Lashed Lilly

Introducing 'Lashed Lily' a sinster name but not really .. the four slender shaped Swarovski Crystal Elements you see in this picture are referred to as Article 6904 - Lily Pendants. I have 'lashed' or rather tied two together to form this faux toggle clasp. An armature has been used to give the right angle woven neck strap shape, it is supple and light. Cyclamin Opal is the colour of the bicones and Silver Shade is the colour of the Swarovski Lily Pendants and the Cosmic Square (Article 4439). Crystal Powder Green is the colour of the Swarovski pearls, these are in various sizes. Seed beads, drops and cylinder beads used are Miyuki and Toho. The silver seed beads (size 11 & 15) that you see are quite expensive as they are sterling silver plated (matt silver). Time taken to create .. way too long in excess of 100 hours as I encountered design obstacle after design obstacle. What you see before you is nothing like I had visualised prior to commencing this piece. But it was the process of designing this piece that I had my 'That's it' Moment'. Watch this space for my new range ..

Latest News: This neckpiece is currently in the US awaiting second round judging in the Swarovski Jewelry category conducted by Fire Mountain Beads & Gems. 

SBJ Floral Fascinators

I guess the notion to create these beaded fascinators has been sitting idle in my mind for a considerable length of time. Time being the only enemy against them actually being brought to life. So there I sat in my 'Bead Lounge' this long weekend here in Brisbane and set to work. I had previously bought the fabric and it was still sitting in the original plastic wrap complete with the faded shop receipt. I carefully cut each individual petal arranging them in size and shape.


Next I held each petal against a small flame, gently sealing the edge of each petal. The petals were then sewn one by one to a small section of beading foundation. The beaded Swarovski crystal fancy stones and rivolis to be used had previously had their bezels beadwoven so it was just a matter of attaching them, embellishing with seed beads and lastly attaching the alligator clips and brooch back to each bloom. I really enjoyed the process of making each one. They took considerable time to sew and perfect yet I have priced them very reasonably a mere $Au38 considering the time and materials used for each bloom. This first batch was sent (today) up to the Incube8r Gallery in Sydney I will make up another batch soon that will be available in my Etsy store. However I must prepare for this Thursday's professional photo shoot here in Brisbane. I have chosen selected certain pieces of my beadwork that I feel are my best work and I will use the images for marketing purposes. It should be alot of fun.

SBJ has had a 'That's It' moment!

I have been beading like a machine these past few weeks and while this pace does not dilute my love or indeed my addiction to beading it does take its toll on my eyes and my family life. We all know that there is more to life than sitting and beading .. but at times I find it incredibly hard to switch beading off and be a wife for my husband and mother to our two little boys. Then there are the meals to cook, school lunches to prepare, keeping the house clean & tidy, battle the ever large clothes monster in the laundry, chauffer the kids around, help the kids with reading and homework, grocery shopping and as most of you know the list of domestic chores is infinite... sigh....

But .. from this beading frenzy the "Melbournian" neckpiece was created and the soon to be complete 'Lashed Lilly' neckpiece was born. But the most wonderful aspect of this frenzy was a 'that's it' moment when an idea so great (well you think anyhoo) that it gives you such an intense feeling of joy. A feeling that only you and the idea share as you sit quietly together and just beam as you nut out the fiddly bits of the idea.

As soon as the 'Lashed Lilly' neckpiece is complete I will start work on this project as the range will be large ie many pieces it will not happen overnight nor indeed this month! I do hope to share this new as yet to be named bead woven range sometime later in the year. Happy Beading .. Mel