I WON!!!

Not exactly the B&B show, and not FMG contest, but nevertheless I won in a all-summer long beading contest, Gråtyngda dagar, that was arranged by PärlPlatsen. The challenge was to use only gray beads. White, silver and black were allowed as well, but the main weight should be put on gray (that's why I nicknamed this contest "Another Shade Of Pale"). Each contestant could enter with two items. My second necklace took 5th place of 18. I am glad!

Tadaaa - my winning piece, Morning Mist (Morgondimma):

Before the contest, I asked organizers if it was Ok to use beads with AB/RB effect, including labradorites and spectrolites, that are natural color-shifters. And, sure it was! Well, I went for it.

I have developed a strange addiction to labradorites lately. It says that the stone cures depressions. Maybe that's the reason?

As most of my creations, its a freehand bead embroidery. Basically, beads told me how they wanted to be arranged. My inspiration came from early mornings in August, memories that I had from a field courses in botany and zoology back in Latvia. 4 o'clock wake-ups and listening to birds by the lake... That's what this necklace is all about.

The cab is made in (of course) Russia, thanks to Valentina! If it originates from Finland or Norway, I do not know.

Here are some details:



And these are just some pictures of the focal stone under different light conditions:

Special thanks to my office-mate, Su-lin, for modelling.
Many thanks to Zoya and George Gutin for their comments on the design.
(to fringe... or not to fringe...)

Are you ready? Here are some pictures of my second entry - Rainy Summer (Regning Sommar).

Netting, free-form peyote and fringe = grey sky, heavy clouds and rain. Swarovski = sunshine through the clouds.



Many thanks to my second office-mate, Cecilia, for being my model!

I am teaching my first beading class!

There is a small but charming beadshop in central Uppsala, Pärlboden. Its owner, Lillian, has kindly allowed me to teach my first ever class in bead embroidery.

We have decided to keep the first class very simple 101: a beginner's guide in capturing a cab.
I am giving an overview on most commonly used materials, such as types of foundations, backings and adhesives available in Sweden, talking about types of cabs, and finally, I show four basic bead embroidery stitches on example of this pendant:




The fun part was that everybody has managed to complete the pendant within three hours! It seems that everybody was satisfied with the class. So, we scheduled for a continuation - level B bead embroidery.

Next time, we'll be making something like this:

By the way, the focal dichroic glass cab is one of many that I've got from Noora. Thank you, dear, I am looking forward to working with the rest of them!

Everybody who took the course - thank you for your patience! It was a great fun teaching you, ladies!
Lillian, thank you for the opportunity to share my passion with others!

VOTING for the August challenge

Due to technical difficulties we have had to put the polling on the following blog: http://ebwteam.blogspot.com/ Simply click the link and we will forward you to the Challenge and the voting. Things will be back to normal next month! Good luck EBW members!

Dates for the voting have been changed as well. The poll is open until 17th of August.
What a great group effort!

What can come into my mind in sleep...

In the beginning of summer, I blogged about my 3rd place in a beading competition. I won a "mystery pack" from Nooras Silvergrejs - respected and highly recommended supplier of silver findings in Sweden. In the package that Noora has sent to me, there was also a bag with a "challenge" tag on it. Inside was a lovely handmade fuzed glass cabochon, shimmering in hues of golden-blue-green-pink-and-hundreds-of-other-undescribable-colors.

How does the red color affect a bull? Everybody certainly knows that. Well, the effect that the word "challenge" has on me is somewhat similar ;)

But, I was tired, depressed and stuff, thus the cab was lying quietly for couple of months. Until this Tuesday, when I went to sleep. Somewhere on the borderline between sleep and being awake I saw a lotus. It became a chain: lotus - India - gold - red - garnet - BLING! - gold - more gold... ;)

I've captured the cab with 24K gold-plated Delicas that I've bought one day (just in case, good to have!) and never dared to use.


Taking pictures of dichroic glass is fun, I just love the way it is shifting colors depending on the angle!
That's it for today ;)
Take care!

P.S.: Not for sale! My own, my precious! ;)

August challenge

Guys, you must check this out! I am really proud to be a member of EWB, just look at all those fabulous creations that girls have come up with!

Voting will start in our blog-page on 11th of August and will go on until the 17th. Every vote counts! :)

I was gone for too long :)

Hi guys!

Time to come out from the closet - I am combatting depression. Tired, worried, down, blue - you name it. So far, no medication, just long biking tours around Uppsala. And some beading.

I bough some gorgeous brass stampings this winter, from a fellow Etsian who owns the The Brass Boutique. One of them was a dragonfly that I used for my Temptation necklace. I thought that the branch of ivy will make a nice company to the Russian serpentine cab (Valentina's shop, as usually). After aligning those two, I've got sort of elvish vibes from this combination of brass and green veined stone. Than both the vine and the stone were put aside, until unnouncement of EBW August challenge - The First Ladies of Style.

Lúthien, mother of Elrond, grandmother of Arwen, daughter to the Mr Wood Elf Himself, etc, etc, etc - all can be read in Silmarillon by Tolkien if you have desire (and time)... So, I thought of the fair lady of wood elves. Brass and green, what could better? And I picked up the ivy and the serpentine cab.

Embroidery part was easy. Making the chain took me almost a week. First, I made a wide freeform colar. It has killed the focal.

Than I made several vines with RAW and thought to build a keltic-knot structure. The focal did not look any better.

Finally, the idea of RAW-based chain came into my mind. I did not have enough of serpentine beads, and ordering them all the way from Russia would have taken ages, therefore they are mixed with white onyx beads. I think that is adds a bit of moonlight glow to the piece.
Only than, the focal came alive.



I will let you know when it is time to vote ;)

Be well!
/Olga

EBW July Challenge

Here Comes The Bride!

Despite a dodgy internet connection and a couple of hyperactive rascals to children, let me introduce the EBW monthly challenge. The polls are open for voting until July the 15th at EBW blog. Please take a minute and have a look!