Finished by Friday

Shortly after the New Year I began writing a weekly blog post titled Finished By Friday.  I managed to continue this through February 4th.  Not  too good for a New Year's Resolution.  I was quite distracted by a number of wonderful and fun blog hops.  But now I am back and I am going to continue with the original plan which was to finish up all my unfinished pieces. (MIAS)

This week I am starting off with two favorites that I had not quite finished before I took them up again to let them participate in my FBF posts.  I especially like this peyote bracelet because of the colors and the simplicity.  I am totally unwilling to part with it, despite our local Arts Council wanting it for their shop.  So I am going to try to make another simple peyote bracelet and see if that makes it easier to part with one of them.

Simple flat peyote stitch with 3 of my stoneware stained and tumbled beads

This poppy seed head button is also one of my stoneware stained and tumbled beads.

This bracelet is done in Right Angle Weave stitch.  A simple pattern I developed after taking a basic course.  The clasp is from Fusion Beads.

All of the ceramic beads are my stained and tumbled stoneware

Finished by Friday, Peyote Mixed

This week my Finished By Friday project began with the above unfinished necklace.  This one has been more difficult since I wanted to combine free form peyote stitch work with chain and wire wrapped beads.  I got stuck at this point quite some time ago.  When I  began last night I had only the above piece to work from and about 5 or 6 wire wrapped ceramic beads already strung together.  I decided to make the transition on each side of the necklace with a beaded loop onto the connector piece--a copper circle and a ceramic button.  That seemed to go OK.

I hung 2 charms onto a long SLK wire and that gave the piece some balance since it is asymmetrical.

Here it is all together but the photo does not really show off how it looks.  It actually looks pretty good.  I imagine I will enjoy wearing it since I love dangles and unusual necklaces. 

Finished By Friday 3 bracelets



This week I set my sights on finishing 3 beaded bracelets that I started some time ago.  The pearl one in right angle weave (far right) must have been started at least 4 years ago and just sat around in an almost finished state all that time.  It really only needed a clasp and a few tiny picots added on the side, and one bead repositioned.

 My favorite in the batch is the peyote scallop shaped bracelet with my stoneware fired and tumbled handmade beads.  It came out so much better than I thought it would.  I had to add some of the beads to the surface of the bracelet since it was no longer possible to work them in as most of the others are.  But it hardly looks that way.  I also like the way the button fits in.  When the clasp is closed on the wrist it looks really cool I think.

 The necklace below is included in this weeks post because I repaired it and made it wearable again by today.  I am counting it for that reason.  I also made this one at least 2 years ago.

Thank you for stopping by and helping me be motivated to finish all these pieces.

Finished By Friday Almond Blossom Necklace

This week I made it to the finish line again.  But actually there was not all that much to do to finish up the necklace pictured above.  Almond Blossoms, as I call this necklace, was originally inspired by the Art Bead Scene March 2010 Challenge painting of the same name by Van Gogh . I just didn't get it finished quite in time.  I was intrigued by the combination of the blue sky, green leaves and cream colored almond blossoms

and felt challenged to try out some color combinations I don't usually use.  I made the necklace mostly with peyote stitch but seems I switched over to a loose kind of herringbone stitch on the straps.  All of the ceramic beads and sew on flowers were made by me.  Some of them especially for this project.  I like the idea of sew on beads and charms for peyote stitch and bead embroidery. 

 I have just now put a few on Etsy just in case your interest has been perked.

Below is a pic of the necklace before I finished it up this week.. Hard to tell the difference except that it wasn't quite wearable yet.  No clasp.

thank you for stopping by

Finished For Friday

One of the things I have planned to do for 2011 is to finish up some necklaces and bracelets that I have started.  I thought I might be able to motivate myself if I blogged about them on a specific day each week.  Hence the title for this blog post today. 

The necklace above is one I began last summer.  Got stuck and moved on to other things.  When I began to work on it this week, it look almost like the pic below:

I have noted in the photo some of the parts that were not on the necklace when I started this week.  It was actually not that much to do so I was able to meet my goal of getting finished by today.

closeup of the front portion with one of my stamped copper rings from Harbor Freight

those beautiful sea glass dark red brown beads are from The Beadin' Path and the seed beads are from Shipwreck Beads

close up of the clasp with one of my ceramic beads

Well I have met my goal for this week.  The one I have picked for next week only needs a little more to be finished so I should be able to get that one posted as well.

Thank you so much for joining me today and boosting my motivation to finish up.