July 25, 2014

ATTS 5 Afterparty - Part One

  I was so sorry to had to step out from Therese's and Christine's challenge A Time to Stitch 5 as it's one of my favorites. However, sometimes the life gets it's own way and I had no energy to create anything at that time ... 

  The challenge was to pick only one stitch and to make three bracelets in a different size, shape and/or color of beads.

  My choice was the Right Angle Weave Stitch (RAW). This is not exactly my favorite stitch, but when I was choosing only one to use for a bracelet it inspired me the most. 

  I was able to finish the first bracelet (cuff) by now - the basic one. The squares are three per three beads.  The beads are Miyuki Rocailles 2,2 mm in different colors, according to one of the conversion tables available online it should be 11/0 or so. 
  To get a better consistency and straighter lines I've added some embellishments (white beads) passing through every line again. In the middle I've added also the diagonals of three beads. 

  This is the result (click on the pictures to enlarge):



On my wrist:

   

The inner side of the wrist:

   

Two more to go now ... 

If you want to see what the other participants created for the actual reveal, the list is here.


Be happy,
Alenka

July 23, 2014

BSBP8 Afterparty - Part 1

 Today I'm working on my unfinished projects ... and I've finally finished one more piece using the beads I've received in the bead soup from my partner Lori Anderson.

  Do you remember my bracelet with lampwork beads (for more pictures click on the link):


  Well, I had left two of the smaller lampwork beads that were perfect for a pair of earrings. I've made the herringbone rope a looong time ago, but had to make several attempts to stitch all the components together.

  The bracelet rope is tubular herringbone with 6 beads in a row, for the earrings I preferred to make a thinner rope and I used 4 beads in a row:



  As you can see, I'm still having fun with my bead soup :-)


Be happy,
Alenka 

July 22, 2014

Key Chain and Twinchie Swap

  Another swap at the FB International Polymer Clay Swap group is concluded for me - and this time the packages had to go a looong way - from Slovenia to Australia and the other way, too.

  My partner in this swap was Penny Houghton of the Smelly Nelly blog. She "takes pleasure in making 'stuff' from anything she can lay her hands on". She loves walking through the forest discovering new bugs, plants and animals.
  We have many things in common - both have two little children, love the same colors and neither of us is very keen on pinks. We both love Twilight saga and crime too (she says you are never too old to love a good vampire saga and I agree completely) 

  But let's see what I've sent to Penny (click on the pictures to enlarge):

 - a key chain that is a part of my last series (you will certainly recognize the technique of my previous post):


 The lobster clasp can be removed and the donut can be used as a pendant. I love to make multipurpose items.


- the twinchie: I've used a slice I had left from Julie Picarello's workshop I took in April of this year:




 I have to say I'm very happy with how it turned out. The colors of the slice were just perfect for someone living in Australia - representing sea, land and desert ... 



  This is rally one of my favorite twinchies (& inchies included) that I've ever made - I've almost kept it for myself ... :-)

  The set:




~~~~~


And here is what I've received from Australia - that was a very generous package, all created by Penny: 

- a beautiful sugar sculls key chain:



 Penny also put my initials on the back of the white scull:


The sugar sculls are very popular in Australia, she says (and I know that also in both  Americas). In Slovenia we are not very familiar with sugar sculls and the notion of celebrating life with them as it's for South America and other cultures. However the ones mady by Penny are really really cute!!! I'm afraid to ruin them using them as a key chain, my handbag is always too full of almost anything you can imagine, so I preferred hanging it near my pc desk so I can treasure it and smile to it from time to time :-).


- the twinchie:

Front side

Beautiful colors!! And look at the back side, it's so interesting, too, just like an abstract painting:


Back side

  - and she also included a beadwoven sugar sculls bracelet:


Sorry for the picture, it's not really the best, but the little sculls are perfectly made!!


- and it's not finished, she also made this beautiful zentangle card with my name on:




Thank you, Penny, you really spoiled me :-D    
It was a great pleasure to be your partner in this swap!!!


Be happy,
Alenka