Artisan Clay Design Team Challenge: August

I have been a bad, very bad blogger.  But I do have an excuse:  a pinched nerve in my neck has put severe limitations on how much time I can spend on the computer...and, worse, how much time I can spend on beading. For a few weeks, I really couldn't do much at all of either, which is why I didn't participate in the July Challenge for the Artisan Clay Design Team.  But things seem to be improving (or I'm just getting used to this particular level of pain, who knows) and so I was able to keep my promise to participate in this month's challenge.  Wouldn't you know it, however, that I'm a day late with my "reveal."  LOL  Oh well.

When I received this month's bead from the talented Kristie Roeder of Artisan Clay, I was taken aback a little:  it was a three loop connector bead.  Beautiful, but really not the kind of bead I work with.  This translated into a real challenge for me.  I came up with several design concepts (some of which I may yet pursue), but most were not possible for me because they involved making ndebele ropes which are especially difficult for me with this neck/shoulder/arm problem I'm having.

I used the beautiful crescent-shaped connector bead in the clasp/focal for a relatively simple right-angle-weave cuff.

I'm pretty happy with the result, although I think that the "swirl"  hook part of the clasp would look better in a warm metal than it does in sterling.

The rest of the Design Team came up with some great creations. You can see them in detail by following the links below.




Earlier in the week, the Beading Daily blog featured an interview with me by my friend Jennifer Van Benschoten (online editor of Beading Daily and the talented artist behind VanBeads). 

There is much to report from the last two months, but today is not the day.  BUT I do want you to know that I have permanently extended my "3 for 2" Program to include ALL Sand Fibers patterns: "for personal use only" as well as "for personal AND commercial use."  The store listings do not reflect this yet. I just haven't been able to find the "umpf" needed to do all that editing yet. 

One more thing before I leave:  Cosmic Collar is now available in my Etsy Shop, in case you want a spectacular piece to wear New Year's Eve! :)

Be well and get going, my friends! I promise to take less than two months for my next update. ;)