The weeks are going too quickly....

The past couple of weeks have passed much too quickly and partly owing to a bout of flu I haven't been firing on all cylinders. Couldn't believe that it was over a week since my last blog.
Being the Secretary of the Bead Society of Victoria (Australia)is taking up a bit of time at present as we are about to celebrate our 15th Anniversary and there are quite a few things to organise. In September we are having a special party luncheon at our monthly meeting. At the end of July, there will be a much larger than usual display at the Craft and Quilt Show in Melbourne and we want to promote the Society with a really special display of the work of our members. You might like to check out the Bead Society website to see some of the amazing creations from our members.

























As part of the BSV Bead Expo in November, there is a Bead Challenge and the beads pictured are the "Challenge" beads. The idea is to make something spectacular, using all of the Challenge beads, plus whatever else takes your fancy. This year's beads are proving quite difficult because there are fewer of them than in previous years.
I have started my Challenge piece but it will have to remain secret for a few more months.

Twice as Nice

Our niece has had twins and we are all very excited about them. Twin girls which is lovely and so I got to try out my new pattern from SylvChezPlum. They seemed to need a flower, so have made them one each. At first I was going to make them different colours, but decided to go with the same.
It was really easy to make and I can see that I will be making more as time goes by and the girls grow.

Lady Charis Necklace

Had a lovely beady day on Saturday, tutoring some members of the Bead Society of Victoria. The project was my "Lady Charis Necklace" which is a beginner level project combining brick stitch medallions joined together with small strung sections. It always surprises me how many variations come from the class as people become inspired to "do their own thing". Just the individual colour choices make the project look completely different in each case.

The first image is my sample necklace for the class, in a colour of beads which I particularly like from Miyuki. The beads are limey green with a purple lining and they are quite stunning.

The black bracelet is one using the same technique with the medallions, but turning them into a bracelet instead.

These earrings have been brick stitched using round instead of oval beads and it makes quite a difference to the look of the medallion.
Just love those seedies!

Owls, but this time Blue!

With quite a few babies due to arrive amongst family and friends over the next few months, I have improvised a baby cardigan pattern with the owl design on it. I think it worked quite well. Not sure if I will put any buttons on the eyes or not this time.



I wonder when I will get inspired to bead again? Having too much fun with knitting and crochet at present.

Owls

A good friend has two owls which have taken up residence in the trees in her garden since the bush fires. They come during the day and sometimes cuddle up, but other times are in different trees. They leave at dusk to hunt.



When we went to her house for dinner recently, it seemed a good idea to take her one of my owl hats to wear. She says the owls said "Who?".

I'm on a roll - more etsy sales

June has been the best month for etsy in quite a while. Another tute went off today. It was the bobbly bracelet one, which is one of my favourites.

This is one of the alternative colours that I have made and is the one I wear the most. Love those Miyuki triangles.

Is anyone reading this blog anymore?

I don't think I have had such a long time between comments as I have lately. Maybe there is no one reading my blog anymore. Do you hate knitting..... Is the blog boring.... wish I knew the answer. It gives me quite a buzz to see the comments and I also try to comment on blogs I like, myself.

My current beading projects are all for exhibitions towards the latter part of the year and the criteria in each case does not allow the work to be seen before the exhibition. Therefore, a lot of my bead work won't be appearing until later on. In the meantime, I am knitting when I get a spare few minutes.


I have adapted the owl pattern and used beads knitted into the pattern for the eyes instead of buttons sewn on after. Since the hat is black, the detail is hard to see. I think it works though. Daughter and mother both have one now and they seem to like them.