Saturday, February 25, 2012

Finally!

My bead soup finally finished traveling and found it's way to my mailbox!  This is my very first BSBP  http://lorianderson-beadsoupblogparty.blogspot.com/ and I was paired with the very talented Traci Zeller http://jewellerywithatwist.blogspot.com/.  She lives in Canada and mailed the bead soup she put together for me 2 days before I sent my mix to her.  I took about 10 business days and she received what I sent her.
I made the pendant and added snakeskin agate and brown fresh water pearls with a copper flower toggle to the mix. 

I love the mix that Traci sent me, it presents me with some challenges but that is a big part of this entire process.
Traci sent me a very eclectic mix of beads.  There is a ceramic focal bird by Lisa Boucher that I love. I have  several ideas simmering about how to use it, especially with the double toggle clasp.   I do not normally do multiple stands so that adds to the challenge.  She also sent some lovely faceted moss agates, ceramic beads, a Czech glass bead and two bead spacers. 

I am so excited to finally get working with my wonderful bead soup!
Come back on March 3rd when we all do the big reveal.

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Work Table Wednesday!

This is what I have been working on, not only today but for about the last week or so.  My beading time is rare and in such small amounts these days :(
This is a continuation of the Bead and Button magazine cover necklace I have been working on.
I have taken the inspiration from this designe and I am completly making is my own!

I am actually going to make the closure for this necklace be in the front, most likely on the side.  I am stitching a peyote toggle and using Swarovoski cosmic rings.

This is going to be the main focal bead.
I am hoping to be done with this by this weekend and hopefully by them my Bead Soup will also have arrived and I can begin working on that design. 

Thursday, February 16, 2012

waiting....waiting...waiting

Oh how I hate to wait!  I feel like a kid waiting on Christmas and like it will never arrive.  My dear sweet partner in the BSBP ( http://lorianderson-beadsoupblogparty.blogspot.com/  ) Traci, http://jewellerywithatwist.blogspot.com/ sent my bead soup from Canada in January and unfortunately they still have not arrived.  I sent the bead soup for her 2 or 3 days after she sent mine and she received the soup over a week ago. I am so glad she likes the soup I sent.  Every day I go to the mail box and open the door really fast and look inside; it is so funny because when all that I find is flat envelopes that contain bills or junk I stick my hand in the box as if I missed something.  :) Well just a little rant from me.  I will say that even though I don't have my beads yet, I am still having a good time participating in the BSBP.  I have gone to almost all the blogs and seen so many wonderful soups.  I will most definitely participate again!

Saturday, February 4, 2012

I "colored" outside of the box!

Until about 6-9 months ago I could not read a beading pattern.  Although I had subscriptions to several magazines I could not use them to follow patterns and create items from them.  I used the magazines as inspiration.  My dear friend of  http://sweetfreedom-designs.blogspot.com/ pushed me to get out of my comfort zone, bite the bullet and learn to read a pattern.  I love to bead weave and this made perfect sense.  I sat down and learned how to read the pattern for a square stitch pair of earrings that looked very similar to these.
The ones that I did were done in blues and unfortunately I did not take a picture.  They were very cute and although the beginning part of the pattern reading was difficult I stuck to it and was able to finish.  I was so proud of myself.

I have since then tackled more and more patterns and I have grown tremendously in this area.  When I received this magazine I really wanted to make the necklace on the cover.

I started following the directions exactly as written.  I did have 8mm pearls instead of the 9mm pearls they called for but I just had to adjust the number of 3mm fire polish beads I used around the pearls.  I did the front and back of the pearls like the magazine stated but did not really like the way either one turned out.  On both sides I felt too much of the pearl was being covered up and I did not like the color of the 2mm round (I was using size 8 Toho seed beads) once it was stitched together.  Unfortunately sometimes when you select colors that look great together lying on your bead mat do not look as well once stitched together.


front side of the pearl stitched using magazine directions.



Back side stitched following magazine directions.

I really love the look of this necklace, the elegance and sparkle of the pearls with the contrast of the chain, that I was not going to give up just because I was not pleased with how the pearls were turning out.  I actually thought I wonder if I can change the way the pearls are stitched?  Can I either not close it up as much or can I do the front and back the same way?


I started the back side first (that was the side I liked the best) and did not finish it all the way and then did the front like the back.  I did the picot finish from the front part of the design on both sides.  I really like the way they turned out it even shows more of the pearl.

Old back and new back of pearl.

Old front and new front of pearl.

I was sooooo excited when these turned out the way I thought they could.  Not only was I able to read the pattern but I have finally gotten to the point where I can take the directions and alter them to use the parts that I like the best!  Yea for me!  I love that I have finally reached the point that I am willing to try things and not be worried if it does not turn out the first time but to also have the guts to try it my own way. 

Thursday, February 2, 2012

Etsy Shop Announcement!

I am very excited to announce that I am working very hard to get my etsy shop up and running.  The shop name is SAS Jewelry Designs.  I decided on  SAS for Sonya Ann Stille, since I felt it completely represented who I am, not only my name but also when I say "SAS" I think of "sassy" and I often feel just a little sassy. Those that know me best would definitely agree! If you are looking for sassy, fun, romantic,  elegant, some times  eclectic jewelry to make you feel just a little better or more beautiful then SAS Jewelry Designs may just be the place for you!  I am also working on a face book page.  Facebook- SAS Jewelry Designs

I am hoping to get a few things listed this coming week.  SAS Jewelry Designs

Hope you all have had a wonderful day!

Bead Soup Blog Party Partner

For my first ever Bead Soup Blog Party, Lori Anderson the host of the BSBP http://lorianderson-beadsoupblogparty.blogspot.com/ , paired me with Traci Zeller. I feel like Lori could not have paired me with a better partner.  She is a wife and mother to a five year old son and it seems we have a few things in common.  We have emailed a few times and become face book friends and I feel like if she lived close by we could become see you during the week and hang out friends.   She lives in Alberta Canada and tells me that she just started beading this past year.  This is amazing as her creations are just that....AMAZING! She has an etsy shop that is currently having a sale....go check it out.
http://www.etsy.com/shop/gettagift
The following pictures are some samples of Traci's work.  I think they are all beautiful.



Traci was brave enough the send some pieces to Bead Trends magazine and is published in their
 February, March, May & June 2012 issues. They even put her bracelet in their you tube spot. You Tube feature



Traci also has a face book page, stop on by and like this page. http://www.facebook.com/GettaGiftJewellery

Here are her links :
http://www.etsy.com/shop/Gettagift
http://www.blogger.com/goog_1984176298
http://jewellerywithatwist.blogspot.com/


I hope you take the time to check out my great partner, Traci Zeller.  I am anxiously awaiting my bead soup and will post photos as soon as the postman delivers!