Friday, May 27, 2011

Artisan Clay Design Team Challenge: Summer Meadow

This month, Kristie Roeder of Artisan Clay decided to surprise us with our beads.  Mine was the second from the right in the top row.



The blue glass surrounded by the green stoneware instantly made me think of a cool refreshing pond in the middle of a summer meadow. And so I went with that idea. Think of the white beads as the daisies in that meadow.



I don't often use right angle weave, but decided that I wanted a less "dense" bezel than one done with only peyote would result in. This is a mix; the inner rows on both the front and the back are done with peyote.  I intentionally distorted the bezel into a more oval form to show more of green stoneware.

And since the cab was set with RAW, it only seemed right (pun intended) that the band be done with it as well.  I had fun playing with the number of beads in the stitch in both the bezel and the band.  Oh, and your eyes do not deceive you: this was created with size 15/o and 14/o beads. I felt a little crazy that day.

The closure is a simple vintage (from my grandmother's sewing kit - so at least 30 years old!) hook and for the "eye" I used the string of beads that keeps the bezel in its distorted form, all hidden on the back side of the Kristie's beautiful cab.  I might as well show you, right?


The bracelet will fit best on a 6.5" wrist. It will be a little snug, but that will allow the focal to stay on top of the wrist.

The best part of belonging to this Artisan Clay Design team is seeing all the different ways in which the other artists incorporate Kristie's beads into their work.





I can't wait to see what Kristie has planned for June!

I hope you have a wonderful Friday. Be well and get going...

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

More Fun with Triangle Beads and Delicas

The hardest thing about my newest design was coming up with a name:  Bowed Hearts.  I had so much fun working this up. I love the colors and am excited about the new pattern, which gives more of a "bow" than my Ripples or Corrugated designs do.

Bowed Hearts in White and Zircon Blue Peyote Cuff (2580)
Bowed Hearts in White and Zircon Blue Peyote Cuff (2580)

I'll issue the pattern for this, but I won't make promises as to when just yet. I have a long "to do" list, including beading some ordered pieces in the next week or so.

Be well and get going! ;)

Sunday, May 22, 2011

New Cuff, New Pattern

By now you've figured out that I enjoy mixing cylinder beads with Toho triangles.  The corrugated texture that I've created with this mix begs for an overlying pattern.  I've been wanting to try a two-color, rather simple geometric twist to this for a while, and the perfect beads for that arrived last week.  Introducing Corrugated Sawtooth, this one in white-lined aqua and matte metallic plum beads:

Corrugated Sawtooth in Aqua and Plum Peyote Cuff (2580)Corrugated Sawtooth in Aqua and Plum Peyote Cuff (2580)

Aren't the colors just glorious! :D

The only other thing I've accomplished this weekend is to publish the pattern for Catherine's Braid:

3 for 2 Program - Catherine's  Braid Peyote Cuff - For Personal Use Only PDF Pattern

Don't let the elegant original scare you off.  This would be so much fun in many different color schemes:

3 for 2 Program - Catherine's  Braid Peyote Cuff - For Personal Use Only PDF Pattern

I almost forgot!  I did bring the Simplicity Bracelets back into my shop:

Zircon Blue and Copper Simplicity - A Beadwoven Bracelet (2400)Heavy Metal Simplicity - A Beadwoven Bracelet (2420)Black and Gold Simplicity - A Beadwoven Bracelet (2423)
White and Turquoise Simplicity - A Beadwoven Bracelet (2392)Bronze Simplicity - A Beadwoven Bracelet Twinset OR Choker  (2397)

And I've added a new "Peyote on a String" piece to the line (or is that lime?) up.
Lime and Black Stripes Peyote on a Lime String (2579)

And that really is it for this weekend at Sand Fibers. I hope you are having a lovely day. Be well and get going! ;)

Thursday, May 19, 2011

More New Ripples, Kits?, and Some Cuffs Come Home Again

I've been wanting to see what Toho's Aiko beads were like to work with and this new Large Gothic Ripples Peyote Cuff  presented the perfect opportunity.

Large Gothic Ripples Peyote Cuff (2578)
Large Gothic Ripples Peyote Cuff (2578)Large Gothic Ripples Peyote Cuff (2578)

I can't believe how absolutely perfect these beads are. If they weren't so very expensive, I would be tempted to switch. For now, however, I will use them only for some of my cylinder and triangle mix cuffs.

I'm thinking of offering some of my Ripples cuffs in kit form. Any preferences/requests for which I should put together first?
Large Forest Ripples Peyote Cuff (2512)
Large Forest Ripples
Large Regal Ripples Peyote Cuff (2545)
Large Regal Ripples
Black Ripples Peyote Cuff (2112)
Large Black Ripples
Large Silver Ripples Peyote Cuff (2457)
Large Silver Ripples
Large Olivine Ripples Peyote Cuff (2522)
Large Olivine Ripples
Large Chartreuse Ripples Peyote Cuff (2511)
Large Chartreuse Ripples
Large Cosmos Ripples Peyote Cuff (2575)
Large Cosmos Ripples
Large Tangerine Ripples Peyote Cuff (2523)
Large Tangerine Ripples
Large Golden Ripples Peyote Cuff (2577)
Large Golden Ripples
Some pieces that have been absent from my Etsy store - while they were in a different online venue - are now back.

Corrugated Steel Peyote Cuff (2530)

Dissections in Green and Silver Peyote Cuff (2460)

Cubism Diamonds Peyote Cuff Bracelet (2375)


Modern Bargello Hearts Peyote Cuff (2350)


Cubism Diamonds Peyote Cuff in Your Custom Color Palette  (2412)

Modern Bargello Hearts Cuff in Your Custom Color Palette  (2415)

Catherine's Braid  Peyote Cuff Bracelet (2502)

And now that you have had your absolute fill of Sand Fibers cuffs, be well and get going, my friends. ;)