Fretwork, eh, Gingerbread

I have a weakness for Victorian architecture.  I don't know much about it, other than the fact that I really, really like it.  I love all the loops and swirls of vintage woodworking and the gingerbread like quality it gives a beautiful stately house flanked with swirls cut lovingly by a masters hand.

The regal shapes have shown their faces in numerous place--from gardens of hedgerows (Versailles Gardens has an astounding collection of such), to shelf supports sporting trinkets in the family home.  I decided that this design could not go a moment longer without being adapted to one of my favorite mediums; beads!  I was tasked with designing a cuff for a woman who likes bright colors and wears jeans most days.  It seemed to be the perfect opportunity to try out a new fretwork design.  I created Versailles Fretwork Peyote Cuff for her (It is to be a Christmas present purchased for her by her younger brother), so I will have to wait until December 26th to hear about its reception, but I can only hope it will be grand!

I will be beading up a dichromatic version of this cuff, but for now I jsut had too many blues to not try to use more than one :).  Thanks for looking!

Hearts

So, I feel very blessed in the amount of support I have received for my work.  I logged onto my Etsy account today to find that I had been hearted by 6 people last night, so in honor of surpassing the 100 heart mark, I figured a special offer was in order.  From now until November 31 purchase any cuff in my store and receive a 20% discount and FREE SHIPPING!  Just write "Heart" in your note to seller and I will send you a new invoice to reflect your discount!

Again, thank you so much for your support, it is much appreciated!

Coral Wipeout Peyote Cuff

I finished beading this cuff last night, but, since I have yet to invest or make my own lightbox I had to wait for mother nature to provide me with some glorious sunlight to take photos.  As soon as Ocean's head hit her pillow for her afternoon nap, I marched myself outside and got a couple photos. 

I absolutely love this color combination and can see it being repeated pretty much continuously for a while :-P.  With no further ado, here's Coral Wipeout Peyote Cuff. 

I am still tossing the idea back and forth as to whether or not to publish the pattern.  What do you think?  Thanks for looking.

New Patterns

I'm thinking that I may have to invest some time into transferring some of my hand-drawn patterns onto the computer.  I like the idea of offering more of them for sale in my shop, I suppose it's a way of getting feedback.  I mean, if it gets purchased repeatedly, it has to be decent, right?  Right.  So, that's the logic I'm using to justify the countless hours I'm spending in front of my computer instead of in front of my beads.  Sigh.

The fruits of my labor:

Tomorrow, I promise I will take pictures of my newest cuff.  It's a fun spiral sort of piece in all sorts of turquoise, bronze and golds.  For now, be good or be good at it.  :)

Introductions

I've finally decided that it's time for me to go ahead and do this blogging thing.  I don't know what pushed me to such a decision, but, well, I like it and I hope you will also.  I plan to offer up some of my work for you to see as well as showcase some other amazingly talented artists that I stumble across on my traipses through the web.

I finally figured that it was indeed high time to begin a bead blog after a lighthearted conversation with my husband at the breakfast table.  He told me how happy he was that I was doing something I thoroughly enjoyed (apart from the whole being a mommy thing--that goes without saying), yet he lamented at not being able to be more involved.  He then got this Eureka-ish look on his face and announced that he would be naming my pieces from here on out.

Now, there was some initial trepidation on my part, very little mind you, but a measure none the less.  I through the idea out there that I would like to "consult" with him on the naming process, an idea to which he was most agreeable to.  Thank goodnes, crisis averted.

As far as my reasoning goes for this very conversation being the foundation to my beady blog, well, I just happened to find a little nugget of humor in my big burly tattooed husband wanting ever so much to be a part of my artsy fartsy beading interest and I hope you do too.

On to my latest creation:  Vintage Harvest Peyote Cuff.  Inspired by a William Armes Ltd. rug of all things, titled Innocence.

I just finished purchasing and creating my first pattern (the pattern for this cuff), with BeadTool3 (a fabulous experience by the way), so if you enjoy what you see and would like to make your own, check it out!