APRIL BEADING CHALLENGE ENTRIES ...
Congratulations to June Butt and Sarah Aska for their winning designs! Check them out, along with the other wonderful entries, below.
THE THEMES - "AUTUMN GLORY, WINTER WONDER" ... HERE ARE THE ENTRIES ...
OPEN CATEGORY: Entry No. 1 "Autumn Breeze" Bracelet from Tania Hagen of Pelima Designs.
A bracelet that combines the timeless colours of autumn with crystals, pearls and pressed glass beads that highlight the theme of autumn. My inspiration for this bracelet was the colours of Grays Bush just out of Gisborne with the winery behind. Hence the grapes, you can't have autumn without a grape harvest. Set upon Antique Gold findings for the timeless look..
OPEN CATEGORY: Entry No 2 "Softly Into Fall" from Jen Meiklejohn of Jenz Designs.
Jen has wrapped a hair comb with maroon coloured ribbon, made several autumn toned crochet leaves with various colours of artistic wire embellished with seed beads, and a 'straggly rose' also crocheted and embellished with more seed beads. The centre of the rose is a pink button.
"Along the river side I see the glorious colours of Autumn, and in my garden the old pink rambling rose thinning out now but still with a few fading straggly roses hanging onto life before she to sleeps for winter."
BEGINNERS CATEGORY: Entry No. 3 "Autumn cascade" bracelet from Sarah Aska.
A handmade three chain bracelet linked together with green czech beads to make a cuff. Attached to the ends are autumn coloured czech tassles..
OPEN CATEGORY: Entry No 4 "Winter Wonder Necklace" from Chantel Kent of Southern Jewels.
This necklace is made from a mix of Glass, Glass Crystal, Acrylic and Tibetan Silver Beads. With the black representing the dark gloomy winter sky, the white opaque being the snow we're bound to get here in Southland and clear crystals as the icy dew on a winters morning.
When worn the offset focal bead draws attention to collarbone for a fresh new feminine look.
OPEN CATEGORY: Entry No. 5 "Autumn Twist" bracelet from Melisa Walker.
Made entirely of Beads Galore beads and a play on peyote spiral with different sized beads. The colours of autumn range from rich reds to burnt orange to firey yellows. This is made from stretch nylon. It's very comfy to wear..
BEGINNERS CATEGORY: Entry No. 6 "Purple and silver chandelier earrings" from Katherine Wright.
Katherine has used purple beads and silver chain. Perfect for the winter wonder theme as purple is one of the colours that comes out when it starts getting colder and the elaborate design is great to wear out on those cold winter nights when you are snuggled up warm but still want to wear something pretty.
OPEN CATEGORY: Entry No. 7 - "Blaze of Beauty" Necklace by June Butt.
June formed leaves in plain green polymer clay using leaves from her garden as templates, then hand-painted each one before lightly highlighting some areas with PearlEx. The 3mm and 4mm Swarovksi
bicones in shades ranging from Chrysolite through various others greens, yellows, oranges and reds to Garnet represent the transition from the greens of late summer to the vibrant colours of autumn. The
tendrils are threaded on copper wire, accents are Emerald and Garnet Swarovski Briolettes and the back closure is a copper leaf clasp.
BEGINNERS CATEGORY: Entry No. 8 - “Autumn Cascade” by Lisa Becroft of Jstask Designer Jewellery
Lisa has created a handcrafted dichoric glass leaf pendant as the feature piece and accompanied it with Tibetan silver leaves along with gold and silver foil beads on head or eye pins with copper, silver and gold bead caps and beads to accentuate the beads. These were attached to silver and antique gold chain. The different elements were chosen to represent the rich earthly tones of autumn and depict the leaves falling from the trees.
OPEN CATEGORY: Entry No. 9 - "Autumn Garden" bracelet by Tania Hagen of Pelima Designs
Tania has used crystals and seed beads wrapped around a wire frame, reminiscent of a messy garden with the array of fallen leaves.
OPEN CATEGORY: Entry No. 10 - "Autumn" necklace by Melisa Walker.
Reflecting autumn, the time of the year where the rich green slowly fades to a rusty brown and then to oranges.
The ceramic pendants and Ceramic beads are handmade by Melisa. Something so simple and very light to wear.
So, have fun deciding and please support these clever designers by voting.
In the meantime, 2 new ring shank designs have just been unpacked and will be uploaded to the website tomorrow, so please check in after that for a look see!
Happy Beading and Voting!!!
Jo
website
OCTOBER BEADING CHALLENGE ENTRIES ...
" OPEN" CATEGORY...
Entry No. 1 - Druzy Stone and Wirework Brooch by Hesthi Nugroho of Jewelholic Asia
Hesthi has used Indonesian natural dyed stones (a.k.a druzy) wrapped in silver platted artistic wire 20gauge and 28 gauge. The technique around the stone is a woven technique and the wire is sprinkled with 4mm multicolour swarovski crystal beads.
Entry No. 2 - Brooch, Ring and Earring Set by Hesthi Nugroho of Jewelholic Asia
This beautiful set has been crafted from artistic silver plated wire 20ga and 28ga, Indonesian druzy and swarovski beads.
Entry No. 3 - " Rose Garden" Necklace by Tania Hagen of Pelima Designs
Tania has created this beautiful necklace using the Dutch Spiral technique, with a lamp work centrepiece and tassled leaves and roses.
Entry No. 4 - "Love Bird" Pendant by Amanda Dick of Pallina Designs
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Amanda has used a handmade clay Peruzi cab, surrounded peyote-stitched Delica seed beads and Swarovski crystals and pearls. The bail is Tibetan silver and the ribbon helps draw attention to the pendant. The pendant is backed in felt and the edges finished off with more seed beads.
Entry No.5 - "Spring Princess" Tiara by Paula Weir of Sieraden Designs
A perfect piece for a Spring Bride. Each piece (16 in all) has been hand shaped using 16ga non-tarnish wire and then handwired together using very thin (26ga) non tarnish wire and embellished with Swarovski Crystals of light pink and clear and encrusted with freshwater pearls.
Entry No. 6 - "Mandala in Bloom" Bracelet by Paula Weir of Sieraden Designs
This gorgeous mandala (meaning circle) bracelet has been handwoven together using a rainbow of Czech Faceted Crystals, Czech Seed Beads and Swarovski Crystal Bicones. The five mandala components were woven seperately and then woven together with more Czech Crystals, Seed Beads and Swarovski Bicones. An absolutely stunning piece to adorn any arm!
Entry No. 7 - "Spring Escape" Necklace by Claudine Maulgue
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A description of an enchanting piece, seen by her Mum on her recent spring escape to Greece and Turkey, inspired Claudine to create this lovely necklace. It incorporates dyed silk ribbon and wirewrapping of a beaded detail over a shell/stone (procured in Canada by Claudine's husband). This is Claudine's first attempt at wire wrapping - the result is this exotic necklace which portrays not only a hint of Spring, but the temptation of summer!
Entry No. 8 - "Heart of Spring" Necklace by Melisa Walker
The ceramic beads are Melisa's own creations, made and glazed while looking into a garden of purple iris bobbing in the breeze,orange blossoms falling to the ground and freesias almost finished These colours have been captured and given a new spring burst with swartz crystals and gorgeous artistic wire work. It is finished with earthy silk organza ribbon, so soft on the neck.
Entry No. 9 - Crystal Flowers Bracelet by Vicki Di Cristo of Vicki Marie's Jewellery
This bracelet is made with 2 loops of gold memory wire, crystal flower sliders and dorado and padparadscha Swarovski crystals, gold round, daisy and tube spacers and finished with memory wire end caps.
Entry No. 10 - Czech Leaf Ribbon Necklace by Vicki Di Cristo of Vicki Marie's Jewellery
This necklace features a gorgeous Czech glass twist leaf, and dangling from it there is deep red, green and aqua crystals along with a aqua twist foil bead and finished off with an aqua ribbon necklace.
Entry No. 11 - "The Lost Garden" Bracelet by Pamela Elsley of Pamela's Handmade Custom Jewellery
Pamela has made this pretty bracelet using lucite flowers with glass and swarski bicone crystal beads as the centres.
Entry No. 12 - "Butterfly Garden" Necklace by Pamela Elsley of Pamela's Handmade Custom Jewellery
This necklace is made from glass seed beads. The pendant has a single rose in it with red glass beads around it and a butterfly charm, plus 4 different coloured swarski bicones which are green (for grass), Blue (for the sky), Yellow (for the sun) and black (for those awesome Aussie spring storms)
Entry No. 13 - "Parterre de Fleurs" Bracelet by Jen Mieklejohn of Jenz Designs
A spring time flower bed all fresh with new life. The base of this bracelet is in spiral weave stitch and onto this Jen has added a mix of seed beads, charms, Czech baby bell flower beads and crystals, pearls, Amethyst chips, Jade chips, Lucite flower beads and a pearly button clasp.
" BEGINNERS" CATEGORY...
Entry No. 1B - "Blue Ocean Paradise" Necklace by Monica Fort of Twice the Luster Jewellery
This piece is composed of Large Blue Mother of Pearl Teardrops and matching glass beads. Monica hails from the small town of Fate in Texas, USA.
Entry No. 2B - Orange & Mandarin Necklace by Chantel Kent of Southern Jewels
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This piece is made using a mix of glass, acrylic, and gold foil beads in gorgeous oranges, gold and clear tones with a large mandarin coloured gold foil bead. Fastened with a gold plated Heart toggle clasp.
Entry No. 3B - "Spring Bloom" by Chantel Kent of Southern Jewels
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Photo 1 shows what the spring bloom looks like before it "flowers" with photo 2 showing the piece in "full bloom"
Each stem of this floral arrangement is wrapped in 20ga anti-tarnish wire, with the "flowers" being a mix of glass and acrylic Briolettes, petals and a cloisonné butterfly floating past. Chantel then wrapped all the stems together and the shaped them to where she wanted them placed.
Entry No. 4B - Spring Blossom Anklet by Kelly Mustoe of Iron Butterfly Jewellery
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Kelly has created this anklet with spring blossom colours in mind, featuring a silver plated link chain, pink shell disks, white mother of pearl hoops and gorgeous glass peals in a white and a light pink. Spring is also when the weather starts to warm so it is a fantastic time to start wearing anklets again!!
Entry No. 5B - " Colours of Spring" Bracelet by Kelly Mustoe of Iron Butterfly Jewellery
This " Colours of Spring" bracelet features 80 glass pearls individually attached to a silver plated chain, and 4 beautiful butterflies. Each pearl is threaded onto its own headpin, some with a bead cap, with the top of every headpin looped to attach the pearls. This bracelet took approximately 4-5 hours to complete and feels absolutely gorgeous on. The fancy clasp fits well with a floral feeling to it also. Kelly has selected pearl colours to represent all the new growth that occurs in spring.
Entry No. 6B - "Spring Colour" Bracelet by Katherine Wright
Spring is synonymous with colour. Katherine has used mainly pearl beads which have been wire wrapped and interspaced between some larger beads with bead caps, finished off with a silver toggle and t bar set.
Entry No. 7B - "Spring Flowers" Necklace by Katherine Wright
A bright and colourful necklace with lots of little flower beads, prefect for wearing in Springtime. It is made with all the blue beads Katherine had lying around of all sorts, which were strung randomly between groups of seed beads. The 6 strands all connected at the top of the necklace with a ladder stitch of 6 bugle beads and a pyramid of brick stitch above that to create the clasp.
Entry No. 8B - "Manuka Flower" Bracelet by Sarah Aska
This is a 5 strand bracelet inspired by the NZ Pink (Red tea tree) Manuka Flower. The pattern imitates that of the Manuka flower, incorporating dark garnet Czech faceted (6mm) beads for the flower centre then working outwards with garnet, fuschiaAB and rosaline 6mm Swarovski bicones. Finished off with a variety of Czech faceted greens for the foliage. 4mm Czech opal white beads as fillers. Photo of Manuka flower by Rob Suisted.
Entry No. 9B - Spring Flower Pendant Necklace by Jean Robertson
Having found this pretty pendant Jean thought a similar length of chain festooned with spring flowers was an appropriate accompaniment. Simple but pretty.
Jean has used copper chain and homemade copper jump-rings. The clasp also has a flower motif.
Entry No. 10B - Dragonfly Necklace by Jean Robertson
Dragonflies, butterflies and pretty spring daisies ............
Again using copper chain, double chain in front and then going to a single chain that catches at the back of the neck.The necklace has an antique look and also looks nice and fresh and light with the Lucite flowers and the very pretty dragonfly.
Entry No. 11B - "Swarovski Birds" by Hayley Sharp
Hand-woven baby Swarovski crystal birds with Swarovski pearl eyes and Czech seed bead feet, suspended 3 at a time from a delicate hand-crafted Sterling silver necklace with a 5cm extender chain.
Each little bird has a small lobster clasp on its back, and birds can be attached to any of the necklace dangles to complement any 3 colours you are wearing.
Colours are Crystal AB, Olivine, Citrine, Tanzanite, Blue Zircon, Indian Pink, Siam, Alexandrite, Cantaloupe, Cobalt, Rosaline, and Emerald. Each has a clear Crystal tummy.
JULY BEADING CHALLENGE ENTRIES
...
Entry No. 1 - Swarovski Crystal Bracelet by Pamela Elsley of Pamela's Jewellery
Wonderful to have entries from across the Tasman!!
Pamela has used 6mm Swarovski bicones in this classic bracelet - a timeless favourite!
Entry No. 2 - Star Bracelet by Pamela Elsley of
Pamela's Jewellery
Pamela first made this pretty bracelet for a cousin and it has proved to be very popular since with orders for several
more.
Entry No. 3 - "Oceans Depth" Bracelet by Tania Hagen
This lovely bracelet has 5 paua buttons glued onto a liner with seed
beads surrounding each button and white crystals at each edge. On top of each paua button is another button with stitched seed beads to create depth and
dimension. The bracelet is adjustable between 15 - 22 cms.
Tania's daughters have named the bracelet "Oceans Depth" due to the
colours that remind them of the sea and the calming, soothing feeling they get with the bracelet.
Entry No. 4 - "Gypsy" Bracelet by Jen Mieklejohn of Jenz
Designs
This was Jen's first attempt at freeform peyote, which was inspired by
watching a tutorial by Beki Haley. It's a complete freeform in materials, colour and design. It took many hours (Jen lost count) and a heck of a lot of seed
beads, delicas and a few accent beads thrown in. And as there are no rules with this type of work, Jen thoroughly enjoyed making this bracelet and aptly
named it GYPSY, because she was free to roam with the needle.
Entry No. 5 - "Lost in Austen" Necklace by Amanda Dick of
Pallina Designs
"Lost in Austen" is
a kind of mix between Victoriana and the present. Amanda sewed each bead on individually with beading needle and Nymo, and backed it in felt for protection
and comfort. The necklace itself is Swarovski pearls with tiny Swarovski crystals interspersed.There are more Swarovski crystals and pearls on the pendant
itself. The cameo is made of shell.
Entry No. 6 - Wireworked
Necklace by Amanda Dick of Pallina Designs
A wireworked necklace with Cubic Zirconia, faceted glass briolettes, Swarovski
crystals and pearls. Amanda created the 3 separate pieces for the centrepiece, hammered them, then wrapped them in 28g wire. 18g was used for the frame.
The beads were then attached and the pieces wired together.
Entry No. 7 - Magic Carpet Bracelet by Bobbie
Pene
Bobbie named this piece “Magic Carpet”
because of its design and colours. To make the bracelet Bobbie hand stitched two 6 cm spiral peyote cuffs using size 15 and 11 seed beads. This is only
Bobbie's second attempt at spiral peyote. Bobbie also makes her own lampwork beads, which the bracelet features. The bracelet was finished by stringing each
component on beadalon with sterling silver and Swarovski crystal accents. It measures 23 cm.
Entry No. 8 - Gemstone and Silver Necklace by Jean
Robertson
Jean crafted this necklace from some semiprecious
stones which she wrapped in 20 gauge silver plated wire, and made jump rings for the chain-mail as well.
Entry No. 9 - Freeform Wire Wrapped Necklace by Jean
Robertson
This necklace was made using large acrylic beads with
glass bead accents, and gunmetal 20 gauge wire. The wire wrapping is quite free form and each one has turned out differently, which adds to the charm of the
piece.
Entry No. 10 - Bespoke Bead and Wire Necklace by Heather
Routley
Every bead is different either in colour or shape, including the seed beads - Heather
says that the fun was in choosing beads to mix together. 20 gauge silver Artistic wire was used, with 18 gauge for the clasp to give a bit more strength.
Finished length around 90 cm, so it can be worn either as a single strand, or looped.
Entry No. 11 - Antique Bracelet by Heather Routley
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Heather set out to make an "antique" style
bracelet and chose to use 20 gauge gunmetal Artistic wire, with 18 gauge to fashion a clasp and jump rings. The colour choice was based on the foil heart
used as a focal bead, then a mixture of Czech firepolish, glass bicones, and aluminium beads in toning colours was chosen, accented with seed beads and
antique metal bead caps.
Entry No. 12 - "Fiore di Crystallo" Pendant by Paula Weir of Sieraden
Designs
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A gorgeous pendant, fit for a bride. Paula has used 2
different sizes of beads for the main flower, a large Czech AB Coated Abacus bead for the centre and smaller Czech Crystal Abacus beads for the petals. She
then embellished it with Czech Crystal Seed beads by stitching around the petals. The bail was handmade and attached to the back, then felt was glued onto
the back of it so it doesn't scratch the wearer.
Entry No. 13 - Bronze Accents Bracelet by Heather Routley
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