March 22, 2012

I am Happy in Nanaimo BC

 I am in glorious, beautiful, Nanaimo, BC, Canada at my second home.  I have had migraines for two months and recovering from foot surgery so this was a necessary get-away for my own sanity.  Alone time near the ocean is better than any Doctor prescribed medication - don't you think?  We sold our Alberta property and after looking at dozens of places especially in the frame of mind and condition I was in - nothing appealed to me and frankly I had to get away from it all.  I packed boxes of beads and then forgot to take pictures of all those beauties!  One thing I knew for sure - I was going to make something for ME and Green and blue make me feel good especially when I would be looking at the ocean every day.  So here are some of the beads - sorry the pictures are rather atrocious - must be the dreary dull day.  Can't wait to get started.  Think I will make a free form necklace.
If only I could decide how long and how big and how many gems.  It seems so much easier to plan a bracelet which I am much more used to doing.  But I am no coward.  I have 10 days to myself and I want to do something BIG and lucious and dripping with watery colors.  I made up teal, blue and green soups so now I just have to get my move on.  OK, ready, set, GO...


March 03, 2012

Leather Wrap Bracelets

I made a bunch of these leather wrap bracelets last year and they continue to intrigue me.  What I like about this style is that I have never seen two the same.  With the vast and beautiful array of  4-6mm beads available, there is no end to color combinations.
 I personally like a mix of gemstones and picasso glass beads adding little czech cubes for interest.  Using all gemstones is costly but the look is well worth it.  
For the top two bracelets, I used one of my lampwork beads for the clasp.  I found a plaid cloth covered button for the third one and it sets off the white leather quite nicely. 


 I have a big box of buttons that I scrounged from my mother's home and some of them are quite old.  Part of the fun of making this style is finding a suitable button that compliments the beads and leather.  I take pictures on a macro setting by a window where there is an abundance of natural light.  I love how the picasso glass shines with colors that are not apparent when you look at the bead.  I would have to say that Picasso and Czech glass are some of my favorites.