Talitha comes of age

Talitha is a design with a sweet history. I made the silver and black version a few years ago, and wore it a lot. In class my students asked to learn the pattern. Trouble was, while they loved the idea, no one wanted to sit and french knit the cord which is an integral part of the design texture. It took me many many months of searching to find a cord I liked enough to offer in class, and one which I could get in a good range of colours. The cord I finally unearthed is a gorgeous waxed cotton, finely braided cord.
The next and gratifying part of the story is that I offered the class and it sold out, and filled up, and is set to become one of those lovely classes that people seek out time and again.

As designers, we create for all kinds of reasons.

original Talitha

When I stop to think about how my designs happen., the process is hard to pin down, but constants are; that the work I do is progressing me creatively and helping my students explore new beading ideas, that it's telling an interesting story. But first and always, because it is something I really want to wear or own myself. We have no idea which of the designs will grow ever more popular and which will be set aside quietly, that's just the creative lottery of putting it out there.
So, cord acquired, I had to sit down and fathom how I made the original piece, make sure that it was repeatable in easy to follow steps, and test it in different colours to make sure it held true as a design.

colour variations, class samples... current favourite
Astral pink and pewter, far right

As part of the symbols and trinkets series, Talitha is an 'Eye for Scrying', inspired by dowsing pendulums, stones with wishing holes through the centre and traditional circular motifs used for meditation and divination.

Jezebel's Jewels

Sometimes serendipitous things happen just when you need them to, not often, but so fab when they do. I was just beginning to sort out my Jezebel's jewels class for later this year. I'll be teaching it in August at Beader's Best in Hamburg, and in the Dorset in the UK in November. Click the link to come join in the class!
Because... Squeeee... one of those dreamed of stashes of treasure has found me.  With perfect timing an email arrived in my in-box asking if I'd be interested in taking a peek into many boxes of crystals and beads, the remaining stock of a now closed costume jewellery business. I've had a tiny glimpse, and I'm itching to go visit, which I'll be doing later this month.
Jezebel's jewels is a design I've wanted to share for ages, with two different beady bezels for gleaming crystal stones and a versatile link, they can be joined together into a huge range of combinations. Anything from demure pendants, simple sparkly band bracelets or cute three dimensional crystal encrusted beads, to drama queen cuffs, lavish crucifixes and beyond. I'm so excited to see what my students will come up with... and now I'll be able to supply a divine hoard of crystal stones for them to dip into.

Cuff and pendant in aqua's and greens

Jezebel's jewels began with a sketch I made. I saw a truly elegant lady wearing a stunning brooch on a velvet scarf while we sat opposite each other on a train journey.
The brooch was made of wonderfully ridged and knobbly metal, studded with emerald and scarlet crystals. Maybe it was a priceless heirloom!
It kind of got linked in my mind with a game we used to play with coloured paper shapes, moving them around to make patterns.
So Jezebel's jewels slowly emerged from the little sketch and notes, and is now is a colourful jigsaw for beaders.
I'll post pictures of my new samples, once the vintage crystals arrive and I've had time to do the beading.
Meanwhile, if you want to come join the fun, book soon, spaces are filling up fast!

Pink and pretty

Acantha, spiky lariat workshop

So that's really not me at all is it, pink and pretty. OK so the idea is... I wanted to try some new ideas but working in a set of colours outside my 'comfort zone' to see if different things would happen.
First is Acantha (Greek for thorn, the nymph who fended off Apollo too).
The Acantha is a divining rod, a dowsing for happiness lariat. Part of the symbols series, and using lots of lovely Albion Stitch. I also used some adorable 2mm Czech glass pearls and some of the Silver silk chain. Always good to add in new products... plus some of the lovely Czech spikes too.
Go back, 'Symbols series'? yes, a new adventure in Albion and combined stitches is the Symbols series, a kind of continuation of my Treasures and talismans classes. My love of antiquities and story telling combined into one new exciting project for which Acantha, The Time Traveller's Compass, and a few more pieces are a little part... 'exciting no?

Estelle bracelet, sparkly arm candy for fun.      

So having started thinking about what workshops I'd like to be teaching next year, I carried on playing with the pink and pretty idea and came up with (hopefully not too similar to anyone elses?) a really quick and easy bezel that can be worked to capture Swarovski stones of different sizes.... so far a cute little bracelet and necklace with a pendant set, but bound to be worked on some more...
Mostly though I'm happy that the experiment worked, I'll be happy to go back to my preferred colours... but pink is definitely the new accent colour... or maybe a dark plum...

Estelle pendant, variable bezel to fit
different size Swarovski stones.