Finish Or Frog Along - March Update

I'm thrilled to let you all know that we've all made some progress on our March Finish Or Frog Along Projects. Well, except for Padmini who has admitted to having been so distracted by The Big Bead Show that she forgot all about completing her Finish Or Frog Along! I'm sure we can understand that only too well - so maybe we should forgive her? Especially as she's going to roll the project over into April?

Ericka has also struggled a little with her bead embroidery piece, as she's now busy caring for her mum on a full time basis. Progress has been slow, but Ericka's feeling much happier with the piece now she's cmpleted a little more of the stitching. She's very much looking forward to finishing it - eventually! Who knows, it might be this month!

As this is my first time in amongst the finishers and the froggers, I thought I'd best make a concerted effort to finish up my bracelet. Weaving in all of those thread ends really was a bit of a chore, but I ended up with such a pretty bracelet that I made some earrings to match.

It's actually the first time I've ever attempted a pattern from one of my (many) beading magazines - just the confidence boost I've needed to try some new stitches and tackle some long lusted after projects.

To finish, I have a lovely story of trial and triumph! When we last saw Gemma's bracelet, she had put together a chain maille base and adorned it with some of the new Precosia Twinbeads, but there were a few issues. The bracelet wasn't particularly stable and took a while to put on because it kept twisting and turning - and the twinbeads kept moving around during the process. It just wasn't working.

So, she asked for advice in the forums and after umming and ahhing - and a little bit of swapping and changing - here's her beautiful Twinmaille Bracelet.

Gemma says "There were loads of fab suggestions from members on my blog and in the facebook group as to how I could fix the stability issue so thanks to everyone for the ideas. I added the 8s to the edge and changed it to a tight fitting bracelet with a clasp. One of the great things about taking out rows to make it tigher means I have some twins to spare now so I'll be making a pair of earrings to match at some point."

If you fancy joining in with this month's Finish Or Frog Along, pop over to The OTTBS Facebook Group for details.

2012 Finish or Frog A Long - February Update

I am pleased to report lots of progress this month on our finish or frog a long projects for February!

Dee finished her wonderful bracelet project designed by Jean Power,


Rebecca finished her Iced Pretzel necklace, "It may have taken me a couple of months, but I've finally finished it! I've attached a couple of pictures of my UFO. I've called it "Iced Pretzel". The sad thing is, now I've finished it, I don't really like it! The rope is CRAW, the bezel is netted, and edged with Swarovski pearls.

I lost one of my tulips, so made a quick leaf to go on one side of the spiral stitch lariat that I made. Of course as soon as I had photographed the necklace, I found the other tulip!


ETA: Gemma finished her bracelet, I absolutely covet this so much!




The lovely Clair from Obstinate Pursuit will be running the March Finish or Frog A Long while I deal with some family issues, thank you Clair!

Happy beading!

Sarahx

2012 Frog or Finish A Long - February Goals

Welcome to the February Frog or Finish A long Goals, this month five of us from the Facebook Group have nominated projects to finish during the month.

Dee has carried over her Jean Power's kit from January,


Rebecca has also carried her rope over from last month,


Erika has chosen this bead embroidered cuff to work on in February, "I'm afraid I've got far too many UFOs. This one is a cuff bracelet that I started in Sept at a workshop with Laura McCabe. The picture isn't great as the leather it's on is actually a really pretty metallic plum colour. I've never attempted bead embroidery before and find it quite challenging. I really hope this will make me finish it!"


Gemma says, "I've had this bracelet on the go for what feels like forever. Its nearly done but I need some incentive to finish it as I'm bored with all the fringing. In fact I said I was going to finish it last year when we set beadbusting goals in May but I only managed a few extra rows. Bad Gemma! I'm calling it Anemone Cuff. Its based on the "Sea Urchin" project by Stephanie Burnham from the BWG journal 2006 and I probably started it that year so its high time I finished it! All I have to do is finish off the fringing in the 15s and find some sort of clasp."


I originally made these yellow tulips as earrings, but am just not that happy with them. They are quite small (and really tightly woven!)so I don't want to frog them but think they will be lovely on the ends of a lariat, so my project this month is to make the lariat rope and any other embellishments needed so that these will finally be part of a wearable finished object.


Check back later this month to see how we do.

Happy beading!

Sarahx

2012 Finish or Frog A Long - January Update

Well, January has just whizzed by hasn't it! I can't believe it is already time to post the finish or frog along update.

Both Dee and Rebecca were super busy in January and unable to make much progress on their projects, I frogged mine as I did not have any more beads to complete the bracelet. But, drumroll please..............

Catherine finished her beautiful necklace, "Once I made the decision on the rope colours, the whole thing came together fairly quickly, with the peyote tubes done while watching Sherlock, and the double toggle (I didn't have a small clasp as the
instructions suggested, so I adapted a Laura McCabe component) made during my Lunch break. I did break a needle in the toggle tubes as they are quite tight! Now all I need is an occasion to wear the necklace!"


The projects for February will be posted soon,

Happy beading!

Sarahx