Beading at the Show

Last week we had a show at the Flatwater Music Festival in Hastings.  I try to find beading I can do while I sit at the shows (in between waiting on customers) and here is what I made on Saturday.

bottle cap source

I have had these bottle cap beads for awhile.  I bought the tiny ones a couple years ago at one bead show, and the large one this year at another bead show.  Saturday, I finally put the set together.  I designed the pendant in my "swap-it" style, which allows ease in swapping out the cords or chain you hang it from by using a lobster claw clasp as the "bail".  I used lots of Chinese crystals and a large hole "Pandora" style crystal to add to the sparkle factor.  I love designing pendants in this style because they offer such a wide variety of design potential and they are quick to make.  The earrings also feature plenty of bling!

This set is mine, all mine!  It started with the earrings.  I made them and they got separated from the pile of jewelry I was carding up at the time.  When I found them, they happened to go with what I had on, so they are now mine.  The earrings asked me (yes, my beads talk to me, don't yours?) to make them some friends, so I made a "swap-it" pendant and a fun charm bracelet to make the earrings happy.  The bracelet uses some gorgeous large hole Caribbean Blue beads that give the bracelet a bright pop of color.  The lovely polymer swirl beads can be found here.  Lisa makes gorgeous beads and they are fun and lightweight. 

I have been teaching myself wire crochet.  I watched some videos online and have done a lot of experimentation, and here are the pictures of some things I have made. The first bracelet I made Saturday, using a mixed gemstone bead strand and 26g non-tarnish silver Parawire.  Similarly, I used red, black, and silver wire, with Chinese crystals in red, black, and silver for my "Fan Favorite" bracelet.  The pearl necklace was the second piece I made when I started this project.  I used a mix of bright, Spring colored freshwater pearls and the  non tarnish silver wire.  I LOVE that piece!  My favorite colors!

12 Hours of Me Time

Antique Brass Sew Charming Bracelet

Chris's Box Chain Chainmaille bracelet

Sticks and Stones Bracelet

Fan Favorite crocheted wire bracelet

Poe's Raven Necklace pendant close up

Poe's Raven Necklace full view

Wired Earth Tones (pendant bead by Lewis Wilson)

Purplicious charm bracelet

Green Lace bracelet

Last Thursday, I took the day off from my jobs to play in my beads.  Technically, I was making last minute additions to our inventory, but it was SO MUCH FUN!  I am so proud of the design on the Poe's Raven necklace (domino beads made by Jen Martin), I love how it came together.  Also, the Wired Earth Tone's is really lovely, I bought the Lewis Wilson bead when I was in Tucson.  The Purplicious beads and the Green Lace beads came from Julie's and they are GORGEOUS!  The Fan Favorite bracelet is in colors popular to this State and I am teaching myself to crochet wire!  We had a class in chainmaille a couple weeks ago at our monthly Seed Beading Group meeting.  Mine is in black, orange, and lime green for Halloween time, and Chris went with the mixed metals for his.  He had leftover rings and made a pair of box chain earrings too, but they were absent on picture day!  WHAT do you think of the new designs?