Soutache, Reveals and More

I have been working hard at my full-time job but hopefully I can eek out some of the projects for various blog hops and swaps that I have signed up for in the near future.

I have a Pearl reveal on September 15, 2013. MiShel Designs is hosting this elegant and fun hop. I actually whipped up my pearl creation rather quickly, so I am just patiently waiting for the hop.

I have an Oriental Earring Swap with my group BeadSwap-USA and that is due on September 23, 2013. We need to make two pair of earrings that fit this theme, however, "Oriental" is quite vague so I am just going to do my best on this one. I love Chinese and Japanese culture so I think I am going to focus on that aspect of the orient.

Then there is a soutache contest for October 3, 2013 being sponsored by Simply Soutache. I have never done soutache but I have all the materials and I have been dying to test my soutache skills. I am a fourth of a way through my project and I must say.....soutache is either not my thang, or I just have to get used to this technique.  I will be able to make a more sound judgement after I am done with my piece.

And just because I didn't think I had enough projects under my belt, there is also a Sequin Blog Hop on September 28, 2013, hosted by Saturday Sequins.  I actually already have this project completed....and I am super excited to reveal it because this is my first time incorporating sequins into my jewelry creations.

I am currently working on two challenge pieces, one for my Etsy Bead Weavers Team 

The theme is The Art of Geometry and I have a project I am contemplating, hopefully I can make it happen before the October 5th deadline.

My other challenge is for my other team OTTBS and the theme is Animals and I have about an eighth of this project completed so we shall see if it gets done by the end of September.

Lastly, there is a Finished Item Swap, hosted by Beaders United, due on October 10, 2013, however, I also completed this piece, and again, I am excited to reveal it once the time comes because I love it, and if it wasn't for the swap, I would keep it for myself :-) But I am also receiving a handmade piece from someone else, so that is exciting and I love being able to give something I made to someone else.  

Oh wait, I spoke to soon, lastly, for real, is a Lampwork and Clay Blog Hop hosted by Pine Ridge Treasures.  This one is not until November 16, 2013 and so I am less stressed about this one. 

One challenge I enjoyed involved tackling a new stitch. The Oglala stitch was totally new to me and though I had read about it when I first started beading, I never got around to using it, but my Bead Challenge Group inspired me to try something new....

I call this little lady "Lacy Sprouts" (click on the link to get the full explanation behind the name), which is featured in my Etsy Shop 

Very comfortable to wear 

Sweet button closure

Seed beads and glass beads were used to complete this bracelet

The green and gold work so well together and this color scheme is my last good-bye to summer (until next year)

Whew...so much to do and so little time.  However, I love challenges and blog hops and swaps because they truly test my skills as a jewelry designer and jewelry maker and really, other than the swaps, there are no true obligations. I do like to give at least 98.3 percent when I am creating because I don't want to create junk or substandard pieces.  

One thing I am missing is time....time to sketch new pieces, time to create something more intensive.  When there are deadlines, it kind of limits what can be accomplished.

So with that said, I am pledging to fall back from deadline imposed projects and spend more time on developing my skills as a designer and small business owner.  The aforementioned take up enough time  and with full-time work and my spiritual obligations, I need to trim as much excess as possible and stream line my activities and time management.

Tanya McGuire Lampwork Beads Give-a-way

Super cute beads from Tanya's upcoming Dr. Seuss collection:

September Give-A-Way

I am working on a new Series of beads and Jewelry inspired by Dr. Seuss, and decided that these disc/flower beads/buttons would be great for my September bead Give-A-Way. Make sure to read this post all the way through and enter as many ways as you can.

The beads are different front and back so you have choices on how you use them.

They also have decoration on the edges so that if they are sandwiched between two other beads they are nice and showy. What do you think, are they Seussy? I know, I know not a word but I like the thought. :-)


There are lots of ways you can enter.
- Post a comment here on my blog.
- Become a blog follower.
- Post a comment on my Facebook Page
- Like my Facebook Page, Tanya McGuire Beads and Jewelry

- Share this post on your blog. (please let me know where so I can visit your blog.)
- Share this post on your Facebook Page. (again please let me know where so I can like your page as well)
- Pin this post, or another from this blog, on Pintrest and message me as to where so that I can see it.
- Last but not least make a purchase from my Etsy store and you will get 2 entries.


See as I said there are lots of ways to enter. I will choose a winner the first of October. Good luck, Have fun.

Rosie's Scarf Bracelets

I finished my bead swap pieces  (theme was Rosie the Riveter) and sent them to my partner, and she loved them :-).

I was inspired by the red polka dot head scarf....

The first is a literal replica of Rosie's polka dot head scarf

I thought that this clasp looked a bit Targetey (Target store logo), so I made it reversible

Now it looks like a bullseye but I prefer it over Target logo...

(Love Target by the way, just don't wanna wear their logo....sorry partner)

I used herringbone stitch and varied the size and shape of the polka dots.  This was completely freeform and since I do not work with herringbone stitch often, I am super proud of the outcome.  The clasp is done in circular flat brick stitch (another newbie for me)

I finished it with silver tone snaps...love to use snaps as my closure. It ended up pretty wide (about 2 inches) 

This bracelet is an abstract polka dot interpretation.  The glass bead features speckles in red, yellow white and blue and it was handmade by Tiffany Goff of Southern Gals Designs

I used a simple technique of stringing and created a multi-strand bracelet.

With some rondelles and a silver tone lobster clasp, this bracelet is delicate and sophisticated.

Checking In

Whew what a busy couple of weeks I have had, thought I would update you all on what I have been working on.

I just completed my Rosie the Riveter Bead Swap pieces and sent them out, so I won't post pics until after my partner has received her pieces. This was a Finished Swap for Bead Swap USA and I took my inspiration from the lovely polka dot head scarf.

Now I am working on another swap with Beaders United, again I can not show you the pics but I am taking pics of the process and I am really excited about the outcome.  I have been partnered with the lovely Ilenia. This is a circular swap so I will send Ilenia my piece but I will get a piece from another person...so exciting.  The funny thing about this is a few months back I participated in a circular swap through the Etsy Beadweavers Team and who did I receive my pices from.....yep Ilenia, she sent me the lovely butterfly earrings pictured below:

 

 





And I am not done, I also am participating in a soutache contest being sponsered by Simply Soutache; this will be my first attempt at soutache but this is a great way to get some practice and maybe even win a prize.

 

So in addition to taking care of the more imporatant things in life, I also have a few opportunites to give gifts and to showcase my jewelry making skills.

Calypso Ring

I finished my August Challenge piece for OTTBS, the theme is Tropical Colors

The rules included using at least 4 of the six colors and to limit any additional colors outside of those featured above: Yellow, Orange, Purple, Turquoise, Lime Green and Red.

In addition, you could use a crystal rivoli and have your piece entered twice.

Normally I would not combine these colors, however, since I do use a myriad of colors in my pieces, I happened to have all the colors in my stash.

I chose an orange 14mm crystal rivoli and bezeled it with plum delica seed beads and turquoise seed beads.

Then building on a design by Jean Power from Geometric Beadwork

I added two layers of petals using delicas in red, yellow, and lime in the front

FRONT

And red, yellow and lime delicas in the back

BACK

I accentuated the petals with turquoise beads

 And created a turquoise band

This is a wonderfully dimensional floral piece and the ring is comfortable and fun to wear.

Vote Time - Sea Adventures - August EBW Challenge

The August Challenge is "Sea Adventures" and there are some fabulous pieces that were created:

You can place your vote by visiting Etsy Beadweavers Blog and the polls are to the right:

I'll be taking a break from the challenge for September, though the theme is interesting "My Favorite Song"; I can't wait to see what others will create.  As for me, I am up to my ears with other beading projects but I am certain the EBW challenge will creep it's way back into my workload in the future.

Galaxy Bracelet

My Galaxy Bracelet is now complete, I love the outcome and it fits perfectly. Definitely a labor of love since it took me over 15 hours to complete but worth the work all the same.

I added a snap because I love snaps, they are easy to take on and take off

View of the bracelet fastened

Nice fit and the bracelet is so comfortable to wear

Just an interesting shot

Another angle 

I thought this shot really evoked the galactic out come, it looks like stars shining in a dark galaxy

Last shot taken right after I finished, I couldn't even wait to get into the sunlight or use my camera. Used my phone while I was sitting at work (yep I bead during my "down time" at work)