Michelle Mach's Suddenly Spring Blog Hop

It's always so much fun to push yourself with challenges. This one, another by Michelle Mach, was a reasonably simple challenge. Take this bracelet (pictured below):

and create something with it. The idea is that it could be anything. I had the urge to put copper with the aqua coloured beads and decided to keep things classic after letting go a few of my wilder ideas. The photo below shows the finished necklace and matching earrings. I used herringbone weave in graduating seed beads, some hex ones thrown in for a bit of texture and feel the finished product is pleasing on the eye. The design can be worn with the toggle at front or back, for a different look.

And the other blog participants are listed below. Please visit them and leave comments to join in the fun.

Michelle - Beads and Books [Hostess]

Andrew - The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton

Christa - Adventures of One Beady Woman

Dita - Alankarshilpa

Donetta - Simply Gorgeous

Erin - Erin Siegel Jewelry

Heather - As I Bead It (You are here)

Jean - Snap Out of It Jean - There's Beading to Be Done!

Karen - Over the Moon Design

Kate - We Can Make That At Home

Kay - Palm Coast Art

Kim - CianciBlue

Kristina - Wild Roses and Blackberries

Linda - Lindy's Designs

Lisa - Pine Ridge Treasures

Marlene - Amazing Designs by Marlene

Michelle - Reverie & Revival

Pam - The Crazy Creative Corner

Renetha - Lamplight Crafts

Sharyl - Catchenthesun

Terry - Pink Chapeau Vintage Jewelry

Therese  - Therese's Treasures

Pamela - Someday Beads

Heather

Very Vintage Challenge Necklace

As usual I've had a lot going on around here, so I ended up pulling another all nighter to get this piece finished. I'll probably make a pair of earrings with what's leftover, but my bed beckoned and by two this morning it was just about yelling at me. The ideas for this necklace went through several idea stages. One failed completely. I'd intended tying beads onto cord, but all the cord I had was too thick for several of the beads. I had a mad, messy idea, but that couldn't happen, in particular because of the cord thickness problem and no shops open in the middle of the night.

Anyway, this finished piece is completely wearable and chinks and tinkles as you walk. I kind of like that. I'm thinking just some cluster style earrings with the remaining beads and filigree pieces. I hope you enjoy my completed piece. Don't forget to take a look at the other entries below:

Andrew
The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton

Cat
Boo Beads

Chris
beadjewelry.net

Cilla
Tell Your Girlfriends

Cyndi
Beading Arts

Cynthia
Cynth's Blog

Dawn
Morning Glory Beading

Donetta
Simply Gorgeous

Heather
As I Bead It

Holly
SilverRose Designs

Kate
We Can Make That at Home

Kristina
Wild Roses and Blackberries

Lauren
Laurel Moon Jewelry & Beads

Linda
Lutka & Co

Lisa
Lucid Mood Studio

Lola
Bead Lola Bead

Mary
MLH Jewelry

Melinda
Melinda Orr Metal & Clay Jewelry Designs

Michelle H.
Firefly Visions

Michelle M.
Beads & Books

Salla
Blog by Salla

Shannon
Falling into the Sky

Shay
Shaiha's Ramblings

Shel
MiShel Designs

Shirley
Beads and Bread

Stephanie
Pixybug Designs

Tari
Pearl and Pebbles

Terry
Pink Chapeau Vintage Jewelry

Tracy
The Bead Junkie

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

My Steampunk Metal Necklace

Well, these aren't great photos of my necklace, but I'll update with a better photo once the sun is out. The main thing is that I'm done. I created something out of the kit sent to me for the Mostly Metal Challenge. The fun began when I somehow stumbled on the call to enter Michelle Mach's challenge. Something I always love is a challenge.

This time proved even more so as mum was here. The rough idea formed for this the moment I pulled everything out of the pack and began to push the pieces around my bead tray. But I didn't get to it until late Saturday night. I really wanted to use the ribbon, but time didn't permit me to do all I'd imagined. Instead I kept with the steampunk theme and used some Phileas Fogg  chain I had from an etsy purchase sometime last year. I wasn't struck on using the main focal, either, so I left that out. Instead I made my unique portion of the pack into part of the focal and I kind of like the funky streampunk look I created. I hope you do, too.

Make sure you check out the other entries in the Mostly Metal Blog Hop . . . and a Giveaway!

Heather

Mostly Metal Blog Hop . . . and a Giveaway!

Mostly Metal Challenge

Well, I signed up with many others for the Mostly Metal Challenge by Michelle Mach. My lovely little kit arrived today. The photo above shows how it looks. I'm allowed to add anything from my own stash, but cannot show you my completed piece until the date of the big reveal, which is August 16 this year. Anyway, I've got some ideas forming. Maybe some seed beads, or wirework? I will have to have a play with the pack tonight and see what I can come up with. I hope you're joining in the challenge, too.


Heather