Pumpkin Mandala Necklace (Halloween)

This is the other version of the Mandala tutorial I made from i-Beads by purplefiona at FionaFiona.  This is the orange and black colourway using my free gift from i-Beads - which were the transparent orange superduos.

 I used those along with some opaque black superduos for contrast as well as the black seed beads.

Instead of using crystal bicones that decorate the outside, this time I used half black, half silver crystal rondelles, which add a little extra sparkle.  I haven't made earrings to go with these.  I may do eventually, I just haven't had time lately.  Side note: I was originally going to call this Orange is the New Black, but I didn't think I'd get away with it!

BTW - I hope you're liking the new setup.  I got my mannequin reupholstered in a lovely aubergine velvet from Corset Laced Mannequins over on Etsy.  It's so much easier to show off my necklaces and see how they hang than the display models I was using.  So if you're looking for a mannequin or you'd like to spruce up one you already have, I highly recommend you check out her shop!
For the close ups I've been using one of our granite placemats.  So if you see any weird reflections, it's just the various posters I have hanging in my room - lol!  I would use a less reflective surface, but I like the effect it gives.  I do try to minimise the reflections on the post edits.

Well, that's the end of my Halloween jewellery.  This weekend I'll be getting the shop ready by photographing, uploading and editing all the jewellery I'll be selling up to Christmas.  I hope you'll stop by, as I'm hoping to donate a portion of my profits to the mental health charity that got me started on this craze in the first place.

Here's wishing you a safe and happy Halloween!
x Kym x
=;x

Witches Brew Mandala Set (Halloween)

So I've already caught my mom trying to sneak this into her own jewellery box, even though I made it for myself from this awesome tutorial from i-Beads.

 I changed the colours to my own personal taste - pastel bordeaux and black matte superduos, mixed with purple iris seed beads and chinese crystals.

Obviously as this is someone elses design (purplefiona at FionaFiona) I can't sell it - this was made for me personally - and my mom when she decides to steal it!  I also made another one, which I'll post about shortly.  In the meantime here are some extra photos.

=:x

Sarah Millsop's Crystal Weave Bracelets

This weekend I've been making these bracelets from Beads Direct's Take A Make Break.

 I pretty much had all the components to make the "Blueberry" version - apart from the catseye, but seeing as working with beads with chatoyance gives me a headache - it worked in my favour.  It took me a while to get the hang of it, but once I did, I kind of got excited about seeing what else I could create.  So I did a "Salsa" and a "Punk Princess" version too.

Which version do you like best?

For the Salsa, I used these multicoloured drawbench beads I bought from one of my trips to Beading Amazing.  Instead of the Chinese crystal rondelles, I used 4mm Chinese crystal bicones instead  - Amethyst with an AB coating.  For the seed bead weave, I used matte rainbow siam Tohos, to match the colours in the drawbench beads.

For the Punk Princess version, I used pink drawbench beads, silver Chinese crystal rondelles and the matte jet Tohos I used for the Blueberry bracelet.  Looking at it now, I think maybe silver would have looked better?

I'll definitely be making more of these, I think I want to make a necklace version next time using gemstones.  So look out for that maybe later in the week!

=:x

If you would like to make these yourself the video can be found here: TAMB - Crystal Weave Bracelet
And you can still get the kits from Beads Direct for £14.99 each.  Choose from the Blueberry Ripple or the Raspberry Ripple.

Beaded Cross Necklace

I've spent this weekend designing and making new items for the I Heart...Collection, but I haven't had time to take any photos yet. Due to some chaotic happenings over the weekend, I'm not sure how regularly I'll be posting this week.
Today's item is a gothic necklace (my favourite theme!) based around a tutorial from Ruby's Beadwork for a beaded cross pendant.

I Heart...Bravery Necklace

Today's post features the ...Bravery Necklace from the I Heart...Collection.  This necklace has become my Mom's new favourite.

I Heart...Vintage Necklace

Today's item is probably not only my favourite necklace in the I Heart...Collection, but that I've ever created.  This is the ...Vintage Necklace.

Molten Metal Necklace

Today I'd like to show you a necklace I've been working on for a while.  The Molten Metal Necklace.

I've had this pendant for a while as I could never figure out what I wanted to do with it.  I came across it again a few months back and after I'd been testing out different beading techniques, I knew I wanted to make a spiral rope chain.  However, matching the colours and creating the pattern proved to be a nightmare.  I never thought silver and copper would be so hard to match!

The black beads were easiest, but it was choosing whether have the silver or copper beads as the core or the accent.  I decided upon these copper-lined crystal beads as a core and accented the black seeds with silver.

As a little something extra, I followed a tutorial on Ruby's to make this beautiful toggle clasp (my first!) and then ruined it by taking the photo before I'd tidied up the excess thread.

 

Oh well, it's still pretty and will be available to buy soon!

=:x

Swarovski Ombre Cuff Bracelet

So this is the last in the set of the Swarovski Ombre.  This was also my first attempt at a wire wrapped cuff/bracelet.  The design was inspired by a tutorial for a watch in one of my beading books.

Swarovski Ombre Earrings

 I had a few crystals left over, so I decided to make some earrings to go with the Swarovski Ombre Necklace. There's also a cuff bracelet, which will be featured in tomorrows post. Both were designed in my head as I was working on the necklace.

I knew the earrings had to be simple so as not to detract from the visual effect of the necklace.  I continued the ombre theme, however, with graduating colour and size to create these drop-style earrings.  I didn't use as many colours as I used in the necklace, preferring to stick to the pinker end of the red spectrum.

These along with the necklace and cuff will be available for purchase soon.

=:x

Swarovski Ombre Necklace

This is probably one the ones I've been most excited to share out of the new things I've created over the holidays.  I bought a Swarovski mix containing various shapes in shades of red.  I played around with them on my design board and was inspired to create an ombre necklace.  I instantly began sketching, however the ombre effect on its own didn't seem enough.  I really wanted to catch the eye.  I began adding strands to add to the effect, but there was still something missing.  Going back to my mixed bag, I noticed the the different sizes and the idea of a 3D ombre came to me.

Mintberry Swirl Necklace

I've really got to think of a better name for this necklace before I sell it!

I've had this pack of lampwork beads that I received in a goody bag (I think!) for while and I haven't really known what I wanted to do with them.  So using my new found beadwork skills, I've transformed it into this beautiful necklace.

More Decorations

I have more decorations to show you before I sign off for Christmas.  I've made a couple of new snowflakes and some wire trees.

Frozen Necklace & Earrings

Hello, long time no see! *waves*

I've decided I'm going back to what I originally intended my jewellery making to be all about - a distraction from my depression and to increase my self-confidence.  For the past couple of years I've been too focused on sales and it just made me miserable.  Although I like interacting with people to talk about my creations (everyone likes to have their ego stroked!) I'm not a sales person and pretending to be one lowered my self confidence even more and I lost all inspiration/passion to create anything new, as all my focus became fixed on thinking about how I was going to sell it.  Eventually I'll be looking into getting someone else to do the selling for me - because honestly all this business crap is sucking the life out of my creativity.
So I'm just going back to creating jewellery for the heck of it and for my love of being creative.  My Etsy shop will remain open, so if there is anything you want to buy feel free!  I've extended the Sweet September Sale - so you can pick up a bargain gift for Christmas!

Sherbet Set

Disclaimer:  No copyright infringement is intended.  These are my own interpretations of various sweets and candy using various beads.  Nothing in the Sweet Tooth collection is edible.  Please try to refrain from eating!

I must warn you, that my mom has already reserved one of these sets!  The necklace is actually one of my own designs and I hope you like it too.

The "sherbets" are acrylic and hanging between them are firepolished crystals.  The colour of the crystals will alternate, the sherbets won't.

Sherbet Set

 Feel free to choose which colour sherbets you would like for your earrings. :)

Earwires are nickel free.

Sherbet Earrings

 The bracelet I would like your input on...

I only had enough crystal beads to put on the necklace - they were a free gift - but it's no problem getting them.  So do you think I should add them to the bracelet in the same manner as the necklace, or leave the bracelet as it is.  It's up to you! :)

If you would be interested in this set or would like me to make you something similar, please feel free to contact me at: kymberligee@gmail.com with "Sherbet Set" in the subject line.

Butterfly Garden Set

Despite hating pink and "girly" things, every once in a while, I do surprise those around me by liking something girly.

My American supplier had a gorgeous pendant with a butterfly embossed on it and some beautiful two colour beads (Rose & Peridot).  I had no idea that by combining the two, I'd end up with something this...well, girly: 

Butterfly Garden Necklace

 All of the beads are glass and you may recognise the silver flower spacers from the Calypso necklace.  As you can see, I'm still having fun with wire.  I threaded the wire through the holes in the pendant and wrapped them into spirals of varying size, which I think makes an intresting focal.  

Hanging from a line of small crystal glass beads is the fringe, which I made from turquoise, light green and lilac beads.  The colors are supposed to represent the gradual change of the colour of the sky throughout the day, with crystal clouds on top of course!

Next I alternated the rose and peridot rice beads with the crystal beads, which to me is the dusky pink of the evening sky in the butterfly garden, slowly turning into night. (I'm a writer, I'm allowed to have imagination!)

Round crystal beads with Rose & peridot beads

Finally, to tie it all together I decided to use ribbon, but I didn't want it too wide.  Fortunately, a friend of mine makes the most amazing candles and soaps (please check out her site - One Stop Pamper), and her candles are tied with tiny white ribbons!  So guess where I got these from? ;)

Candle ribbons

One of those, I'm not sure if it's the left or the right is from her Butterfly Meadows votive candle, so it actually smells like a butterfly garden too!

The Earrings took a little more thought.  I'd run out of the rose and peridot beads and I was fast running out of the crystal beads too.  So I decided to carry on the fringe effect from the necklace.  None of the butterfly charms I had, matched the feel of the necklace, so I used these dragonfly charms instead, which are equally as good.  I hung them from the hoop I made from some left over wire.

Butterfly Garden Earrings

Daisy Chain Necklace

I've been working on making more summery looking jewellery.  I hope you like my Daisy necklace!

I made the "daisy pendant" using little glass dagger beads around a round glass bead.  The idea is from one of my beading books, but I didn't like loop hanging from both ends of the daisy.

Interesting note: The glass yellow flower beads, have fleck in them which glow in the dark.  I don't know how many of you go to raves (do people still go to raves?), but I thought that was interesting to note.

As many of the beads I used came from mixed selections, not all necklaces will look the same.  I have just ordered some different "petal" and "pollen" colours, so I'll probably be making some other styles too.

Materials Used: Yellow glass bead selection, Czech glass crystal dagger beads, silver lined yellow and clear seed beads, Light blue fire polished Czech beads, yellow glass flower beads and silver findings.

If you would like me to make something similar to this necklace, please feel free to email me at: kymberligee@gmail.com, with "Daisy Chain Necklace" in the subject line.