Making a Trade and Some Other Things

Warning...long post ahead!!! :)  It has been a busy beading week for me.  Yea!  Beads, oh glorious beads.  :)  I can't say they were anything too complicated or extravagant, but you know what?  I like them anyways!

First up though I recently went into a trade with my very dear friend Beth over at Bellesanbeaus.  She does the most amazing face cabs, and I'm getting another one.  woohoo for me!  I'm working on a project that I want to use one of her amazing faces for as the focal point.  Being a little tight on funds I asked her if she would be willing to do a trade.  A pretty for a pretty.  She was game so I started wracking my brain on what I was going to make for her.  Her favorite colors are the same as mine...blues and purples...and luckily that's what I have the most of in my stash.  I picked out some of my most coveted beads that I haven't used before and set about making her a bracelet.  Had a few false starts, but what I decided on first was a Russian Spiral.  I just couldn't get the beautiful shades captured in a pic the way I wanted to, but you can get the idea.  I used my favorite bugle beads with varied shades of blue and purple along with some seed beads I found last year.  Until now they have been unopened.  Have you ever looked for a true purple purple shade of seed bead?  It's really hard to find the perfect purple!  When I saw these I knew I had to have them, and they were perfect for Beth's bracelet.  Here's some pics of the Russian Spiral:

I love the way it twists around.  Reminds me of DNA.  I was nervous that maybe she wouldn't like this one, and I really wanted to make sure she was happy so I made her a 2nd one.  This one uses a 4mm (I think) round that was actually called Indigo.  Hey!  They named it after me!  :)  Ok, maybe it was the other way around, but these are another of my coveted beads.  They are a super dark blue, not black.  I also used a triangle seed bead and a sparkly blue for the picot tips to finish out this netting bracelet.  Here are some pics:

Her package came in the mail today and she told me emphatically that she loves loves loves BOTH of them, so I am oh so very happy!  She also told me that my cab is looking pretty marvelous, and I am waiting on pins and needles to get it.  I will show it to you all as soon as it comes in.  She does the most amazing work!

A couple weeks ago my mother-in-law was telling me that I need to get some stuff together for her to take to work to sell there.  She works at a high school, and the teachers just love things like what I make she says.  I have my two higher end sets (the crystal and the dragonfly sets), and I also wanted to give some lower priced things too.  Again, I just used this and that from my stash and set about to see what I could put together with what I already have.  I was pretty pleased with what I came up with.  The first one I think is super pretty.  It's all purples with gold.  Can't go wrong with that, right?  It's made on memory wire, and I just love the way it wraps around.  Here are some pics:

I also did another one like this but using some wood beads that I had no idea when or if I would ever use them.  Surprise!  They worked out great with the combination of natural stones and Czech glass in earthy colors.

Then I did some even simpler ones, but they are using some really great things so I like them.  The next one is made using Stretch Magic, one of my new favorite stringing materials (now that I know how to keep the knots secure).  It's all about lusterous beads.

And then there's this next one.  I picked up this really unusual 3 sided piece of shell quite some time ago.  It's really interesting and has great shades of pinks and browns running through it.

And finally I did one that is using very simple blue beads.  It's dainty, but very sturdy.

Sometime in the next few days I am getting an order in from Artbeads.com, so I'll be showing some more things soon.  I posted these new things in two places.  One is in my Etsy shop here and the other is in my Shop Hand Made shop here if you would like to go take a look.

I probably won't be writing more posts for a few days, so I hope you all have a great weekend!  Bead happy!

Made some quick and easies

I have some beautimous things coming up, but I'm not ready to post them just yet.  Stayed tuned for that!!!!!
Today I rediscovered Stretch Magic.  Have you used Stretch Magic before?  Very fun product.  But you have to know the trick.  The first time I bought this product years ago I didn't know "the trick".  Nope.  My knots would come undone immediately and whatever I strung on them would fall right apart.  I got so frustrated I gave up and didn't touch it again.  Until today.  It came about because my daughter, Samantha, has a bracelet that is stretchy with skull beads that was a gift to her from a friend in Finland.  So it is a special bracelet for her.  BUT a couple months ago it got twisted and tangled and could not be undone.  Of course she came to the bead lady who is conveniently mom and asked to have it fixed.

So it sat for a while.  And sat some more.  Until today.

What's "the trick" to Stretch Magic?  Glue!  You have to put a dab of glue on the knot!!!  'doh!  Why didn't I think of something so simple?  Isn't it so true how the simplest things can escape you?  The glue of choice from many out there is GS Hypo Cement.  It has a super-fine applicator and is supposed to be the bee's knees.  Unfortunately, I'm not patient enough to wait for something to be shipped from online right now, and my local craft stores don't carry it.  So I used Super Glue LocTite Control Gel.  I have to say that it has worked pretty good!  It has a good applicator, dries quickly and leaves no mess.

After I remade Sami's skull bracelet, which got me a big smile, a "thank you mommy" and a voluntary hug, I was ready to try some more!  I looked through my little stash and found a few things to work with.  First, I found some leftover beads from a past project and made little Sara a bracelet.  The bright blues and greens are so cheery and fun...just like her!  It's a touch big on her wrist, but I intended it that way because she's only 9 and still has lots of growing to do.  Here is Sara's bracelet...

After I did Sara's, I was still super-excited about this quick, easy and fun product, so I did some more.  Here's what was next:

I just looove this one!  I think it looks really great considering how simple it was to do.  And then finally I did this one:

The photos were taken inside, so the colors did not show up well.  The main color is amethyst.  A little bit of shades of pink.  The big beads are ceramic and the heart is a Swarovski to add a hint of sparkle.  The funny thing with this one was that I totally intended it to be symmetrical all the way around.  I got it done and it was too long.  Then I took some off and restrung.  I finished it, put on the glue, let it sit for a few seconds and pulled the knot.  Too soon!!!  It came undone and most of the beads came off.  I lined up the beads again and strung them on, finished it again.  Glued the knot once, let it dry.  Glued the knot again, let it dry.  I set it down to take a look and realized the patterns are totally off.  lol.  I guess this bracelet had a mind of its own and decided it was going to be an asymmetrical style.  That's ok.  It works, too.

On a personal note...I am very proud of my son, Tyler.  He has been on his new job for a few days now.  We worked VERY hard in a job search for him.  We went driving just about every day to any place we could think of to pick up applications, come home, fill them out, go out the next day and drop them off.  Days of picking up.  Days of dropping off.  Days of following up.  It lasted about 5 or 6 weeks of that.  And finally the perseverance paid off.  He now works for WalMart in the Tire Center.  Way to go Tyler!  Also, his girlfriend Michelle was told at her interview on Monday that she will most likely get the job and that they just have to check her references!  Woo Hoo!!!  It will be so nice for them to be getting paychecks and to start saving some money.  Then they won't be living in my family room forever!  lol 

Now we just have to wait for the Union to call Jeff and put him back to work.  I love my husband, but when he's home all the time I think we drive each other just a little bit crazy.  lol.  Nah...he's a good hubby.  I love having him around.  Actually, he's been oh so very helpful to me with the kids and stuff.  I've been so terribly exhausted lately and he has really come to my rescue.  I love my man!  But please do put out some positive energy for Jeff to get back to work as soon as possible. 

Ok.  That's it for now, but remember...I have some really pretty things coming up soon so stay tuned!