Autumn Leaves Necklace

My 89-year-old beading buddy, Claire Abelson, and I had great fun designing the new Fall 2010 ArtBeads.com Fall Project . . . I LOVE leaves and flowers so this theme was perfect for fall colors and leaves . . .

I LOVE to beadweave with the ArtBeads Toho Seed Beads . . . this time I used the round beads . . . but the other shapes are SO exciting, too!!!!!

The Swarovski Top Drilled Bicone I used is listed under "Pendants" . . . I was so thrilled to get the opportunity to use these GORGEOUS Bicones . . . they were PERFECT for beading . . . Ohhhhhhhh . . . I got a little "artsy-fartsy" when I got made a boo-boo and got my camera lens too close to the subject matter . . . but then I thought it was kinda cool so I included the photo in with this blog post!!! Duhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!! LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!

When you are perusing the website . . . be sure to take a side trip to "Community" where you'll find videos . . . blogs . . . facebook . . . galleries . . . all kinds of eye candy!!!! Have fun!!!!!!

*Disclaimer . . . I receive free product from ArtBeads.com in exchange for my design (in this case our collaborative design) as an ArtBeads.com Blog Design Team member . . . opinions are strictly my own . . .

Beading with a Purpose

I recently beaded a necklace, matching bracelet, and earrings for a charitable auction for the Medici Foundation which helps support the Cancer Center of Irvine, California . . . I used a classic diagonal peyote stitch for the design . . . I'm also learning to display my work for photography . . .
The following design was prompted from my cousin who couldn't find "canary colored" earrings to go with her outfits . . . I used a peyote stitch for this piece, as well . . .

I hope you like my new pieces!!!!!!

ArtBeads Fall Blogging Fun!

What a enlightening discovery I was given by ArtBeads.com Blog Design Team . . . the Pantone Color Wheel Website . . . you can actually interact with the online color wheel to give you colors that work harmoniously together . . . what a find! The Pantone Fall 2010 Fashion Colors have been announced . . . which have inspired the design for the Fall Artbeads.com Blogging Fun project . . .

ArtBeads Summer Blogging Fun!

It's time for ArtBeads Summer Blogging Fun!!! This project features Toho seed beads (some of my personal favorites!!! LOL!!!) . . . Sterling Silver Charms . . . the possibilities are ENDLESS with these versatile beads!!!!!

I must say that this piece was a collaborative effort . . . I started off with a basic plan . . . and then my 89-year-old beading buddy, Claire (photo below) . . . had some AWESOME suggestions that make it the design it is . . . Claire attended the Chicago Art Institute as a young adult . . . it certainly shows by the way her creative mind works . . . I'm so glad I met her!!!!!

I also received a great tip from my talented stamping/beading teacher, Sylvia Valle from Saddleback Valley Unified School District Adult School where she teaches so many wonderful crafts . . . I don't know how she can be versatile in so many media . . . she simply blows me away . . .

I hope you like our collaborative piece . . .

*Disclaimer . . . I receive free product from ArtBeads.com in exchange for my design (in this case our collaborative design) as an ArtBeads.com Blog Design Team member . . . opinions are strictly my own . . .

This is my 89-year-old beading buddy, Claire . . . she's shy . . . LOL!!!!

This is what Claire used to look like when she was a young ballerina!!!This is my multi-talented art teacher, Sylvia Valle . . . she's really special . . . I'm so lucky to have such sweet and talented beading buddies and teacher!

Friends of Sylvia Valle Volume 3

We had our last class meeting of my special and talented rubber stamping and beading teacher and gave her a scrapbook with highlights of the year and a scrapbook page by each of the students who participated (and some former students, as well!!)! This is the third year in a row that we did this . . . and our dear teacher, Sylvia Valle, was so touched by it . . . she was almost speechless!!!!! Here are the scrapbook book cover I beaded and some of the photos . . . Sylvia's classes are offered by the Saddleback Valley Unified School District Adult Education Department http://www.goadulted.com/ . . .