The 4th Bead Peeps Swap N Hop Reveal 2018

That happy dance moment when the project you've been working on for what feels like an eternity is finally, unequivocally, done. Done!

First of all a glimpse at the goodies I got from my partner. Mainly lots of seed beads, some pearls, some very beautiful  superduo`s in double shade, a lovely cab that Deborah  has carved and polished herself, A beautiful  dragonfly, a beach inspired trinket box and some pretty star fish inside. And loads of inspiring and encouraging  notes, one with every article, handwritten, sealed and numbered and packed meticulously inside the box. Wow Deborah, you`ve amazed me and thrilled me with this gesture of yours.  Can`t even describe the excitement I felt when I opened your each little surprise!!

 Deborah is very fond of Dragon flies, so each little item has been carefully wrapped and labeled with a cute little dragon fly, Wow!

  My dear Deborah - I can't thank you enough for being my partner and for sending me such  exquisite goodies . Have been awed by your meticulous packing, and the way in which you described each item you sent. The focal that you have carved and polished is so special to me, that I planned saving up for the last and create something spectacular with it. Absolutely beautiful cab! I never knew the work that went into creating one. I truly appreciate your generosity in parting with the first one you created . Thanks!

The stash is beautiful, and it took me a few weeks of pondering to finally decide how to use it And sadly, I got a bit slow and the reveal date is already here……

But finally , here`s my reveal

My most favourite piece! I instantly fell in love with these Super Duo`s .AB polished and dual color, have never seen anything like these. I can’t tell you how many times I reworked the pendant on this necklace. And I love the end result. Reminds me of the traditional Indian enamel jewellery of Rajasthan.

As soon as I saw the beautiful shades of blue and silver, I knew I wanted to make a necklace in cellini spiral. Always wanted one but never could find the right beads. Either the sizes were not what I required, or the shades all wrong. But these beads were perfect. And the triangle beads are just super, waiting to be flaunted. So I created this necklacein graduating thickness . Tried to click a picture of the beautiful luster  and the iridescence these beads have but don`t know if I have captured it all.

  

After many  tries I created the focal in netted Super Duo flowers  with  embellishments of creepers in green and blue . Never made one  before so took me a while to get it the way I wanted. …  I knew from the beginning that I wanted to bring out the lovely  tones in these beads  and I wanted to enhance the each bead type  and complement it, so I added some  beads from my own stash  I also added tiny  glass pearls and some light green Swavroski  pearls - some shiny and some with a matte finish for visual interest. Netting the chain however was quick.

 What do you do with star fish? ?  Again a first time for me . After much thought, I finally came up with the idea of  using the seed bead tube of  variegated colors and add starfish as a focal. Once I got working  on the design I planned, I realized that bead embroidery with shibori ribbon would take a long time so decided to weave the necklace instead. Wanted to add some silk, but now that I have finished I think it looks lovely as is.

 

Although all the designs in my head didn’t get made,  they will be completed as soon as I can and I promise to show you updated versions of the pieces.Have still got a fair amount of beads.....
 .

Here`s a picture of the goodies I sent her You can read all about it on her blog, and view all the wonderful pieces, she has made from this

 

To see what the other participants in the Bead Peeps Swap N Hop 2018  participants have created   please check out the list below

Enjoy the lovelies everyone has made !

2018 Partner List

Linda Anderson http://fromthebeadboard.blogspot.com (Hostess)

Inge von Roos https://ingetraud.wordpress.com

Kari Asbury https://kariasbury.com/blogs/design-challenges

Nadine Edris http://instagram.com/moondancemaine

Kathy Lindemer https://bay-moon-design.blogspot.com/

Hope Smitherman http://CraftyHope.com

Marde Lowe http://fancimardesigns.blogspot.com

Christina Hickman https://www.instagram.com/laughingsalmon/

Terry Jeanette Carter https://tappingflamingo.blogspot.com

LISA JOHNSON https://spudandmrsbutters.blogspot.com/

Catherine La Vite http://drygulchbeadsandjewelry.blogspot.com/

Joanne Bell https://joannetinks.wordpress.com

Rosantia Petkova http://bairozan.blogspot.bg/

Bonnie Robbins https://www.instagram.com/brobbins_wireandwonder/

Natalie Davidson http://www.northshoredays.com/

Robin Reed http://www.willowdragon.blogspot.com

Karin King http://www.maverickbeads.blogspot.ca

Jenny Kyrlach http://anafiassa.blogspot.com

Erika Price https://www.instagram.com/erikapricejewellery/

Sarah Reid http://www.instagram.com/sarahreiddesigns

Divya N http://www.jewelsofsayuri.com

Lori Schneider http://beadaddicted.blogspot.com

Robin Showstack http://heartsdesiresjewelryforyou.blogspot.com/

Nicole Rennell https://www.instagram.com/nicolerennelldesigns/

Fay Wolfenden http://torchfairy.blogspot.com

Shai Williams http://www.shaihasramblings.com/

andrea frank https://instagram.com/andreazeef

Cheri Reed http://creativedesignsbycheri.wordpress.com

Seed Beaders

Deborah Apodaca https://deborahapodacadesigns.blogspot.com/

PALAK UDESHI http://kalaabhushan.blogspot.in/

Penny Houghton http://www.forgottentrack.com.au/blog

Paulina Russell Http://www.instagram.com/thewildbead

Heather Canepa http://www.instagram.com/canepaheather

Tina Hemr http://instagram.com/mariecaroldesigns

NAOMI KNAFLA https://www.instagram.com/naomiknafla/

Michelle Marson https://www.instagram.com/ellecountry/

REbecca White https://morganafeycreations.com/blog/

Laura Bosch https://www.instagram.com/lauraboschmultibeadia

Kathleen Breeding https://www.instagram.com/99bobotw.kb/

Becky Pancake http://beckypancakebeaddesigns.blogspot.com/

Thank you for hosting this great blog hop Linda.  I have really enjoyed it! And got to learn so much too !!

Palak Udeshi .

Refashioned Jewellery.

Many a times, there are pieces in the trinket box that do`nt get worn either because they are out dated, broken or not liked. And like most women, I too have a share of those lying around in my box. Recently while rearranging my trinkets, I happened to stumble across this old necklace . Never worn it as I hated it on sight. The pattern and style looked too out dated according to me. So, in a creative mood, I sat down to turn it into a trendier version , something I would like to wear with my sarees
 Here`s my project in it`s various stages,

Do drop in a comment of how you liked it.
Till next time then....
motidana

Silver Ethnic Necklace- beaded !!

Sharing another necklace I made a couple of months ago. One way or other have not been able to post pictures of what I have made so here goes....

Latest necklace off the bead mat , a unique fusion piece combining intricate bead weaving with vintage Thai silver pendant. Rich Thai textile inspired the bead weaving pattern for this one and
I am quite proud with the outcome!

So how did you find this one? Do drop in your views. Would love to hear from you

motidana 

Resplendent in Pearls - A vintage inspired necklace

                                   

        Here`s a  necklace I made recently using seed beads , glass pearls and amethyst beads .It was for a challenge hosted by Perles Dent`Elles..You can see the most magnificent entries at the blog by other participants too . Here`s the link .    But while making this necklace , I had to write  about the memories it brought back . Nostalgic memories of  a very beautiful and Royal lady- my "Mom-in-law"

   She was very fashionable for her times , very fond of  dressing up.  I always used to marvel at the way she  maintained herself , no less than a Maharani (queen)   Her love for style and fashion , apart for her beautiful collection of pearls was inherited  from  her mother she often told me  . In the early days of my marriage, we both used to spend hours together chatting about our days in Bombay . We both were Bombayites ( from Mumbai) , and had to settle down in Chennai after marriage .  In her, I found a friend in a strange place away from home and my small family . She too had missed her family , so I think she understood how homesick I used to feel back then . There was no way to communicate with the family except a long distance call once a week , which had to be pre-booked and a letter occasionally.  And so both of us would spend hours in the afternoon ( no cable tv those days ) talking about our life in Bombay before marriage  and one such time she started talking her fondness for  pearls . And this is what I remember her telling me .

        The Maharanis  loved pearls which came all the way from Basra , and wore breathtakingly beautiful pearl necklaces strung with a number of precious stone embellishments . Diamonds , emeralds , rubies , sapphires and other precious stones carefully selected ,  added color to the luminescent pearls . Each necklace was designed and strung carefully by the master craftsman or Patwa of the royal court using silk as the stringing material .  The needles finer than human hair was used to string the pearls . It was so difficult to thread such a fine needle , that it took only the experienced patwa to add new thread if it snapped during the weaving . The pearls had very fine holes and so there was no way in which a thicker needle could be used. Therefore some bit of a string ( made from a single strand of silk ) was always kept threaded ( sometimes for years , till it frayed and broke ) and the new string was always added with a joint a few inches away from the needle .

materials used for stringing Pearls

An array of beading needles. Notice how fine the needle for pearl weaving is. The eye of the needle is round unlike the long eye of the size 16 beading needle. These needles are at least half a century old and have been preserved carefully . The silk floss is untwisted to facilitate easy threading .

  Carefully hand twisting the silk floss ,  the patwa ( the pearl weaver ) made the string on a flat table covered with velvet rolling it in such a way that the separate strands merged together and obtained a tight twist . This prevented the jewellery from breaking during wear and tear. Before stringing the patwa carefully washed the pearls in a herbal solution of soapnut ( aritha ) carefully and dried the pearls .

Grading pearls .

    The grading came next , and depending on the design to be woven , the sorting was done . If the pattern was intricate , it took days for the jewellery to be completed. Once it was made , the remaining pearls were stored in a white muslin cloth to prevent any damage ad the finished piece kept stored in velvet lined boxes. If not worn for sometime , the jewellery was aired , to preserve the luster of pearls , to prevent yellowing or discoloration , and also to prevent the string from fraying. Once in every few years the jewellery would be re-strung to prevent the loss of pearls by breakage of frayed threads. And after wearing , pearls always had to be carefully wiped with chamoise leather to wipe off perspiration which yellowed and damaged the pearls .

Pearls, all shiny and lustrous after washing with soap nut solution

   Her fondness of pearls had grown because of her father , she said . Having  a friend who came all the way from Basra to sell pearls in Bombay, her father bought pearls from him .  Being a frequent guest at their house, whenever he had a good collection , he would urge her parents to buy them for the family . Being one of the eight children , no doubt the collection got divided , but still she did inherit a small lot from her mother , which she lovingly wore on every occasion . And to ensure  that I too looked after the pearls with the same reverence , she repeatedly emphasized the care and handling pearls required . Here is the Necklace , she coveted the most, which she gifted me .

  

It is now four years since she passed away but I still miss her and whenever I look at her pictures , I am reminded by the words of advice she gave me . Each time I write a post , I  remember her love for jewellery . And the priceless advice she gave me .

She was no less than a Maharani in my eyes!

motidana

Pink-n-Pearls , latest in the wedding collection.

Pink seems to be the color I`m obsessed with these days. Moving away from the usual greens and reds, so popular in the Indian wedding scene, my choice for this season is pretty pastels and subdued shades of  reds.

    Here`s a set I`ve created with lovely pink seed beads and accentuated with cultured pearls . Trendy jhumkhi`s perfectly match the lovely pendant and can be worn with a simple gold chain during daytime or can be worn with a single strand of pearls for a formal evening.... a  gift for a soon-tobe -Bride 

 So what do you think? Do you think she would like it ? I have kept it as a surprise for her ,so just waiting to see what her reaction will be ,

signing off for now,

motidana

Bead Peeps Swap and Hop REVEAL!!

Finally, the reveal day is here, and my entry for this challenge is done ! It`s been a month of roller coaster ride, and I`m thrilled that I finally was able to finish my piece on time though there were lots of times when I felt I would`nt be able to make it to the reveal day !

 My partner for the hop is Jami Shipp . As you would have seen my previous post , here`s the photo of the beads she sent me . Since the contents were limited , I decided , it would be one piece , added with a few  beads and components, from my own stash.
     Not sure of what her likes were , I decided to take a safer route and sent her goodies which would give her an easier choice of pieces to make . Seed beads in different shades, metal components, Mother-of-Pearl pendant, and blue handmade ceramic beads , a specialty of Rajasthan in India were among the beads I sent .

The beaded component seen in this picture was made a couple of years ago and I added it at the last minute as something handmade had to be included in the goods. I hope Jami has made something out of the goodies I`ve sent and enjoyed every minute like I did in making my piece.

                                                              Here`s what I made 

And now , finally my piece, which I have named `Agni ` meaning burning fire in Hindi , our national language . The shimmer and glitter reminds me of the blazing fires . The pendant turned of to be bigger than I had imagined and so I decided to match it with some vintage components I had from my stash. The molten gold drops look perfect with the focal pendant and I added the copper chain to match with the handmade clasp Jami sent me. The links were added to hold the chain in place and are spaced  to keep the necklace flat . I think , the piece has turned out much better than what I envisioned . 

  Thank you  Linda Anderson, for hosting and organising such a wonderful swap.Looking forward to more such events , and I off now to view all the lovely entries everyone else has made .

motidana 

Partner List    Our Hostess: Linda Anderson from http//:fromTheBeadBoard.blogspot.com
Linda	Anderson	http://fromTheBeadBoard.blogspot.com
Marica	Zammit	http://www.beadlovelies.com
Linda	Anderson	http://fromTheBeadBoard.blogspot.com
Jessica	Hocutt	https://faithfamilyandadventure.wordpress.com
Kristina	Hahn Eleniak	http://www.peacockandlime.wordpress.com
Debbie	Jeffries	http://debrasdivinedesigns.com/blog/
Rosantia	Petkova	http://bairozan.blogspot.com/
Shalini	Austin	http://jewellerybyshalini.co.uk/my-blog/
Catherine	La Vite	http://drygulchbeadsandjewelry.blogspot.com
Annica	Larsson	http://zestyfrog.wordpress.com/
Lori	Schneider	http://beadaddicted.blogspot.com/
Divya	N	http://www.jewelsofsayuri.com
Mowse	Doyle	http://mowsemadethis.blogspot.com
Fay	Wolfenden	http://torchfairy.blogspot.com
Kathy	Lindemer	http://bay-moon-design.blogspot.com/
Claire	Fabian	http://saraccino.blogspot.de/
Janice	Warden Bergeron	http://thejewelryroom.blogspot.ca
Natalie	Davidson	http://www.northshoredays.com
Deb	Fortin	http://www.studiok24.blogspot.ca
Inge	von Roos	http://ingetraud.wordpress.com
Karen	Mitchell	http://overthemoon-design.com
Robin	Reed	http://willowdragon.blogspot.com
Marie	Covert	http://thistledown-and-swaddlings.blogspot.com/
Alicia	Marinache	http://www.allprettythings.ca
Nan	Smith	http://www.wirednan.blogspot.ca
Johana	Nunez	http://artincendi.com
Kelly	Hosford Patterson	http://travelingsideshow.blogspot.com/
Lori	Blanchard	http://alainnjewelry.WordPress.com
Sue	Kennedy	http://suebeads.blogspot.com
Shai	Williams	http://www.shaihasramblings.com
Niky	Sayers	http://silverniknats.blogspot.co.uk
Melissa	Trudinger	http://beadrecipes.wordpress.com
Candida	Castleberry	http://www.spunsugarbeadworks.blogspot.com
Erin	Guest	http://www.renlish.com
Nicole	Rennell	http://nicolerennell.com/blog
Ien	Temaluru	http://ienmaginationsjewelry.wordpress.com
Robin	Showstack	http://heartsdesiresjewelryforyou.blogspot.com/
Sam	Waghorn	http://palemooncreation.blogspot.co.uk
Marianne	Baxter	http://www.simplyseablimejewelry.blogspot.com
Elsie	Deliz-Fonseca	http://ladelizchica.blogspot.com
Shai	Williams	http://shaihasramblings.com
Lee	Koopman	http://stregajewellry.wordpress.com
Jayne	Capps	http://mamasgottodoodle.blogspot.com
Marti	Conrad	http://artisancomponentmarketplace.com/martisbuttonsandbeads/2015/03/20/bead-peeps-blog-hop/
Tina	Bosh	http://bookbug-somanybookssolittletime.blogspot.com/
Eleanor	Thomas	http://woolywireetc.blogspot.com
Jeanne	Steck	http://www.gemsbyjeannemarie.blogspot.com
Gloria	Allen	http://www.wingsandbeads.blogspot.com
Rachel	Mallis	http://www.mintmonarch.com/#!blog/c1jlz
Andrea	Glick	http://zenithjade.blogspot.com/
Stephanie	Stamper	http://skwds.blogspot.com
Chris	Haussler	http://pixybugdesigns.blogspot.com
Betony	Maiden	http://www.beadwenches.blogspot.com/
Kari	Asbury	http://hippiechickjewelrydesign.com/blog/
Jenny	Kyrlach	http://anafiassa.blogspot.com/
Colleen	Foley	http://colleenfoleycreations.blogspot.com
Marybeth	Rich	http://forestofjewels.blogspot.com/
Marcy	Lamberson	http://www.StudioMarcy.blogspot.com
Dyanne	Everett-Cantrell	http://www.deelitefuljewelrycreations.blogspot.com
Ginny	Lones	http://www.Skippingintotheunknown.blogspot.com
Maria Rosa	Sharrow	http://willowstreetshops.blogspot.com
Loretta	Carstensen	http://designsbyloretta.blogspot.com
Dolores	Raml	http://craftydscreations.wordpress.com
Michelle	McCarthy	http://www.fireflydesignstudio.blogspot.com
Louise	McCormick-Glazier	http://jewelrytreasuresbylouise.blogspot.com/
Heather	Richter	http://desertjewelrydesigns.blogspot.com
Tammy	Adams	http://www.paisleylizard.com/blog/
Shirley	Moore	http://beadsandbread.blogspot.com
Seed Beaders
Susanne	Stelljes	http://pearlify.blogspot.de
Sheila	Prosterman	http://catswithbeads.blogspot.com
Pallavi	Asher	http://kalaabhushan.blogspot.in/
Jami	Shipp	http://celebratinglifewithdamamashipp.blogspot.com
Peggy	Kosier	http://www.kosydesigns.blogspot.ca/
Andra	Weber	http://andrasjoyfuljourney.blogspot.com
Catherine	King	http://catherines-musings.blogspot.com
Krafty	Max	http://kraftymax.com
Sierra	Barrett	http://giraffecanhas.wordpress.com
Lois	Sherwood	http://thiznthat5454blog.wordpress.com
Katy	Heider	http://onthepondcreations.blogspot.com
Rebecca	Robertson   (White)	http://morganafeycreations.121hub.com/
Heather	Richter	http://desertjewelrydesigns.blogspot.com
Brandy	Collier	http://bhjewelry.wordpress.com
Stephanie	Haussler	http://www.pixybugdesigns.blogspot.com
Lori	Blanchard	http://alainnjewelry.WordPress.com
Kathleen	Breeding	http://99bobotw.blogspot.com
Becky	Pancake	http://beckypancakebeaddesigns.blogspot.com
Renetha	Stanziano	http://lamplightcrafts.blogspot.com/
Tami	Norris	https://jewelrybytami.wordpress.com/
Ginger	Bishop	http://lilmummylikes.blogspot.com/
Peggy	Johnson	http://charmbarn.blogspot.com