Beaded Colorways: The Reveal {Bead, Book & Bounce}

Each month, as part of our regular feature Bead, Book & Bounce, we choose one of the most popular beading and jewellery making books and challenge our readers to make something inspired by the techniques or projects covered within it's pages. Over the last two months, we've been working from Beaded Colorways by Beverly Ash Gilbert. 

If you have made any pieces from Beaded Colorways, please share your own projects with us using the Mr Linky. 

• Please link directly to your Beaded Colorways blog post, so that we can find it easily. 
• Please leave a comment here when you link up your project. 
• Please try to visit the blogs of other participants when you can. We all love a bit of love! 

We'll be issuing a new Bead, Book & Bounce challenge tomorrow, so please do pop back to see what book we'll be working from over the next two months. I can't wait to get started!

A Passion For Purple Reveal {Monday Moodboard}

Last week's Monday Moodboard was a sophisticated mix of colours and textures. Does your memory need a refresher?

1. ultra violet, 2. Concert flyer, 3. nina_brosh_nina07, 4. Purple

Inspired by the colour paletter and the fun, funky retro circles in the mosaic, Liz has been busy making this addition to her beautiful series of Fairground Attraction Pendants.

And, inspired by the netted gloves on the model in the top right corner (and the only purple beads I could find in my stash!) I've revisited one of my all time favourite necklaces and have made a new version especially for a friend who has been admiring it for quite some time.

But what about our lovely readers? Have any of you been inspired by the moodboards? We'd love to see what you've been creating, even if it isn't 'on time' for the fortnightly reveal, so do drop us an e-mail at ottbs@hotmail.co.uk or pop your photographs into our OTTBS Flickr Group.

A Passion For Purple {Monday Moodboard}

Well, we're onto the third week of our new feature Monday Moodboard. Are you ready for another inspirational colour workout?

This week's Monday Moodboard is a darker, more sophisticated palette of pure purple, black and white. But while you're focusing on the colours, don't forget about the texture. There's also an absolute ton of it in the palette - pinstripe, netting, cross-hatching, feathers and retro circles.

1. ultra violet, 2. Concert flyer, 3. nina_brosh_nina07, 4. Purple

Enough to spark the creativity of any self-respecting beader or jewellery artist. So, what are you waiting for?

And remember, if you do make something inspired by one of our moodboards, do leave us a link in the comments below or e-mail me an image at ottbs@hotmail.co.uk

Tickled Pink Reveal {Monday Moodboard}

Last week we started our new feature, Monday Moodboard, in which we hope to encourage you to get creative and use up your beadstash by drawing inspiration from the colours, shapes, textures and emotions of the moodboard.

We started with a soft and simple collection of pale pinks and mauves with a touch of green, grey and white.

1. For Kristin, 2. Carnation Or "And Now For Something Completely Different", 3. 192, 4. Strawberry Drops

Here's what the team made -

Sarah took colour inspiration directly from the palette by choosing beads in a pale pink colour with an iridescent finish that shows hints of mauves and purples. The sterling silver rounds also pick up on the shape of the round sweets in the moodboard and add interest and texture to these simple, but beautiful earrings.

To create these pretty earrings in circular netting, Liz chose white and pale pinks, combined with the tiniest hint of pale green which she spotted in the photograph of the roses - and this gives Liz's earrings the soft, light feel of the photographs in the moodboard.

And, although I had something completely different in mind, I was drawn to these beautiful handmade shell beads that I bought several years ago in Namibia. The natural shell colours show variations of white, creams, pinks and purples and their round, but slightly irregular shapes are reminiscent of the rose petals on the cake.

There will be new Monday Moodboard next week but in the meantime, if you have thoughts about any of our new features or have any projects inspired by the moodboard to share with us, please leave a link in the comments below, send details to ottbs@hotmail.co.uk or post it in our new OTTBS Flickr Group.

Tickled Pink {Monday Moodboard}

Recently I came across Color For Bead Artists, a blog which explores "the good, the bad, and the beautiful of color." It's an intriguing blog, more so because looking through my bead stash (and later my scrapbooking stash) I found that I actually tended to stick to my own personal favourites and colour palettes which I felt comfortable with. It seems that I'm not all that adventurous when it comes to colour choices. Am I the only one?

So, in an effort to drag myself away from the 'same old, same old' I've been spending some time putting together some colour combinations and I thought that I'd share some of them with you.

1. For Kristin, 2. Carnation Or "And Now For Something Completely Different", 3. 192, 4. Strawberry Drops

We're starting with a fairly simple palette - a super soft selection of pinks with touches of white, mauve and grey. By using the colours, shapes or mood, you're welcome to use the board to inspire your own creations.

I'll be creating a new Monday Moodboard every other week and inbetween, I'll be posting images of creations inspired by the moodboards. So, if you have any to share, please leave a link in the comments below or send details to me at ottbs@hotmail.co.uk

Mother's Day Gift!

Look what I got for Mother's Day this year, what a clever little boy I have got! I haven't had much chance to look through it but it definitely looks like it has so great ideas for using the stash.

I'll write a more in depth review when I have had a better look.