2012 Finish or Frog Along - January

I have lots of old UFOs (unfinished objects) lurking in boxes around the house that I really need to do something about! Knowing that I would not be on my own, I put a call out to our Facebook Group (Link top right) and asked if anybody wanted to join in with a 2012 Finish or Frog Along. The idea is that we pick one UFO a month and decide whether to finish it or frog it, I am hoping that I will either end up with 12 pieces of jewellery or a nice pile of pretty beads to make into something else! Luckily a few people were up for the challenge and here are the UFOs chosen to be either finished or frogged this month.

Rebecca is going to finish this gorgeous rope,"Here is my UFO! It's going to be a CRAW rope, with a pretzel shaped knot attached to the bezel. No idea what the stone is, but it's pretty... it looks like icing! The rope needs to be a lot longer, and I'd like to embellish around the cab a bit more... but I'll just see how it turns out!!"



Dee has chosen this stunning Jean Powers kit to finish,"Sadly my Jean Power bangle kit didn't get finished so here is the current state of play, which I hope to improve by the end of the month and get it finished."



In fact Dee has already made some progress!



This unfinished necklace from Catherine made me swoon, I can't wait to see it finished! Catherine says, "This is my version of Jill Devon's Moonshadow necklace in greens and golds, with some of my precious stash rivolis (it takes several different size ones, but different colours work well in pairs). I completed this part in August but still haven't got the rope done so I hope I can complete this in a reasonable time and even wear it this Spring/Summer.



My chosen UFO is this little piece of right angle weave. RAW is not my favourite stitch as it takes me too long, which is why I haven't finished this, even though I do really like the way it looks. I doubt I will finish it as a bracelet, but maybe use it as a focal in a necklace.



If you have a UFO that you would like to finish this month, please join in! Check back later this month to see how we get on.

Happy finishing!

Sarahx

Now Closed - Facebook Celebration Giveaway!

Today we welcomed our 100 Facebook Group member, so I thought a giveaway was in order! I rummaged through my stash and came up with the items above, there are tiny cube beads, 11's, 15's, drop beads, a lampwork bead and a sterling silver frame.

All you need to do is comment on this post by Midnight Thursday 1st September, I will then use Random.org to choose 1 lucky winner. You don't need to be a member of the group, though we would love to have you with us! There is a link in the sidebar on the right.

ETA: Please comment only once on this post, to keep things easier when I am using the Random Generator, Thank you!

Good luck and happy beading!

Sarahx

Stashbuster Bracelet Swap!

Hey there Stashbusters,

Do you want a nice new shiny bright beaded bracelet?


Bracelet by Catherine

Would you like to bust some of your stash and make a nice new shiny bright beaded bracelet for a fellow blog reader?


Bracelet by Liz

Yes? Fantastic! Then read on...

I just love swaps and it's been a while since I was involved in a group one, so I thought it would be fun to set up one for OTTBS. Since it's my 1st time organising a swap, I'm keeping it nice and simple, no themes or special colourways but as this blog is supposed to be dedicated to stashbusting, at least 75% of the materials should be from your stash! It's fine to go out and purchase a pretty new clasp or the perfect focal that will just set off those seed beads you have had for 6 months but let's see if we can make use of the lovely stuff we already have!


Bracelet by Sarah (me!)

Here are the details,

Sign up by emailing me at librabeader at gmail dot com, include your postal address, bracelet length and details of any metal allergies.

Sign ups close 12.00 midnight Friday 1st July 2011

Partners will be assigned & sent out by 12.00 midnight Sunday 3rd July 2011

Please, no spoilers on blogs etc, let's try & keep who is beading for who secret until the swaps are received.

All bracelets should be posted by 8th August 2011, please remember to take a photo before you post your package and email it to me at the address above so it can be included in the big reveal!

Once you have received your bracelet, let me know, once all are received, I will then post all photo's and partner details here on the blog.

Hope that all makes sense! Please contact me if you have any questions.

Happy swapping!

Sarahx

Bead Shop Review - Yashma Creations

Yashma Creations is a shop that I recently discovered on Etsy.com. I was immediately drawn to the beautiful artistic photographs used in the listings, each one well thought out and making the most of the gorgeous beads on offer! As Etsy is an American site a large proportion the shops are based there, so you can imagine my surprise - and delight - to find that Yashma Creations is based in the UK.


At the time of writing I found 29 beautiful pages of flowers, leaves, firepolished crystals, bead caps, drops, rondelles and other Czech pressed shapes in many colours and finishes that I haven't seen before (and believe me, I've visited many online UK bead shops!). There is also a lovely selection of brass findings and pendants.


The listings themselves are very informative, telling you exactly what you're getting. I love how she lists all the colours and finishes that are included in the firepolished crystal mixes! If you shy away from Etsy due to the currency conversions then have no fear, the currency at Yashma Creations is set to British pounds so you know exactly how much you're paying. Postage is very reasonable too at £1.30 for the first item and then just 5p for every extra item added.


I've placed several orders and my beads have always been extremely well protected, with the packets wrapped in bubble wrap as well as placed inside a padded envelope. Delivery is speedy, something that's very important to those of us who want our beads yesterday! In fact I placed my last order around Midday and unbelievably it was through my door the following morning. Customer service is excellent, Valentina lets you know when your order is on it's way via a 'convo' (short for 'conversation', Etsy's internal messaging system) and it's this personal touch that I've often found lacking in orders for supplies from the US.


Put simply, browsing and shopping at Yashma Creations is pure delight!

And now for some fantastic news...Valentina has very generously offered to sponsor some of our challenges with collections of beads for the lucky winners. Now if that's not an excellent incentive to join in with our Moodboards then I don't know what is!

Giveaway Prize - Sneaky Peak 4.

We had a lovely day out in Cardiff today and I got to go to Crystals and Ice. It's a fab shop packed with lovely beady goodies. I was a bit spoilt for choice, but I love rivoli's so I picked up this gorgeous 12mm aqua beauty just for you. I think it will blend beautifully with the beads from sneaky peak 2!
Happy beading!

Sarahx

Stocking Fillers from Stash, Pearl Dangle Earrings Tutorial

I think we have probably established the fact that I love long earrings and this week's Stocking Filler from Stash tutorial is no exception. I am also continuing my new obsession with using chain.


You will need:
1 pair of earwires
1 pair of headpins
2 length's of chain (mine are each 2.5 inches long)
2 10mm pearls

Tools: wire snips to cut the chain, flat nosed & round nosed Pliers.

1. using your flat nosed pliers, open the loop one an earwire.

2. Thread through the end of a piece of chain.

3. Close the loop.

4. Thread 1 pearl on a headpin and use your round nose pliers to create the 1st part of a wire wrapped loop.

5. Thread the bottom end of the chain through the loop and finish of your wire wrapped loop and trim the end with your wire snips.

6. Repeat for a second earring.

I have assumed a knowledge of basic jewellery making skills, if you are new to jewellery making you can find instructions here http://www.beadstylemag.com/How%20To/Basics.aspx

Happy Christmas Beading!

Sarahx

6th Goal Completed! (Liz)

I struggled all week to find ideas to use these lampwork beads. My brain was constantly thinking jewellery and although I had a few ideas rolling around in my head, none of them worked out. Then yesterday I was reading and inspiration struck - book thongs! Just because you have a set of beads, there's no reason why you can't divide them up to make several things, at least that way they're being used and enjoyed and not languishing in a box for years on end. I'm really pleased with these...




Book thongs are one of my favourite things to make. I cut lengths of faux suede thonging and use fold over cord ends to attach the beads. These are a great way to use up those odd beads in your stash. Two leftover beads would naturally be made into a pair of earrings but not everyone wears them. Make them into a bookmark and you have a wonderful gift! Great for making men's gifts too if you avoid girly colours ;)

Birthday Gifts Part 1.

I'll have to do this in two parts as my camera ran out of battery before I could download the monster of a necklace that I made for my friend Lisa. These are the pieces that I made for her sister Claire, Claire wanted earrings or rings, so I raided my stash and made her a few pretties. I will only post the things made from stash here the others will be on April Is Forever.

I bought these gorgeous turquoise ceramic flowers at the Chepstow Bead Fair in January but have been a bit stuck on how to use them, a simple circle of seed beads made with Beadalon and a crimp bead were the perfect solution.

Claire wears a lot of green, so I paired 4mm peridot and 3mm olive swarovski's and made this pretty raw/peyote ring and made a matching pair of earrings, again using a simple bead wire circle with a wire wrapped dangle.

I'm glad to say that she liked all of them!

6th Goal (Liz)

My goal for this week is to create something with this gorgeous set of lampwork beads. Made by Julie Fountain at Lush Lampwork, they were my prize for winning the Artist of the Month challenge on the UK Beaders forum almost two years ago. I've taken them out of my lampwork box many times, wondering what I could make that would do them justice. This week I'm determined to find some inspiration!

Bustin' my bead stash, two beads at a time

So, this is my first post on the blog, and I'm afraid it's not going to be as dramatic as some of the other posts, on account of the number of beads I've managed to use for my recent projects. You see, although I do own some seed beads, I tend to hoard larger beads, and these tend to come in pairs. I am obsessed with making earrings for some reason, so to make even a small dent in my bead stash is going to take some work. But we've all got to start somewhere, so here goes.

These first two pairs of earrings were made from beads which were already in earrings - I bought some fab but inexpensive gunmetal and antique brass findings, which I am using to give a new lease of life to some neglected beads in my stash.





The remaining earrings were made from beads in my stash which I didn't think really suited silver findings.

I love these beads, they remind me partly of plum tomatoes, and partly of lipstick - the little dents in the beads are intentional, I didn't prod them to see if they really were toms, honest:



I don't usually like pink, especially such a pale pink, but I think it works well with the dark chain:


These unusual beads have a two-tone effect - when the light hits them, they become a vivid orange colour:


And finally, my favourite colour. I love turquoise and these beads were nestling in a bag of blues, waiting for a bit of antique brass to make them 'pop':



I think that's enough beady waffle for my first post. I'm off to drool over all the gorgeous seed bead creations on the blog now.

5th Goal (Liz)

I was putting some things away yesterday when I came across a box, tucked away in the corner of a cupboard. A little cardboard box that was stuck down with tape and felt suspiciously heavy for it's size. I had absolutely no idea what was inside so feeling a bit confused, but also a little bit excited, I carefully opened it...


...and look at the hoard I found! Sesame jasper, citrine, blue lace agate, peridot, sodalite, little agate pendants, sets of fans, and loads more that I don't know the name of. I had bought them in a Beads Direct sale some time ago and they were a fabulous bargain, but how tragic to put them away and then completely forget about them.

My goal for this week is to use some of these gorgeous peachy/orangey beads from my little treasure trove, which I think might be red aventurine. I don't normally use this colour so it'll be interesting to see what I can do with them.

Leftovers Project Link

Here is a cute project idea from Martha Stewart to make simple ornaments from leftover beads. If like me you have loads of odd beads leftover from other projects, take a look,
http://www.marthastewart.com/article/beads-to-beguile?page=6

Beading Kits...

I have a very bad habit of buying beading kits and not finishing them or not even starting them. I know that I have 3 right now that I've purchased and they're just stashed away waiting for me to bead.
So, what better way to help Operation Tackle that Bead Stash is to also use up my Beading Kits that I have! Within the next 2 months my goal is to have all of those kits that I already have made! Plus, while still tackling my other Bead Stash and working on beautiful beadiful projects for my Bead Stash that I have.
Here' a picture of each of the three kits that I will be beading over the next 2 months.



Do you also, like me have any kits that you purchased and couldn't live without but when the kits arrived to your home some how it's now just managed to become part of your Bead Stash? If you do you may want to go and find those kits and bead them up, maybe for you to keep, a gift for someone special or even to sell.
So until next time please don't forget, "Operation Tackle that Bead Stash" and Bead Happy!
Hugs and happy beading...
Bobbi

1st Goal/Project Completed...

When I started Operation Tackle that Bead Stash the other day, I had found quite a few red beads and a Cabochon. They seemed to be calling my name to use them to make my next piece with. So, I wanted to share this necklace with you, I named it, "The Red Sea" I'm so happy now that I had gone thru and tackled some of my Bead Stash, because now I have this great necklace to show for it instead of beads and a cabochon just stashed away.

Tomorrow I'll be going thru my Bead Stash again and I'll let you know what beads will be my next new project. So until next time please don't forget, "Operation Tackle that Bead Stash" and Bead Happy!
Hugs and happy beading...
Bobbi

Some helpful links...

Here's some links that might help to use up some of our bead stash in great and beadiful ways.
This is one for the African Helix Stitch
This one is for free Delica patterns
This one is for Jewelry Making and Beading Projects
This one is from Bead and Button Magazine for Free Projects
Here's one for a Square Stitch Rosette Beaded Ornament
This one is for a Beaded Icicle
This is for Free Patterns
Here's one for a Bracelet with Paua Shell Cabochon and Seed Beads
Free patterns from A to Z
More free beading patterns
Free Peyote Patterns
Even more free Beading Patterns
Here's one for a beautiful Necklace
Bead Tree Tutorial
This one is for Bead Crochet
Here's many different Tutorials
Here's one for a beading glossary

I hope that these links will be helpful to you in using your bead stash up and making beautiful beaded pieces!
So until next time please don't forget, "Operation Tackle that Bead Stash" and Bead Happy!
Hugs and happy beading...
Bobbi