed for him. At the New Years Powwow he was wearing the belt buckle, and I had the unfinished beadwork with me. I showed him how it matches and it made me feel guilty, so it was the first project I worked on in my effort to bead every day. Here is the bolo with the edging in progress.

The Bolo Tie has porcupine quills, and is done in size 13/0 charlotte cut beads. The colors are light red, dark red, black, lime green, turquoise green, turquoise blue, capri blue, and dark blue. Of course, these colors are called something different depending on the bead store you go through. I beaded this on canvas, which was two layers heat-and-bonded together. I backed it with white buckskin (my personal favorite). I don't like using canvas to bead. The little grooves where the fabric is woven gets tricky to work with. Canvas is thick, durable and recommended by some beaders for a fully beaded traditional women's yoke. I personally don't like using canvas for small items. *Your Next Muse*