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

1st Goal for July Complete! Sarah

Back in June I posted that I wanted to make a statement necklace with some Vintaj components and these lovely white and bronze beads that I rescued from a half made necklace. As I was working the soft colours whispered rather than shouted so I decided against a large statement necklace and instead decided to play to the vintage feel of the components. I started by making some wrapped loop links with the bronze beads and joined them with jump rings, but that wasn't quite right so I made little love knots to join the links instead. I wanted the focus to be at the front so I added pre-made chain to the sides and made a large ruffly flower in circular netting for the focal. I am quite happy with it, but still want to make a statement necklace!

It's A Start, Right?

Despite joining the Operation Tackle That Beadstash team during May with such high hopes for starting to use up my burgeoning boxes of beads, I have to admit to the most epic fail. Not only have I failed to use up the beautiful blue beads that were the emphasis of my first goal, but I haven't even been beading!

I've been busy concentrating on all of that 'life stuff' that gets in the way. Still, it's given me a lot of time to think and I certainly have a long list of ideas, inspiration and - of course, lots of beads - to start working with.

And, just to prove that things will slowly be returning to normal, here's a cute little pair of earrings that I made this morning. It's a start, right?

The Trials & Tribulations of Goal 8!

First of all, huge apologies for my lack of posting lately. I've been really busy with orders and commissions (although I'm not complaining!) plus other non-beady stuff and have spread myself a little too thin.

Also I came to a total standstill with my last goal. I had planned to use up that gorgeous tube of beads by the end of the week but three weeks later they were still sitting on my desk! Several times I had an idea, tipped the beads onto my bead mat and had a go but everything I tried was a disaster.

I discovered that they're not very good for herringbone, triangle stitch or right-angle weave. I had an idea that because they're triangles, they would look good stitched in rows on a bead embroidered cuff and I visualised a lovely zig-zag texture. No. They wobbled about a bit and it just looked messy, so back into the tube they went.

My last resort was peyote stitch which I had dismissed at first because of their shape. Success! They fit together brilliantly to give an unusual effect. So off I went, merrily making a six bead wide strip to make a bracelet...and ran out of beads three quarters of the way through! Grr. Determined not to buy another tube of these flippin' beads I unpicked it all and started again with four beads. Several hours later and with the addition of some red and gold seed beads I had this bracelet...



Now who was it that said beading was relaxing, lol.

July Goals - Sarah

So, that really organised list of goals that I posted at the beginning of June? Didn't work out so well! In fact I didn't achieve any of them, so I have decided to take it one goal at a time for July as this has worked well for me in previous months.

My 1st goal is to complete the necklace that I started in June with the bronze & white beads and bronze wire. I have done quite a bit of it so this should be easily achievable as July promises to be almost as busy as June. A little teaser for you, I have made my own chain for this and it includes love knots which I just learned to do, I love them.

Keep tackling that bead stash!

Sarahx

Update on Bobbi & An Apology for Slacking

Hi all,

Unfortunately Bobbi is back in hospital and scheduled for 2 more surgeries. I know you'll join with me in sending positive and healing thoughts out to her. We hope you get well soon Bobbi and can't wait to see you back in blogland. Thank you to Bobbi's friend Marie for updating me on Bobbi's condition.

I must apologise for my lack of presence here this month, I think I have bitten a bit more than I can chew this month or so! I have lots of things I want to post about but haven't had the time. I am writing a little schedule up tonight so I should be around more from now on.

In the meantime keep tackling that stash!

Sarah

First goal reached

I just finished a spiral rope necklace using those yummy reddish seed beads I posted about here. So, without further ado, here is my new necklace:



It looks slightly odd and lumpy to me, but it looks OK on. I don't think it's bad for a first attempt, anyway:



For my next goal, I was wondering about somehow making a flower using seed beads, as I have a challenge to complete for an online group, and the theme is 'flowers'. So, if anyone has any easy patterns/techniques that would fit the bill, I'd love to hear/read them.