Listello Tiles beadtsuds bracelet makes it onto the cover of Dec/January 2014 Beadwork Magazine!

This is my Listello Tiles project using the new Czech Beadstuds. I am absolutely delighted and rather shocked to discover this week, that it has made it onto the cover of the Dec/Jan 2014 issue of Beadwork Magazine. It has given me such a boost and now I want to get my work in print even more! :)

Chameleon Causeway - 1st Place in the Crystals Category of 2013 British Bead Awards!

OK so I am a little slow in updating my blog, but boy has there been lots going on behind the scenes. On the 19th October my husband drove us down to Sandown Racetrack where the Big Bead Show and 2013 Bead Awards ceremony took place. For those of you who follow my beadwork I can proudly announce that my "Chameleon Causeway" bracelet won 1st Prize in the Crystals Category of the British Bead Awards 2013!Despite the name it is actually an international contest with hundreds of applicants for each category. I am delighted with the result and now have a lovely crystal trophy taking pride of place above my fireplace! Here are a few pictures from the day and the piece itself!

The inspiration behind the piece came from bezelling the gorgeous 8mm vintage Vitrail Swarovski Crystals that change from deep intense fuchsia through golden yellow to rich shades of green. This is where the 'Chameleon' part of the name came from . Also the latest trend for all things geometric was an inspiration to me and for that I thank Jean Power and Kate McKinnon for showing me how to build a triangular shape in their geometric books/classes. As I began to create test components I began to wonder what would happen if the triangular columns were to rise at different heights to each other. This reminded me of the natural wonder that is the 'Giants Causeway' in Ireland. This is not somewhere I have ever visited myself, but the photos I have seen are truly amazing and I really wanted to include this kind of 3D structure in my piece.

The start of something new for Miss New + Lots and lots of WIP's!

I'm in my final week of the summer holiday and it's been a busy one. We started the first week cruising around the Mediterranean which was lovely, relaxing, funny at times and very experimental in terms of beading. I took some of the new czech beads and half made a CRAW rope and some pleasing pyramid components. They are both still to be finalised (hence the WIPs comment...work in progress.) Since then I have also completed a Rulla bezel, and a American Indian style necklace that incorporates yet more new czech bead shapes, and includes raw, herringbone, peyote, netting stitch, albion stitch and picot stitches! Wow, that was a challenge I can tell you! I am still in the process of getting my bead room/conservatory sorted and tidy...but it's getting there bead by bead! My other big news is that my daughter is starting reception class at Primary School next week. This officially marks the start of her education so it's quite a big deal. We have been playing beads and doing fun things all holiday. I'm going to miss her loads when she is at school full time.

Pyramids popping up in Australia!

Ok, I know I've been gone a long while and I'm sorry....but I have got good news to share! Today I got an email from Joomag, the publishers of Digital Beading Magazine (in Australia). Issue 4 of their magazine has been released today and I have a project in there! It's called Mankaure's Bangle as it is inspired by the famous pyramids in Egypt. As soon as I purchased my first pack of Czech beadstuds (the pyramid beads circling the outside of the bangle,)I know I had to do something special with them. I hope that you like them as much as I enjoyed making them. Here are some images of two of the 3 colourways I created.

Crystal Links makes the cover of Bead Magazine issues 47!

Some excellent news to share...my crystal links project (based on the award winning cosmic chain in 2012 Bead Awards), has now been published in issue 47 of Bead Magazine and what's more it dominates the front cover too! Wow! What a great thrill it is to see it in print. I loved producing this project so much that I went on to make a second bracelet piece in the amethyst colourway with a beautiful czech glass dragonfly button as the focal/fastener. Here's a few pictures of the crystal links necklace. Hope you like them. X

Beads everywhere, UFO's and bridal headwear!

Well it's been quite a busy time lately. My beadstash has been in desperate need of a sort out as storage was becoming unmanageable since my lumbar fustion in 2011. It was getting to a point where I was having to move every stackable box until I could get to the item I needed - not good when I need to limit all bending, lifting and twisting to avoid further damage to my spine. Luckily my darling hubby has built me a set of kitchen style storage cupboards in the conservatory so that I can better organise my vast collection of glorious beads and related paraphernalia! However, I am quickly finding that as I box and rehome the beads that I need to store items in a different way altogether. So instead of it being a simple job it has in fact become a mammoth task and everything is in utter chaos...ooops! Last weekends Beadworkers guild seems such a long time ago, and I made a promise to myself that I would make a concerted effort to tackle my ever growing clan of UFO's (unfinished objects.) So I have continued to work at the "Morgan le Fay" necklace by Melanie de Miguel, and I am determined I will get it completed sooner rather than later. Watch this space! It is also at this time of year that I often get apprached by brides wanting me to make accessories/tiaras for their upcoming weddings. I currently have the wonderful task of creating something glitzy and fabulous for the midwife who helped deliver my daughter 4 years ago. I admit I have not yet tackled the assembly of this yet as my teaching career is also at it's busiest time of the year in the run up to gcse exam season. Phew...it's a busy old life! On top of all this I have heard some good news about a piece of my beadwork today, but I can't quite share that with you yet. I shall reveal all when I can. Bead on everyone! X

Bit of Beading Banter!

I have recently discovered how lovely it is to chat, and bead with fellow like-minded beaders and visited my first GBBS Great British Bead Show at the weekend. This is organised by the Beadworkers Guild and it was absolutely brilliant! I had so many compliments on my beaded efforts it was very nice indeed and was even asked by Liz Thornton if I would design a project for the journal...wow, just wow! Everywhere you looked the beauty and talent was outstanding. More important than all of that though was the heart warming feeling of being part of something really special...a group of caring, sharing people who are equally as bonkers over beads and their endless possibilities for creative exploration. Cheers ladies you know who you are!