December/January Andrew Thornton Reader Challenge

I've been terribly busy over this last month. Having mum spring a surprise trip for my family to come over and stay for almost two weeks kind of threw any creative plans I had for challenges and jewellery making. Not that I minded. I think I really needed a holiday. But when I realised Andrew Thornton was going to do his reveal soon I pulled out my jonquil kit and worked like a mad thing. I couldn't do any on it last night, but took photos of what I had done, in three nights of work, mind you, and I think it's come together pretty well. I'm not currently on his list of bloggers, but will contact him to add me, or just leave a message in the comments for those who want to see this piece, too. I'm eager to go see what everyone else did with their kit, too.

I hope you can envisage what this piece will be. I've yet to add the beads to the other side and sew in the loose ends. I'm going to attach the chain with jump rings on one side and a toggle to the other. I am not a huge fan of this colour, yet I love the earthy feel the beads gave, so felt a free form peyote base was what they needed. I hope you agree.

The unfinished necklace:


Close up detail:


And here are the other bloggers:

Kate Richbourg

Christina Porter

Kim Dworak

Tara Linda

Jessie Nelson

Dawn from Morning Glory Beading

Michelle Burnett

Pine Ridge Treasures

Rebecca Anderson

Karin Slaton

Cynthia Riggs

Therese Frank

Alice Bavaud will have pieces on Andrew Thornton's blog

Heather

Better Late ...

I have to apologise for posting this so late. On Monday I took hubby to the emergency department of the hospital. They took him in immediately, no waiting around. It was serious stuff. So, with my gorgeous pack of beads arriving only that day, sometime while I was sitting waiting for them to work out what to do with my man, it was quite an effort to work up something in such a short time and with so much to distract me. I've spent every day since in the hospital for some part if not all of it. They still don't know what is exactly up with him. They use the word investigating a lot.

So, last night I literately threw this necklace together. I'm not happy with it, but it will do for the sake of the challenge, though I'm certain I will pull this apart at some other time when my frame of mind is more together and come up with something I just love. The components are totally gorgeous. Loved this long awaited pack. I did begin a pair of earrings with the Swarovski crystals, but only one of those is complete. The mix of seedies and Czech beads, yum, is totally delicious and will at some time become a freeform peyote stitch bracelet. Anyway, I hope you enjoy the simple necklace I created with the pieces after only two nights to ponder. Please remember to check out the other participants in the September Reader's Challenge on The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton.









Heather

Very Vintage & Other Challenges

I've been keeping busy buying up kits for challenges just the last few days. Last week I purchased the 23rd Designer Quest kit from Beads of Ambrosia through my membership in Aussie Beading forum. I somehow managed to snaffle a September Reader's Challenge kit from Andrew Thornton. Also, I scored a Very Vintage kit from Michelle Mach's latest challenge. I'm going to be one busy girl. But I just love the challenge on my creativity. Forcing myself to make something out of a collection of beads someone else put together is just plain fun. I've completed my Bead Soup piece with some leftover beads. I'm thinking of squeezing a bracelet out of those last few. I hope you're keeping yourself inspired to be creative, too.

Heather