A special commission

I don't talk about it much - here or anywhere else, but I believe in God and I practise my faith. With the Muslim holy month of Ramadan starting tomorrow, it was apt that I spent some time today making 3 sets of prayer beads (called the tasbih) for someone who wants to gift them to friends. I used rose quartz and blue goldstone beads, and I hope the recipients like what I made.

Yes! It's another giveaway!

I don't know what it is about bead artists, but they sure are a generous bunch! Heather of Humblebeads is having a great big giveaway. All you have to do is to head to her blog and leave a comment about your favourite HB bead. A winner will be drawn on Tuesday. Good luck!

Weekends...and something new

I wish 3-day weekends were the norm. There just isn't enough time on the weekends for me to do what I need/want to. Once I've done the cooking, cleaning and whatever chores that were ignored during the week, there aren't very many hours left for fun. I didn't do too badly this week though. I squeezed in lunch with friends, waded through most of the book I'm currently reading, visited the library and borrowed more books (including 2 on chainmaille) and best of all, made some jewellery. Well....just one bracelet, to be accurate.

You might remember the focal from my earlier post. It's a ceramic link from White Clover Kiln. I knew from the start that whatever I made with it would be strictly for me. And since I have very simple tastes in jewellery, I kept the design quite spare. Just some chain - I love how the oval links mirror the shape of the focal bead - a couple of dangles and a pewter clasp.

What did you do over the weekend? Did you make jewellery too? Or read a book? Whatever it was, I hope you had fun!

What I've been up to

I'm not a girly-girl, never have been. I wear way too much black and usually run screaming from anything pastel. But I like pretty things - my fetish for beads attests to that - and lately, I've been leaning towards designs that are...well, sweet.

This features ceramic pink hearts from White Clover Kiln on Etsy. I was going to keep it simple and just add ear hooks but then I got sidetracked by some Swarovski crystal pearls. So what was a girl to do? I took them, added some lead-free pewter frames and voila.

I'm working on a matching necklace. The heart charms were part of a set that included a larger pendant. I'm sticking to the pearls and pink hearts theme and will probably add some silver beads or chain or something. Or I might decide on something else. I'll let you know.

And then, there's this:

Purple's one of my favourite colours so I finally made something with these pretty lavender lampwork rondelles from a glass artist I found on Ebay.

Other WIPs:

The blue ceramic link is from White Clover Kiln again and I'm planning on making it into a bracelet for myself. The red glass bead with the Bali silver (and I actually got it in Bali - how about that?) bead cap is going to be a charm that I plan to string on either a chain or leather cord. Something casual and everyday that's still pretty. Maybe I'll do a whole collection of these simple everyday charm/pendant necklaces. The last is a beautiful focal bead from Etsy artist SKHolt. I've been hoarding it and 3 of its siblings for longer than I'd like to admit. But i think it's time to start making it into a piece of jewelry. It deserves to be worn instead of being cooped up in my bead box.

Another HUGE giveaway!

Lori Anderson of Pretty Things is having a giveaway. The lucky duck went to the recent Bead & Button Show and - generous soul that she is - came back with an armload of beady goodness that she's giving away to her readers. So if you're feeling lucky, go here and leave a comment. You might just be one of the lucky 9 who walks away with some to-die-for beads and findings. The draw will be on June 20th. Good luck people!

Woo hoo!

My giveaway prize from the very generous Gaea is here! The 'dream' ceramic link is even prettier in the flesh! And it's a lot bigger than it looks. I'm wondering if using it in a bracelet would be the best thing- it might just overpower my wee wrist :-). It would look outstanding in a necklace as well. Hmm....I'll have to put my thinking cap on for this. All I know is this. I'm much too selfish and much too taken with the link to use it in a piece that's meant for sale. Whatever I make will strictly be for moi. Yes, I'm selfish like that. Hee. Plus, it's the very first giveaway I've won.

Yes! I won!

You see that beautiful ceramic link up there? Can you believe I actually won that? Yup, me. The very same me who never ever ever wins anything when it comes to lucky draws or giveaways or things of that sort. Lovely, generous bead artist Gaea is doing a special run of giveaways now - be the first to comment on a post and you might just win the giveaway bead of the day. Head here if you want to have a chance at getting your paws on her gorgeous beads.