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

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