beads by breul

Sunday, February 27, 2011

Rings & Things Lust

I have gotten the new Rings & Things catalogue and can't put it down. Keep in mind, I have had it for a few weeks now and it sits by my bed. I read, highlight, turn pages down and want. W.A.N.T.  Here are a few of my wants....(can't make pictures work)


Stock#: 27-398-08  Mirage Beads, Mood beads! Seriously ~ love. (shh, they are in my basket)
Stock#: 30-230-7   Antiqued copper small swivel clips, they come in many finishes.
Stock#: 37-100-6   jump ring assortment, antiqued brass, again in many finishes.
Stock#: 37-422-6   Headpins - who doesn't need these, all the time. 
Stock#:  39-349-8  Brass lobster clasps, many finishes. Again, a necessity.
Stock#: 69-106      11 piece disc cutter - WANT!
Hand-Dyed silk ribbons - all colors. Fab!
Rolo Chain - by the spool! I am loving the 3.9 white (40-099-15-1)
And the Cameos - love them! Shh, I am getting a few to make necklaces for my daughter, don't tell her.
        (27-961-01-905)


Hope you find a few things in the catalogue that you like.

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

BTW - totally got away from me!

With Monday being a holiday, I lost a day and today was Tuesday, not Wednesday. But I did take pictures of my bead table - moving my soup aside. 


Michaels had a sale (50% off) of the bead gallery beads and I grabbed some!  And, yet again, my glasses are in the picture. Sorry.

Thank you Heather for this fun. I love seeing what folks have on their tables. Also, please check out flickr for more.

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Creative weekend

I had a great three day weekend. Got to spend time beading (and shopping at the expo for beads). I do find that I am so energized by the time I spend creating. I finished both Bead Soup pieces. The Big Reveal is on Saturday, please swing and see what these amazing folks have created.  I was on a roll. Both pieces seemed to flow from me. So much fun when that  happens: the energy, the time and the muse, all with you. :)   I also created some earrings and actually got them listed in my Etsy shop.  For me, that is always the stumbling block - the photos, editing and then listing. But, we did have a two hour delay this morning and since I was up, I put the time to good use.  And then there is Picnik. 'nuf said......


Monday, February 21, 2011

Almost done!

Can you believe that the big reveal is this week? Where has the time gone? Mine are DONE! So happy to say that. :)  Here is a quick teaser of my second piece.

Ingredients.....

Tastes good! Love soup.

Yesterday's bead show

I went to the Expo center and caught the last day of the International Gem and Jewelry show. It was a pretty decent show.  So many sparklies. Seriously, one table was filled with Swarovski crystals on strands in rows. Under the lights - blinding. I was loving every minute of it! I wanted to take a picture but I figured they would probably frown upon  that.  Below are pictures of what I got.

I had to have those little pewter box things - and then came home and made a great pair of earrings with some of Kelley's beads.

I love those flower beads. One of those "had to have" but not sure what I will do with purchases. You know what those are like, yes?

Great chain

Clasps


Now these - I am loving these. They are micro-faceted drops, roughly 3/4 of an inch in length. I did make a great pair of earrings with two of these. They catch the light really well. These were an extravagance at the very end. I didn't get some things so I would have money left over to get these.

Of course, the whole reason that I went was to get ingredients for my soup. And I did! I finished the first piece yesterday and got started on the second piece. It is almost finished and I will get some teaser pictures up later today or tomorrow.

Enjoy.

Sunday, February 20, 2011

Soup is simmering

I have started with one of the great focals that Lori sent and am probably half way done. Loving this. It is flowing, no pondering involved. Here is a peak at what is simmering on the first burner.

I have that wonderful Lori Lachner focal to play with also and was thinking about other ingredients that I could use, rummaged through my stash and nothing hit me. Then, I got the most perfect email on Friday. 
The International Gem and Jewelry show is coming this weekend, Fri - Sun.
 (Dulles Expo center for those of you in my area.)
Oh Yeah! Guess I will HAVE to go........ 
I will share what I find! 

Saturday, February 19, 2011

Bartering

I love trading/bartering. I traded/bartered with a friend who is a masseuse for 2, yes 2, massages!!! How psyched am I? She was pretty happy when she left also. :)


Friday, February 18, 2011

Earrings!

Ok, I finally took pictures!


Can you tell that I am digging the collage feature on Picnik?  
(More on that to come, seriously, hours lost playing)

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Yes, it is Wednesday

And I do not have a BTW. My desk is in the same state as last week. That is because I have gotten sucked into this...


It is all I want to do.




Took me a bit to get into it, but once I let go, it flowed out of me. I am totally a "stay in the lines" person and to a degree, this gave me the ability to stray. It doesn't have to be a certain way. I can go wherever my pen takes me. Such fun.  I have gotten my son into it also. 

So tell me, do you Zentangle?




Monday, February 14, 2011

The BABOC!

I am actually very low maintenance when it comes to Valentines Day. All I want is that heart shaped box of chocolates - no flowers, no diamonds, nothing else. This is what I came home to!

The Big A$$ Box of Chocolates

Seriously, have you ever seen a bigger box of chocolate? In a heart no less.
(pardon the hair sticking off the side of my head, the wind is blowing all over the place here in Maryland!)

Dinner is done and I am getting ready to break that bad boy open!!!!!

Hope your Valentine's Day was wonderful!

Sunday, February 13, 2011

Things are a cookin'

 My first collection of goodies never arrived from Deb - lost in USPS land somewhere. Chaps my Khakis! Not the first thing to get "lost" in the past few months. Grrrr. But Lori was kind enough (seriously, thank you Lori) to send me a few goodies. (Love that woman's stash). So here they are.


Look at this yumminess! Love that Lori Lachner focal! Well, it is a stewin' down on the ole work table! Can't wait to see how it turns out. :)

Saturday, February 12, 2011

Earrings!

I love them. So easy to make, immediate gratification, fun. Hate the whole picture thing. They are little and I need to take many pictures to be able to list.


Grrr.........

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

BTW!

Good Wednesday Morning!  I have a picture of what is on my bead table, but more importantly, is that I got two great organizers and CLEANED my table!!

Love those round funky agate beads. The milky blue color is amazing! And you can see that I had 
Kerry Bogart's Totally Twisted book out and was practicing.

I almost didn't get the second one of these. Thank goodness I did. I filled them both immediately and could use a third. They are wonderful!!!!

I know it doesn't look like it, but my desk is markedly cleaner!! :)

Stop by the Flickr group and see what others are working on.  Thank you Heather for setting this up!


Sunday, February 6, 2011

Metal Stamping help, please

I am trying to make a necklace for a friend with the first initial of each child on a disc. I got the W to show up but in trying to get the E, it looks like a O or C.  I have tried several times. Hitting hard, hitting light. 

You can see the W but not the  E.  (they are lower case.)

How can I make the E (e) more e like?
thanks!

Friday, February 4, 2011

Friday Joy!

Haven't done this in awhile.


Sitting on my bar!

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Bead Table Wednesday

Ok, another Wednesday is upon us. Here is a shot of my table. 


This is a vintage broach that I am making into a necklace. 
I also got out my polymer.....


Thinking of some earrings, a pendant and possibly a clasp of sorts.

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Want

Check this out! Lori Plyer of Waterstone Jewelry makes the most wonderful bags ever. This one is posted on her Facebook page. I am stalking her Etsy shop!!!


How wonderful is this?