Before we begin with April, congrats to Darlene Orlowski for being the randomly chosen winner from the March submissions.
Darlene, here is a list of the prizes accumulated so far. Select your gift from here. Just msg or email me with your selection choice.
And now.... Our theme for April 2015 was “Stringing and Bead Weaving”. Click on each artist's name to see more of their work.
Here are the beautiful offerings of the SRAJD members…
Judith Williamson: The beads tell me and lead me in my designs. I like contrast and vividly colors. This piece was insured by the beads. I am a stringer mostly. Always on the lookout for different beads and unique findings.
Maxine Booth: Made with strung MOP flat teardrops and marquise shapes, white freshwater pearls and goldplated chain, beads and curved tubes, this necklace and earrings set would be perfect for a wedding or formal occasion.
Paula Huckabay: I fell in love with a necklace worn by Padma Lakshme on the finale of Top Chef and that was my inspiration for this piece. The technique is basic stringing with a little layering of components in the center. Although it may look elaborate it is extremely flattering to wear.
Carole Grant: Gorgeous oversized cuff bracelet with dichroic glass cabochon as the focal. Tiny seed beads of different accent colors, as well as pearls, stones, and glass beads. The back of the cuff is lined with a royal blue microsuede and the clasp is a gold plated box clasp.
Carol (Britt) Clay: Bronze Brocade Bracelet is a combination of knotting and weaving using beads to create a bracelet with chaining and a handmade clasp. After knotting a base bracelet with dark bronze Miyuki delica beads, a secondary weave followed on the perimeters. The bracelet has been created completely from seed beads ranging in sizes. A handmade etched hook clasp was added to chain that extends from each end of the bracelet making it adjustable from 7-8.5."
Inspiration: I see elegant evenings in the Pavillion at Avalon Bay, on Santa Catalina Island, this bracelet on the arm of a dancer in the hours of late evening.
Sarahbushka - Sarah Clay: Transparent golden peach delica seed beads are all lined up to make a pretty row, with stations of sparkling bead combinations, with each one including a faceted fire polished coppery beauty in the middle of each station. All lines lead to the front center, where a solitary pretty peach stick pearl rests, in full focus.
Sarahbushka is a 3A gal, an Aloof Artist with Autism. She creates and sells her Art Careers necklaces. Sometimes if we’re lucky, she even allows us to share in the fun with her!
Carol (Britt) Clay: 3 row Boho Styled Beaded Cuff. I chose this entry for the April Challenge because April is also Autism Awareness Month. This Boho cuff features the standard 3 row style with a fully formed button hole and square knot button closure. Double needle lashing was used with crystal FireLine. The white leather cords hold the large creamy white Swarovski Elemental Crystal Pearls bordered by Firefly beads (glowing matte seed beads) in the basic Autism Spectrum Awareness colors of Indigo, Scarlet, Pale yellow and Sky Blue were used. The shank button is a patterned gold metal.
Tammy Adams: Rustic faux copper patina flower beads, made from polymer clay, are strung with turquoise-dyed howlite and copper spacers. The back of the necklace is antique copper finish chain for adjustable length.
Julie Vargas: This Antique Style Bracelet is 8 in long with a lose feel, delicate and comfortable to wear. Bracelet is made with using basic stringing techniques and with 18 mm Tiger Eye, Faceted Carnelian Beads (Orange, Cream and Opaque White) Creamy Burgundy Bead, 10 x 8 mm Lt Topaz Rondelle Faceted Crystals,6 mm Round Faceted Garnet Crystals, Sterling Silver Spacer Beads, Handcrafted Antique Style Sterling Silver Bead Caps, Antique Style Sterling Silver Toggle Clasp.
I like to design jewelry for all kind of life styles but the antique style jewelry has being my favorite, it reminds me of an era of elegance and style.
Julie Vargas: Wanted to design something that had a fan shape but still fashionable, stylish and with some bling! My inspiration was a lace fan that had some seed beads, it look so delicate and beautiful. So using simple and basic stringing techniques I combine some round Hematite Copper with AB faceted petal leaf golden shadow crystals, amber faceted cubes and an Antique Toggle Clasp to design the necklace and made the matching pair of earrings using basic loop techniques.
The total length of the necklace is 18 inches and the earrings are 2-1/4 inches long.
Barbara Swinton: This focal bead has been waiting for just the right inspiration and this month's challenged called for me to finally do something with it. Multiple strand necklaces are challenging for a number of reasons, the biggest for me is getting them to lay on the neck in a pleasing way...shorter on the inside, longer on the outside? Or braided together so they stay put? And then how to attach to the closure? The Noreena jasper and the seed beads pick up the colors in the pendant and the strands lay separately and attach to a triple ring connector.
Barbara Swinton: In trying to use up many of my beads at one time, I've thought that memory wire bracelets might be a great way to use lots of goodies and would be a fun project for the beaded challenge. This bracelet was created using the colors and stones of the Southwest - lapis, carnelian, turquoise, silver... in addition to some vintage millefiori beads, howlite, magnesite and yellow jade. My first memory bracelet - casual, colorful and a nice bead sink....
Laura Bracken: Here's one I thought turned out really well. Beaded beads necklace.
We hope you’ve enjoyed looking at these wonderful creations. Make sure to check out the other monthly challenges.
If you’d like to get in on the action, join the SRAJD organization. If you’re already an active member, submit your jewelry challenge piece here for the current month.
