Hello beadlings!

Wave of the Future is one of Bette’s most popular collars.  It’s a very easy design to do, requiring only two sets of ladders.  This is a great starting project because you will learn the techniques you need to make the other Broad Collars.

Wave of the Future Bead Collar -- Black

Here’s what Bette had to say about her design

Broadcollars have been the focus of my beadwork for the last 10 years. My collars are known for their complex use of color, texture, and structure. That was then…This is now!!! The name is descriptive of the undulating shape, but also references a pun. This is collar is small, uses a clasp instead of ties, and is – Gasp – monochromatic. It is an embellishment, a subtle accessory designed to make the observer take a second look.

The regular price for this kit is $69, but it’s on presale for $34.50. The kits should be shipping somewhere around December 1. They make up reasonably quickly and would make a wonderful Christmas present.  Once they start shipping, the price goes up, so get one now!

Beadily yours,

Joann

for the presale Egyptian broad collars!  They are all so pretty…Makes me want to make them into other things.  But, I’ve promised you kits, so I’ll have to wait.

The current set of beads are for:

Ancient Alchemy
Archetribal Memories
Aurora
Blues for the 90′s
Caribbean Cruise
Christmas
Cranberry Bog
Into the Woods

If you’re interested in getting these on the presale, act fast!

I finally am getting to play with the beads, rather than counting them for a while.

I joined the Use the Muse II contest and now have a wonderful set of beads to play with!  I can’t show you the Muse yet, but it’s beautiful, and very inspiring.  It will be challenging to come up with a piece worthy of it.

Alas, this contest is closed now, but there will be a Use the Muse III contest coming up soon.  So save your pennies and join the fun!

Remember this song from camp?

I’ve been looking for the beads needed to make the new broad collar kits.  I didn’t know there were SO MANY different types of beads available!  It seems that bead stores carry only the best sellers, and then fill in a bit with unusual beads.   I’ve been drooling at all the interesting ones I’ve seen that I can only get in large quantities from wholesalers….  Gives me inspirations for the next round of designs I make.

Some of my current favorites are:

I finally got a CMY color wheel from Margie Deeb.  I have had a regular color wheel for a while.  This is the one we all used in primary school.  Red, Yellow, Blue.  However, that wasn’t matching the bead colors very well.  Margie’s wheel is a much better fit to the beads.  This makes sense when you look at the explanation on wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CMYK  In the old color wheel, the combination of all colors is white.  In CMY, the combination of all colors is black.  This is much more similar to layering glass beads one on top of the other.

If you’d like good examples of CMY color schemes, check out Margie’s blog http://colorforbeadartists.com   especially http://colorforbeadartists.com/2008/10/08/the-colors-of-apple/

When you look at those posts, I’m sure you’ll want one too.  You can get them at

http://www.margiedeeb.com/html/product.php?productid=222&type=4

I’ve been trying to do the second Kelp necklace in off loom weaving. I am having zero success. I’m looking for a swirling, organic design and the weaving is forcing it into a more geometric shape. Here is a picture of my latest attempt. It’s just got too many straight looking lines in it.

However, all is not lost! I’ve been reading The Lone Beader’s blog, and have become inspired by the idea of doing this in bead embroidery. I think I’ll be able to get the more fluid lines to come out. Check out her wonderful embroideries!

So keep it tuned here for more kelp fun!

Szarka, the gemstone purveyor I have blogged about before, has opened a new store online. She has the most wonderful stones and other supplies, and is an absolute darling to work with. Check out her new store Magpie Gemstones I know you won’t be disappointed!

I finally put together the wire wrapped kelp necklace. Here’re the pics!

First the full view

And now the close up

Overall, I like this necklace. However there are a few things I’d do differently.

1) I’d stagger the kelp leaves up their chains
2) I’d put one starfish and one sea horse on each side
3) I’d drop the sea horse a little lower so it could be seen thru the kelp.

Other than that, not too bad for a first wire wrap necklace!

I’m now working on kelp necklace #2, which is done in off loom weaving. As my challenge for this next one, I’m working in free form brick stitch. It’s interesting, because I’m such a fiend for regular structures like crystal lattice. I’m having to loosen up my style a lot. On the good side, I’m working with a color scheme I love (blues) so I only have one lesson to learn.

Joann