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.