BEAD!!!

Porcelain Beads

I have been thinking about a word for 2012 and have come up with BEAD!!!  as a daily challenge to myself.

I like that it is very open ended and have been trying it out since late Dec.  Seems to work for me most days.  I may have missed 1 or 2.  So far I have glazed and fired the Porcelain beads above and made most of the beads in the following pictures.

Sunshine Charms

Doublewrap peyote stitch bracelets

Book Beads

Herringbone Beads

Made up the pattern and stitched quite a few of these Herringbone beads.  They are quite versatile.  I have put them in necklaces, earrings and bracelets. 

The best part about a daily challenge is that it keeps the ideas flowing.  I don't have a minimum requirement for what BEAD!!! means so if I am short on time just a few minutes will qualify. When I am not beading, I notice that I am thinking up projects or ideas for beads.  So far it is stimulating and fun.  Hope it lasts.

Icy Wonderland

We had quite an ice storm here last week.  The sun finally came out and I took these spectacular pics of the ice on the trees.  It had been 15 degrees below 0 the night before.  Went from rain to below zero in a day.  Hence the ice stayed around.  Today it will be 40 degrees above 0. I can hear the ice falling onto the roof. I am glad I got out with the camera in time to catch these beauties.

My raspberry plants iced and then snow covered

I love close up shots of ice.   Quite a build up here

We finally ventured out and this is what the road looked like.  Trees bent over and branches touching the ground.  Many folks were without power.  We were very lucky to have not lost it at all.

Winter blues have to be some of my favorite colors!!

I hope everyone is warm!!  Some never have to worry about this kind of weather.

I grew up in a warm climate and am still missing it at times.  But this kind of scenery helps make up for being cold!!

What would You Do?

Melissa of Chinook Jewelry is offering us a blog challenge called What Would You Do?  She would like to know what I and you would use for components and stringing for this gorgeous pendant.
I thought I would take the challenge and here is what I would do:

I would use one of my very rustic toggle clasps with a hand stamped pattern that vaguely echoes her pendant

Then I would use some of my porcelain beads to string with it.  These are greener than they look in the picture.  Toggle clasp and beads are available in my Etsy shop.

And finally I would use this beautiful silk to string the necklace together, perhaps with some chain or leather cord added in---not sure about that yet.

What do you think?

Melissa, this is a fun challenge and good for me to exercise my designing brain!!  I look forward to the next one.  You can see what the other participants are doing here

First Friday Art Walk. Today and all Weekend

This is First Friday Art Walk Weekend.  I will be offering 10% off everything in my Etsy Shop and free shipping ( via refund) for the weekend.  Use BOCFFAW during check out to get the discount.  This is a Beads-of-Clay/Etsy venture.  You can visit  other Beads-of-Clay participants by going to our blog and clicking on any of the pics in the lovely Treasury there.  Happy Shopping!!