Beading For A Cure 2011...

Are you ready for some GREAT auctions? Well then - set your alerts, alarms, reminders... whatever you have. The auctions begin March 21 - 3:00 pm Eastern time and there are some fantastic items up for the first round! All for a good cause too (colorectal cancer research).

Here is the link to the auctions, bid high and often! Here is the link for each round of auctions with photos and dates they will be auctioned. I also have a badge up on the right side of my blog that is a direct link to the EBay auctions. If you want to take some time and see all the great photos for each item that will come up for auction this year - you can check the gallery. There are wonderful close up photos of each piece. If you want to print off a flyer for the auctions, that is also available here.

This is the fourth year I have participated in the annual event and the first year there was a competition. I was notified last week that my entry won second place - I was shocked. You will see what I mean when you have a chance to see all the beautiful entries. I am honored to be a winner amongst so many incredible bead artists and their pieces.

Each participant is given the same kit of beads. We are required to use at least one of each bead in the kit, we are allowed to add one additional bead type and can incorporate as many non bead items as we like - such as cabochons and sequins.

Here is my photo of the beads for this year provided in the kit

As you can see, it is a beautiful selection of purple and bronze. I loved working with these colors! My first step was to go through my stash to see what I wanted to add, if anything.

I found these beautiful vintage bronze/brownish faceted cabs, I only had two - I used both of them. I also found these smaller glass cabs with purple and bronze. I had four and used them all. It seems I cannot bead anything with out adding sequins. Vintage are my favorites and while I do not have many left, I did find this wonderful strand of deep purple sequins. My added bead is a small purple/brownish bugle.


The items of mine together with the kit led me to make this cuff. Once I get the big cab glued on, the rest seem to just flow. I did not have a plan, I let the beads take me where they wanted to go.



I used Nicole's bead backing in light purple as my base. When the beading was completed, I sandwiched a brass cuff blank between the bead backing and light purple Ultrasuede and stitched it up with LOTS of those beautiful crystal bicones.



I was going to just make a cuff, but that hardly seemed fair since I still had a ton of beads left from the kit.



So I found that last brown faceted glass cab and worked up a brooch.



That's when I discovered I had more of the smaller cabs and still plenty of beads from the kit so thought a pair of earrings would be the perfect addition to complete the set.



Little did I know at the time that would make me a...


I am stunned and honored!

For Andrew...

Recently, Kelli at The Hole Bead Shop generously offered up some special challenge kits as a fundraiser for Andrew Thornton.



I only know of Andrew by way of sporadic visits to his blog, but from what I have read there and on other pages/blogs on the web, I understand he recently battled cancer. The resulting treatment(s) left him with a mountain of medical bills.



He is obviously a great guy - there was a call sent out by many of his friends and acquaintances to help defray his medical costs and people answered, not just any people. Special people - BEADER people!



Now me? I'm a sucker for kits, I enjoy a challenge and love to help out if I can. Win, win, win!



The kit is beautiful, the colors are exquisite and there are lots and lots of wonderful Lucite flowers/leaves - way more than I could ever use on one piece.



And, as you can see, the accompanying beads are prefect. I added some vintage sequins in 2 different colors/sizes and a size 15/0 pale salmon colored seed bead to my kit.



I decided on a soft cuff type of bracelet for the kit. The base I beaded on is brown stiffened felt by Nicole Campanella. I've been using her stuff for several years and I love it for my bead embroidery.



It is backed with chocolate colored Ultrasuede for a comfortable feel against the wrist when worn.



It measures 7 3/4 inches long and 1 1/2 inches wide.

If you know me or have followed my blog for any length of time you know I am not set up to sell my bead work. I would like to offer this up for sale, with the proceeds going to Andrew's medical fund. As soon as I figure out how I might do that - I'll post that information here.

One more going to the dogs...

This is the second item I created for a fundraiser for First State Greyhound Rescue in Allentown, PA.

I created a brooch as seen in an earlier post, but since I had been generously gifted with several Greyhound cabs from Sue at Frums Glass Menagerie on Etsy - I was compelled to create more than one item. And it benefits rescued Greyhounds, I couldn't resist!

On this piece I used fresh water pearls and tiny bugle beads.



Swarovski crystal flower beads



A vintage lucite flower bead as the closure



And backed it with light gray Ultrasuede



I thoroughly enjoyed making these pieces knowing they would benefit animals in need.



The dinner/auction was on October 16th. I hope fundraiser exceeded their expectations and the group is able to continue to save many more precious lives.

BFAC - Beading For A Cure 2011

Royal Trilogy - that is the name I have given my entries for next year.



This is the main piece - the cuff. It meets the requirement that we use at least one of each bead provided in the kit. I only planned to make a cuff, but because of the generous amount of beads in the kit, with the amount left over after the cuff was completed I was compelled to make more. First - I LOVE the colors this year, they look positively regal to me. Second - with that many beads left in the kit, how could I not add some additional pieces?

Generally, I make pieces that I want or would wear and I do not wear necklaces. That is how I decided on a cuff, a brooch and earrings and not a necklace. There has to be more folks out there like me, right? After finishing the cuff, I found I had a matching faceted cab I could use for the brooch. They are the only two I had in that color and size, it just seemed right they go together.



Next up - earrings. I happened to have a couple extra of the wonderful vintage glass cabs used on the side of the cuff, the colors in those cabs don't show up in great detail on my screen, so you have to trust me when I say they are beautiful.




Here they are all together



Other details - I used a light purple stiffened felt by Nicole Campanella as my base for beading. For the bracelet there is a brass cuff between the bead work and the Ultrasuede backing. The brooch is approximately 2 inches and has a finding that can be used as a pin or a pendant. The earrings are about 1 inch not including the dangle and are finished with 14k gold plated ear wires.

Each piece is backed with soft Ultrasuede in a light purple color.

My added items are pictured below. Brown vintage faceted glass cabs, purple and brown vintage glass cabs, vintage purple sequins and my added bead - a small purple/copper bugle.

For James...

I have finished the bracelet I have been working on for the last couple of weeks. I sure had fun with it. I have now cleared my bead table in happy anticipation for the arrival of the latest BFAC kit.

Here is the back for anyone that is interested. The line you see is a mistake in working on the sizing, but that's the beauty of being able to turn it over and start anew - no one sees the back once it's all done.



In finishing up the bracelet, I did find I had just enough black Ultrasuede for the backing. For a little extra stability, I decided to add poster board between the beaded piece and the Ultrasuede. It's a little stiff at first, but breaks in after wearing it a few times and becomes quite soft.



Here it is laid out flat



And the back



And I took shots of it from every angle - so, there's LOTS of photos and each are clickable for a larger view.


I'm not where I picked up the black glass squares, but I sure do like them!



Also included are some of my treasured vintage purple sequins.



A few 4mm Swarovski bicones for that extra bit of sparkle.



And 2 - 8 mm Jet Swarovski Margaritas



The final touch - a vintage black glass button for the clasp

Spring, BFAC auctions and WIP...

I think today is the first day I really started to believe spring might actually be on its way. I could sing and dance (but I don't want to scare away the birds). The snow is almost gone, the birds are singing - loudly and what did I see today...



and this...



I could weep tears of joy!

I also am excited that the kit for the 2011 BFAC auctions is on the way. All the more reason for me to finish up my latest bracelet for my pal James.

Speaking of the BFAC auctions - they start tomorrow, see that photo of my little purse on the right side ------------------------------------------------>
click that button and you will be taken right to the EBay auction site for the first week of auctions.

Now on to my work in progress...



I have added a bit more since my last post. I am still having fun with it, that is always a good sign.



This is one of those projects that I will be sorry to see end, I am enjoying it that much. I believe I will finish it this weekend and have just enough time to clear off my bead table and get ready for the Beading for a Cure kit.



Don't forget to click on the photos for a giant in your face photo!

Work in progress...

I am thankful I have projects to work on while waiting for the new BFAC kits to be mailed out, so I don't obsess over when it will arrive.



I have been working on a bracelet/soft cuff for my friend James, he wanted a keepsake made by me. When I asked what colors he might like he said his favorites were purple, black and burgundy. I found the perfect focal - a purple scarab, when I see cool bugs I think of James - he loves to garden and he appreciates neat looking bugs. I cannot think of a neater bug than a purple glass beetle.



As I began to look through my stash and pull out beads - I gravitated to purple, black and I couldn't resist some gold.



I am beading on stiffened black felt that measures about 1 1/2 inches wide and is currently 8 inches long - that may be cut down though once I get to the finishing part. I just have to see how that all works out. I have not checked my Ultrasuede stash, I am not sure if I have black or purple, but I am hoping for black.

I will post more photos once it is complete. Each photo is clickable for a GIANT view if (like me) you enjoy that sort of thing. Since it is a work in progress, I did not shine anything up (fingerprints on the square black beads) or blow off the random fuzz that tends to accumulate when you bead on felt. With the macro shots - most of that stuff is not visible to the naked eye so I tend to miss it.

Hope you enjoyed your visit!