BSBP and the Liebster Award

I was expecting to post some pretty raw designs today for the BSBP. However, sadly our host Lori is unwell and she's had to postpone. I don't think any one is bothered by the one week postponement as it gives us all a chance to refine our designs, hopefully Lori is well soon. 

I was browsing Bloglovin' as I often do on a Saturday morning and saw my name and a link to this blog on the lovely Bead Recipes. The talented Melissa has nominated me for something called the Liebster award. The Liebster award is a chain letter designed to bring new visitors to small, unknown blogs. “Liebster” is a German word that translates to “dearest”, “most favourite”. 

You must follow the rules below to participate:

• You have to link the person who nominated/tagged you.
• You have to answer the 11 questions your nominator asked you
• Pick 11 bloggers whose blogs have less than 200 followers, tag them, and don’t forget to inform them about it.
• Come up with 11 new questions for the persons you’ve tagged.

So, here are my questions and answers:

Dog or cat?

Dog, definitely dog :-). I have three, two Border Collies named Milo and Scooby and a Labrador named Luna. 

Dark chocolate or milk?

Dark chocolate seems to sit better in my tummy. 

What’s your favourite time of year (season or holiday) and why?

Spring, when It's not too hot, here in Queensland it is generally September, October around my birthday.

What’s your favourite recipe? Link to it if it’s online!

Mainly my favourites of my mums that I know off by heart, egg and bacon pie is my all time favourite to eat and cook. 

Where in the world would you most like to travel?

I have never been out of Australia and dream of the Greek Isles. 

Name three books that you really really enjoyed reading.

Just three? The Potato Factory, 'Tis, The Hunger Games are amongst my favourite but I love to read. 

If you could travel in time, which period would you most want to visit?

I would go back to my time in country Victoria, when I was 12 and 13. Although there were so e tough times then they were amongst the most fun moments of my life. 

What’s your favourite gemstone?

I'm partial to citrine. 

When was the last time you dressed up in a costume? And what did you wear?

I think it was 2 years ago and it was a pirate wench. 

What craft or technique would you really like to learn?

Knitting, I've tried and tried but I'm not so good. 

Do you live close to where you grew up, or far away?

Far away. I was born in Kalgoorlie in WA and we moved a lot after leaving WA in 1989. 

OK so I might be breaking the rules, just for now as I haven't time to pull up more blogs that I don't readily know but I have added my friends, family, and followers that I would love to see develop their blogs more and I shall add to the list over the coming week before the BSBP reveal.

Nominator: Melissa from Bead Recipes
Ana from AC Beads
Molly from Beaute Beads
Danielle from Cilla & Mint
Lori Finney from Using My Beads
Lorelle from Beady Art
Nan Smith from Nanmade

Here are my questions:
What is your favourite movie?
Who inspires you the most in your creative endeavors?
Where was the last place you danced?
Where do you see yourself in five years?
What colour are your eyes?
How many pets do you own?
What are your biggest phobias?
How would your best friend describe you?
Are you loud or quiet?
Do you do sport, if so what?
If you could only eat one food for a whole day, what would it be?

Inspiration for Bead Soup Blog Party Revealed

I can't reveal my design for the BSBP yet but I can reveal my inspiration. I have been watching the new series of Da Vinci's Demons. Last night they opened up a device that I don't remember the name of but it is a compass that helps navigate the seas and it is reflective of Da Vinci's, Vitruvian Man drawing. The stars sent to me by Agata really compliment this theme.

In addition to the shapes in this show, I really like the opulent jewellery worn by the characters. Along with layered necklaces, characters such as Lacrezia Donati wear shoulder dusting earrings. I have not created many earrings so I think that they will be a nice challenge for this party.

(Photo source: http://www.bubblews.com)

My Yummy Soup is Here!

I have had a rough couple of days with my son so it was a welcome distraction when my soup arrived from Agata today. She was stressed about what she sent me but she didn't need to be. I loved every bit of the soup I got and it will force me to keep to not go off on a crazy tangent. I tend to over improvise at times which often results in an over complicated design that does not get finished. I have ideas swirling through my head but let me show you what she sent:

The whole yummy soup with all the elements and a lovely letter

Close up of all the elements. I love every one of them. I am quite smitten with the stars. I have some ideas of how to use them and I think this piece will be all for me too.

I was also lucky to receive one of Agata's beautiful bead crocheted bracelet. Her speed and ability is awe inspiring. I also love the little charm, she makes them herself and the colours match so much in my wardrobe. I am wearing it now.

My Soup Landed in Poland

International postage is unpredictable at best, the lovely Agata from Inaurem has received my soup. Apparently 100gms of seed beads came as a bit if a shock to her heeheee. I partly sent that much because I'm an indecisive Libran and partly because I really have no clue how many beads are required for crochet. I wanted her to have the challenge of combining many colours but wanted to keep true to the colours we both seem to adore. 

Pop on over to the lovely Ms Agata's blog because her photos are way better than mine. Here is what I sent her. A Jasper focal (I believe it is porcelain Jasper) from far North Queensland. This was my basis for my soup, I picked this out first and built from there. I knew I wanted to add some pink as I had seen a bit of pink on her blog but not a lot. I went for more mauve/purple hues though as I had the most to match those and I'm not a big bright pink fan. I got a huge stash of pearls and knew that these ones would both blend (white/cream) and pop out of the design (dark blue). I wanted the blue to enhance the mauve qualities of the soup. I made the clasp as I was not satisfied with any in my stash. I also added the ceramic button as another clasp choice.  I added some bits and pieces to make sure she could do more than one piece, given the amount I gave her. Thankfully for her the rules don't require her to use everything so there are lots of options. 

Addiction

Every now and then I go a little nuts and become addicted to making something or to a certain technique. At the moment it is beaded circles. I'm not even sure what I'm going to make with them yet but they look gorgeous. I have provided a little sneak peek below. It'll probably be a present so I have added a filter in case the future owner stops by.

       

Hint hint hint

So we aren't allowed to reveal our soups for the blog party yet but lots of people are doing pixelated photo hints. Here's mine. I put it in the mail this week, I'm not sure how long it will take for it to get to Poland so I guess I'll have to be patient and wait to see what Agata thinks :-).

Capture a Cab Without Backing

I was told I capture cabs in an unusual way so I thought I would give a quick tutorial (for advanced beaders) here.

First I string enough 11 delicas (or seeds) to go around the cab, there must be an even amount of beads and a little lose is better than too tight. Then I pass through the beads and peyote.

Keep the tension tight

Peyote until you have enough of a strip to cover the height of the cab, if you have worked a tight tension, you should have a slight cupping effect. Change to the opposite side of the ring that you have been working on and switch to size 15 seeds. work in a slightly looser tension and position the cab into the bezel before you end the peyote.

Once you have positioned your cab and finished your first row of 15s, turn the work cab side down and work one more row. 

Turn it back and work rows of 15 seeds until you are happy with the end result. The below picture is a completed one. I probably could have pulled the tension a little tighter on the seeds. I cannot readily find 15 delicas but that would undoubtedly give a cleaner finish but I like the contrast between the delicas and the seeds. This method frees up design ideas, by not having to use the Stiff Stuff and Ultrasuede, double sided designs become possible.  

(oh and I am aware this is a different cab lol)