Monday, May 21, 2012

Sharyl's Bead Packet Design Challenge - Hosted by Sharyl McMillian-Nelson

On April 5th, Sharyl put out the call for participants in her first Bead Packet Design challenge.  Five names would be drawn from the ones leaving comments.  On April 7th the names of the participants were revealed and I was one of the lucky one chosen to participate in Sharyl's challenge.  Sharyl sent out our packets a few days after announcing the participants.   Mind you we did not know what the beads looked like only that there were 16 beads of these 16 there were 6 different types of beads.   Here is what was in the packet of beads.


The guidelines of the challenge were simple. They stated that we were to use at least two of the different types of beads in the packet in our design.  We were required to make one design, but we could make more than one if we wished. After the contest the design that we made and any left over beads were ours to do with as we pleased.

When I received my packet I took the beads out and looked at them and wondered how I was going to uses these beads, but nothing came to mind.  I worked on other challenges and projects and would come back to these beads, but still nothing.  I knew I needed to have at least one idea, because I was not sure of our deadline.  I finally thought I could make earrings, but no that was not enough of a challenge.  


Then I thought why don't I make a bracelet, but could not make up my mind what beads I would uses. I thought I could use the drops as the focal and the aqua beads for the spacers. But I really wanted to use more of these pretty beads.


Okay so use the drop beads and the aqua beads for the focal the on the side I could use the two 12mm disk beads and the 6mm rounds.  Then I can use a herringbone stitch rope to connect them together.  Hmm that is going to make the bracelet too big.  Ahh heck I will just make a necklace.


So I started stitching a twisted herringbone rope using size 11 bronze and teal seed beads.  I got two and a half inches done and decided to put the first bead in the design. I chose the 4x8 mm roundel and continued to stitch another two inches. Then I strung the 6 mm round bead, a 4mm bicone crystal from my stash, the 12mm disk bead, a 4mm bicone, and a 6mm round. Stitched one and a half inches of herringbone then strung the aqua beads and the drops and stopped and looked at it.  It just was not right something was missing. So I tore it apart, yes all those little tiny beads.  I started over got the first section with the 4x8mm and stopped again. Nope do not like this, so I tore it apart and went to my local bead store where I found the brass bead caps and spacers.  When I got back home I decided to just bead the herringbone tube fist in sections then string everything together with flexible beading wire.


I used the large disk bead as part of the clasp. I strung crimp beads onto the beading wire then the large disk bead, a 4 mm bicone and a bronze 11 seed bead, strung the beading wire back down the bicone, the disk bead, and the crimp beads and then secured the beading wire with the crimp beads.  I strung all of the components on to the beading wire and when I got to the other end I strung on two crimp beads and 35 bronze seed beads.  I looped the beading wire back down through the crimp beads and the herringbone tube. I made sure every piece was in place and no gapes and secured the beading wire with the crimp beads.



The two herringbone tubs near the drop beads I used 3mm Palace Green Opal Swaroski bicone crystals. In each one inch tube there are 24 crystals.

I hope you like my challenge piece.  I want to thank Sharyl for letting me participate in this challenge and I hope to be able to participate in her future challenges.  This one proved to be quite a challenge for me, but I am loving the end results.

Please take the time to go by and visit the other participants in Sharyl's Bead Packet Design Challenge.


Therese Frank you are here






Happy beading Y'all,
Therese










35 comments:

  1. In my wildest dreams I never thought of anything so beautifully designed as this, Therese! The thought and time and resources you've put into this are way beyond what I imagined! You've taken a few beads and turned them into a part of a piece of art! Beautiful, beautiful work!

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  2. Very pretty Therese and very original and creative.

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  3. Therese - this piece is gorgeous!!! I love what you did with the ropes! The design is outstanding!!!!!

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  4. I just love this necklace, Therese!! It's beautiful, I love what you did with the ropes. The crystals incorporated into the herringbone is just fantastic! I love this!

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  5. WOW! Your design is stunning! Really beautiful!

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  6. Beautiful!!! Your designs are amazing ...

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  7. Therese you necklace is gorgeous! That beaded rope is so beautiful. I enjoyed reading how you arrived at making this piece. So many times I intend to make a necklace and somehow it turns out to be a bracelet or even earrings! The beads have a mind of their own, it seems.

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  8. Oh, you know I was crying when you said you ripped it out...twice! Been there! But you were right, the end caps really made it comet together nicely. I love the sparkle the crystals added to the short sections. This is such a gorgeous necklace!

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  9. It turned out fantastic! This is my favorite piece from the hop!

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  10. Absolutely gorgeous, Therese! Love it!

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  11. Beautiful! I am really impressed with all you did with the treasures you got :)

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  12. WOW - gorgeous! I love the twist herringbone!

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  13. What a stunning necklace! Love the colors and the twisted rope. Everything just works together SO well!!!

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  14. That is absolutely gorgeous! I love the herringbone sections. You are right about the bronze spacers and bead caps. They give it such a finished look. I also love the crystals you incorporated toward the bottom of the necklace.

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  15. I am Starstruck!!!!! This is so beautiful! The way that you combined so many different styles. I have never attempted doing any bead weaving of any sort. They bring such a uniqueness that I think I would like to try. My eyesight is not so great anymore, but maybe with a magnifier and some extra light. I also want to compliment your photos. I have seen a couple of you that have done this challenge and your photos are AMAZING! They truly do your work justice! I am really impressed by your creativity. Thanks so much for sharing!

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  16. This is a stunner! SO beautiful.

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  17. Oh Therese, I think this is absolutely beautiful. My oh my!! I love this, the colors, the beads you created with....
    Oh the undoing....I gave up this weekend on a project and decided to find another!!

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  18. Beautiful job! I love how you attacked each challenge along the way and kept at it until you'd found the perfect solution. The scale of each section is so well balanced, and the whole really elevates the individual parts into something special. Woohoo!

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  19. OMG!
    I'm in love with your amzing necklace...nice idea this challenge ... run to visit the other blogs and works ^_^

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  20. What beautiful work! The clasp is such a great idea. It is hard to believe you could make such a grand necklace out of a few beginning beads. Very pretty!

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  21. What a gorgeous piece!! Oh how I love it!

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  22. This is just beautiful, Therese! Amazing. Gorgeous. All of it!

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  23. Another very classy and beautiful design Therese as always. You do amazing work!

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  24. Great necklace, Therese! I love the way you mixed the elements.

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  25. This is truly a work of art, and a labor of love...we can see how much you love what you do! I am in awe.

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  26. You did so well with the beads. I adore those Czech drops. Yummy. Twisted herringbone weave is one of my favourite stitches, too. Love the colours you used, too. ;-)

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  27. AWESOME Therese!!!!! So beautiful!

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  28. LOVE this necklace!!! You did such a great job with incorporating the beads from the challenge. It's beautiful!

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  29. This came out gorgeous Therese! With the turquoise colors it is a perfect summer statement piece.

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  30. I love your piece Therese! Love, love, love the color combination and your spiral rope really allowed the beads from the packet to be the star! Amazing!
    Have a terrific weekend!
    {Hugs!}

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  31. A beautiful, elegant necklace!! Creativity sometimes comes slowly, but so glad you "got there!!" The results are just stunning--love your work!

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  32. Therese, I am in awe of your creativity and design abilities...you've got mad skills gf!

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