Frilly As A Girl - PART ONE (Post 50)

There are two things that are 'typical' to girls: screaming - that is shrieking with laughter, and in the majority - the love of frills. That's what comes to mind to me. Then of course those girls grow up, but don't necessarily change. Take for instance, being pushed down a kiddies slide in a swimming pool! Yes, I shrieked ... quite loudly. Secondly, looking for that special dress - OK, doesn't have to be frilly as such but sparkly surely? A little 'bling'.

The minute I saw the end product of my red/white bracelet immediately I thought, 'frilly as a girl'.  It sounds like I had only just looked at it - in honesty, I suppose that's true?  Because, aside from knowing the beads I was going to use I wasn't sure what the end result would be. Suitably satisfied, I then produced the purply-black-blue-greeny one!

The pattern is just an 8-bead design, repeated.  Thread a bugle, then 3 seed.  Go back through the bugle and pull tightly, which gives that cute picot frilled edge.  Repeat ... this, what I call top and bottom frill to make the design.  Simples!  Repeat until its as long as you want.  I did a basic loop/clasp finish because it blends in so well.


There we have it ...
I'm not keen on 'long' Posts, (the blogging sort, of course).  So, I'm going to surprise you by making this a double post - I know like buses!  No news in ages then suddenly in the space of a week or so you end up with FIVE ...

Before I go though, I'd like to say 'Hi' to Jill Spain, my latest blog friend. Her blog is really interesting, don't you think - very 'newsy' and friendly.  Jill's expertise lies in Card Craft, running a Greetings Cards Business and regularly attends Events where you'll find all the efforts of her hard work.

* From Wendy's Biography 1st Unique Gifts,
(Host for Handmade Monday)

Have you remembered?  Today is Wendy's Handmade Monday No. 42, why don't you pop over and have a look what everybody's been up to - I love catching up with everybody.  Wendy has had an exciting week, with a newly arrived Granddaughter and has even posted a picture of her.  


Part Two to follow .... don't forget you can follow me on twitter or Charters Creations Facebook.


'Keep Watching, and I'll Keep Blogging


Charters

It Takes Two (Post 47)

Hello and Welcome

A very big welcome to Jenn, of Leftsox who has recently joined us.  Jen is a fellow beader and has sculptured some lovely pieces, whilst also raising 4 sons, a daughter and 2 dogs .... amazing!  Where do you find the time?

Its Handmade Monday No. 23; hosted by Wendy, its a place were you will find a lot of talented like-minded folk.  You too can be part of it if you would like to.  Pop over and take blog hop, guarantee you'll enjoy it.

OK, what have I been up to ... aside from a short break, which I must admit was just perfect!

Dalmation Nugget Twist

I can finally reveal my 'nuggety' necklace that I've been working on.  Which is based on just TWO STITCHES; spiral chain and russian spiral.  The stitches that I very recently came acquainted with.

I used Dalmation Jasper nuggets, metallic grey twisted bugle beads and red and black glass seed beads.

I created little bugle spiral cages and between each a cluster of nuggets; and to keep the theme I finished with the necklace piece in red/black glass beads.  Its interesting to note that the neck piece is the same stitch that I used on the the nugget twist.  Surprising how a different texture can change the look - well it surprised me!

(c) Charters: Dalmation Nugget Twist

I'm really getting used to doing ball cluster and loop clasps, which finished this necklace just nicely.  

Of course, I couldn't stop there - and created matching earrings.

(c) Charters: Dalmation Nugget Twist

In The Pink

Remember my very first spiral chain?  

It was a very delicate pink/green one that I made into a bracelet and very ambitiously I was making a peyote clasp for.  Well, perhaps a little too adventurous for me just yet.  

So, that too ended up with, you've guessed it - a ball cluster and loop clasp.

I thought perhaps a pair of earrings, but not too sure on whether that was a right decision?  They have been labelled as 'sea horses' ... 'the cheek of it'!!!

As you can see I'm keen to add my own stamp to my jewellery and I was very lucky to receive some beautiful bead weaving books for my birthday which I'm hoping will give me a greater insight to working in 2D and 3D.

I'm still picking up basic stitches at the minute and have had a frustrating couple of days getting to grips with one in particular!

Brick Stitch - aka Comanche Stitch
Its a stitch that was used for centuries by Native Americans for amulet bags etc.

This is a very strong stitch which is used in particular as a base stitch for 2D and 3D work, so I've been really knuckling down trying my utmost to learn it. 

Now this is where being left-handed has caused me to get a little mixed up.  But ... never one to give up easily, after 2 days it finally all came together.  This was, to me, amazing! To those of you more experienced, it is probably a simplistic stitch.  I was beginning to think I must be 'really thick', and I can't tell you how many times I've started the technique, only to rip it apart.

I used various books and online tutorials to work it out, each one being 'not quite' legible (to me anyway).  Then ... I don't know why, but I GOT IT ... that's a great feeling.  More so because without Brick Stitch, the chance of doing multi-dimensional work was looking slim.  

And here you have it ... a pair of tear drop, (sort of - I had thought they were going to be diamonds ... or do I mean they should have been?).  Made with a red seed bead with a hint of gold/purple, (I know you can't see it in the piccy but its a very shiny pretty colour).  These were just a 3-row foundation which decrease by one stitch each row.  Turned upside down to complete the 2nd half.

Just the beginning, and more practice definitely needed!  But, hey ... I can do brickstitch!!!  Yippee ....

'Keep Watching, and I'll Keep Blogging'

Charters

Bangle Revisited (Post 44)

Well, all my good intentions of posting in time for Handmade Monday No 19 ... just a little too late though.  But that doesn't mean to say you should be.  Always worth a visit to catch up with everybody elses week's endeavours!  In fact, I'll be popping over there very shortly myself.

Bangle Revisited
Remember last week, just finishing this bangle (well an identical one!!), when the beads scattered to all corners of the earth, leaving me 'speechless'.  

So, here it is, restored.  In fact, reinvented but this time using a very strong illusion thread.  Surprisingly this also gave it more elasticity; allowing it to slip on to the wrist ever so easily.

I still have plans to make a necklace with this technique and spotted some delightful bugle beads which I couldn't resist getting.  Not sure whether they'll work - once home they seemed a lot shorter than these red bugles?  We'll see how it pans out ....

I must say how pleased I am that Ros has joined us:

Hello and Welcome To:

• Ros Made Me
  Ros claims to be an 'all-round crafter', who will try anything from needlework, quilting, applique, knitting and a 101 other crafts as the mood takes.  Now if you pay her a visit you will see that she is certainly multi-talented and in particular I find her knitting in outstanding.  I love browsing around her blog and Ros also excels with some great tutorials.
   

What Next? 
I'm working on a necklace which I've designed, incorporating the 'russian spiral'  and the 'spiral chain' technique.  I was tempted to stop when it reached bracelet length but I think as a necklace it will really be a statement piece.  This time the focus is on Dalmation Jasper semi-precious nuggets: so cute!

Had it not been for the temptations of the sun it would have been completed; that and a couple of rethreads!!!  Yes, my design went a bit off schedule and had to be put in its place again.  So, there we have it.

'Keep Watching and I'll Keep Blogging'

Charters