Tuesday, June 17, 2014

Today is the reveal for A Time To Stitch 5. This is a blog hop put on by Therese Frank of http://theresestreasures59.blogspot.com/ and Christine Altmiller of http://onekisscreations.blogspot.com/. This is a stitching challenge. We were to choose our favorite stitch and do it in three colors, three sizes, or three shapes of beads. My choice was size and my stitch was spiral rope. The pic above shows the results. The rope on the left is made with size 8 beads on a size 6 core. Here is a pic of the completed necklace.
I used a beautiful faceted agate for the focal and the seed beads from the rope as fringe. I stitched a bail and accented it with a blue crystal rondelle. I put blue glass flowers on the ends of the rope to finish them and used black crystal rondelles to pick up some of the focal bead color. I added gold chain so it can be adjusted in size for different necklines.
My second necklace uses size 11 seeds beads on a size 8 core. The focal for this necklace is an enameled piece from C-Koop Beads. The clasp is a stitched button and loop from a Melinda Barta pattern that appeared in "Beadwork" magazine. I have used this clasp several times and I like it. It is fast and easy along with being pretty.  My third piece Uses size 15 seed beads on a size 11 core. It is shown unfinished (did you notice the thread?) in the first pic in this post. I did not get it finished. My Mom passed away June 7th and I have been attending to family obligations. Unfortunately when I packed I left my bag containing this project on my bead table instead of getting it into my suitcase. I did not get home until today so I apologize for not being done on time. This has never happened to me before.  I am serious about the challenges that I sign up to do and I have always finished them on time. The focal I am going to use in  this piece is a lampworked heart in white and blue that I got in Sacramento when I went to my niece's wedding. I think that my pic does a good job of showing the three sizes of beads in one of my favorite stitches. I will post a pic of the size 15 spiral rope necklace  next week. I would like to show one more pic.
This pic shows how different spiral rope can look just by changing the colors of beads that you choose. The necklace on the left is made with a repeating pattern of five different bead colors over and over again. The rope on the right is the same size 11 beads with a five bead repeat in three colors. I hope that you like what I made. Now please click on Therese or Christine's link to see what the other participants made.




14 comments:

  1. Becky, I'm so sorry to hear about your mom. Your beading is really wonderful here with such beautiful variations on blues. and I really love the focals you used for each - particularly the second one - just gorgeous! I bet they all feel just fabulous on!

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    1. Thank you for your condolences. I appreciate such kind comments from you. I have several enameled pieces by Sara of C-Koop and I love how they look. I am glad that you like this one too.

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  2. Great pieces, I love how changing the pattern of colors changes the whole look of the rope. The stripe effect is really great.

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    1. Thanx Karin, I have been admiring my friend Joyce's triple spiral necklaces and I asked her to show me how to make them. She did and the last rope is the result. I am very pleased with how it is turning out.

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  3. Spiral rope must win as the most chosen stitch. I used it, and there are at least 3 people besides us that did it as well. Absolutely love the blues!

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    1. Thanx Liz, I have not had a chance to hop yet but it is good to hear that we are not alone in liking this stitch.It feels good to have other bead artists like you like my work.

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  4. Gorgeous ropes! Love the colors you chose!

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  5. Oh Becky, I am so sorry about your Mom. That you were worried about meeting this obligation speaks to your commitment to beading, but we all understand that this is just beads and family is real life, so please don't worry any further about not getting this done. Our days are not always under our control. You chose such soothing blues and good size variations for these gorgeous necklaces! They really have a lovely and calming look to them. I am keeping you in my warmest thoughts, Becky.

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    1. Thank you for your condolences.I really am committed to to beading and I take my participation in challenges seriously. I am very glad that you like my pieces. Calling them gorgeous is such a compliment.

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  6. Lovely necklaces. They look really nice with the pendants too.

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    1. Thanx Mokki, I am pleased that you like my work.

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  7. OMG, I love those blues! Blue is my favorite color and so you hit the Jackpot with These spirals!

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    1. Thanx Kokopelli, I like blues also. It is the color I had the most seed beads and focals in so this is what happened. I am pleased with my necklaces. I appreciate your comments.

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