Coat of many colours

Beading round such a thick and square cabochon is presenting some new challenges. I’m having to think much more 3 dimensionally than I usually do for my Kimono Neckpiece. Luckily, I enjoy a nice hard beady puzzle and as usual, what starts out to be difficult turns into something of a learning experience.

It was my husband’s birthday this week so we had a day out, just pootling about in Norwich, ending up in the local Wetherspoons for a beer or three and a steak. Next day was spent very quietly!

Sold 2 necklaces since my last post, Viking, which I finished last week and also a very pretty Copper Beech necklace. Must hurry up and get some new things done for my website. Husband being on holiday at the moment means that inevitably I end up doing more household chores and feel guilty at spending so much time at the beading desk instead of spoiling him.

Space..... the final frontier

I’m talking about that little hole where the toggle goes through. It’s important to get it just the right size, so that it both secure, but at the same time easy to do up. I spent a while thinking about how to do this one. I came up with a dumbbell shape, the two larger beads help to keep it in place and it blends in well with the style of the necklace.

I’m really pleased with it now it’s completed, beading over a leather thong has resulted in a nicely substantial chain and the whole thing has a glint and gleam to it that reminds me of metalwork.

I’ve restarted work on my kimono neckpiece at last, I daresay it will take a couple of weeks to complete, I’m a tortoise as opposed to a hare where beadwork is concerned. The clasp on this new piece will be a real challenge as I envisage something shaped like a little fan with a hook and eye on the back to do it up.

In between beading sessions I'm having a huge clearout of books and equipment, listing on Amazon and Ebay. Like many crafters I've tried loads of things over the years, and have stuff gathering dust that I will never use.

If I had a hammer....

I certainly had a birthday to remember!  The sun shone in Yorkshire, the whole time we were there, and our nephew and his wife had a glorious day for their wedding on 26 May. The pub where we stayed overlooked the cow and calf rocks on Ilkley Moor – what a view.

After all the walking, partying and travelling we needed some time to recover.

Now I’m back to my normal calm and peaceful lifestyle and the Viking inspired piece is coming along nicely. I’m learning some new techniques as I go. I realised early on that I wanted some coiled copper in it, so I’ve beaded the chain over a leather cord. This has given it real body and it holds its circlet shape really well, the wire elements help to stiffen it. I want to do a lot more metalwork in with my beading in future pieces, and have ordered some tutorial books and DVDs as well as some equipment, including various hammers (cue rude words coming from the beading area as fingers get bashed).