Three sounds Easy

For the BAO team Challenge this week, we were given the two colors of orange and navy and we had to add our own third color to the mix. Three colors sounds easy right? Every time I looked at that orange and navy I thought of Auburn University!! It was hard to add a third color to the mix. I finally choose chartreuse, or a light lime green.

I made a free form sculptural bracelet. I like the chunkiness of it with the small seed beads, and the metal form adds an unexpected element that ties into the metal clasp well. Take a look at it in my Etsy shop for it and other hand made beaded creations.

One For Each Arm

I recently finished two new bracelets. The first was a freeform over a wire form. This one is peyote stitch woven around a copper tone wire form. The colors are great for fall. Brown, aqua and bead soup of wonderful jewel tones.

The Second is the first in the upcycled, repurposed bracelets. This is a bangle. It is a collection of glossy magazine pages cut into tiny strips and sealed onto the wooden bracelet form.It has an earthy organic feel as the colors flow from one to another.A great look for the fall!

These and many more can be found in my Etsy shop - DawnChastain - Handbeaded Jewelry

BAO Item of the week

The New Post is up with the BAO Items of the week showcasing some of our work. This is an especially awesome grouping. Take a look at what each artist has to offer by visiting The Bead Art Originals blog.

ROAD TRIP!

"Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands..." I Thessalonians 4:11

When I read this verse, I think that the quiet life is a life that is calm and peaceful, not one that is anxious,negative or complaining. Not perfect by any means..hey, we aren't dead, but one that demonstrates faith, grace and peacefulness.

Beads from the Beadcage and stones that I picked up at Bead Avenue

The next part about working with your hands....That is totally my favorite!! I would just die if you tied my hands up. They need to be making, creating and doing. Hence, the road trip yesterday. Mom and I went down to Columbus, GA yesterday. There is a bead store there, The Beadcage, and I needed to get some beads before school starts.

This is going to be a cuff bracelet, I just have to figure out the back side now!

It is always crazy to see what colors I am attracted to. Not as many greens this time which was very strange, and that purple!! I'm am never into purple ...but it was calling my name this time, can't wait to see what it does with itself!!
I am really thankful that I have hands, and can work with them to create, and also that God gave us such an incredible display of colors.

CONGRATULATIONS!!

A very sweet friend of mine has had her 1500th sell on Etsy!!! Now if you don't know, that is a ton of tiny little beads. Visit her blog and comment for a chance to win this lovely lariat. When I first started out selling on Etsy I took a chance and asked a couple of questions about thread and tension on the forums and everyone said ask Carol Dean. Whew!! I was intimidated...Sandfibers was a name that everyone had heard of of on Etsy! Do I dare?
Be brave...
I met one of the sweetest, most talented beaders ever. My bead work has never been the same.
Hugs to my friend, Carol Dean and many more sells.

NewWorldSon - Sweet Holy Spirit (With Lyrics)

Someone is Always Watching

I love to people watch! When I was very young and would visit my grandmother, we would go in the little store on the square  and buy a bag of cashews and sit and nibble on them while we watched people on the square. Now this is totally different from buying a can and popping the lid like we do now. These babys would be laying in a tray under warming lights and the sales person would scoop them out and measure them and then slide them in the paper bag,salt everywhere!!
Now you have the picture! Then we would go out to the square, pick a bench, and just sit, nibble and watch everyone passing by.
There were always those that looked like they hated life, like they were eating dill pickles, those big pickles that you had to wrap with a napkin and still the juice would flow everywhere.
There were those parents who also got onto their children as they passed you because they thought that it would impress you.
They there were always those people that glowed, they were happy, they were joyful and shown with a sweet differentness!! That's the person That I will choose to be today, the one that chooses to live in Joy!
Remember, someone is always watching, which category will you choose to be in!

Current statement necklace is aptly named "LIVE IN JOY"

Showcase

The BAO team has a showcase each week where the members can  feature one of their items. This is the mosaic for the week. All different styles, colors, and textures.... a feast for the eyes.You can click on each item separately to see an up close view and if there are specials offered by the artist. Happy Friday!

A Wandering Heart

The current color challenge for the BAO etsy team includes olive green, eggplant, and bronze. The olive green I had no problem with, the eggplant on the other hand puzzled me. I ended up going to the craft store and buying a bottle of "eggplant" paint and then matching my beads to that. I call it purple! But for the sake of the challenge my purple is the exact color of the eggplant paint!

My daughter saw this little saying and liked it so I decided to use it. It is so true, just because you look like you are wandering without out purpose or plan doesn't really mean much. If God is in control of our lives and our plans are His plans...There is a distinct path. Often others can't see it because it is narrow and on small stones instead of wide sidewalk. My heart is not lost, just on the narrow path.

Still Working

I'm still working on my bead projects, in fact they are all over the kitchen counter. I just haven't made the time to photograph many of the workings. This is a pendant and necklace that I am especially excited about. It turned out like I envisioned it. That doesn't happen often. Enjoy!

Time Flies

I can't believe the time! It seems to be in overtime. Life is moving so fast I think because of the age of my children. My daughter is a senior in highschool and will be graduating in 6 weeks!! I can't believe it.

My mind also works in overdrive and my hands and body can't keep up.Every where I go, I see ideas and color combintions of bead work and jewelry to make and just don't have enough free time to create all of these things.

On the other hand I did get a great new project finished that I want to share with you. I named it "Time for purple rain".Every time I hear the word purple you guessed it, I think of the Prince song. This pendant was created by using bead embroidery around an antique clock face photograph. I just love the vintage new combination.

The Bead Art Original team on Etsy is one amazing group of artists. This is a glimps of some of the featured items for this week.http://www.beadartoriginal.blogspot.com

Raindrops Keep Falling on my head...

Are you old enough to remember that song?

Well, I'm tired of the rain. It seems like we haven't gone a week without rain since the supposed "drought". And to think that we were worried that it might never rain in the south again....

I finished another in the royal blue and turquoise group that started from the Bead Art Originals color mosaic.
It is officially titled "Raindrops in Turquoise".

I sure enjoyed the few days of sunshine and warm weather....maybe some yellow will be my next project.

Turquiose and Royal Challenge goes CRAZY

Okay, I have to admit every now and then I get a little competitive. Not on things like running races or other athletic things that I know that I can't do. BUT.... beading challenges, color challenges or someone trying to pass me at the gym while I'm walking my 3 miles, Now that's a whole different matter!

I love when there a certain few people walking on the track that have longer legs and have a naturally faster pace. Mr. Boxer is what I've named one man. He looks like a boxer so that is how I have named him. I can't keep up with him but it defiantly is a challenge and in the process is good for my weight loss and healthy heart.

Another challenge is the color challenges that the BAO team throws out for us. I don't think that they are really challenges as much as a color scheme for the mosaics. I take it as a challenge to do a new piece in those colors.

The latest was Turquoise and Royal Blue. I finished the first piece. A tasseled asymmetric necklace, and before I knew it two more pieces were started in the same colors. Here is where I am so far.

Happy Weekend!

Time is Flying

Well, back to school we went and the week flew by! I finished the the green and silver pendant and was pleased.
I've started a Royal blue and Turquoise piece.I love the challenge colors, it makes me think beyond my closet and personal stash of jewelry. The new necklace has changed directions several times, I'll keep you posted.
No Tennis this week - RAIN!

Tennis Anyone?

Well back to school we went and this is the first time I've had a chance to post. I did finish the green and silver pendant. I am pleased with it. I just need to photograph it. In the mean time I created this necklace to wear when my son plays tennis! He played yesterday and it was FREEZING! but...he won and didn't seem like the cold weather affected him! The Word TENNIS was cut from a dictionary and then I just started picking colors that made me happy. I am going to try a new project using some old photographs next.See Ya, Dawn

Friday - Its hard to bead if you're blowing your nose!

What a day yesterday turned out to be! I was virtually by myself for several hours (In bead talk that means bead,bead,bead!) and I spent most of the time blowing my nose. I didn't feel bad enough to go to bead, but sure hindered my progress of finishing a project a day. Another thing that complicated the story was the fact that I had guidelines. The BAO team (Bead Art Originals) has a color mosaic that they put on the blog.The next color scheme is shades of green and silver. Well I do color mixes very well. I love what I call "bead soup", a little of this , a little of that and a lot more of one color. I decided for my project not to do the soup thing, just stick to one color in varying sizes and silver. Oh My Gosh!!I ripped out this thing at least 10 times!! I'm surprised that there isn't a hole in the base.I will get it though, I am determined.The peyote stitch bezel is finished around the cabochon, which is the word danced,dancing from an antique dictionary.

On happier notes the BAO Item of the Week Mosaic is out. Take a look and drool over the creations, then visit the respective Etsy shops and purchase these Treasures and keep for your own.Most have great deals on these pieces.

Wednsdays Project

As I am on my quest to "finish" (that is a key word since I can draw out and lay out a trillion projects a day) a project each day, I decided to revisit my old roots. I LOVE tassels.Did you catch the all caps there? Yes, I love tassels because they move, they swing and sometimes even make noise!! As part of my renewed bead energy I have learned the Tubular Herringbone stitch. That was to be the start of this new tassel necklace. Then came the adding of colors. About a year ago I did five bridesmaid pieces for a customer, each was different but used the same beads. The colors were mango and hot pink. I fell in love with the combination and decided that this was to be the colors of choice for Tassel number one. oops, you might can tell that there are several other tassel projects laid out on the counter! I finished and have to admit, I love it. The necklace consists of the Herringbone tube,sterling bead caps and toggle. The stone used on the tassel didn't have a name so I don't know what it is, really who cares as long as the color is good!I am trying another today, but am going to change the format of the tassel. I found a broken tassel Christmas ornament while cleaning out a drawer and the tassel was created off of one main strand. I think that I'll try it today.

Tuesday Morning

My Goal for this week, being out of school for mid winter break is to create a new piece each day.I'm not sure that I can do that but I am at least striving for that and being creative. I have finished the "joy" pendant that actually started with the Herringbone stitch project. I was pleased with the results. I especially liked the silver 15's around the edge. It gave the rather heavy piece a lacy feel.

In my quest to make sure I didn't forget how to do freeform Peyote I made myself a bracelet. This is the finished result. I think this will get worn many times. I have also started 2 other bracelets. I love the way this bracelet looks mainly aqua but when you look really close there are colors of every kind in it.

We've been watching the Olympics every day. It is amazing to me what some of these athletes go through to master their respective sport. So often we don't see the coaches, mom's, dad's, brothers and sisters behind the scenes. It truly is a family commitment also. The whole family is a winner as they sacrifice, and struggle with the athletes. So, Here is my shout out to all the families that stand behind their athlete in the shadows of triumph.

Progress

This is to show you how the Latest project is coming along. Sometimes a pendant or project just presents itself in my mind and I see it very clearly, at other times I have to work to see were it should go. This is one of those cases. I started out with a good amount of aqua with this but it never worked out.I am very close to finishing and will post pictures this evening of the final result.
At one time I did a lot of free form peyote stitch. As I was sitting here on one of our "snow" days, which was beautiful by the way!! I realized that I didn't know exactly how to start a free form bracelet any more..so to prove to myself I could, I started one and its like riding a bike. Once you jump on it comes back!!

Starting Differently

I started my current project a little differently. Usually I create a pendant and then don't worry to much about what to hang it on.Most likely a ribbon or a leather cord. This time I decided to do the necklace part first! I have been bound and determined to learn some new beading stitches. The tubular herringbone was to be my first! I got out one of my favorite bead soups and trudged along as this slippery "bead snake" tried to get the best of me. No way Jose!! I got It! and love it. This is the project in progress.I've started the bezel for this cabochon, and bead embroidery will follow. I'll show you how it turns out. BTW, I've got 2 more herringbone projects started!!