Happy Fourth of July

I have been working on the Cellini spiral bangle bracelet and have almost 6 repeats completed. It will take at least 12 repeats before I can connect it. That's 16 beads times 16 for one repeat times at least 12 or 3072+ one at a time beads. If I worked on it continuously, that would take me at least 16 hours, at more than 3 beads per minute. My body could never take the repetitive stress of beading the same stitch that many times in a row, so it takes a while to complete. No sweat shop labor here! I'm a tough task master, but beading is FUN for me.

Some people mistake the stitch for bead crochet, but I could complete about 16 bracelets (slight exaggeration) in bead crochet in the same amount of time if I didn't get bored doing it. Crochet stitches require tiny movements in the hands. The needle thread movement in the Cellini spiral requires your arm extend the length of the thread you are working with (LONG)--sort of like practicing your tennis swing--plus the pattern in bead crochet is usually 3 same size beads which is much simpler than 16 beads in various sizes in the same order. Maybe I should create a bead crochet bracelet as part of my demonstrating what I do at the Art Sprees. I have one coming up July 15 and 16 at the Thompson Center in downtown Chicago.

I ran out of beads for my July challenge entry and so did my supplier, even if they could get them here from Wednesday in time for me to finish by Monday's deadline. They are being shipped now since I called 9 shops to locate some. Also the button for the closure for my latest free form brick stitch bracelet should be in my mail box on Tuesday.

I've taken a little break from beading to work on Facebook, read magazines, and live life.

Treasuries

I created my first treasury on etsy today. I didn't read any instructions, and my only known error was in not realizing the far right hand column was for alternate entries. I thought that was the best place to put an item. But I was able to edit and now I have 4 more entries (alternates) for my next treasury. I understand how creating them can be addictive. http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list_west.php?room_id=99853

My tanzanite bracelet was included in a treasury called Crystal Candy created by Peter Sewell. It has artists I was not familiar with, but their work is well worth a look or twelve!
http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=133163

I have also started to list pictures on flickr using KRDesigns11 as my id. It needs work as well as tlc.

My June beadweavers challenge has a name: Rolling Snowballs. I'm entering the necklace to be juried for an exhibition for Illinois artists at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield in August which required a name. The crystals and pearls I ordered arrived today, so I can complete it. I ordered parts last Thursday from Bello Modo which arrived Saturday and Artbeads which arrived today. I received my Bello Modo order before Artbeads shipped. This happens regularly.

I wanted to use the gulf oil spill as my phenomenon subject, but I decided the colors I would have used would have been more depressing on an already depressing subject. Rolling Snowballs is a little playful and light hearted and reflects the spiralling of the beads. It brings back happy memories of my childhood and cooler weather during our early heat wave in the midwest.

Etsy Beadweavers Challenge - Damsel Fly

These are the first photos of my challenge entry. The listing www.etsy.com/listing/46262081 has 5 photos and instructions on how to view the others in the challenge and vote. That doesn't start until Mother's Day, so I'll remind you in a few days.

You can see that I did not use the cute butterfly glass button I located in my stash. It is not practical as a closure because the shape is butterfly shape and the ultimate judge (my husband) didn't like the colors as it matched too well. I was happy to add some peridot stone tiny round beads to the center even though the beads are not uniform in size.

I'm going to bed early tonight, since I have been working late, late, late recently and my brain is a little fried from lack of sleep. I have an east window which wakes me when the sun shines which it has been doing gloriously recently. Not only do I have the scent of lilies of the valley outside my window, but now the Miss Kim lilacs are about to bloom. Early--June is their usual show time.

There is activity on http://www.usethemuse.com/ so maybe the big reveal is tomorrow.

Welcome new follower. Feel free to comment and check out my other followers who are listed above on the right or are etsy sellers.

Swarovski Fire Opal - Jonquil Beaded Bead Bracelet

This is the item I listed in my shop today. Except for the use of gold filled accents it matches a pair of earrings in my shop. I could probably change the sterling silver for gold filled and then it would be a set. It will bother me, so consider it changed.

Tonight I took pictures of moderate priced bracelets. The peridot earrings have not been photographed, but I was able to locate the bracelet in yesterday's post so my excel spreadsheet is working for me. I have too many pairs of earrings left to photograph. Hoping to sell them at my Art Fair on May 15 & 16.

I have been looking for the perfect button for my EBW challenge entry. I have been cleaning in the vicinity of where it should be and where I think I may have put it. I have the bracelet base finished and need to create the embellishment. I've seen some of the entries already and mine will not be the most spectacular entry in the competition. I prefer to capture the feeling and colors of the damselfly not create a replica of a damselfly attached to a necklace. Some day I may want to bead miniature items, but not at this point in my life.

The next month's challenge topic is phenomenon. I've been thinking of a black iris colored creation to look like an oil slick for the unnatural disaster in the gulf. The creator of the topic was thinking of the volcano eruption, so I'm not alone in thinking disaster phenomenon. Any ideas for a positive phenomenon?

Mother's Day Showcase & Earrings Promotion

The photos are of additions to my shop today. The left side is my final pair of earrings in the April promotion. Since I have a Mother's Day Showcase slot, I decided to keep the prices promotional for one more day.

The right side is a cream pearl and crystal ab bicone bead bracelet in right angle weave. I use gold with cream. It is a classic bracelet style I enjoy making that's under $200 and have sold through the Illinois Artisan shop in Chicago. It can be made with any beads; these are Swarovski.

I worked on my challenge item for the Etsy Beadweavers Team today. The theme is colors imbeded in insects. I chose the damselfly. Materials include different finishes on the delicas and two turquoise, orange and lime green colors. Like I'm ready for the islands. So far it is a combination of a couple of stitches and free form. It will be listed on Wednesday.

The Big Reveal for the Use the Muse contest is Thursday, May 6 according to Artbeads.