Dragonfly Garden

Every now and then on the Beading Forum they have a Designer Quest (DQ). You buy the kit of beadies from the sponsor and from there make your creation. This time around the sponsor was Beadglass, and what a gorgeous lot of beadies it was.

When I saw the pack, and it's colours, I saw lush green gardens, and I had this idea of doing something wired. I set about finding a focal to go with the colours and just happened to have an Agate slice of the same colour. Using the Czech glass and seedies in the pack I wired around the slice and then set about making a frame to wire around for the main part of the necklace. I added in some little dragonflies here and there ... hence the name!!! I really love this and i'm so glad that I wired instead of stitched with the seedies. Just as a little something extra I made a dragonfly brooch ... really, really happy with how this turned out - so I may make more. :) Dragonfly Garden

woohooo I got cabs

Just got my delivery of a beautiful bulk package of cabs from Nomad Craft ... an Etsy seller based in the US. Oh my, some of them are stunners!!!!

I'm going to have so much fun with these ... oh and I got the most gorgeous starfish pendant from them as well. Definately worth a look!!!!

My gorgeous starfish pendant ... isn't it beautiful? :)

Japanese Blooms

Another Beading Forum Challenge - this week the theme was "Chiyogami". Chiyogami is a beautiful Handmade Japanese paper and the designs are just gorgeous ... AND I just happened to have some in my house. :)

For this piece I set some Chiyogami paper in resin and then based my cuff around the design on the paper. I used these gorgeous Czech cup flowers and mini flowers for the blooms on the branches. I really love the way this turned out - of course with all firsts I made mistakes and slightly miscalculated a bit on the size, but that was easily sorted. Would really, really love to do another one ... perhaps even a collar with these beautiful Japanese designs in mind. I'm also going to practice more with the resin ... love making my own focals :)

Japanese Blooms

Ouro Preto

This piece was done for a weekly challenge on the Beading Forum - the theme "Subterranean". So I did some research on the net last night on subterranean areas and found some truly inspirational pics - but one caught my eye and I thought I could do something with it. It's an underground Gold mine in Ouro Preto, Brazil - and for a small fee you can take the rickety old mining cart deep down into the mine and take the short walk to a glistening subterranean pool.

This is the inspiration piccie ...

and here is my piece - stayed up late last night to start it, got about half way through it before I started to literally fall asleep LOL ... and I finished the rest off this morning. A gorgeous piece of brown/gold Agate slice and in the middle is a hint of blue, this represents the pool deep down inside the mine. Tiger's Eye chips are the boulders and rocks surrounding it, and the gold/bronze seedies represent the veins of gold found within the mine.

Ouro Preto

and a closeup

Tidal Pools

This piece was made for a Seed Bead Challenge on the Beading Forum. The theme - "Rockpool", and it had to be all one colour .... not an easy feat I tell you. Anyway, this is my entry. I knew one day I would have a use for all these Agate Slices I have in my collection LOL.

The piece is made up of Blue Agate Slices, lots of different coloured blue seedies, freshwater pearls, Czech fp's, and Swarovskis. I loved making this one - I seem to be drawn to blue alot when I do "bigger" pieces .... I find it a very calming colour to work with ... AND of course, doing pieces that relate to water are right up my alley as I find water, the ocean, rivers/streams very calming as well.

Sarina Beach

It was the Queen's Birthday holiday here yesterday (Monday) ... and also mummy's choice day as to where we were going to have a picnic and for her to relax. LOL yeah right "mummy's day" ... mummy still had to go out and buy the food, prepare the food and drinks, pack said food and drinks, and make sure the kids were dressed appropriately and with hats ... where is the relaxation in all that? LOL

Anyway I made the executive decision - against all the kids wishes as to where they wanted to go *inserting evil laugh* - that we go to Sarina Beach. I love Sarina Beach.

I find the ocean, listening to it, watching it, very relaxing and soon find myself de-stressing (which I think was hubby's idea all the time) - it generally centres me, iykwim. While hubby and the three munchkins played footy on the beach - and yes my beautiful daughter joined in on that one - I walked along the beach, towards the rocks. I'd taken my you beaut digital SLR along meaning to take some wonderful photos - LOL don't think I took wonderful photos, but they'll do. The tide was going out, so alot of the rocks were left with interesting little rock pools. The idea struck me then to get slightly arty farty and take photos of the pools - and also to get inspiration for a current challenge themed "Rock Pool". So these are my attempt at arty farty.

The first one here is of the beach, the rocks and the headland - those rocks there are where I was walking around and taking photos ... and generally enjoying the peace and serenity of the whole place.

With this one below, I wish I could have captured the trickle or flow of the water. The water was racing down from the rocks towards the beach and water - and making this gorgeous meander across the beach.

I won't bore you with anymore - I took heaps, but these are the ones that really caught my eye while I was de-stressing. Hope you like my trip to the beach as much as I did.

Lady of the Lake

This was made for a "Ladies of Camelot" Challenge on the Beading Forum. I am the hugest Arthurian legend fan, and this piece just brought out the creative juices in me ... and the first thing I thought of was the Lady of the Lake. So without too much hoohaaaa this is my interpretation ....

The Lady of the Lake

The great King Arthur is dead!!!

As Excalibur was slowly drawn back into the Lake, the magical powers of the Lady of the Lake started to wane. Mere mortals had foresaken the magic folk and the Goddess, instead choosing to believe in the “One God”. She could feel the magic draining from her body as she slowly disappeared into the misty icy water. The curtain between the world of magic and humans was closing. She closed her eyes …. time to sleep ….

This piece represents the disappearance of the world of magic at the demise of King Arthur. The Lady relents to the pull of Avalon and drifts off into the misty icy water ... her magic ebbing away from her body (that's what the cabs represent) ... and disappears forever into the mists.

OK ... the details ... done with 11s and 8s seedies in various shades of blue and white, Czech fire-polished beads, freshwater pearls ... and quite a few of Wendy's fused glass and dichroic cabs that reminded me alot of water. The face cab I've had sitting in my cab box just waiting for inspiration to hit - it's a gorgeous Jen Martin face ... and the celtic looking scrolls on her face just fitted in so well. I've even got Excalibur in there with the sword toggle clasp.

Use the Muse - Contest

In my many blogging travels, I found this wonderful link and have been hanging out for weeks for the details of this contest to be announced. Well guess what, they have been. The "Use the Muse" is the brainchild of Scarlett Lanson, a Bead Artist based on the U.S. - and she shares her love of beads and co-ordinates this competition so that others can share her passion. The "Use the Muse II" contest is open to all beaders worldwide.

It's worth a look, just for seeing the beautiful entries from the previous contest ... LOL there's even someone on there that I know and love from the Beading Forum - congratulations Cindy on your win. :)

Pay it Forward - free gifts

aawww come-on, there must be some takers!! Post has been here for over a week now and there's no takers. Oh well ..... :-)

Random Acts of Kindness - I think that's what gives me that gooey feeling inside. Knowing that you've made someones day just by sending them a little something unexpected.

Thankyou to Julz from Meanderings by Julz for this idea.

So, here we go:

Creative people are Happy People! So, if you would like to participate, please send me a comment and the first five people will receive something from me in the mail.

Here are the rules, and happy posting!

This offer does have some restrictions and limitations so please read carefully:

1. I make no guarantees that you will like what I make. This is an adventure afterall!

2. What I create will be just for you with love and good wishes. It will be made of actual materials, not of cyberspace.

3. It will be done this year (2009).

4. I will not give you any clue what it’s going to be!

5. In return, all you need to do is cut and paste this text on your Blog (from "Creative People are..." onwards) and create Five things for the first 5 people to respond to your post.

6. Send your mailing address after I contact you.

IMPORTANT: This offer is null and void if you do not post on your own blog to pay this forward. Would love it if you could join in!!!

Maryanne

Blue Wired Cuff

My latest offering .... but I think I may keep this for myself. It looks mighty fine on my wrist, so why not!!!

This is one of the ones I started on Sunday while at the Craft Fair (post below) ... and I finally got around to finishing it this morning. It features a Jan Cahill Kalera focal, and I've tried to pick up the colours in the frit she's used. I've also got some Anne Dundas little lampies in there (the apricot/pink ones).

Doing this has definately got me in the mood to do more wirework - something I haven't done in a long time. So with that in mind, I guess I can start on one of my Swarovski Comp pieces which is all wire - LOL, please notice I said "one" of my pieces ... I have so many designs down on paper at the moment it's beyond the joke!!!!

New Website

Well ... along with my new Etsy store I opened up last week, I now have my own domain website set up. Thanks little bro for helping me. :)

It's alot cleaner, and more professional looking than the previous (non-domain) site that I had (which reminds me, I need to clear that one). Have a look and let me know what you think - good or bad comments very welcome ~ Maryniky Designs.

Cheers
Maryanne

New Etsy store

Well ... I've gone and done it!!!! I've opened up an Etsy store. I'm hoping that between this store and the new website I'm doing up at the moment, that I'll actually be able to get my business going. Hubby has agreed that I can now do all I can to promote my pieces - this includes the new website and attending more craft fairs (which we don't have alot of down here in Oz) and more markets.

If you 'd like to have a squizz at the store and let me know what you think, I'd be grateful. Obviously I haven't got every single thing on there like on my vstore site (which will be closing down when this new website is done up), but I just want to gauge if there is a market out there or not.

The Deep Blue

My newest creation - my first beaded collar.

This piece started off life as a pendant ... and silly me changed my mind and decided to make a collar instead. Hit me across the head now!!! LOL ... anyway, I set about designing the collar around the original pendant and this is the end result.

Representing the ocean and the reef ... The turquoise Lampwork beadies are by Jan CahillI, I also used lots and lots of seedies, Swarovski Pearls and Crystals. The fringing I have kept to a minimum (I'm not the biggest fringe person) 1. because I wanted to cover the join of where the original pendant and collar pieces meet and 2. the piece is fairly elaborate and I didn't want an over the top fringe to go with it.

Took over 30 hours to make over the last 3 months ... yes it took me a while .. with starting work and just generally being busy I could only get into it a couple of hours a week. Anyway I hope you like it.

The Deep Blue

New work

Well ... they might be simple, but these bracelets feature the gorgeous work of Lampwork Artist Jan Cahill. I love Jan's work and just have to have some of her beauties when I see them ... and these beadies are gorgeous.

Her triangle floral beads are to die for!!! Now I'm no an orange person, in fact its probably one colour you'll seldom see me work with. But these beadies, as I said, are to die for. Not wanting to overshadow the beads too much I've simply teamed them with Fire Opal Swarovskis and gold spacers.

Orange Delight

The colours in this next set literally jump out at you. Such a beautiful set and again I've teamed them with Caribbean Blue Swarovskis, sterling silver and amber crackle beads ... just to bring out that amber colour more.

Caribbean Florals

Love your work Jan. :-)

Very humbled

Well ... I was so surprised this morning to log into my blog and see my name in a header - being a new post from a lovely blog that I follow. The Gaffer Girls have featured my blog as their Thursday Talent Winner. A very humbling thing to read.

I've never thought of myself as being great at this game, but it certainly warms the cockles of one's heart to think that someone thinks such nice things about my work. So to Mona and the girls ... my heartfelt thanks go to you, you've made me a very happy woman today. :)

September 08 Journal Page

Well I finally finished it ... only took me four months!!!! LOL


It's quite a big page and I think I may have to rethink the size of these pages - it's 15cm x 15 cm - but anyway it's finished. Where we live we have the best of everything that mother nature can throw at us ... beautiful golden beaches, rolling blue oceans and rainforests. So this is what my first page represents - golden beaches, rolling waves and the rainforest.

I haven't finished off the edges as yet ... but I actually won't do that until the end of all this.





October's page is much simpler and half way through it already ... so stay tuned, it will be up soon ... LOL hopefully.

Pool of Tranquility

Did this one over the weekend - just because I wanted to use this Jade cabochon - and then I saw yesterday what the theme was for the YOJ Challenge on the Beading Forum and thought I would enter it for this week. The theme ... Tidal Pools.



Tidal Pools to me are dark and mysterious - full of lots of nooks and crannies, and little surprises here and there - with just a hint of blue. This piece looks far more dark and mysterious IRL by the way - looks way too green in the photo.

Scarlet Woman

Another challenge piece for the Beading Forum - this one with the theme "Scarlet Woman". I had this idea as soon as I saw the theme and just had to do it. The funny thing ... when I was making her, my eldest (9 yrs) came along, saw her, loved her, and then commented on her big boobies!!! Oi!!! Boys!!!!!

Update: Just found out today that I won this challenge, which I'm totally stoked about considering that all the entries for this week were totally beautiful and there were a couple there that I wouldn't mind getting my little mitts on LOL.

Lotus Flower

Well my fingers are a bit sore from this one LOL.

Done for a Wirework Challenge on the Beading Forum with the theme "Oriental". When looking at inspiration for this challenge I came across the meanings of symbols, and the Lotus flower intrigued me .... could I make one, that was the question.

The Lotus Flower

In the East, the lotus flower is viewed as a symbol of spiritual unfoldment. The lotus has its roots in earthly mud, but as it grows upward in aspiration toward the light, its petals open out in a beautiful flower. Om Mani Padme Hum, meaning, "Hail to the Jewel in the Lotus" is the sacred mantra of the Tibetans.

The blue dichroic I've placed in the middle represents the water from which this beautiful flower springs from.

I'll be putting a brooch pad on the back of this and making into a chrissie pressie for my mum .... she's been covertly hinting at a brooch for a while.

Update: my son looked at this last night and told me he didn't like the dichroic in it for Grandma ... could I change it to a pearl. LOL - he's 7 yrs old mind you. So I changed it .... he's like it much more now. Will pop in a photo soon of the updated Lotus. I like both of them so it doesn't really bother me which one goes to mum.

LOL wouldn't you know it ... my mum opened her pressie a week early. Good on ya mum!!! Anyway I'm pleased to say that she loves it and she wore it to a Christmas party last Friday night, AND she'll be wearing it to the family's Christmas do.

DQ piece

I made this piece weeks ago ... but because this was another Challenge piece and I couldn't post it until now. Made with beads and the gorgeous ceramic pendant from Cranberry Beads here in Australia. I went with my first bolt of inspiration when I did this, and after looking at some of the other entries I think maybe I should have let it sit on my desk while my imagination mulled on it for a while ... but having said that, I'm extremely happy with how this turned out. I love it!!!