Wolf Moon

Wolf Moon

Owwwoooo.... I only found out tonight that we have a ''''Wolf Moon""" ...It is supposed to be the biggest moon of the year..and the brightest...so for fun I ran outside and took a look. It looked brighter but not bigger. Later I went out again when it had moved up higher in the sky and it was centered perfectly between the clouds in what seemed to be a circle of colors and clouds around it. My husband commented it looked a little other-worldly as a portal to the moon or something...ha ha...had to laugh, because that was soooo not something he would say in a million years, but it did look weird. I wondered if I could catch a picture if I had a slow enough shutter speed..but my digital doesn't really do that..however here's what I got...I think it's pretty cool.

In the Pink

Trillium Necklace

I have been busy busy...so much so that I have not been tending to my daily journaling here and I apologize for that. Since I got my new computer, my favorite camera which I used for all my close-up shots is now obsolete...it was one of the very first Sony digital cameras they came out with and used a hard disc which could be then inserted straight into my computer...technology is great but geesh that was my favorite camera.... anyway..that being said I put off taking photos of everything...and decided today to get going on at least a few things I've been working on with my newer camera.

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I've been experimenting with different techniques and loving all of them. One of the newest things I'm enjoying making is this necklace. The flower is a design by diane fitzgerald and it caught my eye. Usually when I find a design like this I make it as is and then change it up the next time with other little tweaks I want in in. I did do some changing up in the center of this piece and decided to make another. My friend had made one in spectacular black and silvers.

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Now on another subject: My bead journal project...I have a lot of catching up to do. I am committing my time this weekend to working on a few months worth...here's hoping I can keep that commitment because I am a bit behind. I've been reading all the BJP blogs and there's lots of new talent this year which is so inspiring me! Hope to get to all the new blogs and read the favorites again. I love the 3 month waiting period for the reveal of the work we've all done. It is always a feast for the eyes!

Silver and Czech

Beadwork has come a long way in the last 20 years! I know, because I have been beading over 25 of them. The day my 'magical' package of beads arrived from Artbeads.com was a day full of inspiration. Enclosed were their 3mm and 4mm silver plate round beads. My choice were the small hole 'seamless', but artbeads has large hole silver beads as well in larger sizes. Silver beads have been around quite a while and in the southwestern U.S. they are used pretty much as a staple for beadworkers. But now thanks to Artbeads.com there are many more sizes and finishes. Now you can pick between large and small hole sizes...so many beads so little time..sigh. The quality of silver and the quantity of different sizes is what has changed in silver beads. There are much more to choose from now and Artbeads has a great assortment of these beautiful little beads. American Indian beadwork uses silver in many of their pieces. As a member of the Artbeads blogging program, I jumped at the chance to use some of my favorite beads to create some designs for them. The reason I like using silver beads is, although inexpensive, they have a way of making a piece look and feel more like a piece of metalwork when actually it

has been woven of fine beads. The silver beads have a nice weight to them.

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In addition to the silver beads was one little masterpiece of a bead frame. I love the sterling silver 4mm Spiral Bead Frame with garnets. I used it for the center of the "Garnet Scroll Bracelet". I originally planned to make a lariat using the frame, as the center, but it began to 'call' to me to be used as a bracelet center. All I needed to add a dash of color for the center of the frame was a 4mm swarovski crystal. I also used the 4mm silver beads from artbeads and wove them in a favorite pattern on either side of the frame. Voila...a metallic looking bracelet is born. These frames are so pretty and I thought they could be used in bookmarks, necklaces or bracelets. They come in 8mm size as well. I continued my use of silver in the southwestern looking cuff with the turquoise and black seed bead accents. I think it looks a bit expensive but the cost was minimal! It also has a nice weight to it which also gives the illusion of expense.

One other choice were Czech fire polish glass facets . I decided to make a spiral rope necklace using the firepolish on the spiral as well as in the petals of the three medallion center pieces. I used black, and clarit for my color pallet. Clarit is a pretty golden color which lends itself to olive tones. The reason I love Czech firepolish beads is because they come in an amazing array of colors and the sparkle in undeniable. Czech firepolish is a cost effective alternative to Swarovski crystal and you get lots of sparkle for your buck. They come in ab finishes, metallics, pearlized, transparent colors and more! They are so easy to work with and fit into all my beadwork designs. I can always find a color perfect to use with my seed beads. I love getting these 'magical' packages from Artbeads and they have free shipping too!!!

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As a reviewer of products at artbeads.com, I received the silver beads, czech facets, and silver frame free of charge. I have been asked to review these products and give my honest opinion of these products positive or negative. I am not being compensated by artbeads for my endorsement as it pertains to the products being received and reviewed.