Dragon Queen's Cuff

Here's the other bracelet that I made to be included in Contemporary Geometric Beadwork. It's a series of "what-ifs" coming together to make a multi-layered, richly textured bracelet. The ribbon runs through a channel and can be removed and replaced with just about anything. I made it the perfect size to hold a crystal bracelet (like this one), but I could also make a peyote band, or a herrinbone rope, or a collection of chains. I could use Wire Lace and tease it into weird shapes. The possibilities are endless!

This bracelet also represents my attempts to start to play with my usual olivine and bronze color scheme. I used antique gold instead of bronze, and added some earthy yellow and a tiny pop of orange.

All of my Olives

Wow, I made this back before the gem show and I'm finally getting around to posting about it! This scrumptious bracelet is a slight variation on a design by Jean Power. The awesome thing about this design is everyone seems to do it a little differently. I chose to make each triangle one solid color, with a "spine" of one color that unified them all. Others choose to make each half of the triangle a different color. Some put patterns in the "spine." Some stick to a very simple color palette, others make every triangle a different color. Sadly I did not have quite enough shades of olive green Delicas to make every triangle different, but I did manage to get a good variety in there.

My main innovation with this pattern was the addition of 2mm Swarovski crystals! After using them as an accent on my triangle ring, and seeing this bracelet pattern, I began to daydream about a bracelet with 2mm crystals along the spine. When Kate McKinnon sent out an e-mail asking for test beaders to make variations on some of the designs that were going to be included in the upcoming Contemporary Geometric Beadwork book, I decided it was time to stop daydreaming and start creating!

So I am very excited about the fact that this bracelet, the coordinating ring, and another bracelet which I'll post tomorrow will all be shown as possible variations of the projects in the book. This is my first time having my work included in a book! Previous to this my only published beadwork was when a past LL-BFAC project was included in the article that Bead Unique did on the charity. And not only is it awesome to be included in a book, but it's a book that was largely dreamed up and created here in Tucson! I had some fun afternoons sitting in Kate's house or back yard, beading along with her, Jean Power, Gabriella van Diepen, and other lovely beaders who came to visit.

Allegory Gallery -- Waiting for the Key to Immortality

 It's Allegory Gallery Design Team time again! I created this beautiful necklace in my signature combination of olivine and bronze, using a mix of beads from the Gallery and things from my stash. The focal is a gorgeous escutcheon pendant by Melanie of Earthenwood Studio. I love the woodlands color scheme and stamped pattern. The swirled rice-shaped Czech glass beads from Allegory Gallery matched it perfectly.

 Allegory Gallery also provided the olivine square tab Czech glass beads, which nicely pull out the greens of the focal.

There are a lot of textures going on in this piece. I added some luscious golden baroque freshwater pearls from my most recent trip to New York (Ace Handicraft, I love you!), and some tiny Bronze Shade Swarovski crystals. I haven't decided yet how I feel about that color, it's kind of weird. But it's just the right shade to go with the focal.

Be sure to check out what the rest of the Design Team has been up to this month!

Peggy Li

Sally Russick

Penny Neville

Cindy Cima Edwards

Amy Cousin

Genea Crivello-Knable

Brenda Salzano

Shannon Chomanczuk

Charlene Sevier

Jessica Prill

Rebecca Anderson

Penny Young-Neville