Back in business

Hi, everyone!

After 6 months of doing other things, I've managed to produce a piece for the monthly challenge of the EBW team: Silver and Gold.

In Prague, I've met one of my favorite bead artists - Angelica Motzkin (here are some exampls of her wonderful work). Angelica is know for mixing different techniques and media in her beadwoven creations. This necklace is definitely inspired by her art.

The pendant on the necklace is made using three different techniques: bead embroidery with soutache, wire-wrap and beadweaving using coralling stitch. Everything is gold, allright!

Since one of the main requirements of the EBW challenges is that the significant part of the entries should be made in any beadweaving techniques, I've added peyote-strap to the silk of the necklace, and made an entirely beadwoven clasp.

No picture can show the true glitter of this necklace ;)

To see all the entries of this month, go to Etsy.com and search for the EBWC tag. You can vote for your favorites between 9th and 15th of August at our blog. Every vote counts!

Black Lotus

Before we got kids, my hubby was playing quite a bit of Magic - The Gathering online (he's actually really good in that stuff). It is sort of a computer game you play with other gamers (darn, almost wrote "nerds" - sorry, guys - no offence!), it involved magic and cards with different abilities.
One of such cards is the Black Lotus - an old and very powerful card. I have not seen the original version of it online, but it has been re-printed into newer sets of Magic cards.
Anyhow, there is a bautiful flower of a black lotus on it.

And I have decided to make one for myself.


It is soutache emboirdery (again). This time, the focal is a gorgeous labradorite, shining in all shades of blue, yellow, purple and pink.

I think it is a keeper ;)

My first tutorial. Ever...

Making tutorials is lots of work, ppl. Now I know that.
Think of a design. Sketch. Make a mock-up. Make the real thing and take pictures of the process. Process the pictures, re-take the bad ones. Write a description. Put the stuff together. Proof-read. Make the .pdf. Try to compress it yourself. Swear, swallow your pride and ask the hubby (aka Mr. Computer Genius) to help out. Watch how he fixes the problem in two minutes. Yeah... 23 hours of non-stop fun, straight up!

Buuuuuut, as a result I got my first tutorial that has already managed to sell thrice! YAY!

Here it is, blue and silver pendant called by name of my great office-mate, Cissi. She does not know yet ;) As fas as I am aware of, this is the first and the only soutache-tutorial available on Etsy.
And here is another pendant, called Hope. Just a little purple thing. I'll list it on Etsy tomorrow, now it is time to go to bed.



Hugs!
Olga

Soutache - again!

I am supposed to give a workshop on soutache embroidery on PUSS beading convention in Stockholm in October. Yesterday, I woke up with a nightmare - dreaming that I have arrived there but have forgotten all the kits and my tutorial was not ready. What a NIGHTMARE indeed ;)

It was a good kick to finish one of old projects in that technique. Voilá - meet my new soutache pendant, Helen.
The cab is Russian Sunstone, with a very nice sparkle in it. All the soutache colors I've used can be found in it.

Soon in my Etsy store - I have not added any new items for ages...

Free-form for Monica

Who is the best client in our business? The on who gives us free hands! :)

This necklace is a commission piece for a person with a great personality - Monica from Uppsala.
Was FUN to make! I got instructions for only what colors to use and what shape it was supposed to be. The rest is free form ;)

In the basis is a simple netted collar, embellished with freeform herringbone and peyote, as well as some coralling. The net is made using 9/0, and the embellishment is 50:50 mix of 11/0 Czech and Japanese seed beads.

Many thanks to Angelica Motzkin for the explanations about the freeform herringbone, and Ludmila Gubinova for the idea with those swirling & dangling peyote stripes that I hung on both sides of the necklace for the ballance ;)

Enjoy your summer!

1st prize in Fashion Colorworks - UN-BE-LI-VA-BLE!

http://www.mylovelybeads.com/contest/2010/winner.php

Pinch me, someone...